The food isn't bad, it's like the Applebee's of Japanese food. But why go here when you have such a vast array of excellent Japanese restaurants at your disposal everywhere?
(1)
Sandy N.
I don't know if it was because I was way too full and couldn't eat anymore, but I thought the food here was just okay. We ordered the spicy tuna on crispy rice, spinach salad, gyoza, and karaage along with sake, beer, and my drink (moscato with strawberries). My friends were going to order their dessert toast which is their specialty, but I was going to explode so they cancelled the ordered. I ate way too much on this trip. The waiter said that they have this restaurant in California but it's called Tokyo Table.
(2)
Kawai L.
This place is by far the best Japanese food Ive ever tried!! I recommend this place for a bday or a nice lunch or dinner date. I love this place. Lots of unique drinks and great food. Although the food seems pricey its totally worth it. Portions are large so you will be full and satisfied before u leave!
(5)
Elizabeth J.
You HAVE to make reservations. Our waitress Alyssa was awesome, and the best is the fried crispy rice spicy sushi and home made tofu salad. Great for lunch too. I love being able to schedule my reservation on line on YELP!
(5)
Reggie A.
Honey Toast and Orion Beer is Awesome! Food was really good!
(4)
Y M.
Went back tonight to celebrate my sister's birthday. Even on a Tuesday night they were packed! Good thing we had reservations. Five of us shared a Tofu Salad (my favorite, their tofu is soooo good), Hamachi Carpaccio, Karaage, Spider Roll, Unagi Rice, Chicken Teriyaki Quesadilla, and Shoyu and Spicy Miso Ramen. Everything was very good, including the drinks (they have a good selection of cocktails, sake, shochu and wines too). Only if we had enough space in our tummies to make it to the desert, we were just so so full! The one thing I noticed today though is, that the restaurant is a little dusty. I think they need to do a good cleaning of those wooden pieces hanging by the window. They look really cool but kinda gross when they're coated in dust. (I couldn't help but to notice because we were sitting right under them tonight) Other than that, the staff is nice and the food is always very good.
(4)
lani h.
$3 for appetizers during happy hour is a pretty good deal. Food is okay, nothing spectacular. However, the low number of stars is due to poor service. We were neglected by our server. We had to wave her down several times to order and to have our water filled. Some staff can benefit from training on professionalism. I go to a restaurant to enjoy food and company...I really don't want to listen to a group of service staff talk about their lives. That's what the break room is for. As for the Honeytoast (which was the only reason I came here), it is nothing compare to the one @ Ichiza's. The toast is not hot enough and needs more honey.
(2)
Haiya S.
OH MY GOSHHHH! ITS SO DELICIOUS!! I LOVED THEIR SALMON BENTO SO MUCH! IT WAS COOKED SO NICE N MOIST N JUST RIGHT!!!! and the fresh tofu is so unique and good! and it's real cool lookin inside! it's just gr8!! :D
(5)
Keane L.
I'm going to make you drool in your office (or alone, naked in your apartment). Sashimi - The best I've ever had. Perfect texture and chilled over a bed of ice. Unagi and Rice - Sizzling iron bowl with huge pieces of unagi, served with unagi broth. Sushi Pizza - Baked, unrolled sushi topped with crab and jalapenos. Honey Toast - Two giant slices of pan bread buttered, grilled, cut, and drenched in delicious honey, served with smooth vanilla ice cream. Just tell your boss you were looking at porn (or tell your roommate you were thinking of him). How deliciously awkward... That's Asian fusion.
(5)
Brian R.
Update 10-23: This is the only place that we ate at twice this trip because of our first experience. Winners were the cucumber salad, miso clam soup, agedashi tofu and honey toast. The reason for the update and revision to my rating was because of the angus rib-eye steak that I ordered this evening. Steak was ordered medium rare and came out well done. After making several attempts to get the waiters attention, I ate my $22.00 piece of shoe leather... yum. I am docking this establishment one star for crimes committed against angus. 10/21 Cool vibe, great atmosphere, tasty food. Service was terrific, they even brought out dessert first for my silly girlfriend.
(3)
Vernon Y.
The homemade tofu salad was good, as was the sushi pizza. The mapo tofu was not so good. Had to ask 3 times before we got our hot teas. The place was not busy, yet the waiter seemed like he was in a rush to get us out. He even took away my sake glass before I was done (and I really liked the nanbubijin sake)! Rookie? I hope the honey toast lives up to it's billing and salvages the experience. Sorry, average is the best rating I am comfortable giving.
