Kuru Kuru Sushi
Kahala Mall,4211 Waialae Ave, Honolulu, HI, 96816
Kuru Kuru Sushi Menu
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Address :
Kahala Mall,4211 Waialae Ave
Honolulu, HI, 96816 - Phone (808) 739-5878
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Garage
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Michelle M.
nice place, wish they had a wider selection tho
(4)P H.
Excellent service! Food and drinkies keep on coming!
(5)Sara T.
I've been a Genki customer for as long as I can remember, and I was just recently introduced to Kuru Kuru. I do like it a lot, and although recent price increases might make it only slightly cheaper than Genki, I will probably frequent both places equally. Food: 4.5 I had all my standard dishes: Inari, Ikura, Spicy Ahi, Salmon, Pumpkin Tempura. The inari was large and tasty (I want to know where sushi restaurants get their inari skins, becuase the ones you can buy at Long's are not nearly as good). The ikura was slightly disappointing - very salty/fishy and not the freshest tasting. But I do like that they garnish each piece with a little slice of cucumber, which goes nicely with the ikura. The spicy ahi was very tasty, with big chunks and a good amount of spice, but I still like Genki's a little more because they use a ton of sesame oil, more tobiko, and less mayo. The salmon was delicious and the pieces were huge! I didn't have tamago this time, but I've had it before, and the tamago at KK is better than Genki's because it is huge and not falling apart. And of course, the pumpkin tempura, as always, was perfect. Service: 3.5 I came at around 5:15 pm on a Saturday, so the place was about 3/4 full when I got there. I was also by myself, so I didn't have to wait at all for a seat (which may have positively influenced my star rating). The selection on the conveyor belt was dismal, so I hoped that they were in the middle of making a replenishment batch of EVERYTHING. There was seriously about one dish for every 6 dish spaces on the belt, and they were all the gross ones nobody ever takes (papaya, tempura mushroom, ika). Thankfully I just ordered everything from the waitresses, and all my food came quickly and was FRESH. I was asked several times if I wanted tea/water, and the waitresses at the Kahala location are much nicer than the ones at the Aiea location. They are also very quick. Ambiance: 3 I do have to say that the restaurant was a little dingy. I was by myself, so I was seated at a corner, and there was only one (dirty and old) menu to share between the two people to my right, the three people to my left, and me. Value: 5 My meal came out to $14 after tax and a 15% tip, and I was sufficiently stuffed. Solid 4 stars. I will be back!
(4)Barry W.
The workers seemed very disorganized and frazzled. Not enough help, they lost my order. Had to wait to remake complete order. I hope the food tastes ok.
(1)Eidref L.
Good food. Good service. Good prices. I highly recommend the don bowls of you got an appetite!
(5)Grant K.
I first tried this place a few months ago and I really enjoyed my visit. I've been coming pretty often ever since. My favorite dish to get is the Mix Don, it's half spicy ahi and half shoyu ahi. Unlike Genki sushis ahi bowls, Kuru Kuru loads theirs up. Their bowls are huge! And they're only about $7! I encourage everyone to visit Kuru Kuru Sushi! B
(4)Chloe M.
I used to love Kuru Kuru sushi. They had the lowest prices and the highest quality AND quantity when it came to kaiten sushi. Kuru Kuru still has the lowest prices, but the quality and quantity has gone way down. I understand it's because of the bad economy, but they raised the prices AND lowered the quality and quantity. Alas, Kuru Kuru sushi really was too good to be true. Food: They always have a lot of sushi on the conveyer belt, but I always hated grabbing sushi off the belt. I ordered hamachi, salmon, fried oyster, and croquette. My bf ordered an ahi and grabbed the rest of his items off of the belt. Surprisingly, the sushi he grabbed off of the belt wasn't old and soggy. We got our sushi orders very quickly, and I ate this while I waited for my fried oysters and croquette. And waited... and waited... and WAITED. Finally my oysters arrived and they were BURNT. NO! I LOVE FRIED OYSTERS! HOW DARE YOU BURN THEM! The two pieces that they give you are awfully small too. After we ate all of our sushi we were STILL waiting for the croquette. We asked two different waitresses if they forgot to put the order in, and after we were about to leave the croquette finally arrived. Back to the quality and quantity of the food, Kuru Kuru used to have huge portions and really fresh fish. Now their portions are way tinier (cuts of fish and cooked items) and the fish is just okay. Service: I had no problem with the service. Tea and water were always filled, and my bf and I were always checked on. I just had to wait forever for my darn croquette! I don't know if that's the waitresses fault or the kitchen though... Location: Right next to the movie theatre in Kahala mall. There are plenty of chairs outside of the restaurant since there's always a wait. Overall: I prefer this place over genki because of the low prices. I really miss the old Kuru Kuru though :( I also highly suggest that you not order anything cooked here because you will wait forever for it and they will give it to you even though it's burnt.
(3)Michael P.
Decent food and good service.
(4)Kimo S.
I've only experienced good times here so I have to say that for what I want and my expectations, this play is a solid choice. First off, they are busy... the staff may "seem" slow but they are busting their butts during peak hours and it shows. They are constantly moving and I don't think I ever see them stopping to gossip or check their phones during my last five visits. I give them props because they are definitely under tipped by people who drop one or two bucks on the table after finishing 10+ plates per person. The best deal is the HALF-HALF poke bowl. Seriously, you get so much food for $5.95 I'm surprised people order anything else besides these bowls. I make it a point to eat in because the serving just seems that much more massive. Sign me up with a free refill Diet Coke and one extra plate as an appetizer and I'm ready for my mid-afternoon nap. Seriously, get the poke bowl and more to the point... get the half-half poke bowl and don't order too much else. You have been warned!
(5)Sheldon G.
It was an hour before dinner, and I was mildly hungry, so I decided to get a small snack. I'm a sushi connoiseur, and decided to go to Kuru Kuru because I was in Kahala Mall. First off, I was a bit hesitant to order anything because there wasn't anyone in there, (and it was 5:30 PM). "Not even the early birds" (early birds are people who go to restaurants before the normal dinner rush, hoping to receive a discount menu). Many restaurants actually have great tasting discounted items for their early bird specials. Sorry didn't mean to get off of the subject. If I'm not familiar with a restaurant, I will usually pass on it if it is not busy, because that normally means their inventory does not turn over quickly and you may end up eating old stuff. Anyway, I heard positive feedback before about Kuru Kuru, so I took a chance an ordered a few spicy ahi nigiri (two piece selections) sets to go. What a mistake! The fish was nice chunks, however, where I believe they've gone wrong is the following: 1. Too much mayo 2. Hot rice (the rice should be cool or room temperature. When the rice is hot it makes the fish slimy). 3. Mushy rice (it could have been mushy because it was "too hot") There are so many bad take out sushi restaurants these days. These guys should have to take some type of test or preparation course before being able to purchase a increasingly scarce item such as Ahi, and ruin it. Unless the person that made our sushi was not instructed properly :)
(2)Alyssa M.
Food: I'm so glad they decided to bring back the poke bowls! They are very generous about the portion of fish they give you. The bowl almost looks like shave ice because they heap on the fish. I prefer getting the half spicy ahi half poke, just so that I can get a variety of taste. The other sushi plates are better than Genki in my opinion. They also have more options and their fried menu items are crispy and hot when ordered. Atmosphere: This location is quite small, and the wait time is normally 30-60 minutes during normal lunch and dinner hours. I give this place four stars because the workers often mix up who should get seated, and I've had someone steal our reservations twice already. For such a small location, the staff isn't as attending as expected. Overall, for a "fast-food" sushi restaurant, I recommend Kuru-Kuru over any other sushi company on the island. I've often opted to take-out instead of dine-in because the quality of food is generally better than other places I have been to. I prefer the Aiea location just because there is a larger dining area and the wait is generally shorter.
(4)Tiarra E.
I've been coming here a lot with my friends but I just have to say from the last time I ate here it's just gone down hill. My girlfriends and I were waiting 20+ minutes for every order. The food isn't worth waiting all that long to be honest. The customer service was bad. Waitresses ignored us and rarely checked up on us. Their attitudes were terrible also. I found a cockroach in my food and the chocolate pudding tasted f-u-n-k-y!! Our lunch went from fun to a nightmare. NEVER AGAIN will we go to Kuru Kuru sushi in Kahala Mall!!! (((-Dirty floors, sticky tables, old sushi on the belt. If you are thinking of going here, I think your best choice would be Genki Sushi.)))
(1)Chad O.
YOU'D MAKE A FINE PORTUGUESE GIRL. YOU'VE GOT THAT MIX OF PROFOUND AND EMPTY SPEECH JUST RIGHT. ~Chad O. Recollections ______________________________________________ I'm like you... I wake up every Thursday morning with my feet on my pillow and my head dangling off the bed and scream in my head, 'If the dream was THAT good, why do I never remember it???", kick a bunch of stuff animals I stole off my futon, trip over my mom's Twilight book that I use as an ice breaker prop with women to appear more sensitive, romantic or gay, pickup my phone and see red battery life and go, "FUCK!" I head over to a Body Pump class and routinely count how many men show up... one.... and wonder, not to be a Sushi slut but does anyone here want to carb load on mercury after our gym Nazi instructor is done??? Cheap yet good sushi, really, do we need to revisit this topic, where men ignore boobs and just gawk and stare at a little red plate go round and round, doing orbital circles with their head, and a pervy retarded drooling smirk that makes that special needs kid in school look like Doogie Hoowser. On my first swing, it was the slam, had a business meeting, a one on one, in a booth that could fit 10. I could bring all my stuff animals and imaginary friends and sit them down and we can make heart shaped ginger while talking about our feelings and drink tea together. On my second time, it was all serious, no play. Whenever I find a place I like, I make it a mission to crack the code! I wish there was a privacy setting where I could like, only let my friends read this review but I guess I'll share it with the world.... I'd say this place is better than genki in almost every way, easier location, more selection, better uniforms, "trying too hard" spam and hot dog sushi actually looks cute, but one thing they fail on is the waiting list. It's a self-write, you put your name down and they call you.... so in that line of thought, we could really do anything right? Like scratch the person's name above you... write yours down, and then rewrite said person's name below yours... then turn to your date and wonder not for the first time... can we really do this? Sushi Sluts Unite Ready to form Voltron ~AA
(4)Hiromichi M.
This place is the perfect place for a sushi fix! Since I am Japanese and my name is Hiromichi, it feels like I have an obligation to eat sushi. Food: good and fresh which is an uncommon sight in some sushi restaurants. The portions are a bit small though so I had to order 2 tobiko rolls to fill my stomach. I've never tried the don bowls though, I shall try them the next time. Service: very professional and hardworking, always checked if you had enough water/tea. Food came out pretty fast if you order from them. Atmosphere: decent for a sushi restaurant. Being placed next by strangers is alright but if you don't want to nudge elbows with someone else, go to Aloha Sushi or w/e Overall, its a pretty good sushi restaurant to get your quick fix. The only gripe I have about this place is the prices and the long wait time outside.
(4)Melissa C.
My husband and I were loyal fans to Genki, but when we noticed the Aina Haina location's quality go spiraling down, we decided to give Kuru Kuru a try. I personally have been to the Pearl Kai location before, and had a bad experience. When Kahala's location opened, we both left with upset stomachs we probably both had a bad piece of something. Fast forward a few months, and we decide - what the heck? We want sushi and we just had Kozo the week before. We never looked back. The quality now that they are a bit established is much better, and we crave this place weekly. Salmon nigiri, Hamachi nigiri, Dynamite maki, spicy ahi, ika nigiri, masago, rainbow roll, ikageso karraage, Tempura Nasu (my FAVORITE), and tempura mushroom is what we normally have when we frequent. Service is hit or miss, but we find that going right when they open at 11am on Saturday, there's enough on the belt that's freshly made so we don't need to worry about flagging down people to take our order. We're in and out people, and we discovered that its the best time to go. After work, we sometimes order take out (spicy ahi dons) and enjoy a delicious relaxing dinner at home.
(4)Lee S.
Always a wait at this location, especially on the weekends and for dinner (the only times any working person can go), and, although cheaper than Genki, the quality isn't as good. The rice or the seasoning on the rice is defintely a tad under Genki, and the size of fish that they give doesn't always compare either. Not too much of a difference that it would prevent me from going back, but given a choice, it would be a different place than this.
(3)Val Y.
This will be the first restaurant that I have reviewed that I didn't eat in. Yes. It's me, the "old guy" again. I kind of explained my "old guy" problem; but if you haven't read any of my reviews before; here are a summary of "old guy" things you have to remember before reading this review. If you read my 6-22-11: Honolulu Star * Advertiser review you will read about my statement of fact that as you get older, little things start irritating you more and more. If you read my 6-18-11: UYE Celebrating Father's Day review you can deduce that I am a father that gets tired and wants to go to bed at 9:00. If you read my 5-22-11: Taiyo Noodle review you will discover that I have a gf that I cannot live without. If you read my 6-15-11: Tsukiji Fish Market and Restaurant review you will see that I have this problem. The problem is that I have a great woman that is in front of and not behind " the great me". OK! It's 6:30 and I tell gf about this new sushi place that just opened at the Kahala Mall called Kuru Kuru. She said she heard about the place and she loves sushi so "we" decide to go. I park on the wrong end of the mall (the Longs side) and we have to walk longer then normal to get to Kuru Kuru. For your information, Kuru Kuru is next to the Consolidated multi-plex theaters. We walk in the right entrance and sign in. "Val, party of two, 7:20" Gf: "How many groups in front of us?" Me: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18....."19!" Gf: "19......rolling eyes!" Yes same rolling eye from 7-4-11 - Sabai Dee Thai Restaurant review. We stand inside of the restaurant and I am thinking. This is the smallest kaiten sushi place I have ever seen. This is even smaller than Genki Sushi Ala Moana. Great location. The decor is simple and nothing flashy. Very effect use of space and personal. Desirable product. No wonder they are always busy and there is a line. Create demand by limiting the amount of seats. Genius! I look at the conveyor belt and just like I read in the reviews: the maguro and sake slices are thick and long. My mouth just couldn't wait. Gf: "What time is it?" Me: "7:30!" Gf: "How many groups in front of us?" Me: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 .... "17!" Gf: "17! You're kidding right? You know I didn't have lunch today right?" It is 7:45 and we walk gazing through the storefronts around that side of the mall. 7:49: Receptionist at Kuru Kuru: "Chad! Party of 3......last call for Chad. ..... Miki! Party of 2!" I'm thinking we can't stray to far away from the restaurant or gf will kill me if they skip over us!!! Gf: "What time is it?: Me: "7:50"...one minute after you asked me what time it was at 7:49.... and three minutes after you asked me what time it was at 7:47!!!" I can tell she is getting mad. Gf: "How many groups in front of us now?" Me: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 ....."10"! Gf: "Why did YOU want to try this place anyway? I am starving! By the time we get inside it will be 8:20. By the time we will finish eating it will be 8:55. By the time we get home it will be 9:20. Why did YOU have to park so far away from this place? YOU should had found out where this place was before YOU parked. Why did YOU want to eat here anyway? (Yes she was angry and was repeating herself). If we went to Genki Ala Moana "I" would have been home at 8:00. Pabo!" Word from 6-27-11 - Yakiniku Camellia II review. Me: "OK! Calm down! You are right. Let's go to Whole Foods and buy take out sushi and go home."...so I scratched my name out and we left. P.S. If you read my 6-23-11: Yelp - Honolulu review you discovered there is a difference between Yelp "Cool" and playa "Cool" and people on Yelp don't think I'm playa "Cool". Well I think now people on Yelp won't think I am Yelp "Cool" either because this review bucks the trend. Most people love this place! For me I cannot see waiting one hour to eat nigiri sushi when there are options like Genki and SushiSan. And on playa "Cool". No chance for me to pop the Viagra tonight cause when gf is hungry mad, I turn her off for at least a week. Now you know why the three stars.
(3)Monica L.
Located in Kahala Mall by the theatre. The concept of this restaurant is smiling to Genki Sushi. They have a conveyor belt that carries a variety of sushi that goes around so customers do not have to wait to order. You can also order sushi that is not on the conveyor belt through the waiter and waitresses that are walking around. My first experience there was good. That's why I am giving them two stars. I had the spicy ahi don..that portion was HUGE! I couldn't finish it. But I got the geso (love that stuff!), tuna, masago, and the spicy ahi bomb. The second time around, I got the same things, minus the bowl...the food was alright..wasn't the best. There also wasn't a lot to offer on the conveyor belt. My boyfriend was disappointed to see spam with ketchup. He did not see anything he liked and ended up just eating the chicken karaage. The food wasn't that good that day. Maybe the workers were different? Anyways, I usually eat A LOT when it comes to sushi. But that day we only ate a few plates, paid, and left. I think I rather have went to Genki sushi even if it's a bit more pricier, at least they haven't disappointed me yet (except when they run out of the geso!)
(2)Lary C.
"Whatever you do, do not eat the pistachio ice cream!" - Mater (Cars 2) Yes this is a review of a sushi restaurant from some random white guy. But if you ask my wife, she will say I am "asian by association". So my wife (Jerrene T), our son, and I rolled into Kahala Mall in search of dinner. Now 90% of the time I have literally no preferences when it comes to food. You can count on one hand the number of things I don't like, so I usually go with whatever my wife wants to eat. She suggested Kuru Kuru Sushi and I was game. The restaurant is located in the Kahala Mall, in the theater wing where Carl's Jr. used to be. Easy to get to, and depending on when you go, parking is usually not a problem. We found parking the first time around so that was a plus. We arrived at the restaurant and signed in at 6:15pm (on a Wednesday). There were 10 names ahead of ours on the list. The place is relatively small with counter and booth seats. We didn't have a preference where they sat us at and we were seated in a reasonable amount of time. 30-40 minute wait for a small restaurant with 10 groups ahead of us is reasonable in my eyes. But of course we had a back-up plan should we find the wait unbearable: Taco Bell. Lucky for my wife we didn't need to resort to that. Kuru Kuru Sushi is a kaiten-style restaurant where the food is put on a conveyor belt and goes round and round and you just take whatever you want and you pay for whatever you took. This was my first time going to one of these conveyor belt restaurants and I found it fascinating. I couldn't stop watching the conveyor belt because I didn't want to miss anything. Easily amused I know. But it also entertained our son and kept his attention so that was a plus. The food was delicious. Ever since I crawled out from under my rock, I am a big sushi fan. We tried the croquettes, the salad with tofu, spicy ahi and ahi poke and they were all quite good. I also tried a couple of their tempura rolls as they looked pretty good, but really were just okay. And of course the best thing I ate there was the pumpkin tempura. Absolutely delicious!! They do have a menu you can order off of if you want a specific item and don't want to wait for it to come around the conveyor belt. Honestly though, I found it was more fun to just wait and see what was coming next. Most of the items are just a couple dollars per plate so it was pretty reasonable. But of course you are charged per plate so it can add up pretty fast. Dinner for the two of us ended up being under $30, which I found was reasonable. And last but not least: I am a big fan of all things hot and spicy. I love to use a lot wasabi so when it came around on the conveyor belt, I grabbed it and put some in my dish. When i dipped my first item into the wasabi-shoyu mix I made, I must've gotten a big chunk of wasabi because it had a pretty intense "wasabi burn." Then just when I thought the burn had subsided, it kicked into high gear and turned into "mega wasabi burn!" I thought it was funny and immediately thought of that scene from Cars 2, hence the reason behind my quote at at the top.
(4)Jenn L.
My sisters and I were diehard fans of the original Kuru but after a while, the crowds just got to be too much. We decided to go to the Kahala Kuru for lunch on the last day of my most recent trip home. The verdict? I think it stands up to what we know and love about Kuru. The must-get for us is always the salmon belly - so juicy and omega-3-healthy kine fatty! (At least that's what I tell myself...) As for the price, I think it's comparable to what you end up paying at those all-you-can-eat places for all your heart and tummy desires.
(4)Franklin A.
We are frequenters of Kahala Mall and every time we walk past Kuru Kuru Sushi there are always people waiting. To me that's a good sign. So last night, after years of watching and waiting, we took the plunge and tried it. Like everyone else, we waited. But the staff was very courteous (even with some of the patrons weren't) and tried to get people in as quickly as possible. We waited about 30 - 45min for a party of four on a Saturday evening. Not bad. I'm sure we did what everyone else does...starts off by comparing Kuru Kuru to Genki. First of all, it's much nicer. I like Genki but the vibe in Kuru Kuru was really great and inviting. We tried to get some things that we would usually get at Genki so we could compare. The Udon was delicious with a broth that wasn't too salty. The salad that you can get was amazing - Genki take notes. It, of course, had iceberg lettuce but also had tomatoes, cucumber, and avocado and was big enough for us to share and not feel cheated by the one with whom we were sharing. Spicy Ahi and Tuna rolls were good...the Dynamite was great and we got a couple of those. The Chicken Karage was good too. We loved the Tempura Pumpkin and the Croquettes were yummy too. We especially liked the pumpkin tempura. We couldn't quite place the flavor but the tempura was a little sweeter than what we've gotten in other places but not overly sweet to the point where it was like candy. The flavors on everything was really good and the price wasn't that bad! We figured that being in Kahala Mall (and having to make rent) the prices would be a little higher but it was actually cheaper than the last time we went to Genki. On a personal note, the night we went we were with my brother-in-law who has Down's Syndrome. The wait staff was very attentive and kind to him and that was really nice to see. Sometimes when out with a special needs person wait staff will avoid us like the plague or not really know what to do. There was none of that at Kuru kuru! Definitely coming back!
(4)Jong Soo L.
Sushi belt must mean a quick eat and go? Not at all.. I don't know why but people of Hawaii love sushi belt places like these. So it gets packed. I always end up waiting a hour or more when they tell you the wait is about 30 minutes. You can either sit on a table or the counter but I like the table much better. It gives you an easier time to interact with your party. The wait may be longer if you do request for a table. The sushi is not bad and I like how you can order from off the belt. They give free hot tea which goes well with sushi. I come here because my Hawaii friends like to. I guess locals love this stuff. I think they rose their prices recently as well.
(3)Marc R.
Well, I spent the afternoon in the ER today thanks to eating a bad Spicy Tuna Domburi. This was after I spent the night throw up out of both ends. Be careful! My dad was sick too. He ate the same thing. Looks like I won't be back
(1)Khaleesi M.
Use to come here all the time with my boyfriend and mom, they had great fast service and the waiters were very friendly, their spicy ahi don was really good, with great portion size and cheap price (6.95). After New Years I had checked the reviews on yelp and a lot of people were complaining about the prices going up on the s-ahi don to 9.95. Big price jump! They also started to take off some items from the menu before Christmas time. So because of that I stopped going. Around the ending of August my mom and I were at Kahala and decided to give it a try. We signed our name and waited about 5-10 mins which wasn't bad. When we got seated we were offered tea and water and grabbed the menus to look. I can't say we were surprised at the prices, because they did in fact go up. 9.95 for the s-ahi don. We ordered 2 s-ahi dons and a 2 piece Inari, the guy who helped us didn't seem like he knew what he was doing. So we waited. Our Inari never came so we just grabbed it off the belt. As we waited I seen the sushi maker make two s-ahi don and put it on the top of the belt to the table next to us, and the people at the table didn't grab it. I had already knew there was a mix up and that the bowls were suppose to be for us. We waited about 4 or 5 mins and watched to see what they would do. They started to get busy and one of the managers stood by our table and told the sushi maker that he had gave the bowls to the wrong table and he had argued that the person who took the order put the wrong table number. I don't understand how that can happen because the tables are marked clearly. So he took the two bowls and gave them to us, with no apology for the mix up by either the manager or the sushi maker. We began to eat, and we noticed the spicy ahi had gotten more spicy. I love my spicy food but that took me back a little. We kept getting bombarded by different servers asking if we needed something else, it was getting very annoying because we just wanted to finish our food in peace. We then asked to get an order of spam sushi, again we waited about 10 min. By that time we had seen they put out spam sushi on the belt and being annoyed with waited we again like the Inari just took it off the belt. And as soon as we did they came and brought our spam! We were annoyed and put the spam they gave us on the belt. Cos lord knows we weren't about to pay for two, when we only wanted one! All in all we finished up our food, payed and got the hell out of there! We swore to never come back.
(1)Apple Gem F.
Slow employees .. Need I say more. There's tables and space by the bar and they're not calling people. Guess they can't handle big crowds. Had to wait to be seated for an hour Plus what's the point on calling out last call if you're just going to sit the party that miss their turn when they comeback to check in 15 mins after you called out their names???
(2)Roxy W.
Location: The restaurant is located in Kahala Mall next to the theater. Food/Drinks: Food on the conveyor belt was cold on a Friday during lunch hour. Very Disappointing! All the fried items were cold. They should have been thrown away instead of left on the conveyor belt. I order a seared Ahi sushi and that was the only thing worth eating. Price: Inflation at its finest! The most expensive sushi on a conveyor belt. The other restaurants similar to this serves larger servings and cheaper prices. I'll stick to the Aiea location.
(1)Takashi H.
Not down with the service here. Came during an off hour time when business was slow and wasn't offered a seat although four were open. Shortly after the host said "you can sit anywhere," she abruptly and rudely told me the three open booths weren't available (half empty restaurant, 2:30pm). Something smells fishy. No problem, I'm not opposed to take out. However, the price of ikura here is much higher than Kozo down the road or Ninja on Kapahulu. I concede and go with the usual ahi options and natto. Gotta have my natto. I'm perplexed why the location in Kahala doesn't bring the same quality and friendliness as the original location in Pearl Kai. With that, I say West is best.
(2)H Q.
So... not quite sure what happened on our most recent visit to Kuru Kuru Sushi in Kahala Mall. As soon as we sat down and my kiddos excitedly grabbed their first plates off the conveyer belt... it was lights out... literally! The restaurant had no power. The conveyor belt stopped. Almost everyone either left or walked around to pick at whatever else was left on the belt before leaving. I ate one plate (ONE PLATE) of spicy ahi on a deep fried wonton chip, topped with eel sauce. I usually love this dish, but alas, today the wonton chip seemed extra greasy and all I tasted was oil. My kiddos ate a plate of tamago sushi each (sweet egg) and shared a plate of edamame. Hubby had karaage chicken and a spicy ahi wonton. This had to have been the cheapest dining experiences at a conveyor sushi restaurant that I have ever eaten at. We usually have three stacks of plates to tally - at this point it was looking like we were only going to have 7... then like a miracle, the lights came back on after 15 minutes of "mood" lighting. Kiddos then proceeded to grab another tamago, corn on the cob (WTH), and we ordered shrimp tempura udon (with the single shrimp tempura on the side) for my little darlings. Still not in the mood for anything else... ugh, what a waste of a cheat day! But, I came here for my kiddos. And if they're happy - so am I, right?... Stars for my kiddos happy little satisfied tummies! And the entertaining video that plays how to make sushi and sushi eating etiquette!
(3)Bri K.
My friends wanted to come here, so I decided to give it a try. It is basically like Genki Sushi with the conveyer belt with sushi you could grab from it. The atmosphere was very casual. Not as nice as Genki, but it was not terrible or anything. Some of the color dishes were a lot cheaper than Genki, while the other color dishes (white, blue) are WAY more expensive. $10 for a 4-piece spicy tuna tempura sushi roll?? If it was extremely good, I would've been ok with its price. However, it wasn't that special when I tried it with my friend. The tuna was kinda salty and pretty spicy. I got the salmon mayo onion. There was WAY too much mayo and onions. With some soy sauce and after taking out some onions and mayo, it was good. The assorted tempura bowl was also $10. It was with rice, but I don't think it's worth $10. Perhaps have an option without rice for cheaper. If my friends would want to come here again, I would come along. But if I had a choice, I would just go to Genki Sushi.
(3)Mac J.
Sushi here is still delicious even if all the BLUE plates increased by 43%. Expect to see a waiting list during typical meal hours. However, if you come here around 3:30pm it's surprisingly not so crowded. Service is attentive and good. It's still the best place for a quick sushi fix.
(3)Andrew D.
My girlfriend and I love sushi, and the the conveyer belt restaurants are always so much fun :). But not this time... I did not enjoy this at all. I'd like to start my review by saying the positives, like how good the food tasted. I really loved all the food, and the prices were very reasonable. It's also located conveniently inside Kahala mall, where you can go shop before or after you eat and there's a few places to get good deserts :) Now onto the reason I gave them a 2 star. Even though the food was great, I couldn't enjoy it because the waiters were constantly reaching over my girlfriend and I to grab the food to bring to someone else. We were sitting at the bar and apparently we were sitting right under where the food, that the guys in the middle make, comes out to the waiters. I think the worst part was the fact that they never once said sorry or excuse me, they just reached over us and left. They where extremely rude and it was not a good experience at all. I might try and go back one day, but I would never sit at the bar again.
(2)Mark E.
Been coming here because the food was fresh delicious and the service was awesome. Haven't been here a while, we decided to come here for lunch. However, the quality dropped and the prices had gone up (especially the ahi bowls went up from 6.95 to $9.95). Our favorites were sushi that had tuna. The ahi fish wasn't as fresh the last time we ate it (according to my colleague). Service was average but was busy since it was lunch time. However, this is still one of my favs to eat sushi at.
(3)Darren N.
One of the best conveyor-belt sushi places on the island. This place prices sushi very reasonably and they always give you huge portions of pretty good quality sushi. They offer a wide variety of staples from various nigiri to specialty rolls. Reasonable prices for what you get. Usually pretty busy so prepare for a wait or call in a take out order. Prompt and friendly service.
(4)Maloni V.
Been coming here ever since G-Sushi (by Foodland Market City) closed down. True that there are other sushi bar/restaurants out there that might be better, but this one is my favorite because it's close to where l live and it's in Kahala Mall. If you're picky and don't want to take food from the conveyor belt, just order what you want to the server and they'll make it fresh for you. Don't always believe what you read/hear whether it's negative or positive, just go and try it out for yourself and you be the judge! Happy eating :)
(5)Penny L.
As expected, unbelievably tiny portions, which then kind of makes it a bit more expensive than if you were to going to a slightly nicer sushi restaurant. Flavor was pretty lacking as well. Not sure if we got there too early and they didn't want food sitting out, but there was practically nothing on the conveyor belt. So we were forced to order from the servers which was a bit irritating since it just took longer to get our food. Which then almost defeats the purpose of going to a conveyor style joint for a "quick" bite to eat. Servers were friendly though and place was relatively clean.
(2)Reid O.
Where else can you fulfill your sushi cravings quickly and deliciously like KuruKuru? While I used to be a fan of Genki, I've grown to consider Kuru Kuru my total go to place for the quick fulfillment of a sushi craving. Their spicy tuna/spicy salmon don's are enormous!! The price is awesome for the mound of fish they pile on top of the rice. I always grab a plate of sushi first before the spicy don combo arrives because I need an empty plate to place the fish on so I can reach the rice underneath! The grilled salmon is also wonderfully oily and delicious. I always order it so I know it's hot and steamy when I get it. The pumpkin/kabocha is also a favorite for me. Pass me a natto and a scallop mayo and I'm happy as heck! Sure there are much fancier places for sushi in Honolulu but when I want to satisfy a quick craving and get a quick meal in before a movie or just some shopping at the mall, this Kuru Kuru is super! Always fresh tasting and the workers also are always there to fill your water and tea and take your order.
(4)Holly B.
Conveniently located in Kahala Mall, next to the theatres, this restaurant serves fresh sushi and other Japanese food. You can select dishes off the conveyor belt or order off the menu. And there are ever-changing specials to take note of on the boards around the restaurant. Love the chawan mushi, one of my favorites! The service is prompt and friendly! All of the waitstaff constantly check with you about refills on water or hot tea. A pleasant dining experience!
(4)Lianne O.
Kuru Kuru management has really made bad decisions lately. They changed their menu on Tuesday, increasing their prices and eliminating items. Most notably, their dons (fish over rice in a bowl) went from $6.95 to $9.95... and they gave LESS fish! Smaller portions and a drastic increase in price is just bad business. We used to go to the Kahala location once a week. We loved the place. Now I don't think we will be going back again. Fish pieces are cut smaller and overall portions are smaller. They went backwards from what made them better than Genki sushi. I think other customers have noticed, too. We came on a Sunday during lunch and there was no wait. Usually weekends are very busy at Kahala Mall. I guess we'll just have to drive to Sushi Bay in Kapolei for sushi!
(1)Little D.
KURU KURU SUSHI @KAHALA MALL: Finally I got to try the famous Spicy Ahi Don $9.95. Kabocha = Pumpkin Tempura $1.75. I guess their price went up a little recently but still, for the quantity and quality you get for $9.95, this is a great deal.
(5)Cijay M.
Very quick take out service, takes a while for seating inside. But slightly over priced sushi, I usually just go to get the Spicy ahi don.
(4)Cindy L.
Kuru Kuru is my go-to kaiten sushi restaurants. I started going when it had its only location in Pearl Kai, when prices are affordable, and the portions are good. So when the Kahala location opened, many diners didn't have to make the drive in to Pearl Kai. Three years went by... and business is doing well. Prices went up and portions got smaller. However, it is still one of the more affordable, decent quality sushi you can get in Hawaii.
(3)Tia M.
Before, I'd give them 4 stars, but last week, KuruKuru has lost a couple (likely many more) loyal customers. Why? PRICE HIKE. We would come by here once a week but after the price increase, I'm going to be returning to Genki Sushi on Kapahulu. The long wait times (at least 20-30 min) and average quality service used to be tolerable because of the BARGAIN prices, but the 2015 price hike per plate/"don" --with increases ranging from $1-$3, depending on what it is-- makes these flaws difficult to ignore. I liked what I thought were generous portion sizes for the older prices in 2014. But they kept the portions similar or smaller despite the price increase. When I came here last week, our order was lost and when I asked about it, the waitress didn't bother to physically check where my order slip was and insisted that the chef was about to make it. I then asked the sushi chef dude if he saw my order, and he told me I had to order from the waitresses and not from him. (Did he even hear my question?) Sadly, most of the workers look and even act like they don't want to be there. What happened to good customer service? There are maybe 2 girls in there who have consistently given me good service, wish I knew their names... But bossman needs to kindly remind everyone else to perk up. What I liked about KuruKuru was the taste and freshness of their spicy ahi and the tempura pumpkin, but looks like I'll be taking a break from this place for a while. *sob* TLDR: Those cheap spicy-ahi or mixed "dons" are now $10. Regulars, double check the prices of what you order. I suspect the price hike is due to the minimum wage hike--but why such a high price increase? Boo! If KuruKuru is aiming for more tourist clientele, then they're going in the right direction.
(3)Jess K.
Came here during lunch so there was a bit of a wait list on arrival, but I felt the wait itself was relatively short and totally worth it. This place is such an upgrade from Genki Sushi and I'd say is the best conveyor belt sushi on island! I noticed some of the reviews mentioned that service wasn't that great but the bf and I experienced quite the opposite. Staff were super friendly and attentive and always kept our drinks refilled. The salmon kama was huge for the price and super delicious, as was everything we ordered. The sushi quality is great for the price and the portion sizes are large. We loved this place and will definitely make regular visits back! Overall the complete experience was perfect for this style of eatery. Parking is super easy and abundant since Kuru Kuru is conveniently located in Kahala mall. Plan on waiting a bit for a table or seat if you come during the lunch or dinner rush though!
(5)Hisoo H.
Located in the Kahala Mall next to the theatres - One of a kind and always good food and service. Sushi on conveyor belt - Sign up for seating when there are crowds otherwise they're open when the mall is open so go before or after crowds - HOT TEA!!!! They fill up your tea cup! I notice there are some recent bad reviews but I wonder if it is timing..... And everywhere you go they are humans serving you, so mistakes can take place and when that happens, point it out, they can make adjustments, just say it nicely.... Someone else advised ordering off the menu for fresh items, this is true especially for something like tempura kabocha which will come out hot!
(4)Elise C.
Like many others, I feel that Kuru Kuru is much better than Genki Sushi. Ever since they opened their second location at Kahala Mall a few years ago, I have been a loyal customer, coming back time and time again despite the ridiculous wait at peak hours. Among the conveyor belt style of sushi dining, Kuru Kuru's quality and selection of sushi and other dishes are by far superior. My must-have at Kuru Kuru is the KABOCHAAAAA! Oh man, oh man! This is the best kabocha tempura anywhere! (FYI, Kabocha is a Japanese pumpkin.) I don't care if it's fried and unhealthy! The tempura coating around the large, thick slices of kabocha is perfectly thick and crispy. It's not your normal shrimp tempura coating, which is light and flaky. Rather, it's just thick enough so that the coating doesn't fall off when you bite it. It's also drizzled with a syrupy oyako donburi-like sauce. However, with this review I did not want to go into detail about my other choice picks at Kuru Kuru. Instead, I'm here to Yelp about Kuru Kuru's NEWEST dessert item. What's its name you ask? Well, it doesn't even have a name yet! That's how new it is! They just told us it's a DEEP-FRIED PEANUT BUTTER & BANANA DESSERT. Holy cowzas! It's both a mouthful to say and to eat! You need to see my picture here: yelp.com/biz_photos/kuru… . Now, doesn't that just look ridiculously delicious?! We basically saw another table order it and were already drooling over it. Maybe soon they'll think of a worthy name to match this monstrosity of a dessert. Also, I don't even like peanut butter very much, but I ate several bites and well, now I'm writing a review about it. So, take my word on this one. It's really good. Other notables at Kuru Kuru are their humongous spicy tuna donburi (good value!), garlic ahi nigiri (seared + garnished with onions!), and garlic salmon nigiri (seared + garnished with onions too!).
(4)Julia B.
Everything was just okay. Before I get to the details I must warn everyone that they do not have sriracha! If you are like me and you drown your sushi and pretty much everything else in the deliciousness that is hot sauce you will be pretty disappointed. I had the caterpillar roll which was basically all rice and under-ripened avocado. They didn't have the eel on top as most places do but instead there was a tiny bit of eel inside. Not great! In addition to the one thing I ordered we tired several things off the conveyor belt. The lobster balls tasted like imitation crab meat. The tempura fried chicken was flavorless, and the unagi was so small I could barely taste it over all the rice. The only redeeming quality to this restaurant is their miso soup. It's delightful. Not too salty, great amounts of tofu and green onion. If I ever come back it will be only for the soup and the friendly servers.
(3)Cullen K.
Ate here for the first time and it was good. Salmon mayo had WAY too much mayo on it but i just scrapped it Onto the plate lol. The grilled salmon Kama was fabulous! Definitely the best thing we had. I LOVE the thick cuts of fish they serve here. The service was also FAST! Front of house was friendly.
(4)Emiri H.
This place doesn't even deserve a star. Disgusting fish quality. But I mean, you get what you pay for right? They also threw in human hair for me. How sweet. Not. Never going back.
(1)Denalee C.
It was a long awaited visit to this location. What felt like forever was probably two or three years. There's something about seeing my choices parade by that excites me. I loooove knowing my options and I anxiously watched each plate roll past like I little kid. A very little kid. Somehow not everything looked fresh and I really think ordering is the best way to combat this issue. The kitchen is extremely quick and the servers come around constantly to make sure you are taken care of. On the other hand, it could have been that we came in at 8pm on a Wednesday which is an hour before closing. There were three parties in front of us. We sat there and the lady came outside, called the name of the next party once. Waited a second, called again and said last call. Wow. Not exactly sensitive to the slow moving folks of the world. Anyway, the food isn't superior to any other conveyor belt sushi joints but I still enjoyed myself. The soba was incredibly large and it filled me up quick-share this dish. Hoping it won't take me another two or three years to come back.
(4)Goro W.
Kuru Kuru in Kahala Mall is always crowded, but turn over on counter and booths is fairly quick. The food is fast, fun, and satisfying. All at what I consider a very reasonable price. The service is fast and friendly, too.
(4)Angela M.
Dear Kuru Kuru, Filled with hope that the moving conveyor belt would magically capture my children's senses and cause unending delight and merriment, my family of five found its way to your doors for the first time. After about a half-hour we were seated in a booth. Which is really the only place we could be seated. I positioned the 3 year old far from the conveyor. You're welcome. The service is not the best. It is also not the worst. It hovered somewhere around mediocre. Our waters eventually were filled, someone eventually came back to the table so we could order more non-conveyor sushi (sophisticated picks like spam and hot dog sushi), and we eventually were able to get our check. As far as the sushi, I liked it! I am hardly a sushi connoisseur as I detest raw fish and most sea creatures in general, but I do love tobiko, natto, cali rolls, those little iceberg salads, and fried things. I was pleased. My children enjoyed their processed meats posing as sushi, and my husband loved it. I believe he ate three plates of hamachi. If that's what it's called. It was white-ish. I think. So yes! We will be back. Do you know what I find amusing? No, you probably don't. But I'm going to tell you. The thing I find amusing is the sneeze guard/roof thing that's over the conveyor. I mean, what is it really protecting the food from? Dust and paint chips falling from the ceiling? Condensation from an air conditioning unit? Because I feel like if someone actually coughed or sneezed or exhaled too forcefully the microscopic creatures wouldn't even notice the guard and head straight for the sushi. I think people should undergo a brief medical exam before being allowed to enter the restaurant. I suppose I see the logic of the sneeze gaurd. Without it the conveyor would just seem... gross. Alrighty. We'll be back! Sincerely, Angela
(4)Val D.
Since we were shopping in Kahala Mall, the kids and I decided to eat at Kuru Kuru. It's a smaller restaurant than the original in Pear City, and because it's a newer restaurant, it's cleaner. However, it's best to order from the waitress first than to take from the belt because 1) there weren't many choices on the belt to choose from, and 2) my son took a tempura from the belt and it was cold and soggy. Once we ordered, a whole bunch of others of the same were placed on the belt. Food: 4 stars - basically the same in taste and quality of it's original restaurant. It's a little pricey, but still somewhere the kids like to eat at. Service: 4 stars - a bit nicer, but if they call your name 3x in a row, and you're not around, they will bypass you. However, the wait was pretty long since it's a smaller restaurant, and there's no seats inside, so we needed to wait outside. At least it's still covered since it's in the Mall. Waiting outside though, tempts the kids to wander somewhere else since the movie theaters and Fun Factory are in nearby. Parking & location: lots since it's at Kahala Mall
(4)Amy L.
Love the cheap poke options for huge portions. Nice place to chill, hang out and nibble on plates of sushi. While it's not the best sushi it's decent for conveyor belt. Place is a bit run down but server was very attentive.
(3)Claire F.
As much as I love high quality (and high priced) sushi being served to me on those wooden planks by the authentic Japanese sushi chef behind the high and mighty sushi bar, I love the novelty and fun of conveyor belt sushi too! Kuru Kuru, in my opinion, takes the crown for the best balance of quality and cost. Sorry, Genki. Cuts of fish seem fresher and bigger here than at its competitors. Prices are cheaper too. There's a wider variety of items on the menu, the restaurant is generally pretty clean, and they have this awesome $8 poke bowl which is steal since they pile it high! ( yelp.com/biz_photos/kuru… ) I also appreciate the service. The waitresses working here are very pleasant (can't say that much about other places...) and always ask to fill up my water or tea before my cup is empty. The wait time at this newer, cleaner location in Kahala Mall seems much better than its original Aiea location, where I last waited for about 30-45 minutes. The wait in Kahala Mall is also more comfortable, with its covered mall AC and its abundance of stores to peruse while waiting for a seat. Yay! Always my go-to place when I'm craving sushi on a budget!
(4)Thomas P.
Kuru kuru sushi gets very busy and expect to wait if you go during lunch or dinner. But the wait is worth it as their food is always fresh, hot, and you're able to order anything off the menu so it's the freshest you can get. Their portion sizes are larger than most sushi restaurants, and taste the best of any place I've visited. Worth the wait, the counters always the best place to sit as you can see everything coming at you on the conveyor belt
(5)Michael C.
LUNCH........That inevitable mid-day meal that some skip, most can't miss it, some may eat late, or others may meet friends to catch up. Recently, I had a "lunch date" with some good friends. We hadn't seen each other in a while, and I suggested "sushi" for lunch. Thankfully no one objected to dining at Kuru Kuru. This was my first time at this location, and thank goodness they are located in an air-conditioned mall because it was HOT outside on the day I dined here. LOCATION: Near the Kahala Mall Consolidated Theatres in the former space occupied by Carl's Jr. SETTING: Clean and bright. The restaurant is comprise of booths and counter seats facing the belt the sushi plates travel on. FOOD: I tried: Spicy Tuna, Kabocha (Pumpkin) Tempura, Chicken Karaage, Salmon, Seared Ahi, and Spicy Inari. All told, all the items I selected were fresh, good quality, and a good portion size. The standouts, for me in particular, were the spicy tuna (good flavor & generous portion), kabocha tempura (something different; large slices of tempura), and the spicy inari. I usually have 1 or 2 plates of the spicy tuna at Kuru Kuru's direct competitor, and I have to admit the portions never seem so "healthy" in comparision to KK. Regarding the spicy inari, I have seen this before at Genki, but it never looked as appetizing as it did during my visit to KK. After watching my friend eat her portions, I immediately ordered my own plate. SERVICE: Excellent. I truly appreciated that the servers/staff came to periodically check on our table. They provided refills on tea and water in a timely manner, and our cups/glasses were never empty. Orders were also dropped off within an acceptable amount of time from placing the order. Bottom Line: Decent quality. Portion sizes satisfactory. Great service. I'll be back surely!
(4)Christian V.
All I want was a all spicy don. Not mix or salmon. And choke shells in my scallop mayo. And I got charge for what I spitted out, and Cleary u saw the size of those fckers. I thought I broke a tooth.
(3)Michael C.
I am totally a fan of the service, from start to finish we had really great service. Let me start by saying that we went around 3:30/4:00pm and there were about a dozen people already in there. We signed in and waited outside and we were seated in about 5 minutes. They had already placed water for us before we sat down and served us hot tea promptly after that. Then she gave us time to look over the menu before coming back couple of minutes later to take our order. Through out the meal they checked in our us to see how we were doing and if there was anything else we wanted to order. At one point as one of the sushi guys was on his way home he stopped to talk to us. Foodwise, I like that there is stuff for the wife who doesn't eat raw stuff to eat like the hotdog sushi, spam sushi, etc while I can enjoy my fish and other stuff. Oh and items like the spam actually taste really good. I tried one of her spam sushi and i can say that the spam was nicely fried with just enough of a nice crunch to it. So it is a win win for me. I would totally come back again.
(4)Scott K.
Kuru Kuru in Kahala Mall has been going down hill. The wife and I have been here about a half dozen times and this might have been the last time at this location. Here are my notes: 1. Waited about 10 minutes to get a seat while there were at least a 8 chairs available at the bar and we were number 2 on the list. First couple, didn't show. 2. Took a while to get an order in considering there were 4 servers hanging around by the register with no one paying. 2 were walking around but mostly by the tables. 3. Servers kept going over my head to put order slips on the bar. It was very irritating. They need to find a better spot that doesn't interfere with patrons. 4. Fish was not fresh - at least the ahi and salmon I ordered. 5. Did prices get more expensive over the last few months? Quality of the food doesn't reflect that. And when did the dons price change to $9.95? 6. Kalbi chicken sauce was very strong and sweet. Too much sugar. 7. Ume maki was the worst I've ever had. Like eating something dipped in vinegar. I should have told the couple that sat down next to me, not to order that. On the contrary, we went to Genki at Ward the very next day. Wonderful service and much better quality food. We had to order the ume to compare and it tasted like ume should. It's too bad we're not closer to the Kuru Kuru in Pearl City. I've never had a bad experience there.
(1)Gary N.
One interesting thing is that Kuru Kuru Sushi actually translates into sushi-go-around in Japanese. The sushi on the belt goes round and round, round and round!. It felt like a dream watching such fresh and delicious sushi and fruit circling the belt. It was pretty tantalizing as I wanted to grab one of everything, but alas, it wasn't meant to be... I'm still dieting. I took my mom out for lunch and we stopped by a little after 11 am this past Thursday. I chose Kuru Kuru Sushi because I like the name, but also because I have never been to this location before. We got lucky as there was no wait and no line! I managed to get 5 different red plates off of the belt and tried some of my mom's watermelon. I settled on the Dynamite Roll, Salmon, Hamachi, Shrimp, and Seared Ahi. Quality was top-notch with the ingredients fresh, the temperature on raw items ice cold, and perfect flavors. My mom and I had hot green tea and water and we constantly were refilled, which was nice. During the meal, the servers were very attentive asking at least 5 times if everything was okay. I noticed some things that may disturb some people, but was fine with me. If you look up at the ceiling there are vents that let the air conditioning come through. These vents are right above the sushi-making area and also above the conveyor belt. They were very dusty. Also, when the employees were seating people, they accidentally had one extra setting. This setting included water and hot tea. A minute later the extra setting was removed and the hot tea was poured back into a tea pot. Service was half very friendly and nice, and half serious and impatient. Half of the employees that we interacted with were really nice. The other half were all business and did not smile. An example of the seriousness and impatience was when my mom was offered more water. She was self-absorbed and intrigued by the sushi-making video on the TV and did not respond promptly to the server. The server looked partially angry that my mom was taking a moment to respond. The meal came out to about $40 after tax and tip for 11 plates (9 red at $3.25 each and 2 wood at $1.75 each) of sushi and fruit. It was not too bad for the amount of food. Will stop by again if I'm in the neighborhood!
(4)Dobash C.
Kurukuru is usually my place of choice for fast, cheap sushi. But our experience today was lame. First, our names were on the wait list but 2 of our friends were seated in a booth and offered us to eat with them. We sat down with them and was told that we needed to leave because it's not fair for other people who are waiting to eat. Fair enough. But two minutes later, our name was called and we were seated at a booth. To me, the staff would've been better off allowing us to sit with our friends to open up a booth for another party. Money lost. Which brings me to my next issue. All of the prices of plates have increased. A poke bowl is now $9.95. Red plates are $3.50. Even the portions are smaller. I think I'm going to have to take a look at genki again.
(1)Anthony B.
I used to come here very regularly for their $6.95 poke don. I understand the need for a price increase, but a $3 hike is a bit excessive. I refuse to pay $9.95 and I will not be returning.
(1)Jenny 1.
So my family and I came to dine for a late lunch early dinner. We ordered from the Menu rather then take items off the belt (which did not look fresh at all, like it's been there awhile). My first bite I notice the rice was very mushy but I kept eating cause I was so hungry but half way thru my food I so happen to be on my last bite of garlic hamachi, the fish falls off the bed of rice and reveals what looks like a small, curled and thick pubic hair. I was disgusted and pissed off! Spitting it out and gagging my husband showed the waitress the hair. No apologies she offered to replace it. Like HELL NO I said and she just offered to take that one plate away. Like REALLY??? just one plate?! Seriously they used to be my go to sushi spot and now it's my NEVER GOING BACK list! After years of being a loyal patron, kuru kuru you have truly turned me off. I had to tell the couple next to me cause I'm sure they seen me spit my food out in disgust. Wasn't trying to ruin their meal but I had to let them know what was up and for them to CHECK their food!
(1)Victoria C.
Ok I will have to say.. I am now a fan of Kuru Kuru :x What got me hooked? Their spicy tuna don and their salmon sushi w/onions!! The salmon they give is a pretty thick piece and seems a little more "fresh." Another fav is the tempura kabocha tempura. I will say Kuru Kuru is probably equally the same as Genki. But the spicy tuna at Kuru Kuru is more mayo-y and Genki's is a little more spicy. So just depends on your preference. When I'm looking for cheap decent sushi, Kuru Kuru hits the spot. There is usually a wait during busy hours but it typically goes by pretty fast.
(4)Jannet L.
Okay been here few times more now. With same cousin. She still goes nuts over it. Still wouldn't wait too long for it but hafta admit better than genki.
(3)Laine K.
Yelp 100 Challenge #9/100 I've been coming to Kuru Kuru here at Kahala Mall since they opened several years ago and it's my go to place for fast sushi. Between Genki and Kuru Kuru, I would take Kuru Kuru every time. The sushi is much more fresh and the quality is a notch above Genki. For example the Hamachi here does taste much fresher than Genki. Sometimes it isn't the greatest quality (but what do you expect for under $3.00 for two pieces of hamachi), but it is fresh and I'm happy with it. Also the $1.50 pumpkin tempura is so awesome. I mean 5 pieces of pumpkin tempura for that price is FANTASTIC! Just as a tip I would order that from the server than getting it off the belt. Another item I really like is the salmon skin and salmon kama with the sauce. You gotta get it with the sauce. Speaking of fresh the ika here is much more better than genki as well. The quality is much better and it is fresher. I enjoy the Temaki ikura which again is a great price and never disappoints. Last but not least the Ahi bowls for just under $8.00 is a deal! I like them all and usually get the mixed don which is two selections in one. The staff here has changed somewhat since they opened and that is expected, but they are always friendly and fill up my tea/water. I do miss the sushi chef Lance that was there, but he moved on to another place. Word of advice, come early as it's very busy during lunch hour and dinner. I usually get there about 11:00 am, but you can get a seat at the conveyor belt easily by 11:30 am and around 4:30 - 5:00 pm for dinner to be safe. Also, when school is out in the summertime it is much busier during the day. Another tip I forgot to mention and thanks to Garry Y is I order from the staff when I come in as it is usually fresher. Thanks again Garry! So if you are looking for a quick bite for sushi at reasonable prices than give Kuru Kuru a try.
(5)Tobie W.
Best conveyer belt sushi in the hawaii Kai and kahala area. Servers are always welcoming and nice, constantly asking for water/tea/orders, and you definitely can't go wrong with their huge poke dons! Personally, I like to get their spicy salmon don mainly because it has onions on top! Great place for a quick dine in or take out! Warning! Since it's so good, it gets crowded!
(4)Jimmy L.
I finally came back with a group of friends and saw a new staff. They were all on their game and I think I can finally start coming back to Kuru Kuru again. Food: The quality of food is just as good as I remember it. Nori is crispy on their sushi and the spicy ahis are packed . However, they are actually really smart with placement. If you ever noticed, Genki sushi minimizes the rice and stacks the ahi inside the wrap. Kuru Kuru stacks the rice to the top 1/5 then stack the ahi on top. Either way though, you are definitely getting a bigger bang for your buck. Service: The difference now is the service is pretty top knotch. They did not skip our name... thank goodness. We got our waters and teas refilled quite frequently. It was easy to put our orders in and they even came out fairly quickly. Again, even if they don't come to ask, don't hesitate to ask yourself. No shame! They're always willing to help. Conclusion: Kuru Kuru faith restored.
(5)K G.
One of the worst sushi dining experiences ever. -As my husband held the door open for us to enter a worker bolts out past us (just rude, no manners) -No sushi on the belt (overheard a server telling another customer it was too slow to put anything out) -We were sat at a noticeably dirty table so my husband got up to get a rag We should have left by then but decided to still give it a chance. -We ordered and the taste was ok but portions were small for the price -Still hungry we were going to order more but the server didn't come back It was then we decided to leave. $31 later and still hungry. Waited to talk to the manager...she was tied up with someone else. Lesson learned...should've checked yelp first because reviews were not great. Zero stars for them but we're forced to give a rating.
(1)Sachi Y.
Unfortunately the staff cares more about getting off of work rather than making money and taking customers. I have been a customer to this place EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT. Its 8:30 and they close at 9:00pm. They REFUSED TO take my husband and I. We asked to make an exception because of customer loyalty. They said NO. UNBELIEVABLE!!!! They said there was a party of 9 and a party if 4 and they couldn't take us. We asked to sit at the "bar" instead of a booth and again they said NO. I guess the employees/owners care more about getting off of work than their customers and making money. I will NEVER COME BACK! If I could rate them NO STARS - I would.
(1)Lisa K.
Great place for families! I see many strollers parked alongside the booths they have. It gets crowded, especially when it first opens and mealtimes, so plan ahead. Don't forget to sign in (with your booth request if you want) because they don't take reservations. Try their garlic hamachi, salmon, and ebi- they put some kind of awesome garlic mayo and cook the top! Yuuuuuum!
(4)Sasha L.
I had my doubts when I walked into this restaurant. It has bright fluorescent lighting and there was no music playing for the first ten minutes I was there..I felt like I was in a hospital. The sushi portions were tiny and the colors looked a little off.. I almost didn't want to eat here. But.. I ordered salmon nigiri. It really was decent for Kaiten sushi! It tasted a lot better than it looked. The only gross thing was the salmon sashimi.. There were bones in two of my sashimi slices. I've never had that happen to sashimi before and it was kind of gross.. I'll be back but maybe no more sashimi..
(3)Scott P.
Not a bad place for conveyor belt sushi. I'd recommend going earlier though (we came by at 7:45pm). Although it wasn't crowded...the selection on the belt was limited and many had been circulating for some time. Ordering fresh is good...but considering it wasn't crowded many of the fresh orders took some time to come out.
(3)Julia S.
You know, I like Kuru Kuru. I do. I accept that it's not the best quality, and I accept that it's filled with teenage workers who just want to go home. But despite that, I find myself wanting to come here, and I prefer it to Genki. Location: Theater side of the mall, where old Carl's Jr. used to be. The place itself is medium sized, but with the amount of traffic Kuru Kuru gets expect a long wait. I've been lucky and have come with only a few names down before me, but during peak times the wait can get up to 40 minutes. My main love for the establishment is IT'S CLEAN. I'm so tired of places smelling like poop and looking like poop. I'm glad they've kept up the maintenance pretty well. The dishes are priced fairly, and I haven't bitten into anything rancid or gross so yay! My water is usually filled, and my green tea warm and promptly taken care of as well. Quality is better than Genki, and I like their rice here more. Fish is usually decent tasting, and even their ahi tataki isn't bad. I've ordered their salmon a few times and it wasn't that bad, not fishy or slimy. The ginger is sometimes old and tastes/looks like it's been in the container for a while. It's just one of those places you find yourself wanting to go to even though it may not be the cheapest and it may not be the best. Like a Taylor Swift song. ....
(4)Sam M.
Delicious. Much better than genki sushi. (And a lot cheaper too) The spicy ahi gunkan was my favorite.
(5)Tammy C.
Omg. I know where my freshman 20 came from haha. Kuru Kuru takes the cherry. I love this place for its convenience, cheap prices, and pretty decent sushi. I worked right across the street from Kahala Mall and found that this was the go-to spot. I eventually found myself here ... at least once a week with my boyfriend. We started to go a bit less when we feared mercury poisoning after having so much fish :P So let me break down my review for you- Service: You SHOULD NOT expect much from a conveyor belt joint. They seat us, ask us to fill up on hot tea or water, special dishes if needed, and tally up our dishes. That's about it. It is no biggie to me bout the service. Atmosphere: It's a pretty good sized lot at Kahala. Although, I do think they should expand for more seating. Them long lines .. I stay hungry waaaay too long. It is well kept and the decor is minimal. Flat screen center of restaurant is quite entertaining heh. I give the atmosphere an "A." Food: I saved the best for last. I have tried a lot of sushi and Kuru Kuru's value per plate tickles my fancy ... entices my tastebuds ;) The menu rotates off and on depending what's out. You never know what you're going to get on a certain day or even hour. I suggest ordering if you don't see something on the belt. Portions are beyond fair for price. Definitely recommend the mixed don. I have had only great experiences here. Would recommend Kuru Kuru to anyone and everyone. Would go every day if I did not fear mercury poisoning. Btw, I only have 3 official Yelp check ins. Most times I forget to check in because I just dive in to the food LOL.
(5)Joanna L.
I've been putting off writing this review for many months now. The night I realized I hadn't yet written a review for this place was the same night I had my first horrible experience. It was so bad, I didn't come back for maybe half a year. I decided I would put off writing the bad review because I did have many good experiences in the past. I was hoping that it was just a fluke or an off night. That night, my mom had called me asking if I wanted to take out dinner from Kuru. I called in our order and went to go pick it up. Our usual order consists of one (sometimes two) dons and an order of kabocha. I happily came home and opened up our food. My mom said the ahi wasn't fresh. The kabocha was cold and soggy. It was definitely an old order that had been sitting on the conveyor belt for way too long. Gross! Why are they pawning old food off on me? I just don't think it's the customer's fault when the employees make too much deep fried food and it turns soggy before it gets sold. Just because you have that leftover, doesn't mean you should be pawning it off to paying customers. I was pretty disappointed so it definitely took me a while to come back and when I did finally did, it was yet another upsetting experience. This time, I ordered for lunch take out. (I would like to point out that I don't only do take out. I am usually eating in.) So one of my favorite things to order is the mix don. It normally comes with spicy ahi and ahi poke ontop a bowl of rice, but I like to get the spicy salmon and spicy ahi instead. The best thing about this order is that the fish would be piled on high. There would be as much fish as there is rice, if not more! Even when you do take out, they would stuff that container to maximum capacity! It's really such a great deal that I had to order it every single time! This time was no different. I ordered the don and an order of the kabocha. When I brought it home, I realized that once again, the kabocha was cold and soggy; but the amount of fish they gave me for my don had dwindled. You could clearly see two little scoops of fish: one scoop of spicy ahi and one scoop of spicy salmon. This was a BIG disappointment for me because the container used to be completely packed full! Now, it's only sorta full. See pics. Also, the employees here don't seem to be very attentive. They're constantly in the corner talking story even when someone is at the counter, waiting to be helped or rung up. I am saddened by the fact that this place has disappointed me so much that within a year's time, my opinion has gone from 5-stars down to 1, but I refuse to keep paying for old food that should really be put in the garbage.
(1)Moli Y.
I love Kuru Kuru sushi, but not so much the Kahala location. I did noticed that the cut of fish here is smaller than the Pearlridge locale. A bit bummed out that they are not consistent, but bigger than Genki Sushi's and way cheaper. The wait can be quite long, so be prepare to wait if eating during peak hours. The kambocha tempura is delicious cause is not triple dipped in batter like other sushi places. The salmon skin is also a must try. Their variety of sushi served are both traditional with a local twist. Any sushi lover palate can be satisfied dining here.
(3)Nelson Q.
Are you serious??? Can't believe the high marks Kuru Kuru has gotten!?!?!? We were on this side of town, and the location closer to us in Aiea is forever packed, so we stopped in to see what the hype was all about... Carousel style, pay by the color coded plates, etc....Very slim pickings, and I don't get why COLD deep fried and grilled stuff are going round and around? Cold Salmon and Hamachi Kama, soggy tempura? YUCK! at what point do they get removed because the quality is shot? I can put away ALOT of sushi but during our time here, I consumed FOUR pieces... one order of salmon, and an order of saba. these pieces were awkwardly huge and could've easily made 8 pieces. HUMANGOUS pieces of cold flavorless rice covered with huge cuts of fish that makes you feel like a horse chewing on hay!!!! The Sushi dude needs to stop playing Cassanova with the ladies and focus on making better sushi.... You can definitely see that its about quantity, and not quality here....ALOHA!!!
(1)Shannon G.
Literally just walked out and I will not be back. A nearly 30% price hike on the dons. Their service has always been hit or miss and with these changes Kuru Kuru is no longer worth it. No wonder the line outside was nonexistent.
(1)Micah A.
SHAME ON YOU, KuruKuru, increasing drastically on the Dons! Really? Did (whoever the owner) got too damn greedy just because their dons are so popular? I have high hopes on this place and this would always be my goto sushi place but now I guess I have to go back to Genki Sushi since at least their pricing is more reasonable than this. Not like your fish is imported from Japan. Please, you aren't fooling anyone! Sad to say but I think today would be my LAST day of eating here. Thanks a lot for fucking my hopes on this place! You just lost a loyal customer and now I will tell people not to go to the ripoff place.
(1)Sally Y.
Good Sistah/Bro: - Spicy Ahi Don, but don't forget the Unagi Sauce (additional charge tho) - Ume maki: I'm a Ume lover, and never had this in Japan - If the line is long, take out and eat on the tables - Salmon Don No Good Sistah/Bro: - small place = line can be long - up charge on avocado $2.50 for two small THIN slices - table for 6 ~ 7 at the very most: ADULT tho
(2)Alyssa M.
I like this location much more then the aiea one. The food is a bit more pricey but you can tell they give much more and the staff helps you much more here since they're not as busy. I commonly come here on breaks from school at KCC and their service has always been fast.
(5)Alysha K.
I think people hyped me up too much. They said kuru kuru is better than Genki, but I'll have to disagree. I don't know if maybe I just got the wrong items, or not the right items, but I tried to order the same things I usually order at Genki, and was disappointed. Also, when I ordered from the waiter, it took awhile before they brought it to me. I thought they forgot. And when I received, for example the chawanmushi, it was cold. I hear the spicy ahi bowls are good, but that's one thing I didn't try. I would actually even recommend Sushi San over Kuru Kuru. Sorries!
(2)Kylie O.
***Highlights***: GARLIC AHI, Fruit, The GOOD Fruit Punch! Entertaining for all ages! Kid friendly Sushi! Reasonably priced if you are looking for a sit down restaurant in the mall. Great to go to with close friends. Casual family dinner out. Fun for kids. Negatives: GUARANTEE WAIT LIST! No reservations, sushi lovers only. What can I possibly say about Kuru Kuru. Its just one of those places that are NOT super AMAZING, but yet I keep going back. VERY family friendly, and the staff is really great. They do their best with the amount of people that are trying to get sat at this place. Not super immaculate. But clean enough to eat at. Price/Food: Price of food really depends on what you like to eat and how much you are eating. This place is great for the light eater who is trying to eat with the big eater. Or the cheap eater who doesn't want to look cheap, although they are eating with the person who doesn't care. As for the food itself, I like how there are other things out side of sushi for non-sushi eaters to eat. Honestly I keep coming back here because there is a ton of variety for my 80 year old grandmother who doesn't have a very balanced diet, let alone enough food on a daily basis. She has dentures which make it hard for her to eat sometimes, so Kuru Kuru gives her a chance to try and eat different foods with different textures; without costing me a fortune or leaving me feeling guilty for wasting. The plates are pupu style and there is everything from your basic cucumber maki, to a cup of mandarin oranges. Service/Ambiance: The staff is very nice here, and you can tell they are doing their best. The wait is not fun, but its in a mall so you can kill time walking around the stores next door. The sign in sheet is right at the door. So just look to see how many people are before you & gauge from there. Not the most sanitary of restaurants, but there is no visible trash or anything. The one thing that does drive me crazy though, is its wet tables and chairs. I can't stand when I slide into a wet booth seat. Or, also when I find used plates hidden on the floor of the booths. But this isn't the staffs fault really, its just cheap-o's trying to get out of paying for a plate or two. Ive seen this once or twice already. Apparently this is not unusual. I like that the location is in Kahala Mall. The Mall is so small, and there is so many security officers walking around. Kuru Kuru is very family friendly, just like the mall. .
(3)Elim N.
Two locations: one in Kahala Mall and one in Pearl Kai shopping center. Both locations are great but the Kahala location is usually less busy with more parking. What I miss is the old mix donburi! That bowl was the greatest invention ever with large bowl of your choice between spicy ahi, spicy salmon, and ahi poke. The bowl also came with a piece of salmon and ahi sashimi and the rice was garnished with tobiko eggs and sweet egg. But those are the days of the past. Now my usual typical order is: Mixed Don [$6.95]: Half Spicy Ahi and Half Spicy Tuna. An awesome combo poke bowl with your favorites. You also have a choice to choose Ahi Poke. Tempura Pumpkin [$1.75]: A great deal of 5 pieces of tempura pumpkin. Its crispy and sweet. Best is to always order it yourself so it comes out hot and fresh! Ocean Salad [$1.75]: Hopefully fresh from the ocean. Natto [$1.75]: For those who dare. Its healthy! Kuru Kuru has changed since they added a new location but they are still great competition for Genki Sushi. BRING BACK THE OLD DONBURI PLEASE!
(4)Hilary J.
Don plates increased $3 a plate... Definitely just lost a loyal customer. Used to come her 2-3 times a week
(2)Norm G.
Kuru Kuru Sushi is a fine place to have a light meal before seeing a movie at the Kahala Mall theaters, since it is just adjacent to the theater. They charge according to the color of the plate that your selection is on. Get a little sushi, have some edamame, maybe a little salad and green tea, and you're good to go!
(4)Crystal P.
Was feeling very adventurous tonight so I convinced my boyfriend to give kurukuru a chance (he's a genki sushi guy). We drove to kahala mall from Mililani (just for the nice drive and I needed to get out after having a stressful week). Had to be one of the biggest mistake I've made this week. The ahi poke was pretty spicy, the Kalbi chicken sauce was too sweet, the Namasu. Hmph. That's not Namasu! Idk what I ate!! The biggest downfall was the fact they got rid of the fried garlic ahi. Also, be prepared for the HIGH price rises. Like others, I will stick to the Aiea location (hope that didn't change for the worst too)
(1)M R.
Kuru Kuru is way better then Genki. Karage chicken & kabocha tempura is unreal. Love it here!
(5)Mel A.
Kuru kuru is okay for a sushi joint. There customer service skills need work. There's one girl that works there that's really loud and annoying cos her main focus is mainly on friends that walk in for a bite to eat. There are only two workers over there that I really like and are very efficient at their jobs. The rest of them look like they don't want to be there or are way too busy talking to each other. The sushi is good, not the most outstanding sushi ive had but it's alright. Whenever I go in there, there is no sushi on the belt at all. Or if there is its fried things that look like someone threw up and put the plate back on the belt. Sometimes they don't put things on even when it's packed. It's pretty surprising. There spicy ahi is good. Their spicy ahi don taste alright. I like the amount they give you way better than genki. Unagi is good. They are the only place I know of that will sell you q while soft shell crab for a very reasonable price and it taste really good. The only thing that probably is the highlight of me going here is the tempura pumpkin :3 Its the best. Way better than the horrible nothings they give you at genki. Overall, They have some good parts to them. Foods okay Service needs working on. And overall appearance needs work. Why would you want to eat somewhere where the workers themselves look like they don't even want to be there or are too busy being interested in each other.
(2)Tammie C.
To satisfy my husband's constant craving of sushi, Kuru Kuru in Kahala Mall is the only place I will agree to go to. I'm not a huge sushi fan. I am however a big lover of poke! Which is why I ALWAYS order their ahi poke don. As you can see by my picture, it is piled high and fresh! I love the little crunch of what I'm guessing is hawaiian salt that is perfectly spread throughout. I will always say Kuru Kuru is 100 times better than Kozo Sushi or Genki. I will even go as far as saying, I'd rather eat at Kuru Kuru than Yanagi Sushi! I kept hearing such high reviews about Yanagi Sushi, but was extremely disappointed in the taste and the lack of service...not to mention their prices. In conclusion, if you are looking for a conveyor belt sushi type of place...Kuru Kuru is the place to go!
(4)Saige B.
I've been here a few times before but this was the first time that there wasn't any sushi on the belt. Maybe a few plates of tamago and tofu but that was pretty much it. We had to wait about a half an hour before the belt started to fill up with sushi. In the mean time we had ordered a few plates so we were fine waiting for other plates to come out. We had come just before the dinner rush so there was no wait. Pretty good sushi. My favorite it the Garlic Ahi. The service is usually spot on with orders and refills however this time they seemed lackadaisical. Wasn't asked if I need a refill until the end of our meal and had to flag down a waiter to put in our orders. Perhaps it was the crew working tonight I wouldn't hold it against them.
(4)Vivian H.
Must Order: Spicy Ahi or Ahi Poke Wonton, Spicy Tempura I'm in a weird poke phase... after years of not eating any raw fish its the only thing I want! We got a little tired of Genki so I wanted to give Kuru Kuru another shot because of all of the great reviews for here. Yes it's a long wait so don't come here already hungry. It will be brutal. AHI POKE NIGIRI (3 belly rubs): overall I liked the ahi here better than Genki. It seems less stringy and a little more fresh. The ahi poke nigiri had a good amount of ahi in it mixed with your usual poke seasonings. Although I wasn't super excited about this nigiri, I do think it was pretty good. SPICY AHI INARI (4 belly rubs): this is usually our favorite dish. We love the flavor of the bean curd with the sushi rice and it being topped off with some spicy ahi is even better! Kuru Kuru's version might be a little too mayo-y for my taste but I still enjoyed it! AHI POKE WONTON (5 belly rubs): We LOVE this one! First of all, who can turn down a big deep fried wonton? Then top it off with some ahi poke or spicy ahi? Winnahs! The only thing I wish was a little different was rather than strands of onion, it actually be finely chopped into the poke. SPICY TEMPURA (5 belly rubs): Another usual favorite. Although I still think the spicy ahi is a bit mayo-y for me, I liked this variation of the spicy tempura over Genki's. The tempura had a good flavor and I really liked the cucumber in the roll. And the biggest difference was it wasn't drowning in sauce so you can really appreciate the different components of it. SERVICE: Yes there are a bunch of teenagers working there, but I was surprised how attentive they were (in their slight teenage-ry attitude). I appreciated being regularly asked if I wanted tea refilled or if I was ok. So far as teenage employees go, they've got a good start with just some room for improvement. OVERALL: I would definitely come back to fulfill my sushi cravings!
(4)Erin K.
Kuru Kuru used to be my favorite place to get cheap sushi (after a bad experience at genki, my husband and I would only come here!) but after not being able to eat raw fish for 9 months, we came for dinner and left very disappointed. It was last Friday night and surprisingly it wasn't too crowded being that it was dinner time AND the weekend. We only had to wait for about 10 minutes for a booth. As soon as we were seated, we began to dig in and we also placed an order with our waitress. It wasn't until my second plate that I realized that the rice tasted a little "mushy but still crunchy on the inside rice" I mentioned it to my husband and he agreed that the rice wasn't cooked well. I was soooooo disappointed because even if the fish was perfectly good, the rice just ruined it. I decided to mention it to our waitress who apologized and said she'd let the kitchen know. There we were sitting with all these plates of sushi with mushy/undercooked rice. We ate the fish, leaving the rice and decided not to order anything else. Our bill was $33 and I was not happy to pay that much for "bad" sushi. I really wish I had asked to speak to a manager... We will probably not be going back to kuru kuru again =(
(1)Jerry L.
We were at the mall before our flight back, and really hungry. Kuru Kuru had enough variety to satisfy the different palates of the whole group. Pro tips when eating mall sushi: Salmon - can't mess up salmon, since most are from farms Scallops - throw enough mayo and tobiko on it and it'll all be ok California rolls - never heard imitation crab not being "fresh" Cooked dishes that were pretty good: Fried chicken nuggets Even with the different $$ for the different colored plates, most people can get their sushi fix satisfied for under $20. Fact that there was a wait, mostly locals, was a good sign. New plates come through pretty quick, but noticed that some of the less popular choices kept going round and round.
(4)Lori F.
For some reason, I think Genki Sushi is better than this place. Maybe it's the texture of the rice? To me it seems like the rice is more soggy here. The prices seem a little lower than Genki & the sushi is more filling. Also would suggest getting here a few minutes before they open, at 11am, because the place literally filled up for lunch by 11:02am. I did think the service here was pretty good. As busy as it was, we were checked on quite often. That's about it...nothing really stood out for me.
(3)Jayson L.
Affordable sushi, good service, and smiles. If you want to eat sushi and you don't want to spend $50 per visit then kuru kuru is the place to go. they are on the cheaper price for different type of sushi. they have so many choice to pick and they are all under $5 per plate. usually 5 plate makes me full and cost me less then $20 , which is good price for sushi. i'm a fan and i come to eat here quite often.
(4)Amanda A.
I have to be honest and say I was a little disappointed when coming here. My bf and I usually go to the Kuru Kuru in Aiea, across from Pearlridge. This is my bf's go to place when he craves sushi. Although I don't eat sushi, I like coming here and enjoy the other things on the menu like the tempura mushroom and the chicken karaage. We were in the Kahala area and my bf was craving for sushi so we thought we'd go to Kuru Kuru. Being fans of the other location we thought we'd be getting the same level of service and food but we were greatly disappointed. We got there around 4:30 and it was pretty empty so we were seated right away. There was nothing on the belt besides the wasabi, which was understandable since there wasn't too many people so we had to order everything. Once we were seated, we were used to someone coming right away and asking if we wanted to order anything but no one came. It kind of irritated me because there was a good amount of employees and about 10 guests, you'd think you'd get more attention but no. We waited about 5 minutes and then I just got fed up so my bf flagged down a waiter. Our food came out in okay time. Let's say I wasn't used to waiting that long for my food. Still there was no food on the belt. It got busier around 5:00pm with almost all seats filled and still they didn't fill the belt so we had to order again. This time we put in everything we wanted so we wouldn't have to wait around again. Our food took a little longer and there was some things that we ordered that never came out. I thought I'd just be patient and wait but after 15 minutes of waiting I just asked for it again. Then I wait for about another 10 minutes and finally it comes out. At that point I was already over it. What's more upsetting was the quality of the food. My mushroom tempura was mushy and not crunchy at all, my salmon skin had way too much starch on it, and my bf's poke bowl looked awful. I could tell they don't know how to cut fish because they totally butchered it. Let's say the next time we go to Kuru Kuru it'll be at the original location. It's a little sad that they don't have the same quality of service and food at both locations.
(2)Derek S.
Had to wait for our car at Jiffy Lube so decided to Stop by for lunch. We went around 11am which was nice because there was no line and there's always a line here but after going here a few times a haven't been a really Big Fan of Kuru Kuru, I'm not sure if it was just the time we go but the Sushi doesn't taste as great as i hope for considering that amazing reviews this place gets. The sushi is a little small compared to the normal place we go, and the rice was really mushy which made the sushi taste soggy. On a positive note there Ika Karage and Chicken Karage was very Ono. Environment was OK, we normally see a long line so the counters are showing a lot of wear as well as the dishes there using. I think it might be time for a remodel. All in all it was OK, it was convenient for us at the time so we went.
(3)Tayla J.
UPDATED: A year later from my last review and i am happy to say My experience is much better! Fresh food on the line, more options and food overall taste better then Genki. Only downside is it is an hour wait EVERYDAY at dinner time, probably because there is no other Kuru Kuru any where close to Kahala. Hope they open one in Hawaii Kai.
(3)John S.
Kuru Kuru Sushi has quite possibly got to be the worst conveyor belt sushi joint I've ever had the displeasure of dining at. The waitstaff are a bunch of teenagers who give off an attitude that screams they don't want to be there and that the only reason why they're there is because they get paid to do their jobs poorly. The waitress I got was timid and didn't make me want to order anything. She made no suggestions, had no smile on her face, and gave me a puzzled look when I sent back a dish. Thankfully, another waitress was quick to give her a signal that it was okay and I didn't have to pay for that disgusting bowl of spicy tuna. There are two reasons why I continued eating. I was hungry and the guy in the center making the sushi seemed like a nice guy. In the restaurant business being a nice guy doesn't cut it. His sushi was poorly wrapped and spilling over onto the plate. Very sloppy work for something that's supposed to be a work of art. The spicy ahi was bland. Not even soy sauce helped it. Ultimately, I sent it back along with an order of avocado maki that was unripe and bitter. It's ridiculous how poor the quality was considering there was a video showcasing how sushi was supposed to be done playing on a giant LCD mounted on the wall. After finishing my meal, I was offered tea. Once, twice, three times, possibly a few more times. I hadn't picked up or ordered any more dishes in nearly 20 minutes, yet all I was offered was tea and water. There was a queue formed outside and the table I was sitting at was prime for the next victim, yet the waitstaff failed to notice that I was finished and wanted my check. Finally a waitress noticed that I had been sitting idle for all that time and decided I probably wanted the check. The first time I dined here I was disappointed. This time, I was appalled. It would take a miracle for me to go back there a third time. Sadly, Genki Sushi is leaps and bounds better.
(1)Shayna K.
Get here early...it was packed even when we showed up at 4:30! What is the deal with this place? Why is there always a line to get it when the sushi is sooooo mediocre? I don't get it. It is cheap, I'll give it that. But every piece of sushi was like eating fast food. We coulda gone to Kozo. I don't know--I don't get the popularity of Kuru Kuru.
(2)Marko C.
I had the fastest sushi meal of my life today! Ten plates of sushi (20 pieces) in 10 minutes, flat! I should be on some kind of eating reality show! Kuru Kuru Sushi is a great place to get some sushi that is very reasonably priced and if you are rushing around (during non-peak business hours). I got here at 2:00, just stepping off my flight and hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch (or whatever slop that the airlines serve on nice warm platters with silverware). Get this: 2 plates (4 pieces) Hamachi Sushi. 2 plates (4 pieces) of Toro (fatty tuna) Sushi. 2 plates (4 pieces) of Hawaiian poke sushi. 2 plates (4 pieces) of Spicy Hawaiian Tuna Poke sushi. 1 plate (2 pieces) of Salmon (mayo & onions) sushi. 1 plate (2 pieces) of regular Salmon sushi. Twenty pieces of sushi in 10 minutes, they couldn't make the sushi fast enough for my huge appetite. Bada-boom, I was out of there. You pay by the color of the plate. Green plates are $2.10, red plates are $2.75. Sushi is made with the rice balls that are made by the machine. Fun to watch, but the machine makes the rice a bit mooshy clumpy. No problem for me because the prices rock here! Onolicious, brah!
(3)Blue M.
I got the runs after eating here even though everything I ordered was cooked since I hate raw foods. That means someone in the kitchen fucked up and contaminated the food. At least it was tasty. FYI, it gets crowded at times so plan ahead and come early.
(2)Andrew P.
Ive eatten here about three times. I have to say it was a great experiance each time. The first time was with my wife when we where dating. It was late afternoon, we stopped in for lunch. It wasnt to busy at the time. We got seated right away. I did like how the watresses didnt hover over us as we ate even though it was slow. There miso soup is a must to have. Very easy to order and pick off the line. The second time I went with my step-son right when they opened. So again not to busy, we where able to order off the menu and pick from the line. The most recent timw it was with my wife yesterday. We went at the peek of lunch time. All I can say is prepare to wait. Which for us at the time wasnt a bad them because by time we where seated we where pretty hungry. Now the wait isnt bad but they dont have a lot of seating and some people who gi there take forever eatting. No fault on the restaurant. Just people are rude. Lol. But again very easy to order. Much easier to grab off the line because more irems are coming out. The wait staff again checked on use regularly enough even though the placw was packed!!! Well worth the wait any day.
(5)Nalani A.
What a let down, I was so excited to try this place since every time I wanted to go they were busy. Went with a friend in the afternoon, we sat there for 20 minutes waiting for someone to take our order, look at us, NOTHING... Then the guy next to us said "you guys been waiting long yeah? Same thing happen to us" Yikes, the place wasn't that busy and there seemed to be lots of workers... Soooooo! ? What the heck? Get it together KuruKuru, we ended up walking out and going Genkis, at least they served us!
(1)Gary D.
Great sushi action! You can never go wrong at kuru kuru. Great sushi at great prices. Not the exact same as when they first opened, but still real good. I had the spicy ahi don, scallop mayo, spicy inari, croquette, tofu and a few plates Maguro. All was very Ono. We will be back for sure.
(5)Crissy K.
This place has taken a significant downhill tumble since it first opened. I know kaiten sushi in Hawai'i is a far cry from what you get in Japan, but at least when Kuru Kuru first arrived at Kahala Mall, it was a huge step up from Genki in terms of overall quality and selections offered. Now, not so much. When we dined at the counter around noon on Saturday, the same offerings kept circulating on the conveyor belt: ahi nigiri, kabocha tempura, somen salad, a random bowl of soba, hot dog nigiri, a few fried items . . . just the same things, over and over again. If you wanted anything else, you had to special order it -- which would have been fine, if after you ordered, things arrived in a timely manner (which they didn't). Plus, the quality of the food just wasn't what I had remembered. About the only delectable item was the kabocha tempura, which was perfect and super reasonably priced. Everything else was just eh -- kinda like Genki, except Genki usually offers more variety up front. Kuru Kuru Kahala wasn't awful, just disappointing. Based on this experience, I wouldn't bother going back.
(2)Julie Z.
Probably one of the best/cheap ahi poke sushi's I've had. We went to the one where you have the boats and it goes in a circle. I pretty much ate all the ahi poke on there haha. Yummy place
(4)Adrienne B.
I am not sure if its come across in any of my previous reviews but I love sushi. I will probably at some time get mercury poisoning from all the raw fish I eat. When I get pregnant, I will be that woman who tries my luck (or really debates it) and wants to eat raw fish. That's how much I love sushi. I didn't really discover sushi until I moved to Tampa and there was no fun sushi on belts there, and then I lived in Dayton....which is a cultural and food wasteland. So really I was lucky to have found a sushi place I loved there. AND then I moved here. SUSHI and food options everywhere. And I found sushi on a belt. I'm going to eat myself into a mumu. I went here with an open mind thinking this place may be "meh" or it may be good, but I saw the reviews here were really good. I dined solo and the food was really good and the service was top notch. My tea and water were never empty and when there wasn't something on the belt that I wanted, someone ALWAYS asked me if there was something I would like to try. I really enjoyed my experience here and the fact that you had so many options in the "small plate" sampler setting. I got to try a few new things and got to stick to a few favorites. I still don't understand the hot dog sushi, but I will probably try it one day. The tempura melon looked really good, but I was too full to try it! Will likely be back very very soon!
(4)Connie M.
The difference between Kuru Kuru and Genki is definitely the service! Servers here are constantly whizzing by because their taking orders, replacing shoyu and picked ginger, refilling drinks and etc. Food wise it is comparable to any "fast food" style sushi joint; the fish is not particularly the best quality, but for the price you're paying it is adequate. This location is a lot smaller than I expected, so expect to wait before being seated.
(4)Randy M.
Gave them another try and even worse, food not fresh, poor selection, dirty everything
(1)Denise K.
Cheap, quick, conveyor belt sushi. I love the ingen (fried green bean) nigiri and the spicy tuna don. The garlic salmon nigiri is pretty good, too. Can you really complain when dinner for two is less than $30? Amazing.
(3)lauren n.
so all i wanted was a handroll cucumber roll, i asked the girls at the cashier if they could do it they said no!!! so i asked if they could make a California roll but no crab just cucumber, again they said no!!! i dont know what the big deal is, it is a sushi restaurant they should be able to wrap a cucumber. never ever coming back here again!!!!!
(1)Jordan Aaron C.
I have only eaten at this specific Kuru kuru twice in my life. It has always been with one of my best friends, Jen. We came here within the first week it opened and it was pretty busy. I had dinner again here again last week. In comparison with the other Kuru Kuru across of Pearlz, its much cleaner (because it is newer). I also feel that there amazing Poke Bowls are smaller. Maybe they just give less poke here, but it always taste great!!!!! Every time I come here I pretty much order the same thing: 1 Mixed Don (half spicy ahi and half reg. ahi poke) 1 somen salad 1 tuna 1 fried chicken or Calamari This always fills me up. If im really hungry I order some other things. As usual, their service is amazing. There are always workers consistently walking around and asking if we need anything. They also always keep my water filled. I never have to waive down someone because my mouth is burning from the spicy ahi. I am just those people who would drink at least 4 glasses of water over dinner and I LOVE when my water is always filled. I give them a HUGE THUMBS UP for their service. As a sushi addict, their sushi never fails me. It's fresh, cheap and flavorful. You get a lil more than you pay for. I will try to make my way to the Kahala one more, and if you get there just before 6, you miss the huge crowd that comes in :)
(5)Neil W.
I gave this place a 2 star because it was 5:00 pm and they had nothing on the belt to eat. I think this is really bad since I had to order everything. How boring.
(2)Ken F.
My coworkers rave about this place so I had to try it. I can say that it's better than Genki but that's not saying much. I was told that the Spicy Ahi Don was the best in town but that is just not the case. I agree that it is large but quantity does not equal quality or value. There was not much taste and you need to add shoyu to make it taste decent. I've have much better versions from Paina and Manoa Sushi. They also raved about the value, but I ended up paying $55 for two and I think the Chirashi at Kahala sushi is a better deal. All in all, you should only go there as a last resort. Update: I made my coworker who raved about Kuku Kuru's Ahi Don try the Manoa Sushi's version and she agreed that it tasted better than Kuru Kuru's.
(2)Adonis N.
One word! Annoying! I requested for a booth! I even wrote it in bold, underlined letters! Of course the waitress could not understand what i wrote!
(1)Jhoren C.
I honestly like Genki Sushi much better after eating here at Kuru. This place is pretty small and cramped. Service was okay, we had to flag the waiter a couple times to get our orders.
(2)Jay C.
Pretty standard sushi belt style place. Can order things on the side. Easily ran up a $25 bill... sushi was fresh during the lunch hour. The spicy ahi and spicy unagi rolls I got were great. Rice just a touch warm with the right amount of rice vinegar and seasoning.. Very good about refilling your tea/water... Don't be shy about asking someone to bring you things off their menu
(3)Jake H.
Great sushi! Seeing as we aren't in japan, this is as close as you are going to get to good quality sushi. Everything that came around the belt looked fresh and everything I grabbed was. This is a good sign. Although the staff was a little slow, it took them at least 20 minutes to bring a diet coke out to our seats and then it was a regular coke and a much larger size then we asked for. Maybe she had other things on her mind but that didn't bother me that much. It's priced well and everything was delicious. :)
(5)Bert S.
I ordered the fried Ika, it took a long time to come out and had to ask twice. The coating was soft and oily. Fry oil not hot enough. We had to order tamago and one of the pieces was cut very thin. Not a place to cut corners. The ahi was thicker in general than Genki and the poke bowls are huge. We ordered ikura too and it was overfilled. I know most people would be happy to get the extra but it shouldn't be overflowing. The fried spicy mushroom were great, but that should not be the highlight of a sushi place. We'll be going back to Genki.
(2)Kim S.
I'm addicted to my new BFF. Ate here 6 times in 1 month!!! Crazy the great quality of food for the reasonable price. Economical way to get your sushi groove on. Everyday sushi. Was almost stingy & didn't want to share Kuru Kuru with peeps bc didn't want added competition for a dinner table but I don't play like that. I can live on the pumpkin tempura alone. Perfectly fried heaven. Sometimes I grab a 2nd for lunch the next day. The salmon nigiri sushi is amazingly fresh. So fun watching the machine form the uniform rice pillows for the fish's final resting place. Where else can you get hamachi kama for under $10??! Who new such delight could be provided by a mall restaurant??!
(4)Nat N.
I was a big fan of their Aiea location, and now I'm a fan of their Kahala location. It's less crowded than the one in Aiea (probably because the competition for sushi is higher in town than in Aiea) but the sushi tastes just as good. It's better than any of their competitors, that's for sure. It won't be as good as the regular sushi bars and restaurants, but this place is great for the value-minded sushi lover!
(4)Shanisse I.
Sushi Sushi Sushi. Gots to have me my sushi!!! After years of silent begging of a second Kuru Kuru thats a tad bit closer to me. I have to say.. Kuru Kuru is my fave.. The portions for the price is well worth it. Whenever I have the craving for sushi(which is everyday) I usually go to Kuru Kuru since I'm at KCC all day, four days a week. For me, I get salmon nigiri, shrimp shumai,. I love me my salmon.. ask the bf.. I am happy with just salmon sushi all day errday.. The BF gets the spicy don( it used to be a MOUNTAIN but they downsized just a tad) some ahi poke nigiri, and onion salmon. Service.. They are usually very on top of it.. Rarely will we get a server who forgets that we are waiting for something or doesn't take our order. But that is very rare. Since Kuru Kuru is so yummy, the wait can get pretty re-dicks. The most I've had to wait was forty five minutes.. But we had to kill time for the rest of our party to get here so we didn't mind. I believe that it is worth the wait. I can never get tired of Kuru Kuru.. sushi in general actually.. I hope everyone else does so that I don't have to wait such a long time to get seated. JOKES! 31 Yelps Review Challenge: #3/31
(4)Lori I.
Kuru-kuru means to turn, twirl, or go round and round. Kuru-kuru-pa, on the other hand, is a colloquialism meaning "crazy." [1] Why do people wait for hours (at the Kurukuru Pearl City) just to eat at a place that has sushi going kuru-kuru all day long? Is it for entertainment purposes? I know when I take my kids to G-sushi in Market City, we go solely to watch the boats going around and around. Or could it possibly be for the food?? I wanted to find out. LOCATION: Kahala Mall!!! This used to be Carl's Jr, and before that it was Burger King for those of you old enough to remember....it is right between the movie theaters and the elevator. HOURS: Sun-Thur 11am - 9pm, Fri/Sat 11am-10pm WAIT TIMES: on Sunday (day 2) at 4pm, it was pretty empty, no wait time. On Monday (day 3) at 11:30a, there was a 7-10 min wait because we had 4 adults and a baby. SIGN YOUR NAME ON THE LIST AT THE DOOR and DO NOT GO FAR. DONBURI bowls $7.95 You can call it a meal, but these were quite messy and hard to eat because the bowls were too small for the huge amounts of fish piled on the rice. And if you eat these, you won't have any room for anything else...they are HUGE: yelp.com/user_local_phot… KALBI CHICKEN BOWL $2.75: tender pieces of chicken doused in kalbi sauce over a bowl of hot rice. A little bit strong flavored, but I enjoyed it. This can also be ordered TO-GO. At only $2.75, it's one of the cheapest meals at the mall. They are for small appetites, but even if you order two of them, it's still $5.50. Please, keep this one a secret guys. (Don't make it like the bacon at Whole Foods, which has been yanked from the hot food bar and now stands alone behind the glass partition for 50 cents each piece!!) yelp.com/user_local_phot… NIGIRI on the $2.75 plates: we ordered hamachi and maguro. The rice is barely visible because the pieces of fish are generously cut and cover the entire rice ball. yelp.com/user_local_phot… yelp.com/user_local_phot… CORN/TUNA. MIke O.!! Who would've thought corn, tuna, and mayo on top of rice would be a good combination? That was my first corn nigiri ever, so I have nothing to compare it to, but it was damn tasty. I ate it so fast I forgot to take a picture! SHUMAI - OH MY! It's been years since my last shumai, but this one was good too! PUMPKIN (Kabocha) tempura - YESSSSSSSS. Tell your wife she was right. This was good too. It already comes with sauce on it, but I asked for more dipping sauce, which made it even more oishii. yelp.com/user_local_phot… The one problem with this type of eating is that at the end of your meal, you really don't have a clue how much food you just ate, until you count all the plates. It's too easy to keep on pulling the colorful plates off the conveyor belt. You can also order food fresh from one of the servers, if you aren't sure how long the sushi has been going kuru-kuru. I did see one of the servers pull off a plate from the belt and dump it. When I asked her why she dumped it, she said it was "looking old and it was falling apart". (it was only 30 minutes after they opened!) So why do people come here? I think it's for the kuru kuru sushi, but it could be they are just kuru kuru pa. [1] from Summer of the Big Bachi, pg 180, Naomi Hirahara
(4)w t.
4 stars because my young kids love this place. Spicy ahi and salmon onion isn't too bad for adults. Kids enjoy chicken karaage, udon, and mandarin oranges. Easy.
(4)Kuli O.
It is a conveyor belt place so one's expectations should not be too high! That said I like everything about this place and was never served any garbage. I love their kozunoko sushi and a couple of other things other places don't offer. Their sushi is much better than Genki or sushi man. There are a few regulars on the staff who always greet you and even remember your name!
(4)Cheryl S.
There's a reason this place always has a line...it's worth it! When the hubby had a hankering for sushi, we used to make the trek all the way to Aiea and wait forEVER just so that he can get his Mix Don!!! We're uber happy that they've opened this location and even though they've scaled back the size (and price) of their "Don" bowls, they still heap on the fish. Even for a non-raw-fish eater like me, there is a bevy of choices to munch on. Service here is mostly great, our hot tea and water cups are always filled. If you don't want to wait, take out service is quick or by all means go visit that less-than-mediocre conveyor belt sushi place. We're more than happy to take your place on the long list to get in! Definitely going back!!!
(5)Quijana B.
Two words--take out! I love Kuru Kuru, but I'm not fond of waiting for a table for a meal that takes less time to eat than the wait. There is a simple fix to this problem. Take out. Kahala mall has no true food court. Instead there are tables scattered through the main open area. There are also tables outside the mall. Rather than fight for a table inside the restaurant, I simply order from the menu and find a pleasant place in the mall or I take it home. This is also good because my son does not share my passion for sushi, so he can choose something from a different restaurant and we can eat together. As for the food- Kuru Kuru provides generous portions of fresh food. There is nothing unexpected, just a solid belt sushi experience. I've not experienced the service in this location, but I've eaten at the Pearlridge location many times, and service has always been very good. I much prefer Kuru Kuru to Genki, and I am so happy to see them expand.
(5)Alexandrea P.
I don't get it, every time we would pass Kuru Kuru it would be packed! Literally every single time we came to the mall, so I figured why not try this place out. My mom and I arrived early so we were seated right away. The service wasn't that great. We were seated, no greetings, no questions asked. She didn't even ask us if we wanted to start off with any drinks. Five minutes later she comes back to take our order and I swear she was just rushing us. Very rude. As for the food, I'm not sure if we just ordered the wrong things but it was all horrible except for the shumai. I prefer Genki Sushi, better food and a little less pricey. When we were done eating we had to wait a good 10 - 15 minutes for someone to give us our check which was odd since we did clean after ourselves and put all the plates to the side (pretty obvious we were done.) Anyways, never coming here again. I don't get the hype of this place. The next time I want sushi I'll be going to Genkis
(2)Ashley T.
I have only been here once and I can tell you that I am a fan. ENVIRONMENT: It's very similar to Genki Sushi. The setup where they have sushi on top of a conveyor that goes round and round. I feel the color inside is very blah...needs more color. But they do have a TV that shows you how to properly eat sushi and drink tea...Who knew that there would be a specific way to eat sushi?!?! CUSTOMER SERVICE: I went during lunch rush hour so the wait was pretty long for a party of 4. Plus we requested a booth so the wait was longer because we were picky. We didn't wanna sit next to other people. Haha. So we waited a good 30 minutes until our name was called. The servers consistently asked if we wanted more water or tea. YES! to tea! I love hot tea and we can have as much as we wanted. FOOD: Ahh food...isnt' that why we look on yelp to find the best places to get good food. Well I can tell you that I enjoyed their sushi here. The portion size is WAY bigger than Genki. I loved their philly sushi...It's unagi (eel) and cream cheese...eww you say but try it and you'll get hooked. BUT what sold me to this place was their TEMPURA MUSHROOMS! OMG! Literally OH MY GOSH! I was reunited with this tempura mushrooms I've been trying to imitate at home...but failed at every attempt. Here's the story: Way back when DnBs first opened their menu was slightly different and on their appetizer list they had something called Tempura Fried Mushrooms. And every time my family and I went we ordered 3+ orders just for us to snack on. It was that good! Then all of a sudden they removed it off their menu and created a new menu. BOO! So I was a long quest (for several years) to find a place that made it similar to it or try it on my own...With much failed attempts and no where else that made it I gave up. Until....Kuru Kuru Sushi!!! OMG I love them all because of this one item! It's a party in my mouth when I eat it!! Literally!
(4)Tiffinie K.
Yuuum! Kuru Kuru is my favorite belt sushi place. They have better prices and better quality fish than other places like it. Also, they have more variety of dishes. So if you have friends that don't eat raw fish but like this type place, then their hunger might be more satisfied. If you go at an off hour, the wait is fairly short, sometimes you don't have to wait at all. But once you reach lunch or dinner hour, sucks to be you! My favorite things to order are salmon, natto (slimy and delicious!), and mandarin oranges. Love their rice bowls too. 3.5 stars because I don't like this place enough to wait 1 hour during rush our.
(3)Daniel Y.
Used to be a loyal customer until the major price hike. I don't feel I can eat freely. Can't enjoy myself, too busy calculating how much my bill will be. I can see a gradual increase like $.25 per plate. Never going back. Genki sucks too. Anyone got any suggestions.
(1)Evan A.
I came here with friends and I got a weird feeling. 1 star for the generous portions 1 start for the quick service 1 start for a convenient location -2 to stars for the hospital feeling (it's all white and gave me a vibe, guess it's just me)
(3)Alvin W.
If you're on a diet, this is not the place to eat. But, if you want super Ono sushi at reasonable prices, then Kuru Kuru is your top pick.
(4)Charity J.
um, what the crap kuru kuru? my family and I used to come here quite a bit, couldn't beat the $6.95 spicy tuna don! we came in tonight after a few months hiatus and we ordered our spicy tuna dons per usual. when we got them, I noticed the portions had gotten a bit smaller and the tuna was EXTRA spicy this time around. I like my spicy tuna, but this was almost unbearable at times. Went to go pay and were super confused at our total. Asked the cashier if she was mistaken and only then were we informed that the dons are now $9.95. WHAT THE FUDGE? The least the server could've done was informed us of the absurd price hike! We were so so bummed out, totally felt like we got cheated! Sorry kuru kuru, but you lost more customers. I could understand a dollar price hike, but THREE? sweet baby jesus. We'll take our money elsewhere. There are plenty of other places on the island where we can get poke bowls for cheaper AND better quality.
(1)Lloyd A.
So let's get straight to the point, this place has or at least seems like they have freshly made sushi that has some good flavors to it. I mean it's cheap and won't hurt your wallet but the quality of food is better than most places that have the same concept. Also the customer service here is actually pretty good regardless of how packed the restraunt is. So bring your appetite, some good company and dig in.
(4)Doris D.
I think Kuru Kuru has the best conveyor belt sushi on the island. When they opened up this new location in Kahala Mall, I was excited because it's closer to where I live. I waited about half an hour at about 6pm which is not bad at all because the original location is always packed. True to form, the new location is pretty dang good too. However, I think the original location has a better variety and bigger pieces of fish for the nigiri. That being said, KK at both locations beats other conveyor belt sushi places hands down in terms of variety, freshness, and value. The service is very good too, constantly refilling my green tea and always concentrated on the patrons - every time I picked up the menu, a waitress would run up to us 10 seconds later to take our order! Can't wait to go back to get my quick sushi fix.
(4)Pam H.
This place has everything for the whole family. If you're not into sushi you can order fried items!!
(5)Diana T.
What can go wrong with cheap sushi on a conveyor belt?! My favorite is the spicy tuna don. Its a scoop of sushi on top a bowl of rice. It's mimicking a icecream sundae but for sushi! The staff's very attentive and friendly.
(4)Shiloh J.
Love their food but they close at 9 right !? Showed up at 845 and they wouldn't serve us.,, dumb! Drove from town
(3)Naoco T.
Spicy ahi don
(4)Raych D.
I've been here twice in the same week since they've been open. Let me just start by saying that I am so happy they finally opened this location for all the TOWNIES!!! So yayyy will I no longer have to drive from HNL to Pearl city just for Kuru Kuru. The wait is not as long as the Pearl city location, and there are a lot more seats available outside to sit while we wait. I also like how the new location looks so clean, chic and inviting! Everything is so nice about it from the glass doors, the comfy clean sofas to the new plates they use. And they even got a flat screen TV on the front wall! (To bad it only shows a chef making sushi tho). Prices and food are still the same as the other location BUT I do believe they have more items to sell from banana with whip, slice of half of a papaya, fried sushi etc. The portions are still huge as for what they are known for. And this location the food comes out a lot faster AND the food on the belt is also very good and not that old sushi look or taste to it. Only thing is parking may be a little tough because it is located in Kahala mall next to the movie theater, so parking in this mall is already limited. If you ever need that right on the spot sushi crave this is it! It's restaurant quality sushi (In fact it taste a lot better and has more portions than some restaurants I know) that gets you in and out with the satisfy feeling in your tummy and wallet! Even the take out is good! P.S. Say NO to Genki Sushi and YES to Kuru Kuru Sushi!
(5)Shanna U.
Love the food here as it is reasonably priced. Favorites are the grilled garlic ahi, tempura pumpkin, spam nigiri, natto maki, spicy tuna wonton, and many more!
(4)John M.
I think I do take out of the spicy tuna don about once a week. And I don't work at kahala mall. It would probably be more if I did. They give such a good portion. Don't expect to get quality like a higher end japanese restaurant but it works just fine for me on some nights for $6 a bowl. Occasionally I'll sit down and pick a few things off the line. The onion salmon has been another reliable choice. I've never had a problem with service either and my water is always full.
(4)Justin R.
Been to Kuru Kuru twice ever at this location. Let me say that the service here is superb. I was always asked if I wanted more water or tea, CONSTANTLY. It wasn't to the point of annoyance but I definitely felt that they wanted to make sure that the customers were happy, satisfied, and had their glasses full. The prices were expensive but not unreasonable. Sushi is expensive and I understand. To have good service, quality food, and great seating, I could appreciate the aroma. The only thing is I wish there was more privacy. The people on my side can definitely hear my conversation with a friend easily. If privacy isn't key and you are there with a friend for delicious food and a good time at Kahala, I recommend you take a stop here! Does this food fill me up? IT SURE DOES! Maybe it is all the water I keep drinking but the spicy ahi, LARGE California rolls, and avocado roll were amazing! I suggest going slightly early. The crowd comes at dinner time and waiting could be a bit. This is the spot for great sushi and if you want to get right in, going before 5:30 is a good time.
(4)A. Shawn G.
As the name implies, there's a lot of kuru-ing going on at this place. This is another one of those sushi-on-a-conveyor-belt places. While cute in concept, absolutely dizzying in practice. Those little plates go round-and-round. Sometimes to a good home, other times they're allowed to circulate for what seems forever. Which isn't good when your'e a raw piece of fish waiting to be masticated and digested. Yup. Masticated. If you're in the mood for decent sushi, and want to get dizzy in the process then this is the place for you. If you're not feeling the waiting game I suggest you go ahead and order the spicy ahi bowl, a large serving of spicy ahi tuna on a bed of rice...IN A BOWL! Absolutely worth the pre-order. Also, get the mussels. They're cooked (in case you were wondering) with a "dynamite" (basically mayonnaise, I'm sensing a trend here: goo.gl/qzKee ) style sauce on it.
(3)Heather M.
Good food! Dangerous though on your wallet. They have plates of delicious sushi passing and its hard to keep track of your stockpile of plates. Cant wait to go there again!
(5)Brandon L.
I had heard many positive things about this place for years, but I never tried it until now. I only ordered a spicy tuna bowl for takeout, so I'll have to update this review when I get the change to sit down and try their sushi. This location is in Kahala Mall, across from Hallmark by the movie theater. While I was waiting for my order, I took some time to observe the restaurant. One side has tables for groups up to 7 people. The other side is for people who don't mind sitting at the counter. I counted 18 seats. The conveyor belt with the sushi passes by each seat like all kaiten sushi chains. There is one lcd display on the wall by the kitchen area. Everything seemed clean and organized. There was a list with about 5 parties waiting to be seated. I had heard that there is always a line. My order took about 10 minutes. The spicy tuna bowl was a good size for $5.95. I like that the tuna was cut into small pieces and the quality was pretty good. I can't say if I like their spicy tuna bowl better than pa'ina cafe's, but I will definitely be eating here again.
(4)Chyanne O.
Did I come on a bad day? Usually love their service and everything but when we went in two day ago, it was eh. We were not greeted at all with employees just walking past right in front of us numerous times. And at this time, the restaurant was not full- it was quite empty. After standing there for about 5 minutes with no greeting, we decided to just seat ourselves. Then one of the employees brought the water & tea then completely left us. Usually, they take our order but not this time. Not to mention that there was nothing really circulating- maybe some fried items. Another 5 minutes went by with employees running around ignoring our existence. Finally flagged down one of them and for some reason when the four of us were ordering and when it was my turn, she took one order of mine and skipped me. I understand that this is no 5 star restaurant and it's a fast food chain. However, this was a really unpleasant experience. I like to believe that I just came on a bad day. I like their sushi much much better than Genki and we usually have decent service. Maybe those kids that were working had some in house drama and everyone was in a bad mood!?
(3)Laura L.
Their fish is way fresher than the "other" guys. Their portions are bigger too. You need to try this place, prices are reasonable too! If you're craving sushi, go to Kuru Kuru!
(4)Noelani C.
This place is so cute! Clean and great employees that work there! ALL the girls and sushi guys are amazing at serving people! They deserve tons of KUDO's! I went there last night for dinner and the service was so awesome! They accomodated even though we had an army of kids with us! Totally kid friendly atmosphere! The food was a bit oily for the tempura kabocha but still tasty. The chawan mushi was good, the shrimp tempura with udon was super delish! I would maybe stay away from the salmon belly. Its overly oily from being deep fried with batter. The spam sushi is great for kids but when i bit into one it was really on the oily side. The prices are great and totally affordable for anyone! Once again the staff there are very thoughtful and that is what makes that place survive for the most part! ;)
(4)Amy L.
Take a hike Genki's because there is a new kaizen sushi in town and it has stolen my heart. As a yelper, you pretty know what you are going to eat and I have always wanted to check out Kuru Kuru but since they were located in Aiea, I had not found any reason to drive down that way. I heard about how good the fish is there and that their spicy tuna could hold their own against Genki's. I am so glad they opened up in Kahala mall because "I quit you, Genki's." Kuru Kuru has just about the same decor as Genki's but slightly snazzier and not to mention bigger booths so you aren't sitting like sardines in a can if you have a big party. Service was a bit scarce but that's okay because that's why it's a sushi belt, you can serve yourself! Sushi was great! Fresh, moderate slices of fish. Not too thick, not too thin, but just right. Decent hamachi nigiri for 2 something? That is a steal! But if their spicy tuna didn't hold up to Genki's then I wouldn't have converted. Kuru Kuru's spicy tuna wasn't exactly on par as Genki's but it might just be 5% off. Flavor is there...hint of sesame oil and that light touch of ichimi pepper. Not too mention the sushi rice had great flavor. I can't wait to go back a few more times before my trip comes to an end. You don't understand, there just isn't good kaizen sushi restaurant in the bay area that compares. Inexpensive, tasty and a fun belt to boot? You can't beat that if you are craving sushi and do not want to spend a boatload of cash!
(4)Emi H.
After YEARS of waiting (not kidding here folks), my BF and I finally go to try Kuru Kuru Sushi. We'd driven by the Aiea locations many times but were never quite inspired enough to wait for a seat. What is so great about cheap sushi that people are willing to wait 30+ minutes for a seat? Oh yes, it's the Leeward side. Food options are limited. Laaaaaaame. So tonight, after having a few nibbles at Whole Foods, we ventured to the somewhat new Kuru Kuru Sushi at Kahala Mall. We expected a wait when we arrived, but were pleasantly surprised to find lots of open seats. Woot! I was excited to see that they had hot deep fried shumai and my BF joyfully ate his way through several orders of poke. The edamame was way overcooked, which was a bit disappointing because how do you mess up soybeans? The sushi was okay, nothing spectacular, but the service was really great and you can tell they train their workers very well. Yelp 365 Challenge: #79/365 (The Long Awaited Sushi Visit)
(4)Sheena C.
UPDATE: It's been a few months that Kuru Kuru Kahala has been around and I hate to say this because I'm a regular and will probably get "the eye" next time I go, but the service has gone WAY down. :( 1. The last 2 times I've gone, my order has been neglected--neglected as in forgotten. I'm usually a patient person, but: All the other diners around me (who sat down after!) receives their food + I only ordered a donburi (it's not fried, just throw rice and fish in a bowl) + hungry 5-year-old (no explanation needed) = GRUMPY ME. It's not that the order was taking a long time, it's the fact that I had to REORDER it. I also noticed the person making sushi in the middle seemed to be annoyed at the sushi he had to make. He made something for the party next to me and when they told him they didn't order it, he sighed REALLY loud, rolled his eyes, and turned around. Whoa. 2. I ordered chawan mushi and waited and waited and waited to no avail. When I asked waitress #2 to check on the order, she informed me they sold out of it. Wth! Waitress #1 didn't tell me that when I ordered it. However, waitress #2 offered to have them make a new batch in 10-15 minutes, so since I already waited 30 minutes, what's another 15, right? 3. When I finally got my other sushi order, it was wrong. (I ordered the tuna corn, but it was just corn mayo.) I informed waitress #2 of this and she returned with tuna plopped on the top of the corn mayo. Hmmmmm.... She said it was because they ran out of tuna corn mixed together...? That was almost the turning point. If my son wasn't so hungry I would've got up and walked right out. However, I guess waitress #2 saw my disappointment and possibly my irritation, so she returned 5 minutes later with a fresh tuna corn that she custom made for me. This gesture was angelic. Waitress #2, if you are reading this, please know your kindness saved the loss of 3 customers (me, my husband, and son). I asked for her name when I paid the cashier and I guess she is one of the managers (no surprise since her customer service was way better than the rest). I'll still return to this Kuru Kuru, but probably not as often as I would have, had it not been for the constant bad service. It seems like the main problem is the staff (some, not all)--they're young, not serious about their job (from what I witnessed, although it was busy, a few of the girls still seemed to linger around the tea pot/soda area to chit-chat), and have little to no experience in customer service. I shouldn't hate because I've been one of "those" before when I was younger and just starting out in the "work world," but when crappy service affects my hungry son (which in turn affects me), it gets personal.
(2)Jo M.
We went about 3 pm and there were about a dozen people on the counter. We had fried kabocha which was fine, ebi, clam of some sort while the same 4 or 5 dishes which we did not want, kept circulating - fried sushi, edamae, avocado roll, tossed salad, shrimp, and later, hot dog sushi. No fresh sushi. We waited ate 4 dishes and left. There were lots of waitresses and we could see activity in the kitchen but nothing came down the belt. When I commented to the cashier she said it was slow so they didnt make new sushi. When we left there were about 20 people in the restaurant and still no sushi. I told her that if that were the case they have to tell the customers to order from the waitresses. They said nothing. Ive NEVER been in a conveyor belt sushiya like this and will never come back. They insulted us as customers by their lack of product and lack of courtesy to tell us we needed to order. And looking at the other reviews they continue to do this despite the bad reviews.
(1)Matt H.
I used to love genki until I tried kurukuru. That was it. Their spicy salmon is Numba one! Can't beat it. Spicy ahi tastes better than the other guys. The wait staff is always friendly.
(5)Brian B.
A few weeks ago, a co-worker and I finally tried out this relatively new location that opened up in Kahala Mall after passing it multiple times prior. I'm sad to say that after seeing this place so consistently busy since it opened and finally trying it out for myself, that I can't really see what all the fuss is about. The location is definitely prime, since it's right by the theaters which is great if you're on a date or want to catch a bite before or after seeing a movie. Also, if you only want to come in to the mall to eat sushi, all you gotta do is park upstairs by Barnes & Noble and you can come down from that entrance and bypass the rest of the mall. From the outside, this place looks bigger than it is which was surprising. I thought that there would be way more places to sit and booths than there was but thankfully it's also not too cramped so I guess you can't really complain. The food is pretty standard for "conveyor belt" sushi which is both good and bad since that means that this place doesn't really stand out. On the other hand, it seems like the choices are more in line with what you would expect from a sushi place such as this which is a good thing since they had some really odd dishes at their other location in Pearl City that I didn't care for. The prices are also pretty typical for something at this level of quality to, so that's also a good thing. Really though, I suppose what disappoints me about this place is that it seems like there was a lot of hype from people that talked to me about it. I guess I was expecting someplace that was a little more shiny and nicer looking considering that it's in a fairly decent mall and new-ish. Don't get me wrong, this place isn't horrible but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here either. If you like Genki Sushi and you're in Kahala Mall and in the mood for decent sushi, this isn't a bad choice at all.
(3)James E.
Spicy tuna and spicy salmon great way to start meal then finish with tempura mushrooms and salmon belly
(4)Yosapon T.
Love this place !!! Fresh fish & big portion = happy me There fish i have to say is one of the best places so far and taste so goood. Order the Salmon or Tuna ! Try anything cos it taste all good they have such biggg portion compare to genk.i kurukuru is like massive big !!! Writing about this i want to eat it now. Oh during peak times u may need to wait up to 20 minutes so be ready !~~~
(4)Chris D.
Very disappointed with this place. I come here quite often but now I won't be back anytime soon. I ordered a tamago and it came out with a long string of hair on it. I told the server and all she did was make a disgusting face and took it back to the kitchen. She didn't say a single word, no sorry or anything. Also, I waited over 15 minutes and they did not bring me back a new plate. I wish I remember her name but oh well. I'm used to pretty decent service here but this was just a real bad experience. Overall the food is good though as long as you avoid the hair!
(2)Aaron W.
My friend and I got to Kuru Kuru a bit before 6 p.m. on a Saturday night. Yup, that means it's waiting list time. Luckily, we only waited 15 minutes and then went to town on some food. First, an ahi poke bowl ($5.95). A hefty scoop (or two) of rice with a heaping pile of ahi poke. That sesame oil lifted the fresh, cubed ahi real well here. Nice presentation (and extra flavor) with the green onions. Big fan of this dish! Next, a little snack. A plate of Jin Deui ($2.10): sesame seed balls with sweet black bean paste in them. Nice and soft when biting into them, yet firm enough to hold all the good stuff inside. Properly made and delicious. Oh...what was that I saw? Butterfish? A small, whole butterfish waiting for me to devour? Yes, please! A sweet-savory taste to this...buttery fish (duh), perhaps miso was used? Not much meat on this guy, but heck man, it looked cool just to take the plate off the conveyor belt, eat the fish, then take a picture of the bones. By the time we finished (over half an hour later), the wait list was longer than when we first arrived; people were waiting outside because there were no more seats inside. Sounds normal to me. Basically, go to Kuru Kuru, but avoid the usual lunch or dinner times if you want to get in and get out fast (or just place a takeout order).
(4)Kenson K.
There are some pretty original sushi things served here. I had tha kalbi sushi, which is pretty much a kalbi plate lunch made into bite size pieces. Only thing was missing was the mac salad on the side. Their rolls are ok, but I think they would make more money if they gave a little bit more rice. This place is very filling with the amount of rice they give. I ordered the rainbow and caterpillar roll. Also an order of karaage, but I thought it was just ok. I tend to like my karaage with some spicy kick to it. My favorite would have to be the poke bowl. Its a rice bowl and they just pile on poke and spicy tuna all over the top. Very good. I think if I just had 2 orders of that I would have been satisfied.
(3)Marisa A.
OMG...this is our replacement for Genki's. We went there on a Saturday and it wasn't too busy. We didn't even have to wait long for a booth. When we sat down, we looked at the menu and I thought it seemed similar to Genki's but when I picked up some potato salad from the revolving belt, there was nothing similar to Genki's at all. I love this place. We also got some ahi poke sushi...omg...so soft and tender. Karaage chicken. Nuff said...lol. Now if you're going to compare this place to authentic sushi bars....DON'T. Of course there is no comparison...but if you compare it to other sushi restaurants like Genki...then go ahead. Because KuruKuru will win everytime. The staff's really friendly, although at times not the most attentive. We will def. go back again. All I keep thinking about is that potato salad. Great for family and kids, dates, friends hanging out.
(5)Mandy Q.
I have been to Japan and this is by far my fav sushi place to eat at. The staff is friendly and you can't beat the fresh hot tea. Granted waiting for a spot to sit down and eat at is a pain, but once your are seated let the sushi feast begin. Might I suggest ordering things off the menu. Enjoyable and family friendly. Will be eating there again.
(5)Jean P.
Talk about a turnaround! I ate here with my hubby to be and he was so happy as was I. The service was impeccable and the sushi was reasonably priced and pretty yummy. The saba nigiri was not my fave but everything else was fabulous. I wish there was more fresh food on the conveyor belt but we were there in the afternoon on a Sunday so I wouldn't expect a conveyor belt full of food. Still delish though!
(5)Joj o.
I ate here for the first time a few nights ago. The wait was pretty long for only two people, but it was worth it. The sushi is priced comparably to Genki. Quality the same or better. I really only get spicy ahi at both places, and I enjoyed the spicy ahi plates and the bowl. Ridiculous size for the price ($6.25 I think). PROTIP: Get a dish, then order the spicy ahi donburi. Then when it comes, scrape the fish onto the empty plate from the dish you just consumed, and load onto rice as needed. I also ordered the green bean sushi, and corn mayo. I like corn mayo. Kuru Kuru has good corn mayo. They had a decent selection (not as large as Genki), but some unique dishes and combos that I hadn't seen before. My friend is Japanese and has never let me down when it comes to Japanese food recco's. He brought me here and I really enjoyed it. Genki/Kuru/conveyor belt sushi is not supposed to be top quality, but they all offer fresh, good quality, decent portion sizes and reasonable prices. $10-20 will feed you well here. Unlike some of the other reviews, I thought the service was decent. Not better/worse than Genki. My water got refilled 3 times during my visit, and I got 2 refills of green tea. Flagging down a server was kind of a chore (even though the place was swarming with them). Ordering from the server resulted in a 5-10min wait for our food, same as Genki. I will be back to Kuru Kuru Sushi.
(4)Lindsay J.
Kuru Kuru definitely satisfies my sushi appetite. This is where my husband and I come to consume massive amounts of sushi and deep fried goodies. The service is friendly and the food is always consistently good. The quality of the fish is very fresh, and you can taste it. Sorry Genki, but you just don't have what it takes to cut it. Sad to say, I have left you for Kuru Kuru. I love getting the salmon, hamachi, and ahi nigiri... very yum. I am a huge fan of the kabocha tempura... for those of you who haven't tried it, you are missing out. I love their green bean tempura too... deceivingly healthy yet not, lol. I didn't see salmon skin on their menu, but decided to try to order it anyway. They do serve it, and it comes as a generous portion, and tastes just as good as it smells... If you're lucky, there's usually some salmon meat still attached. Extra yum. This is another must-try... My hubby is a fan of their spicy ahi nigiri, spicy ahi maki, and caterpillar and dragon roll. I swear he over-orders just to take some home... Overall, I love this place. Try to come during their off peak times, like after lunch or right before the dinner rush. If you do get here during the rush, write your name down on their list and LISTEN carefully for them to call your name. I've seen them quickly call a name 3 times to which they move on to the next name, and you end up missing out. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on this.
(4)raechelle v.
Oh my, oh my, oh my. My greatest fear happened. Kuru Kuru Sushi has gotten greedy. I kept praying to the sushi gods that things at Kuru Kuru Sushi would stay status quo. I feared that by expanding their business, Kuru Kuru would have to pay more rent and more workers, hence raising prices and shrinking the size of their sushi portions. The Aiea location was superb. Prices were cheap and the portions were HUGE! I totally ditched my former sushi lover Genki Sushi. I did notice that the prices were a little more expensive here at the Kahala location, but they still had the $7.95 Mixed Donburi! That is such yummy goodness....I actually eat the donburi for two meals. Well, today after church, we decided to satisfy our sushi cravings since we haven't gone to Kuru Kuru in a while. I walked in and was super excited to enjoy a Mixed Donburi. I put in my order and then..........the bombshell! Since July 29, they stopped serving the Mixed Donburi for $7.95. In it's place are several other donburis for $5.95, but it's half the size of the original donburis and they don't come with the extras on top! I was shocked, flabbergasted! I walked right out of there without a purchase. I am really bummed. My greatest fear came true today. It's truly a sad day in sushi for me. Where do I go now?
(1)Sandy D.
Took the 3yr old and 8 yr old for the first time here. Went early around 5 p.m. because we always see a line. Waited 10 minutes for a booth and there was water and tea ready for us at the table. We began selecting items from the belt. The prices are reasonable and my son picked spam and hot dog plates. Daughter picked unagi, karaage chicken, oshinko maki and we shared a croquette. Also got an udon bowl and soba bowl. We weren't very adventurous, but was very satisfied with the amount of food. Reasonable prices and after a rocky beginning of no one coming by to see if we wanted anything, the waitstaff picked it up by refilling our tea and checking on us frequently. Would definitely go back with husband because he'll eat more so we can have more variety. Liked the location and quality was good. We've boycotted Genki for over a year because of the experience a friend had falling down on their wet floor and injuring herself. Happy to have a much better alternative.
(4)Cassie S.
Worst service ever!! This place is run by a bunch of high school/beginning college kids that would rather gossip about their night out in the corner than provide service. There's no level of professionalism whatsoever. One would think that it would be pretty decent being that this is such a busy and popular place, but seriously if you hate your job that much GTFO. As if the 30-45 minute wait wasn't torture enough, we had to constantly call over servers for refills on our tea and ordering items from the menu. Oh and the occasional, "Hold on let me tell your server" response accompanied by a dumbfounded look as if my simple request was foreign. If you plan to eat here, bring your own drinks before you end up choking on your sushi. The food was excellent though... If it weren't for the craving for the half and half, I would have walked out in a heartbeat. Here's a bit of advice: Go to the one in Aiea. They have never failed me there. I will gladly drive and pay the gas to get there than go to the Kahala location ever again. You have been warned my friends.
(2)Nikki C.
Could not believe what i saw....the so called "sushi chef" or sushi maker" behind the counter was sharing and eating popcorn (hand to mouth) with one of the waitresses (or whatever you call them). Then he closes the bag, puts it on the counter that they make sushi on and without washing his hands....starts making sushi!! See for yourself....
(2)Ashley C.
This is a great place to get sushi. If you go at peak hours (like lunch or dinner) there's usually a lot of people standing around waiting to get called. Don't get too discouraged, put your name on the waiting list and usually it doesn't take too long for your named to be called. DON'T LEAVE! The first time I went, I put my name on the list and thought "hmm, there were a lot of names before mine, so I'll go walk around for a bit"...don't, because if the people before you decided to do the same thing or didn't want to eat there anymore, your name may get called sooner than you'd expect. The sushi always tastes great and if it's not going around the conveyer belt the sushi chef is usually quick to make your order.
(5)Travis D.