(3)
Adrian T.
My girlfriend loves this place so much and I can see why. The environment here is pretty lax. This place is located in Ala Moana. The parking here is free after 6 PM even if you received a ticket for parking. It isn't that hard to find parking. However, I had a friend get his car broken into and get many boxes of things stolen. I'm not sure if that was his fault for having them in there or if someone knew he had expensive items but it's just a precaution. The place is well lit and pretty fancy for what it is. Expect a 45 minute wait. I am not sure if you can reserve by phone. I've done it once out of our many visits here but other times they said they can't hold reservations which is pretty lame especially when you're hungry with 15 other people. The service here is cool and I have to say, the servers are pretty looking people guys and girls. They all mostly likely have some type of personality they bring with them we have noticed. They are well dressed too. They do split checks so tip them well if they do that. I like them and they constantly fill your water up. I personally drink like 7 cups of water. Their men's bathroom is okay I mean it is a public bathroom but for what it is it's nicer than others. Let's get to the food, they have a pretty good selection. The garlic shrimp rice and the garlic scallops taste similar and they are really cooked to perfection with the same consistency every time. It was definitely hard recreating this recipe especially since they are served in piping hot stone bowls. The servers will ask or usually go forward in mixing your rice and letting it sit so that the rice gets crispy. Just be sure to not touch the bowl because I've burned myself a few times. The pork chops are good and the watercress was awesome with the sauce that comes on it. There is a lot so I usually have to bring the rest home so they do have containers for you to "balon." The sushi is great and the server told us that there are specific seasons for certain fish. The hamachi runs out fast so I went during lunch and I have to say it's like butter. They have a selection of sushi and it says where it came from. The fish is definitely fresh and caught from the same day. However I don't know if it's like Japan where they go to the markets and bid for the best tuna and check how well it cuts etc. I am not going to say here because I want to keep this information to myself but if you happen to find out after I've let part of this secret out then more power to you. Their other menu is great but I didn't really enjoy their loco moco mixed when they did do the mixing. The honey toast is free on your birthday. They used to serve it with three honey toast but now it's two with a candle. The drinks... They have a few on tap. I'm not sure if they have a happy hour. The selection is major though. They have wines, shots and different imports. The pricing is okay for what it is. Just make sure to have money if you want to drink and eat here. However if you care about your portions and care about your money to portion size, big braddahs cannot expect to be well fed here. That's the only reason why I have four stars but I love this place nonetheless.
(4)
Luis T.
I wish i could give a 0-zero star. Kitchen was filthy, table was gross, floor dirty, i think i need a shower now. The food was not as bad, it just sucked.
(1)
TaraMarie P.
This is honestly an amazing restaurant in my book. I've been coming here for years and I can't come here enough. The last time I was here, I came on my own. It was a "selfie" night as in.... by my selfie. I sat at the bar for the very first time and splurged on myself about $40 worth of food. I am *not* over exaggerating. Needless to say, I was overly satisfied. I had a few drinks, got an entire pork entree to myself with a side of rice, got one of the sushi dishes and some edamame. I ate like there was no tomorrow--I think because I knew at the time I wouldn't be going back out for a long long while. The bartender was very friendly and congenial, easy to make conversation with. My food was amazing as always. My mojito? Abso-friggin-lutely heavenly. I've never tasted a mojito made so well. One thing I miss is the mid-day menu with smaller portions of some chef-made special. We used to be able to get poke and there were even drink concoctions. Everyone loves this place for the honey toast but I honestly love the food, the atmosphere, and even the prices. While it's pricier than typical plate lunch places, it doesn't break the bank. For the quality, taste and presentation of the food, I'd say its an amazing deal. Five stars based on my satisfaction, one that spans perhaps four years of eating here.
(5)
Andrea T.
A local from our zipline tour recommended Shokudo for sushi, saying it was absolutely delicious here so since we haven't tried sushi on the island yet, me and my bf decided to come here. Parking was quite a hassle, circled around about two times because we couldn't make a left turn for the longest on any street and finally parked in the garage right next to it. Came around 10pm on a Saturday night, pretty busy, and it was about a 10 minute wait. The interior decor was really nice and it had a very pleasant ambiance. We were seated in a booth and since we've been doing our researching on Yelp on what we wanted to eat, we ordered right away. We got the spider roll, lobster dynamite roll, amaebi, and got sucked into dessert at the end and ordered the tempura bread pudding. I noticed the different flavors of vodka soda and floats, something different and don't normally see served before so I got the lychee vodka soda. It was pretty good, just like soda with a hint of vodka and lychee flavor, the vodka soda already came in a can, not a mixed drink they concocted so they just poured it over ice and plopped two big lychees on top. The lobster dynamite roll was good but the spider roll was a huge disappointment! I've had many spider rolls before, and this was not one of the best. I was immediately thrown off when I saw carrots in the middle, as if I was eating sushi bought from a grocery store. Pretty low quality, I was expecting it to be like Mikuni in Sacramento but nope, not comparable at all. Not even to Arigato's! It was my first time trying amaebi so I guess it was good, it just took quite awhile to bring the shrimp heads out because they brought the nigiri out first. They said because they prepared both in two different kitchens but I think they should bring it out at the same time. We got sucked into dessert and got the bread pudding, which I thought was okay, it was good and different but maybe I was just so stuffed, I wasn't really able to enjoy it. Our server was outstanding and so was her service, food came out quick too, except for the shrimp heads. I think this place is more hyped about over the honey toast but then again locals love the sushi here. I think California has set my sushi standards to a point but I wouldn't mind coming here for happy hour if I was to ever return!
(3)
Traci A.
My sister and I went for lunch mostly because we were craving honey toast. We ordered the lobster dynamite for appetizer and we both ordered the lunch box bento combination tempura & kaarage chicken. The bento box was disappointing, the tempura & chicken had no taste. If only it was on the same level as the Lobster Dynamite & Honey Toast, those dishes are so undeniably delicious! It's that honey toast that keeps us coming back. The service is pretty good except that it wasn't busy but our food still took long to come out. Overall I would recommend this place but mainly for the honey toast.
(3)
Mandy A.
one of my friends who lives on the island introduced me to shokudo for their famous honey toast. the first few times i came here was just for the honey toast, which is pretty dang amazing. i recommend the classic or the oreo cookie. this last time i was in oahu, i came here for dinner. the sushi was impressive. the fish was fresh and everything we ordered was up to par. my favorite was their unagi donburi. i've never had such fresh and high quality unagi. definitely worth a visit when in oahu. it's more of a locals spot, so it's nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of hotel row to come here. prices are much more affordable than the strip as well.
Great service, our server was really nice and helpful and always giving us attention while handling at least 2 other tables. The atmosphere and layout of the restaurant is really nice too :) I really liked my unagi rice and the lychee cocktail is really sweet and yummy too!
(5)
William W.
This place is overrated. I really don't understand how people rave over the honey toast. The food was ok. Service was mediocre. Servers again people with a big party not necessarily mean big tip. I despise when servers neglect a smaller parties. We had to wait for 5 min to order another round of food while watching our server who went to check everyone else twice except us. I don't think i'll come back.
(1)
Chelsea J.
Came in Saturday night a little after 8:30... Was told that the wait for my boyfriend and I would be about an hour which is what I expected... But the hostess recommended the bar top which I'm glad she did because I would've asked about it anyway lol... So we sat at the bar and Matt was our bartender. Nice guy. Great service. Noticed we were sitting next to one of what seemed like a regular customer... Had a few laughs... Food was delicious. Will definitely be back again.
(5)
Michael L.
Service was prompt, and the food was good. Especially the Honey Toast. You have to try their honey toast which is a dessert composed of two thick slices of Japanese white bread with the middles of each slice of bread cut out into little squares and then placed back in the middle of the cutout slices. It's topped with Two scoops of vanilla ice cream and honey, and chocolate is drizzled over all this. Great dessert night cap!!
(4)
Brigitte S.