My sister and I shared the mixed fish bowl of spicy ahi, salmon, and I can't remember the last fish. These bowls are able to feed at least a couple people for only $7 or $8. The dragon roll wasn't too exciting. I could only see the unagi on it. Maybe the caterpillar roll would have been better. I also grabbed an order of chicken karaage off the line. Lucky for me, the chicken was still fresh and warm. Yummy. Our bill came out to about $20, which is very surprising. I was expecting it to be well over $30. The free hot tea is a nice touch.
(3)Ai M.
My friends and I, total of 3 of us went to dine at this place. Food itself was okay, just the normal Kuru Kuru Sushi or Kaiten Sushi. What we got turned off was how we saw young female workers started gathering ginger boxes from each table (we were the last customers to dine and leave), and started DUMPING into a big clear plastic container... we thought that was so UNSANITARY for them to do that. What if other customers took their ginger out at their table but put back their left overs back in the container?! They would have dumped them back into that large container at the end of the day, and RE-SERVE the next day?!?! IF they are going to do something like that, we had hoped that THEY WOULD DO IT AT THE BACK OF THE HOUSE, not where we can see them! WE WOULD NEVER EAT THEIR GINGER!
(2)Arlene A.
Ahh, Kuru Kuru. I can't say enough good things about this place. Their spicy tuna has kept me coming back to their original location in Aiea for years! I'm so glad they recently opened up their new spot in Kahala Mall. A great place to eat before catching a movie next door. I'd say the only negative about here is the long wait (up to an hour sometimes in Aiea). Other than that, their employees are super friendly, quick and efficient. Definitely worth the long wait in line!
(4)Brent S.
Good place for sushi. But not sure if it's worth waiting 45+ minutes. We've tried to come here before, but the wait is usually really long. But we finally got in about an hour before it was closing. It's a standard conveyor belt sushi bar with a similar menu to Genki. The quality is probably a little better. Personally, I thought the service was very friendly. Their Dynamite Maki is definitely worth getting. I don't know. We did have a good meal. But I just can't imagine waiting more than 15 minutes to get in.
(3)Ashlyn B.
Yelp 365 Challenge 5/365 Kuru Kuru Sushi is officially my favorite sushi joint! My first visit was about 2 weeks ago. I visited the Kahala Mall location. This spot is right next to the movie theaters. I entered and added my name to the waiting list, waited about 15 minutes for a seat, then familiarized myself with the menu. The set is up is very similar to Genki Sushi- there's a belt that carries a variety of sushi selections surrounded by counter and booth seats. If you have yet to try this place and you love spicy ahi, I HIGHLY recommend the spicy ahi donburi! The bowl is about three times larger than Genki's and spicier, too! I could barely finish one bowl in one sitting. I didn't get to try anything else, unfortunately. I'm a huge spicy ahi fan and that bowl was a match made in heaven for me. I will TOTALLY be back!!! Save me a seat so I won't have to place my name on the waiting list!!!
(5)Annie L.
Ever since KuruKuru opened up at Kahala Mall, I have to admit....I've been UNFAITHFUL!!! to Genki Sushi that is. How can you not be though? The portions of fish are GINORMOUS and the quality seems fresher too. Have you ever seen them put together their so-called MINI-dons? They might be mini....If you're a giant! It's borderline ridiculous how much poke they put in their bowls! However, I've never heard anyone complaining about too much so keep slapping it on there KuruKuru! Perhpas it's because this location is still fairly new, but the wait here is nowhere near the wait in Aiea which is plenty good for me because If I'm hungry and you make me wait....I might have to punch you in the baby maker and steal your seat! Yummy cheap sushi that rotates on a belt.....what a concept! YOKUDEKIMASHITA KURUKURU SUSHI :)
(4)Albert F.
Liquid crack. There is a line to get some. Even in this new location, as more and more people hear that its finally opened, the lines are getting longer and longer. If you cannot wait in line, get a poki bowl, its soooo goooooood! In fact, get one so I can get my sushi fix pls kthx
(4)Eddie K.
Came here for Burger King and apparently the King is dead. Shows how long I've been on this side of the mall. After a 25 min wait, was seated and placed an order. Ahi poke, spicy tuna, hamachi, salmon nigiri sushi was good. Pieces of fish were so large the rice looked like a 90 lb man wearing a XXXL shirt.. Definitely better quality, quantity, and price compared to Genki, but of course Genki has been going down hill for years. If you are looking for inexpensive yet good sushi in Hawaii, this is the place for it.
(4)Jerrene T.
How can you entertain a baby while you eat? Sit him foward in his carrier facing the sushi conveyor belt and woot, INSTANT entertainment! I love the fact that I can eat while not having to feed an extra mouth or entertain a fussy baby. Kent just LOVED watching the food go by and he'd shout at the ones that looked especially colorful, read delicious... he'd be like "AHHHHHHH" and pound his hands down. Last night, my husband and I were too lazy to cook so we decided we'd head to Kahala Mall for either Kuru Kuru if the wait wasn't too crazy or Taco Bell. Luckily we put our names in early enough that it was barely a half an hour wait... we fed Kent in the meantime. By the time we were done with a jar of baby food and a bottle of milk, they were calling our name. I will say in between bites of mac and cheese, I did make Lary go check our names on the list just so he could feel Val's pain when we went! We were able to get three seats by the end of the conveyer belt, closest to the kitchen. It was nice that we weren't near the entrance where people were all huddled... it was IMPOSSIBLE to get around a whole bunch of people... it's the mall go hang out by the stores, not inside by the door so no one can get around you. Lary and I quickly got started before the fussing started. Kent doesn't like to be cooped up... he loves to roam. Luckily between his loud shouts of craziness, we were able to eat and entertain him and no one heard because it's actually kind of loud in there. We ate the spicy ahi, the poke, tofu salad, some random fried things, croquettes, kabocha tempura, and coffee jello. The cheapest things (coffee jello & kabocha tempura) were the yummiest! We had to actually order it from our waitress but they didn't seem to find and they were so delicious. While you probably have eaten kabocha tempura, this one had a teriyaki or slightly sweet taste on it... it was the best one I'd ever eaten. I love coffee jello and ever since Yao's closed in Moiliili, I've been searching for a good one to replace it. I loved theirs too. At $1.45, it's a steal. I'm sure the croquettes would have been better if we ordered those fresh too. I am not sure why the sushi chefs make so much of things that no one wants to eat aka natto rolls. I don't mind natto but I swear half the conveyor belt was filled with them. Also, if you don't like to see limp hot dogs, don't come here. It was kinda gross to see flopped over spliced hot dogs on small nigiri rice. I don't know how to explain it... just know it was wrong. Water was refilled quickly... I never got a refill of tea but I'm fine with just one cup. The waitresses weren't really the nicest but they were there whenever I needed them which is all that matters when there's all the food in front of your face anyhow. Whenever we got done, we noticed the line was crazy long... go early and there's less of a wait. While I won't be quick to rush back, I wouldn't mind going if I didn't have to wait at all.
(4)Just B.
I give Kuru Kuru Sushi a solid four stars. The food is pretty good, prices are decent, and service was excellent on the day we went. We went around 5p, got seated at a booth a few minutes later, and our water and hot tea was always full. I like the ahi poke nigiri especially, but everything we tried was good. We ordered a few things off the menu and it came to us pretty quickly. This isn't a place where I'm like "WOW, I feel like going everyday!" but this is definitely where I would go if I wanted sushi.
(4)Cheryl S.
I was super excited to learn that KuruKuru would be opening up another location and one in town. Oh how perfect to be in Kahala Mall too. So I have heard only great things about the original location and I couldn't wait to finally be the judge for myself. I have to admit I was fully impressed. I would defiantly recommend this place and also frequent myself. The selection was grand! From sushi, to chicken kaarage, to fresh fruit to desserts you will surely leave with a happy smile on your face and a full tummy. The restaurant is really clean and also the servers are nice, friendly and helpful. They also have a nice picture menu that you can see what they have. I always like the concept of the raceway of sushi on the conveyer belt. Just that alone gets me all excited. They have these donburi's that are just HUGE!! I am sure that it is a meal in itself. It is an awesome deal. How's dinner and a movie....as they are conveniently located right next to the movie theater. Well, maybe if you ate just wayyyy too much skip the movie and do some shopping in the mall (they are located in Kahala Mall) you can walk off your yummy meal. I can't wait to eat KuruKuru again! =)
(5)Jana P.
It's a great place for quick sushi fix. They used to served the humongous donburis, but now they downgraded it. Their spicy tuna used to be so onolicious, but now it seems like the tuna is drowning in mayonaise. It's too creamy not enough spice. Although, they do have great serving of pumpkin tempura.
(3)Kevin M.
The irresistible novelty of sushi trains never seems to wear off, especially in Oahu, who have plenty of sushi and sashimi outlets to guide their mouths to. Conveniently inside the Kahala Mall with plenty of parking, Kuru Kuru Sushi is a popular choice given its cheap prices and rotating selections of the freshest Japanese delicacies. The hardest part is choosing exactly what you want from the range of sushi, sashimi, tempura and dessert options. This place is really small, and very popular so expect a wait. (worth it) Prices are great (wife and I always gets full for less than $30) Service is excellent (don't forget to give a little tip) Food taste great (come here an average of 3x a week) Happy that the East Side has a Kuru Kuru Sushi
(5)Scott H.
For robot sushi, Kuru Kuru is as good as it gets. The Good: - Spicy Ahi nigiri. Way better than that Geinki place, and cheaper! - Plenty of fried, cooked items. Hamachi kama, salmon kama, Yaki saba, Salmon Skin, tempura pumpkin, tempura mushrooms. These are smaller than the Aiea location, but they are priced less. - Convenient location. No driving out to Aiea. - Sushi Don. These are huge. If you get one, it might be pretty much all you eat. Cons: - Still really busy. Most nights after 6 pm the wait is 45 minutes to an hour. - Still small. very limited seating and a few booths (booths are kinda small if you're a big person). - No Dr. Pepper! Why? you have Coke products and the Aiea location has DP?!?!
(5)Nick B.
Kurukuru sushi the best sushi place on the island pokes great great atmosphere long wait at times tho but well worth it if u love genki you'll love kurukuru more genki ha a lot more different types but kurukuru has higher quality and cheaper prices
(5)Rae W.
The counters were not even half full and there were empty booths. Even though there were only two of us, my partner asked to be seated in a booth since it was a slow time of day (not lunch nor dinner hour). The hostess made a face and then seated us. Did I mention that we waited to be seated for several minutes in spite of the place not being busy? Already off to a bad start, we hoped the food was good. It was. The garlic ahi was particularly tasty, and my partner was happy with his California roll. I had the ahi sushi, which I switched out after I saw fresher pieces on another plate. There was a sushi with string beans--the kind your aunty grows and gives away because they grow like weeds--prepared tempura-style and balanced precariously on a wad of rice and nori. I chose it because it looked funny, but it tasted good. The service never got any better. Our complimentary water and tea were plunked down on our table, and when we didn't order another drink, the waitress made a face. Apparently, the hostess and waitress are related. My partner and I love to go to the Kahala Theatres since it seems to play the kind of movies that once played at the Varsity. It would've been nice to add this place to a list of our favorite restaurants.
(3)First Name L.
Hmmmm... that really was nothing special. Food - 3 Price - about right Service - 4 Cleanliness - seemed clean Ambience - typical bright lit, conveyer belt sushi joint I went on a Saturday night, no line, plenty of available seats, and plenty of food on the conveyor. Staff was friendly and attentive. The food on the belt was bad, either been there too long or the food that should have been hot was cold. What's the point when you end up ordering everything, kinda defeats the whole idea. There were a whole lot of items not available, like the donburi's and many others which was very disappointing. If you told me I was in a Genki's, I would have believed you. No real difference in my experience. Prices seemed about right for the quality. If you're in the mall and craving this kind of food, then go for it. Otherwise, it's not worth going out of your way to go here or even waiting in line, forget that.
(3)Amanda Z.
Went early to avoid the crowd and ate sushi to my heart's content! Great service (water and tea always filled and multiple servers asked if we wanted to order) and food! Standouts include: hamachi, spicy ahi, kabocha tempura. Also tried: tuna corn (wish there was a little bit more tuna), potato salad, eggplant tempura on sushi rice (it was okay) and the salmon (not that good). Maybe I was too focused on the eating, but afterwards I realized that I didn't notice any ginger sitting out - do you have to ask for it? All in all, good food for a good price. Although I don't think it's worth a 90 minute wait. Go during an off-peak time or wait until the new restaurant craze has gone down a bit. Will be back!
(4)Abe M.
Seated (not greeted) in a decent amount of time in a booth with a ridiculously long table. That's ok because we were distracted by the overbearing one direction music blasting on the speakers. Ordered a shrimp roll and the shrimp was chewy, don't think I've ever had it prepared that way. Been here a few times and always leave feeling indifferent. 4 stars though for the 'merica sized portions.
(4)Jessy P.
Yummy and fast eats! Great for after a day at the beach or shopping!
(4)Sid F.
Let's start with an analogy ... You know that feeling of seeing a celebrity bare it all for a show or movie. There's an air of excitment, your eyes are wide open and for those few seconds or minutes, you forget about the world and some of your immediate issues. The after effect of seeing the same celebrity naked?!? You get kinda bored and it's passé .. right?! This is exactly, how i feel about Kuru Kuru Sushi. First round of the belt ... aweome, take this and take that. About 10-15 mins in ... you're sitting there with your hand on your face waiting for that "passé" feeling to pass. The rice is dense and huge compared to the fish but since you are charged by the plate, it's ok to not eat the rice. I have to admit ... the sushi cuts were ok but tasted really, really good. If mayo fish is your vice, they'll have enough variations to make you relapse on your diet. How are the lines?! We went as a party of 4 on Wednesday at 11:24AM, they open at 11AM, and we had a 20 minute wait. WHAT?! I can't imagine what it might be for lunch or dinner on a Friday or Saturday. Eat it up before you head to Hanauma Bay and you'll start your snorkeling on a good, filled belly. Pro Tip: if you see something on the menu but not on the belt, dont wait, flag a server and order it up.
(3)Ko J.
Definitely a better Genki. Really good, quick and casual sushi for super cheap! Highly recommend their pumpkin tempura and poke rolls... Just a little loud and crowded, which is to be expected from a fast food Japanese restaurant.
(4)Kevin C.
Hands down my favorite place for poke bowls ...love the fact I can get a huge bowl of mixed ahi and shoyu for only $6.25. Sushi is fresh. This place gets busy
(5)Jordan C.
Guaranteed Best rotary sushi place in Hawaii! Kuru Kuru has really delicious sushi at a decent price! only downside is that there is almost always a line to get into the place. Be prepared to wait close to 45 minutes to start chowin' down on some tasty sushi! This sushi is well worth the wait! Genki Sushi don't got anything on this place!
(5)Philip U.
Genki mo bettah
(2)Lauren T.
I LOVE Kuru Kuru Sushi in Aiea! Sooooo.. I was so excited to see them open up shop in Kahala, which is closer to me when I'm in town. Everything I loved about Kuru Kuru in Aiea is the same here... although I do like some of the staff more at the Aiea branch (John!!! He remembers repeat customers and makes what they want when they walk in!). My wait time is slightly shorter... at the Aiea location, I'd wait usually 1hr+ but over here it's ~30minutes. I think I'll still go back to the Aiea one though... the Kahala location seems to be slightly stingy in the donburis. I'm used to seeing those things brim full with spicy tuna or poke, but the Kahala location stuffs more rice in like every other sushi place in town. =( That is my reason for 4/5 stars.
(4)Zhen L.
Ever since my friends took me to the Kuru Kuru Sushi located in Aiea, I was very excited that the Kahala location opened. I recommend the Spicy Ahi or the Mix Donburi; It's a must-have. If you're a lover of Ahi, you won't regret it. Overall, I give it four Stars. Food is great, location is great, but the service was a tad off from perfect. Maybe I caught them on their bad days, but many of my orders took a very long time to arrive. The worse case I had was a 10-15 minute wait for my Kalbi Chicken Bowl; I had to go through three waiters (who were all very kind to ask me if I needed anything else). I recommend this place for all sushi-lovers. It's my new Sushi place ever since I saw roaches crawling around in the Ala Moana Genki Sushi. I can only see Kuru Kuru Sushi getting more busy in the future. Food is great, location is great, and the staff are very friendly.
(4)Shari Y.
My husband and I agree that Kuru Kuru is our favorite sushi spot. Their food quality seems to be a lot better then Genki. Their crunchy pumpkin and spicy tuna bowls always fill me up and the price is pretty reasonable. The only reason I don't give them 5 stars is because their staff can be a little rude or forgetful. All in all I always recommend Kuru Kuru to friends/family over Genki any day!
(4)Marnie W.
Not much to say here in terms of the food since I've already mentioned in other reviews how much I like the menu at Kuru Kuru compared to other conveyor belt restaurants. What I'm going to write about instead is my experience here two weekends ago, at night. It was my first stop at this particular branch, and we (a party of two) were given an estimated 45 minute wait time. Good thing KK is in the mall because the time passed by quickly. 45 minutes later at around 9:30 p.m., we returned just to discover that our name had already been called a while before - luckily, however, a booth was about to open up. Whoo hoo! **Side-note: the employee at the front informed us that the booth was already open, so of course we walked toward it and were about to sit down. Another employee stopped us because she had just started to clean up the booth. My friend and I ended up standing there for a good minute waiting for her to finish up ... Kind of awkward.** A few minutes in, we quickly ordered our food from the (noticeably zoned-out) server. I should mention here that I'm a *very* fast eater who usually views food as a necessity to survive, rather than a luxury or culinary experience to gorge on. There are definitely certain types of food that I really do enjoy consuming just for the hell of it, but I typically like to get in, get out ASAP no matter where I go or what I eat - especially when it's almost closing time. Fast forward to 10 p.m. exactly. There's still a lot of customers hanging out in the restaurant, some of whom are still eating. I'm already done, and my friend is about to finish up too. His last order was the coffee jello. After I try it, don't like it and then pass it on to him, I notice all of the employees wrapping it up (i.e., refilling supplies and cleaning tables). This is fine by me, since it's technically the close of the business day - although, come to think of it ... I would really appreciate if I could receive the meal tab sometime soon. While observing this, I begin to smell something very strong and sickening. Bleach. One of the employees is actually mopping the floor. The front doors are still closed, and there's still customers inside. W. T. F. Hate to have to do this but ... Three stars for Kuru Kuru at Kahala Mall.
(3)Chris M.
I'm so happy that Kuru Kuru is at Kahala Mall! Granted, there's ALWAYS a wait. Unless you eat dinner before 5 pm, expect to wait a minimum of 20-30 minutes; 45 or more if coming at a peak hour on the weekend. Since it's in the mall, the wait is not so bad - just take turns shopping at the stores nearby, or come prepared with a fully charged cell phone battery. Pay attention and don't wander off too far. If you don't answer within a few seconds of calling your name, they move on to the next person on the list! Bad for you, good for me :) I was honestly surprised by the quality of the sushi here - better than I thought it would be for the price you pay, and soooo much better than Genki. I tried unagi, spicy tuna, maguro, hamachi, and salmon. All were really good; my favorite is the spicy tuna. I love the service here! There's always someone asking if you need anything. If you're like me, this is a good thing - when I'm hungry I have very little patience. Water, hot tea, and special orders were delivered quickly. Seating is a little cramped here, but it's not really a huge deal since you can be in and out within 45 minutes or less. I'll be back when the next sushi craving hits!
(4)Alice C.
Maybe I came at the wrong time or the wrong day, but I think this Kuru Kuru needs a bit more work to it until it can matchup to its original Kuru Kuru in Pearl Kai center. I do agree with everyone else that Kuru Kuru trumps Genki AND Sushi San anyday, because of their portions and price. I always get the same thing whenever I go to Kuru Kuru which is the Shrimp Tendon, Union Roll, Lobster ball, couple other sushi, and then top it off with dessert - Coffee Jello I also noticed at this location they serve Strawberries with whipcream, and Banana with whipcream andddd choco syrup drizzled over em'... heavenly! but I didn't try it cuz I realized that I can do that at home, but its a good dessert to be going around. My boyfriend ordered the mixed ahi bowl and it equivalent to the size of my head if not bigger! Unfortunately the ahi poke that day was tasteless and the Spicy Tuna didn't taste special. Maybe it was just a wrong batch cuz its always a hit or miss. well like I said, maybe it was a bad day to go, also I do notice that its only couple weeks old therefore I will go back and try again!
(3)Forest S.
Service was good. The sushi was good; their spicy rolls were more appealing to me.
(4)Sheila Marie E.
I come here probably once every two weeks. And Im in LOOOVE with this place. In my preference, I think its better than Genki Sushi. Way cheaper and they give big amounts. And the booths are way bigger. Good for family, friend kind of outing.
(4)Stella L.
Cheaper than Genki but the sushi rice is packed too tightly. The tea cup was stained, too. But what got me the most was the dirty rag on top of the cutting board that the guy used as he cut the fish. Sushi place has to be CLEAN. Koko wa dame desu~.
(2)Gee T.
I rated this 4 stars because although I love how much cheaper the price is from Genki's. It doesn't compare to the quality from Genki's. The kurukuru in Kahala mall is nice & clean, most of the workers are nice. I go here when I'm craving for my chawan mushi & their spicy ahi bowls! Why? because they give so much & it fills me up!
(4)Tina H.
When your sushi chef doesn't understand what "sashimi" is, you know you've picked the wrong place for raw fish. A group of us went in one afternoon craving the delicious Kuru Kuru sushi we've come to love. If you've been to the original Kuru Kuru in Aiea, you know that the wait is long and at this new Kuru Kuru, there was no exception. (Note: So, if you're planning to have dinner at 7:30 pm, yelper, sign in at 7:00 pm.) After a mildly long wait, we were seated. The restaurant is small with limited booths. At the center of it all is a television screen that loops a silent tutorial on sushi. I've seen better acting from fake orgasms, but the cheesiness was entertaining in itself. We picked up a few items off the conveyor belt. I picked up some nigiri and spicy ahi dishes. A ping of delight still strikes me when I think of the maguro that I ate that day - A thick, fresh slice of fish seated on top of white rice. Sadly, one dish can't bring this review up to five stars. My good friend ordered a bowl of rice with an order of sashimi. Sashimi (for those not in the know) is bite sized pieces of fish served by itself, no rice. He waited a while until the chef brought out four plates of a special sushi roll. We didn't give him hell for it at first (we even took some of the plates because we felt sorry he made them for no reason) and my friend described what he wanted as clearly as he could. The chef turned back around, worked on our order, and when he came back, he had four plates of salmon ... nigiri. Not sashimi. Not even close. My friend had to correct him again. The customers behind us seemed to be having the same problem as I heard them give back a dish they did not order. I know that some of the sushi dishes among my amigos were a hit-or-miss and the service that you get from this place is not phenomenal enough to justify that or the fact that you have to wait so long to be seated. I gave this place 3 stars because I did think that some of their sushi was better than other places (especially for the price) but I think if you're wanting to wait around for Kuru Kuru, you're better off going to the original.
(3)Wesley C.
I tried the Kahala Kurur Kuru twice, but it is not the same quality of fish as Pearl City store. Ahi & Hamachi were slightly off color & fishy, The spicy ahi roll was generous & tasty. The mixed poke bowl was heaped with poki far above the rice, and they do have decent poki. Service was excellent. The prices are extremly reasonable; $20-30 per person with tip.
(3)M C.
After eating ramen and greasy fried stuff all week, this was a nice change of pace. We spent under $30 for lunch for two. Obviously a conveyor belt sushi place isn't gourmet sushi, but it gets the job done and doesn't break the bank. For the yelper that mentioned cold tempura on the conveyor belt, you can ask the server to get you a fresh order. We had fresh orders of potato croquet and agedashi tofu and both came out piping hot. They have a good selection of the usual sushi but a lot of dishes for those who don't like raw fish like cold somen, kareage chicken, and tempura.
(4)Wendy I.
Best kaiten sushi in Hawaii! I have been praying, hoping for a kurukuru on the east side...then when they announced they'd be coming, I was waiting, and waiting...and they are here, still waiting and waiting. Expect a way..30-60 minutes pretty much anytime of the day...maybe a little less if you come between 3pm-4:30pm. The Kahala one is smaller than the Pearl Kai one, and when more people on the east side try kurukuru, the wait will be even longer! Wish they would open at the empty old Block Buster space in Koko marina *hint*hint*...I only wish! I love this place, we've been going once or twice a week since they've opened in Kahala. Portion sizes are way better than Genki! Pricing is better. Wish their soda was refillable like Genki. At Kurukuru, my husband and I usually spend $30 and are satisfied. Genki...we spend a little more, but much happier after KuruKuru. They also don't have amaebi and shishamo that they used to have at Pearl Kai. I also wish they'd have a keiki bowl like Genki does. Poke Bowl will put you over the edge. Don't expect to be able to eat anything else after eating that thing. Wish they'd open later. They close at 9pm!
(5)Kelly L.
I LOVE conveyor belt sushi, and this one is a reasonable mix of quality and price. The fish quality is surprisingly high for a conveyor-belt joint and prices are on par with Genki. The only quibble I have is they sometimes lack a bit on variety. On a recent Sunday afternoon visit, there were only 3 or 4 types of things rotating around, although there were plenty of plates of each. Nonetheless, this is the current conveyor belt sushi place of my heart!
(4)Mai T.
My sister has raved about this place for a long time so i was really excited to finally visit Kuru x2. However i was in for a little bit of disapointment. When we sat the items that came around were things like edamame, watermelon, kappa sushi (one with cucumber) and wasabi, ebi. Do we had to order a lot of the items, but none of them really stood out as being any different than Genki. We had some items recommended by the waitress, tempura fried sushi, but it was not something that I would say I need to come back here for. In the end, i think the best item i enjoyed was the natto. Unless the one at Kahala is doing something different than the one at Pearl Kai... this place did not pump me up.
(2)Ron T.
This place is the bomb dot com. My bro and I recently checked out this new location at Kahala Mall. I'm a noob to Kuru Kuru, but read the reviews from the Pearl City location, so I went in with high expectations. I ordered the mixed donburi ($7.95). All I can say is....brrrrrahhhhhhhhh. Frickin thing was packed with so much fish, my bro had to do a double take. Half spicy ahi, half ahi poke, topped off with a piece of ahi, salmon and green onions.....it was kanak attack central after that. I really liked the spicy ahi...good flavors with a nice creamy texture. If I'm too lazy to wait in line, I'll probably do a take out. Or maybe beast mode that wait, get in, and try all that other good stuff.
(5)Mahina K.
Like many people in Hawaii my sushi life sits with Genki sushi. It's not the best, most authentic sushi out there, but it's cheap and you can get a variety you want, not one that's set for you. Kuru Kuru Sushi opens at 11, we got there by 11:30 and were seated by 11:50. It's a very small venue so the wait is pretty long so I just hope for the best. When we got in we were seated at the counter, usually I prefer a booth. The upsides of the counter is that everyone gets to grab their own food rather than asking for someone else to pass it to you down the bench. So like Genki, Kuru Kuru charges you by how many plates of a certain color you have. Yellow being the cheapest, then red, green and I think blue. I'm not completely sure but I'm pretty sure that it's cheaper than Genki Sushi. Conveyor belt sushi is extremely cost effective for those trying out sushi because you get to see what it is your eating before you pick it up. It's part of the hardest part of eating a new food because you don't know what it looks like before you grab it. I didn't eat all morning so I was starving. I was about to go get something else to eat if I didn't get seated soon. But once we were seated I could eat whatever as all the colorful plates passed me by. They had some different choices than Genki, like some blue thing called Natzusuke (which turned out to be some type of eggplant) nigiri or the tempura green beans. But I stuck with my old favorites of maguro nigiri, ebi nigiri, karaage chicken, croquette, and the new found favorite California rolls (which I carefully pushed out the avocado for texture and taste reasons). I was so full after all of that. Everything was really good. The California rolls though have a lot of rice. They're the size of the shoyu plates and most of that is rice. The nigiri the sashimi on top is cut really big so you get a lot of meat for your rice. The karaage chicken was good but kind of flavorless. Some of the pieces I ate I swear did not even have chicken inside. Even though Kuru kuru was a good experience I think the wait will keep me going back to Genki. Genki is a chain and has more places to eat so the wait is usually shorter, especially when they first open. I'm not against Kuru Kuru, I just find convenience a big decision factor of where I eat.
(4)Lindsay G.
Almost the same as the aiea location but not. The foods the same but service is junk. We went around 4pm and was sat quickly. I tried to order but it seemed the waitresses were more interested in giggling with eat other and looking pretty. The food taste the same but they need to put more food out on the conveyor belt. I swear it was almost empty and I had to order everything. I won't be coming to this location as often as I do the aiea location even though it's closer.
(3)Alen N.
I've tried the Kuru Kuru Sushi on Kam. Highway, but felt lazy to drive out to get it. I was ecstatic when the Kahala opened up. It has a nice location (next to Kahala Theater). The wait lines may be long, but I'd recommend to come early before the peak times. The longest I've waited was about 45 minutes or so. The sushi here are not the best, but definitely worth it for the price. THe service is great, they are much more friendlier than Genki's. The sushi sizes are a bit bigger, and the prices are slightly cheaper. Overall, this is a great place to go if you crave sushi at a cheap price.
(4)Krys Y.
Mmmmmmm... I liked this place because the food was very fresh, the rotary belt was very stocked with plates of food, and the waitresses were very good about refilling your tea, water, and checking with you if you need anything. I had a LOT of spicy ahi nigiri, tried the fried tako, and the spicy salmon with onion on the top. Everything was pretty good (right along the lines of all the other rotary sushi places). However, I must say that the place isn't that big, so there are about 5 booths, and a steady stream of customers always in line. There are a lot of seats around the rotary though. Also, there aren't that many people in the back making the sushi, so I notice that the people who were doing take-out orders, were waiting a LONG time for their food to come out. I'd still recommend this place to friends. The sushi and food were very good and very fresh. Prices aren't super cheap cheap, but the pieces of sushi are definitely worth what you pay (they aren't skimpy!!)
(3)Jennifer K.
I decided to go here because I used to always drive out to Aiea for Kuru Kuru Sushi. Naturally, I was thrilled when I found out that the Kuru Kuru in Kahala finally opened. My friends and I made our journey over on the 2nd day they were open. We were afraid it would be busy so we went there with the notion of just ordering take out. However, since we decided to go at 3:30ish, it wasn't very busy at all and we were able to dine in. (not a good idea for me since I ordered way too much food haha). They have pretty similar items and prices as the Kuru Kuru in Aiea but one thing that I noticed that they have that I don't believe Aiea had (or at least didn't notice the last few times I went there) was a tofu salad. Unfortunately, I thought the dressing was a little too light and unflavorful. I was going to give Kuru Kuru Sushi 5 stars because the food was just as good as ever and my spicy ahi bowl had a lot of spicy ahi in it but unfortunately, I have to take away a star for their service. We had to wait a long time at times for a server to come help us because they were all grouped together on the other side of the restaurant talking. Also, when we were ready to pay, the cashier took that exact same moment to switch register drawers, making us wait and a line form. No one had to pay for at least 5-10 minutes before we got up to pay. I don't see why they couldn't have done it sooner when no one was paying (she didn't start switching until we were in front of the register waiting) or even after the line dies down. It really doesn't take that long to ring a few people up.
(4)Vicky K.
In the kahala mall next to the movie theater! If raw fish is your thing, the mini donburi bowls are totally worth it. They discontinued the regular size a few days ago but even the mini is piled high and is only $5.95! The caterpillar, dragon and rainbow rolls are also $5.95. These are easily $15-$18 rolls elsewhere. They have bar seating at a movie sushi belt (like genki) but they have a few tables as well. We sat at the bar but most of the stuff I got I ordered so it's not really imperative you sit at the bar. I got three plates and I was full. Good portions! And really reasonable prices!
(4)Andy T.
Excellent portions, great price! The only downside is the wait but I'll wait over an hour if there's a heaping pokedon bowl at the end! My only regret is writing this review because I don't want to make this place busier than it already is!
(5)Naomi C.
So, my boyfriend and I decided to try out Kuru Kuru Sushi after hearing a bunch of people saying it was a lot better than Genki Sushi. I wanted to see if the person who created Genki improved that much on Kuru Kuru. And because my boyfriend is a cook at Genki, he could be a good judge of that. But what I got was not what I expected at all. The food? Good for the most part. If you don't mind that half the menu was not available and the portions were way off. The rolls had a lot of rice but my 3 pieces of dynamite were each about the size of a quarter and the crab mayo was non-existent in there. The service was absolutely horrible. Our server did not know what she was doing at all. My boyfriend said it could be she was new or something but it seemed like she wasn't even trying. I asked her what was in two rolls and she replied "I don't know" for both. She never bothered trying to ask someone else around her; Then when taking my order she got my drink size wrong and made me repeat myself three times. I would tell you her name but they weren't even wearing name tags and they had no comment cards. All that I know is she was around 5'6ish with glasses. Never going to go back.
(1)Jenny C.
This review will make up for my Pearl City Kuru Kuru review! I came by on Friday for dinner and it was great. Yes, the wait was a bit long. I think we had about 8 parties in front of us - but the wait was fairly okay. This restaurant took over the Carl's Jr. location which I was amazed at - they really worked the space to their advantage. The portions of fish, the ahi dons, you can't beat it. I had my fill of hamachi, salmon, onion salmon and hot off the fryer chicken karaage. Can't get better than that. Next time - I really want one of their dons. I saw a couple served up and they literally MOUND the fish onto the rice. It was crazy...and it's only like $7.95. I wonder if they give you the same amount for takeout. By the way - the service was very efficient. There were about 5 ladies working and we constantly got asked if we were okay and getting refills on our water and tea. Their dishes are cheaper, bigger portioned and seems fresher than Genki. I think I may have found my new fast food sushi joint - but beware...I don't think they will EVER go down in wait time (look at the PC location!). Go in knowing that... P.S. The rice isn't as mushy here. And no smell! I love when places open new locations...
(5)Genelle S.
Location? Kinda odd because it's not exactly next to the other food places in Kahala Mall, but it is next to the movie theater, gamestop, hallmark, thinker things, and fun factory, so I guess if you needed to go to those places, it would be convenient. It's also great that it's closer to town. Food? It's just as good as the one in Pearl City, but I did notice that the spicy ahi was spicier. For me, it's not a problem, but for those who don't like it so spicy, it may be. Service? Very good. For now, the place is kind of bland looking. White walls and a tv screen showing the proper way to eat sushi. I'm sure more will be added later, like a menu or artwork. This kuru kuru accommodates more people than the other one does, but the booths are noticeably shorter. They only hold 6 whereas the Pearl City one can hold 8. Eh, sushi bars aren't meant for big parties anyway. I think it's great that they opened a new location because one is definitely not enough. No more hour long waits. :)
(4)Michael D.
Sushi to go please, so I don't have to wait forever to sit down and watch the sushi go round and round. This is a new location next to the theaters in Kahala Mall. Probably best to park on the roof above the theaters and take the stairs/elevator down. You can't miss it. Parking is always free! There are no reservations as it's more of a fast food type of sushi place. You will need to walk in and write your name on the sheet and wait your turn. There's almost always a wait, so try to plan accordingly. Now if you're impatient like me, call in your order so you can just walk in, pay, and leave. Prices are really cheap for what you get compared to Genki. Personally, Kuru Kuru would be my choice between the two. Menus are very similar but the quality in my opinion is better here. The spicy tuna, tempura pumpkin, pork shumai, and spam sushi are a few of my favorites. Plates range from about $1.45 to $7.00 depending on what you get. Most will eat about $10 - $15 worth of food. Now if you're a total pig like me, you may eat a little more. Make sure you have a couple hours to spare if you plan to eat here. Other than that, worth the money and time. I LOVE Sushi!
(4)Anthony I.
By far the best sushi belt place I have been to. While the wait is long, the quality far surpasses that of any genki sushi that I've gone to.
(4)Zhe L.
My favorite fast food sushi place in Hawaii! Way better then genki. Get some grub and catch a movie!
(4)Tracy M.
Kuru Kuru is a typical sushi boat kinda place. Service is one to be improved and the food isn't top notch, but when the prices are so low, how can you complain? I think they've got a better selection than genki though.
(3)Robert G.
Best conveyor sushi joint on Oahu. Wait times can be ridiculous though. I was dining alone and could see single empty counter chairs vacant for more than 30 minutes. I finally got seated at the 50 minute mark. If you like the oily ones, their Shiima Saba is the best. I usually eat 4 or 5 plates of it.. I lust for it.
(4)Jujubees N.
Bad, slow, unfriendly service. Take-out not recommended because portions much smaller than dine in.
(2)DarTif S.
Hmm...what's not to like about fast and reasonable priced belt driven sushi? 3.5 star on the sushi as you will never walk away feeling like this was the best sushi you had in you life, but what do you really expect for conveyor belt $1 something sushi? 4 star for the service as the girls are pretty attentive and can easily be flagged down for refills of water or tea. 4 star or price because they still give you more than Genki. Who the heck still goes there anyway? Oh yeah...I do when the damn line or waiting list is for the next week. Negative half star because I'm still hella pissed that they took away the mixed don bowl (regular size). That WAS the best thing they had, but they still get away with it because reasonable tasting conveyor belt driven sushi is actually harder to find. I was actually thinking they should hire one of those tanaka of tokyo guys to do the sushi up front. Fish and rice everywhere!
(4)Kalyn K.
Let's see........my Dad and I banned Genki and needed a new sushi place to go to. Kuru Kuru is what I heard....so we headed on over there this past weekend. First of all Kuru Kuru beats Genki any day! The sushi we had was great. We had the salmon, spicy tuna, poke, hamachi, tekka maki, dragon roll, karaage chicken and spicy unagi. Everything was good! Their portions were large enough that we were all full and our bill was only $80 for 5 of us! We were shocked when we got the bill because at Genki our bill is usually over $90 and we still have room for Menchies.....but not this night! We waited over 40 minutes to be seated, but the food was well worth the wait. The booths are really tight unless you're a size 0. We were banging elbows the whole time. The only gripe I had was that they were in such a rush to clean up (it was 8:45 and they closed at 9...If that's the case they should just say they close at 8:45 instead) that the guy started mopping while we were still eating. Not very appetizing to eat and smell pine sol at the same time. It's like we we're eating in the restroom. So if you Kuru Kuru employees read this, HOLD OFF THE MOPPING UNTIL PEOPLE ARE DONE EATING!!!! Okay with that vent done, I know we will be back to enjoy the great sushi!!
(4)Dustin N.
Yum... I love coming here. Best sushi on Oahu so far.
(4)Julie Y.
I love kuru kuru!! I use to live in Aiea and recently moved by kahala mall. So when I found out they expanded and opened in kahala I was ecstatic! I love their spicy salmon, spicy tuna, pumpkin tempura, salmon, and many other things. Those are just a few of my favs. The service is great! Everyone is always sweet and patient even though they are always busy. Unlike their competitor genki sushi. You can't beat the quality for the price!! After eating kuru it's hard to go back to genki. I would have given kuru five stars but the four is because of the wait.
(4)Jerry E.
Over rated place. Their sushi rice is too huge, not cooked right, and possibly missing the essential vinegar. Service was terrible, too. If you want you want your tea, or ice water refills, you have to repeatedly asked the waitresses to do so. I believe the primary reason that this place is packed is that their prices are lower than Genki Sushi, but you pay for what you get, undercooked rice with missing key ingredients and unsatisfactory services that do not deserve tips.
(2)Crystal N.
If you like Genki sushi, then you'll absolutely LOVE Kuru kuru sushi!! Their pieces of sushi are a mouthful and so far always fresh. The prices for everything is pretty good too. A MUST try is their spicy ahi don! it's humungous, & I believe its around $6 only! They also have coffee jelly on their dessert menu, my favorite :) The only downer is that the seating is limited, so I usually have to wait 15 to 20min.. but then again that's also a good sign.. meaning everyone wants to eat kurukuru!
(5)Angel L.
Glad to try this place the quality of the fish is better than Genki Sushi, very pleased!
(4)D A.
I've been here many times prior to my most recent visit. I must say that the wait just to be seated is rediculous. I put my name down on the list at 12:20p.m. (Fri, Aug 17th); there were about 3 people above in the list still yet to be called (the earliest at: 12:16p.m.). I figured; eh just a little wait and we can be seated. So my mom and I wait and wait and wait. I peek in 20 mins later (through the glass window) people leave one after another. Two booths empty, along with four counter seats open as well. I see their employees clean the booths and the counter seats; then about four employees huddle at the counter area discuss what to do. Mind you by then half an hour go by I see the person who was on the list (@ 12:16p.m. 2 people) finally get called. By this time theres like 10 other names (easy) below mine. Four counter seats lined up was open. What do they do? Seat the two in between the four seats. ZOMG!!! Two counter seats are open but now are open for single customers only. I peer at the list NO ONE on that list was signed up as a 1 person diner. Now that person that waited a good 30 mins finally gets called leaving about 2 others above me and countless of others waiting below me looking into their establishment with disgust. I just couldn't wait any longer as it easily clears past 1 p.m. (other restaurants have lunch time hours and I'm darn sure I'm not going to wait another ??? mins just to be seated; I don't want to miss my chance at eating at another restaurant because their kitchen closes on account of this place). So, my mom and I ended up going to Maguro Ya (in Kaimuki). Much better service and yummy fresh fish (who can complain after what we went through). I don't understand the logic of having seats clearly opened during peak lunch time hours just so a few of the dining patrons have a little more elbow space? The wait would have not been so sour if only I had witnessed the flow of the diners come in and out more smoothly. I have dined many Kaiten Sushi restaurants here and in Japan and I must say: the actions of those employees are not typical of Kaiten Sushi restaurants.
(1)Jill R.
Their prices are slightly cheaper than Genki and their menu is significantly smaller than Genki Sushi. The texture of the rice is different too, but in a good way. It almost feels fluffier in texture. The portions are very good, especially the ahi donburi bowls. When I went to this location, there was no line and it was sometime during the week at about 5:00pm. I think their spicy ahi is a lot better than Genki's.
(3)Barnaby S.
Best "value" in town if your looking for quick sushi. The fish is really fresh with a decent menu to select from. Obscene size pieces of hamachi for less than $3?! Cant be beat. Be prepared for a line as this place is usually pretty busy
(4)David C.
Before making arrangements to eat here, be sure to weigh how long you are willing to tolerate breathing in sewer air when waiting outside for a seat.
(3)Benhur B.
I'm glad they decided to have a location in town. Before that, I've heard a lot of good about this place. You can expect a wait even if you get here before primetime dinner hours. This is a real step up from the other guys @ G.... *ahem* Portions seem to be bigger and taste better here. I usually like to order fresh even if I see what I want on the conveyor belt. Items on the belt here though are way fresher than the other place that looks like they've had some rolling around on that belt for hours. Prices are a little higher than the other guys too but, well worth it. Service is good as they are very attentive to their customers. If only this place were a little bigger. It might be better. For what is is though, I am a fan!
(3)Reuben R.
Its weird, but I like the new location better than the old one now because I seem to be on the east side of the island more. Sure, the line is still really really long and we waited 45 min to be seated.... But the bowls are the best things to get, and I like how theres fresh fruit running down those belts. When I'm by myself, I can get full off of their lower teir plates. My friend and I split up a bunch of things ( she loves the lobster balls and kalbi ) and we generally spend about $24 which is $6 less than at genkis. not a bad deal. I find their agadashi tofu to be lacking something somehow though. I think its the batter. It tastes a bit gummy even when it hasn't sat in the fish sauce broth very long either. The croquets are pretty thick here, and I can get full just on a couple of those added to some other regular dishes. Not a bad place to go by yourself or with a group. If you've got more than 4 people, expect to wait a while, as booths seem to be given to couples as well as the bar stools, and if your luck is out, you'll have to wait for them to dig out first.
(4)Colin T.
Way better than I thought for 'conveyor belt' sushi. Pretty good prices and decent quality fish. Dinner for two of us = $37.50 + tip. Friendly staff always coming around to help us. Definitely going back.
(4)Amy H.
Probably the third time I've gone to a "conveyer belt style" sushi place. My uncle insisted we go early (5pm) as the Kahala Mall location is quite small and tends to fill up. We were seated right away and there were some plates going around. Fortunately, they let you order directly, so we got everything we wanted right away. The white fish and salmon sashimi tasted fresh and were light. The sweet potato tempura was pretty good (though would have been better right out of the fryer rather than after a few turns on the belt...). The spciy tuna roll was good and so was the unagi sashimi. As a warning, the shrimp tempura roll is a WHOLE shrimp (head, shell, tail). The japanese chicken nuggets or whatnot were okay. The service was fine and the establishment clean enough. It's a good run-of-the-mill sushi place.
(3)Brittany H.
I'm never coming here again. First off I didn't come here with friends or my bf or anything. I came with my grandparents. Their kinda impatient when it comes to food so I figured this place would be good since parking is more simple than going to kapahulu genki. I got here and put my name down and the number in my party. Waited for 20 mins or so and I noticed a few people that wrote their names down after me was getting seated before me. This is what made me upset at first. So I said something and the girl kinda sighed at me and was like oh you can sit at the booth over there than. We didn't even get directed to our table. We were here for a good hour and a half and we never got our water refilled. Every time my grandparents tried to order the servers ignored them. That made me even more angry. Servers should never shrug off any customer especially senior citizens. I had to flag down servers and I still got ignored. After about my 3rd try every time I finally got one. We didn't even start eating until half an hour in cause no one paid attention to us. It took the lady 15 mins just to give me my soda and it took forever for our sushi. The one and only time I was asked if I was okay or needed anything was from the sushi maker. None of the servers. I should have shafted them on tip but I couldn't since I was with my grandparents. But never again am I coming here. Food tastes bad, service is bad, and overall the servers need to get an attitude check. The servers have the attitude of if i dont like you im gonna give you the shittiest of service ever. NEVER EVER AGAIN. edit: i wouldnt have felt the need to write such a horrible review if it was friends and i. But because i was with my grandparents and they were getting ignored is what set me off. We all know senior citizens are needy so dont make like their invisible your in kahala mall an old people environment so get use to it. Also they didnt have the kalbi chicken don thats specified RIGHT ON THE MENU. They discontinued it so take it off the menu so other customers like me dont get disapointed with high hopes of trying it cause 'it doesnt exist anymore'
(1)Lei I.
I love this place! It's good quality food at reasonable prices. I went there last Saturday night. Since I'm pregnant I couldn't indulge in the sushi but I love thier Chawan Mushi and their Udon. Also, the fresh fruits were really sweet. The staff there are always really friendly even when they were really busy. They made sure I was well taken care of. I had 3 different waiters come up to me to ask if I needed anything and they always filled my tea and water up promply. The restaurant has a nice decor. It's clean and has a casual ambiance. It's located next to the theater at Kahala Mall so It's a great place to eat before or after a movie.
(5)Sash T.
My gf and I finally got to try the new kuru kuru sushi in kahala mall last night. We signed in and waited for about 15 mins and it was worth it! They definitey give more fish than genki sushi and the service was great. I like how they bring you water and tea to your table before you sit down. Everything we ate was good, so I can't wait to go back and try one of their donburis.
(4)Yoko O.
getting this out of the way; moderately priced for an average "fast-food" sushi bar, location was clean kinda snug (but what do you expect? it's the Carl Jr.'s former location). this is give them two stars.. What i really want to review on is their SERVICE. i've been to this location twice; the first time was pretty good not that crowded, pretty OK service, the second time.. IDKWTF was going on, but if i could just give them stars on service they'd get one (& that's only because of the one girl who ACTUALLY helped us, although her main position was to man the register area). we went around mid afternoon, no lines & not really anything on the belt (which is what i expected due to shift changes, i used to work at a "sushi bar" like this before.. so i know how it goes). 15 minutes passed, no one asked us if we'd like to order anything.. THANK GOD the waitress provided us with water & tea so we could fend of that for the time being! i think the entire time we were there only one other waitress asked us if we were okay... other than that, there was a waitress talking with her friends for a good amount of time, other ones kept passing us by, and damn straight we were sitting right in front where everyone can see us, so idk WTF their problem was. (MIND YOU: i was being polite the entire time... if there's one thing i know, don't EFF with people who touch your food). When we were done eating, we waited for another 15minutes while the workers kept walking by not even acknowledging us. maybe i should've flagged them down, but in my experience of working in the food industry, i didn't think it was appropriate to raise my hand OR snap my fingers. BLAH BLAH BLAH, i still left tip. anyways, this is my FIRST low ranking, and unfortunately... yeah the food is "you get what you pay for", i've had BETTER SUSHI, but WTF IS UP WITH YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE? maybe brittany and i went on the same freaking day or something.. but i went to the KURU KURU in PEARLKAI 3 hours later..and they had AWESOME SERVICE for being busy up the butthole.
(2)Madaline H.
Kuru Kuru is always a winner! Great portions, Great prices, Great Taste! The only complaint would be the wait, which at this point is just part of the deal. Great addition to the east side (Kahala Mall)!
(4)Steven C.
Service was very good, And the food the best.
(5)Matt M.
I'm very impressed with this kaiten sushi joint. The quality and the prices were better than genki sushi. I also liked the variety of food that was available. I was very happy with the tuna, salmon, and hamachi. For me, these are the foundational sushi. If you can't do these well, I'm not coming back. I don't care if you have some ridiculously delicious fancy roll. You have to have good basic fish. Kuru kuru has it. I also tried their saba which was good, but not great. My wife and I both loved their ahi poke. I also liked their gari (pickled ginger) it tasted spicier than others I've tried. I was amazed at their service! The place was packed, but we must have been asked 20 times if we wanted more water and tea. Overall this was a great place.
(4)Jerrel C.
First of all i have always liked kuru kuru since the first time they opened in pearl kai. The kahala location was good also but i watched this place become a workplace for teens. Isn't McDonalds for that?... Well this location has all teens and or very young adults that have no concept of the service industry. I did not see anyone responsible the whole time. The servers and food preps were all noisy, playing jokes on each other and being obnoxious. No work ethic in sight my whole stay. Now to the food... The sushi chef..i dont think they deserve the title..so i will call them food preps..so the food prep was eating popcorn, hand to mouth and then preped orders...other food preps were wearing gloves. What happened to standards? I noticed this after I ordered...damn too bad for me i hope no cooties. now the food was ok, it lost some of its oomph since opening. Oh and i almost forgot to mention the menus were all greazzzy, didnt they or dont they care to wipe this down also since they wipe down the tables...i hope this addressed soon because its disgusting... We waited long for certain dishes...like 15 mins...WTH? for kabocha tempura? 4 pieces at that! I purposely counted how may wait staff passed my empty water glass and tea cup...both remained empty until we were about to leave...thanks by the way! ..wow...service meeds more attention..then again, they were teens playing around instead of working...hence the phrase i used..."no work ethic!"......i would say more but i would rather sum it up - "MANAGEMENT NEEDS TO RE-DO THE STAFFING IN THIS LOCATION BECAUSE ITS SLOWLY BECOMING A DUMP!" I WOULD GIVE THEM 1/2 A STAR....IF NONE AT ALL. SORRY KURU KURU I WILL ONLY BE AT YOUR PEARL KAI LOCATION IF I EVER VISIT AGAIN.
(1)Rick G.
We live in the area and walk to Kahala Mall. We have to go to Kuru Kuru at least once a week. The prices are great, and I love the mixed Don's bowl. I think the service is great too.
(4)Jo S.
I guess you have to either be a kuru kuru person, or a genki person. Genkis have way better tasting food, but kuru kuru has better portions.
(2)Sara H.
heard a bunch of hype about kuru kuru and so had been dying to try this place for a while. went close to closing on a weeknight and there was still a little wait. not too bad though. the only problem with going so late was that it seemed like they had run out of a lot of things! :/ we did get to try most of the staples though. everything was pretty standard here i thought. i was ravenous that night so i tried A LOT. haha. there were 2 dishes that particularly stood out to me - the kabocha tempura and the spicy salmon nigiri. i don't usually like either of those dishes but tasted them at kuru kuru and they were KILLER. the kabocha was super thinly sliced and when they brought it to us fresh it was hot and crispy and delicious. the spicy salmon had a really nice texture and the fish tasted super fresh. the one dish that i was really disappointed by was the spicy ahi. we had spicy ahi nigiri and the spicy ahi don so i definitely got to sample a lot of it and i must say i prefer genkis! i guess this a personal preference thing but the kuru kuru spicy ahi is a lot thicker and more mayonnaise-y. barf. all in all, the prices were good (SLIGHTLY cheaper than genki i think) and i felt like the selection was really good. the wait can be brutal (esp if you're hungry) but i think it's worth it!! :D
(4)jesse g.
too much people raving about this place but i wasn't as disappointed as i was for the rave about shokudo's honey toast... spicy ahi don: hype. it's very well decorated and looks real pretty, but go to ono seafood and try their spicy bowl and you won't even give a **** about the spicy ahi don. not much to say about this place. it's your average fast sushi on a conveyor belt type of place except with a longer wait and line. i guess i'd say that after eating there that it does in fact taste better than genki's, and that if i were in the pearl city area craving sushi, this is the place i'd head to first. i like it, it's good, but other than that i don't see what all the hype is about.
(3)Albert M.
This place always has a wait. When we went, there was a super long line. We put our names on the wait list and waited patiently along with the other guests. One of the young girls that work there had seen her friends outside and told them they could cut and just be seated right away without putting their names on the list and waiting. I thought that was real rude and not fair. Other then that, the service was alright.
(3)Joseph M.
I usually would give a 4-5, but the service was not comparable to the Aiea KuruKuru. The wait was shorter. For two people, the wait was 30 minutes at 6 p.m. on a weeknight. The service was not good because I drink water and tea pretty good with my sushi or donburi. The waitress (no waiters) did not come often to fill up my water and waited possibly 2-3 minutes for water and no courtesy to check up on customers often. They are busy just like Aiea, but the quality service was missing. My donburi took a long time, but the portion was great! I had three plates before the donburi came out. Since they just opened, the new employees (sushi, donburi maker, waitresses) need to up their par.
(3)Jenn W.
Genki who?
(5)Michelle F.
My friend had a band-aid in her sushi. Stopped me from going there.
(1)Kacy L.
Love the kabocha pumpkin tempura! And the instant gratification of eating as soon as you are seated :)
(5)Edge N.
I aint a real fan of sushi but I went to kuru kuru sushi in kahala mall because a friend was raving about their spicy ahi don bowl. I was thinking that my friend was exaggerating the portions and was surprised that they really do pack the ahi and rice. (took it to go too) I would estimate the ahi to be at least a good 1/4 lb and not only were they very generous it also tasted good. This will be my new place for my spicy ahi cravings for sure.
(4)laura e.
good value. comparable to genki but larger portions. imo, too much rice, but others don't seem to mind. kids liked the fresh fruit offerings. thought the location was too small for kahala mall.
(4)kris m.
Horrible service! We were barely seated by a waitress. "those two seats back there." Does that count as being seated? There was already water and cold tea at our seats. After that, not one person took our order for drinks or food. I get that most of the food is going around on the belt, but if you don't see it on the belt, you gotta order. The entire time we were there, not one staff approached us. Finally, I was over it, unsatisfied and not ever coming back. We went to the register to pay because I figured it was the only way we could get out seeing as how the waitresses would rush past and avoid any eye contact and pretend they didn't here you even after an "excuse me" that could be heard across the restaurant. They already cleared our area and plates before it could be tallied. First time during my entire experience that I realized the staff knew we were there was when the cashier rushed to the back and another staff actually remembered where she put our stack of dirty plates. I felt bad that I this girl had to rush and get our plate count. But then when she scolded me for not getting the little piece of paper before trying to pay, I no longer felt bad. Zero tip. Zero return service.
(1)Duffer m.
Great value! blows away Genki hands down. Service is good, although they could have a little better team work in clearing the tables and setting up the tables. Probably the best deal for a meal in Kahala Mall. If you haven't, you gotta check out Kuru Kuru.
(4)Kim M.
I'd give 5 Stars but the fact is brah, you still gotta wait. And wait I will for the thick slices of hamachi and sake. For the piping hot orders of garlic ahi, kabocha tempura and geso karaage. I'm a small girl, don't eat much, but this place puts me at the brink of kanaks on the spot. Look for Kuru Kuru in the old Carl's Junior spot. They offer fresh fruit which is new compared to the Pearl City location which is sweet. But any local will tell you fruit takes up space where the poke nigiri could go.
(4)Alexis O.
My friend recommended Kuru Kuru because he said it was 'SOOO GOOD' there and we were in the area so I decided to try it~ Reviews on yelp also said Kuru Kuru was good too. Since Kuru is new to Kahala there was a swarm of people there and I thought the line wait would take forever, but it went by pretty quickly which is one good thing. Service was also pretty good.. I think? The first time I went to Kuru the waiters were nice and polite.. and someone would fill our waters and tea after we drank like 3 sips LOL.. I don't know if this is a good thing or just annoying hahah. Atmosphere was alright, not really appealing to me but its no problem. As for the quality and price.. I am not a big fan. Although Kuru gives quite a bit for their nigiri dishes, it doesn't really seem to me like its all that good quality. I could tell Ikura wasn't really fresh and it didn't seem salty enough for me? Also it really bothers me that they use a machine to shape the rice for the nigiri sushi.. Not sure if other conveyor belt sushi places do this also but the fact that they use that is kind of irritating.. Not the 'traditional' way of making sushi if you know what I mean. Also it's pretty pricey here.. almost $5 for 2pc of ikura.. thats pretty junk, and they don't give that much ikura either. I think g-sushi gives more.
(3)jonah A.
Not happy with the quality, but when I thought about the cost involved in paying for the sushi?....still not happy. The rice was not tasty enough, the sashimi not fresh enough; however, the service was good The atmosphere was nice. The wait was one hour on a busy Friday night, so what can I expect. At least I was able to go shopping for a while. Genki or Kuru Kuru? That's a toss up. It's about the same.
(2)K A.
Looks like Genki Sushi, but it's not! For what it is, cheaper, fast sushi, it's good. I only tried 2 things: spicy ahi and hamachi nigiri which were both good. Way better quality fish than Genki. I'd definitely return.
(3)Lesley D.
cheap and fresh, YUMMMMMM!
(5)Darin l.
Just recently have i got a taste for kurukuru in Kahala mall. I do prefer genki better but i have gone here many times for the cheap 6$ mini poke bow you can get with either spicy ahi, regular ahi, or spicy salmon. The fish is fresh and they give a bigger portion of fish than other sushi places. They tend to play techno music whether you enjoy that type of genre or not. They also do take out which a lot of people do. Recommended for a casual date, or a quick cheap bit for poke and rice.
(3)Kay W.
SERIOUSLY??????! The change in this place is so TERRIBLE! Like other people have all noticed, kuru kuru started off great with BIG portions and cheap prices. We all enjoyed eating there and then all of a sudden they decided to cut back and SHRINK all their sushi! They got rid of the poke bowls that made them famous on yelp and basically changed the entire feel of this establishment. Today we went there to eat and I was so disgusted looking at all the changes they made in such a short period of time. The pieces of sushi were SO SMALLL that I really coudnt believe my eyes! We ordered a few plates from the back and when the waitress brought it out I actually wanted to blurt out "YOU"VE GOT TO BE KIDDING RIGHT?" The pieces were so tiny that it looked ridiculous on the tiny plate they serve in on. And you know how small those plates are! I was so pissed I put it back on the conveyor belt and stopped eating. ANY SMALLER YOU WONT BE ABLE TO SEE THE SUSHI ANY MORE! I let my kids finish eating and paid and left. I understand about cutting corners when you own a business (I am also a business owner) but when you CHOP off the ENTIRE corner and compromise the INTEGRITY of the business you ultimately LOSE BUSINESS and RESPECT of people. I used to eat here pretty often with my large family but today was the LAST TIME!!!! Also dont think I didnt notice that when you order plates from the back you guys make it even smaller than the ones on the belt. Cant make them super tiny when they are on the belt cause no one will pick it up but when you order it we have no choice but to keep it. I will tell everyone about your restuarant and horrible changes. You may of succeeded in saving money but you also lost many customers along the way. I hope it was worth it!! And dont think Im the only one that noticed. Read the other reviews here...everyone is saying the same thing! And I also noticed your lines are MUCH shorter than before. MANAGEMENT HAS BAD BUSINESS SENSE! So RIDICULOUS!
(1)T L.
What happened to the quality & service @ this Kahala location! When it first opened I was so relieved not having to stand in line @ the Aiea location. Sushi quality & service was on point. The last couple times we went & ordered off the menu.... the fish still had ice chips on them & the rice was dry! The sushi maker in the middle looked annoyed that he was given that job & just was kind of wacking down the plates to pick up. The workers don't look happy and the quality & slices of fish went down the gutter. Thank goodness G-Sushi is just a few minutes away.
(2)C S.
I live on the Leeward side, but every time I pass the Kuru Kuru Sushi restaurant in Pearl Kai, there is a line -- a long line. So, when I found myself at Kahala Mall and saw that there were seats available at Kuru Kuru, I seized the moment. It was my husband's first time there, and he liked the sushi. We usually eat at Genki, just because it seems easier to get a table. We were at Kuru Kuru on Friday before 5 pm, so it wasn't crowded. People started coming in, but we were still ahead of the crowd. Most seemed to know exactly what they wanted. The hubby and I thought the prices were pretty reasonable (cheaper than Genki), and everything tasted fresh. The conveyor belt had a few things on it, but mostly orders were being taken by the servers. We had a selection of things, and after eating our fill -- we did a scan of the colors of the plates and made a quick calculation -- we were full, and we only spent $14. What a deal! I was tempted to just sit there and wait until they put more on the conveyor belt, but, by that time, we were both full. Any more food would have been too much. I'm looking forward to another visit to Kuru Kuru, and I think I'll even make the drive into town!
(4)Kara M.
KuruKuru is my go-to spot for a nice meal after the beach or a day of shopping with friends. The workers are pretty accommodating, but as with any other restaurant, when it's busy, don't expect to be helped right away. My favorites are the salmon onion mayo nigiri, pumpkin tempura, and the natto nigiri :D I suggest going for lunch or an early dinner to avoid the long wait!
(4)Dean S.
One more place I will never go to again. Food is decent, but service its terrible! One of the worst experiences I've had. Went for a late lunch at 3pm. They were fully staffed and it was not busy. No one greeted its when we entered. I saw a sign in sheet so I decided to sign in. Still no one acknowledged us. Waited about 10 minutes before someone checked the sheet and seated us at a table that was already available and prepped when we first arrived. After being seated it took another 5 minutes before someone decided to take our order. After that we were left alone and no one followed up with us. Again, it was fully staffed and it was NOT busy. It seemed that the staff was more concerned with filling up supplies for the dinner rush than waiting on customers. They were taking advantage of the fact that it was slow to prep for dinner, but it was at the sacrifice of the customers who were there. Finally at the end of the meal we packed up or things and got ready to leave only to continue to be ignored. We finally decided to go up to the counter to get someones attention so we could pay and leave... never to return again.
(1)pich h.