I haven't been to Shokudo in a while but for the month of March they had an anniversary maple bacon honey toast that came with a prize envelope and 10 chances to win $1,000 so I knew I had to go in for a visit. We were a party of 5 coming in at 9:30 at night but were luckily seated right away. We saw that you had to order food to buy the special honey toast [sigh, if we have to] so we started browsing too see what has changed. Something I appreciate is that no matter how long it's been, they stay pretty consistent. We ordered an array of drinks from beers, mojitos, plum wine & sake. They had a nice selection. Food wise we ordered our favorite, the spicy tuna crispy rice. I legit forgot how good it was and devoured it. Note to self: go back sooner! We also ordered the mochi cheese gratin, pork chop bites & of course the special bacon honey toast. Everything was good but that crispy rice. YUM! I was stuffed when the bacon honey toast came but melting ice cream convinced me to dig into three layers of bread and at least 4 scoops of ice cream with cut up bread all mixed around. The salty bacon was perfect for me but I'm a cheese and fruit plate girl. I like savory with my sweet. We could not finish it all but we ate all the ice cream & took home the honey toast crusts. [***i later used this for leftover french toast bites at home - do it***] We didn't win, sad face but the bill was reasonable and service excellent. Note gratuity is added to parties five or more. No big deal though, I left extra actually. We had a great experience and made me wonder why it's been so long since I have visited. I'll def be back soon, especially to check out the happy hour I hear everyone rave about!
(5)
Carolyn E.
My offices just moved into the building upstairs, and I have been to Shokudo a couple of times in the past few weeks. Terrific food and great service. Look for Wade in the bar area and James in the restaurant. Their GM, Leatrice introduced herself and has been wonderful. Happy Hour is a bargain and I am ready to come back and try Omakase menu.
(5)
Natasha F.
Last night Me and my friend went for dinner around midnight . I was happy they were open , most resturants were closed . We ordered the volcano roll sushi and the beef balsamic tataki sushi . It was so yummy and filling ! Definitly would get both again ! Then we had to finish with the oreo honey toast that was perfect!!! Pros : Open late Good food Good service Friendly staff Good price Cons: Hard to get a table if its a busy night !
(5)
Tina H.
I have always loved coming here and it just keeps getting better and better. The food is always good and the service is good. Matt at the bar always take care of me and I always leave happy. I have been coming here for years and I won't stop anytime soon. Shokudo is good for late night dinner or munchies on the weekends and they offer a good happy hour both during the day and late night. (Sunday-Wednesday) Don't forget to try the dessert! The honey toast is to die for!
I finally made it here woohoo! Another month, and my last meals on heels on the island. Parking was very easy to find around the corner of the restaurant. Since it was raining, it was nice to walk through the building to get to the restaurant instead of crossing the street. Shokudo on a Friday night was CROWDED. I'm so glad we made our reservations, albeit they were very early for being made a week before. The splitting checks thing was confusing. At first we were told we could only split it 4 times, but then we were told that we could itemize each entry on a separate credit card. So basically no problem. Service was spotty. One of our ladies received her sangria much later than the rest of us. Another lady didn't receive the correct sashimi order. The food was absolutely delicious. We ordered the mochi gratin, which is basically the Japanese version of queso dip. For my entree, I ordered the Lobster Dynamite Roll. It was super filling. I couldn't finish it! The entire roll did taste a little heavy on the mayo for me, but I still enjoyed it. We saved room for that famous honey toast. I would have never come up with an idea of serving toast drizzled with honey as a dessert. It was light but satisfying. In the end, the size of Shokudo got the best of it, but I enjoyed myself.
(4)
Nicole F.
honey toast for dessert is always a must. I think only once out of my 10+ visits here I didn't get the ever so popular honey toast. anyways I was also craving chicken karaage so I got that. it wasn't the best I've had but it was satisfying enough.
(5)
Coreen L.
Who doesn't love Shokudo? I mean, plan for honey toast and work backwards from there -- sushi, fresh house made tofu, noodles, seafood and an array of delicious cocktails too. Some of my favorites include: Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice, Yuzu Hamachi, Tofu (remember, fresh made on site), Ume Cucumber Salad, Yaki Soba, Chicken Karaage and of course, HONEY TOAST! Parking is free behind the building or in the Nordstrom parking lot (use the stairs to get to street level); and always festive and fun with their awesome crew.
(4)
Michelle H.