Wow cant believe other customers feel the same about kahalas location for a minute there i thought it was just me. Dont get me wrong i was once a genki fan until i tried kuru kuru. The quality of food is there, granted i know its not authentic sushi but for something thats just simple its great for the price. Anyways what im trying to say is that kahala needs to step it up a notch on customer service or get retrained at the aiea branch. Went there at 330, not more than 15 customers in the restraunt, 10 minuts later no one even acknowledges us if we wanted to order something and on top of that, no selection of sushi to choose from on the conveyor belt. Whats wrong with that? Hello people come on your in the kahala area you would think youd give the best service considering the customers that lives around that area. Thats okay i left with my husband. Wont be going to the kahala branch anymore.
(3)Ka'ili H.
Convenience. Inside Kahala mall next to the theater. That's one of the reasons my boyfriend and I stopped by this place for lunch. We were in the area and I knew this little sushi place opened up. The wait was 20 minutes, but went by pretty quickly. I'm somewhat of a selective sushi eater, not because I'm a sushi snob and only think certain restaurants have better tasting and at times more expensive sushi, i just barely eat any rice. When rice is available I usually pass it by and opt for my veggies. With Sushi, I look for lots of fish-- poke, sashimi, things like that. Anyways, we came here for lunch and were pleasantly surprised. My BF loves sushi so I hoped that this place did the trick for him, his hungry stomach, and his tastebuds. I had a couple of plates of the poke sushi, salmon sushi--where it's sashimi like, and we ordered a dragon roll. Our entire bill came out to $16.75. Not too shabby for conveyor belt sushi and two hungry foodies. The service here was spot on. Our waters were filled in a timely manner and they also came around asking if we wanted to order anything from the menu. They were friendly and nice. I now understand why Jayson N. is such a fan of this place! They really do made delicious sushi. =) Yelp 365 Challenge: 65/ 365
(4)Austin T.
YUM
(4)Nick M.
Simply put, Kuru Kuru blows Genki Sushi out of the water. The prices are about comparable, but the quality of sushi you get at Kuru is a lot higher--the fish is fresher and replaced more often, the servers frequently take your order, and they still have a wide variety of interesting sushi types to try. A quick, reliable, and decent eat.
(3)Kobe O.
Mixed poke and spicy tuna bowl is the bomb. So much food for under $6. Only wish the spicy tuna had the sweet, unagi/gochujang sauce that Genki puts on their spicy tuna bowls. The deep fried foods don't taste too greasy, the kabocha is a winner. The food is fresh and service is great. Place is clean and turns over quick, so you never have to wait too long for a booth or counter space. They also take special care to watch out for the young children/toddler customers. Eat there almost once a week, nuff said...........
(4)Jenn T.
After hearing people rave about this place, I decided to come check it out with one of my out-of-town guests. I was very skeptical especially since I'm not a super huge fan of Genki sushi or conveyer belt sushi in general. It almost baffles me why people would wait to eat sushi that's been sitting out for god knows how long...talk about food poising waiting to happen! But we came here because my friend wanted cheap but good sushi. This place was definitely that! When we got here around 530p, it wasn't too crowded, and we were able to get seats right away. I ate a couple pieces off the belt, spicy tuna, ebi. They were fairly good--rice wasn't hard and fish was pretty fresh! I ordered more pieces from the menu, so they were definitely fresh. I got the dragon roll, which was such a steal for $6! I was expecting like 4 pieces, but they gave me the whole roll w/ 8 pieces! The chawan mushi was also delicious for like $1.40. All in all, this place is definitely a good deal. It may not be the best quality sushi around the island, but it's definitely worth the price! It definitely beats genki any day, and has renewed my faith in conveyer belt sushi!
(4)Lia F.
Kuru Kuru is my favorite kaiten-zushi place in Hawaii. They have a huge selection of both traditional and "new wave" sushi and reasonable prices. Be warned though, it gets super crowded and it's not uncommon to have to wait for a seat. If you're in a rush I suggest calling ahead and doing take out. I didn't give it 5 stars because the wait is sometimes a drag and sometimes the fish is a little smelly. My favorites include hamachi and salmon nigiri which always have nice thick cuts of fish and usually are pretty fresh (no smell). I've noticed that their cuts of fish are much nicer than at the Genki I normally go to. Don't skip out on the non-sushi items, you'll be sorry! The tempura pumpkin is delicious and a great deal at $1.55 an order. Be sure to order it from your server so you get it hot and freshly fried. They recently revamped their menu with some new items, one of them being age mochi. I love it. It's basically mochi lightly fried with the tendon sauce. So addicting! it's kind of like a soft arare. A specialty of theirs is their poke don available in both regular ahi poke and spicy ahi poke or even a combination of both. I prefer the regular ahi poke but the spicy ahi is super popular (too spicy for me). Overall KuruKuru is a small step up from Genki when it comes to quality and selection but also more affordable. If you don't mind waiting, this is a great place to come with friends or family.
(4)Jonathan P.
Dear Kuru Kuru, Oh, where do I begin? You were great. You were more than great, you were wonderful. And we've had some really good times together! But how could you do this to me yelp.com/user_local_phot… ?!? Your mix donburi's yelp.com/biz_photos/84hO… use to be the pinnacle of my visit, the creme of the crop, the cherry on a sundae. You were also the first of my pictures to be a default picture! But what do I have to look forward to now? A mini single topping don for $5.95...You didn't just hurt me, but you hurt my hungry stomach as well! I thought we were going good...I was always there for you. And I was always just a few minutes away. But no, you just had to do that. You didn't even call to let me know! I just came in one day and you just had to surprise me like that...I'm very disappointed at you. In addition, you just had to do this yelp.com/biz_photos/84hO… ! I didn't even get a chance to try your super cheap kalbi donburi... I will always carry fond memories of you. But as of now I don't think we can be friends...give me a few weeks or so to cool down. Thank you again for all your wonderful mix donburi's you've made for me. They won't be forgotten. -Jonathan P. ==================================================Â=== Haha nah nah Kuru Kuru. You're still better than genki in my book. And your mini donburi's are alright (it still looks big when you eat in). I just wonder what happened...were your kalbi, tempura, and mix dons too good of a deal that you lost money? They also got rid of the nigiri don but I didn't care for that. I actually got 2 mini don's (poke, and spicy ahi) and it was SUPER filling. But that's just because I had 2 bowls. I just wish they kept the mix don.
(4)Mahina C.
it's back, it's back!!! Beef Tataki is finally back & here to say. im happy to announce i can give this place back their missing star because of the beef tataki that is back on the menu. No wait, cheap food, & they're bringing old things back! Good move kuru kuru
(4)Justin C.
Always a good place to eat. Sometimes its a long wait, but its well worth it! I recommend the half and half. Its so delicious.
(4)Helen C.
I apologize for adding to the already many reviews that compare this place to Genki. I know it deserves to be critiqued on its own, but I figure a good majority of you have tried Genki Sushi, so that'll make it easier for me. Prices are definitely cheaper. Taste was slightly better. I managed to drop $20 really quickly. I LOVE chawanmushi, but I couldn't find it on the menu. I just assumed it wasn't an option. As I was leaving though, I saw a little boy eating one. I would've doubled back to order it, but by that time I already paid and was stuffed. I noticed several things on the belt that wasn't on the menu, too. I guess it's not the most updated? I think Genki's spicy ahi, scallop mayo, and ahi bowls are better. Kuru Kuru's smoked salmon and hamachi are excellent though. I had several other plates and have to say that the overall taste was pretty good and I would choose to come here over Genki any day. I'd been dying to try Kuru Kuru for a while and am glad to have found a good sushi belt restaurant. **2/31 Yelps Review Challenge**
(3)Yuko A.
Kuru Kuru, why did I not discover you earlier? I love sushi and love it even better when its fast, cheap, and good. Of course its no kaiten sushi like in Japan but Kuru Kuru does a good job of serving fresh sushi at cheap prices. There prices are much better than Genki. The prices ranged from $1.30 ~ 7.50 (for the donburi-which was huge). I ordered salmon, hamachi, scallop mayo, and spicy tuna. The cuts of the salmon and hamachi were pretty big and nice and fatty. I almost got 2 orders of the scallop mayo because I liked it so much but decided to hold off because I wanted to try other dishes. The baby scallops were big and plump and didnt taste half-frozen like Genki sometimes does. I'm not a huge dragon roll person but I ate 2-3 pieces of my bf because I couldn't get enough of the eel on top. Yum! I often order sushi from the waiter at Genki but I didn't need to do it as much at Kuru-kuru because it didnt seem as dishes were being left out for too long on the belt. The ladies working were so friendly and attentive. It may have been because we went early but at least I didn't have to flag down waiters like I have always have to do at Genki. The only thing I disliked was that the sushi dishes had a little bit too much rice. If you ever sit at a sushi counter in front of a Japanese chef in Japan or even in Hawaii, you never get a lot of rice because the fish is what its about. Thats okay Kuru Kuru, I'll be back. I'll just take some of the rice out next time. :-) YELP 365: 005/365
(4)Jeri H.
Even though sometimes rarely we have to wait for a booth, the staff is always so nice and always coming by to check on you. Even the guy who makes the sushi even ask if we are doing okay. I like this place because it is convenient after shopping at Kahala Mall.
(5)Aileen C.
Came around 830 and still had to wait. Good sign I guess. Lol The sushi was not bad, but the spicy tuna bowl was not as good as genki in ala moana. Their sushi seemed pretty fresh cause the manager would take off the sushi that looked like they were soaking in the sauce and riding th e boats for 30 mins or more.
(3)Jayson N.
ATTENTION ATTENTION.. DUE TO LONG LINES AND OVER CONSUMPTION OF SUSHI, KURU KURU ASKS THAT YOU COME ANY TIME THAT JAYSON DOESNT HAVE A KK CRAVING, BECAUSE JAYSON DOES NOT WANNA WAIT SO LONG FOR NOMZ SUSHI. SERIOUSLY PEOPLE WHY YOU GOTTA EAT THE KURUZ WHEN I WANNA EAT THE KURUZ?? The obvious answer to that question is because the sushi is AMAZING and CHEAP... after being uberly impressed with the PC locale, i hoped that Kahala would be even better. AND IT IS. Besides the wait, the fish is still Big, the poke and ahi bowls are still GARGANTUAN, and the servers are still really attentive. Your water or tea will never be empTy. You know you got a good thing going when hallmark tells you "DON'T BLOCK THE PATH WAY" !! FOR ALL YOU KURUZ NOOBZ, IF YOU LIKE GET FULL FAST EAT A DONBURI FIRST. IF YOU LIKE VARIETY, DON'T EAT A DONBURI CAUSE YOU'LL GET FULL, FOOL. AND REMEMBER DON'T EAT THE KURUZ WHEN I WANNA EAT THE KURUZ. K THX!
(5)Chad Y.
Let's be honest, when you have a hankering for sushi, you WANT SUSHI. It isn't going to be just a few bites, you are going to want a plethora placed in front of you that you can quickly eat till your heart is content. Then the bill comes and that is when the sticker shock hits you. Well, the conveyor belt is always an option and the thought often makes me cringe, however if you want affordable mounds of sushi, that is the choice you are forced to subject yourself to. Kuru Kuru certainly bucks the common trends and offers one of the better experiences on the island if the mood should strike. Kuru Kuru takes over the space right next door to the theater and offers a good amount of seating, however plan to wait if you want a booth. They offer mostly counter seating and be prepared for a wait since it is much smaller than its counterpart. It's well lit commercial feel it utilitarian in nature but it serves its purpose. The sushi is tasty and the fish is rather fresh and well-cut. It certainly does not disappoint, however at the same time it isn't about to wow. The ahi is well done and so are their other rolls. Feel free to hail a waiter to order if you don't happen to see what you want rolling on by. Service is ok, however could be upped a bit. They certainly know how to pick their moments to fill your water or check in (sense sarcasm here). It is about their efficiency, not their warm and friendly feel. All in all, if the mood for some conveyor sushi should strike you, Kuru kuru is certainly a good option to visit!
(4)Kayla R.
Excellent service, one of the better conveyor belt sushi spots. Just the only thing is, the wait. Oh my gosh. The wait is HORRIBLE, seriously any time of the day I always find myself waiting minimum of 30 min. And I've tried going during those "awkward eating times" but there is always a long list of names, but that is seriously my only "turn off" towards this place. Everything else is grrrreat~
(5)Mike O.
So this is the well renowned, hours waiting in line at PC, Kuru Kuru Sushi. This was my first time at any Kuru Kuru. I can honestly say it was better thank Genki (and way better than Sushi San), but thats not saying much. The service from the lone sushi guy behind the counter to the 5 os 6 waitresses around the counter was great. With this much people for a small restaurant, you were literally being asked "if everything was ok" every few minutes. Rather bothersome but not a bad thing. Now the food. Looking at everyone around me (who must have been KK veterans) everyone seemed to order a bowl (mixed or spicy tuna). That thing was huge and I guess the right way to go if you want to get full for under $10. We decided to eat the traditional way. (2) spicy tuna - Very Good and the reason I would come here! (2) crab mayo - very salty (2) ebi tempura sushi - Hated it with skin and head on battered. (1) hamachi - fish huge. Didnt have that fatty oily melt in your mouth taste. but for a buck half a piece....cant grumble. (1) corn sushi - surprisingly my favorite of the evening LOL (1) Salmon nigiri- again huge pieces of fish and wife said it was good. (1) Kabocha tempura - wife prayed the kabocha was thinly sliced cuz she hates eating kabocha thats not cooked in the center. well she got what she wanted as the kabocha was PAPER thin, but was good. (1) coffee jello - was good Total $25, which is very reasonable. Next time I think I will do like everyone else did and order the spicy bowl and couple sides of corn sushi. BTW we got there about 5pm and got seated right away. Walked out about 545p and there was about 15 people waiting in line. Now if I had to wait more than 15mins for this place, im outa here. Edit- I changed my rating to four stars (from three stars) because of the taste and value after going to Sushi San tonight, I really appreciate Kuru Kuru. I guess I will have to fight the lines like everyone else to get my Spicee Tuna fix! Plus its close to home. If they only could get those CPK buzzer thingy's.
(4)Will L.
Volume conveyor belt sushi, no matter how nicely dressed and varied, is volume conveyor belt sushi. I went last Saturday and waited a hour for seating for two. It was bearable since my wife and I could use that time to walk around and shop but if we just wanted to eat, that would have been junk. It's totally not worth the wait, otherwise. Yes, you can load up on hamachi, negitoro, ahi poke nigri, even small strips of kalbi on nigri, but it's not buttery fresh. Our bill only came out to $30 something for two and my wife barely ate (she's not a big sushi fan) but while there's volume, you get what you pay for. I think the best value in town is Morio's. You get quality sushi at a deep discount. I can't say Kuru Kuru is that much greater than Genki. It has more variety but factoring in the wait in line, that may make it the same. Again, the analogy is the cliched putting lipstick on a pig.
(2)Brian F.
The conveyor belt sushi model is best executed at Kuru Kuru. The portions are larger than Genki and it takes very good for the price. Keep in mind that this is a great place to get your fill of sushi but not the best quality. Regardless, it is a satisfying experience and compared to the other location in the Peal Kai center is much cleaner. Too bad the place is not bigger as the wait for a seat subtracts from the overall experience.
(4)Annie K.
So I've been hearing about Kuru Kuru Sushi for a REAL long time. Never tried it because there's always a line at the Pearl Kai location. When I found out it was opening up in Kahala. I thought to myself, "YES! Finally. I don't have to drive far and wait in a line." I was hoping that it would be open late May so I could take my sister. There was a rumor saying it was going to open in May. I almost believe it. :( First time experience....amazing. Kuru Kuru had sooo many selections. They are not greedy with their portion. The prices are sooo much more better than Genki. If I need to wait 30 minutes in line, I would wait. Servers are always asking if we're doing okay and if we needed to order anything. Definitely coming back.
(4)Trish P.
just as good as the Pearl Kai location, with less wait..... don't mis-read that, i said LESS wait - i did not say, no wait. you're definately going to have to wait to get a seat here, but it is not nearly as long as the Pearl Kai location. winner sushi = kalbi, tendon shrimp (WITH THE HEADS! yay), tempura mushrooms, ika geso loser sushi = lobster balls (its like fried fishcake - whoppie doo....) plus, they have fresh fruit, HUGE BOWLS, larger pieces of fish, and quick attentive service.
(5)Kristine T.
This is probably my current casual sushi favorite restaurant. Good, consistent, quality sushi. The size of the nigiri is reasonable, too. Nothing fancy here, but this is where I like to go when I'm hungry for nigiri.
(3)Jonathan L.
Wow we had to wait an hour before we could eat but it was totally worth it. Before that I tried coming three times but failed all the those times because they were too busy. The food looks so fresh and the portions were so huge. Way way better than genki. Once I came here I'm not going back. Kuru kuru all the way :p The plates have a artsy design and the colors are better than genki. They also have a giant TV where they teach you how to make sushi rice. Which is petty cool. Their belts food is really fresh and they even offer fruits!!! When you first sit down they have water and tea already prepared for you. They also have soy sauce and ton katsu sauce in addition to the pink Ginger. They now replaced the regular bowls(kinda like a poke bowl) with mini bowls but it is still super big. They give you a lot of tuna and not as much rice which is really good ratio.The food we ordered came out pretty fast except for the fried stuff which took longer to cook. The only bad thing I can say about this place is that I feel cramped when I eat because the restaurant is so small. Only at the Booth will you not feel squashed but probably it would take longer to obtain. Their service is not that good though. We had to keep call them to order our food and refill our teas. We also felt rushed to leave. I guess because they are always busy and trying to get the customers in and out. Overall good and cheap. Service was meh. But I will def be back kuru kuru
(4)Jade P.
After thoroughly reading all reviews here word for word and recommendation from my coworker, bf and I decided to go here tonight for dinner. We came early and we're seated right away. However, when we walked in, we did not get a greeting like at Genki. We sat down and water and tea awaits. We ordered the following: Spicy tun don Pumpkin tempura Shrimp ball....wasn't sure what it was on the belt. For almost $7, spicy tuna was ok although big portion. I liked pumpkin tempura. We ordered something else too but forgot. Overall, I like Genki better and will not drive out to Kahala for Kuru.
(3)Terry K.
First and foremost, remember to sign in!!! Yelper Lori I. pointed that out; good thing otherwise, Id' go in and grab a seat unbeknown to me their hostess would seat you.. Prices $1.75 to $5.95 per plate. They have donburi, take out platters, miso soup and the list goes on. If you have to have something fried, I recommend the tempura pumpkin over the tempura mushroom. Oh, and ask them to make it for you rather than to take one off the belt. Will go back next time to try the donburi and temaki Parking is always a problem at the Kahala Mall. I recommend parking on the rooftop by the theaters; walk down and Kuru Kuru is at the base of the stairs.
(4)Andie H.
So, at least once a week after the gym, I come here for a take out order of the mix don and a order of hamachi. That's just something I gotta do weekly. Hahaha. I'm so glad that they opened at Kahala Mall, because I don't have to drive to Pearlridge!! Anyhoo, I ALWAYS take out because on most days the wait is so long, and I only eat 2 things off the menu. I try to call ahead, but sometimes they are so busy no one picks up. But if you get through, winnahs, because I'll just drop in, pay, and laugh to myself out the door at all the people starving outside. WOOHOO!! I know its been a while, but sometimes I still miss how big the dons used to be once upon a time, such a good deal for the price. But my stomach has adjusted, and now the don size is perfect for lunch with my hamachi. The spicy ahi is great, and the hamachi is heaven. The mix don is a great combo for my ADHD tongue. I want some now... My favorite sushi-go-arounds. Genki had seriously gone downhill for me when I first was introduced to Kuru Kuru. Seriously. I got sick the last time I was there (years ago). Now I'm Genki-free, and will continue to be as long as Kuru Kuru is around.
(4)Paul C.
Went there with some friends for lunch today. We arrived at the best before the lunch rush showed. We got a booth that comfortably fitted all 4 of us. Server was prompt with getting our orders. I had the baked mussels , philly maki roll, and couple of nigiris ( ahi, hamachi, and salmon) They all tasted great. Server was cool about splitting our checks for us. It was a great experience at Kuru Kuru. A+
(5)Shuji K.
2 1/2 stars to be more accuate. First of all, I'd like to mention that their donburi bowls are excellent. Probably the best thing on the menu. And probably the only thing I would order again...if i ever come here again. But strangely enough I though their hotdog roll was good. I bought it for my friend from japan since hot dog and sushi just doesn't seem so sensible. But really, it was just a smaller, cut-in-half hot dog musubi. THe wait wasn't that unbearable and the service was okay. Took them kind of a long time to realize i wanted my check. I was lying down on the seat for god sakes...anyways.... I don't really care for the fancy stuff like caterpillar rolls or whatever people put together as such these days. I like the more traditional hamachi, egg, ahi, and tako nigiri. So i was dissapointed that the basics were not "tasty". And by tasty i mean...you can't serve inari sushi without filling the whole thing all the way. Just because Inari shares the name with the fox spirit doesn't mean you can cheat me out of my well deserved rice. if you like the non-traditional stuff--poke filled type of things or fried something then you'll like it here. But then again...for the price I paid I might as well have gone to Doraku or Rock N' Roll Sushi...those places have the best type of "new age" sushi...
(2)Beau B.
From 5 stars to 3 stars. This place (Kahala, Kuru Kuru Sushi) used to be Awesome when they first opened. big portions, great fresh fish, but then i noticed that the food was getting smaller. they took the Donburi bowls off the menu and replaced them with smaller bowls for two dollars less and they don't add the extra ingredients they used to. i just went last week and all the servings are even smaller, they are cutting back way too much on the food with the same prices. i used to go 2 to 3 times a week from when they opened. I asked why the food portions are smaller than before, the waitress said it was a decision by management. i really would not mind paying a little more for the food when it was bigger, but now it's just ridiculous of how much smaller the food is now. and it hasn't been that long from when they opened. the good thing is that the fish is still fresh. It was great while it lasted, now i gotta drive all the way to Pearl Kai for the real Kuru Kuru Sushi. It might depend on Who's working. but it has been like this the last two times in a row.
(3)Ally W.
Kuru Kuru Sushi at the Kahala Mall is a neat place to visit - sushi plates floats in front of you on a conveyor belt. Pick the dishes you want and just start eating. 1) seating: when you arrive, place your name on the sign-in sheet, seating is based on your party size, so don't expect seating to be in order of the wait list 2) plates: your bill is based on the number of plates eaten, just watch the stack in front of you pile up, if you don't see an item - just order it, it might be faster 3) pricing: yellow plate @ $1.45 / green plate @ $2.10 / red plate @ $2.75 / white plate @ $4.75 Service can be rather slow - our group was there on a Saturday afternoon (@ 3pm) and there was a 35 min wait. The food selection was rather slim, so we ended up ordering a few dishes. Try the spam sushi....pan seared spam on top of rice, drizzle with sweet soy sauce - very Hawaiian. Overall, a fun experience.
(3)Mari S.
Tonight was my first time eating at Kuru Kuru Sushi. Since they finally opened a location conveniently at Kahala Mall, my girlfriends & I decided to give it a try. I had pretty high expectations for Kuru Kuru Sushi. From all the rave I've heard about their Pearl City location, I was expecting to have a great meal at their new Kahala restaurant. Well, it wasn't quite all I expected it to be, but that's okay because it wasn't bad either. My overall experience is summed up at about a 3 1/2 tops. Like previous Yelpers have mentioned, the wait here is pretty long. We waited for over 30 minutes and we came later in the evening, too. But I have to say, at least the wait is in a mall, versus standing outside in the heat or rain! The sushi selection here is pretty good. And I feel that the sushi quality tops that of Genki, for sure. I also like that they have some different types of dishes which I haven't seen elsewhere. I enjoyed the ikura temaki I ordered. Service here is average. It could use improvement. I am guessing that the majority of the waitstaff are pretty new and still getting slammed by the tons of customers who are coming to try this new location. However, the waitstaff could be a little more attentive to the orders, as one of the waitresses forgot two of the dishes my friend ordered. I'd recommend trying Kuru Kuru if you haven't yet. However, you may want to wait until the craziness dies down a bit, unless you come at a really good time or don't mind waiting for awhile. While I wasn't extremely impressed or "WOWed", it is a new place to try in Kahala Mall and a change from the Genki Sushi norm.
(3)Kelly M.
Beats the heck out of Genki. 4 words of advice - order off the menu. Yes they have the conveyor belt, yes they have a menu if you don't see what you want. But they also have stuff that isn't on the menu. Ask.
(4)Jay P.
Since when did the poke bowls get so SMALL?! When I first came here a few years ago, one spicy tuna bowl was large enough to fill me up... Immediately upon walking in, a friend wrote down her name for a group of seven. After waiting for about ten minutes, my friend's name was called out and we were seated at a booth. With no time to spare and our urging need to devour everything edible in front of us, we ordered away! The guy working inside the revolving belt would come and give us our sushi albeit he didn't bother to tell us what he was giving us and gave me a dirty look when I took my time passing out the five plates he prepared. Hello?! Customer service please? Don't expect customers to hold five plates in two hands at such an awkward angle...did I look like I wanted fish on my clothes? The other workers who were filling up our waters and teas were friendly and kept our refreshments full at all times. One worker seemed kind of sassy and looked like she didn't want to be there, but she only came by once to ask if we wanted to order. I basically wanted to come to Kuru Kuru for a spicy ahi and spicy tuna fix. I got what I wanted, but it would have been nice if all of the workers looked like they enjoyed their jobs.
(3)Nick T.
It's essentially conveyor belt sushi located in a shopping mall near the movie theater where the prices are pretty reasonable. Like most conveyor belt places, you can just grab whatever comes past you & the plates are color coordinated, so you're charged accordingly (prices range from $1.55 to up to $6ish?). You can also order things that you can't find coming past you & they'll make it fresh (highly recommended for "high demand" items such as the spicy tuna). From the items I ate, the tuna themed ones were typically good (tuna nigiri, ahi tuna poke, spicy tuna), some didn't look quite so fresh & I just avoided those. Service was good as they came by pretty often to make sure our drinks were filled. Overall a decent place, not the greatest sushi you'll ever eat, but it's reasonably priced & I didn't get sick, so that's a plus in my book.
(3)Charmaine K.
I'm home for 2 weeks on vacation, and usually Genki is a must stop, but this time around, I'm giving Kuru Kuru a try since a lot of my friends seem to like it. And now I know why. Sorry Genki, I'm jumping ship! Pricing are comparable, but the portions, man, the portions. The fish pieces were HUGE on top of the rice! I also had two plates of spicy tuna, they were SO yummy. Huge chunks of fish, definitely good fish/rice ration. We had to wait a little bit, but hey, so does anywhere else decent at Hawaii. At least it's in an A/C mall instead of out on the street or in the sun. Servers were pretty nice and attentive. I'm definitely glad I gave this place a try. I'm even hoping I'll have time to go back again before I leave the island!
(4)Eric L.
This place is delicious and they have a ton of fresh sushi going around on the belt. You will very rarely need to order something because it'll be right in front of you. Only unfortunate part of the restaurant is the 'sign in to get a table' procedure you go through just to sit down, as well as the bright lighting that makes you feel like you're in a high school cafeteria. But, the food is great, so, deal with it.
(4)Shay F.
FINALLY had the chance to check this place out. Mom had the munchies yesterday so we decided to pop into this place since it's new, and we haven't gone yet. Whenever I go to these kaitenzushi places (conveyer belt sushi places), I tend to NOT eat the sushi, but all the other stuff instead. So I got the chawanmushi, edamame, and miso soup. The chawanmushi at Genki Sushi is way better. This one was oily and bland. Ew. But the miso soup wasn't bad. I didn't know they had udon! Only after we were done, did we see our neighbors ordering udon. Apparently they do, but the sign card/tent for the additional udon availability menu wasn't in front of us, so we didn't know. Boo. Next time! Yelp 365 Challenge #128/365
(3)Louise E.
When I heard that there was a Kuru Kuru closer to my place, I was SO excited! Upon coming in, though, not so much. My boyfriend and I grab lunch here around 3:30 on a Tuesday afternoon. Walking in I could see that there was a handful amount of customers but one side of the conveyer belt was completely vacant. I assumed that we would be seated quickly then. Still, I wrote down our names on the provided sign-in sheet. About three of the employees looked our way including a guy who made eye-contact with me and smiled. Still no seat. It wasn't until after a good 10 minutes or so of just standing around were we able to get to the counter. Seriously? NO ONE was there. No dishes or mess was there to be cleaned up. Not only that, two of the employees were just lounging around on their cellphones. There was barely any sushi dishes out on the belt. So we had to order some the basics. The ones on the belt probably were there for a while, too. The rice was kind of stale-ish and some of the fish and shrimp tasted weird. I didn't like their somen salad either. One good thing I did like was that hot green tea was provided with water. Being cheaper than Genki Sushi, I guess we got our money's worth. "/
(2)Debbie L.
Although I haven't been to its original location, my first experience here was definitely great. I would choose this place over genki any day! Their portions are pretty generous and the prices aren't too bad either. Their donburis and tempura mushrooms are a must have! They also have a large variety of food to choose from on the menu. I'd say the only down side of this place is the wait. When we came, we had to wait 30-45 minutes for two people. Overall, the food quality of kuru kuru exceeds all the other sushi bars, especially for the price you're paying.
(4)EG F.
Hubby and I walk past Kuru Kuru (Aiea) location all the time and it's always packed but we never got a chance to try until one of the uncles decided to take us here for lunch. Now I know why it's always packed! The food here is not the best I've had but it's more of a novelty where you sit and there is a conveyor belt that runs past you with assorted sushi, tempura, fruits, dessert. Plates are color coded for pricing but you can always order off the menu instead of waiting for it to "appear" on the belt. Service was great, the girls always checked on our water, tea and to see if we want to order anything. Tip : Sign your name on the clipboard and be here early if you want a booth :)
(4)Stephen R.
Really good food. Only gave them a low rating because they allow parties of two people to sit in booths (they only have 5 booths). These should be reserved for bigger parties, 4 or more as there is plenty of counter space unless there is no one else on line.
(3)Edmund L.
I gotta say, this place is a decent combination of price and quality. The sushi isn't the best, but it is pretty good. This isn't some top notch sushi place so don't expect that. It is very good for what it is. The menu has a large variety of nigiri, dishes, handrolls, and other stuff I may have forgotten. Some things are a ripoff like the watermelon and pineapples. They are on red plates, like I would pay $4 for a small portion of that. Some of my favorites they have are the saba and the hamachi The wait can get long sometimes on the weekends and Friday nights. The workers are usually very helpful
(4)Ed L.
Finally after seeing the reviews of Yelp elite Emi H for this location and seeing the transition from Carl's Jr to Kuru Kuru in the last year, this had better been worth it. I was pleasantly surprised to see it really busy. I guess its because they're relatively new and everyone was clamoring to get inside. After waiting for at least 45 minutes (peak time on a Friday night), my friends and I finally got in and got seated. Maybe its me, but I felt that the food options were limited? Yeah. You figured it was a business refurbished from a fast food joint, there has to have some short comings. The service was average, but could be improved though. Prices are average for what japanese food and sushi is in Hawaii. Had a few of the staple sushi with wasabi. Can't say anything good about that either. I can say that this place is better than Genki Sushi, service and ambiance. Unfortunately, I felt rushed when they started to kinda hurry us up. They looked at me like I was almost done before I was ready for another round, and they stuck me with the check. O_o I am hoping that it was the time of day / week that it was crazy busy for them. I do agree that the location is small, but they can do better with better service and food selection.
(2)Lynvi S.
I'm not a big fan of conveyor belt sushi. I'm not a sushi snob and I don't have a problem with cheap sushi, but I do have a problem with children touching/grabbing the sushi that passes by and their irresponsible parents that just put the dish of mutilated/contaminated sushi back on the conveyor belt for the next unsuspecting customer. Gross. Then again, I've seen adults do the same thing. Luckily, I didn't witness any sticky little hands messing with the sushi at Kuru Kuru Sushi in Kahala Mall. GOOD: Scallop Mayo - Yum! Then again, it's hard to mess this up. Croquette - I couldn't tell if they were the frozen ones, but they were good. Salmon - I don't know why our order had a dollop of mayo and onions on it, but it was huge and tasty. Spicy Salmon - This was my favorite dish of the night with just enough onions and spice. Coffee Jello - It wasn't the best coffee jello, but it was cheap. JUST OKAY: Tuna Corn - Other reviewers liked this one a lot, but the tuna was a bit bland. Maybe I just got a junk one. Pumpkin Tenpura - On the greasy side. Eh. Spicy Ahi Maki Spicy Salmon Maki Dynamite Geso PASS: Nasuzuke - It made my mouth and tongue turn purple, and it didn't taste very good. Hamachi Kama - Ack, it was DEEP FRIED!!! I should have asked how it was prepared before ordering. Not bad, but disappointing. Overall, I like Kuru Kuru Sushi. The location is convenient, service is good, and the prices are reasonable. We had to wait about 30 minutes for our seats, but that's probably expected at a new place in Kahala Mall around 6:00 p.m. As long as my fellow customers refrain from touching every single dish that goes by, I'll be back. I want to try the Mix Donburi next time!
(4)Joy Celeste P.
Whats with their inadequate service? I've never seen so little effort in service, no hello, no we'll be with you shortly... I've purposely set myself in the front & 3 and 4 waitresses had no sense of attention. Don't bother coming here, if they can't even recognize you as a customer how can you expect anyone to spend their money here? I didn't want to give it any star but I am forced to.
(1)Sherylynn S.
This is better than Genki Restaurant in overall. Call me crazy, I am a big fan of Crab Mayo. I know the best crab mayo in some place but neither Genki or Kuru Kuru have any of that. But if I have to choose the best crab mayo out of those two, I'd say Genki... The crab mayo here have way too much mayo and less crab. However, everything else are good. The service there are not so bad. Not their fault at all that the place are too crowded and I can see they're trying their best even people complained about long waiting. This place is not too small but the customers tend to take their time and not stepping out immediately while others were waiting impatiently. I have a very good taste, believe me... The wasabi is not that good. It is not hot enough and it doesn't burn my nose like the real wasabi would. Just saying ;)
(3)Yuree N.
WOOHOOOOO Kuru Kuru is officially open in Kahala Mall! It's on the movie theater side of the mall, where Carls Jr used to be. I came here on their grand opening day and there wasn't a line or wait at 3:30. But I'm sure it'll get busier here once people find out they're open. For those of you who have never been to their original Pearl City location, prepare to have your kaiten-style sushi restaurant cherry popped (genki sushi doesn't count). Like Genki, this is a conveyer belt style restaurant with color-coded plates that circulate around the restaurant. This is by far the best kaiten (conveyer belt) sushi restaurant on the island in my opinion (compared to G sushi and genki sushi). The slices of fish they give you are FAT and you're definitely getting your money's worth here. Now I won't go as far as saying this is the best sushi on the island, but I do think it's the best for this type of restaurant and for what you're paying. If you love spicy ahi dons, you MUST get the one here. I'd recommend splitting it with someone so you have stomach space for the other sushi (especially the hamachi). In comparison to their original location, this venue seems a little smaller although I'm not completely sure of this. There are a good number of bar seats and I think 5-6 group tables. Like their original place, you'll probably have to wait a little while for the larger tables if you're with a big group once this place gets busy. The quality and quantity of the food seems the exact same. The servers were very attentive and quick to fill your orders. Today was only day 1, but so far so good.
(5)Haein P.
I always thought Kuru Kuru trumped Genki any day, but now with this more convenient Kahala location, it blows Genki out of the water competelely! Their prices are about the same if not cheaper than Genki and their cuts of fish are fresher as well as bigger. The donburis are a MUST, and beware, they are HUGE - seriously GINORMOUS and just shy of $8! Such a deal. I love the pumpkin tempura, which comes with 5 pieces only for $1.50. AMAZING! Plus, their service is attentive and friendly, which only reconfirms and encourages my constant/daily urge to go there! It's not fancy-shmancy high-class sushi, but it's probably the best chain sushi store on the island!
(5)Ty T.
Kuru Kuru! Much better than Genki in my opinion. The food taste good and you can get a good meal in for 2 under 30 bucks easy. The mix don was very good as well as the fried ika and the sushi is decent. Good variety on menu and don't forget to check out the specials of the day.
(4)Mark M.
You might find it hard to believe that I have never eaten at any Kuru Kuru Sushi before. You also might find it hard to believe that after last night, I never will again. After hearing so many good thing about Kuru Kuru and being a somewhat avid sushi fanatic, I had to try it. I heard everything about Kuru is way better than Genki or other kaiten style sushi places. After what my girlfriend and I experienced last night I have to admit that I am not impressed at all and we decided that we would be fine if we never walked through those doors again. I heard a lot about the portion sizes at Kuru. I don't get it. The plates are a little higher in price and the sizes are not that much bigger. In fact the spicy ahi they were serving last night aren't as stacked as the ones from Genki. Neither was the tamago. Or the spam. They were even serving what I called a 'mini' spicy ahi roll on a red plate. It looked like some reject from the kitchen and it kept going around and around on the belt because it was so damn tiny. The quality here isn't consistent either. The first spicy ahi I had was spicy! The next two were not. All I tasted was cold fish. The crab mayo should be called mayo with a bit of crab because the damn thing was 90% mayo unlike Genki. The negitoro had no flavor. I found it odd that the best item I tried last night was the kalbi nigiri. It's odd because that item is on the cheapest plate. The service here isn't that great either. The sushi maker guy was too busy winking at staring at the female employees and the female employees were too busy talking to each other about boys or Harry Potter movies. They barely checked on us and when we asked for tea, it took them a while to come around to us. One of the girls there would even roll her eyes when she was helping people out. Hey, if you don't like your job go work somewhere else please. The saving grace here is that they have a lot of items that are different from other establishments. However, these are the expensive items that you have to order and if they don't come around to check on you that often, what good is that?
(2)Gaelen L.
Not the best sushi in town but def not the worst... Their selection was small but decent and the wait staff was very friendly and helpful... I never had an empty cup. It was a conveyor belt type restaurant so you could grab what you wanted as it came by.
(3)Kamil S.
The sushi was ok. Unfortunately everything took a very long time from being seated to getting a soy sauce plate and wasabi. The customer service could be improved and it would be helpful if the menue wouldn't be so confusing.
(3)Julie H.
Man... this place is no match for the Aiea location. It smelled funny and their kabocha tempura wasn't very good because the batter was too thick and not as sweet. I was pretty disappointed. I'll have to come again to see if maybe I came on an off day but I'm still a fan of Kuru Kuru... just not here.
(3)Emily T.
I'm so glad that Kuru Kuru Sushi in Kahala Mall is now open! I enjoy Kuru Kuru more than Genki, but the drive to Aiea, the not so great parking, and the long waits made me not visit Kuru Kuru as frequently as I'd like. But now that they are in Kahala Mall, an indoor mall with other great shops and lots of parking, I can't tell you how happy this makes me! Anyways, on to the review! They are located near the theaters where Carls Jr. used to be. I came here on a Sunday at 5:15 pm, put my name down on the list. There were 4 parties ahead of me, but I could see that they were already clearing tables, so I knew the wait wouldn't be long. A few minutes later, they seated the 3 parties, then 1 party was not there (tip: don't leave if you are near the top of the list, you will lose your place! They later returned, losing a few spots), so we were seated pretty quickly, I would say less than 5 minutes of waiting. We were fortunate to have a booth, which is nice to have, just a little more table space than the counter seats and not sitting so close to strangers. Water and hot tea was already on our table. We started grabbing stuff off the sushi belt, and we also ordered items off the menu that weren't on the belt. The staff constantly came by to fill water, tea, and take our orders. You really couldn't tell that this was only their second day open, service was terrific! Ok, on to the food! I do have my favorites, I always get the ingen nigiri (green bean tempura sushi), and spicy salmon nigiri. It does look like they added a few new items to the menu, but not too sure since I haven't been to the Aiea location in a while. Here was our order for 2 people: 6 Yellow Plates ($1.45) - 2 Tamago, 2 Ingen, 2 Kalbi 1 Green Plate ($2.10) - Spicy Salmon 3 Red Plates ($2.75) - Oyster Fry, Spicy Salmon Maki, Shrimp Fry Total = $19.95 before tip In and out of there in less than 1/2 an hour. Fast, great service, great food (if you find the ones you like)! Hopefully next time I'll get to try their Mix Don, it looks really good! I'll be back for sure!
(5)Elizabeth H.
Kuru Kuru sushi is by far my favorite 'fast food' sushi joint to visit. While, I don' t think their sushi is amazingly better than places such as Genki or Sushisan, they do have two things going for them. 1. Amazing kabocha tempura. They cut the kabocha thinly before frying it and then cover it with a teriyaki sauce. It is addictive and amazing. When eating this dish, order it fresh from the waitress (don't pull it off of the belt). I had pulled it off the belt once, and it was a little soggy. 2. The mixed donburi is a great deal. I believe it is a little under $9.00 but it is literally a mountain of poke/spicy tuna. When going to other sushi places, my boyfriend can usually rack up a decent size bill pulling different plates. When he orders the mixed donburi it is usually the only thing he eats at kuru kuru, because it is so filling. Two things that bothered me about kuru kuru: 1. I had sat right next to the sushi rice machine, which had a ticket (receipt?) dispenser next to the belt. This machine kind of hangs a little over the belt, and I watched for 30 minutes as every large food (i.e., croquettes, melons, calamari, etc) rubbed against the machine. This really grossed me out. I just made sure I ordered all of my food and didn't pull anything off of the belt. 2. The smell. Kuru kuru has a really fishy smell in their dining area. My nose/stomach is very sensitive, and it is sometimes nauseating for me to be in there. While these two things can be bad, I don't find them to be deal breakers. I would definitely go back. Especially for the kabocha tempura! yum!
(3)Owen J.
In the past I used to love this place, I've been here numerous times. Food was delicious and affordable, but as of lately I think the expendable customers made service go down. Everyone was so hyped about this place as soon as it opened, the immense numbers of customer have made them arrogant about customer service. QUALITY OF DONBURIS: At first the normal sized donburis were shrunken and made cheaper. Then the quality of the ahi went down along with the quantity of ahi given in the donburis. The donburi consist of 90% rice and 10% ahi, what is going on. Why don't I just order me a bag of rice? The only thing that kept me around were the donburis and now I don't even want to come here anymore because of how mediocre this place is getting. SEATING: When sitting in the counter seats, I don't like how I am paying to feel like a sardine cramped amongst other people. They can touch me and I can touch them, there is no personal space. Why is management trying to cut cost by allowing so many people to sit along the counters. I do not want to be sitting on someone's lap. SERVICE: The waitress' here are also very rude. They congregate in the corners and talk amongst themselves from 15 or more minutes at a time. Is this what the boss pays yall to do? To gather around and chit chatter while working? I've had to wait anywhere from 5-10 minutes just to even put my order in. And I can't even flag down anyone, do you know why? Because they are all hiding in the back or crowded around some corner talking. This is very rude as I feel like I'm paying to be ignored. Maybe there are too many waitress' working in a shift, people should get their hours cut if they have so much spare time to gossip. If they do not want to work, they should not be working. Since the economy is going down, I'm sure there are many people out there willing to work courteously for customers. These same waitress' also forget to bring me food that I have ordered. They probably forgot my order in the 10 minutes they spent hiding inside the kitchen or ignoring me from afar. If I ordered something, I have the notion that the waiter will bring it to me so that I can eat it, not of me sitingt here until I decide to leave because I am tired of waiting. BOTTOMLINE: I prefer quality over quantity, but not having either makes me give this place 1 star. Management needs to up their game if they want to keep their patrons. I'm sure I'm not the only long time customer that came across these problems. The grade of food is deteriorating, generic ahi and stingier portions. The horrible cramped seating makes you a part of everyone's business. The waitress' are not doing their job properly, they care more about socializing than the customer's needs. I just want Kuru Kuru to see these problems and change them so that everyone can be treated as decent customers and enjoy great food.
(1)Taryn P.
Was anyone else really upset when they jacked up the price and cut the fish in half for the bowls? Other than that, It's a decent wait if you go during peak hours.The staff is friendly, I've never had a problem with any of them. Fish is decent for the price, but sometimes, the spicy ahi has too much mayo. Tips: - Park upstairs! - Phone order and pick up. It saves you time. - Go during non-peak hours. - Always order through your waitress! You never know how long that fish has been circling the belt...
(3)Ryan K.
The quality of the food served is much better than Genki sushi and the quality of customer service is great! Everyone is usually very nice
(4)Alyssa H.
Right as I entered through the doors, there was a foul smell. Not the familiar smell of sushi rice, but a smell like very strong body odor. The menus were extremely dirty and bent. There was no wait & the staff is friendly (that may be the only reason for the one star they receive). We went around 2:30 in the afternoon, so maybe that is why there was nothing on the conveyor belt although there were quite a few customers. The food was one of the worst sushi experiences ever. We ordered several garlic ahi which we had to check up on after waiting over 15 minutes. (We had received the rest of our order & were only waiting for the garlic ahi) They then come to tell us that the "torch just broke", which was a good 20 minutes after we had ordered it. That's fine. They show videos on genuine Japanese sushi, giving false expectations. The food is nothing compared to REAL sushi. On top of everything, there are a lot of kids kicking and screaming while many guest tried to enjoy their food. Many guest gave irritated looks and stares to the parents of these children. This went on for some time and none of the employees stepped in to tell the parents that they need to shut their kids up. It was very obvious that everyone else was getting irritated, and I over heard one of the irritating kid's mothers say that people were staring, yet she did nothing to quiet her child. The music is not fit for a restaurant. It sounds like a bunch of club music for teens wanting to get high and bang each other. Overall, this was a very big disappointment. Food wasn't that good and neither was the environment. This place seems extremely dirty also. The Kozo Sushi outside of the mall, near McDs, would have been a better place to eat at.
(1)Dan F.
This restaurant is nicer and bigger than the Pearl City location. The portions are good and the instant sushi rice shaper maker machine looked cool. "Time to make some Spicy Ahi because everyone in Hawaii loves that crap that's filled with lots of disgusting mayonnaise, Sriracha, and tablespoon of sesame oil in each sushi. Let me just scoop it out of this plastic container I kept in the fridge and slapped it on top of the rice. I hate my job." The quality of the sushi was bad. At least I didn't have to wait long and deal with an angry Asian man.
(2)Florence K.
One of the best things about this restaurant is the service. The servers are often checking up on each table, ensuring the water and hot tea is completely filled, and always asking if we're okay. Another good thing is the pricing, of the donburis. It was pretty cheap for the amount the give in that bowl. I would definitely return just for the price of that. The sushi, and food, was okay, it wasn't anything spectacular, thus the three stars. But, I would come back, because I do believe that the pricing of some of the items is definitely worth it.
(3)Krysten I.
I am so glad the Kahala location finally opened!! The line is huge during meal hours and there are not very many seats......but if you go at obscure times like 2:30pm, its pretty empty. You can also always order to-go if the line is too long. To-go orders take 5-10 mins, even during the dinner rush.
(5)Kalei F.
I LOVE This place!! I seriously go to this place like 3-4 times a week!! I've tried many of the selections....I think this is hands down the best conveyor belt, "fast food style" sushi places around!! They are efficient and it's always crowded, but they keep it moving and are always very nice! I used to be addicted to the spicy ahi but the sushi chef suggested I try the spicy salmon.....holy moly!! SO addicted!! I LOVE the spicy salmon!! It's a perfect blend of great tasting fresh salmon with their heavenly spicy sauce that I need a fix of almost every day! I took several people over the weeks and made them try the spicy salmon vs. the spicy ahi and they have all converted!! They dream about the spicy salmon!! Glad I've created other addicts to this gloriously good food! I wouldn't suggest take out here....for some reason when I get the spicy salmon as a take out, it never tastes as fresh as when I eat there. The other things on the menu are good, but I'm biased now and pretty much only get this! Try it and let me know what you think!! Spicy salmon baby!
(5)Ethan C.
Easily my fav place to get sushi. I'm a baller on a budget and this place is great for the price. The sushi is very fresh and tasty. Basically the same thing as Genki but way better and cleaner. If you are a spicy tuna lover, it is the best here. Went late one night and they ran out of it and was suggested the spicy hamachi. I am totally hooked on it now. Instead of the spicy tuna, try the spicy hamachi. Try it and you will thank me later.
(5)Marichu Joy S.
Kuru Kuru Kahala will now be our go-to spot to satisfy our sushi craving. My bf and I weren't surprised that there was a wait. Sure enough it was definitely worth the wait. Like the PC restaurant the food is fresh and delicious, with a few new fresh fruit dishes on the menu. Great choice on location, since we live in Makiki. Since it is at the mall, you can browse stores as you wait till your name is called, and there is ample parking. The service was great, with the servers checking up on us every time they come around. It may have been a little too much since I had to refuse water and tea about 6 times. My favorite things to order: Hamachi, salmon mayo, ikura, salmon belly with sauce, chaiwan mushi, scallop mayo, and the strawberries and cream.
(5)Your M.
Of the two conveyor belt sushi chains on Oahu, this the better of the two. Quality is more consistent than genki, you get more food on certain plates ( spicy ahi don is TWICE the size of genkis ) and hot tea is free. You can also get things genki discontinued like shishamo. Only thing I don't like is the wait, it can be long.
(4)Irene G.
The Aiea KuruKuru is way better. The only good thing about this one is that the wait is a little shorter at this location than Aiea. The food here also is a little less under par to what the Aiea KuruKuru is as well. Same menu, same prices, but if you have the time I'd go to the Aiea location instead.
(2)Christian A.
Kuru kuru sushi! I rate this 5 stars because I only go there for 2 main reasons. First is ahi poke don always have mines with green onions and unagi sauce, second is the shrimp shumai because it reminds me of home. For those who have never been there before, I would highly recommend it! (Totally beats genki sushi ahi poke bowl) *just saying
(5)John N.
Rotary sushi restaurants seem to be the new "in" thing now. Pretty much like the ramen shops that were popping out of every nook and corner the past few years. Kuru Kuru at Kahala is among the newer sushi restaurants in town. It is located at the old Carl's Jr site next to the Kahala Theaters. Keep in mind, they just opened so lines are long, especially during peak dinner times. Our wait was about 30 minutes at 5pm on a Sunday. The great thing, like others have mentioned, is that you can peruse through the mall while you wait. Not that bad! Once seated, you will realize the rotary line is very simple. No hot water dispensers like Sushi San does. It's definitely a cost saving thing to implement a belt system with no hot water dispenser. Even $5 all you can eat sushi(which is decent fyi) in Hong Kong had hot water dispensers for your tea. I find this is a turnoff once you have been to ones with them. Hot tea is 'oh so goooooood' with sushi! Most of the wait help are running around filling up hot tea and water which leads to my gripe about service. You see, there is one circular line of sushi, a few tables, and rest are counter seats. There is one person in the front making sushi behind the rotary and there is also a kitchen in the back making sushi. Having one line(compared to a double line) leaves sushi that are not popular sit there for a while and it takes up room where other popular sushi could be. We were sitting near the kitchen where I would believe newer sushi come from and still had a hard time getting sushi that I like. Of course, you could order and they will make it for you, but you would have to flag down a waiter/waitress, which most of them are either seating people or filling up tea and water. What about the food, you ask? My sister claims Kuru Kuru's sushi rice is much better than Genki and Sushi San. I have to agree. Their rice is good. Their pieces of Salmon are fresh and not bad either. Rest of their sushi lack the taste that the other competitors seem to have. I would love them to bring island favorites like garlic mayo salmon. Overall, if you have a sushi fix and in the vicinity of the area, it's not a bad choice. The prices are VERY good compared to other rotaries but don't expect the quality to match the more expensive rotaries.
(3)Janelle L.
It's a lot less busy than that other one with the conveyor belt!!! Sushi is fresh. Tempura and karaage is crispy. Wait staff is friendly. Location is convenient when you're looking for a nice healthy bite to eat in the mall.
(3)Ryan T.
Something about conveyor belt sushi scares me, but not at Kuru Kuru. The sushi appears to be of good quality and exceeds my expectations of conveyor belt sushi. You can also order from the menu and get it fresh, as well. I would take Kuru Kuru over Genki anytime. I don't know if the prices are the same, but they are similar. Even if Kuru Kuru cost a little bit more, it's worth it. The only thing that bothers me is I've almost always had to wait, normally longer than I would prefer. So, you just can't go here when you are starving. You have only be somewhat hungry. I will still go back however because the value is there, it's hard to beat that type of quality at those prices and convenience. And, the staff always seems nice and friendly regardless of how busy they are.
(4)Kathleen B.
First IMPRESSION: Clean clean clean. I usually go to the Pearl Kai location, which is why I was very surprised of this Kahala Location, especially since it was my first time. The waiting time was about 10 minutes because there wasn't that much people. Food: Seafood tasted more fresh than the Pearl Kai location, I guess because Pearl Kai is more busy that they keep most of their food out longer so that can make the sushi (that's what I think). well anyways, sushi was best and fulfilling for my cousins especially after coming from KOKO HEAD TRAIL. Service: The employees wasn't as engaging to us until after. Once we got seated and about 5 minutes passed no one came to ask what we wanted, (there were the employees passing us every time, since we was right by their kitchen door). We waited and when I opened up my mouth and asked "MAY WE ORDER PLEASE" that is when we started recieving good service. Our water and tea cups got empty really quickly because we were very thirsty. Even though we was thirsty there was an employee coming by to fill up everytime and also to get our order if we wanted anything else. OVERALL: I had a good first time expierence. I love sushi and their prices are inexpensive. Forgot to mention, while eating there is a TV and it was showing how real sushi chefs make sushi without using any machines, but just by HAND. It was educational and interesting for my cousins and I. RECOMMEND: I definitely reccommend this place to eat, even their other location (but they are more busy). i just rated them 4 stars because the employee didn't want to call our party name "SPONGEBOB" :)
(4)Kawena K.
Not gonna lie...as a die hard Genki fan, I WANTED to hate Kuru Kuru so I could go back to my friends and say that Genki is still the best. I went in with a bad attitude and high expectations. (Un)fortunately for me, I actually really liked Kuru Kuru's sushi. Both the spicy ahi and spicy salmon could have a little more bite but overall, the taste was good. The scallop mayo was very similar to the one at Genki though the scallop to mayo ratio was a little off, too much mayo. The salmon nigiri had a HUGE slab of fresh fish, much bigger than Genki's. The one thing I didn't like was the tako poke sushi. I love tako poke and I love sushi so it was like 2 of my favorite things combined except the tako poke had no flavor. It was like eating rubber with rice, and nori. Not cool. As for the fried items, I was only able to try the lobster balls. It doesn't really taste like lobster but like a deep fried shumai or something, which you can never really go wrong with. I also wanted to try the croquette but it came as two large pieces that no one wanted to eat with me. The wait for seats was a little long but that's understandable since it's a fairly new restaurant and people are excited that they don't have to drive to Aiea for their sushi fix. The prices are also a little cheaper than Genki and the portions seem a little bigger so you get more bang for your buck. Only time will tell if I'm a true convert to Kuru Kuru but I was definitely pleasantly surprised!
(4)Sharlene F.
Loved Genki, then Kuru Kuru came to the east side. I have to say, I'm a little confused with the comparisons with Genki and Kuru Kuru. To me there is no competition. Kuru Kuru's quality is far superior to that of Genki. Their cuts of fish are thicker and the quality is higher. I LOVE sushi and could eat it everyday. Kuru Kuru's hamachi is like butter and will just melt in your mouth. They have saba which Genki does not. Their don's (bowl's) could feed a small army and if you love ikura, get the temaki (hand roll), it's $2.00 less than the nigiri and still enough ikura to satisfy you. Yes, the wait is crazy, but I usually go in to check the list every once in a while to see where we are. I think this kinda keeps the people honest. Too bad the service and wait put a damper on the other reviewers experience. I know how that feels, but for me, it has always been the quality of the fish over other conveyer belt eateries. For me, you can't beat Kuru Kuru for the price and quality.
(4)Aulii H.
I want to give this place a five star rating but I can't. Compared to the Pearl Kai location, this one has better quality fish and food. Unfortunately they recently got rid of their Don's with was kind of annoying, and now they offer mini don's. The fish is really fresh, and above average for a place like this. Too bad the service doesn't match the quality of food. After waiting at least an hour to get in, you have to wait more after you sit down for someone to take your order. When my water glass was empty no server was around. I actually had to wave my arm and flag someone down before getting the service I needed on more than one occasion. This is why it takes forever to get seated in the first place because the servers are super slow to begin with. This is why they only get four stars. Whatever you do, don't eat the almond float. Rather than using almond tofu, they use haupia which is totally disgusting.
(4)Grace O.
I'm pretty sure the main reason I'm giving them 4-stars is because they have a little bowl of tempura mushroom on their $1.45 (yellow) plates :) I had two of them right off the bat last night! I followed up with their chicken kalbi bowl--the sauce was amazing and it came out piping hot. I would go back just for this bowl and the mushrooms. I followed up with: Spicy Unagi roll - just $2.45...delicious Agedashi Todu - first time I ever had it. The broth/sauce was amazing! Ingen (string bean tempura over rice) - tasted really good dipped in the agedashi tofu's broth Chawan Mushi - I think I just prefer the way Chinese restaurants prepare versions of this. The custard texture tastes better as the silken dessert tofu and the savory taste tastes better as jook....with thousand year egg. YUM. So I may not have been a fan of this, but probably because I just prefer the Chinese counterparts. Edamame - Skip this. It's not seasoned, and it wasn't the freshest. Meh. Overall, it was a great experience. I liked the selection the menu had, and the wait for a place at the counter was not bad at all. Oh man, those mushrooms :)
(4)Jonn D.
Rating: 5/5 Date(s) visited: 3/22/2012, 3/15/2012 Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Price: 3/5 Parking: 5/5 This is definitely the "Genki Sushi" Replacement. If you dine here, you are for sure keeping dollars in Hawaii. Why? Owners are local. Great Menu with fresh fish. I'll be back! Food: Great tasty sushi. Service: Fast, Friendly, Local, Attentive. Atmosphere: Clean, modern, welcoming. Price: Worth every bite. Parking: Mall parking.
(5)Alt K.
I don't get it... by the looks of things I should love this place. Kuru Kuru Sushi (KKS) at Kahala Mall is in a great location, has consistently long lines regardless of what time you go, and according to the reviews their sushi is "terrific." Yes their prices are terrific and their service attentive, but in the end good sushi is about the quality, freshness, texture, appearance, and the fat content of the seafood served. Unfortunately this is where KKS is sorely lacking. However in all fairness to KKS you get what you pay for so in this regard the overall the value proposition at KKS is overall good. If you are one who appreciates quality sushi, stay away from KKS you will be very disappointed, but if your kids are craving sushi or someone who doesn't appreciate the finer nuances of good sushi than KKS is a very cost effective option.
(2)Robert A.
5 star sushi in a neighborhood setting go early or be ready to wait but great sushi...don't let the conveyer belt fool you.
(4)Leigh N.
I like variety in a meal. I like to have a little bit of this, a little bit of that, some of this and some of that. If it was really good I like to have a little more. That's why I like buffets. That's why I like potlucks. That's why I like dim sum. And that's why I like Kuru Kuru!! Order from the wait staff what you want so it's made fresh and just for you then pick something new to try from the plates going around. Spicy tuna don and the chicken karaage are my 2 must haves when eating here. I crave Kuru Kuru and eat at either the Kahala or the Aiea location every other week. Staff is friendly and efficient at both locations. Water/hot tea are replenished frequently and the staff checks on you to make sure all is well. Minus one star for the looooong wait to get a seat.
(4)Chaulcey C.
SERVICE SUCKS!!!! food is alright for the price you pay. This place looks dirty
(1)Ben F.
BLAH. So this is the second Kuru Kuru Sushi that I have been to and I can honestly say this place was just as bad as the first one I tried. Now, just so you're all aware, it isn't the service that sucks at this place, its the food. The rice is so over cooked it turns into a mush in your mouth that is just completely unappetizing. Add to that the slimy consistency of the fish and that its warm when you take it off the conveyor belt it's just a total fail. Like I said, service was fine here, the food was just AWFUL. The prices are decent, but the food is not. Do not go here if you are looking for satisfying sushi, look elsewhere.
(2)Wendy R.
Sushi was decent, Service was good. Its was really busy. The rice was ok and the ingredients were pretty fresh the prices were on par with my expectation. If you can handle the crowd it's a great place to grab a quick bite. Overall it is in the realm of Genki and other fast food belt style sushi. Nothing spectacular. No matter what, if you want great sushi you need to head toward town.
(3)Kevin C.
Oh how the mighty have fallen.. Sorry, PC Kuru Kuru, looks like it's time to do a little sharing of the spotlight. Kuru Kuru might mean one thing in Japanese, but on Oahu it must mean "Come wait in my ridic long line." And boy do people wait in the ridic long line. For good reason! The Kahala Mall location just recently opened and it's been packed the two times I've been here already! I loved going to the PC Kuru Kuru and was curious if this one compared to the original. It does! Your standard revolving sushi options priced according to the plate colors. My FAVORITE is the spicy ahi donburi! It's sushi rice topped with shredded tamago (egg) with spicy ahi chunks on top. NOM NOM NOM. Usually, the 'spicy' ahi at some joints are not.. well.. spicy. But I found this place's spicy ahi to be a good kind of spicy feeling as I was eating. AND it's only $8. RUN, don't walk, inside and put your name on the list if there is a crowd! Beating that one group could mean a good 10-15 minute wait. Sometimes even more. I've also done takeout from this location. Try and call in your order ahead of time. I ended up waiting longer than I anticipated for my donburi. (But it was worth it.
(4)Jason S.
Food was pretty good tonight. Went with my family, I had the salmon, which was decently sized as usual, and I also got the half spicy salmon, half spicy tuna don, which is getting smaller than last time, but it was still delicious. If ratings were just based on the food, tonight would've gotten four stars, but the service was just so bad tonight. Servers took forever to get food out, my mom waited ten minutes for her chicken bowl and my brother another seven to ten for his lobster balls. The manager was rushing around like usual, which was no surprise, but other servers that I've never seen till tonight just seemed like they just wanted the night to end, we came at 8-ish. Tea and water weren't refilled till we were practically done with our meal. The service was probably just off tonight.
(3)Johnny C.
that place only had a few items on the conveyer belt. the place was packed. I wasn't impressed. my bill came out to 20$ FOR 5 PLATES.....Meh
(2)Karin W.
Slow to greet but everything from service to food was great after we were seated. Nori was crispy, ingredients were fresh and tempura was not soggy. Loved the ahi katsu special, which was perfectly cooked (pink center).
(4)Estelle T.
I followed the crowd and the crowd lead me here. The spicy ahi don is still pretty huge! I can't down it all D: I personally prefer mashed up spicy ahi over cubed.. haha I love their mushroom tempura and the prices here are A LOT cheaper than Genki's! This place is great and all, but the wait is ridiculous. I usually just leave if the wait is longer than 5 minutes, and head down to Market City and get some sushi at G. Sushi.