I went here Friday with two other people and it was the worst food service I've had at Shokudo over the years. Our waitress was really nice and tried to be as attentive as possible for a busy Friday night. We started off with edamame. It came out fairly quick but it was so salty, it was nearly inedible. We suffered through most of the bowl before giving up. Our waitress wasn't really around for us to flag her down and it was already so late, we were starving. Next came the vegetable tempura, which took a really long time because we ordered it right in the beginning. It must have been sitting that whole time, because it was incredibly soggy. When I bit into the pumpkin, it was so raw and hard, I couldn't stick my chopstick through it. At that point, I was really upset because everything was taking so long and the quality was terrible. We were able to flag down our waitress and explained that the tempura was soggy and some parts were not cooked. She put in an order for a new one. Eventually, the new one came out. Mind you, these were meant as appetizers, but it was taking so long, my friends ordered something else, which came out faster than the tempura. When we finally got the tempura, it was hot and crispy and all seemed well. Well, it wasn't. It was very very oily and I found a hair in one of the pieces. I handed it to my friend who then accidentally dropped it. And that's when I just stopped eating and so did the two others I was with. The wait for any dish plus the quality that was being served made me lose my appetite. We got the check, and we were charged for two tempura and had it corrected. But, because our waitress was not around much throughout the entire meal, it took a while. When we got the corrected check, we paid $51 for edamame, tempura, one plate of sushi, and teriyaki chicken plus sodas. Doesn't sound bad, but then I remember I only ate poor quality edamame and tempura. I would like to note that when we got the second tempura, the manager for the night came by and asked how it was (pre hair) and explained that they had a very new cook. That explains the edamame too... But I think with such a busy restaurant on a Friday night, they should know by now to keep a closer eye on new cooks. It's disappointing to go to a restaurant that's a little on the pricey side for the portions that you get, and be served like that. I wish we had gone to shirokiya instead and gotten discount bentos. They would have tasted much better and we wouldn't have had to wait. Shokudo has been in the game for a long time, Friday nights like these should not happen.
(2)
Will L.
Shokudo is clean, spacious, has reasonable prices, and the food is put together nicely. I had the salmon sashimi with ikura bowl on their lunch menu, and it came out really pretty looking with sliced nori on top of sushi rice. My coworkers had the tempura bowl, and it looked like about 7 pieces of tempura shoved onto the outer perimeter of the bowl. We all wanted to have their famous honey toast, but we were too full today. Next time.
(4)
Samantha B.
What is all the hype on this place? Please, someone inform me because I'm at a lost here. I've been here a few times within the past several years. First was to try their "famous" honey toast. Something I've came to the conclusion was just another over hyped thing on Instagram, like most food is. The next few visits I had got their sushi and other items like gyoza. Honestly, it's just okay. Nothing special. Nothing to put a hype on. Not even memorable. Just okay. I rather go over to the mall and get some genki, it's better and cheaper! Now for the real review, their customer service. Where is it?! Nowhere. There is no customer service. ZERO. I've had two separate incidents where I had to wait a ridiculously long time for my food. Not to mention it was slow. There weren't very many people there. Honestly, it doesn't take 25 plus minutes to bring out a bowl of udon. Let's be real now. On top of starving me to death before getting my food, trying to flag down a waiter is impossible. The last time I went my server kept disappearing. Causing me and my boyfriend to wait a very long time to get the check then actually paying for the food took even longer. I probably didn't see her for a good 20 minutes while waiting to give her the check back. I couldn't get where she was going, IT WASNT BUSY. Last time I go there. Maybe if the service was better I'd go back to get some okay sushi. But as for now, shokudo you have lost a customers and I'll be letting everyone know about my horrible experiences.
(1)
Celina Q.
Shokudo USED to be the go-to spot for date night, after practice get-togethers and family dinners. Recently its just-meh. Dined here by request of an out of town relative who was craving the famous Honey Toast. Our group of 6 got seated in about 20 minutes (on a Monday night 7pm), waters and drink orders came quickly but we waited quite a bit to have our orders taken. Between the 6 of us, we ordered 15 items- which obviously would not fit on our table. So a few dishes (Spider Roll, Tempura Roll, Chicken Karaage) came out luke warm- assuming they sat out for a while. Food is good, I wouldn't call it authentic Japanese food, but still yummy. Shokudo used to be better about serving larger parties, not sure if policies have changed? Or servers now aren't used to it. Favorites: -Unagi Bowl- coming sizzling in a stone bowl -Tofu Salad- great combination of veggie, tofu and crunchy-ness -Lobster Dynamite Roll- perfect for sharing, not fishy at all. -Honey Toast- fluffy bread, vanilla ice cream drizzled with honey, delish but I've made it at home for 1/3 of the price All in all, not a bad restaurant if you have the time and patience to spend.
(3)
Cowie K.
Paul and Sam are the best servers ever. The employees here were so polite! They made a bomb honey toast. The food was amazing and the experience was fantastic.