(4)Vicky K.
In the kahala mall next to the movie theater! If raw fish is your thing, the mini donburi bowls are totally worth it. They discontinued the regular size a few days ago but even the mini is piled high and is only $5.95! The caterpillar, dragon and rainbow rolls are also $5.95. These are easily $15-$18 rolls elsewhere. They have bar seating at a movie sushi belt (like genki) but they have a few tables as well. We sat at the bar but most of the stuff I got I ordered so it's not really imperative you sit at the bar. I got three plates and I was full. Good portions! And really reasonable prices!
(4)Andy T.
Excellent portions, great price! The only downside is the wait but I'll wait over an hour if there's a heaping pokedon bowl at the end! My only regret is writing this review because I don't want to make this place busier than it already is!
(5)Michelle M.
nice place, wish they had a wider selection tho
(4)Madaline H.
Kuru Kuru is always a winner! Great portions, Great prices, Great Taste! The only complaint would be the wait, which at this point is just part of the deal. Great addition to the east side (Kahala Mall)!
(4)Steven C.
Service was very good, And the food the best.
(5)Kalyn K.
Let's see........my Dad and I banned Genki and needed a new sushi place to go to. Kuru Kuru is what I heard....so we headed on over there this past weekend. First of all Kuru Kuru beats Genki any day! The sushi we had was great. We had the salmon, spicy tuna, poke, hamachi, tekka maki, dragon roll, karaage chicken and spicy unagi. Everything was good! Their portions were large enough that we were all full and our bill was only $80 for 5 of us! We were shocked when we got the bill because at Genki our bill is usually over $90 and we still have room for Menchies.....but not this night! We waited over 40 minutes to be seated, but the food was well worth the wait. The booths are really tight unless you're a size 0. We were banging elbows the whole time. The only gripe I had was that they were in such a rush to clean up (it was 8:45 and they closed at 9...If that's the case they should just say they close at 8:45 instead) that the guy started mopping while we were still eating. Not very appetizing to eat and smell pine sol at the same time. It's like we we're eating in the restroom. So if you Kuru Kuru employees read this, HOLD OFF THE MOPPING UNTIL PEOPLE ARE DONE EATING!!!! Okay with that vent done, I know we will be back to enjoy the great sushi!!
(4)Dustin N.
Yum... I love coming here. Best sushi on Oahu so far.
(4)Julie Y.
I love kuru kuru!! I use to live in Aiea and recently moved by kahala mall. So when I found out they expanded and opened in kahala I was ecstatic! I love their spicy salmon, spicy tuna, pumpkin tempura, salmon, and many other things. Those are just a few of my favs. The service is great! Everyone is always sweet and patient even though they are always busy. Unlike their competitor genki sushi. You can't beat the quality for the price!! After eating kuru it's hard to go back to genki. I would have given kuru five stars but the four is because of the wait.
(4)Jerry E.
Over rated place. Their sushi rice is too huge, not cooked right, and possibly missing the essential vinegar. Service was terrible, too. If you want you want your tea, or ice water refills, you have to repeatedly asked the waitresses to do so. I believe the primary reason that this place is packed is that their prices are lower than Genki Sushi, but you pay for what you get, undercooked rice with missing key ingredients and unsatisfactory services that do not deserve tips.
(2)D A.
I've been here many times prior to my most recent visit. I must say that the wait just to be seated is rediculous. I put my name down on the list at 12:20p.m. (Fri, Aug 17th); there were about 3 people above in the list still yet to be called (the earliest at: 12:16p.m.). I figured; eh just a little wait and we can be seated. So my mom and I wait and wait and wait. I peek in 20 mins later (through the glass window) people leave one after another. Two booths empty, along with four counter seats open as well. I see their employees clean the booths and the counter seats; then about four employees huddle at the counter area discuss what to do. Mind you by then half an hour go by I see the person who was on the list (@ 12:16p.m. 2 people) finally get called. By this time theres like 10 other names (easy) below mine. Four counter seats lined up was open. What do they do? Seat the two in between the four seats. ZOMG!!! Two counter seats are open but now are open for single customers only. I peer at the list NO ONE on that list was signed up as a 1 person diner. Now that person that waited a good 30 mins finally gets called leaving about 2 others above me and countless of others waiting below me looking into their establishment with disgust. I just couldn't wait any longer as it easily clears past 1 p.m. (other restaurants have lunch time hours and I'm darn sure I'm not going to wait another ??? mins just to be seated; I don't want to miss my chance at eating at another restaurant because their kitchen closes on account of this place). So, my mom and I ended up going to Maguro Ya (in Kaimuki). Much better service and yummy fresh fish (who can complain after what we went through). I don't understand the logic of having seats clearly opened during peak lunch time hours just so a few of the dining patrons have a little more elbow space? The wait would have not been so sour if only I had witnessed the flow of the diners come in and out more smoothly. I have dined many Kaiten Sushi restaurants here and in Japan and I must say: the actions of those employees are not typical of Kaiten Sushi restaurants.
(1)Jill R.
Their prices are slightly cheaper than Genki and their menu is significantly smaller than Genki Sushi. The texture of the rice is different too, but in a good way. It almost feels fluffier in texture. The portions are very good, especially the ahi donburi bowls. When I went to this location, there was no line and it was sometime during the week at about 5:00pm. I think their spicy ahi is a lot better than Genki's.
(3)Barnaby S.
Best "value" in town if your looking for quick sushi. The fish is really fresh with a decent menu to select from. Obscene size pieces of hamachi for less than $3?! Cant be beat. Be prepared for a line as this place is usually pretty busy
(4)David C.
Before making arrangements to eat here, be sure to weigh how long you are willing to tolerate breathing in sewer air when waiting outside for a seat.
(3)Benhur B.
I'm glad they decided to have a location in town. Before that, I've heard a lot of good about this place. You can expect a wait even if you get here before primetime dinner hours. This is a real step up from the other guys @ G.... *ahem* Portions seem to be bigger and taste better here. I usually like to order fresh even if I see what I want on the conveyor belt. Items on the belt here though are way fresher than the other place that looks like they've had some rolling around on that belt for hours. Prices are a little higher than the other guys too but, well worth it. Service is good as they are very attentive to their customers. If only this place were a little bigger. It might be better. For what is is though, I am a fan!
(3)Reuben R.
Its weird, but I like the new location better than the old one now because I seem to be on the east side of the island more. Sure, the line is still really really long and we waited 45 min to be seated.... But the bowls are the best things to get, and I like how theres fresh fruit running down those belts. When I'm by myself, I can get full off of their lower teir plates. My friend and I split up a bunch of things ( she loves the lobster balls and kalbi ) and we generally spend about $24 which is $6 less than at genkis. not a bad deal. I find their agadashi tofu to be lacking something somehow though. I think its the batter. It tastes a bit gummy even when it hasn't sat in the fish sauce broth very long either. The croquets are pretty thick here, and I can get full just on a couple of those added to some other regular dishes. Not a bad place to go by yourself or with a group. If you've got more than 4 people, expect to wait a while, as booths seem to be given to couples as well as the bar stools, and if your luck is out, you'll have to wait for them to dig out first.
(4)Colin T.
Way better than I thought for 'conveyor belt' sushi. Pretty good prices and decent quality fish. Dinner for two of us = $37.50 + tip. Friendly staff always coming around to help us. Definitely going back.
(4)Amy H.
Probably the third time I've gone to a "conveyer belt style" sushi place. My uncle insisted we go early (5pm) as the Kahala Mall location is quite small and tends to fill up. We were seated right away and there were some plates going around. Fortunately, they let you order directly, so we got everything we wanted right away. The white fish and salmon sashimi tasted fresh and were light. The sweet potato tempura was pretty good (though would have been better right out of the fryer rather than after a few turns on the belt...). The spciy tuna roll was good and so was the unagi sashimi. As a warning, the shrimp tempura roll is a WHOLE shrimp (head, shell, tail). The japanese chicken nuggets or whatnot were okay. The service was fine and the establishment clean enough. It's a good run-of-the-mill sushi place.
(3)Brittany H.
I'm never coming here again. First off I didn't come here with friends or my bf or anything. I came with my grandparents. Their kinda impatient when it comes to food so I figured this place would be good since parking is more simple than going to kapahulu genki. I got here and put my name down and the number in my party. Waited for 20 mins or so and I noticed a few people that wrote their names down after me was getting seated before me. This is what made me upset at first. So I said something and the girl kinda sighed at me and was like oh you can sit at the booth over there than. We didn't even get directed to our table. We were here for a good hour and a half and we never got our water refilled. Every time my grandparents tried to order the servers ignored them. That made me even more angry. Servers should never shrug off any customer especially senior citizens. I had to flag down servers and I still got ignored. After about my 3rd try every time I finally got one. We didn't even start eating until half an hour in cause no one paid attention to us. It took the lady 15 mins just to give me my soda and it took forever for our sushi. The one and only time I was asked if I was okay or needed anything was from the sushi maker. None of the servers. I should have shafted them on tip but I couldn't since I was with my grandparents. But never again am I coming here. Food tastes bad, service is bad, and overall the servers need to get an attitude check. The servers have the attitude of if i dont like you im gonna give you the shittiest of service ever. NEVER EVER AGAIN. edit: i wouldnt have felt the need to write such a horrible review if it was friends and i. But because i was with my grandparents and they were getting ignored is what set me off. We all know senior citizens are needy so dont make like their invisible your in kahala mall an old people environment so get use to it. Also they didnt have the kalbi chicken don thats specified RIGHT ON THE MENU. They discontinued it so take it off the menu so other customers like me dont get disapointed with high hopes of trying it cause 'it doesnt exist anymore'
(1)Yoko O.
getting this out of the way; moderately priced for an average "fast-food" sushi bar, location was clean kinda snug (but what do you expect? it's the Carl Jr.'s former location). this is give them two stars.. What i really want to review on is their SERVICE. i've been to this location twice; the first time was pretty good not that crowded, pretty OK service, the second time.. IDKWTF was going on, but if i could just give them stars on service they'd get one (& that's only because of the one girl who ACTUALLY helped us, although her main position was to man the register area). we went around mid afternoon, no lines & not really anything on the belt (which is what i expected due to shift changes, i used to work at a "sushi bar" like this before.. so i know how it goes). 15 minutes passed, no one asked us if we'd like to order anything.. THANK GOD the waitress provided us with water & tea so we could fend of that for the time being! i think the entire time we were there only one other waitress asked us if we were okay... other than that, there was a waitress talking with her friends for a good amount of time, other ones kept passing us by, and damn straight we were sitting right in front where everyone can see us, so idk WTF their problem was. (MIND YOU: i was being polite the entire time... if there's one thing i know, don't EFF with people who touch your food). When we were done eating, we waited for another 15minutes while the workers kept walking by not even acknowledging us. maybe i should've flagged them down, but in my experience of working in the food industry, i didn't think it was appropriate to raise my hand OR snap my fingers. BLAH BLAH BLAH, i still left tip. anyways, this is my FIRST low ranking, and unfortunately... yeah the food is "you get what you pay for", i've had BETTER SUSHI, but WTF IS UP WITH YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE? maybe brittany and i went on the same freaking day or something.. but i went to the KURU KURU in PEARLKAI 3 hours later..and they had AWESOME SERVICE for being busy up the butthole.
(2)Jerrel C.
First of all i have always liked kuru kuru since the first time they opened in pearl kai. The kahala location was good also but i watched this place become a workplace for teens. Isn't McDonalds for that?... Well this location has all teens and or very young adults that have no concept of the service industry. I did not see anyone responsible the whole time. The servers and food preps were all noisy, playing jokes on each other and being obnoxious. No work ethic in sight my whole stay. Now to the food... The sushi chef..i dont think they deserve the title..so i will call them food preps..so the food prep was eating popcorn, hand to mouth and then preped orders...other food preps were wearing gloves. What happened to standards? I noticed this after I ordered...damn too bad for me i hope no cooties. now the food was ok, it lost some of its oomph since opening. Oh and i almost forgot to mention the menus were all greazzzy, didnt they or dont they care to wipe this down also since they wipe down the tables...i hope this addressed soon because its disgusting... We waited long for certain dishes...like 15 mins...WTH? for kabocha tempura? 4 pieces at that! I purposely counted how may wait staff passed my empty water glass and tea cup...both remained empty until we were about to leave...thanks by the way! ..wow...service meeds more attention..then again, they were teens playing around instead of working...hence the phrase i used..."no work ethic!"......i would say more but i would rather sum it up - "MANAGEMENT NEEDS TO RE-DO THE STAFFING IN THIS LOCATION BECAUSE ITS SLOWLY BECOMING A DUMP!" I WOULD GIVE THEM 1/2 A STAR....IF NONE AT ALL. SORRY KURU KURU I WILL ONLY BE AT YOUR PEARL KAI LOCATION IF I EVER VISIT AGAIN.
(1)Rick G.
We live in the area and walk to Kahala Mall. We have to go to Kuru Kuru at least once a week. The prices are great, and I love the mixed Don's bowl. I think the service is great too.
(4)Jo S.
I guess you have to either be a kuru kuru person, or a genki person. Genkis have way better tasting food, but kuru kuru has better portions.
(2)Sara H.
heard a bunch of hype about kuru kuru and so had been dying to try this place for a while. went close to closing on a weeknight and there was still a little wait. not too bad though. the only problem with going so late was that it seemed like they had run out of a lot of things! :/ we did get to try most of the staples though. everything was pretty standard here i thought. i was ravenous that night so i tried A LOT. haha. there were 2 dishes that particularly stood out to me - the kabocha tempura and the spicy salmon nigiri. i don't usually like either of those dishes but tasted them at kuru kuru and they were KILLER. the kabocha was super thinly sliced and when they brought it to us fresh it was hot and crispy and delicious. the spicy salmon had a really nice texture and the fish tasted super fresh. the one dish that i was really disappointed by was the spicy ahi. we had spicy ahi nigiri and the spicy ahi don so i definitely got to sample a lot of it and i must say i prefer genkis! i guess this a personal preference thing but the kuru kuru spicy ahi is a lot thicker and more mayonnaise-y. barf. all in all, the prices were good (SLIGHTLY cheaper than genki i think) and i felt like the selection was really good. the wait can be brutal (esp if you're hungry) but i think it's worth it!! :D
(4)jesse g.
too much people raving about this place but i wasn't as disappointed as i was for the rave about shokudo's honey toast... spicy ahi don: hype. it's very well decorated and looks real pretty, but go to ono seafood and try their spicy bowl and you won't even give a **** about the spicy ahi don. not much to say about this place. it's your average fast sushi on a conveyor belt type of place except with a longer wait and line. i guess i'd say that after eating there that it does in fact taste better than genki's, and that if i were in the pearl city area craving sushi, this is the place i'd head to first. i like it, it's good, but other than that i don't see what all the hype is about.
(3)Albert M.
This place always has a wait. When we went, there was a super long line. We put our names on the wait list and waited patiently along with the other guests. One of the young girls that work there had seen her friends outside and told them they could cut and just be seated right away without putting their names on the list and waiting. I thought that was real rude and not fair. Other then that, the service was alright.
(3)Joseph M.
I usually would give a 4-5, but the service was not comparable to the Aiea KuruKuru. The wait was shorter. For two people, the wait was 30 minutes at 6 p.m. on a weeknight. The service was not good because I drink water and tea pretty good with my sushi or donburi. The waitress (no waiters) did not come often to fill up my water and waited possibly 2-3 minutes for water and no courtesy to check up on customers often. They are busy just like Aiea, but the quality service was missing. My donburi took a long time, but the portion was great! I had three plates before the donburi came out. Since they just opened, the new employees (sushi, donburi maker, waitresses) need to up their par.
(3)Jenn W.
Genki who?
(5)Michelle F.
My friend had a band-aid in her sushi. Stopped me from going there.
(1)Kacy L.
Love the kabocha pumpkin tempura! And the instant gratification of eating as soon as you are seated :)
(5)Edge N.
I aint a real fan of sushi but I went to kuru kuru sushi in kahala mall because a friend was raving about their spicy ahi don bowl. I was thinking that my friend was exaggerating the portions and was surprised that they really do pack the ahi and rice. (took it to go too) I would estimate the ahi to be at least a good 1/4 lb and not only were they very generous it also tasted good. This will be my new place for my spicy ahi cravings for sure.
(4)laura e.
good value. comparable to genki but larger portions. imo, too much rice, but others don't seem to mind. kids liked the fresh fruit offerings. thought the location was too small for kahala mall.
(4)kris m.
Horrible service! We were barely seated by a waitress. "those two seats back there." Does that count as being seated? There was already water and cold tea at our seats. After that, not one person took our order for drinks or food. I get that most of the food is going around on the belt, but if you don't see it on the belt, you gotta order. The entire time we were there, not one staff approached us. Finally, I was over it, unsatisfied and not ever coming back. We went to the register to pay because I figured it was the only way we could get out seeing as how the waitresses would rush past and avoid any eye contact and pretend they didn't here you even after an "excuse me" that could be heard across the restaurant. They already cleared our area and plates before it could be tallied. First time during my entire experience that I realized the staff knew we were there was when the cashier rushed to the back and another staff actually remembered where she put our stack of dirty plates. I felt bad that I this girl had to rush and get our plate count. But then when she scolded me for not getting the little piece of paper before trying to pay, I no longer felt bad. Zero tip. Zero return service.
(1)Duffer m.
Great value! blows away Genki hands down. Service is good, although they could have a little better team work in clearing the tables and setting up the tables. Probably the best deal for a meal in Kahala Mall. If you haven't, you gotta check out Kuru Kuru.
(4)Kim M.
I'd give 5 Stars but the fact is brah, you still gotta wait. And wait I will for the thick slices of hamachi and sake. For the piping hot orders of garlic ahi, kabocha tempura and geso karaage. I'm a small girl, don't eat much, but this place puts me at the brink of kanaks on the spot. Look for Kuru Kuru in the old Carl's Junior spot. They offer fresh fruit which is new compared to the Pearl City location which is sweet. But any local will tell you fruit takes up space where the poke nigiri could go.
(4)Alexis O.
My friend recommended Kuru Kuru because he said it was 'SOOO GOOD' there and we were in the area so I decided to try it~ Reviews on yelp also said Kuru Kuru was good too. Since Kuru is new to Kahala there was a swarm of people there and I thought the line wait would take forever, but it went by pretty quickly which is one good thing. Service was also pretty good.. I think? The first time I went to Kuru the waiters were nice and polite.. and someone would fill our waters and tea after we drank like 3 sips LOL.. I don't know if this is a good thing or just annoying hahah. Atmosphere was alright, not really appealing to me but its no problem. As for the quality and price.. I am not a big fan. Although Kuru gives quite a bit for their nigiri dishes, it doesn't really seem to me like its all that good quality. I could tell Ikura wasn't really fresh and it didn't seem salty enough for me? Also it really bothers me that they use a machine to shape the rice for the nigiri sushi.. Not sure if other conveyor belt sushi places do this also but the fact that they use that is kind of irritating.. Not the 'traditional' way of making sushi if you know what I mean. Also it's pretty pricey here.. almost $5 for 2pc of ikura.. thats pretty junk, and they don't give that much ikura either. I think g-sushi gives more.
(3)Matt M.
I'm very impressed with this kaiten sushi joint. The quality and the prices were better than genki sushi. I also liked the variety of food that was available. I was very happy with the tuna, salmon, and hamachi. For me, these are the foundational sushi. If you can't do these well, I'm not coming back. I don't care if you have some ridiculously delicious fancy roll. You have to have good basic fish. Kuru kuru has it. I also tried their saba which was good, but not great. My wife and I both loved their ahi poke. I also liked their gari (pickled ginger) it tasted spicier than others I've tried. I was amazed at their service! The place was packed, but we must have been asked 20 times if we wanted more water and tea. Overall this was a great place.
(4)jonah A.
Not happy with the quality, but when I thought about the cost involved in paying for the sushi?....still not happy. The rice was not tasty enough, the sashimi not fresh enough; however, the service was good The atmosphere was nice. The wait was one hour on a busy Friday night, so what can I expect. At least I was able to go shopping for a while. Genki or Kuru Kuru? That's a toss up. It's about the same.
(2)K A.
Looks like Genki Sushi, but it's not! For what it is, cheaper, fast sushi, it's good. I only tried 2 things: spicy ahi and hamachi nigiri which were both good. Way better quality fish than Genki. I'd definitely return.
(3)Lesley D.
cheap and fresh, YUMMMMMM!
(5)Darin l.
Just recently have i got a taste for kurukuru in Kahala mall. I do prefer genki better but i have gone here many times for the cheap 6$ mini poke bow you can get with either spicy ahi, regular ahi, or spicy salmon. The fish is fresh and they give a bigger portion of fish than other sushi places. They tend to play techno music whether you enjoy that type of genre or not. They also do take out which a lot of people do. Recommended for a casual date, or a quick cheap bit for poke and rice.
(3)Kay W.
SERIOUSLY??????! The change in this place is so TERRIBLE! Like other people have all noticed, kuru kuru started off great with BIG portions and cheap prices. We all enjoyed eating there and then all of a sudden they decided to cut back and SHRINK all their sushi! They got rid of the poke bowls that made them famous on yelp and basically changed the entire feel of this establishment. Today we went there to eat and I was so disgusted looking at all the changes they made in such a short period of time. The pieces of sushi were SO SMALLL that I really coudnt believe my eyes! We ordered a few plates from the back and when the waitress brought it out I actually wanted to blurt out "YOU"VE GOT TO BE KIDDING RIGHT?" The pieces were so tiny that it looked ridiculous on the tiny plate they serve in on. And you know how small those plates are! I was so pissed I put it back on the conveyor belt and stopped eating. ANY SMALLER YOU WONT BE ABLE TO SEE THE SUSHI ANY MORE! I let my kids finish eating and paid and left. I understand about cutting corners when you own a business (I am also a business owner) but when you CHOP off the ENTIRE corner and compromise the INTEGRITY of the business you ultimately LOSE BUSINESS and RESPECT of people. I used to eat here pretty often with my large family but today was the LAST TIME!!!! Also dont think I didnt notice that when you order plates from the back you guys make it even smaller than the ones on the belt. Cant make them super tiny when they are on the belt cause no one will pick it up but when you order it we have no choice but to keep it. I will tell everyone about your restuarant and horrible changes. You may of succeeded in saving money but you also lost many customers along the way. I hope it was worth it!! And dont think Im the only one that noticed. Read the other reviews here...everyone is saying the same thing! And I also noticed your lines are MUCH shorter than before. MANAGEMENT HAS BAD BUSINESS SENSE! So RIDICULOUS!
(1)T L.
What happened to the quality & service @ this Kahala location! When it first opened I was so relieved not having to stand in line @ the Aiea location. Sushi quality & service was on point. The last couple times we went & ordered off the menu.... the fish still had ice chips on them & the rice was dry! The sushi maker in the middle looked annoyed that he was given that job & just was kind of wacking down the plates to pick up. The workers don't look happy and the quality & slices of fish went down the gutter. Thank goodness G-Sushi is just a few minutes away.
(2)C S.
I live on the Leeward side, but every time I pass the Kuru Kuru Sushi restaurant in Pearl Kai, there is a line -- a long line. So, when I found myself at Kahala Mall and saw that there were seats available at Kuru Kuru, I seized the moment. It was my husband's first time there, and he liked the sushi. We usually eat at Genki, just because it seems easier to get a table. We were at Kuru Kuru on Friday before 5 pm, so it wasn't crowded. People started coming in, but we were still ahead of the crowd. Most seemed to know exactly what they wanted. The hubby and I thought the prices were pretty reasonable (cheaper than Genki), and everything tasted fresh. The conveyor belt had a few things on it, but mostly orders were being taken by the servers. We had a selection of things, and after eating our fill -- we did a scan of the colors of the plates and made a quick calculation -- we were full, and we only spent $14. What a deal! I was tempted to just sit there and wait until they put more on the conveyor belt, but, by that time, we were both full. Any more food would have been too much. I'm looking forward to another visit to Kuru Kuru, and I think I'll even make the drive into town!
(4)Kara M.
KuruKuru is my go-to spot for a nice meal after the beach or a day of shopping with friends. The workers are pretty accommodating, but as with any other restaurant, when it's busy, don't expect to be helped right away. My favorites are the salmon onion mayo nigiri, pumpkin tempura, and the natto nigiri :D I suggest going for lunch or an early dinner to avoid the long wait!
(4)Dean S.
One more place I will never go to again. Food is decent, but service its terrible! One of the worst experiences I've had. Went for a late lunch at 3pm. They were fully staffed and it was not busy. No one greeted its when we entered. I saw a sign in sheet so I decided to sign in. Still no one acknowledged us. Waited about 10 minutes before someone checked the sheet and seated us at a table that was already available and prepped when we first arrived. After being seated it took another 5 minutes before someone decided to take our order. After that we were left alone and no one followed up with us. Again, it was fully staffed and it was NOT busy. It seemed that the staff was more concerned with filling up supplies for the dinner rush than waiting on customers. They were taking advantage of the fact that it was slow to prep for dinner, but it was at the sacrifice of the customers who were there. Finally at the end of the meal we packed up or things and got ready to leave only to continue to be ignored. We finally decided to go up to the counter to get someones attention so we could pay and leave... never to return again.
(1)pich h.
Wow cant believe other customers feel the same about kahalas location for a minute there i thought it was just me. Dont get me wrong i was once a genki fan until i tried kuru kuru. The quality of food is there, granted i know its not authentic sushi but for something thats just simple its great for the price. Anyways what im trying to say is that kahala needs to step it up a notch on customer service or get retrained at the aiea branch. Went there at 330, not more than 15 customers in the restraunt, 10 minuts later no one even acknowledges us if we wanted to order something and on top of that, no selection of sushi to choose from on the conveyor belt. Whats wrong with that? Hello people come on your in the kahala area you would think youd give the best service considering the customers that lives around that area. Thats okay i left with my husband. Wont be going to the kahala branch anymore.
(3)Marko C.
I had the fastest sushi meal of my life today! Ten plates of sushi (20 pieces) in 10 minutes, flat! I should be on some kind of eating reality show! Kuru Kuru Sushi is a great place to get some sushi that is very reasonably priced and if you are rushing around (during non-peak business hours). I got here at 2:00, just stepping off my flight and hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch (or whatever slop that the airlines serve on nice warm platters with silverware). Get this: 2 plates (4 pieces) Hamachi Sushi. 2 plates (4 pieces) of Toro (fatty tuna) Sushi. 2 plates (4 pieces) of Hawaiian poke sushi. 2 plates (4 pieces) of Spicy Hawaiian Tuna Poke sushi. 1 plate (2 pieces) of Salmon (mayo & onions) sushi. 1 plate (2 pieces) of regular Salmon sushi. Twenty pieces of sushi in 10 minutes, they couldn't make the sushi fast enough for my huge appetite. Bada-boom, I was out of there. You pay by the color of the plate. Green plates are $2.10, red plates are $2.75. Sushi is made with the rice balls that are made by the machine. Fun to watch, but the machine makes the rice a bit mooshy clumpy. No problem for me because the prices rock here! Onolicious, brah!
(3)Blue M.
I got the runs after eating here even though everything I ordered was cooked since I hate raw foods. That means someone in the kitchen fucked up and contaminated the food. At least it was tasty. FYI, it gets crowded at times so plan ahead and come early.
(2)Andrew P.
Ive eatten here about three times. I have to say it was a great experiance each time. The first time was with my wife when we where dating. It was late afternoon, we stopped in for lunch. It wasnt to busy at the time. We got seated right away. I did like how the watresses didnt hover over us as we ate even though it was slow. There miso soup is a must to have. Very easy to order and pick off the line. The second time I went with my step-son right when they opened. So again not to busy, we where able to order off the menu and pick from the line. The most recent timw it was with my wife yesterday. We went at the peek of lunch time. All I can say is prepare to wait. Which for us at the time wasnt a bad them because by time we where seated we where pretty hungry. Now the wait isnt bad but they dont have a lot of seating and some people who gi there take forever eatting. No fault on the restaurant. Just people are rude. Lol. But again very easy to order. Much easier to grab off the line because more irems are coming out. The wait staff again checked on use regularly enough even though the placw was packed!!! Well worth the wait any day.
(5)Nalani A.
What a let down, I was so excited to try this place since every time I wanted to go they were busy. Went with a friend in the afternoon, we sat there for 20 minutes waiting for someone to take our order, look at us, NOTHING... Then the guy next to us said "you guys been waiting long yeah? Same thing happen to us" Yikes, the place wasn't that busy and there seemed to be lots of workers... Soooooo! ? What the heck? Get it together KuruKuru, we ended up walking out and going Genkis, at least they served us!
(1)Gary D.
Great sushi action! You can never go wrong at kuru kuru. Great sushi at great prices. Not the exact same as when they first opened, but still real good. I had the spicy ahi don, scallop mayo, spicy inari, croquette, tofu and a few plates Maguro. All was very Ono. We will be back for sure.
(5)Crissy K.
This place has taken a significant downhill tumble since it first opened. I know kaiten sushi in Hawai'i is a far cry from what you get in Japan, but at least when Kuru Kuru first arrived at Kahala Mall, it was a huge step up from Genki in terms of overall quality and selections offered. Now, not so much. When we dined at the counter around noon on Saturday, the same offerings kept circulating on the conveyor belt: ahi nigiri, kabocha tempura, somen salad, a random bowl of soba, hot dog nigiri, a few fried items . . . just the same things, over and over again. If you wanted anything else, you had to special order it -- which would have been fine, if after you ordered, things arrived in a timely manner (which they didn't). Plus, the quality of the food just wasn't what I had remembered. About the only delectable item was the kabocha tempura, which was perfect and super reasonably priced. Everything else was just eh -- kinda like Genki, except Genki usually offers more variety up front. Kuru Kuru Kahala wasn't awful, just disappointing. Based on this experience, I wouldn't bother going back.
(2)Julie Z.
Probably one of the best/cheap ahi poke sushi's I've had. We went to the one where you have the boats and it goes in a circle. I pretty much ate all the ahi poke on there haha. Yummy place
(4)Adrienne B.
I am not sure if its come across in any of my previous reviews but I love sushi. I will probably at some time get mercury poisoning from all the raw fish I eat. When I get pregnant, I will be that woman who tries my luck (or really debates it) and wants to eat raw fish. That's how much I love sushi. I didn't really discover sushi until I moved to Tampa and there was no fun sushi on belts there, and then I lived in Dayton....which is a cultural and food wasteland. So really I was lucky to have found a sushi place I loved there. AND then I moved here. SUSHI and food options everywhere. And I found sushi on a belt. I'm going to eat myself into a mumu. I went here with an open mind thinking this place may be "meh" or it may be good, but I saw the reviews here were really good. I dined solo and the food was really good and the service was top notch. My tea and water were never empty and when there wasn't something on the belt that I wanted, someone ALWAYS asked me if there was something I would like to try. I really enjoyed my experience here and the fact that you had so many options in the "small plate" sampler setting. I got to try a few new things and got to stick to a few favorites. I still don't understand the hot dog sushi, but I will probably try it one day. The tempura melon looked really good, but I was too full to try it! Will likely be back very very soon!
(4)Connie M.
The difference between Kuru Kuru and Genki is definitely the service! Servers here are constantly whizzing by because their taking orders, replacing shoyu and picked ginger, refilling drinks and etc. Food wise it is comparable to any "fast food" style sushi joint; the fish is not particularly the best quality, but for the price you're paying it is adequate. This location is a lot smaller than I expected, so expect to wait before being seated.
(4)Randy M.
Gave them another try and even worse, food not fresh, poor selection, dirty everything
(1)Jordan Aaron C.
I have only eaten at this specific Kuru kuru twice in my life. It has always been with one of my best friends, Jen. We came here within the first week it opened and it was pretty busy. I had dinner again here again last week. In comparison with the other Kuru Kuru across of Pearlz, its much cleaner (because it is newer). I also feel that there amazing Poke Bowls are smaller. Maybe they just give less poke here, but it always taste great!!!!! Every time I come here I pretty much order the same thing: 1 Mixed Don (half spicy ahi and half reg. ahi poke) 1 somen salad 1 tuna 1 fried chicken or Calamari This always fills me up. If im really hungry I order some other things. As usual, their service is amazing. There are always workers consistently walking around and asking if we need anything. They also always keep my water filled. I never have to waive down someone because my mouth is burning from the spicy ahi. I am just those people who would drink at least 4 glasses of water over dinner and I LOVE when my water is always filled. I give them a HUGE THUMBS UP for their service. As a sushi addict, their sushi never fails me. It's fresh, cheap and flavorful. You get a lil more than you pay for. I will try to make my way to the Kahala one more, and if you get there just before 6, you miss the huge crowd that comes in :)
(5)Neil W.
I gave this place a 2 star because it was 5:00 pm and they had nothing on the belt to eat. I think this is really bad since I had to order everything. How boring.
(2)Ken F.
My coworkers rave about this place so I had to try it. I can say that it's better than Genki but that's not saying much. I was told that the Spicy Ahi Don was the best in town but that is just not the case. I agree that it is large but quantity does not equal quality or value. There was not much taste and you need to add shoyu to make it taste decent. I've have much better versions from Paina and Manoa Sushi. They also raved about the value, but I ended up paying $55 for two and I think the Chirashi at Kahala sushi is a better deal. All in all, you should only go there as a last resort. Update: I made my coworker who raved about Kuku Kuru's Ahi Don try the Manoa Sushi's version and she agreed that it tasted better than Kuru Kuru's.
(2)Adonis N.
One word! Annoying! I requested for a booth! I even wrote it in bold, underlined letters! Of course the waitress could not understand what i wrote!
(1)Jhoren C.
I honestly like Genki Sushi much better after eating here at Kuru. This place is pretty small and cramped. Service was okay, we had to flag the waiter a couple times to get our orders.
(2)Jay C.
Pretty standard sushi belt style place. Can order things on the side. Easily ran up a $25 bill... sushi was fresh during the lunch hour. The spicy ahi and spicy unagi rolls I got were great. Rice just a touch warm with the right amount of rice vinegar and seasoning.. Very good about refilling your tea/water... Don't be shy about asking someone to bring you things off their menu
(3)Jake H.
Great sushi! Seeing as we aren't in japan, this is as close as you are going to get to good quality sushi. Everything that came around the belt looked fresh and everything I grabbed was. This is a good sign. Although the staff was a little slow, it took them at least 20 minutes to bring a diet coke out to our seats and then it was a regular coke and a much larger size then we asked for. Maybe she had other things on her mind but that didn't bother me that much. It's priced well and everything was delicious. :)
(5)Bert S.
I ordered the fried Ika, it took a long time to come out and had to ask twice. The coating was soft and oily. Fry oil not hot enough. We had to order tamago and one of the pieces was cut very thin. Not a place to cut corners. The ahi was thicker in general than Genki and the poke bowls are huge. We ordered ikura too and it was overfilled. I know most people would be happy to get the extra but it shouldn't be overflowing. The fried spicy mushroom were great, but that should not be the highlight of a sushi place. We'll be going back to Genki.
(2)Kim S.
I'm addicted to my new BFF. Ate here 6 times in 1 month!!! Crazy the great quality of food for the reasonable price. Economical way to get your sushi groove on. Everyday sushi. Was almost stingy & didn't want to share Kuru Kuru with peeps bc didn't want added competition for a dinner table but I don't play like that. I can live on the pumpkin tempura alone. Perfectly fried heaven. Sometimes I grab a 2nd for lunch the next day. The salmon nigiri sushi is amazingly fresh. So fun watching the machine form the uniform rice pillows for the fish's final resting place. Where else can you get hamachi kama for under $10??! Who new such delight could be provided by a mall restaurant??!
(4)Nat N.
I was a big fan of their Aiea location, and now I'm a fan of their Kahala location. It's less crowded than the one in Aiea (probably because the competition for sushi is higher in town than in Aiea) but the sushi tastes just as good. It's better than any of their competitors, that's for sure. It won't be as good as the regular sushi bars and restaurants, but this place is great for the value-minded sushi lover!
(4)Shanisse I.
Sushi Sushi Sushi. Gots to have me my sushi!!! After years of silent begging of a second Kuru Kuru thats a tad bit closer to me. I have to say.. Kuru Kuru is my fave.. The portions for the price is well worth it. Whenever I have the craving for sushi(which is everyday) I usually go to Kuru Kuru since I'm at KCC all day, four days a week. For me, I get salmon nigiri, shrimp shumai,. I love me my salmon.. ask the bf.. I am happy with just salmon sushi all day errday.. The BF gets the spicy don( it used to be a MOUNTAIN but they downsized just a tad) some ahi poke nigiri, and onion salmon. Service.. They are usually very on top of it.. Rarely will we get a server who forgets that we are waiting for something or doesn't take our order. But that is very rare. Since Kuru Kuru is so yummy, the wait can get pretty re-dicks. The most I've had to wait was forty five minutes.. But we had to kill time for the rest of our party to get here so we didn't mind. I believe that it is worth the wait. I can never get tired of Kuru Kuru.. sushi in general actually.. I hope everyone else does so that I don't have to wait such a long time to get seated. JOKES! 31 Yelps Review Challenge: #3/31
(4)Lori I.
Kuru-kuru means to turn, twirl, or go round and round. Kuru-kuru-pa, on the other hand, is a colloquialism meaning "crazy." [1] Why do people wait for hours (at the Kurukuru Pearl City) just to eat at a place that has sushi going kuru-kuru all day long? Is it for entertainment purposes? I know when I take my kids to G-sushi in Market City, we go solely to watch the boats going around and around. Or could it possibly be for the food?? I wanted to find out. LOCATION: Kahala Mall!!! This used to be Carl's Jr, and before that it was Burger King for those of you old enough to remember....it is right between the movie theaters and the elevator. HOURS: Sun-Thur 11am - 9pm, Fri/Sat 11am-10pm WAIT TIMES: on Sunday (day 2) at 4pm, it was pretty empty, no wait time. On Monday (day 3) at 11:30a, there was a 7-10 min wait because we had 4 adults and a baby. SIGN YOUR NAME ON THE LIST AT THE DOOR and DO NOT GO FAR. DONBURI bowls $7.95 You can call it a meal, but these were quite messy and hard to eat because the bowls were too small for the huge amounts of fish piled on the rice. And if you eat these, you won't have any room for anything else...they are HUGE: yelp.com/user_local_phot… KALBI CHICKEN BOWL $2.75: tender pieces of chicken doused in kalbi sauce over a bowl of hot rice. A little bit strong flavored, but I enjoyed it. This can also be ordered TO-GO. At only $2.75, it's one of the cheapest meals at the mall. They are for small appetites, but even if you order two of them, it's still $5.50. Please, keep this one a secret guys. (Don't make it like the bacon at Whole Foods, which has been yanked from the hot food bar and now stands alone behind the glass partition for 50 cents each piece!!) yelp.com/user_local_phot… NIGIRI on the $2.75 plates: we ordered hamachi and maguro. The rice is barely visible because the pieces of fish are generously cut and cover the entire rice ball. yelp.com/user_local_phot… yelp.com/user_local_phot… CORN/TUNA. MIke O.!! Who would've thought corn, tuna, and mayo on top of rice would be a good combination? That was my first corn nigiri ever, so I have nothing to compare it to, but it was damn tasty. I ate it so fast I forgot to take a picture! SHUMAI - OH MY! It's been years since my last shumai, but this one was good too! PUMPKIN (Kabocha) tempura - YESSSSSSSS. Tell your wife she was right. This was good too. It already comes with sauce on it, but I asked for more dipping sauce, which made it even more oishii. yelp.com/user_local_phot… The one problem with this type of eating is that at the end of your meal, you really don't have a clue how much food you just ate, until you count all the plates. It's too easy to keep on pulling the colorful plates off the conveyor belt. You can also order food fresh from one of the servers, if you aren't sure how long the sushi has been going kuru-kuru. I did see one of the servers pull off a plate from the belt and dump it. When I asked her why she dumped it, she said it was "looking old and it was falling apart". (it was only 30 minutes after they opened!) So why do people come here? I think it's for the kuru kuru sushi, but it could be they are just kuru kuru pa. [1] from Summer of the Big Bachi, pg 180, Naomi Hirahara
(4)w t.
4 stars because my young kids love this place. Spicy ahi and salmon onion isn't too bad for adults. Kids enjoy chicken karaage, udon, and mandarin oranges. Easy.
(4)Kuli O.
It is a conveyor belt place so one's expectations should not be too high! That said I like everything about this place and was never served any garbage. I love their kozunoko sushi and a couple of other things other places don't offer. Their sushi is much better than Genki or sushi man. There are a few regulars on the staff who always greet you and even remember your name!
(4)Cheryl S.
There's a reason this place always has a line...it's worth it! When the hubby had a hankering for sushi, we used to make the trek all the way to Aiea and wait forEVER just so that he can get his Mix Don!!! We're uber happy that they've opened this location and even though they've scaled back the size (and price) of their "Don" bowls, they still heap on the fish. Even for a non-raw-fish eater like me, there is a bevy of choices to munch on. Service here is mostly great, our hot tea and water cups are always filled. If you don't want to wait, take out service is quick or by all means go visit that less-than-mediocre conveyor belt sushi place. We're more than happy to take your place on the long list to get in! Definitely going back!!!
(5)Quijana B.
Two words--take out! I love Kuru Kuru, but I'm not fond of waiting for a table for a meal that takes less time to eat than the wait. There is a simple fix to this problem. Take out. Kahala mall has no true food court. Instead there are tables scattered through the main open area. There are also tables outside the mall. Rather than fight for a table inside the restaurant, I simply order from the menu and find a pleasant place in the mall or I take it home. This is also good because my son does not share my passion for sushi, so he can choose something from a different restaurant and we can eat together. As for the food- Kuru Kuru provides generous portions of fresh food. There is nothing unexpected, just a solid belt sushi experience. I've not experienced the service in this location, but I've eaten at the Pearlridge location many times, and service has always been very good. I much prefer Kuru Kuru to Genki, and I am so happy to see them expand.
(5)Alexandrea P.
I don't get it, every time we would pass Kuru Kuru it would be packed! Literally every single time we came to the mall, so I figured why not try this place out. My mom and I arrived early so we were seated right away. The service wasn't that great. We were seated, no greetings, no questions asked. She didn't even ask us if we wanted to start off with any drinks. Five minutes later she comes back to take our order and I swear she was just rushing us. Very rude. As for the food, I'm not sure if we just ordered the wrong things but it was all horrible except for the shumai. I prefer Genki Sushi, better food and a little less pricey. When we were done eating we had to wait a good 10 - 15 minutes for someone to give us our check which was odd since we did clean after ourselves and put all the plates to the side (pretty obvious we were done.) Anyways, never coming here again. I don't get the hype of this place. The next time I want sushi I'll be going to Genkis
(2)Ashley T.
I have only been here once and I can tell you that I am a fan. ENVIRONMENT: It's very similar to Genki Sushi. The setup where they have sushi on top of a conveyor that goes round and round. I feel the color inside is very blah...needs more color. But they do have a TV that shows you how to properly eat sushi and drink tea...Who knew that there would be a specific way to eat sushi?!?! CUSTOMER SERVICE: I went during lunch rush hour so the wait was pretty long for a party of 4. Plus we requested a booth so the wait was longer because we were picky. We didn't wanna sit next to other people. Haha. So we waited a good 30 minutes until our name was called. The servers consistently asked if we wanted more water or tea. YES! to tea! I love hot tea and we can have as much as we wanted. FOOD: Ahh food...isnt' that why we look on yelp to find the best places to get good food. Well I can tell you that I enjoyed their sushi here. The portion size is WAY bigger than Genki. I loved their philly sushi...It's unagi (eel) and cream cheese...eww you say but try it and you'll get hooked. BUT what sold me to this place was their TEMPURA MUSHROOMS! OMG! Literally OH MY GOSH! I was reunited with this tempura mushrooms I've been trying to imitate at home...but failed at every attempt. Here's the story: Way back when DnBs first opened their menu was slightly different and on their appetizer list they had something called Tempura Fried Mushrooms. And every time my family and I went we ordered 3+ orders just for us to snack on. It was that good! Then all of a sudden they removed it off their menu and created a new menu. BOO! So I was a long quest (for several years) to find a place that made it similar to it or try it on my own...With much failed attempts and no where else that made it I gave up. Until....Kuru Kuru Sushi!!! OMG I love them all because of this one item! It's a party in my mouth when I eat it!! Literally!
(4)Tiffinie K.
Yuuum! Kuru Kuru is my favorite belt sushi place. They have better prices and better quality fish than other places like it. Also, they have more variety of dishes. So if you have friends that don't eat raw fish but like this type place, then their hunger might be more satisfied. If you go at an off hour, the wait is fairly short, sometimes you don't have to wait at all. But once you reach lunch or dinner hour, sucks to be you! My favorite things to order are salmon, natto (slimy and delicious!), and mandarin oranges. Love their rice bowls too. 3.5 stars because I don't like this place enough to wait 1 hour during rush our.
(3)Daniel Y.
Used to be a loyal customer until the major price hike. I don't feel I can eat freely. Can't enjoy myself, too busy calculating how much my bill will be. I can see a gradual increase like $.25 per plate. Never going back. Genki sucks too. Anyone got any suggestions.
(1)Evan A.
I came here with friends and I got a weird feeling. 1 star for the generous portions 1 start for the quick service 1 start for a convenient location -2 to stars for the hospital feeling (it's all white and gave me a vibe, guess it's just me)
(3)Alvin W.
If you're on a diet, this is not the place to eat. But, if you want super Ono sushi at reasonable prices, then Kuru Kuru is your top pick.
(4)Charity J.
um, what the crap kuru kuru? my family and I used to come here quite a bit, couldn't beat the $6.95 spicy tuna don! we came in tonight after a few months hiatus and we ordered our spicy tuna dons per usual. when we got them, I noticed the portions had gotten a bit smaller and the tuna was EXTRA spicy this time around. I like my spicy tuna, but this was almost unbearable at times. Went to go pay and were super confused at our total. Asked the cashier if she was mistaken and only then were we informed that the dons are now $9.95. WHAT THE FUDGE? The least the server could've done was informed us of the absurd price hike! We were so so bummed out, totally felt like we got cheated! Sorry kuru kuru, but you lost more customers. I could understand a dollar price hike, but THREE? sweet baby jesus. We'll take our money elsewhere. There are plenty of other places on the island where we can get poke bowls for cheaper AND better quality.
(1)Lloyd A.
So let's get straight to the point, this place has or at least seems like they have freshly made sushi that has some good flavors to it. I mean it's cheap and won't hurt your wallet but the quality of food is better than most places that have the same concept. Also the customer service here is actually pretty good regardless of how packed the restraunt is. So bring your appetite, some good company and dig in.
(4)Doris D.
I think Kuru Kuru has the best conveyor belt sushi on the island. When they opened up this new location in Kahala Mall, I was excited because it's closer to where I live. I waited about half an hour at about 6pm which is not bad at all because the original location is always packed. True to form, the new location is pretty dang good too. However, I think the original location has a better variety and bigger pieces of fish for the nigiri. That being said, KK at both locations beats other conveyor belt sushi places hands down in terms of variety, freshness, and value. The service is very good too, constantly refilling my green tea and always concentrated on the patrons - every time I picked up the menu, a waitress would run up to us 10 seconds later to take our order! Can't wait to go back to get my quick sushi fix.
(4)Pam H.
This place has everything for the whole family. If you're not into sushi you can order fried items!!
(5)Diana T.
What can go wrong with cheap sushi on a conveyor belt?! My favorite is the spicy tuna don. Its a scoop of sushi on top a bowl of rice. It's mimicking a icecream sundae but for sushi! The staff's very attentive and friendly.
(4)Shiloh J.
Love their food but they close at 9 right !? Showed up at 845 and they wouldn't serve us.,, dumb! Drove from town
(3)Naoco T.
Spicy ahi don
(4)Raych D.
I've been here twice in the same week since they've been open. Let me just start by saying that I am so happy they finally opened this location for all the TOWNIES!!! So yayyy will I no longer have to drive from HNL to Pearl city just for Kuru Kuru. The wait is not as long as the Pearl city location, and there are a lot more seats available outside to sit while we wait. I also like how the new location looks so clean, chic and inviting! Everything is so nice about it from the glass doors, the comfy clean sofas to the new plates they use. And they even got a flat screen TV on the front wall! (To bad it only shows a chef making sushi tho). Prices and food are still the same as the other location BUT I do believe they have more items to sell from banana with whip, slice of half of a papaya, fried sushi etc. The portions are still huge as for what they are known for. And this location the food comes out a lot faster AND the food on the belt is also very good and not that old sushi look or taste to it. Only thing is parking may be a little tough because it is located in Kahala mall next to the movie theater, so parking in this mall is already limited. If you ever need that right on the spot sushi crave this is it! It's restaurant quality sushi (In fact it taste a lot better and has more portions than some restaurants I know) that gets you in and out with the satisfy feeling in your tummy and wallet! Even the take out is good! P.S. Say NO to Genki Sushi and YES to Kuru Kuru Sushi!
(5)Shanna U.
Love the food here as it is reasonably priced. Favorites are the grilled garlic ahi, tempura pumpkin, spam nigiri, natto maki, spicy tuna wonton, and many more!
(4)John M.
I think I do take out of the spicy tuna don about once a week. And I don't work at kahala mall. It would probably be more if I did. They give such a good portion. Don't expect to get quality like a higher end japanese restaurant but it works just fine for me on some nights for $6 a bowl. Occasionally I'll sit down and pick a few things off the line. The onion salmon has been another reliable choice. I've never had a problem with service either and my water is always full.
(4)Justin R.
Been to Kuru Kuru twice ever at this location. Let me say that the service here is superb. I was always asked if I wanted more water or tea, CONSTANTLY. It wasn't to the point of annoyance but I definitely felt that they wanted to make sure that the customers were happy, satisfied, and had their glasses full. The prices were expensive but not unreasonable. Sushi is expensive and I understand. To have good service, quality food, and great seating, I could appreciate the aroma. The only thing is I wish there was more privacy. The people on my side can definitely hear my conversation with a friend easily. If privacy isn't key and you are there with a friend for delicious food and a good time at Kahala, I recommend you take a stop here! Does this food fill me up? IT SURE DOES! Maybe it is all the water I keep drinking but the spicy ahi, LARGE California rolls, and avocado roll were amazing! I suggest going slightly early. The crowd comes at dinner time and waiting could be a bit. This is the spot for great sushi and if you want to get right in, going before 5:30 is a good time.
(4)A. Shawn G.
As the name implies, there's a lot of kuru-ing going on at this place. This is another one of those sushi-on-a-conveyor-belt places. While cute in concept, absolutely dizzying in practice. Those little plates go round-and-round. Sometimes to a good home, other times they're allowed to circulate for what seems forever. Which isn't good when your'e a raw piece of fish waiting to be masticated and digested. Yup. Masticated. If you're in the mood for decent sushi, and want to get dizzy in the process then this is the place for you. If you're not feeling the waiting game I suggest you go ahead and order the spicy ahi bowl, a large serving of spicy ahi tuna on a bed of rice...IN A BOWL! Absolutely worth the pre-order. Also, get the mussels. They're cooked (in case you were wondering) with a "dynamite" (basically mayonnaise, I'm sensing a trend here: goo.gl/qzKee ) style sauce on it.
(3)Heather M.
Good food! Dangerous though on your wallet. They have plates of delicious sushi passing and its hard to keep track of your stockpile of plates. Cant wait to go there again!
(5)Brandon L.
I had heard many positive things about this place for years, but I never tried it until now. I only ordered a spicy tuna bowl for takeout, so I'll have to update this review when I get the change to sit down and try their sushi. This location is in Kahala Mall, across from Hallmark by the movie theater. While I was waiting for my order, I took some time to observe the restaurant. One side has tables for groups up to 7 people. The other side is for people who don't mind sitting at the counter. I counted 18 seats. The conveyor belt with the sushi passes by each seat like all kaiten sushi chains. There is one lcd display on the wall by the kitchen area. Everything seemed clean and organized. There was a list with about 5 parties waiting to be seated. I had heard that there is always a line. My order took about 10 minutes. The spicy tuna bowl was a good size for $5.95. I like that the tuna was cut into small pieces and the quality was pretty good. I can't say if I like their spicy tuna bowl better than pa'ina cafe's, but I will definitely be eating here again.
(4)Chyanne O.
Did I come on a bad day? Usually love their service and everything but when we went in two day ago, it was eh. We were not greeted at all with employees just walking past right in front of us numerous times. And at this time, the restaurant was not full- it was quite empty. After standing there for about 5 minutes with no greeting, we decided to just seat ourselves. Then one of the employees brought the water & tea then completely left us. Usually, they take our order but not this time. Not to mention that there was nothing really circulating- maybe some fried items. Another 5 minutes went by with employees running around ignoring our existence. Finally flagged down one of them and for some reason when the four of us were ordering and when it was my turn, she took one order of mine and skipped me. I understand that this is no 5 star restaurant and it's a fast food chain. However, this was a really unpleasant experience. I like to believe that I just came on a bad day. I like their sushi much much better than Genki and we usually have decent service. Maybe those kids that were working had some in house drama and everyone was in a bad mood!?
(3)Laura L.
Their fish is way fresher than the "other" guys. Their portions are bigger too. You need to try this place, prices are reasonable too! If you're craving sushi, go to Kuru Kuru!
(4)Noelani C.
This place is so cute! Clean and great employees that work there! ALL the girls and sushi guys are amazing at serving people! They deserve tons of KUDO's! I went there last night for dinner and the service was so awesome! They accomodated even though we had an army of kids with us! Totally kid friendly atmosphere! The food was a bit oily for the tempura kabocha but still tasty. The chawan mushi was good, the shrimp tempura with udon was super delish! I would maybe stay away from the salmon belly. Its overly oily from being deep fried with batter. The spam sushi is great for kids but when i bit into one it was really on the oily side. The prices are great and totally affordable for anyone! Once again the staff there are very thoughtful and that is what makes that place survive for the most part! ;)
(4)Amy L.
Take a hike Genki's because there is a new kaizen sushi in town and it has stolen my heart. As a yelper, you pretty know what you are going to eat and I have always wanted to check out Kuru Kuru but since they were located in Aiea, I had not found any reason to drive down that way. I heard about how good the fish is there and that their spicy tuna could hold their own against Genki's. I am so glad they opened up in Kahala mall because "I quit you, Genki's." Kuru Kuru has just about the same decor as Genki's but slightly snazzier and not to mention bigger booths so you aren't sitting like sardines in a can if you have a big party. Service was a bit scarce but that's okay because that's why it's a sushi belt, you can serve yourself! Sushi was great! Fresh, moderate slices of fish. Not too thick, not too thin, but just right. Decent hamachi nigiri for 2 something? That is a steal! But if their spicy tuna didn't hold up to Genki's then I wouldn't have converted. Kuru Kuru's spicy tuna wasn't exactly on par as Genki's but it might just be 5% off. Flavor is there...hint of sesame oil and that light touch of ichimi pepper. Not too mention the sushi rice had great flavor. I can't wait to go back a few more times before my trip comes to an end. You don't understand, there just isn't good kaizen sushi restaurant in the bay area that compares. Inexpensive, tasty and a fun belt to boot? You can't beat that if you are craving sushi and do not want to spend a boatload of cash!
(4)Emi H.
After YEARS of waiting (not kidding here folks), my BF and I finally go to try Kuru Kuru Sushi. We'd driven by the Aiea locations many times but were never quite inspired enough to wait for a seat. What is so great about cheap sushi that people are willing to wait 30+ minutes for a seat? Oh yes, it's the Leeward side. Food options are limited. Laaaaaaame. So tonight, after having a few nibbles at Whole Foods, we ventured to the somewhat new Kuru Kuru Sushi at Kahala Mall. We expected a wait when we arrived, but were pleasantly surprised to find lots of open seats. Woot! I was excited to see that they had hot deep fried shumai and my BF joyfully ate his way through several orders of poke. The edamame was way overcooked, which was a bit disappointing because how do you mess up soybeans? The sushi was okay, nothing spectacular, but the service was really great and you can tell they train their workers very well. Yelp 365 Challenge: #79/365 (The Long Awaited Sushi Visit)
(4)Sheena C.
UPDATE: It's been a few months that Kuru Kuru Kahala has been around and I hate to say this because I'm a regular and will probably get "the eye" next time I go, but the service has gone WAY down. :( 1. The last 2 times I've gone, my order has been neglected--neglected as in forgotten. I'm usually a patient person, but: All the other diners around me (who sat down after!) receives their food + I only ordered a donburi (it's not fried, just throw rice and fish in a bowl) + hungry 5-year-old (no explanation needed) = GRUMPY ME. It's not that the order was taking a long time, it's the fact that I had to REORDER it. I also noticed the person making sushi in the middle seemed to be annoyed at the sushi he had to make. He made something for the party next to me and when they told him they didn't order it, he sighed REALLY loud, rolled his eyes, and turned around. Whoa. 2. I ordered chawan mushi and waited and waited and waited to no avail. When I asked waitress #2 to check on the order, she informed me they sold out of it. Wth! Waitress #1 didn't tell me that when I ordered it. However, waitress #2 offered to have them make a new batch in 10-15 minutes, so since I already waited 30 minutes, what's another 15, right? 3. When I finally got my other sushi order, it was wrong. (I ordered the tuna corn, but it was just corn mayo.) I informed waitress #2 of this and she returned with tuna plopped on the top of the corn mayo. Hmmmmm.... She said it was because they ran out of tuna corn mixed together...? That was almost the turning point. If my son wasn't so hungry I would've got up and walked right out. However, I guess waitress #2 saw my disappointment and possibly my irritation, so she returned 5 minutes later with a fresh tuna corn that she custom made for me. This gesture was angelic. Waitress #2, if you are reading this, please know your kindness saved the loss of 3 customers (me, my husband, and son). I asked for her name when I paid the cashier and I guess she is one of the managers (no surprise since her customer service was way better than the rest). I'll still return to this Kuru Kuru, but probably not as often as I would have, had it not been for the constant bad service. It seems like the main problem is the staff (some, not all)--they're young, not serious about their job (from what I witnessed, although it was busy, a few of the girls still seemed to linger around the tea pot/soda area to chit-chat), and have little to no experience in customer service. I shouldn't hate because I've been one of "those" before when I was younger and just starting out in the "work world," but when crappy service affects my hungry son (which in turn affects me), it gets personal.
(2)Jo M.
We went about 3 pm and there were about a dozen people on the counter. We had fried kabocha which was fine, ebi, clam of some sort while the same 4 or 5 dishes which we did not want, kept circulating - fried sushi, edamae, avocado roll, tossed salad, shrimp, and later, hot dog sushi. No fresh sushi. We waited ate 4 dishes and left. There were lots of waitresses and we could see activity in the kitchen but nothing came down the belt. When I commented to the cashier she said it was slow so they didnt make new sushi. When we left there were about 20 people in the restaurant and still no sushi. I told her that if that were the case they have to tell the customers to order from the waitresses. They said nothing. Ive NEVER been in a conveyor belt sushiya like this and will never come back. They insulted us as customers by their lack of product and lack of courtesy to tell us we needed to order. And looking at the other reviews they continue to do this despite the bad reviews.
(1)Matt H.
I used to love genki until I tried kurukuru. That was it. Their spicy salmon is Numba one! Can't beat it. Spicy ahi tastes better than the other guys. The wait staff is always friendly.
(5)Brian B.
A few weeks ago, a co-worker and I finally tried out this relatively new location that opened up in Kahala Mall after passing it multiple times prior. I'm sad to say that after seeing this place so consistently busy since it opened and finally trying it out for myself, that I can't really see what all the fuss is about. The location is definitely prime, since it's right by the theaters which is great if you're on a date or want to catch a bite before or after seeing a movie. Also, if you only want to come in to the mall to eat sushi, all you gotta do is park upstairs by Barnes & Noble and you can come down from that entrance and bypass the rest of the mall. From the outside, this place looks bigger than it is which was surprising. I thought that there would be way more places to sit and booths than there was but thankfully it's also not too cramped so I guess you can't really complain. The food is pretty standard for "conveyor belt" sushi which is both good and bad since that means that this place doesn't really stand out. On the other hand, it seems like the choices are more in line with what you would expect from a sushi place such as this which is a good thing since they had some really odd dishes at their other location in Pearl City that I didn't care for. The prices are also pretty typical for something at this level of quality to, so that's also a good thing. Really though, I suppose what disappoints me about this place is that it seems like there was a lot of hype from people that talked to me about it. I guess I was expecting someplace that was a little more shiny and nicer looking considering that it's in a fairly decent mall and new-ish. Don't get me wrong, this place isn't horrible but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here either. If you like Genki Sushi and you're in Kahala Mall and in the mood for decent sushi, this isn't a bad choice at all.
(3)James E.
Spicy tuna and spicy salmon great way to start meal then finish with tempura mushrooms and salmon belly
(4)Yosapon T.
Love this place !!! Fresh fish & big portion = happy me There fish i have to say is one of the best places so far and taste so goood. Order the Salmon or Tuna ! Try anything cos it taste all good they have such biggg portion compare to genk.i kurukuru is like massive big !!! Writing about this i want to eat it now. Oh during peak times u may need to wait up to 20 minutes so be ready !~~~
(4)Chris D.
Very disappointed with this place. I come here quite often but now I won't be back anytime soon. I ordered a tamago and it came out with a long string of hair on it. I told the server and all she did was make a disgusting face and took it back to the kitchen. She didn't say a single word, no sorry or anything. Also, I waited over 15 minutes and they did not bring me back a new plate. I wish I remember her name but oh well. I'm used to pretty decent service here but this was just a real bad experience. Overall the food is good though as long as you avoid the hair!
(2)Aaron W.
My friend and I got to Kuru Kuru a bit before 6 p.m. on a Saturday night. Yup, that means it's waiting list time. Luckily, we only waited 15 minutes and then went to town on some food. First, an ahi poke bowl ($5.95). A hefty scoop (or two) of rice with a heaping pile of ahi poke. That sesame oil lifted the fresh, cubed ahi real well here. Nice presentation (and extra flavor) with the green onions. Big fan of this dish! Next, a little snack. A plate of Jin Deui ($2.10): sesame seed balls with sweet black bean paste in them. Nice and soft when biting into them, yet firm enough to hold all the good stuff inside. Properly made and delicious. Oh...what was that I saw? Butterfish? A small, whole butterfish waiting for me to devour? Yes, please! A sweet-savory taste to this...buttery fish (duh), perhaps miso was used? Not much meat on this guy, but heck man, it looked cool just to take the plate off the conveyor belt, eat the fish, then take a picture of the bones. By the time we finished (over half an hour later), the wait list was longer than when we first arrived; people were waiting outside because there were no more seats inside. Sounds normal to me. Basically, go to Kuru Kuru, but avoid the usual lunch or dinner times if you want to get in and get out fast (or just place a takeout order).
(4)Kenson K.
There are some pretty original sushi things served here. I had tha kalbi sushi, which is pretty much a kalbi plate lunch made into bite size pieces. Only thing was missing was the mac salad on the side. Their rolls are ok, but I think they would make more money if they gave a little bit more rice. This place is very filling with the amount of rice they give. I ordered the rainbow and caterpillar roll. Also an order of karaage, but I thought it was just ok. I tend to like my karaage with some spicy kick to it. My favorite would have to be the poke bowl. Its a rice bowl and they just pile on poke and spicy tuna all over the top. Very good. I think if I just had 2 orders of that I would have been satisfied.
(3)Marisa A.
OMG...this is our replacement for Genki's. We went there on a Saturday and it wasn't too busy. We didn't even have to wait long for a booth. When we sat down, we looked at the menu and I thought it seemed similar to Genki's but when I picked up some potato salad from the revolving belt, there was nothing similar to Genki's at all. I love this place. We also got some ahi poke sushi...omg...so soft and tender. Karaage chicken. Nuff said...lol. Now if you're going to compare this place to authentic sushi bars....DON'T. Of course there is no comparison...but if you compare it to other sushi restaurants like Genki...then go ahead. Because KuruKuru will win everytime. The staff's really friendly, although at times not the most attentive. We will def. go back again. All I keep thinking about is that potato salad. Great for family and kids, dates, friends hanging out.
(5)Mandy Q.
I have been to Japan and this is by far my fav sushi place to eat at. The staff is friendly and you can't beat the fresh hot tea. Granted waiting for a spot to sit down and eat at is a pain, but once your are seated let the sushi feast begin. Might I suggest ordering things off the menu. Enjoyable and family friendly. Will be eating there again.
(5)Jean P.
Talk about a turnaround! I ate here with my hubby to be and he was so happy as was I. The service was impeccable and the sushi was reasonably priced and pretty yummy. The saba nigiri was not my fave but everything else was fabulous. I wish there was more fresh food on the conveyor belt but we were there in the afternoon on a Sunday so I wouldn't expect a conveyor belt full of food. Still delish though!
(5)Joj o.
I ate here for the first time a few nights ago. The wait was pretty long for only two people, but it was worth it. The sushi is priced comparably to Genki. Quality the same or better. I really only get spicy ahi at both places, and I enjoyed the spicy ahi plates and the bowl. Ridiculous size for the price ($6.25 I think). PROTIP: Get a dish, then order the spicy ahi donburi. Then when it comes, scrape the fish onto the empty plate from the dish you just consumed, and load onto rice as needed. I also ordered the green bean sushi, and corn mayo. I like corn mayo. Kuru Kuru has good corn mayo. They had a decent selection (not as large as Genki), but some unique dishes and combos that I hadn't seen before. My friend is Japanese and has never let me down when it comes to Japanese food recco's. He brought me here and I really enjoyed it. Genki/Kuru/conveyor belt sushi is not supposed to be top quality, but they all offer fresh, good quality, decent portion sizes and reasonable prices. $10-20 will feed you well here. Unlike some of the other reviews, I thought the service was decent. Not better/worse than Genki. My water got refilled 3 times during my visit, and I got 2 refills of green tea. Flagging down a server was kind of a chore (even though the place was swarming with them). Ordering from the server resulted in a 5-10min wait for our food, same as Genki. I will be back to Kuru Kuru Sushi.
(4)Lindsay J.
Kuru Kuru definitely satisfies my sushi appetite. This is where my husband and I come to consume massive amounts of sushi and deep fried goodies. The service is friendly and the food is always consistently good. The quality of the fish is very fresh, and you can taste it. Sorry Genki, but you just don't have what it takes to cut it. Sad to say, I have left you for Kuru Kuru. I love getting the salmon, hamachi, and ahi nigiri... very yum. I am a huge fan of the kabocha tempura... for those of you who haven't tried it, you are missing out. I love their green bean tempura too... deceivingly healthy yet not, lol. I didn't see salmon skin on their menu, but decided to try to order it anyway. They do serve it, and it comes as a generous portion, and tastes just as good as it smells... If you're lucky, there's usually some salmon meat still attached. Extra yum. This is another must-try... My hubby is a fan of their spicy ahi nigiri, spicy ahi maki, and caterpillar and dragon roll. I swear he over-orders just to take some home... Overall, I love this place. Try to come during their off peak times, like after lunch or right before the dinner rush. If you do get here during the rush, write your name down on their list and LISTEN carefully for them to call your name. I've seen them quickly call a name 3 times to which they move on to the next name, and you end up missing out. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on this.
(4)Ka'ili H.
Convenience. Inside Kahala mall next to the theater. That's one of the reasons my boyfriend and I stopped by this place for lunch. We were in the area and I knew this little sushi place opened up. The wait was 20 minutes, but went by pretty quickly. I'm somewhat of a selective sushi eater, not because I'm a sushi snob and only think certain restaurants have better tasting and at times more expensive sushi, i just barely eat any rice. When rice is available I usually pass it by and opt for my veggies. With Sushi, I look for lots of fish-- poke, sashimi, things like that. Anyways, we came here for lunch and were pleasantly surprised. My BF loves sushi so I hoped that this place did the trick for him, his hungry stomach, and his tastebuds. I had a couple of plates of the poke sushi, salmon sushi--where it's sashimi like, and we ordered a dragon roll. Our entire bill came out to $16.75. Not too shabby for conveyor belt sushi and two hungry foodies. The service here was spot on. Our waters were filled in a timely manner and they also came around asking if we wanted to order anything from the menu. They were friendly and nice. I now understand why Jayson N. is such a fan of this place! They really do made delicious sushi. =) Yelp 365 Challenge: 65/ 365
(4)Austin T.
YUM
(4)Nick M.
Simply put, Kuru Kuru blows Genki Sushi out of the water. The prices are about comparable, but the quality of sushi you get at Kuru is a lot higher--the fish is fresher and replaced more often, the servers frequently take your order, and they still have a wide variety of interesting sushi types to try. A quick, reliable, and decent eat.
(3)Kobe O.
Mixed poke and spicy tuna bowl is the bomb. So much food for under $6. Only wish the spicy tuna had the sweet, unagi/gochujang sauce that Genki puts on their spicy tuna bowls. The deep fried foods don't taste too greasy, the kabocha is a winner. The food is fresh and service is great. Place is clean and turns over quick, so you never have to wait too long for a booth or counter space. They also take special care to watch out for the young children/toddler customers. Eat there almost once a week, nuff said...........
(4)Jenn T.
After hearing people rave about this place, I decided to come check it out with one of my out-of-town guests. I was very skeptical especially since I'm not a super huge fan of Genki sushi or conveyer belt sushi in general. It almost baffles me why people would wait to eat sushi that's been sitting out for god knows how long...talk about food poising waiting to happen! But we came here because my friend wanted cheap but good sushi. This place was definitely that! When we got here around 530p, it wasn't too crowded, and we were able to get seats right away. I ate a couple pieces off the belt, spicy tuna, ebi. They were fairly good--rice wasn't hard and fish was pretty fresh! I ordered more pieces from the menu, so they were definitely fresh. I got the dragon roll, which was such a steal for $6! I was expecting like 4 pieces, but they gave me the whole roll w/ 8 pieces! The chawan mushi was also delicious for like $1.40. All in all, this place is definitely a good deal. It may not be the best quality sushi around the island, but it's definitely worth the price! It definitely beats genki any day, and has renewed my faith in conveyer belt sushi!
(4)Lia F.
Kuru Kuru is my favorite kaiten-zushi place in Hawaii. They have a huge selection of both traditional and "new wave" sushi and reasonable prices. Be warned though, it gets super crowded and it's not uncommon to have to wait for a seat. If you're in a rush I suggest calling ahead and doing take out. I didn't give it 5 stars because the wait is sometimes a drag and sometimes the fish is a little smelly. My favorites include hamachi and salmon nigiri which always have nice thick cuts of fish and usually are pretty fresh (no smell). I've noticed that their cuts of fish are much nicer than at the Genki I normally go to. Don't skip out on the non-sushi items, you'll be sorry! The tempura pumpkin is delicious and a great deal at $1.55 an order. Be sure to order it from your server so you get it hot and freshly fried. They recently revamped their menu with some new items, one of them being age mochi. I love it. It's basically mochi lightly fried with the tendon sauce. So addicting! it's kind of like a soft arare. A specialty of theirs is their poke don available in both regular ahi poke and spicy ahi poke or even a combination of both. I prefer the regular ahi poke but the spicy ahi is super popular (too spicy for me). Overall KuruKuru is a small step up from Genki when it comes to quality and selection but also more affordable. If you don't mind waiting, this is a great place to come with friends or family.
(4)Jeri H.
Even though sometimes rarely we have to wait for a booth, the staff is always so nice and always coming by to check on you. Even the guy who makes the sushi even ask if we are doing okay. I like this place because it is convenient after shopping at Kahala Mall.
(5)Aileen C.
Came around 830 and still had to wait. Good sign I guess. Lol The sushi was not bad, but the spicy tuna bowl was not as good as genki in ala moana. Their sushi seemed pretty fresh cause the manager would take off the sushi that looked like they were soaking in the sauce and riding th e boats for 30 mins or more.
(3)Kayla R.
Excellent service, one of the better conveyor belt sushi spots. Just the only thing is, the wait. Oh my gosh. The wait is HORRIBLE, seriously any time of the day I always find myself waiting minimum of 30 min. And I've tried going during those "awkward eating times" but there is always a long list of names, but that is seriously my only "turn off" towards this place. Everything else is grrrreat~
(5)Annie K.
So I've been hearing about Kuru Kuru Sushi for a REAL long time. Never tried it because there's always a line at the Pearl Kai location. When I found out it was opening up in Kahala. I thought to myself, "YES! Finally. I don't have to drive far and wait in a line." I was hoping that it would be open late May so I could take my sister. There was a rumor saying it was going to open in May. I almost believe it. :( First time experience....amazing. Kuru Kuru had sooo many selections. They are not greedy with their portion. The prices are sooo much more better than Genki. If I need to wait 30 minutes in line, I would wait. Servers are always asking if we're doing okay and if we needed to order anything. Definitely coming back.
(4)Trish P.
just as good as the Pearl Kai location, with less wait..... don't mis-read that, i said LESS wait - i did not say, no wait. you're definately going to have to wait to get a seat here, but it is not nearly as long as the Pearl Kai location. winner sushi = kalbi, tendon shrimp (WITH THE HEADS! yay), tempura mushrooms, ika geso loser sushi = lobster balls (its like fried fishcake - whoppie doo....) plus, they have fresh fruit, HUGE BOWLS, larger pieces of fish, and quick attentive service.
(5)Kristine T.
This is probably my current casual sushi favorite restaurant. Good, consistent, quality sushi. The size of the nigiri is reasonable, too. Nothing fancy here, but this is where I like to go when I'm hungry for nigiri.
(3)Jonathan L.
Wow we had to wait an hour before we could eat but it was totally worth it. Before that I tried coming three times but failed all the those times because they were too busy. The food looks so fresh and the portions were so huge. Way way better than genki. Once I came here I'm not going back. Kuru kuru all the way :p The plates have a artsy design and the colors are better than genki. They also have a giant TV where they teach you how to make sushi rice. Which is petty cool. Their belts food is really fresh and they even offer fruits!!! When you first sit down they have water and tea already prepared for you. They also have soy sauce and ton katsu sauce in addition to the pink Ginger. They now replaced the regular bowls(kinda like a poke bowl) with mini bowls but it is still super big. They give you a lot of tuna and not as much rice which is really good ratio.The food we ordered came out pretty fast except for the fried stuff which took longer to cook. The only bad thing I can say about this place is that I feel cramped when I eat because the restaurant is so small. Only at the Booth will you not feel squashed but probably it would take longer to obtain. Their service is not that good though. We had to keep call them to order our food and refill our teas. We also felt rushed to leave. I guess because they are always busy and trying to get the customers in and out. Overall good and cheap. Service was meh. But I will def be back kuru kuru
(4)Jade P.
After thoroughly reading all reviews here word for word and recommendation from my coworker, bf and I decided to go here tonight for dinner. We came early and we're seated right away. However, when we walked in, we did not get a greeting like at Genki. We sat down and water and tea awaits. We ordered the following: Spicy tun don Pumpkin tempura Shrimp ball....wasn't sure what it was on the belt. For almost $7, spicy tuna was ok although big portion. I liked pumpkin tempura. We ordered something else too but forgot. Overall, I like Genki better and will not drive out to Kahala for Kuru.
(3)Terry K.
First and foremost, remember to sign in!!! Yelper Lori I. pointed that out; good thing otherwise, Id' go in and grab a seat unbeknown to me their hostess would seat you.. Prices $1.75 to $5.95 per plate. They have donburi, take out platters, miso soup and the list goes on. If you have to have something fried, I recommend the tempura pumpkin over the tempura mushroom. Oh, and ask them to make it for you rather than to take one off the belt. Will go back next time to try the donburi and temaki Parking is always a problem at the Kahala Mall. I recommend parking on the rooftop by the theaters; walk down and Kuru Kuru is at the base of the stairs.
(4)Andie H.
So, at least once a week after the gym, I come here for a take out order of the mix don and a order of hamachi. That's just something I gotta do weekly. Hahaha. I'm so glad that they opened at Kahala Mall, because I don't have to drive to Pearlridge!! Anyhoo, I ALWAYS take out because on most days the wait is so long, and I only eat 2 things off the menu. I try to call ahead, but sometimes they are so busy no one picks up. But if you get through, winnahs, because I'll just drop in, pay, and laugh to myself out the door at all the people starving outside. WOOHOO!! I know its been a while, but sometimes I still miss how big the dons used to be once upon a time, such a good deal for the price. But my stomach has adjusted, and now the don size is perfect for lunch with my hamachi. The spicy ahi is great, and the hamachi is heaven. The mix don is a great combo for my ADHD tongue. I want some now... My favorite sushi-go-arounds. Genki had seriously gone downhill for me when I first was introduced to Kuru Kuru. Seriously. I got sick the last time I was there (years ago). Now I'm Genki-free, and will continue to be as long as Kuru Kuru is around.
(4)Shuji K.
2 1/2 stars to be more accuate. First of all, I'd like to mention that their donburi bowls are excellent. Probably the best thing on the menu. And probably the only thing I would order again...if i ever come here again. But strangely enough I though their hotdog roll was good. I bought it for my friend from japan since hot dog and sushi just doesn't seem so sensible. But really, it was just a smaller, cut-in-half hot dog musubi. THe wait wasn't that unbearable and the service was okay. Took them kind of a long time to realize i wanted my check. I was lying down on the seat for god sakes...anyways.... I don't really care for the fancy stuff like caterpillar rolls or whatever people put together as such these days. I like the more traditional hamachi, egg, ahi, and tako nigiri. So i was dissapointed that the basics were not "tasty". And by tasty i mean...you can't serve inari sushi without filling the whole thing all the way. Just because Inari shares the name with the fox spirit doesn't mean you can cheat me out of my well deserved rice. if you like the non-traditional stuff--poke filled type of things or fried something then you'll like it here. But then again...for the price I paid I might as well have gone to Doraku or Rock N' Roll Sushi...those places have the best type of "new age" sushi...
(2)Beau B.
From 5 stars to 3 stars. This place (Kahala, Kuru Kuru Sushi) used to be Awesome when they first opened. big portions, great fresh fish, but then i noticed that the food was getting smaller. they took the Donburi bowls off the menu and replaced them with smaller bowls for two dollars less and they don't add the extra ingredients they used to. i just went last week and all the servings are even smaller, they are cutting back way too much on the food with the same prices. i used to go 2 to 3 times a week from when they opened. I asked why the food portions are smaller than before, the waitress said it was a decision by management. i really would not mind paying a little more for the food when it was bigger, but now it's just ridiculous of how much smaller the food is now. and it hasn't been that long from when they opened. the good thing is that the fish is still fresh. It was great while it lasted, now i gotta drive all the way to Pearl Kai for the real Kuru Kuru Sushi. It might depend on Who's working. but it has been like this the last two times in a row.
(3)Ally W.
Kuru Kuru Sushi at the Kahala Mall is a neat place to visit - sushi plates floats in front of you on a conveyor belt. Pick the dishes you want and just start eating. 1) seating: when you arrive, place your name on the sign-in sheet, seating is based on your party size, so don't expect seating to be in order of the wait list 2) plates: your bill is based on the number of plates eaten, just watch the stack in front of you pile up, if you don't see an item - just order it, it might be faster 3) pricing: yellow plate @ $1.45 / green plate @ $2.10 / red plate @ $2.75 / white plate @ $4.75 Service can be rather slow - our group was there on a Saturday afternoon (@ 3pm) and there was a 35 min wait. The food selection was rather slim, so we ended up ordering a few dishes. Try the spam sushi....pan seared spam on top of rice, drizzle with sweet soy sauce - very Hawaiian. Overall, a fun experience.
(3)Mari S.
Tonight was my first time eating at Kuru Kuru Sushi. Since they finally opened a location conveniently at Kahala Mall, my girlfriends & I decided to give it a try. I had pretty high expectations for Kuru Kuru Sushi. From all the rave I've heard about their Pearl City location, I was expecting to have a great meal at their new Kahala restaurant. Well, it wasn't quite all I expected it to be, but that's okay because it wasn't bad either. My overall experience is summed up at about a 3 1/2 tops. Like previous Yelpers have mentioned, the wait here is pretty long. We waited for over 30 minutes and we came later in the evening, too. But I have to say, at least the wait is in a mall, versus standing outside in the heat or rain! The sushi selection here is pretty good. And I feel that the sushi quality tops that of Genki, for sure. I also like that they have some different types of dishes which I haven't seen elsewhere. I enjoyed the ikura temaki I ordered. Service here is average. It could use improvement. I am guessing that the majority of the waitstaff are pretty new and still getting slammed by the tons of customers who are coming to try this new location. However, the waitstaff could be a little more attentive to the orders, as one of the waitresses forgot two of the dishes my friend ordered. I'd recommend trying Kuru Kuru if you haven't yet. However, you may want to wait until the craziness dies down a bit, unless you come at a really good time or don't mind waiting for awhile. While I wasn't extremely impressed or "WOWed", it is a new place to try in Kahala Mall and a change from the Genki Sushi norm.
(3)Kelly M.
Beats the heck out of Genki. 4 words of advice - order off the menu. Yes they have the conveyor belt, yes they have a menu if you don't see what you want. But they also have stuff that isn't on the menu. Ask.
(4)Jay P.
Since when did the poke bowls get so SMALL?! When I first came here a few years ago, one spicy tuna bowl was large enough to fill me up... Immediately upon walking in, a friend wrote down her name for a group of seven. After waiting for about ten minutes, my friend's name was called out and we were seated at a booth. With no time to spare and our urging need to devour everything edible in front of us, we ordered away! The guy working inside the revolving belt would come and give us our sushi albeit he didn't bother to tell us what he was giving us and gave me a dirty look when I took my time passing out the five plates he prepared. Hello?! Customer service please? Don't expect customers to hold five plates in two hands at such an awkward angle...did I look like I wanted fish on my clothes? The other workers who were filling up our waters and teas were friendly and kept our refreshments full at all times. One worker seemed kind of sassy and looked like she didn't want to be there, but she only came by once to ask if we wanted to order. I basically wanted to come to Kuru Kuru for a spicy ahi and spicy tuna fix. I got what I wanted, but it would have been nice if all of the workers looked like they enjoyed their jobs.
(3)Nick T.
It's essentially conveyor belt sushi located in a shopping mall near the movie theater where the prices are pretty reasonable. Like most conveyor belt places, you can just grab whatever comes past you & the plates are color coordinated, so you're charged accordingly (prices range from $1.55 to up to $6ish?). You can also order things that you can't find coming past you & they'll make it fresh (highly recommended for "high demand" items such as the spicy tuna). From the items I ate, the tuna themed ones were typically good (tuna nigiri, ahi tuna poke, spicy tuna), some didn't look quite so fresh & I just avoided those. Service was good as they came by pretty often to make sure our drinks were filled. Overall a decent place, not the greatest sushi you'll ever eat, but it's reasonably priced & I didn't get sick, so that's a plus in my book.
(3)Charmaine K.
I'm home for 2 weeks on vacation, and usually Genki is a must stop, but this time around, I'm giving Kuru Kuru a try since a lot of my friends seem to like it. And now I know why. Sorry Genki, I'm jumping ship! Pricing are comparable, but the portions, man, the portions. The fish pieces were HUGE on top of the rice! I also had two plates of spicy tuna, they were SO yummy. Huge chunks of fish, definitely good fish/rice ration. We had to wait a little bit, but hey, so does anywhere else decent at Hawaii. At least it's in an A/C mall instead of out on the street or in the sun. Servers were pretty nice and attentive. I'm definitely glad I gave this place a try. I'm even hoping I'll have time to go back again before I leave the island!
(4)Eric L.
This place is delicious and they have a ton of fresh sushi going around on the belt. You will very rarely need to order something because it'll be right in front of you. Only unfortunate part of the restaurant is the 'sign in to get a table' procedure you go through just to sit down, as well as the bright lighting that makes you feel like you're in a high school cafeteria. But, the food is great, so, deal with it.
(4)Shay F.
FINALLY had the chance to check this place out. Mom had the munchies yesterday so we decided to pop into this place since it's new, and we haven't gone yet. Whenever I go to these kaitenzushi places (conveyer belt sushi places), I tend to NOT eat the sushi, but all the other stuff instead. So I got the chawanmushi, edamame, and miso soup. The chawanmushi at Genki Sushi is way better. This one was oily and bland. Ew. But the miso soup wasn't bad. I didn't know they had udon! Only after we were done, did we see our neighbors ordering udon. Apparently they do, but the sign card/tent for the additional udon availability menu wasn't in front of us, so we didn't know. Boo. Next time! Yelp 365 Challenge #128/365
(3)Louise E.
When I heard that there was a Kuru Kuru closer to my place, I was SO excited! Upon coming in, though, not so much. My boyfriend and I grab lunch here around 3:30 on a Tuesday afternoon. Walking in I could see that there was a handful amount of customers but one side of the conveyer belt was completely vacant. I assumed that we would be seated quickly then. Still, I wrote down our names on the provided sign-in sheet. About three of the employees looked our way including a guy who made eye-contact with me and smiled. Still no seat. It wasn't until after a good 10 minutes or so of just standing around were we able to get to the counter. Seriously? NO ONE was there. No dishes or mess was there to be cleaned up. Not only that, two of the employees were just lounging around on their cellphones. There was barely any sushi dishes out on the belt. So we had to order some the basics. The ones on the belt probably were there for a while, too. The rice was kind of stale-ish and some of the fish and shrimp tasted weird. I didn't like their somen salad either. One good thing I did like was that hot green tea was provided with water. Being cheaper than Genki Sushi, I guess we got our money's worth. "/
(2)Debbie L.
Although I haven't been to its original location, my first experience here was definitely great. I would choose this place over genki any day! Their portions are pretty generous and the prices aren't too bad either. Their donburis and tempura mushrooms are a must have! They also have a large variety of food to choose from on the menu. I'd say the only down side of this place is the wait. When we came, we had to wait 30-45 minutes for two people. Overall, the food quality of kuru kuru exceeds all the other sushi bars, especially for the price you're paying.
(4)EG F.
Hubby and I walk past Kuru Kuru (Aiea) location all the time and it's always packed but we never got a chance to try until one of the uncles decided to take us here for lunch. Now I know why it's always packed! The food here is not the best I've had but it's more of a novelty where you sit and there is a conveyor belt that runs past you with assorted sushi, tempura, fruits, dessert. Plates are color coded for pricing but you can always order off the menu instead of waiting for it to "appear" on the belt. Service was great, the girls always checked on our water, tea and to see if we want to order anything. Tip : Sign your name on the clipboard and be here early if you want a booth :)
(4)Stephen R.
Really good food. Only gave them a low rating because they allow parties of two people to sit in booths (they only have 5 booths). These should be reserved for bigger parties, 4 or more as there is plenty of counter space unless there is no one else on line.
(3)Edmund L.
I gotta say, this place is a decent combination of price and quality. The sushi isn't the best, but it is pretty good. This isn't some top notch sushi place so don't expect that. It is very good for what it is. The menu has a large variety of nigiri, dishes, handrolls, and other stuff I may have forgotten. Some things are a ripoff like the watermelon and pineapples. They are on red plates, like I would pay $4 for a small portion of that. Some of my favorites they have are the saba and the hamachi The wait can get long sometimes on the weekends and Friday nights. The workers are usually very helpful
(4)Ed L.
Finally after seeing the reviews of Yelp elite Emi H for this location and seeing the transition from Carl's Jr to Kuru Kuru in the last year, this had better been worth it. I was pleasantly surprised to see it really busy. I guess its because they're relatively new and everyone was clamoring to get inside. After waiting for at least 45 minutes (peak time on a Friday night), my friends and I finally got in and got seated. Maybe its me, but I felt that the food options were limited? Yeah. You figured it was a business refurbished from a fast food joint, there has to have some short comings. The service was average, but could be improved though. Prices are average for what japanese food and sushi is in Hawaii. Had a few of the staple sushi with wasabi. Can't say anything good about that either. I can say that this place is better than Genki Sushi, service and ambiance. Unfortunately, I felt rushed when they started to kinda hurry us up. They looked at me like I was almost done before I was ready for another round, and they stuck me with the check. O_o I am hoping that it was the time of day / week that it was crazy busy for them. I do agree that the location is small, but they can do better with better service and food selection.
(2)Lynvi S.
I'm not a big fan of conveyor belt sushi. I'm not a sushi snob and I don't have a problem with cheap sushi, but I do have a problem with children touching/grabbing the sushi that passes by and their irresponsible parents that just put the dish of mutilated/contaminated sushi back on the conveyor belt for the next unsuspecting customer. Gross. Then again, I've seen adults do the same thing. Luckily, I didn't witness any sticky little hands messing with the sushi at Kuru Kuru Sushi in Kahala Mall. GOOD: Scallop Mayo - Yum! Then again, it's hard to mess this up. Croquette - I couldn't tell if they were the frozen ones, but they were good. Salmon - I don't know why our order had a dollop of mayo and onions on it, but it was huge and tasty. Spicy Salmon - This was my favorite dish of the night with just enough onions and spice. Coffee Jello - It wasn't the best coffee jello, but it was cheap. JUST OKAY: Tuna Corn - Other reviewers liked this one a lot, but the tuna was a bit bland. Maybe I just got a junk one. Pumpkin Tenpura - On the greasy side. Eh. Spicy Ahi Maki Spicy Salmon Maki Dynamite Geso PASS: Nasuzuke - It made my mouth and tongue turn purple, and it didn't taste very good. Hamachi Kama - Ack, it was DEEP FRIED!!! I should have asked how it was prepared before ordering. Not bad, but disappointing. Overall, I like Kuru Kuru Sushi. The location is convenient, service is good, and the prices are reasonable. We had to wait about 30 minutes for our seats, but that's probably expected at a new place in Kahala Mall around 6:00 p.m. As long as my fellow customers refrain from touching every single dish that goes by, I'll be back. I want to try the Mix Donburi next time!
(4)Joy Celeste P.
Whats with their inadequate service? I've never seen so little effort in service, no hello, no we'll be with you shortly... I've purposely set myself in the front & 3 and 4 waitresses had no sense of attention. Don't bother coming here, if they can't even recognize you as a customer how can you expect anyone to spend their money here? I didn't want to give it any star but I am forced to.
(1)Paul C.
Went there with some friends for lunch today. We arrived at the best before the lunch rush showed. We got a booth that comfortably fitted all 4 of us. Server was prompt with getting our orders. I had the baked mussels , philly maki roll, and couple of nigiris ( ahi, hamachi, and salmon) They all tasted great. Server was cool about splitting our checks for us. It was a great experience at Kuru Kuru. A+
(5)Sherylynn S.
This is better than Genki Restaurant in overall. Call me crazy, I am a big fan of Crab Mayo. I know the best crab mayo in some place but neither Genki or Kuru Kuru have any of that. But if I have to choose the best crab mayo out of those two, I'd say Genki... The crab mayo here have way too much mayo and less crab. However, everything else are good. The service there are not so bad. Not their fault at all that the place are too crowded and I can see they're trying their best even people complained about long waiting. This place is not too small but the customers tend to take their time and not stepping out immediately while others were waiting impatiently. I have a very good taste, believe me... The wasabi is not that good. It is not hot enough and it doesn't burn my nose like the real wasabi would. Just saying ;)
(3)Yuree N.
WOOHOOOOO Kuru Kuru is officially open in Kahala Mall! It's on the movie theater side of the mall, where Carls Jr used to be. I came here on their grand opening day and there wasn't a line or wait at 3:30. But I'm sure it'll get busier here once people find out they're open. For those of you who have never been to their original Pearl City location, prepare to have your kaiten-style sushi restaurant cherry popped (genki sushi doesn't count). Like Genki, this is a conveyer belt style restaurant with color-coded plates that circulate around the restaurant. This is by far the best kaiten (conveyer belt) sushi restaurant on the island in my opinion (compared to G sushi and genki sushi). The slices of fish they give you are FAT and you're definitely getting your money's worth here. Now I won't go as far as saying this is the best sushi on the island, but I do think it's the best for this type of restaurant and for what you're paying. If you love spicy ahi dons, you MUST get the one here. I'd recommend splitting it with someone so you have stomach space for the other sushi (especially the hamachi). In comparison to their original location, this venue seems a little smaller although I'm not completely sure of this. There are a good number of bar seats and I think 5-6 group tables. Like their original place, you'll probably have to wait a little while for the larger tables if you're with a big group once this place gets busy. The quality and quantity of the food seems the exact same. The servers were very attentive and quick to fill your orders. Today was only day 1, but so far so good.
(5)Haein P.
I always thought Kuru Kuru trumped Genki any day, but now with this more convenient Kahala location, it blows Genki out of the water competelely! Their prices are about the same if not cheaper than Genki and their cuts of fish are fresher as well as bigger. The donburis are a MUST, and beware, they are HUGE - seriously GINORMOUS and just shy of $8! Such a deal. I love the pumpkin tempura, which comes with 5 pieces only for $1.50. AMAZING! Plus, their service is attentive and friendly, which only reconfirms and encourages my constant/daily urge to go there! It's not fancy-shmancy high-class sushi, but it's probably the best chain sushi store on the island!
(5)Ty T.
Kuru Kuru! Much better than Genki in my opinion. The food taste good and you can get a good meal in for 2 under 30 bucks easy. The mix don was very good as well as the fried ika and the sushi is decent. Good variety on menu and don't forget to check out the specials of the day.
(4)Justin C.
Always a good place to eat. Sometimes its a long wait, but its well worth it! I recommend the half and half. Its so delicious.
(4)Johnny C.
that place only had a few items on the conveyer belt. the place was packed. I wasn't impressed. my bill came out to 20$ FOR 5 PLATES.....Meh
(2)Karin W.
Slow to greet but everything from service to food was great after we were seated. Nori was crispy, ingredients were fresh and tempura was not soggy. Loved the ahi katsu special, which was perfectly cooked (pink center).
(4)Mark M.
You might find it hard to believe that I have never eaten at any Kuru Kuru Sushi before. You also might find it hard to believe that after last night, I never will again. After hearing so many good thing about Kuru Kuru and being a somewhat avid sushi fanatic, I had to try it. I heard everything about Kuru is way better than Genki or other kaiten style sushi places. After what my girlfriend and I experienced last night I have to admit that I am not impressed at all and we decided that we would be fine if we never walked through those doors again. I heard a lot about the portion sizes at Kuru. I don't get it. The plates are a little higher in price and the sizes are not that much bigger. In fact the spicy ahi they were serving last night aren't as stacked as the ones from Genki. Neither was the tamago. Or the spam. They were even serving what I called a 'mini' spicy ahi roll on a red plate. It looked like some reject from the kitchen and it kept going around and around on the belt because it was so damn tiny. The quality here isn't consistent either. The first spicy ahi I had was spicy! The next two were not. All I tasted was cold fish. The crab mayo should be called mayo with a bit of crab because the damn thing was 90% mayo unlike Genki. The negitoro had no flavor. I found it odd that the best item I tried last night was the kalbi nigiri. It's odd because that item is on the cheapest plate. The service here isn't that great either. The sushi maker guy was too busy winking at staring at the female employees and the female employees were too busy talking to each other about boys or Harry Potter movies. They barely checked on us and when we asked for tea, it took them a while to come around to us. One of the girls there would even roll her eyes when she was helping people out. Hey, if you don't like your job go work somewhere else please. The saving grace here is that they have a lot of items that are different from other establishments. However, these are the expensive items that you have to order and if they don't come around to check on you that often, what good is that?
(2)Gaelen L.
Not the best sushi in town but def not the worst... Their selection was small but decent and the wait staff was very friendly and helpful... I never had an empty cup. It was a conveyor belt type restaurant so you could grab what you wanted as it came by.
(3)Kamil S.
The sushi was ok. Unfortunately everything took a very long time from being seated to getting a soy sauce plate and wasabi. The customer service could be improved and it would be helpful if the menue wouldn't be so confusing.
(3)Julie H.
Man... this place is no match for the Aiea location. It smelled funny and their kabocha tempura wasn't very good because the batter was too thick and not as sweet. I was pretty disappointed. I'll have to come again to see if maybe I came on an off day but I'm still a fan of Kuru Kuru... just not here.
(3)Emily T.
I'm so glad that Kuru Kuru Sushi in Kahala Mall is now open! I enjoy Kuru Kuru more than Genki, but the drive to Aiea, the not so great parking, and the long waits made me not visit Kuru Kuru as frequently as I'd like. But now that they are in Kahala Mall, an indoor mall with other great shops and lots of parking, I can't tell you how happy this makes me! Anyways, on to the review! They are located near the theaters where Carls Jr. used to be. I came here on a Sunday at 5:15 pm, put my name down on the list. There were 4 parties ahead of me, but I could see that they were already clearing tables, so I knew the wait wouldn't be long. A few minutes later, they seated the 3 parties, then 1 party was not there (tip: don't leave if you are near the top of the list, you will lose your place! They later returned, losing a few spots), so we were seated pretty quickly, I would say less than 5 minutes of waiting. We were fortunate to have a booth, which is nice to have, just a little more table space than the counter seats and not sitting so close to strangers. Water and hot tea was already on our table. We started grabbing stuff off the sushi belt, and we also ordered items off the menu that weren't on the belt. The staff constantly came by to fill water, tea, and take our orders. You really couldn't tell that this was only their second day open, service was terrific! Ok, on to the food! I do have my favorites, I always get the ingen nigiri (green bean tempura sushi), and spicy salmon nigiri. It does look like they added a few new items to the menu, but not too sure since I haven't been to the Aiea location in a while. Here was our order for 2 people: 6 Yellow Plates ($1.45) - 2 Tamago, 2 Ingen, 2 Kalbi 1 Green Plate ($2.10) - Spicy Salmon 3 Red Plates ($2.75) - Oyster Fry, Spicy Salmon Maki, Shrimp Fry Total = $19.95 before tip In and out of there in less than 1/2 an hour. Fast, great service, great food (if you find the ones you like)! Hopefully next time I'll get to try their Mix Don, it looks really good! I'll be back for sure!
(5)Elizabeth H.
Kuru Kuru sushi is by far my favorite 'fast food' sushi joint to visit. While, I don' t think their sushi is amazingly better than places such as Genki or Sushisan, they do have two things going for them. 1. Amazing kabocha tempura. They cut the kabocha thinly before frying it and then cover it with a teriyaki sauce. It is addictive and amazing. When eating this dish, order it fresh from the waitress (don't pull it off of the belt). I had pulled it off the belt once, and it was a little soggy. 2. The mixed donburi is a great deal. I believe it is a little under $9.00 but it is literally a mountain of poke/spicy tuna. When going to other sushi places, my boyfriend can usually rack up a decent size bill pulling different plates. When he orders the mixed donburi it is usually the only thing he eats at kuru kuru, because it is so filling. Two things that bothered me about kuru kuru: 1. I had sat right next to the sushi rice machine, which had a ticket (receipt?) dispenser next to the belt. This machine kind of hangs a little over the belt, and I watched for 30 minutes as every large food (i.e., croquettes, melons, calamari, etc) rubbed against the machine. This really grossed me out. I just made sure I ordered all of my food and didn't pull anything off of the belt. 2. The smell. Kuru kuru has a really fishy smell in their dining area. My nose/stomach is very sensitive, and it is sometimes nauseating for me to be in there. While these two things can be bad, I don't find them to be deal breakers. I would definitely go back. Especially for the kabocha tempura! yum!
(3)Owen J.
In the past I used to love this place, I've been here numerous times. Food was delicious and affordable, but as of lately I think the expendable customers made service go down. Everyone was so hyped about this place as soon as it opened, the immense numbers of customer have made them arrogant about customer service. QUALITY OF DONBURIS: At first the normal sized donburis were shrunken and made cheaper. Then the quality of the ahi went down along with the quantity of ahi given in the donburis. The donburi consist of 90% rice and 10% ahi, what is going on. Why don't I just order me a bag of rice? The only thing that kept me around were the donburis and now I don't even want to come here anymore because of how mediocre this place is getting. SEATING: When sitting in the counter seats, I don't like how I am paying to feel like a sardine cramped amongst other people. They can touch me and I can touch them, there is no personal space. Why is management trying to cut cost by allowing so many people to sit along the counters. I do not want to be sitting on someone's lap. SERVICE: The waitress' here are also very rude. They congregate in the corners and talk amongst themselves from 15 or more minutes at a time. Is this what the boss pays yall to do? To gather around and chit chatter while working? I've had to wait anywhere from 5-10 minutes just to even put my order in. And I can't even flag down anyone, do you know why? Because they are all hiding in the back or crowded around some corner talking. This is very rude as I feel like I'm paying to be ignored. Maybe there are too many waitress' working in a shift, people should get their hours cut if they have so much spare time to gossip. If they do not want to work, they should not be working. Since the economy is going down, I'm sure there are many people out there willing to work courteously for customers. These same waitress' also forget to bring me food that I have ordered. They probably forgot my order in the 10 minutes they spent hiding inside the kitchen or ignoring me from afar. If I ordered something, I have the notion that the waiter will bring it to me so that I can eat it, not of me sitingt here until I decide to leave because I am tired of waiting. BOTTOMLINE: I prefer quality over quantity, but not having either makes me give this place 1 star. Management needs to up their game if they want to keep their patrons. I'm sure I'm not the only long time customer that came across these problems. The grade of food is deteriorating, generic ahi and stingier portions. The horrible cramped seating makes you a part of everyone's business. The waitress' are not doing their job properly, they care more about socializing than the customer's needs. I just want Kuru Kuru to see these problems and change them so that everyone can be treated as decent customers and enjoy great food.
(1)Estelle T.
I followed the crowd and the crowd lead me here. The spicy ahi don is still pretty huge! I can't down it all D: I personally prefer mashed up spicy ahi over cubed.. haha I love their mushroom tempura and the prices here are A LOT cheaper than Genki's! This place is great and all, but the wait is ridiculous. I usually just leave if the wait is longer than 5 minutes, and head down to Market City and get some sushi at G. Sushi.
(4)Alyssa H.
Right as I entered through the doors, there was a foul smell. Not the familiar smell of sushi rice, but a smell like very strong body odor. The menus were extremely dirty and bent. There was no wait & the staff is friendly (that may be the only reason for the one star they receive). We went around 2:30 in the afternoon, so maybe that is why there was nothing on the conveyor belt although there were quite a few customers. The food was one of the worst sushi experiences ever. We ordered several garlic ahi which we had to check up on after waiting over 15 minutes. (We had received the rest of our order & were only waiting for the garlic ahi) They then come to tell us that the "torch just broke", which was a good 20 minutes after we had ordered it. That's fine. They show videos on genuine Japanese sushi, giving false expectations. The food is nothing compared to REAL sushi. On top of everything, there are a lot of kids kicking and screaming while many guest tried to enjoy their food. Many guest gave irritated looks and stares to the parents of these children. This went on for some time and none of the employees stepped in to tell the parents that they need to shut their kids up. It was very obvious that everyone else was getting irritated, and I over heard one of the irritating kid's mothers say that people were staring, yet she did nothing to quiet her child. The music is not fit for a restaurant. It sounds like a bunch of club music for teens wanting to get high and bang each other. Overall, this was a very big disappointment. Food wasn't that good and neither was the environment. This place seems extremely dirty also. The Kozo Sushi outside of the mall, near McDs, would have been a better place to eat at.
(1)Dan F.
This restaurant is nicer and bigger than the Pearl City location. The portions are good and the instant sushi rice shaper maker machine looked cool. "Time to make some Spicy Ahi because everyone in Hawaii loves that crap that's filled with lots of disgusting mayonnaise, Sriracha, and tablespoon of sesame oil in each sushi. Let me just scoop it out of this plastic container I kept in the fridge and slapped it on top of the rice. I hate my job." The quality of the sushi was bad. At least I didn't have to wait long and deal with an angry Asian man.
(2)Florence K.
One of the best things about this restaurant is the service. The servers are often checking up on each table, ensuring the water and hot tea is completely filled, and always asking if we're okay. Another good thing is the pricing, of the donburis. It was pretty cheap for the amount the give in that bowl. I would definitely return just for the price of that. The sushi, and food, was okay, it wasn't anything spectacular, thus the three stars. But, I would come back, because I do believe that the pricing of some of the items is definitely worth it.
(3)Krysten I.
I am so glad the Kahala location finally opened!! The line is huge during meal hours and there are not very many seats......but if you go at obscure times like 2:30pm, its pretty empty. You can also always order to-go if the line is too long. To-go orders take 5-10 mins, even during the dinner rush.
(5)Kalei F.
I LOVE This place!! I seriously go to this place like 3-4 times a week!! I've tried many of the selections....I think this is hands down the best conveyor belt, "fast food style" sushi places around!! They are efficient and it's always crowded, but they keep it moving and are always very nice! I used to be addicted to the spicy ahi but the sushi chef suggested I try the spicy salmon.....holy moly!! SO addicted!! I LOVE the spicy salmon!! It's a perfect blend of great tasting fresh salmon with their heavenly spicy sauce that I need a fix of almost every day! I took several people over the weeks and made them try the spicy salmon vs. the spicy ahi and they have all converted!! They dream about the spicy salmon!! Glad I've created other addicts to this gloriously good food! I wouldn't suggest take out here....for some reason when I get the spicy salmon as a take out, it never tastes as fresh as when I eat there. The other things on the menu are good, but I'm biased now and pretty much only get this! Try it and let me know what you think!! Spicy salmon baby!
(5)Ethan C.
Easily my fav place to get sushi. I'm a baller on a budget and this place is great for the price. The sushi is very fresh and tasty. Basically the same thing as Genki but way better and cleaner. If you are a spicy tuna lover, it is the best here. Went late one night and they ran out of it and was suggested the spicy hamachi. I am totally hooked on it now. Instead of the spicy tuna, try the spicy hamachi. Try it and you will thank me later.
(5)Marichu Joy S.
Kuru Kuru Kahala will now be our go-to spot to satisfy our sushi craving. My bf and I weren't surprised that there was a wait. Sure enough it was definitely worth the wait. Like the PC restaurant the food is fresh and delicious, with a few new fresh fruit dishes on the menu. Great choice on location, since we live in Makiki. Since it is at the mall, you can browse stores as you wait till your name is called, and there is ample parking. The service was great, with the servers checking up on us every time they come around. It may have been a little too much since I had to refuse water and tea about 6 times. My favorite things to order: Hamachi, salmon mayo, ikura, salmon belly with sauce, chaiwan mushi, scallop mayo, and the strawberries and cream.
(5)Your M.
Of the two conveyor belt sushi chains on Oahu, this the better of the two. Quality is more consistent than genki, you get more food on certain plates ( spicy ahi don is TWICE the size of genkis ) and hot tea is free. You can also get things genki discontinued like shishamo. Only thing I don't like is the wait, it can be long.
(4)Eddie K.
Came here for Burger King and apparently the King is dead. Shows how long I've been on this side of the mall. After a 25 min wait, was seated and placed an order. Ahi poke, spicy tuna, hamachi, salmon nigiri sushi was good. Pieces of fish were so large the rice looked like a 90 lb man wearing a XXXL shirt.. Definitely better quality, quantity, and price compared to Genki, but of course Genki has been going down hill for years. If you are looking for inexpensive yet good sushi in Hawaii, this is the place for it.
(4)John N.
Rotary sushi restaurants seem to be the new "in" thing now. Pretty much like the ramen shops that were popping out of every nook and corner the past few years. Kuru Kuru at Kahala is among the newer sushi restaurants in town. It is located at the old Carl's Jr site next to the Kahala Theaters. Keep in mind, they just opened so lines are long, especially during peak dinner times. Our wait was about 30 minutes at 5pm on a Sunday. The great thing, like others have mentioned, is that you can peruse through the mall while you wait. Not that bad! Once seated, you will realize the rotary line is very simple. No hot water dispensers like Sushi San does. It's definitely a cost saving thing to implement a belt system with no hot water dispenser. Even $5 all you can eat sushi(which is decent fyi) in Hong Kong had hot water dispensers for your tea. I find this is a turnoff once you have been to ones with them. Hot tea is 'oh so goooooood' with sushi! Most of the wait help are running around filling up hot tea and water which leads to my gripe about service. You see, there is one circular line of sushi, a few tables, and rest are counter seats. There is one person in the front making sushi behind the rotary and there is also a kitchen in the back making sushi. Having one line(compared to a double line) leaves sushi that are not popular sit there for a while and it takes up room where other popular sushi could be. We were sitting near the kitchen where I would believe newer sushi come from and still had a hard time getting sushi that I like. Of course, you could order and they will make it for you, but you would have to flag down a waiter/waitress, which most of them are either seating people or filling up tea and water. What about the food, you ask? My sister claims Kuru Kuru's sushi rice is much better than Genki and Sushi San. I have to agree. Their rice is good. Their pieces of Salmon are fresh and not bad either. Rest of their sushi lack the taste that the other competitors seem to have. I would love them to bring island favorites like garlic mayo salmon. Overall, if you have a sushi fix and in the vicinity of the area, it's not a bad choice. The prices are VERY good compared to other rotaries but don't expect the quality to match the more expensive rotaries.
(3)Wendy R.
Sushi was decent, Service was good. Its was really busy. The rice was ok and the ingredients were pretty fresh the prices were on par with my expectation. If you can handle the crowd it's a great place to grab a quick bite. Overall it is in the realm of Genki and other fast food belt style sushi. Nothing spectacular. No matter what, if you want great sushi you need to head toward town.
(3)Travis D.
My sister and I shared the mixed fish bowl of spicy ahi, salmon, and I can't remember the last fish. These bowls are able to feed at least a couple people for only $7 or $8. The dragon roll wasn't too exciting. I could only see the unagi on it. Maybe the caterpillar roll would have been better. I also grabbed an order of chicken karaage off the line. Lucky for me, the chicken was still fresh and warm. Yummy. Our bill came out to about $20, which is very surprising. I was expecting it to be well over $30. The free hot tea is a nice touch.
(3)Kathleen B.
First IMPRESSION: Clean clean clean. I usually go to the Pearl Kai location, which is why I was very surprised of this Kahala Location, especially since it was my first time. The waiting time was about 10 minutes because there wasn't that much people. Food: Seafood tasted more fresh than the Pearl Kai location, I guess because Pearl Kai is more busy that they keep most of their food out longer so that can make the sushi (that's what I think). well anyways, sushi was best and fulfilling for my cousins especially after coming from KOKO HEAD TRAIL. Service: The employees wasn't as engaging to us until after. Once we got seated and about 5 minutes passed no one came to ask what we wanted, (there were the employees passing us every time, since we was right by their kitchen door). We waited and when I opened up my mouth and asked "MAY WE ORDER PLEASE" that is when we started recieving good service. Our water and tea cups got empty really quickly because we were very thirsty. Even though we was thirsty there was an employee coming by to fill up everytime and also to get our order if we wanted anything else. OVERALL: I had a good first time expierence. I love sushi and their prices are inexpensive. Forgot to mention, while eating there is a TV and it was showing how real sushi chefs make sushi without using any machines, but just by HAND. It was educational and interesting for my cousins and I. RECOMMEND: I definitely reccommend this place to eat, even their other location (but they are more busy). i just rated them 4 stars because the employee didn't want to call our party name "SPONGEBOB" :)
(4)Jonathan P.
Dear Kuru Kuru, Oh, where do I begin? You were great. You were more than great, you were wonderful. And we've had some really good times together! But how could you do this to me yelp.com/user_local_phot… ?!? Your mix donburi's yelp.com/biz_photos/84hO… use to be the pinnacle of my visit, the creme of the crop, the cherry on a sundae. You were also the first of my pictures to be a default picture! But what do I have to look forward to now? A mini single topping don for $5.95...You didn't just hurt me, but you hurt my hungry stomach as well! I thought we were going good...I was always there for you. And I was always just a few minutes away. But no, you just had to do that. You didn't even call to let me know! I just came in one day and you just had to surprise me like that...I'm very disappointed at you. In addition, you just had to do this yelp.com/biz_photos/84hO… ! I didn't even get a chance to try your super cheap kalbi donburi... I will always carry fond memories of you. But as of now I don't think we can be friends...give me a few weeks or so to cool down. Thank you again for all your wonderful mix donburi's you've made for me. They won't be forgotten. -Jonathan P. ==================================================Â=== Haha nah nah Kuru Kuru. You're still better than genki in my book. And your mini donburi's are alright (it still looks big when you eat in). I just wonder what happened...were your kalbi, tempura, and mix dons too good of a deal that you lost money? They also got rid of the nigiri don but I didn't care for that. I actually got 2 mini don's (poke, and spicy ahi) and it was SUPER filling. But that's just because I had 2 bowls. I just wish they kept the mix don.
(4)Mahina C.
it's back, it's back!!! Beef Tataki is finally back & here to say. im happy to announce i can give this place back their missing star because of the beef tataki that is back on the menu. No wait, cheap food, & they're bringing old things back! Good move kuru kuru
(4)Helen C.
I apologize for adding to the already many reviews that compare this place to Genki. I know it deserves to be critiqued on its own, but I figure a good majority of you have tried Genki Sushi, so that'll make it easier for me. Prices are definitely cheaper. Taste was slightly better. I managed to drop $20 really quickly. I LOVE chawanmushi, but I couldn't find it on the menu. I just assumed it wasn't an option. As I was leaving though, I saw a little boy eating one. I would've doubled back to order it, but by that time I already paid and was stuffed. I noticed several things on the belt that wasn't on the menu, too. I guess it's not the most updated? I think Genki's spicy ahi, scallop mayo, and ahi bowls are better. Kuru Kuru's smoked salmon and hamachi are excellent though. I had several other plates and have to say that the overall taste was pretty good and I would choose to come here over Genki any day. I'd been dying to try Kuru Kuru for a while and am glad to have found a good sushi belt restaurant. **2/31 Yelps Review Challenge**
(3)Yuko A.
Kuru Kuru, why did I not discover you earlier? I love sushi and love it even better when its fast, cheap, and good. Of course its no kaiten sushi like in Japan but Kuru Kuru does a good job of serving fresh sushi at cheap prices. There prices are much better than Genki. The prices ranged from $1.30 ~ 7.50 (for the donburi-which was huge). I ordered salmon, hamachi, scallop mayo, and spicy tuna. The cuts of the salmon and hamachi were pretty big and nice and fatty. I almost got 2 orders of the scallop mayo because I liked it so much but decided to hold off because I wanted to try other dishes. The baby scallops were big and plump and didnt taste half-frozen like Genki sometimes does. I'm not a huge dragon roll person but I ate 2-3 pieces of my bf because I couldn't get enough of the eel on top. Yum! I often order sushi from the waiter at Genki but I didn't need to do it as much at Kuru-kuru because it didnt seem as dishes were being left out for too long on the belt. The ladies working were so friendly and attentive. It may have been because we went early but at least I didn't have to flag down waiters like I have always have to do at Genki. The only thing I disliked was that the sushi dishes had a little bit too much rice. If you ever sit at a sushi counter in front of a Japanese chef in Japan or even in Hawaii, you never get a lot of rice because the fish is what its about. Thats okay Kuru Kuru, I'll be back. I'll just take some of the rice out next time. :-) YELP 365: 005/365
(4)Jayson N.
ATTENTION ATTENTION.. DUE TO LONG LINES AND OVER CONSUMPTION OF SUSHI, KURU KURU ASKS THAT YOU COME ANY TIME THAT JAYSON DOESNT HAVE A KK CRAVING, BECAUSE JAYSON DOES NOT WANNA WAIT SO LONG FOR NOMZ SUSHI. SERIOUSLY PEOPLE WHY YOU GOTTA EAT THE KURUZ WHEN I WANNA EAT THE KURUZ?? The obvious answer to that question is because the sushi is AMAZING and CHEAP... after being uberly impressed with the PC locale, i hoped that Kahala would be even better. AND IT IS. Besides the wait, the fish is still Big, the poke and ahi bowls are still GARGANTUAN, and the servers are still really attentive. Your water or tea will never be empTy. You know you got a good thing going when hallmark tells you "DON'T BLOCK THE PATH WAY" !! FOR ALL YOU KURUZ NOOBZ, IF YOU LIKE GET FULL FAST EAT A DONBURI FIRST. IF YOU LIKE VARIETY, DON'T EAT A DONBURI CAUSE YOU'LL GET FULL, FOOL. AND REMEMBER DON'T EAT THE KURUZ WHEN I WANNA EAT THE KURUZ. K THX!
(5)Chad Y.
Let's be honest, when you have a hankering for sushi, you WANT SUSHI. It isn't going to be just a few bites, you are going to want a plethora placed in front of you that you can quickly eat till your heart is content. Then the bill comes and that is when the sticker shock hits you. Well, the conveyor belt is always an option and the thought often makes me cringe, however if you want affordable mounds of sushi, that is the choice you are forced to subject yourself to. Kuru Kuru certainly bucks the common trends and offers one of the better experiences on the island if the mood should strike. Kuru Kuru takes over the space right next door to the theater and offers a good amount of seating, however plan to wait if you want a booth. They offer mostly counter seating and be prepared for a wait since it is much smaller than its counterpart. It's well lit commercial feel it utilitarian in nature but it serves its purpose. The sushi is tasty and the fish is rather fresh and well-cut. It certainly does not disappoint, however at the same time it isn't about to wow. The ahi is well done and so are their other rolls. Feel free to hail a waiter to order if you don't happen to see what you want rolling on by. Service is ok, however could be upped a bit. They certainly know how to pick their moments to fill your water or check in (sense sarcasm here). It is about their efficiency, not their warm and friendly feel. All in all, if the mood for some conveyor sushi should strike you, Kuru kuru is certainly a good option to visit!
(4)Mike O.
So this is the well renowned, hours waiting in line at PC, Kuru Kuru Sushi. This was my first time at any Kuru Kuru. I can honestly say it was better thank Genki (and way better than Sushi San), but thats not saying much. The service from the lone sushi guy behind the counter to the 5 os 6 waitresses around the counter was great. With this much people for a small restaurant, you were literally being asked "if everything was ok" every few minutes. Rather bothersome but not a bad thing. Now the food. Looking at everyone around me (who must have been KK veterans) everyone seemed to order a bowl (mixed or spicy tuna). That thing was huge and I guess the right way to go if you want to get full for under $10. We decided to eat the traditional way. (2) spicy tuna - Very Good and the reason I would come here! (2) crab mayo - very salty (2) ebi tempura sushi - Hated it with skin and head on battered. (1) hamachi - fish huge. Didnt have that fatty oily melt in your mouth taste. but for a buck half a piece....cant grumble. (1) corn sushi - surprisingly my favorite of the evening LOL (1) Salmon nigiri- again huge pieces of fish and wife said it was good. (1) Kabocha tempura - wife prayed the kabocha was thinly sliced cuz she hates eating kabocha thats not cooked in the center. well she got what she wanted as the kabocha was PAPER thin, but was good. (1) coffee jello - was good Total $25, which is very reasonable. Next time I think I will do like everyone else did and order the spicy bowl and couple sides of corn sushi. BTW we got there about 5pm and got seated right away. Walked out about 545p and there was about 15 people waiting in line. Now if I had to wait more than 15mins for this place, im outa here. Edit- I changed my rating to four stars (from three stars) because of the taste and value after going to Sushi San tonight, I really appreciate Kuru Kuru. I guess I will have to fight the lines like everyone else to get my Spicee Tuna fix! Plus its close to home. If they only could get those CPK buzzer thingy's.
(4)Will L.
Volume conveyor belt sushi, no matter how nicely dressed and varied, is volume conveyor belt sushi. I went last Saturday and waited a hour for seating for two. It was bearable since my wife and I could use that time to walk around and shop but if we just wanted to eat, that would have been junk. It's totally not worth the wait, otherwise. Yes, you can load up on hamachi, negitoro, ahi poke nigri, even small strips of kalbi on nigri, but it's not buttery fresh. Our bill only came out to $30 something for two and my wife barely ate (she's not a big sushi fan) but while there's volume, you get what you pay for. I think the best value in town is Morio's. You get quality sushi at a deep discount. I can't say Kuru Kuru is that much greater than Genki. It has more variety but factoring in the wait in line, that may make it the same. Again, the analogy is the cliched putting lipstick on a pig.
(2)Brian F.
The conveyor belt sushi model is best executed at Kuru Kuru. The portions are larger than Genki and it takes very good for the price. Keep in mind that this is a great place to get your fill of sushi but not the best quality. Regardless, it is a satisfying experience and compared to the other location in the Peal Kai center is much cleaner. Too bad the place is not bigger as the wait for a seat subtracts from the overall experience.
(4)Kevin C.
Oh how the mighty have fallen.. Sorry, PC Kuru Kuru, looks like it's time to do a little sharing of the spotlight. Kuru Kuru might mean one thing in Japanese, but on Oahu it must mean "Come wait in my ridic long line." And boy do people wait in the ridic long line. For good reason! The Kahala Mall location just recently opened and it's been packed the two times I've been here already! I loved going to the PC Kuru Kuru and was curious if this one compared to the original. It does! Your standard revolving sushi options priced according to the plate colors. My FAVORITE is the spicy ahi donburi! It's sushi rice topped with shredded tamago (egg) with spicy ahi chunks on top. NOM NOM NOM. Usually, the 'spicy' ahi at some joints are not.. well.. spicy. But I found this place's spicy ahi to be a good kind of spicy feeling as I was eating. AND it's only $8. RUN, don't walk, inside and put your name on the list if there is a crowd! Beating that one group could mean a good 10-15 minute wait. Sometimes even more. I've also done takeout from this location. Try and call in your order ahead of time. I ended up waiting longer than I anticipated for my donburi. (But it was worth it.
(4)Jason S.
Food was pretty good tonight. Went with my family, I had the salmon, which was decently sized as usual, and I also got the half spicy salmon, half spicy tuna don, which is getting smaller than last time, but it was still delicious. If ratings were just based on the food, tonight would've gotten four stars, but the service was just so bad tonight. Servers took forever to get food out, my mom waited ten minutes for her chicken bowl and my brother another seven to ten for his lobster balls. The manager was rushing around like usual, which was no surprise, but other servers that I've never seen till tonight just seemed like they just wanted the night to end, we came at 8-ish. Tea and water weren't refilled till we were practically done with our meal. The service was probably just off tonight.
(3)Sara T.
I've been a Genki customer for as long as I can remember, and I was just recently introduced to Kuru Kuru. I do like it a lot, and although recent price increases might make it only slightly cheaper than Genki, I will probably frequent both places equally. Food: 4.5 I had all my standard dishes: Inari, Ikura, Spicy Ahi, Salmon, Pumpkin Tempura. The inari was large and tasty (I want to know where sushi restaurants get their inari skins, becuase the ones you can buy at Long's are not nearly as good). The ikura was slightly disappointing - very salty/fishy and not the freshest tasting. But I do like that they garnish each piece with a little slice of cucumber, which goes nicely with the ikura. The spicy ahi was very tasty, with big chunks and a good amount of spice, but I still like Genki's a little more because they use a ton of sesame oil, more tobiko, and less mayo. The salmon was delicious and the pieces were huge! I didn't have tamago this time, but I've had it before, and the tamago at KK is better than Genki's because it is huge and not falling apart. And of course, the pumpkin tempura, as always, was perfect. Service: 3.5 I came at around 5:15 pm on a Saturday, so the place was about 3/4 full when I got there. I was also by myself, so I didn't have to wait at all for a seat (which may have positively influenced my star rating). The selection on the conveyor belt was dismal, so I hoped that they were in the middle of making a replenishment batch of EVERYTHING. There was seriously about one dish for every 6 dish spaces on the belt, and they were all the gross ones nobody ever takes (papaya, tempura mushroom, ika). Thankfully I just ordered everything from the waitresses, and all my food came quickly and was FRESH. I was asked several times if I wanted tea/water, and the waitresses at the Kahala location are much nicer than the ones at the Aiea location. They are also very quick. Ambiance: 3 I do have to say that the restaurant was a little dingy. I was by myself, so I was seated at a corner, and there was only one (dirty and old) menu to share between the two people to my right, the three people to my left, and me. Value: 5 My meal came out to $14 after tax and a 15% tip, and I was sufficiently stuffed. Solid 4 stars. I will be back!
(4)Ko J.
Definitely a better Genki. Really good, quick and casual sushi for super cheap! Highly recommend their pumpkin tempura and poke rolls... Just a little loud and crowded, which is to be expected from a fast food Japanese restaurant.
(4)Kevin C.
Hands down my favorite place for poke bowls ...love the fact I can get a huge bowl of mixed ahi and shoyu for only $6.25. Sushi is fresh. This place gets busy
(5)Jordan C.
Guaranteed Best rotary sushi place in Hawaii! Kuru Kuru has really delicious sushi at a decent price! only downside is that there is almost always a line to get into the place. Be prepared to wait close to 45 minutes to start chowin' down on some tasty sushi! This sushi is well worth the wait! Genki Sushi don't got anything on this place!
(5)Philip U.
Genki mo bettah
(2)Chloe M.
I used to love Kuru Kuru sushi. They had the lowest prices and the highest quality AND quantity when it came to kaiten sushi. Kuru Kuru still has the lowest prices, but the quality and quantity has gone way down. I understand it's because of the bad economy, but they raised the prices AND lowered the quality and quantity. Alas, Kuru Kuru sushi really was too good to be true. Food: They always have a lot of sushi on the conveyer belt, but I always hated grabbing sushi off the belt. I ordered hamachi, salmon, fried oyster, and croquette. My bf ordered an ahi and grabbed the rest of his items off of the belt. Surprisingly, the sushi he grabbed off of the belt wasn't old and soggy. We got our sushi orders very quickly, and I ate this while I waited for my fried oysters and croquette. And waited... and waited... and WAITED. Finally my oysters arrived and they were BURNT. NO! I LOVE FRIED OYSTERS! HOW DARE YOU BURN THEM! The two pieces that they give you are awfully small too. After we ate all of our sushi we were STILL waiting for the croquette. We asked two different waitresses if they forgot to put the order in, and after we were about to leave the croquette finally arrived. Back to the quality and quantity of the food, Kuru Kuru used to have huge portions and really fresh fish. Now their portions are way tinier (cuts of fish and cooked items) and the fish is just okay. Service: I had no problem with the service. Tea and water were always filled, and my bf and I were always checked on. I just had to wait forever for my darn croquette! I don't know if that's the waitresses fault or the kitchen though... Location: Right next to the movie theatre in Kahala mall. There are plenty of chairs outside of the restaurant since there's always a wait. Overall: I prefer this place over genki because of the low prices. I really miss the old Kuru Kuru though :( I also highly suggest that you not order anything cooked here because you will wait forever for it and they will give it to you even though it's burnt.
(3)Michael P.
Decent food and good service.
(4)Kimo S.
I've only experienced good times here so I have to say that for what I want and my expectations, this play is a solid choice. First off, they are busy... the staff may "seem" slow but they are busting their butts during peak hours and it shows. They are constantly moving and I don't think I ever see them stopping to gossip or check their phones during my last five visits. I give them props because they are definitely under tipped by people who drop one or two bucks on the table after finishing 10+ plates per person. The best deal is the HALF-HALF poke bowl. Seriously, you get so much food for $5.95 I'm surprised people order anything else besides these bowls. I make it a point to eat in because the serving just seems that much more massive. Sign me up with a free refill Diet Coke and one extra plate as an appetizer and I'm ready for my mid-afternoon nap. Seriously, get the poke bowl and more to the point... get the half-half poke bowl and don't order too much else. You have been warned!
(5)Sheldon G.
It was an hour before dinner, and I was mildly hungry, so I decided to get a small snack. I'm a sushi connoiseur, and decided to go to Kuru Kuru because I was in Kahala Mall. First off, I was a bit hesitant to order anything because there wasn't anyone in there, (and it was 5:30 PM). "Not even the early birds" (early birds are people who go to restaurants before the normal dinner rush, hoping to receive a discount menu). Many restaurants actually have great tasting discounted items for their early bird specials. Sorry didn't mean to get off of the subject. If I'm not familiar with a restaurant, I will usually pass on it if it is not busy, because that normally means their inventory does not turn over quickly and you may end up eating old stuff. Anyway, I heard positive feedback before about Kuru Kuru, so I took a chance an ordered a few spicy ahi nigiri (two piece selections) sets to go. What a mistake! The fish was nice chunks, however, where I believe they've gone wrong is the following: 1. Too much mayo 2. Hot rice (the rice should be cool or room temperature. When the rice is hot it makes the fish slimy). 3. Mushy rice (it could have been mushy because it was "too hot") There are so many bad take out sushi restaurants these days. These guys should have to take some type of test or preparation course before being able to purchase a increasingly scarce item such as Ahi, and ruin it. Unless the person that made our sushi was not instructed properly :)
(2)Alyssa M.
Food: I'm so glad they decided to bring back the poke bowls! They are very generous about the portion of fish they give you. The bowl almost looks like shave ice because they heap on the fish. I prefer getting the half spicy ahi half poke, just so that I can get a variety of taste. The other sushi plates are better than Genki in my opinion. They also have more options and their fried menu items are crispy and hot when ordered. Atmosphere: This location is quite small, and the wait time is normally 30-60 minutes during normal lunch and dinner hours. I give this place four stars because the workers often mix up who should get seated, and I've had someone steal our reservations twice already. For such a small location, the staff isn't as attending as expected. Overall, for a "fast-food" sushi restaurant, I recommend Kuru-Kuru over any other sushi company on the island. I've often opted to take-out instead of dine-in because the quality of food is generally better than other places I have been to. I prefer the Aiea location just because there is a larger dining area and the wait is generally shorter.
(4)Tiarra E.
I've been coming here a lot with my friends but I just have to say from the last time I ate here it's just gone down hill. My girlfriends and I were waiting 20+ minutes for every order. The food isn't worth waiting all that long to be honest. The customer service was bad. Waitresses ignored us and rarely checked up on us. Their attitudes were terrible also. I found a cockroach in my food and the chocolate pudding tasted f-u-n-k-y!! Our lunch went from fun to a nightmare. NEVER AGAIN will we go to Kuru Kuru sushi in Kahala Mall!!! (((-Dirty floors, sticky tables, old sushi on the belt. If you are thinking of going here, I think your best choice would be Genki Sushi.)))
(1)Chad O.
YOU'D MAKE A FINE PORTUGUESE GIRL. YOU'VE GOT THAT MIX OF PROFOUND AND EMPTY SPEECH JUST RIGHT. ~Chad O. Recollections ______________________________________________ I'm like you... I wake up every Thursday morning with my feet on my pillow and my head dangling off the bed and scream in my head, 'If the dream was THAT good, why do I never remember it???", kick a bunch of stuff animals I stole off my futon, trip over my mom's Twilight book that I use as an ice breaker prop with women to appear more sensitive, romantic or gay, pickup my phone and see red battery life and go, "FUCK!" I head over to a Body Pump class and routinely count how many men show up... one.... and wonder, not to be a Sushi slut but does anyone here want to carb load on mercury after our gym Nazi instructor is done??? Cheap yet good sushi, really, do we need to revisit this topic, where men ignore boobs and just gawk and stare at a little red plate go round and round, doing orbital circles with their head, and a pervy retarded drooling smirk that makes that special needs kid in school look like Doogie Hoowser. On my first swing, it was the slam, had a business meeting, a one on one, in a booth that could fit 10. I could bring all my stuff animals and imaginary friends and sit them down and we can make heart shaped ginger while talking about our feelings and drink tea together. On my second time, it was all serious, no play. Whenever I find a place I like, I make it a mission to crack the code! I wish there was a privacy setting where I could like, only let my friends read this review but I guess I'll share it with the world.... I'd say this place is better than genki in almost every way, easier location, more selection, better uniforms, "trying too hard" spam and hot dog sushi actually looks cute, but one thing they fail on is the waiting list. It's a self-write, you put your name down and they call you.... so in that line of thought, we could really do anything right? Like scratch the person's name above you... write yours down, and then rewrite said person's name below yours... then turn to your date and wonder not for the first time... can we really do this? Sushi Sluts Unite Ready to form Voltron ~AA
(4)Hiromichi M.
This place is the perfect place for a sushi fix! Since I am Japanese and my name is Hiromichi, it feels like I have an obligation to eat sushi. Food: good and fresh which is an uncommon sight in some sushi restaurants. The portions are a bit small though so I had to order 2 tobiko rolls to fill my stomach. I've never tried the don bowls though, I shall try them the next time. Service: very professional and hardworking, always checked if you had enough water/tea. Food came out pretty fast if you order from them. Atmosphere: decent for a sushi restaurant. Being placed next by strangers is alright but if you don't want to nudge elbows with someone else, go to Aloha Sushi or w/e Overall, its a pretty good sushi restaurant to get your quick fix. The only gripe I have about this place is the prices and the long wait time outside.
(4)Melissa C.
My husband and I were loyal fans to Genki, but when we noticed the Aina Haina location's quality go spiraling down, we decided to give Kuru Kuru a try. I personally have been to the Pearl Kai location before, and had a bad experience. When Kahala's location opened, we both left with upset stomachs we probably both had a bad piece of something. Fast forward a few months, and we decide - what the heck? We want sushi and we just had Kozo the week before. We never looked back. The quality now that they are a bit established is much better, and we crave this place weekly. Salmon nigiri, Hamachi nigiri, Dynamite maki, spicy ahi, ika nigiri, masago, rainbow roll, ikageso karraage, Tempura Nasu (my FAVORITE), and tempura mushroom is what we normally have when we frequent. Service is hit or miss, but we find that going right when they open at 11am on Saturday, there's enough on the belt that's freshly made so we don't need to worry about flagging down people to take our order. We're in and out people, and we discovered that its the best time to go. After work, we sometimes order take out (spicy ahi dons) and enjoy a delicious relaxing dinner at home.
(4)Lee S.
Always a wait at this location, especially on the weekends and for dinner (the only times any working person can go), and, although cheaper than Genki, the quality isn't as good. The rice or the seasoning on the rice is defintely a tad under Genki, and the size of fish that they give doesn't always compare either. Not too much of a difference that it would prevent me from going back, but given a choice, it would be a different place than this.
(3)Val Y.
This will be the first restaurant that I have reviewed that I didn't eat in. Yes. It's me, the "old guy" again. I kind of explained my "old guy" problem; but if you haven't read any of my reviews before; here are a summary of "old guy" things you have to remember before reading this review. If you read my 6-22-11: Honolulu Star * Advertiser review you will read about my statement of fact that as you get older, little things start irritating you more and more. If you read my 6-18-11: UYE Celebrating Father's Day review you can deduce that I am a father that gets tired and wants to go to bed at 9:00. If you read my 5-22-11: Taiyo Noodle review you will discover that I have a gf that I cannot live without. If you read my 6-15-11: Tsukiji Fish Market and Restaurant review you will see that I have this problem. The problem is that I have a great woman that is in front of and not behind " the great me". OK! It's 6:30 and I tell gf about this new sushi place that just opened at the Kahala Mall called Kuru Kuru. She said she heard about the place and she loves sushi so "we" decide to go. I park on the wrong end of the mall (the Longs side) and we have to walk longer then normal to get to Kuru Kuru. For your information, Kuru Kuru is next to the Consolidated multi-plex theaters. We walk in the right entrance and sign in. "Val, party of two, 7:20" Gf: "How many groups in front of us?" Me: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18....."19!" Gf: "19......rolling eyes!" Yes same rolling eye from 7-4-11 - Sabai Dee Thai Restaurant review. We stand inside of the restaurant and I am thinking. This is the smallest kaiten sushi place I have ever seen. This is even smaller than Genki Sushi Ala Moana. Great location. The decor is simple and nothing flashy. Very effect use of space and personal. Desirable product. No wonder they are always busy and there is a line. Create demand by limiting the amount of seats. Genius! I look at the conveyor belt and just like I read in the reviews: the maguro and sake slices are thick and long. My mouth just couldn't wait. Gf: "What time is it?" Me: "7:30!" Gf: "How many groups in front of us?" Me: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 .... "17!" Gf: "17! You're kidding right? You know I didn't have lunch today right?" It is 7:45 and we walk gazing through the storefronts around that side of the mall. 7:49: Receptionist at Kuru Kuru: "Chad! Party of 3......last call for Chad. ..... Miki! Party of 2!" I'm thinking we can't stray to far away from the restaurant or gf will kill me if they skip over us!!! Gf: "What time is it?: Me: "7:50"...one minute after you asked me what time it was at 7:49.... and three minutes after you asked me what time it was at 7:47!!!" I can tell she is getting mad. Gf: "How many groups in front of us now?" Me: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 ....."10"! Gf: "Why did YOU want to try this place anyway? I am starving! By the time we get inside it will be 8:20. By the time we will finish eating it will be 8:55. By the time we get home it will be 9:20. Why did YOU have to park so far away from this place? YOU should had found out where this place was before YOU parked. Why did YOU want to eat here anyway? (Yes she was angry and was repeating herself). If we went to Genki Ala Moana "I" would have been home at 8:00. Pabo!" Word from 6-27-11 - Yakiniku Camellia II review. Me: "OK! Calm down! You are right. Let's go to Whole Foods and buy take out sushi and go home."...so I scratched my name out and we left. P.S. If you read my 6-23-11: Yelp - Honolulu review you discovered there is a difference between Yelp "Cool" and playa "Cool" and people on Yelp don't think I'm playa "Cool". Well I think now people on Yelp won't think I am Yelp "Cool" either because this review bucks the trend. Most people love this place! For me I cannot see waiting one hour to eat nigiri sushi when there are options like Genki and SushiSan. And on playa "Cool". No chance for me to pop the Viagra tonight cause when gf is hungry mad, I turn her off for at least a week. Now you know why the three stars.
(3)raechelle v.
Oh my, oh my, oh my. My greatest fear happened. Kuru Kuru Sushi has gotten greedy. I kept praying to the sushi gods that things at Kuru Kuru Sushi would stay status quo. I feared that by expanding their business, Kuru Kuru would have to pay more rent and more workers, hence raising prices and shrinking the size of their sushi portions. The Aiea location was superb. Prices were cheap and the portions were HUGE! I totally ditched my former sushi lover Genki Sushi. I did notice that the prices were a little more expensive here at the Kahala location, but they still had the $7.95 Mixed Donburi! That is such yummy goodness....I actually eat the donburi for two meals. Well, today after church, we decided to satisfy our sushi cravings since we haven't gone to Kuru Kuru in a while. I walked in and was super excited to enjoy a Mixed Donburi. I put in my order and then..........the bombshell! Since July 29, they stopped serving the Mixed Donburi for $7.95. In it's place are several other donburis for $5.95, but it's half the size of the original donburis and they don't come with the extras on top! I was shocked, flabbergasted! I walked right out of there without a purchase. I am really bummed. My greatest fear came true today. It's truly a sad day in sushi for me. Where do I go now?
(1)Lary C.
"Whatever you do, do not eat the pistachio ice cream!" - Mater (Cars 2) Yes this is a review of a sushi restaurant from some random white guy. But if you ask my wife, she will say I am "asian by association". So my wife (Jerrene T), our son, and I rolled into Kahala Mall in search of dinner. Now 90% of the time I have literally no preferences when it comes to food. You can count on one hand the number of things I don't like, so I usually go with whatever my wife wants to eat. She suggested Kuru Kuru Sushi and I was game. The restaurant is located in the Kahala Mall, in the theater wing where Carl's Jr. used to be. Easy to get to, and depending on when you go, parking is usually not a problem. We found parking the first time around so that was a plus. We arrived at the restaurant and signed in at 6:15pm (on a Wednesday). There were 10 names ahead of ours on the list. The place is relatively small with counter and booth seats. We didn't have a preference where they sat us at and we were seated in a reasonable amount of time. 30-40 minute wait for a small restaurant with 10 groups ahead of us is reasonable in my eyes. But of course we had a back-up plan should we find the wait unbearable: Taco Bell. Lucky for my wife we didn't need to resort to that. Kuru Kuru Sushi is a kaiten-style restaurant where the food is put on a conveyor belt and goes round and round and you just take whatever you want and you pay for whatever you took. This was my first time going to one of these conveyor belt restaurants and I found it fascinating. I couldn't stop watching the conveyor belt because I didn't want to miss anything. Easily amused I know. But it also entertained our son and kept his attention so that was a plus. The food was delicious. Ever since I crawled out from under my rock, I am a big sushi fan. We tried the croquettes, the salad with tofu, spicy ahi and ahi poke and they were all quite good. I also tried a couple of their tempura rolls as they looked pretty good, but really were just okay. And of course the best thing I ate there was the pumpkin tempura. Absolutely delicious!! They do have a menu you can order off of if you want a specific item and don't want to wait for it to come around the conveyor belt. Honestly though, I found it was more fun to just wait and see what was coming next. Most of the items are just a couple dollars per plate so it was pretty reasonable. But of course you are charged per plate so it can add up pretty fast. Dinner for the two of us ended up being under $30, which I found was reasonable. And last but not least: I am a big fan of all things hot and spicy. I love to use a lot wasabi so when it came around on the conveyor belt, I grabbed it and put some in my dish. When i dipped my first item into the wasabi-shoyu mix I made, I must've gotten a big chunk of wasabi because it had a pretty intense "wasabi burn." Then just when I thought the burn had subsided, it kicked into high gear and turned into "mega wasabi burn!" I thought it was funny and immediately thought of that scene from Cars 2, hence the reason behind my quote at at the top.
(4)Jenn L.
My sisters and I were diehard fans of the original Kuru but after a while, the crowds just got to be too much. We decided to go to the Kahala Kuru for lunch on the last day of my most recent trip home. The verdict? I think it stands up to what we know and love about Kuru. The must-get for us is always the salmon belly - so juicy and omega-3-healthy kine fatty! (At least that's what I tell myself...) As for the price, I think it's comparable to what you end up paying at those all-you-can-eat places for all your heart and tummy desires.
(4)Sandy D.
Took the 3yr old and 8 yr old for the first time here. Went early around 5 p.m. because we always see a line. Waited 10 minutes for a booth and there was water and tea ready for us at the table. We began selecting items from the belt. The prices are reasonable and my son picked spam and hot dog plates. Daughter picked unagi, karaage chicken, oshinko maki and we shared a croquette. Also got an udon bowl and soba bowl. We weren't very adventurous, but was very satisfied with the amount of food. Reasonable prices and after a rocky beginning of no one coming by to see if we wanted anything, the waitstaff picked it up by refilling our tea and checking on us frequently. Would definitely go back with husband because he'll eat more so we can have more variety. Liked the location and quality was good. We've boycotted Genki for over a year because of the experience a friend had falling down on their wet floor and injuring herself. Happy to have a much better alternative.
(4)Cassie S.
Worst service ever!! This place is run by a bunch of high school/beginning college kids that would rather gossip about their night out in the corner than provide service. There's no level of professionalism whatsoever. One would think that it would be pretty decent being that this is such a busy and popular place, but seriously if you hate your job that much GTFO. As if the 30-45 minute wait wasn't torture enough, we had to constantly call over servers for refills on our tea and ordering items from the menu. Oh and the occasional, "Hold on let me tell your server" response accompanied by a dumbfounded look as if my simple request was foreign. If you plan to eat here, bring your own drinks before you end up choking on your sushi. The food was excellent though... If it weren't for the craving for the half and half, I would have walked out in a heartbeat. Here's a bit of advice: Go to the one in Aiea. They have never failed me there. I will gladly drive and pay the gas to get there than go to the Kahala location ever again. You have been warned my friends.
(2)Nikki C.
Could not believe what i saw....the so called "sushi chef" or sushi maker" behind the counter was sharing and eating popcorn (hand to mouth) with one of the waitresses (or whatever you call them). Then he closes the bag, puts it on the counter that they make sushi on and without washing his hands....starts making sushi!! See for yourself....
(2)Ashley C.
This is a great place to get sushi. If you go at peak hours (like lunch or dinner) there's usually a lot of people standing around waiting to get called. Don't get too discouraged, put your name on the waiting list and usually it doesn't take too long for your named to be called. DON'T LEAVE! The first time I went, I put my name on the list and thought "hmm, there were a lot of names before mine, so I'll go walk around for a bit"...don't, because if the people before you decided to do the same thing or didn't want to eat there anymore, your name may get called sooner than you'd expect. The sushi always tastes great and if it's not going around the conveyer belt the sushi chef is usually quick to make your order.
(5)Ai M.
My friends and I, total of 3 of us went to dine at this place. Food itself was okay, just the normal Kuru Kuru Sushi or Kaiten Sushi. What we got turned off was how we saw young female workers started gathering ginger boxes from each table (we were the last customers to dine and leave), and started DUMPING into a big clear plastic container... we thought that was so UNSANITARY for them to do that. What if other customers took their ginger out at their table but put back their left overs back in the container?! They would have dumped them back into that large container at the end of the day, and RE-SERVE the next day?!?! IF they are going to do something like that, we had hoped that THEY WOULD DO IT AT THE BACK OF THE HOUSE, not where we can see them! WE WOULD NEVER EAT THEIR GINGER!
(2)Arlene A.
Ahh, Kuru Kuru. I can't say enough good things about this place. Their spicy tuna has kept me coming back to their original location in Aiea for years! I'm so glad they recently opened up their new spot in Kahala Mall. A great place to eat before catching a movie next door. I'd say the only negative about here is the long wait (up to an hour sometimes in Aiea). Other than that, their employees are super friendly, quick and efficient. Definitely worth the long wait in line!
(4)Brent S.
Good place for sushi. But not sure if it's worth waiting 45+ minutes. We've tried to come here before, but the wait is usually really long. But we finally got in about an hour before it was closing. It's a standard conveyor belt sushi bar with a similar menu to Genki. The quality is probably a little better. Personally, I thought the service was very friendly. Their Dynamite Maki is definitely worth getting. I don't know. We did have a good meal. But I just can't imagine waiting more than 15 minutes to get in.
(3)Ashlyn B.
Yelp 365 Challenge 5/365 Kuru Kuru Sushi is officially my favorite sushi joint! My first visit was about 2 weeks ago. I visited the Kahala Mall location. This spot is right next to the movie theaters. I entered and added my name to the waiting list, waited about 15 minutes for a seat, then familiarized myself with the menu. The set is up is very similar to Genki Sushi- there's a belt that carries a variety of sushi selections surrounded by counter and booth seats. If you have yet to try this place and you love spicy ahi, I HIGHLY recommend the spicy ahi donburi! The bowl is about three times larger than Genki's and spicier, too! I could barely finish one bowl in one sitting. I didn't get to try anything else, unfortunately. I'm a huge spicy ahi fan and that bowl was a match made in heaven for me. I will TOTALLY be back!!! Save me a seat so I won't have to place my name on the waiting list!!!
(5)Jerrene T.
How can you entertain a baby while you eat? Sit him foward in his carrier facing the sushi conveyor belt and woot, INSTANT entertainment! I love the fact that I can eat while not having to feed an extra mouth or entertain a fussy baby. Kent just LOVED watching the food go by and he'd shout at the ones that looked especially colorful, read delicious... he'd be like "AHHHHHHH" and pound his hands down. Last night, my husband and I were too lazy to cook so we decided we'd head to Kahala Mall for either Kuru Kuru if the wait wasn't too crazy or Taco Bell. Luckily we put our names in early enough that it was barely a half an hour wait... we fed Kent in the meantime. By the time we were done with a jar of baby food and a bottle of milk, they were calling our name. I will say in between bites of mac and cheese, I did make Lary go check our names on the list just so he could feel Val's pain when we went! We were able to get three seats by the end of the conveyer belt, closest to the kitchen. It was nice that we weren't near the entrance where people were all huddled... it was IMPOSSIBLE to get around a whole bunch of people... it's the mall go hang out by the stores, not inside by the door so no one can get around you. Lary and I quickly got started before the fussing started. Kent doesn't like to be cooped up... he loves to roam. Luckily between his loud shouts of craziness, we were able to eat and entertain him and no one heard because it's actually kind of loud in there. We ate the spicy ahi, the poke, tofu salad, some random fried things, croquettes, kabocha tempura, and coffee jello. The cheapest things (coffee jello & kabocha tempura) were the yummiest! We had to actually order it from our waitress but they didn't seem to find and they were so delicious. While you probably have eaten kabocha tempura, this one had a teriyaki or slightly sweet taste on it... it was the best one I'd ever eaten. I love coffee jello and ever since Yao's closed in Moiliili, I've been searching for a good one to replace it. I loved theirs too. At $1.45, it's a steal. I'm sure the croquettes would have been better if we ordered those fresh too. I am not sure why the sushi chefs make so much of things that no one wants to eat aka natto rolls. I don't mind natto but I swear half the conveyor belt was filled with them. Also, if you don't like to see limp hot dogs, don't come here. It was kinda gross to see flopped over spliced hot dogs on small nigiri rice. I don't know how to explain it... just know it was wrong. Water was refilled quickly... I never got a refill of tea but I'm fine with just one cup. The waitresses weren't really the nicest but they were there whenever I needed them which is all that matters when there's all the food in front of your face anyhow. Whenever we got done, we noticed the line was crazy long... go early and there's less of a wait. While I won't be quick to rush back, I wouldn't mind going if I didn't have to wait at all.
(4)Annie L.
Ever since KuruKuru opened up at Kahala Mall, I have to admit....I've been UNFAITHFUL!!! to Genki Sushi that is. How can you not be though? The portions of fish are GINORMOUS and the quality seems fresher too. Have you ever seen them put together their so-called MINI-dons? They might be mini....If you're a giant! It's borderline ridiculous how much poke they put in their bowls! However, I've never heard anyone complaining about too much so keep slapping it on there KuruKuru! Perhpas it's because this location is still fairly new, but the wait here is nowhere near the wait in Aiea which is plenty good for me because If I'm hungry and you make me wait....I might have to punch you in the baby maker and steal your seat! Yummy cheap sushi that rotates on a belt.....what a concept! YOKUDEKIMASHITA KURUKURU SUSHI :)
(4)Albert F.
Liquid crack. There is a line to get some. Even in this new location, as more and more people hear that its finally opened, the lines are getting longer and longer. If you cannot wait in line, get a poki bowl, its soooo goooooood! In fact, get one so I can get my sushi fix pls kthx
(4)Cheryl S.
I was super excited to learn that KuruKuru would be opening up another location and one in town. Oh how perfect to be in Kahala Mall too. So I have heard only great things about the original location and I couldn't wait to finally be the judge for myself. I have to admit I was fully impressed. I would defiantly recommend this place and also frequent myself. The selection was grand! From sushi, to chicken kaarage, to fresh fruit to desserts you will surely leave with a happy smile on your face and a full tummy. The restaurant is really clean and also the servers are nice, friendly and helpful. They also have a nice picture menu that you can see what they have. I always like the concept of the raceway of sushi on the conveyer belt. Just that alone gets me all excited. They have these donburi's that are just HUGE!! I am sure that it is a meal in itself. It is an awesome deal. How's dinner and a movie....as they are conveniently located right next to the movie theater. Well, maybe if you ate just wayyyy too much skip the movie and do some shopping in the mall (they are located in Kahala Mall) you can walk off your yummy meal. I can't wait to eat KuruKuru again! =)
(5)Jana P.
It's a great place for quick sushi fix. They used to served the humongous donburis, but now they downgraded it. Their spicy tuna used to be so onolicious, but now it seems like the tuna is drowning in mayonaise. It's too creamy not enough spice. Although, they do have great serving of pumpkin tempura.
(3)Kevin M.
The irresistible novelty of sushi trains never seems to wear off, especially in Oahu, who have plenty of sushi and sashimi outlets to guide their mouths to. Conveniently inside the Kahala Mall with plenty of parking, Kuru Kuru Sushi is a popular choice given its cheap prices and rotating selections of the freshest Japanese delicacies. The hardest part is choosing exactly what you want from the range of sushi, sashimi, tempura and dessert options. This place is really small, and very popular so expect a wait. (worth it) Prices are great (wife and I always gets full for less than $30) Service is excellent (don't forget to give a little tip) Food taste great (come here an average of 3x a week) Happy that the East Side has a Kuru Kuru Sushi
(5)Scott H.
For robot sushi, Kuru Kuru is as good as it gets. The Good: - Spicy Ahi nigiri. Way better than that Geinki place, and cheaper! - Plenty of fried, cooked items. Hamachi kama, salmon kama, Yaki saba, Salmon Skin, tempura pumpkin, tempura mushrooms. These are smaller than the Aiea location, but they are priced less. - Convenient location. No driving out to Aiea. - Sushi Don. These are huge. If you get one, it might be pretty much all you eat. Cons: - Still really busy. Most nights after 6 pm the wait is 45 minutes to an hour. - Still small. very limited seating and a few booths (booths are kinda small if you're a big person). - No Dr. Pepper! Why? you have Coke products and the Aiea location has DP?!?!
(5)Nick B.
Kurukuru sushi the best sushi place on the island pokes great great atmosphere long wait at times tho but well worth it if u love genki you'll love kurukuru more genki ha a lot more different types but kurukuru has higher quality and cheaper prices
(5)Rae W.
The counters were not even half full and there were empty booths. Even though there were only two of us, my partner asked to be seated in a booth since it was a slow time of day (not lunch nor dinner hour). The hostess made a face and then seated us. Did I mention that we waited to be seated for several minutes in spite of the place not being busy? Already off to a bad start, we hoped the food was good. It was. The garlic ahi was particularly tasty, and my partner was happy with his California roll. I had the ahi sushi, which I switched out after I saw fresher pieces on another plate. There was a sushi with string beans--the kind your aunty grows and gives away because they grow like weeds--prepared tempura-style and balanced precariously on a wad of rice and nori. I chose it because it looked funny, but it tasted good. The service never got any better. Our complimentary water and tea were plunked down on our table, and when we didn't order another drink, the waitress made a face. Apparently, the hostess and waitress are related. My partner and I love to go to the Kahala Theatres since it seems to play the kind of movies that once played at the Varsity. It would've been nice to add this place to a list of our favorite restaurants.
(3)First Name L.
Hmmmm... that really was nothing special. Food - 3 Price - about right Service - 4 Cleanliness - seemed clean Ambience - typical bright lit, conveyer belt sushi joint I went on a Saturday night, no line, plenty of available seats, and plenty of food on the conveyor. Staff was friendly and attentive. The food on the belt was bad, either been there too long or the food that should have been hot was cold. What's the point when you end up ordering everything, kinda defeats the whole idea. There were a whole lot of items not available, like the donburi's and many others which was very disappointing. If you told me I was in a Genki's, I would have believed you. No real difference in my experience. Prices seemed about right for the quality. If you're in the mall and craving this kind of food, then go for it. Otherwise, it's not worth going out of your way to go here or even waiting in line, forget that.
(3)Amanda Z.
Went early to avoid the crowd and ate sushi to my heart's content! Great service (water and tea always filled and multiple servers asked if we wanted to order) and food! Standouts include: hamachi, spicy ahi, kabocha tempura. Also tried: tuna corn (wish there was a little bit more tuna), potato salad, eggplant tempura on sushi rice (it was okay) and the salmon (not that good). Maybe I was too focused on the eating, but afterwards I realized that I didn't notice any ginger sitting out - do you have to ask for it? All in all, good food for a good price. Although I don't think it's worth a 90 minute wait. Go during an off-peak time or wait until the new restaurant craze has gone down a bit. Will be back!
(4)Abe M.
Seated (not greeted) in a decent amount of time in a booth with a ridiculously long table. That's ok because we were distracted by the overbearing one direction music blasting on the speakers. Ordered a shrimp roll and the shrimp was chewy, don't think I've ever had it prepared that way. Been here a few times and always leave feeling indifferent. 4 stars though for the 'merica sized portions.
(4)Jessy P.
Yummy and fast eats! Great for after a day at the beach or shopping!
(4)Sid F.
Let's start with an analogy ... You know that feeling of seeing a celebrity bare it all for a show or movie. There's an air of excitment, your eyes are wide open and for those few seconds or minutes, you forget about the world and some of your immediate issues. The after effect of seeing the same celebrity naked?!? You get kinda bored and it's passé .. right?! This is exactly, how i feel about Kuru Kuru Sushi. First round of the belt ... aweome, take this and take that. About 10-15 mins in ... you're sitting there with your hand on your face waiting for that "passé" feeling to pass. The rice is dense and huge compared to the fish but since you are charged by the plate, it's ok to not eat the rice. I have to admit ... the sushi cuts were ok but tasted really, really good. If mayo fish is your vice, they'll have enough variations to make you relapse on your diet. How are the lines?! We went as a party of 4 on Wednesday at 11:24AM, they open at 11AM, and we had a 20 minute wait. WHAT?! I can't imagine what it might be for lunch or dinner on a Friday or Saturday. Eat it up before you head to Hanauma Bay and you'll start your snorkeling on a good, filled belly. Pro Tip: if you see something on the menu but not on the belt, dont wait, flag a server and order it up.
(3)Chaulcey C.
SERVICE SUCKS!!!! food is alright for the price you pay. This place looks dirty
(1)Ben F.
BLAH. So this is the second Kuru Kuru Sushi that I have been to and I can honestly say this place was just as bad as the first one I tried. Now, just so you're all aware, it isn't the service that sucks at this place, its the food. The rice is so over cooked it turns into a mush in your mouth that is just completely unappetizing. Add to that the slimy consistency of the fish and that its warm when you take it off the conveyor belt it's just a total fail. Like I said, service was fine here, the food was just AWFUL. The prices are decent, but the food is not. Do not go here if you are looking for satisfying sushi, look elsewhere.
(2)Kawena K.
Not gonna lie...as a die hard Genki fan, I WANTED to hate Kuru Kuru so I could go back to my friends and say that Genki is still the best. I went in with a bad attitude and high expectations. (Un)fortunately for me, I actually really liked Kuru Kuru's sushi. Both the spicy ahi and spicy salmon could have a little more bite but overall, the taste was good. The scallop mayo was very similar to the one at Genki though the scallop to mayo ratio was a little off, too much mayo. The salmon nigiri had a HUGE slab of fresh fish, much bigger than Genki's. The one thing I didn't like was the tako poke sushi. I love tako poke and I love sushi so it was like 2 of my favorite things combined except the tako poke had no flavor. It was like eating rubber with rice, and nori. Not cool. As for the fried items, I was only able to try the lobster balls. It doesn't really taste like lobster but like a deep fried shumai or something, which you can never really go wrong with. I also wanted to try the croquette but it came as two large pieces that no one wanted to eat with me. The wait for seats was a little long but that's understandable since it's a fairly new restaurant and people are excited that they don't have to drive to Aiea for their sushi fix. The prices are also a little cheaper than Genki and the portions seem a little bigger so you get more bang for your buck. Only time will tell if I'm a true convert to Kuru Kuru but I was definitely pleasantly surprised!
(4)Sharlene F.
Loved Genki, then Kuru Kuru came to the east side. I have to say, I'm a little confused with the comparisons with Genki and Kuru Kuru. To me there is no competition. Kuru Kuru's quality is far superior to that of Genki. Their cuts of fish are thicker and the quality is higher. I LOVE sushi and could eat it everyday. Kuru Kuru's hamachi is like butter and will just melt in your mouth. They have saba which Genki does not. Their don's (bowl's) could feed a small army and if you love ikura, get the temaki (hand roll), it's $2.00 less than the nigiri and still enough ikura to satisfy you. Yes, the wait is crazy, but I usually go in to check the list every once in a while to see where we are. I think this kinda keeps the people honest. Too bad the service and wait put a damper on the other reviewers experience. I know how that feels, but for me, it has always been the quality of the fish over other conveyer belt eateries. For me, you can't beat Kuru Kuru for the price and quality.
(4)Aulii H.
I want to give this place a five star rating but I can't. Compared to the Pearl Kai location, this one has better quality fish and food. Unfortunately they recently got rid of their Don's with was kind of annoying, and now they offer mini don's. The fish is really fresh, and above average for a place like this. Too bad the service doesn't match the quality of food. After waiting at least an hour to get in, you have to wait more after you sit down for someone to take your order. When my water glass was empty no server was around. I actually had to wave my arm and flag someone down before getting the service I needed on more than one occasion. This is why it takes forever to get seated in the first place because the servers are super slow to begin with. This is why they only get four stars. Whatever you do, don't eat the almond float. Rather than using almond tofu, they use haupia which is totally disgusting.
(4)Grace O.
I'm pretty sure the main reason I'm giving them 4-stars is because they have a little bowl of tempura mushroom on their $1.45 (yellow) plates :) I had two of them right off the bat last night! I followed up with their chicken kalbi bowl--the sauce was amazing and it came out piping hot. I would go back just for this bowl and the mushrooms. I followed up with: Spicy Unagi roll - just $2.45...delicious Agedashi Todu - first time I ever had it. The broth/sauce was amazing! Ingen (string bean tempura over rice) - tasted really good dipped in the agedashi tofu's broth Chawan Mushi - I think I just prefer the way Chinese restaurants prepare versions of this. The custard texture tastes better as the silken dessert tofu and the savory taste tastes better as jook....with thousand year egg. YUM. So I may not have been a fan of this, but probably because I just prefer the Chinese counterparts. Edamame - Skip this. It's not seasoned, and it wasn't the freshest. Meh. Overall, it was a great experience. I liked the selection the menu had, and the wait for a place at the counter was not bad at all. Oh man, those mushrooms :)
(4)Jonn D.
Rating: 5/5 Date(s) visited: 3/22/2012, 3/15/2012 Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Price: 3/5 Parking: 5/5 This is definitely the "Genki Sushi" Replacement. If you dine here, you are for sure keeping dollars in Hawaii. Why? Owners are local. Great Menu with fresh fish. I'll be back! Food: Great tasty sushi. Service: Fast, Friendly, Local, Attentive. Atmosphere: Clean, modern, welcoming. Price: Worth every bite. Parking: Mall parking.
(5)Alt K.
I don't get it... by the looks of things I should love this place. Kuru Kuru Sushi (KKS) at Kahala Mall is in a great location, has consistently long lines regardless of what time you go, and according to the reviews their sushi is "terrific." Yes their prices are terrific and their service attentive, but in the end good sushi is about the quality, freshness, texture, appearance, and the fat content of the seafood served. Unfortunately this is where KKS is sorely lacking. However in all fairness to KKS you get what you pay for so in this regard the overall the value proposition at KKS is overall good. If you are one who appreciates quality sushi, stay away from KKS you will be very disappointed, but if your kids are craving sushi or someone who doesn't appreciate the finer nuances of good sushi than KKS is a very cost effective option.
(2)Robert A.
5 star sushi in a neighborhood setting go early or be ready to wait but great sushi...don't let the conveyer belt fool you.
(4)Leigh N.
I like variety in a meal. I like to have a little bit of this, a little bit of that, some of this and some of that. If it was really good I like to have a little more. That's why I like buffets. That's why I like potlucks. That's why I like dim sum. And that's why I like Kuru Kuru!! Order from the wait staff what you want so it's made fresh and just for you then pick something new to try from the plates going around. Spicy tuna don and the chicken karaage are my 2 must haves when eating here. I crave Kuru Kuru and eat at either the Kahala or the Aiea location every other week. Staff is friendly and efficient at both locations. Water/hot tea are replenished frequently and the staff checks on you to make sure all is well. Minus one star for the looooong wait to get a seat.
(4)Lauren T.
I LOVE Kuru Kuru Sushi in Aiea! Sooooo.. I was so excited to see them open up shop in Kahala, which is closer to me when I'm in town. Everything I loved about Kuru Kuru in Aiea is the same here... although I do like some of the staff more at the Aiea branch (John!!! He remembers repeat customers and makes what they want when they walk in!). My wait time is slightly shorter... at the Aiea location, I'd wait usually 1hr+ but over here it's ~30minutes. I think I'll still go back to the Aiea one though... the Kahala location seems to be slightly stingy in the donburis. I'm used to seeing those things brim full with spicy tuna or poke, but the Kahala location stuffs more rice in like every other sushi place in town. =( That is my reason for 4/5 stars.
(4)Zhen L.
Ever since my friends took me to the Kuru Kuru Sushi located in Aiea, I was very excited that the Kahala location opened. I recommend the Spicy Ahi or the Mix Donburi; It's a must-have. If you're a lover of Ahi, you won't regret it. Overall, I give it four Stars. Food is great, location is great, but the service was a tad off from perfect. Maybe I caught them on their bad days, but many of my orders took a very long time to arrive. The worse case I had was a 10-15 minute wait for my Kalbi Chicken Bowl; I had to go through three waiters (who were all very kind to ask me if I needed anything else). I recommend this place for all sushi-lovers. It's my new Sushi place ever since I saw roaches crawling around in the Ala Moana Genki Sushi. I can only see Kuru Kuru Sushi getting more busy in the future. Food is great, location is great, and the staff are very friendly.
(4)Shari Y.
My husband and I agree that Kuru Kuru is our favorite sushi spot. Their food quality seems to be a lot better then Genki. Their crunchy pumpkin and spicy tuna bowls always fill me up and the price is pretty reasonable. The only reason I don't give them 5 stars is because their staff can be a little rude or forgetful. All in all I always recommend Kuru Kuru to friends/family over Genki any day!
(4)M C.
After eating ramen and greasy fried stuff all week, this was a nice change of pace. We spent under $30 for lunch for two. Obviously a conveyor belt sushi place isn't gourmet sushi, but it gets the job done and doesn't break the bank. For the yelper that mentioned cold tempura on the conveyor belt, you can ask the server to get you a fresh order. We had fresh orders of potato croquet and agedashi tofu and both came out piping hot. They have a good selection of the usual sushi but a lot of dishes for those who don't like raw fish like cold somen, kareage chicken, and tempura.
(4)Sheila Marie E.
I come here probably once every two weeks. And Im in LOOOVE with this place. In my preference, I think its better than Genki Sushi. Way cheaper and they give big amounts. And the booths are way bigger. Good for family, friend kind of outing.
(4)Marnie W.
Not much to say here in terms of the food since I've already mentioned in other reviews how much I like the menu at Kuru Kuru compared to other conveyor belt restaurants. What I'm going to write about instead is my experience here two weekends ago, at night. It was my first stop at this particular branch, and we (a party of two) were given an estimated 45 minute wait time. Good thing KK is in the mall because the time passed by quickly. 45 minutes later at around 9:30 p.m., we returned just to discover that our name had already been called a while before - luckily, however, a booth was about to open up. Whoo hoo! **Side-note: the employee at the front informed us that the booth was already open, so of course we walked toward it and were about to sit down. Another employee stopped us because she had just started to clean up the booth. My friend and I ended up standing there for a good minute waiting for her to finish up ... Kind of awkward.** A few minutes in, we quickly ordered our food from the (noticeably zoned-out) server. I should mention here that I'm a *very* fast eater who usually views food as a necessity to survive, rather than a luxury or culinary experience to gorge on. There are definitely certain types of food that I really do enjoy consuming just for the hell of it, but I typically like to get in, get out ASAP no matter where I go or what I eat - especially when it's almost closing time. Fast forward to 10 p.m. exactly. There's still a lot of customers hanging out in the restaurant, some of whom are still eating. I'm already done, and my friend is about to finish up too. His last order was the coffee jello. After I try it, don't like it and then pass it on to him, I notice all of the employees wrapping it up (i.e., refilling supplies and cleaning tables). This is fine by me, since it's technically the close of the business day - although, come to think of it ... I would really appreciate if I could receive the meal tab sometime soon. While observing this, I begin to smell something very strong and sickening. Bleach. One of the employees is actually mopping the floor. The front doors are still closed, and there's still customers inside. W. T. F. Hate to have to do this but ... Three stars for Kuru Kuru at Kahala Mall.
(3)Franklin A.
We are frequenters of Kahala Mall and every time we walk past Kuru Kuru Sushi there are always people waiting. To me that's a good sign. So last night, after years of watching and waiting, we took the plunge and tried it. Like everyone else, we waited. But the staff was very courteous (even with some of the patrons weren't) and tried to get people in as quickly as possible. We waited about 30 - 45min for a party of four on a Saturday evening. Not bad. I'm sure we did what everyone else does...starts off by comparing Kuru Kuru to Genki. First of all, it's much nicer. I like Genki but the vibe in Kuru Kuru was really great and inviting. We tried to get some things that we would usually get at Genki so we could compare. The Udon was delicious with a broth that wasn't too salty. The salad that you can get was amazing - Genki take notes. It, of course, had iceberg lettuce but also had tomatoes, cucumber, and avocado and was big enough for us to share and not feel cheated by the one with whom we were sharing. Spicy Ahi and Tuna rolls were good...the Dynamite was great and we got a couple of those. The Chicken Karage was good too. We loved the Tempura Pumpkin and the Croquettes were yummy too. We especially liked the pumpkin tempura. We couldn't quite place the flavor but the tempura was a little sweeter than what we've gotten in other places but not overly sweet to the point where it was like candy. The flavors on everything was really good and the price wasn't that bad! We figured that being in Kahala Mall (and having to make rent) the prices would be a little higher but it was actually cheaper than the last time we went to Genki. On a personal note, the night we went we were with my brother-in-law who has Down's Syndrome. The wait staff was very attentive and kind to him and that was really nice to see. Sometimes when out with a special needs person wait staff will avoid us like the plague or not really know what to do. There was none of that at Kuru kuru! Definitely coming back!
(4)Roxy W.
Location: The restaurant is located in Kahala Mall next to the theater. Food/Drinks: Food on the conveyor belt was cold on a Friday during lunch hour. Very Disappointing! All the fried items were cold. They should have been thrown away instead of left on the conveyor belt. I order a seared Ahi sushi and that was the only thing worth eating. Price: Inflation at its finest! The most expensive sushi on a conveyor belt. The other restaurants similar to this serves larger servings and cheaper prices. I'll stick to the Aiea location.
(1)Little D.
KURU KURU SUSHI @KAHALA MALL: Finally I got to try the famous Spicy Ahi Don $9.95. Kabocha = Pumpkin Tempura $1.75. I guess their price went up a little recently but still, for the quantity and quality you get for $9.95, this is a great deal.
(5)Cijay M.
Very quick take out service, takes a while for seating inside. But slightly over priced sushi, I usually just go to get the Spicy ahi don.
(4)Khaleesi M.
Use to come here all the time with my boyfriend and mom, they had great fast service and the waiters were very friendly, their spicy ahi don was really good, with great portion size and cheap price (6.95). After New Years I had checked the reviews on yelp and a lot of people were complaining about the prices going up on the s-ahi don to 9.95. Big price jump! They also started to take off some items from the menu before Christmas time. So because of that I stopped going. Around the ending of August my mom and I were at Kahala and decided to give it a try. We signed our name and waited about 5-10 mins which wasn't bad. When we got seated we were offered tea and water and grabbed the menus to look. I can't say we were surprised at the prices, because they did in fact go up. 9.95 for the s-ahi don. We ordered 2 s-ahi dons and a 2 piece Inari, the guy who helped us didn't seem like he knew what he was doing. So we waited. Our Inari never came so we just grabbed it off the belt. As we waited I seen the sushi maker make two s-ahi don and put it on the top of the belt to the table next to us, and the people at the table didn't grab it. I had already knew there was a mix up and that the bowls were suppose to be for us. We waited about 4 or 5 mins and watched to see what they would do. They started to get busy and one of the managers stood by our table and told the sushi maker that he had gave the bowls to the wrong table and he had argued that the person who took the order put the wrong table number. I don't understand how that can happen because the tables are marked clearly. So he took the two bowls and gave them to us, with no apology for the mix up by either the manager or the sushi maker. We began to eat, and we noticed the spicy ahi had gotten more spicy. I love my spicy food but that took me back a little. We kept getting bombarded by different servers asking if we needed something else, it was getting very annoying because we just wanted to finish our food in peace. We then asked to get an order of spam sushi, again we waited about 10 min. By that time we had seen they put out spam sushi on the belt and being annoyed with waited we again like the Inari just took it off the belt. And as soon as we did they came and brought our spam! We were annoyed and put the spam they gave us on the belt. Cos lord knows we weren't about to pay for two, when we only wanted one! All in all we finished up our food, payed and got the hell out of there! We swore to never come back.
(1)Apple Gem F.
Slow employees .. Need I say more. There's tables and space by the bar and they're not calling people. Guess they can't handle big crowds. Had to wait to be seated for an hour Plus what's the point on calling out last call if you're just going to sit the party that miss their turn when they comeback to check in 15 mins after you called out their names???
(2)Maloni V.
Been coming here ever since G-Sushi (by Foodland Market City) closed down. True that there are other sushi bar/restaurants out there that might be better, but this one is my favorite because it's close to where l live and it's in Kahala Mall. If you're picky and don't want to take food from the conveyor belt, just order what you want to the server and they'll make it fresh for you. Don't always believe what you read/hear whether it's negative or positive, just go and try it out for yourself and you be the judge! Happy eating :)
(5)Monica L.
Located in Kahala Mall by the theatre. The concept of this restaurant is smiling to Genki Sushi. They have a conveyor belt that carries a variety of sushi that goes around so customers do not have to wait to order. You can also order sushi that is not on the conveyor belt through the waiter and waitresses that are walking around. My first experience there was good. That's why I am giving them two stars. I had the spicy ahi don..that portion was HUGE! I couldn't finish it. But I got the geso (love that stuff!), tuna, masago, and the spicy ahi bomb. The second time around, I got the same things, minus the bowl...the food was alright..wasn't the best. There also wasn't a lot to offer on the conveyor belt. My boyfriend was disappointed to see spam with ketchup. He did not see anything he liked and ended up just eating the chicken karaage. The food wasn't that good that day. Maybe the workers were different? Anyways, I usually eat A LOT when it comes to sushi. But that day we only ate a few plates, paid, and left. I think I rather have went to Genki sushi even if it's a bit more pricier, at least they haven't disappointed me yet (except when they run out of the geso!)
(2)Takashi H.
Not down with the service here. Came during an off hour time when business was slow and wasn't offered a seat although four were open. Shortly after the host said "you can sit anywhere," she abruptly and rudely told me the three open booths weren't available (half empty restaurant, 2:30pm). Something smells fishy. No problem, I'm not opposed to take out. However, the price of ikura here is much higher than Kozo down the road or Ninja on Kapahulu. I concede and go with the usual ahi options and natto. Gotta have my natto. I'm perplexed why the location in Kahala doesn't bring the same quality and friendliness as the original location in Pearl Kai. With that, I say West is best.
(2)H Q.
So... not quite sure what happened on our most recent visit to Kuru Kuru Sushi in Kahala Mall. As soon as we sat down and my kiddos excitedly grabbed their first plates off the conveyer belt... it was lights out... literally! The restaurant had no power. The conveyor belt stopped. Almost everyone either left or walked around to pick at whatever else was left on the belt before leaving. I ate one plate (ONE PLATE) of spicy ahi on a deep fried wonton chip, topped with eel sauce. I usually love this dish, but alas, today the wonton chip seemed extra greasy and all I tasted was oil. My kiddos ate a plate of tamago sushi each (sweet egg) and shared a plate of edamame. Hubby had karaage chicken and a spicy ahi wonton. This had to have been the cheapest dining experiences at a conveyor sushi restaurant that I have ever eaten at. We usually have three stacks of plates to tally - at this point it was looking like we were only going to have 7... then like a miracle, the lights came back on after 15 minutes of "mood" lighting. Kiddos then proceeded to grab another tamago, corn on the cob (WTH), and we ordered shrimp tempura udon (with the single shrimp tempura on the side) for my little darlings. Still not in the mood for anything else... ugh, what a waste of a cheat day! But, I came here for my kiddos. And if they're happy - so am I, right?... Stars for my kiddos happy little satisfied tummies! And the entertaining video that plays how to make sushi and sushi eating etiquette!
(3)Bri K.
My friends wanted to come here, so I decided to give it a try. It is basically like Genki Sushi with the conveyer belt with sushi you could grab from it. The atmosphere was very casual. Not as nice as Genki, but it was not terrible or anything. Some of the color dishes were a lot cheaper than Genki, while the other color dishes (white, blue) are WAY more expensive. $10 for a 4-piece spicy tuna tempura sushi roll?? If it was extremely good, I would've been ok with its price. However, it wasn't that special when I tried it with my friend. The tuna was kinda salty and pretty spicy. I got the salmon mayo onion. There was WAY too much mayo and onions. With some soy sauce and after taking out some onions and mayo, it was good. The assorted tempura bowl was also $10. It was with rice, but I don't think it's worth $10. Perhaps have an option without rice for cheaper. If my friends would want to come here again, I would come along. But if I had a choice, I would just go to Genki Sushi.
(3)Mac J.
Sushi here is still delicious even if all the BLUE plates increased by 43%. Expect to see a waiting list during typical meal hours. However, if you come here around 3:30pm it's surprisingly not so crowded. Service is attentive and good. It's still the best place for a quick sushi fix.
(3)Andrew D.
My girlfriend and I love sushi, and the the conveyer belt restaurants are always so much fun :). But not this time... I did not enjoy this at all. I'd like to start my review by saying the positives, like how good the food tasted. I really loved all the food, and the prices were very reasonable. It's also located conveniently inside Kahala mall, where you can go shop before or after you eat and there's a few places to get good deserts :) Now onto the reason I gave them a 2 star. Even though the food was great, I couldn't enjoy it because the waiters were constantly reaching over my girlfriend and I to grab the food to bring to someone else. We were sitting at the bar and apparently we were sitting right under where the food, that the guys in the middle make, comes out to the waiters. I think the worst part was the fact that they never once said sorry or excuse me, they just reached over us and left. They where extremely rude and it was not a good experience at all. I might try and go back one day, but I would never sit at the bar again.
(2)Mark E.
Been coming here because the food was fresh delicious and the service was awesome. Haven't been here a while, we decided to come here for lunch. However, the quality dropped and the prices had gone up (especially the ahi bowls went up from 6.95 to $9.95). Our favorites were sushi that had tuna. The ahi fish wasn't as fresh the last time we ate it (according to my colleague). Service was average but was busy since it was lunch time. However, this is still one of my favs to eat sushi at.
(3)Darren N.
One of the best conveyor-belt sushi places on the island. This place prices sushi very reasonably and they always give you huge portions of pretty good quality sushi. They offer a wide variety of staples from various nigiri to specialty rolls. Reasonable prices for what you get. Usually pretty busy so prepare for a wait or call in a take out order. Prompt and friendly service.
(4)Reid O.
Where else can you fulfill your sushi cravings quickly and deliciously like KuruKuru? While I used to be a fan of Genki, I've grown to consider Kuru Kuru my total go to place for the quick fulfillment of a sushi craving. Their spicy tuna/spicy salmon don's are enormous!! The price is awesome for the mound of fish they pile on top of the rice. I always grab a plate of sushi first before the spicy don combo arrives because I need an empty plate to place the fish on so I can reach the rice underneath! The grilled salmon is also wonderfully oily and delicious. I always order it so I know it's hot and steamy when I get it. The pumpkin/kabocha is also a favorite for me. Pass me a natto and a scallop mayo and I'm happy as heck! Sure there are much fancier places for sushi in Honolulu but when I want to satisfy a quick craving and get a quick meal in before a movie or just some shopping at the mall, this Kuru Kuru is super! Always fresh tasting and the workers also are always there to fill your water and tea and take your order.
(4)Holly B.
Conveniently located in Kahala Mall, next to the theatres, this restaurant serves fresh sushi and other Japanese food. You can select dishes off the conveyor belt or order off the menu. And there are ever-changing specials to take note of on the boards around the restaurant. Love the chawan mushi, one of my favorites! The service is prompt and friendly! All of the waitstaff constantly check with you about refills on water or hot tea. A pleasant dining experience!
(4)Lianne O.
Kuru Kuru management has really made bad decisions lately. They changed their menu on Tuesday, increasing their prices and eliminating items. Most notably, their dons (fish over rice in a bowl) went from $6.95 to $9.95... and they gave LESS fish! Smaller portions and a drastic increase in price is just bad business. We used to go to the Kahala location once a week. We loved the place. Now I don't think we will be going back again. Fish pieces are cut smaller and overall portions are smaller. They went backwards from what made them better than Genki sushi. I think other customers have noticed, too. We came on a Sunday during lunch and there was no wait. Usually weekends are very busy at Kahala Mall. I guess we'll just have to drive to Sushi Bay in Kapolei for sushi!
(1)Penny L.
As expected, unbelievably tiny portions, which then kind of makes it a bit more expensive than if you were to going to a slightly nicer sushi restaurant. Flavor was pretty lacking as well. Not sure if we got there too early and they didn't want food sitting out, but there was practically nothing on the conveyor belt. So we were forced to order from the servers which was a bit irritating since it just took longer to get our food. Which then almost defeats the purpose of going to a conveyor style joint for a "quick" bite to eat. Servers were friendly though and place was relatively clean.
(2)Tia M.
Before, I'd give them 4 stars, but last week, KuruKuru has lost a couple (likely many more) loyal customers. Why? PRICE HIKE. We would come by here once a week but after the price increase, I'm going to be returning to Genki Sushi on Kapahulu. The long wait times (at least 20-30 min) and average quality service used to be tolerable because of the BARGAIN prices, but the 2015 price hike per plate/"don" --with increases ranging from $1-$3, depending on what it is-- makes these flaws difficult to ignore. I liked what I thought were generous portion sizes for the older prices in 2014. But they kept the portions similar or smaller despite the price increase. When I came here last week, our order was lost and when I asked about it, the waitress didn't bother to physically check where my order slip was and insisted that the chef was about to make it. I then asked the sushi chef dude if he saw my order, and he told me I had to order from the waitresses and not from him. (Did he even hear my question?) Sadly, most of the workers look and even act like they don't want to be there. What happened to good customer service? There are maybe 2 girls in there who have consistently given me good service, wish I knew their names... But bossman needs to kindly remind everyone else to perk up. What I liked about KuruKuru was the taste and freshness of their spicy ahi and the tempura pumpkin, but looks like I'll be taking a break from this place for a while. *sob* TLDR: Those cheap spicy-ahi or mixed "dons" are now $10. Regulars, double check the prices of what you order. I suspect the price hike is due to the minimum wage hike--but why such a high price increase? Boo! If KuruKuru is aiming for more tourist clientele, then they're going in the right direction.
(3)Jess K.
Came here during lunch so there was a bit of a wait list on arrival, but I felt the wait itself was relatively short and totally worth it. This place is such an upgrade from Genki Sushi and I'd say is the best conveyor belt sushi on island! I noticed some of the reviews mentioned that service wasn't that great but the bf and I experienced quite the opposite. Staff were super friendly and attentive and always kept our drinks refilled. The salmon kama was huge for the price and super delicious, as was everything we ordered. The sushi quality is great for the price and the portion sizes are large. We loved this place and will definitely make regular visits back! Overall the complete experience was perfect for this style of eatery. Parking is super easy and abundant since Kuru Kuru is conveniently located in Kahala mall. Plan on waiting a bit for a table or seat if you come during the lunch or dinner rush though!
(5)Hisoo H.
Located in the Kahala Mall next to the theatres - One of a kind and always good food and service. Sushi on conveyor belt - Sign up for seating when there are crowds otherwise they're open when the mall is open so go before or after crowds - HOT TEA!!!! They fill up your tea cup! I notice there are some recent bad reviews but I wonder if it is timing..... And everywhere you go they are humans serving you, so mistakes can take place and when that happens, point it out, they can make adjustments, just say it nicely.... Someone else advised ordering off the menu for fresh items, this is true especially for something like tempura kabocha which will come out hot!
(4)Elise C.
Like many others, I feel that Kuru Kuru is much better than Genki Sushi. Ever since they opened their second location at Kahala Mall a few years ago, I have been a loyal customer, coming back time and time again despite the ridiculous wait at peak hours. Among the conveyor belt style of sushi dining, Kuru Kuru's quality and selection of sushi and other dishes are by far superior. My must-have at Kuru Kuru is the KABOCHAAAAA! Oh man, oh man! This is the best kabocha tempura anywhere! (FYI, Kabocha is a Japanese pumpkin.) I don't care if it's fried and unhealthy! The tempura coating around the large, thick slices of kabocha is perfectly thick and crispy. It's not your normal shrimp tempura coating, which is light and flaky. Rather, it's just thick enough so that the coating doesn't fall off when you bite it. It's also drizzled with a syrupy oyako donburi-like sauce. However, with this review I did not want to go into detail about my other choice picks at Kuru Kuru. Instead, I'm here to Yelp about Kuru Kuru's NEWEST dessert item. What's its name you ask? Well, it doesn't even have a name yet! That's how new it is! They just told us it's a DEEP-FRIED PEANUT BUTTER & BANANA DESSERT. Holy cowzas! It's both a mouthful to say and to eat! You need to see my picture here: yelp.com/biz_photos/kuru… . Now, doesn't that just look ridiculously delicious?! We basically saw another table order it and were already drooling over it. Maybe soon they'll think of a worthy name to match this monstrosity of a dessert. Also, I don't even like peanut butter very much, but I ate several bites and well, now I'm writing a review about it. So, take my word on this one. It's really good. Other notables at Kuru Kuru are their humongous spicy tuna donburi (good value!), garlic ahi nigiri (seared + garnished with onions!), and garlic salmon nigiri (seared + garnished with onions too!).
(4)Julia B.
Everything was just okay. Before I get to the details I must warn everyone that they do not have sriracha! If you are like me and you drown your sushi and pretty much everything else in the deliciousness that is hot sauce you will be pretty disappointed. I had the caterpillar roll which was basically all rice and under-ripened avocado. They didn't have the eel on top as most places do but instead there was a tiny bit of eel inside. Not great! In addition to the one thing I ordered we tired several things off the conveyor belt. The lobster balls tasted like imitation crab meat. The tempura fried chicken was flavorless, and the unagi was so small I could barely taste it over all the rice. The only redeeming quality to this restaurant is their miso soup. It's delightful. Not too salty, great amounts of tofu and green onion. If I ever come back it will be only for the soup and the friendly servers.
(3)Cullen K.
Ate here for the first time and it was good. Salmon mayo had WAY too much mayo on it but i just scrapped it Onto the plate lol. The grilled salmon Kama was fabulous! Definitely the best thing we had. I LOVE the thick cuts of fish they serve here. The service was also FAST! Front of house was friendly.
(4)Emiri H.
This place doesn't even deserve a star. Disgusting fish quality. But I mean, you get what you pay for right? They also threw in human hair for me. How sweet. Not. Never going back.
(1)Angela M.
Dear Kuru Kuru, Filled with hope that the moving conveyor belt would magically capture my children's senses and cause unending delight and merriment, my family of five found its way to your doors for the first time. After about a half-hour we were seated in a booth. Which is really the only place we could be seated. I positioned the 3 year old far from the conveyor. You're welcome. The service is not the best. It is also not the worst. It hovered somewhere around mediocre. Our waters eventually were filled, someone eventually came back to the table so we could order more non-conveyor sushi (sophisticated picks like spam and hot dog sushi), and we eventually were able to get our check. As far as the sushi, I liked it! I am hardly a sushi connoisseur as I detest raw fish and most sea creatures in general, but I do love tobiko, natto, cali rolls, those little iceberg salads, and fried things. I was pleased. My children enjoyed their processed meats posing as sushi, and my husband loved it. I believe he ate three plates of hamachi. If that's what it's called. It was white-ish. I think. So yes! We will be back. Do you know what I find amusing? No, you probably don't. But I'm going to tell you. The thing I find amusing is the sneeze guard/roof thing that's over the conveyor. I mean, what is it really protecting the food from? Dust and paint chips falling from the ceiling? Condensation from an air conditioning unit? Because I feel like if someone actually coughed or sneezed or exhaled too forcefully the microscopic creatures wouldn't even notice the guard and head straight for the sushi. I think people should undergo a brief medical exam before being allowed to enter the restaurant. I suppose I see the logic of the sneeze gaurd. Without it the conveyor would just seem... gross. Alrighty. We'll be back! Sincerely, Angela
(4)Val D.
Since we were shopping in Kahala Mall, the kids and I decided to eat at Kuru Kuru. It's a smaller restaurant than the original in Pear City, and because it's a newer restaurant, it's cleaner. However, it's best to order from the waitress first than to take from the belt because 1) there weren't many choices on the belt to choose from, and 2) my son took a tempura from the belt and it was cold and soggy. Once we ordered, a whole bunch of others of the same were placed on the belt. Food: 4 stars - basically the same in taste and quality of it's original restaurant. It's a little pricey, but still somewhere the kids like to eat at. Service: 4 stars - a bit nicer, but if they call your name 3x in a row, and you're not around, they will bypass you. However, the wait was pretty long since it's a smaller restaurant, and there's no seats inside, so we needed to wait outside. At least it's still covered since it's in the Mall. Waiting outside though, tempts the kids to wander somewhere else since the movie theaters and Fun Factory are in nearby. Parking & location: lots since it's at Kahala Mall
(4)Amy L.
Love the cheap poke options for huge portions. Nice place to chill, hang out and nibble on plates of sushi. While it's not the best sushi it's decent for conveyor belt. Place is a bit run down but server was very attentive.
(3)Claire F.
As much as I love high quality (and high priced) sushi being served to me on those wooden planks by the authentic Japanese sushi chef behind the high and mighty sushi bar, I love the novelty and fun of conveyor belt sushi too! Kuru Kuru, in my opinion, takes the crown for the best balance of quality and cost. Sorry, Genki. Cuts of fish seem fresher and bigger here than at its competitors. Prices are cheaper too. There's a wider variety of items on the menu, the restaurant is generally pretty clean, and they have this awesome $8 poke bowl which is steal since they pile it high! ( yelp.com/biz_photos/kuru… ) I also appreciate the service. The waitresses working here are very pleasant (can't say that much about other places...) and always ask to fill up my water or tea before my cup is empty. The wait time at this newer, cleaner location in Kahala Mall seems much better than its original Aiea location, where I last waited for about 30-45 minutes. The wait in Kahala Mall is also more comfortable, with its covered mall AC and its abundance of stores to peruse while waiting for a seat. Yay! Always my go-to place when I'm craving sushi on a budget!
(4)Thomas P.
Kuru kuru sushi gets very busy and expect to wait if you go during lunch or dinner. But the wait is worth it as their food is always fresh, hot, and you're able to order anything off the menu so it's the freshest you can get. Their portion sizes are larger than most sushi restaurants, and taste the best of any place I've visited. Worth the wait, the counters always the best place to sit as you can see everything coming at you on the conveyor belt
(5)Michael C.
LUNCH........That inevitable mid-day meal that some skip, most can't miss it, some may eat late, or others may meet friends to catch up. Recently, I had a "lunch date" with some good friends. We hadn't seen each other in a while, and I suggested "sushi" for lunch. Thankfully no one objected to dining at Kuru Kuru. This was my first time at this location, and thank goodness they are located in an air-conditioned mall because it was HOT outside on the day I dined here. LOCATION: Near the Kahala Mall Consolidated Theatres in the former space occupied by Carl's Jr. SETTING: Clean and bright. The restaurant is comprise of booths and counter seats facing the belt the sushi plates travel on. FOOD: I tried: Spicy Tuna, Kabocha (Pumpkin) Tempura, Chicken Karaage, Salmon, Seared Ahi, and Spicy Inari. All told, all the items I selected were fresh, good quality, and a good portion size. The standouts, for me in particular, were the spicy tuna (good flavor & generous portion), kabocha tempura (something different; large slices of tempura), and the spicy inari. I usually have 1 or 2 plates of the spicy tuna at Kuru Kuru's direct competitor, and I have to admit the portions never seem so "healthy" in comparision to KK. Regarding the spicy inari, I have seen this before at Genki, but it never looked as appetizing as it did during my visit to KK. After watching my friend eat her portions, I immediately ordered my own plate. SERVICE: Excellent. I truly appreciated that the servers/staff came to periodically check on our table. They provided refills on tea and water in a timely manner, and our cups/glasses were never empty. Orders were also dropped off within an acceptable amount of time from placing the order. Bottom Line: Decent quality. Portion sizes satisfactory. Great service. I'll be back surely!
(4)Christian V.
All I want was a all spicy don. Not mix or salmon. And choke shells in my scallop mayo. And I got charge for what I spitted out, and Cleary u saw the size of those fckers. I thought I broke a tooth.
(3)Michael C.
I am totally a fan of the service, from start to finish we had really great service. Let me start by saying that we went around 3:30/4:00pm and there were about a dozen people already in there. We signed in and waited outside and we were seated in about 5 minutes. They had already placed water for us before we sat down and served us hot tea promptly after that. Then she gave us time to look over the menu before coming back couple of minutes later to take our order. Through out the meal they checked in our us to see how we were doing and if there was anything else we wanted to order. At one point as one of the sushi guys was on his way home he stopped to talk to us. Foodwise, I like that there is stuff for the wife who doesn't eat raw stuff to eat like the hotdog sushi, spam sushi, etc while I can enjoy my fish and other stuff. Oh and items like the spam actually taste really good. I tried one of her spam sushi and i can say that the spam was nicely fried with just enough of a nice crunch to it. So it is a win win for me. I would totally come back again.
(4)Scott K.
Kuru Kuru in Kahala Mall has been going down hill. The wife and I have been here about a half dozen times and this might have been the last time at this location. Here are my notes: 1. Waited about 10 minutes to get a seat while there were at least a 8 chairs available at the bar and we were number 2 on the list. First couple, didn't show. 2. Took a while to get an order in considering there were 4 servers hanging around by the register with no one paying. 2 were walking around but mostly by the tables. 3. Servers kept going over my head to put order slips on the bar. It was very irritating. They need to find a better spot that doesn't interfere with patrons. 4. Fish was not fresh - at least the ahi and salmon I ordered. 5. Did prices get more expensive over the last few months? Quality of the food doesn't reflect that. And when did the dons price change to $9.95? 6. Kalbi chicken sauce was very strong and sweet. Too much sugar. 7. Ume maki was the worst I've ever had. Like eating something dipped in vinegar. I should have told the couple that sat down next to me, not to order that. On the contrary, we went to Genki at Ward the very next day. Wonderful service and much better quality food. We had to order the ume to compare and it tasted like ume should. It's too bad we're not closer to the Kuru Kuru in Pearl City. I've never had a bad experience there.
(1)Jannet L.
Okay been here few times more now. With same cousin. She still goes nuts over it. Still wouldn't wait too long for it but hafta admit better than genki.
(3)Gary N.
One interesting thing is that Kuru Kuru Sushi actually translates into sushi-go-around in Japanese. The sushi on the belt goes round and round, round and round!. It felt like a dream watching such fresh and delicious sushi and fruit circling the belt. It was pretty tantalizing as I wanted to grab one of everything, but alas, it wasn't meant to be... I'm still dieting. I took my mom out for lunch and we stopped by a little after 11 am this past Thursday. I chose Kuru Kuru Sushi because I like the name, but also because I have never been to this location before. We got lucky as there was no wait and no line! I managed to get 5 different red plates off of the belt and tried some of my mom's watermelon. I settled on the Dynamite Roll, Salmon, Hamachi, Shrimp, and Seared Ahi. Quality was top-notch with the ingredients fresh, the temperature on raw items ice cold, and perfect flavors. My mom and I had hot green tea and water and we constantly were refilled, which was nice. During the meal, the servers were very attentive asking at least 5 times if everything was okay. I noticed some things that may disturb some people, but was fine with me. If you look up at the ceiling there are vents that let the air conditioning come through. These vents are right above the sushi-making area and also above the conveyor belt. They were very dusty. Also, when the employees were seating people, they accidentally had one extra setting. This setting included water and hot tea. A minute later the extra setting was removed and the hot tea was poured back into a tea pot. Service was half very friendly and nice, and half serious and impatient. Half of the employees that we interacted with were really nice. The other half were all business and did not smile. An example of the seriousness and impatience was when my mom was offered more water. She was self-absorbed and intrigued by the sushi-making video on the TV and did not respond promptly to the server. The server looked partially angry that my mom was taking a moment to respond. The meal came out to about $40 after tax and tip for 11 plates (9 red at $3.25 each and 2 wood at $1.75 each) of sushi and fruit. It was not too bad for the amount of food. Will stop by again if I'm in the neighborhood!
(4)Jong Soo L.
Sushi belt must mean a quick eat and go? Not at all.. I don't know why but people of Hawaii love sushi belt places like these. So it gets packed. I always end up waiting a hour or more when they tell you the wait is about 30 minutes. You can either sit on a table or the counter but I like the table much better. It gives you an easier time to interact with your party. The wait may be longer if you do request for a table. The sushi is not bad and I like how you can order from off the belt. They give free hot tea which goes well with sushi. I come here because my Hawaii friends like to. I guess locals love this stuff. I think they rose their prices recently as well.
(3)Marc R.
Well, I spent the afternoon in the ER today thanks to eating a bad Spicy Tuna Domburi. This was after I spent the night throw up out of both ends. Be careful! My dad was sick too. He ate the same thing. Looks like I won't be back
(1)Dobash C.
Kurukuru is usually my place of choice for fast, cheap sushi. But our experience today was lame. First, our names were on the wait list but 2 of our friends were seated in a booth and offered us to eat with them. We sat down with them and was told that we needed to leave because it's not fair for other people who are waiting to eat. Fair enough. But two minutes later, our name was called and we were seated at a booth. To me, the staff would've been better off allowing us to sit with our friends to open up a booth for another party. Money lost. Which brings me to my next issue. All of the prices of plates have increased. A poke bowl is now $9.95. Red plates are $3.50. Even the portions are smaller. I think I'm going to have to take a look at genki again.
(1)Anthony B.
I used to come here very regularly for their $6.95 poke don. I understand the need for a price increase, but a $3 hike is a bit excessive. I refuse to pay $9.95 and I will not be returning.
(1)Jenny 1.
So my family and I came to dine for a late lunch early dinner. We ordered from the Menu rather then take items off the belt (which did not look fresh at all, like it's been there awhile). My first bite I notice the rice was very mushy but I kept eating cause I was so hungry but half way thru my food I so happen to be on my last bite of garlic hamachi, the fish falls off the bed of rice and reveals what looks like a small, curled and thick pubic hair. I was disgusted and pissed off! Spitting it out and gagging my husband showed the waitress the hair. No apologies she offered to replace it. Like HELL NO I said and she just offered to take that one plate away. Like REALLY??? just one plate?! Seriously they used to be my go to sushi spot and now it's my NEVER GOING BACK list! After years of being a loyal patron, kuru kuru you have truly turned me off. I had to tell the couple next to me cause I'm sure they seen me spit my food out in disgust. Wasn't trying to ruin their meal but I had to let them know what was up and for them to CHECK their food!
(1)Victoria C.
Ok I will have to say.. I am now a fan of Kuru Kuru :x What got me hooked? Their spicy tuna don and their salmon sushi w/onions!! The salmon they give is a pretty thick piece and seems a little more "fresh." Another fav is the tempura kabocha tempura. I will say Kuru Kuru is probably equally the same as Genki. But the spicy tuna at Kuru Kuru is more mayo-y and Genki's is a little more spicy. So just depends on your preference. When I'm looking for cheap decent sushi, Kuru Kuru hits the spot. There is usually a wait during busy hours but it typically goes by pretty fast.
(4)Irene G.
The Aiea KuruKuru is way better. The only good thing about this one is that the wait is a little shorter at this location than Aiea. The food here also is a little less under par to what the Aiea KuruKuru is as well. Same menu, same prices, but if you have the time I'd go to the Aiea location instead.
(2)Christian A.
Kuru kuru sushi! I rate this 5 stars because I only go there for 2 main reasons. First is ahi poke don always have mines with green onions and unagi sauce, second is the shrimp shumai because it reminds me of home. For those who have never been there before, I would highly recommend it! (Totally beats genki sushi ahi poke bowl) *just saying
(5)Laine K.
Yelp 100 Challenge #9/100 I've been coming to Kuru Kuru here at Kahala Mall since they opened several years ago and it's my go to place for fast sushi. Between Genki and Kuru Kuru, I would take Kuru Kuru every time. The sushi is much more fresh and the quality is a notch above Genki. For example the Hamachi here does taste much fresher than Genki. Sometimes it isn't the greatest quality (but what do you expect for under $3.00 for two pieces of hamachi), but it is fresh and I'm happy with it. Also the $1.50 pumpkin tempura is so awesome. I mean 5 pieces of pumpkin tempura for that price is FANTASTIC! Just as a tip I would order that from the server than getting it off the belt. Another item I really like is the salmon skin and salmon kama with the sauce. You gotta get it with the sauce. Speaking of fresh the ika here is much more better than genki as well. The quality is much better and it is fresher. I enjoy the Temaki ikura which again is a great price and never disappoints. Last but not least the Ahi bowls for just under $8.00 is a deal! I like them all and usually get the mixed don which is two selections in one. The staff here has changed somewhat since they opened and that is expected, but they are always friendly and fill up my tea/water. I do miss the sushi chef Lance that was there, but he moved on to another place. Word of advice, come early as it's very busy during lunch hour and dinner. I usually get there about 11:00 am, but you can get a seat at the conveyor belt easily by 11:30 am and around 4:30 - 5:00 pm for dinner to be safe. Also, when school is out in the summertime it is much busier during the day. Another tip I forgot to mention and thanks to Garry Y is I order from the staff when I come in as it is usually fresher. Thanks again Garry! So if you are looking for a quick bite for sushi at reasonable prices than give Kuru Kuru a try.
(5)Tobie W.
Best conveyer belt sushi in the hawaii Kai and kahala area. Servers are always welcoming and nice, constantly asking for water/tea/orders, and you definitely can't go wrong with their huge poke dons! Personally, I like to get their spicy salmon don mainly because it has onions on top! Great place for a quick dine in or take out! Warning! Since it's so good, it gets crowded!
(4)Jimmy L.
I finally came back with a group of friends and saw a new staff. They were all on their game and I think I can finally start coming back to Kuru Kuru again. Food: The quality of food is just as good as I remember it. Nori is crispy on their sushi and the spicy ahis are packed . However, they are actually really smart with placement. If you ever noticed, Genki sushi minimizes the rice and stacks the ahi inside the wrap. Kuru Kuru stacks the rice to the top 1/5 then stack the ahi on top. Either way though, you are definitely getting a bigger bang for your buck. Service: The difference now is the service is pretty top knotch. They did not skip our name... thank goodness. We got our waters and teas refilled quite frequently. It was easy to put our orders in and they even came out fairly quickly. Again, even if they don't come to ask, don't hesitate to ask yourself. No shame! They're always willing to help. Conclusion: Kuru Kuru faith restored.
(5)K G.
One of the worst sushi dining experiences ever. -As my husband held the door open for us to enter a worker bolts out past us (just rude, no manners) -No sushi on the belt (overheard a server telling another customer it was too slow to put anything out) -We were sat at a noticeably dirty table so my husband got up to get a rag We should have left by then but decided to still give it a chance. -We ordered and the taste was ok but portions were small for the price -Still hungry we were going to order more but the server didn't come back It was then we decided to leave. $31 later and still hungry. Waited to talk to the manager...she was tied up with someone else. Lesson learned...should've checked yelp first because reviews were not great. Zero stars for them but we're forced to give a rating.
(1)Sachi Y.
Unfortunately the staff cares more about getting off of work rather than making money and taking customers. I have been a customer to this place EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT. Its 8:30 and they close at 9:00pm. They REFUSED TO take my husband and I. We asked to make an exception because of customer loyalty. They said NO. UNBELIEVABLE!!!! They said there was a party of 9 and a party if 4 and they couldn't take us. We asked to sit at the "bar" instead of a booth and again they said NO. I guess the employees/owners care more about getting off of work than their customers and making money. I will NEVER COME BACK! If I could rate them NO STARS - I would.
(1)Lisa K.
Great place for families! I see many strollers parked alongside the booths they have. It gets crowded, especially when it first opens and mealtimes, so plan ahead. Don't forget to sign in (with your booth request if you want) because they don't take reservations. Try their garlic hamachi, salmon, and ebi- they put some kind of awesome garlic mayo and cook the top! Yuuuuuum!
(4)Sasha L.
I had my doubts when I walked into this restaurant. It has bright fluorescent lighting and there was no music playing for the first ten minutes I was there..I felt like I was in a hospital. The sushi portions were tiny and the colors looked a little off.. I almost didn't want to eat here. But.. I ordered salmon nigiri. It really was decent for Kaiten sushi! It tasted a lot better than it looked. The only gross thing was the salmon sashimi.. There were bones in two of my sashimi slices. I've never had that happen to sashimi before and it was kind of gross.. I'll be back but maybe no more sashimi..
(3)Scott P.
Not a bad place for conveyor belt sushi. I'd recommend going earlier though (we came by at 7:45pm). Although it wasn't crowded...the selection on the belt was limited and many had been circulating for some time. Ordering fresh is good...but considering it wasn't crowded many of the fresh orders took some time to come out.
(3)Julia S.
You know, I like Kuru Kuru. I do. I accept that it's not the best quality, and I accept that it's filled with teenage workers who just want to go home. But despite that, I find myself wanting to come here, and I prefer it to Genki. Location: Theater side of the mall, where old Carl's Jr. used to be. The place itself is medium sized, but with the amount of traffic Kuru Kuru gets expect a long wait. I've been lucky and have come with only a few names down before me, but during peak times the wait can get up to 40 minutes. My main love for the establishment is IT'S CLEAN. I'm so tired of places smelling like poop and looking like poop. I'm glad they've kept up the maintenance pretty well. The dishes are priced fairly, and I haven't bitten into anything rancid or gross so yay! My water is usually filled, and my green tea warm and promptly taken care of as well. Quality is better than Genki, and I like their rice here more. Fish is usually decent tasting, and even their ahi tataki isn't bad. I've ordered their salmon a few times and it wasn't that bad, not fishy or slimy. The ginger is sometimes old and tastes/looks like it's been in the container for a while. It's just one of those places you find yourself wanting to go to even though it may not be the cheapest and it may not be the best. Like a Taylor Swift song. ....
(4)Sam M.
Delicious. Much better than genki sushi. (And a lot cheaper too) The spicy ahi gunkan was my favorite.
(5)Tammy C.
Omg. I know where my freshman 20 came from haha. Kuru Kuru takes the cherry. I love this place for its convenience, cheap prices, and pretty decent sushi. I worked right across the street from Kahala Mall and found that this was the go-to spot. I eventually found myself here ... at least once a week with my boyfriend. We started to go a bit less when we feared mercury poisoning after having so much fish :P So let me break down my review for you- Service: You SHOULD NOT expect much from a conveyor belt joint. They seat us, ask us to fill up on hot tea or water, special dishes if needed, and tally up our dishes. That's about it. It is no biggie to me bout the service. Atmosphere: It's a pretty good sized lot at Kahala. Although, I do think they should expand for more seating. Them long lines .. I stay hungry waaaay too long. It is well kept and the decor is minimal. Flat screen center of restaurant is quite entertaining heh. I give the atmosphere an "A." Food: I saved the best for last. I have tried a lot of sushi and Kuru Kuru's value per plate tickles my fancy ... entices my tastebuds ;) The menu rotates off and on depending what's out. You never know what you're going to get on a certain day or even hour. I suggest ordering if you don't see something on the belt. Portions are beyond fair for price. Definitely recommend the mixed don. I have had only great experiences here. Would recommend Kuru Kuru to anyone and everyone. Would go every day if I did not fear mercury poisoning. Btw, I only have 3 official Yelp check ins. Most times I forget to check in because I just dive in to the food LOL.
(5)Joanna L.
I've been putting off writing this review for many months now. The night I realized I hadn't yet written a review for this place was the same night I had my first horrible experience. It was so bad, I didn't come back for maybe half a year. I decided I would put off writing the bad review because I did have many good experiences in the past. I was hoping that it was just a fluke or an off night. That night, my mom had called me asking if I wanted to take out dinner from Kuru. I called in our order and went to go pick it up. Our usual order consists of one (sometimes two) dons and an order of kabocha. I happily came home and opened up our food. My mom said the ahi wasn't fresh. The kabocha was cold and soggy. It was definitely an old order that had been sitting on the conveyor belt for way too long. Gross! Why are they pawning old food off on me? I just don't think it's the customer's fault when the employees make too much deep fried food and it turns soggy before it gets sold. Just because you have that leftover, doesn't mean you should be pawning it off to paying customers. I was pretty disappointed so it definitely took me a while to come back and when I did finally did, it was yet another upsetting experience. This time, I ordered for lunch take out. (I would like to point out that I don't only do take out. I am usually eating in.) So one of my favorite things to order is the mix don. It normally comes with spicy ahi and ahi poke ontop a bowl of rice, but I like to get the spicy salmon and spicy ahi instead. The best thing about this order is that the fish would be piled on high. There would be as much fish as there is rice, if not more! Even when you do take out, they would stuff that container to maximum capacity! It's really such a great deal that I had to order it every single time! This time was no different. I ordered the don and an order of the kabocha. When I brought it home, I realized that once again, the kabocha was cold and soggy; but the amount of fish they gave me for my don had dwindled. You could clearly see two little scoops of fish: one scoop of spicy ahi and one scoop of spicy salmon. This was a BIG disappointment for me because the container used to be completely packed full! Now, it's only sorta full. See pics. Also, the employees here don't seem to be very attentive. They're constantly in the corner talking story even when someone is at the counter, waiting to be helped or rung up. I am saddened by the fact that this place has disappointed me so much that within a year's time, my opinion has gone from 5-stars down to 1, but I refuse to keep paying for old food that should really be put in the garbage.
(1)Moli Y.
I love Kuru Kuru sushi, but not so much the Kahala location. I did noticed that the cut of fish here is smaller than the Pearlridge locale. A bit bummed out that they are not consistent, but bigger than Genki Sushi's and way cheaper. The wait can be quite long, so be prepare to wait if eating during peak hours. The kambocha tempura is delicious cause is not triple dipped in batter like other sushi places. The salmon skin is also a must try. Their variety of sushi served are both traditional with a local twist. Any sushi lover palate can be satisfied dining here.
(3)Nelson Q.
Are you serious??? Can't believe the high marks Kuru Kuru has gotten!?!?!? We were on this side of town, and the location closer to us in Aiea is forever packed, so we stopped in to see what the hype was all about... Carousel style, pay by the color coded plates, etc....Very slim pickings, and I don't get why COLD deep fried and grilled stuff are going round and around? Cold Salmon and Hamachi Kama, soggy tempura? YUCK! at what point do they get removed because the quality is shot? I can put away ALOT of sushi but during our time here, I consumed FOUR pieces... one order of salmon, and an order of saba. these pieces were awkwardly huge and could've easily made 8 pieces. HUMANGOUS pieces of cold flavorless rice covered with huge cuts of fish that makes you feel like a horse chewing on hay!!!! The Sushi dude needs to stop playing Cassanova with the ladies and focus on making better sushi.... You can definitely see that its about quantity, and not quality here....ALOHA!!!
(1)Shannon G.
Literally just walked out and I will not be back. A nearly 30% price hike on the dons. Their service has always been hit or miss and with these changes Kuru Kuru is no longer worth it. No wonder the line outside was nonexistent.
(1)Micah A.
SHAME ON YOU, KuruKuru, increasing drastically on the Dons! Really? Did (whoever the owner) got too damn greedy just because their dons are so popular? I have high hopes on this place and this would always be my goto sushi place but now I guess I have to go back to Genki Sushi since at least their pricing is more reasonable than this. Not like your fish is imported from Japan. Please, you aren't fooling anyone! Sad to say but I think today would be my LAST day of eating here. Thanks a lot for fucking my hopes on this place! You just lost a loyal customer and now I will tell people not to go to the ripoff place.
(1)Sally Y.
Good Sistah/Bro: - Spicy Ahi Don, but don't forget the Unagi Sauce (additional charge tho) - Ume maki: I'm a Ume lover, and never had this in Japan - If the line is long, take out and eat on the tables - Salmon Don No Good Sistah/Bro: - small place = line can be long - up charge on avocado $2.50 for two small THIN slices - table for 6 ~ 7 at the very most: ADULT tho
(2)Alyssa M.
I like this location much more then the aiea one. The food is a bit more pricey but you can tell they give much more and the staff helps you much more here since they're not as busy. I commonly come here on breaks from school at KCC and their service has always been fast.
(5)Alysha K.
I think people hyped me up too much. They said kuru kuru is better than Genki, but I'll have to disagree. I don't know if maybe I just got the wrong items, or not the right items, but I tried to order the same things I usually order at Genki, and was disappointed. Also, when I ordered from the waiter, it took awhile before they brought it to me. I thought they forgot. And when I received, for example the chawanmushi, it was cold. I hear the spicy ahi bowls are good, but that's one thing I didn't try. I would actually even recommend Sushi San over Kuru Kuru. Sorries!
(2)Kylie O.
***Highlights***: GARLIC AHI, Fruit, The GOOD Fruit Punch! Entertaining for all ages! Kid friendly Sushi! Reasonably priced if you are looking for a sit down restaurant in the mall. Great to go to with close friends. Casual family dinner out. Fun for kids. Negatives: GUARANTEE WAIT LIST! No reservations, sushi lovers only. What can I possibly say about Kuru Kuru. Its just one of those places that are NOT super AMAZING, but yet I keep going back. VERY family friendly, and the staff is really great. They do their best with the amount of people that are trying to get sat at this place. Not super immaculate. But clean enough to eat at. Price/Food: Price of food really depends on what you like to eat and how much you are eating. This place is great for the light eater who is trying to eat with the big eater. Or the cheap eater who doesn't want to look cheap, although they are eating with the person who doesn't care. As for the food itself, I like how there are other things out side of sushi for non-sushi eaters to eat. Honestly I keep coming back here because there is a ton of variety for my 80 year old grandmother who doesn't have a very balanced diet, let alone enough food on a daily basis. She has dentures which make it hard for her to eat sometimes, so Kuru Kuru gives her a chance to try and eat different foods with different textures; without costing me a fortune or leaving me feeling guilty for wasting. The plates are pupu style and there is everything from your basic cucumber maki, to a cup of mandarin oranges. Service/Ambiance: The staff is very nice here, and you can tell they are doing their best. The wait is not fun, but its in a mall so you can kill time walking around the stores next door. The sign in sheet is right at the door. So just look to see how many people are before you & gauge from there. Not the most sanitary of restaurants, but there is no visible trash or anything. The one thing that does drive me crazy though, is its wet tables and chairs. I can't stand when I slide into a wet booth seat. Or, also when I find used plates hidden on the floor of the booths. But this isn't the staffs fault really, its just cheap-o's trying to get out of paying for a plate or two. Ive seen this once or twice already. Apparently this is not unusual. I like that the location is in Kahala Mall. The Mall is so small, and there is so many security officers walking around. Kuru Kuru is very family friendly, just like the mall. .
(3)Elim N.
Two locations: one in Kahala Mall and one in Pearl Kai shopping center. Both locations are great but the Kahala location is usually less busy with more parking. What I miss is the old mix donburi! That bowl was the greatest invention ever with large bowl of your choice between spicy ahi, spicy salmon, and ahi poke. The bowl also came with a piece of salmon and ahi sashimi and the rice was garnished with tobiko eggs and sweet egg. But those are the days of the past. Now my usual typical order is: Mixed Don [$6.95]: Half Spicy Ahi and Half Spicy Tuna. An awesome combo poke bowl with your favorites. You also have a choice to choose Ahi Poke. Tempura Pumpkin [$1.75]: A great deal of 5 pieces of tempura pumpkin. Its crispy and sweet. Best is to always order it yourself so it comes out hot and fresh! Ocean Salad [$1.75]: Hopefully fresh from the ocean. Natto [$1.75]: For those who dare. Its healthy! Kuru Kuru has changed since they added a new location but they are still great competition for Genki Sushi. BRING BACK THE OLD DONBURI PLEASE!
(4)Hilary J.
Don plates increased $3 a plate... Definitely just lost a loyal customer. Used to come her 2-3 times a week
(2)Barry W.
The workers seemed very disorganized and frazzled. Not enough help, they lost my order. Had to wait to remake complete order. I hope the food tastes ok.
(1)Eidref L.
Good food. Good service. Good prices. I highly recommend the don bowls of you got an appetite!
(5)Mel A.
Kuru kuru is okay for a sushi joint. There customer service skills need work. There's one girl that works there that's really loud and annoying cos her main focus is mainly on friends that walk in for a bite to eat. There are only two workers over there that I really like and are very efficient at their jobs. The rest of them look like they don't want to be there or are way too busy talking to each other. The sushi is good, not the most outstanding sushi ive had but it's alright. Whenever I go in there, there is no sushi on the belt at all. Or if there is its fried things that look like someone threw up and put the plate back on the belt. Sometimes they don't put things on even when it's packed. It's pretty surprising. There spicy ahi is good. Their spicy ahi don taste alright. I like the amount they give you way better than genki. Unagi is good. They are the only place I know of that will sell you q while soft shell crab for a very reasonable price and it taste really good. The only thing that probably is the highlight of me going here is the tempura pumpkin :3 Its the best. Way better than the horrible nothings they give you at genki. Overall, They have some good parts to them. Foods okay Service needs working on. And overall appearance needs work. Why would you want to eat somewhere where the workers themselves look like they don't even want to be there or are too busy being interested in each other.
(2)Cindy L.
Kuru Kuru is my go-to kaiten sushi restaurants. I started going when it had its only location in Pearl Kai, when prices are affordable, and the portions are good. So when the Kahala location opened, many diners didn't have to make the drive in to Pearl Kai. Three years went by... and business is doing well. Prices went up and portions got smaller. However, it is still one of the more affordable, decent quality sushi you can get in Hawaii.
(3)Norm G.
Kuru Kuru Sushi is a fine place to have a light meal before seeing a movie at the Kahala Mall theaters, since it is just adjacent to the theater. They charge according to the color of the plate that your selection is on. Get a little sushi, have some edamame, maybe a little salad and green tea, and you're good to go!
(4)Crystal P.
Was feeling very adventurous tonight so I convinced my boyfriend to give kurukuru a chance (he's a genki sushi guy). We drove to kahala mall from Mililani (just for the nice drive and I needed to get out after having a stressful week). Had to be one of the biggest mistake I've made this week. The ahi poke was pretty spicy, the Kalbi chicken sauce was too sweet, the Namasu. Hmph. That's not Namasu! Idk what I ate!! The biggest downfall was the fact they got rid of the fried garlic ahi. Also, be prepared for the HIGH price rises. Like others, I will stick to the Aiea location (hope that didn't change for the worst too)
(1)M R.
Kuru Kuru is way better then Genki. Karage chicken & kabocha tempura is unreal. Love it here!
(5)Taryn P.
Was anyone else really upset when they jacked up the price and cut the fish in half for the bowls? Other than that, It's a decent wait if you go during peak hours.The staff is friendly, I've never had a problem with any of them. Fish is decent for the price, but sometimes, the spicy ahi has too much mayo. Tips: - Park upstairs! - Phone order and pick up. It saves you time. - Go during non-peak hours. - Always order through your waitress! You never know how long that fish has been circling the belt...
(3)Ryan K.
The quality of the food served is much better than Genki sushi and the quality of customer service is great! Everyone is usually very nice
(4)Janelle L.
It's a lot less busy than that other one with the conveyor belt!!! Sushi is fresh. Tempura and karaage is crispy. Wait staff is friendly. Location is convenient when you're looking for a nice healthy bite to eat in the mall.
(3)Ryan T.
Something about conveyor belt sushi scares me, but not at Kuru Kuru. The sushi appears to be of good quality and exceeds my expectations of conveyor belt sushi. You can also order from the menu and get it fresh, as well. I would take Kuru Kuru over Genki anytime. I don't know if the prices are the same, but they are similar. Even if Kuru Kuru cost a little bit more, it's worth it. The only thing that bothers me is I've almost always had to wait, normally longer than I would prefer. So, you just can't go here when you are starving. You have only be somewhat hungry. I will still go back however because the value is there, it's hard to beat that type of quality at those prices and convenience. And, the staff always seems nice and friendly regardless of how busy they are.
(4)Denalee C.
It was a long awaited visit to this location. What felt like forever was probably two or three years. There's something about seeing my choices parade by that excites me. I loooove knowing my options and I anxiously watched each plate roll past like I little kid. A very little kid. Somehow not everything looked fresh and I really think ordering is the best way to combat this issue. The kitchen is extremely quick and the servers come around constantly to make sure you are taken care of. On the other hand, it could have been that we came in at 8pm on a Wednesday which is an hour before closing. There were three parties in front of us. We sat there and the lady came outside, called the name of the next party once. Waited a second, called again and said last call. Wow. Not exactly sensitive to the slow moving folks of the world. Anyway, the food isn't superior to any other conveyor belt sushi joints but I still enjoyed myself. The soba was incredibly large and it filled me up quick-share this dish. Hoping it won't take me another two or three years to come back.
(4)Goro W.
Kuru Kuru in Kahala Mall is always crowded, but turn over on counter and booths is fairly quick. The food is fast, fun, and satisfying. All at what I consider a very reasonable price. The service is fast and friendly, too.
(4)Tammie C.
To satisfy my husband's constant craving of sushi, Kuru Kuru in Kahala Mall is the only place I will agree to go to. I'm not a huge sushi fan. I am however a big lover of poke! Which is why I ALWAYS order their ahi poke don. As you can see by my picture, it is piled high and fresh! I love the little crunch of what I'm guessing is hawaiian salt that is perfectly spread throughout. I will always say Kuru Kuru is 100 times better than Kozo Sushi or Genki. I will even go as far as saying, I'd rather eat at Kuru Kuru than Yanagi Sushi! I kept hearing such high reviews about Yanagi Sushi, but was extremely disappointed in the taste and the lack of service...not to mention their prices. In conclusion, if you are looking for a conveyor belt sushi type of place...Kuru Kuru is the place to go!
(4)Saige B.
I've been here a few times before but this was the first time that there wasn't any sushi on the belt. Maybe a few plates of tamago and tofu but that was pretty much it. We had to wait about a half an hour before the belt started to fill up with sushi. In the mean time we had ordered a few plates so we were fine waiting for other plates to come out. We had come just before the dinner rush so there was no wait. Pretty good sushi. My favorite it the Garlic Ahi. The service is usually spot on with orders and refills however this time they seemed lackadaisical. Wasn't asked if I need a refill until the end of our meal and had to flag down a waiter to put in our orders. Perhaps it was the crew working tonight I wouldn't hold it against them.
(4)Vivian H.
Must Order: Spicy Ahi or Ahi Poke Wonton, Spicy Tempura I'm in a weird poke phase... after years of not eating any raw fish its the only thing I want! We got a little tired of Genki so I wanted to give Kuru Kuru another shot because of all of the great reviews for here. Yes it's a long wait so don't come here already hungry. It will be brutal. AHI POKE NIGIRI (3 belly rubs): overall I liked the ahi here better than Genki. It seems less stringy and a little more fresh. The ahi poke nigiri had a good amount of ahi in it mixed with your usual poke seasonings. Although I wasn't super excited about this nigiri, I do think it was pretty good. SPICY AHI INARI (4 belly rubs): this is usually our favorite dish. We love the flavor of the bean curd with the sushi rice and it being topped off with some spicy ahi is even better! Kuru Kuru's version might be a little too mayo-y for my taste but I still enjoyed it! AHI POKE WONTON (5 belly rubs): We LOVE this one! First of all, who can turn down a big deep fried wonton? Then top it off with some ahi poke or spicy ahi? Winnahs! The only thing I wish was a little different was rather than strands of onion, it actually be finely chopped into the poke. SPICY TEMPURA (5 belly rubs): Another usual favorite. Although I still think the spicy ahi is a bit mayo-y for me, I liked this variation of the spicy tempura over Genki's. The tempura had a good flavor and I really liked the cucumber in the roll. And the biggest difference was it wasn't drowning in sauce so you can really appreciate the different components of it. SERVICE: Yes there are a bunch of teenagers working there, but I was surprised how attentive they were (in their slight teenage-ry attitude). I appreciated being regularly asked if I wanted tea refilled or if I was ok. So far as teenage employees go, they've got a good start with just some room for improvement. OVERALL: I would definitely come back to fulfill my sushi cravings!
(4)Erin K.
Kuru Kuru used to be my favorite place to get cheap sushi (after a bad experience at genki, my husband and I would only come here!) but after not being able to eat raw fish for 9 months, we came for dinner and left very disappointed. It was last Friday night and surprisingly it wasn't too crowded being that it was dinner time AND the weekend. We only had to wait for about 10 minutes for a booth. As soon as we were seated, we began to dig in and we also placed an order with our waitress. It wasn't until my second plate that I realized that the rice tasted a little "mushy but still crunchy on the inside rice" I mentioned it to my husband and he agreed that the rice wasn't cooked well. I was soooooo disappointed because even if the fish was perfectly good, the rice just ruined it. I decided to mention it to our waitress who apologized and said she'd let the kitchen know. There we were sitting with all these plates of sushi with mushy/undercooked rice. We ate the fish, leaving the rice and decided not to order anything else. Our bill was $33 and I was not happy to pay that much for "bad" sushi. I really wish I had asked to speak to a manager... We will probably not be going back to kuru kuru again =(
(1)Jerry L.
We were at the mall before our flight back, and really hungry. Kuru Kuru had enough variety to satisfy the different palates of the whole group. Pro tips when eating mall sushi: Salmon - can't mess up salmon, since most are from farms Scallops - throw enough mayo and tobiko on it and it'll all be ok California rolls - never heard imitation crab not being "fresh" Cooked dishes that were pretty good: Fried chicken nuggets Even with the different $$ for the different colored plates, most people can get their sushi fix satisfied for under $20. Fact that there was a wait, mostly locals, was a good sign. New plates come through pretty quick, but noticed that some of the less popular choices kept going round and round.
(4)Lori F.
For some reason, I think Genki Sushi is better than this place. Maybe it's the texture of the rice? To me it seems like the rice is more soggy here. The prices seem a little lower than Genki & the sushi is more filling. Also would suggest getting here a few minutes before they open, at 11am, because the place literally filled up for lunch by 11:02am. I did think the service here was pretty good. As busy as it was, we were checked on quite often. That's about it...nothing really stood out for me.
(3)Jayson L.
Affordable sushi, good service, and smiles. If you want to eat sushi and you don't want to spend $50 per visit then kuru kuru is the place to go. they are on the cheaper price for different type of sushi. they have so many choice to pick and they are all under $5 per plate. usually 5 plate makes me full and cost me less then $20 , which is good price for sushi. i'm a fan and i come to eat here quite often.
(4)Amanda A.
I have to be honest and say I was a little disappointed when coming here. My bf and I usually go to the Kuru Kuru in Aiea, across from Pearlridge. This is my bf's go to place when he craves sushi. Although I don't eat sushi, I like coming here and enjoy the other things on the menu like the tempura mushroom and the chicken karaage. We were in the Kahala area and my bf was craving for sushi so we thought we'd go to Kuru Kuru. Being fans of the other location we thought we'd be getting the same level of service and food but we were greatly disappointed. We got there around 4:30 and it was pretty empty so we were seated right away. There was nothing on the belt besides the wasabi, which was understandable since there wasn't too many people so we had to order everything. Once we were seated, we were used to someone coming right away and asking if we wanted to order anything but no one came. It kind of irritated me because there was a good amount of employees and about 10 guests, you'd think you'd get more attention but no. We waited about 5 minutes and then I just got fed up so my bf flagged down a waiter. Our food came out in okay time. Let's say I wasn't used to waiting that long for my food. Still there was no food on the belt. It got busier around 5:00pm with almost all seats filled and still they didn't fill the belt so we had to order again. This time we put in everything we wanted so we wouldn't have to wait around again. Our food took a little longer and there was some things that we ordered that never came out. I thought I'd just be patient and wait but after 15 minutes of waiting I just asked for it again. Then I wait for about another 10 minutes and finally it comes out. At that point I was already over it. What's more upsetting was the quality of the food. My mushroom tempura was mushy and not crunchy at all, my salmon skin had way too much starch on it, and my bf's poke bowl looked awful. I could tell they don't know how to cut fish because they totally butchered it. Let's say the next time we go to Kuru Kuru it'll be at the original location. It's a little sad that they don't have the same quality of service and food at both locations.
(2)Derek S.
Had to wait for our car at Jiffy Lube so decided to Stop by for lunch. We went around 11am which was nice because there was no line and there's always a line here but after going here a few times a haven't been a really Big Fan of Kuru Kuru, I'm not sure if it was just the time we go but the Sushi doesn't taste as great as i hope for considering that amazing reviews this place gets. The sushi is a little small compared to the normal place we go, and the rice was really mushy which made the sushi taste soggy. On a positive note there Ika Karage and Chicken Karage was very Ono. Environment was OK, we normally see a long line so the counters are showing a lot of wear as well as the dishes there using. I think it might be time for a remodel. All in all it was OK, it was convenient for us at the time so we went.
(3)Tayla J.
UPDATED: A year later from my last review and i am happy to say My experience is much better! Fresh food on the line, more options and food overall taste better then Genki. Only downside is it is an hour wait EVERYDAY at dinner time, probably because there is no other Kuru Kuru any where close to Kahala. Hope they open one in Hawaii Kai.
(3)Grant K.
I first tried this place a few months ago and I really enjoyed my visit. I've been coming pretty often ever since. My favorite dish to get is the Mix Don, it's half spicy ahi and half shoyu ahi. Unlike Genki sushis ahi bowls, Kuru Kuru loads theirs up. Their bowls are huge! And they're only about $7! I encourage everyone to visit Kuru Kuru Sushi! B
(4)John S.
Kuru Kuru Sushi has quite possibly got to be the worst conveyor belt sushi joint I've ever had the displeasure of dining at. The waitstaff are a bunch of teenagers who give off an attitude that screams they don't want to be there and that the only reason why they're there is because they get paid to do their jobs poorly. The waitress I got was timid and didn't make me want to order anything. She made no suggestions, had no smile on her face, and gave me a puzzled look when I sent back a dish. Thankfully, another waitress was quick to give her a signal that it was okay and I didn't have to pay for that disgusting bowl of spicy tuna. There are two reasons why I continued eating. I was hungry and the guy in the center making the sushi seemed like a nice guy. In the restaurant business being a nice guy doesn't cut it. His sushi was poorly wrapped and spilling over onto the plate. Very sloppy work for something that's supposed to be a work of art. The spicy ahi was bland. Not even soy sauce helped it. Ultimately, I sent it back along with an order of avocado maki that was unripe and bitter. It's ridiculous how poor the quality was considering there was a video showcasing how sushi was supposed to be done playing on a giant LCD mounted on the wall. After finishing my meal, I was offered tea. Once, twice, three times, possibly a few more times. I hadn't picked up or ordered any more dishes in nearly 20 minutes, yet all I was offered was tea and water. There was a queue formed outside and the table I was sitting at was prime for the next victim, yet the waitstaff failed to notice that I was finished and wanted my check. Finally a waitress noticed that I had been sitting idle for all that time and decided I probably wanted the check. The first time I dined here I was disappointed. This time, I was appalled. It would take a miracle for me to go back there a third time. Sadly, Genki Sushi is leaps and bounds better.
(1)Shayna K.
Get here early...it was packed even when we showed up at 4:30! What is the deal with this place? Why is there always a line to get it when the sushi is sooooo mediocre? I don't get it. It is cheap, I'll give it that. But every piece of sushi was like eating fast food. We coulda gone to Kozo. I don't know--I don't get the popularity of Kuru Kuru.
(2)Denise K.
Cheap, quick, conveyor belt sushi. I love the ingen (fried green bean) nigiri and the spicy tuna don. The garlic salmon nigiri is pretty good, too. Can you really complain when dinner for two is less than $30? Amazing.
(3)lauren n.
so all i wanted was a handroll cucumber roll, i asked the girls at the cashier if they could do it they said no!!! so i asked if they could make a California roll but no crab just cucumber, again they said no!!! i dont know what the big deal is, it is a sushi restaurant they should be able to wrap a cucumber. never ever coming back here again!!!!!
(1)Just B.
I give Kuru Kuru Sushi a solid four stars. The food is pretty good, prices are decent, and service was excellent on the day we went. We went around 5p, got seated at a booth a few minutes later, and our water and hot tea was always full. I like the ahi poke nigiri especially, but everything we tried was good. We ordered a few things off the menu and it came to us pretty quickly. This isn't a place where I'm like "WOW, I feel like going everyday!" but this is definitely where I would go if I wanted sushi.
(4)Sash T.
My gf and I finally got to try the new kuru kuru sushi in kahala mall last night. We signed in and waited for about 15 mins and it was worth it! They definitey give more fish than genki sushi and the service was great. I like how they bring you water and tea to your table before you sit down. Everything we ate was good, so I can't wait to go back and try one of their donburis.
(4)Chris M.
I'm so happy that Kuru Kuru is at Kahala Mall! Granted, there's ALWAYS a wait. Unless you eat dinner before 5 pm, expect to wait a minimum of 20-30 minutes; 45 or more if coming at a peak hour on the weekend. Since it's in the mall, the wait is not so bad - just take turns shopping at the stores nearby, or come prepared with a fully charged cell phone battery. Pay attention and don't wander off too far. If you don't answer within a few seconds of calling your name, they move on to the next person on the list! Bad for you, good for me :) I was honestly surprised by the quality of the sushi here - better than I thought it would be for the price you pay, and soooo much better than Genki. I tried unagi, spicy tuna, maguro, hamachi, and salmon. All were really good; my favorite is the spicy tuna. I love the service here! There's always someone asking if you need anything. If you're like me, this is a good thing - when I'm hungry I have very little patience. Water, hot tea, and special orders were delivered quickly. Seating is a little cramped here, but it's not really a huge deal since you can be in and out within 45 minutes or less. I'll be back when the next sushi craving hits!
(4)Alice C.
Maybe I came at the wrong time or the wrong day, but I think this Kuru Kuru needs a bit more work to it until it can matchup to its original Kuru Kuru in Pearl Kai center. I do agree with everyone else that Kuru Kuru trumps Genki AND Sushi San anyday, because of their portions and price. I always get the same thing whenever I go to Kuru Kuru which is the Shrimp Tendon, Union Roll, Lobster ball, couple other sushi, and then top it off with dessert - Coffee Jello I also noticed at this location they serve Strawberries with whipcream, and Banana with whipcream andddd choco syrup drizzled over em'... heavenly! but I didn't try it cuz I realized that I can do that at home, but its a good dessert to be going around. My boyfriend ordered the mixed ahi bowl and it equivalent to the size of my head if not bigger! Unfortunately the ahi poke that day was tasteless and the Spicy Tuna didn't taste special. Maybe it was just a wrong batch cuz its always a hit or miss. well like I said, maybe it was a bad day to go, also I do notice that its only couple weeks old therefore I will go back and try again!
(3)Forest S.
Service was good. The sushi was good; their spicy rolls were more appealing to me.
(4)Crystal N.
If you like Genki sushi, then you'll absolutely LOVE Kuru kuru sushi!! Their pieces of sushi are a mouthful and so far always fresh. The prices for everything is pretty good too. A MUST try is their spicy ahi don! it's humungous, & I believe its around $6 only! They also have coffee jelly on their dessert menu, my favorite :) The only downer is that the seating is limited, so I usually have to wait 15 to 20min.. but then again that's also a good sign.. meaning everyone wants to eat kurukuru!
(5)Angel L.
Glad to try this place the quality of the fish is better than Genki Sushi, very pleased!
(4)Stella L.
Cheaper than Genki but the sushi rice is packed too tightly. The tea cup was stained, too. But what got me the most was the dirty rag on top of the cutting board that the guy used as he cut the fish. Sushi place has to be CLEAN. Koko wa dame desu~.
(2)Tina H.
When your sushi chef doesn't understand what "sashimi" is, you know you've picked the wrong place for raw fish. A group of us went in one afternoon craving the delicious Kuru Kuru sushi we've come to love. If you've been to the original Kuru Kuru in Aiea, you know that the wait is long and at this new Kuru Kuru, there was no exception. (Note: So, if you're planning to have dinner at 7:30 pm, yelper, sign in at 7:00 pm.) After a mildly long wait, we were seated. The restaurant is small with limited booths. At the center of it all is a television screen that loops a silent tutorial on sushi. I've seen better acting from fake orgasms, but the cheesiness was entertaining in itself. We picked up a few items off the conveyor belt. I picked up some nigiri and spicy ahi dishes. A ping of delight still strikes me when I think of the maguro that I ate that day - A thick, fresh slice of fish seated on top of white rice. Sadly, one dish can't bring this review up to five stars. My good friend ordered a bowl of rice with an order of sashimi. Sashimi (for those not in the know) is bite sized pieces of fish served by itself, no rice. He waited a while until the chef brought out four plates of a special sushi roll. We didn't give him hell for it at first (we even took some of the plates because we felt sorry he made them for no reason) and my friend described what he wanted as clearly as he could. The chef turned back around, worked on our order, and when he came back, he had four plates of salmon ... nigiri. Not sashimi. Not even close. My friend had to correct him again. The customers behind us seemed to be having the same problem as I heard them give back a dish they did not order. I know that some of the sushi dishes among my amigos were a hit-or-miss and the service that you get from this place is not phenomenal enough to justify that or the fact that you have to wait so long to be seated. I gave this place 3 stars because I did think that some of their sushi was better than other places (especially for the price) but I think if you're wanting to wait around for Kuru Kuru, you're better off going to the original.
(3)Wesley C.
I tried the Kahala Kurur Kuru twice, but it is not the same quality of fish as Pearl City store. Ahi & Hamachi were slightly off color & fishy, The spicy ahi roll was generous & tasty. The mixed poke bowl was heaped with poki far above the rice, and they do have decent poki. Service was excellent. The prices are extremly reasonable; $20-30 per person with tip.
(3)Lei I.
I love this place! It's good quality food at reasonable prices. I went there last Saturday night. Since I'm pregnant I couldn't indulge in the sushi but I love thier Chawan Mushi and their Udon. Also, the fresh fruits were really sweet. The staff there are always really friendly even when they were really busy. They made sure I was well taken care of. I had 3 different waiters come up to me to ask if I needed anything and they always filled my tea and water up promply. The restaurant has a nice decor. It's clean and has a casual ambiance. It's located next to the theater at Kahala Mall so It's a great place to eat before or after a movie.
(5)Wendy I.
Best kaiten sushi in Hawaii! I have been praying, hoping for a kurukuru on the east side...then when they announced they'd be coming, I was waiting, and waiting...and they are here, still waiting and waiting. Expect a way..30-60 minutes pretty much anytime of the day...maybe a little less if you come between 3pm-4:30pm. The Kahala one is smaller than the Pearl Kai one, and when more people on the east side try kurukuru, the wait will be even longer! Wish they would open at the empty old Block Buster space in Koko marina *hint*hint*...I only wish! I love this place, we've been going once or twice a week since they've opened in Kahala. Portion sizes are way better than Genki! Pricing is better. Wish their soda was refillable like Genki. At Kurukuru, my husband and I usually spend $30 and are satisfied. Genki...we spend a little more, but much happier after KuruKuru. They also don't have amaebi and shishamo that they used to have at Pearl Kai. I also wish they'd have a keiki bowl like Genki does. Poke Bowl will put you over the edge. Don't expect to be able to eat anything else after eating that thing. Wish they'd open later. They close at 9pm!
(5)Kelly L.
I LOVE conveyor belt sushi, and this one is a reasonable mix of quality and price. The fish quality is surprisingly high for a conveyor-belt joint and prices are on par with Genki. The only quibble I have is they sometimes lack a bit on variety. On a recent Sunday afternoon visit, there were only 3 or 4 types of things rotating around, although there were plenty of plates of each. Nonetheless, this is the current conveyor belt sushi place of my heart!
(4)Mai T.
My sister has raved about this place for a long time so i was really excited to finally visit Kuru x2. However i was in for a little bit of disapointment. When we sat the items that came around were things like edamame, watermelon, kappa sushi (one with cucumber) and wasabi, ebi. Do we had to order a lot of the items, but none of them really stood out as being any different than Genki. We had some items recommended by the waitress, tempura fried sushi, but it was not something that I would say I need to come back here for. In the end, i think the best item i enjoyed was the natto. Unless the one at Kahala is doing something different than the one at Pearl Kai... this place did not pump me up.
(2)Ron T.
This place is the bomb dot com. My bro and I recently checked out this new location at Kahala Mall. I'm a noob to Kuru Kuru, but read the reviews from the Pearl City location, so I went in with high expectations. I ordered the mixed donburi ($7.95). All I can say is....brrrrrahhhhhhhhh. Frickin thing was packed with so much fish, my bro had to do a double take. Half spicy ahi, half ahi poke, topped off with a piece of ahi, salmon and green onions.....it was kanak attack central after that. I really liked the spicy ahi...good flavors with a nice creamy texture. If I'm too lazy to wait in line, I'll probably do a take out. Or maybe beast mode that wait, get in, and try all that other good stuff.
(5)Mahina K.
Like many people in Hawaii my sushi life sits with Genki sushi. It's not the best, most authentic sushi out there, but it's cheap and you can get a variety you want, not one that's set for you. Kuru Kuru Sushi opens at 11, we got there by 11:30 and were seated by 11:50. It's a very small venue so the wait is pretty long so I just hope for the best. When we got in we were seated at the counter, usually I prefer a booth. The upsides of the counter is that everyone gets to grab their own food rather than asking for someone else to pass it to you down the bench. So like Genki, Kuru Kuru charges you by how many plates of a certain color you have. Yellow being the cheapest, then red, green and I think blue. I'm not completely sure but I'm pretty sure that it's cheaper than Genki Sushi. Conveyor belt sushi is extremely cost effective for those trying out sushi because you get to see what it is your eating before you pick it up. It's part of the hardest part of eating a new food because you don't know what it looks like before you grab it. I didn't eat all morning so I was starving. I was about to go get something else to eat if I didn't get seated soon. But once we were seated I could eat whatever as all the colorful plates passed me by. They had some different choices than Genki, like some blue thing called Natzusuke (which turned out to be some type of eggplant) nigiri or the tempura green beans. But I stuck with my old favorites of maguro nigiri, ebi nigiri, karaage chicken, croquette, and the new found favorite California rolls (which I carefully pushed out the avocado for texture and taste reasons). I was so full after all of that. Everything was really good. The California rolls though have a lot of rice. They're the size of the shoyu plates and most of that is rice. The nigiri the sashimi on top is cut really big so you get a lot of meat for your rice. The karaage chicken was good but kind of flavorless. Some of the pieces I ate I swear did not even have chicken inside. Even though Kuru kuru was a good experience I think the wait will keep me going back to Genki. Genki is a chain and has more places to eat so the wait is usually shorter, especially when they first open. I'm not against Kuru Kuru, I just find convenience a big decision factor of where I eat.
(4)Lindsay G.
Almost the same as the aiea location but not. The foods the same but service is junk. We went around 4pm and was sat quickly. I tried to order but it seemed the waitresses were more interested in giggling with eat other and looking pretty. The food taste the same but they need to put more food out on the conveyor belt. I swear it was almost empty and I had to order everything. I won't be coming to this location as often as I do the aiea location even though it's closer.
(3)Alen N.
I've tried the Kuru Kuru Sushi on Kam. Highway, but felt lazy to drive out to get it. I was ecstatic when the Kahala opened up. It has a nice location (next to Kahala Theater). The wait lines may be long, but I'd recommend to come early before the peak times. The longest I've waited was about 45 minutes or so. The sushi here are not the best, but definitely worth it for the price. THe service is great, they are much more friendlier than Genki's. The sushi sizes are a bit bigger, and the prices are slightly cheaper. Overall, this is a great place to go if you crave sushi at a cheap price.
(4)Krys Y.
Mmmmmmm... I liked this place because the food was very fresh, the rotary belt was very stocked with plates of food, and the waitresses were very good about refilling your tea, water, and checking with you if you need anything. I had a LOT of spicy ahi nigiri, tried the fried tako, and the spicy salmon with onion on the top. Everything was pretty good (right along the lines of all the other rotary sushi places). However, I must say that the place isn't that big, so there are about 5 booths, and a steady stream of customers always in line. There are a lot of seats around the rotary though. Also, there aren't that many people in the back making the sushi, so I notice that the people who were doing take-out orders, were waiting a LONG time for their food to come out. I'd still recommend this place to friends. The sushi and food were very good and very fresh. Prices aren't super cheap cheap, but the pieces of sushi are definitely worth what you pay (they aren't skimpy!!)
(3)Jennifer K.
I decided to go here because I used to always drive out to Aiea for Kuru Kuru Sushi. Naturally, I was thrilled when I found out that the Kuru Kuru in Kahala finally opened. My friends and I made our journey over on the 2nd day they were open. We were afraid it would be busy so we went there with the notion of just ordering take out. However, since we decided to go at 3:30ish, it wasn't very busy at all and we were able to dine in. (not a good idea for me since I ordered way too much food haha). They have pretty similar items and prices as the Kuru Kuru in Aiea but one thing that I noticed that they have that I don't believe Aiea had (or at least didn't notice the last few times I went there) was a tofu salad. Unfortunately, I thought the dressing was a little too light and unflavorful. I was going to give Kuru Kuru Sushi 5 stars because the food was just as good as ever and my spicy ahi bowl had a lot of spicy ahi in it but unfortunately, I have to take away a star for their service. We had to wait a long time at times for a server to come help us because they were all grouped together on the other side of the restaurant talking. Also, when we were ready to pay, the cashier took that exact same moment to switch register drawers, making us wait and a line form. No one had to pay for at least 5-10 minutes before we got up to pay. I don't see why they couldn't have done it sooner when no one was paying (she didn't start switching until we were in front of the register waiting) or even after the line dies down. It really doesn't take that long to ring a few people up.
(4)Gee T.
I rated this 4 stars because although I love how much cheaper the price is from Genki's. It doesn't compare to the quality from Genki's. The kurukuru in Kahala mall is nice & clean, most of the workers are nice. I go here when I'm craving for my chawan mushi & their spicy ahi bowls! Why? because they give so much & it fills me up!
(4)P H.
Excellent service! Food and drinkies keep on coming!
(5)Naomi C.
So, my boyfriend and I decided to try out Kuru Kuru Sushi after hearing a bunch of people saying it was a lot better than Genki Sushi. I wanted to see if the person who created Genki improved that much on Kuru Kuru. And because my boyfriend is a cook at Genki, he could be a good judge of that. But what I got was not what I expected at all. The food? Good for the most part. If you don't mind that half the menu was not available and the portions were way off. The rolls had a lot of rice but my 3 pieces of dynamite were each about the size of a quarter and the crab mayo was non-existent in there. The service was absolutely horrible. Our server did not know what she was doing at all. My boyfriend said it could be she was new or something but it seemed like she wasn't even trying. I asked her what was in two rolls and she replied "I don't know" for both. She never bothered trying to ask someone else around her; Then when taking my order she got my drink size wrong and made me repeat myself three times. I would tell you her name but they weren't even wearing name tags and they had no comment cards. All that I know is she was around 5'6ish with glasses. Never going to go back.
(1)Jenny C.
This review will make up for my Pearl City Kuru Kuru review! I came by on Friday for dinner and it was great. Yes, the wait was a bit long. I think we had about 8 parties in front of us - but the wait was fairly okay. This restaurant took over the Carl's Jr. location which I was amazed at - they really worked the space to their advantage. The portions of fish, the ahi dons, you can't beat it. I had my fill of hamachi, salmon, onion salmon and hot off the fryer chicken karaage. Can't get better than that. Next time - I really want one of their dons. I saw a couple served up and they literally MOUND the fish onto the rice. It was crazy...and it's only like $7.95. I wonder if they give you the same amount for takeout. By the way - the service was very efficient. There were about 5 ladies working and we constantly got asked if we were okay and getting refills on our water and tea. Their dishes are cheaper, bigger portioned and seems fresher than Genki. I think I may have found my new fast food sushi joint - but beware...I don't think they will EVER go down in wait time (look at the PC location!). Go in knowing that... P.S. The rice isn't as mushy here. And no smell! I love when places open new locations...
(5)Genelle S.
Location? Kinda odd because it's not exactly next to the other food places in Kahala Mall, but it is next to the movie theater, gamestop, hallmark, thinker things, and fun factory, so I guess if you needed to go to those places, it would be convenient. It's also great that it's closer to town. Food? It's just as good as the one in Pearl City, but I did notice that the spicy ahi was spicier. For me, it's not a problem, but for those who don't like it so spicy, it may be. Service? Very good. For now, the place is kind of bland looking. White walls and a tv screen showing the proper way to eat sushi. I'm sure more will be added later, like a menu or artwork. This kuru kuru accommodates more people than the other one does, but the booths are noticeably shorter. They only hold 6 whereas the Pearl City one can hold 8. Eh, sushi bars aren't meant for big parties anyway. I think it's great that they opened a new location because one is definitely not enough. No more hour long waits. :)
(4)Michael D.
Sushi to go please, so I don't have to wait forever to sit down and watch the sushi go round and round. This is a new location next to the theaters in Kahala Mall. Probably best to park on the roof above the theaters and take the stairs/elevator down. You can't miss it. Parking is always free! There are no reservations as it's more of a fast food type of sushi place. You will need to walk in and write your name on the sheet and wait your turn. There's almost always a wait, so try to plan accordingly. Now if you're impatient like me, call in your order so you can just walk in, pay, and leave. Prices are really cheap for what you get compared to Genki. Personally, Kuru Kuru would be my choice between the two. Menus are very similar but the quality in my opinion is better here. The spicy tuna, tempura pumpkin, pork shumai, and spam sushi are a few of my favorites. Plates range from about $1.45 to $7.00 depending on what you get. Most will eat about $10 - $15 worth of food. Now if you're a total pig like me, you may eat a little more. Make sure you have a couple hours to spare if you plan to eat here. Other than that, worth the money and time. I LOVE Sushi!
(4)Anthony I.
By far the best sushi belt place I have been to. While the wait is long, the quality far surpasses that of any genki sushi that I've gone to.
(4)Zhe L.
My favorite fast food sushi place in Hawaii! Way better then genki. Get some grub and catch a movie!
(4)Tracy M.
Kuru Kuru is a typical sushi boat kinda place. Service is one to be improved and the food isn't top notch, but when the prices are so low, how can you complain? I think they've got a better selection than genki though.
(3)Robert G.
Best conveyor sushi joint on Oahu. Wait times can be ridiculous though. I was dining alone and could see single empty counter chairs vacant for more than 30 minutes. I finally got seated at the 50 minute mark. If you like the oily ones, their Shiima Saba is the best. I usually eat 4 or 5 plates of it.. I lust for it.
(4)Jujubees N.
Bad, slow, unfriendly service. Take-out not recommended because portions much smaller than dine in.
(2)DarTif S.
Hmm...what's not to like about fast and reasonable priced belt driven sushi? 3.5 star on the sushi as you will never walk away feeling like this was the best sushi you had in you life, but what do you really expect for conveyor belt $1 something sushi? 4 star for the service as the girls are pretty attentive and can easily be flagged down for refills of water or tea. 4 star or price because they still give you more than Genki. Who the heck still goes there anyway? Oh yeah...I do when the damn line or waiting list is for the next week. Negative half star because I'm still hella pissed that they took away the mixed don bowl (regular size). That WAS the best thing they had, but they still get away with it because reasonable tasting conveyor belt driven sushi is actually harder to find. I was actually thinking they should hire one of those tanaka of tokyo guys to do the sushi up front. Fish and rice everywhere!
(4)