(5)
Alex K.
Good variety of sushi and sashimi. Reasonable prices. Large restaurant and can accommodate large groups with a minimal wait, even without a reservation. Food seems to come out at different times, depending on what is ordered, so the rest of your party might not get their food at the same time you do. Overall, I think they could use more servers as they seem to be covering a few too many tables at the same time.
(4)
Tiffany Y.
Yelp 365 Challenge x 2 #271/365 Yelp 100 Review Challenge #15/100 Another tweet-up with the gang! And the last time we did that was about a year ago at Yogurstory (yikes). However, we were finally able to schedule a time for all of us to meet up for dinner and this time, it was at Shokudo's. For the past few years, I've been reading and reading and READING about Shokudo and the infamous honey toast as well as knowing that this restaurant is constantly busy. It's been bookmarked and it's only this year that I finally had the chance to experience Shokudo. When we arrived, I noticed that they now have outside seating and it's very stylish. As we entered the restaurant, I swear...I felt like I was entering a Kill Bill scene and that I would see O-Ren Ishii and the Crazy 88 sitting and eating because the ambiance/decor of the restaurant just brought me to that scene without the live Japanese rock band. Anyhow, we were seated quickly (thanks to Ed reserving ahead) AND we were seated at the long table that was on the platform level and we were able to view the entire restaurant from where we were seated. Now, THAT made me feel like O-Ren Ishii (without her sword, course). Now, onto the food because this is what my husband and I ordered: Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi ($13.45): Beef slices that are seared and place on top of sushi rice flavored with balsamic vinaigrette Ahi from the Sashimi Bar ($10.95) Edamame ($3.95) *can't go wrong with this order unless you boil it too long but they didn't! Pork Gyoza ($6.95) Chicken Karaage ($9.95) that was served with their spicy tartar sauce Char-Siu Pork & Japanese Scallions ($7.95) Honey Toast with Chocolate ($7.45 + 1.00 for the chocolate) Yes, we mostly ordered appetizers and sushi because we wanted to sample plus we were hungry to where we ordered too much and we took some of these items home but not the honey toast...we finished that right then and there. Some of the other items that were ordered by the group: Lobster Dynamite ($10.45) Sushi Pizza ($14.45) that is baked sushi rice with jalapeños, crab meat, salmon and scallops Calamari Tempura ($8.45) Garlic Shrimp Rice Ishiyaki ($12.45) Sukiyaki Bibimbap Ishiyaki ($11.45) *wish I ordered this one! When I watched the waiter bring out the Sukiyaki Bibimbap and how it was served in a stone bowl that was sizzling hot, I wished that I ordered this instead of all those items I ordered especially since it smelled soooo good. Our waiter took care of us and made sure that we were satisfied with our order and also checked up on us often. He was also gracious enough to take our picture on the platform where our table was located because if you are friends with me on Facebook, it almost looks like we were re-enacting the Last Supper, which I doubt because there will be more tweet-ups and dinners that will be at Shokudo and other restaurants on the island for the twitter gang! Overall Experience: Ambiance/Decor: Relaxing, warm colors with a very Kill Bill O-Ren Ishii style Price: Reasonable Food: Prepared well, presented beautifully and tasted delicious Service: Courteous, friendly and very accomodating Recommend: Definitely (reservations is advised)
(4)
Joe G.
I'm not a sushi snob, but honestly the fish was sub-par. The hamatchi was tough and tasted odd, and the ebi (raw shrimp) was warmer than room temperature. (I work at a sushi restaurant and assume it was from attempting to defrost them in hot water). They deep fry the heads for you and those normally take a few minutes and that's normally expected, however ours arrived at the table before the sushi. They weren't very hot and completely soggy in oil. Almost positive they were eather not cooked fresh to order, or they were refried. Our server was very courteous, but didn't understand "wasabi on side for all sushi" as there was wasabi inside of each peace, which was okay, mistakes happen, but she laughed it off and tried to convince me that because they put some on the side too it was okay, and then tried to impress me with how many years she had worked there. It wasn't anything big though, she brought the fish back and they fixed it. Finally we ordered the honey toast. It came out very fast and that was great considering it's their most popular dish and takes a few minutes. Before the server brought it out, she apologized and told us they were washing forks so she brought spoons and knives. I was kind of dissapointed with that but was hopeful that we'd get our forks soon enough. About fifteen minutes after being told we'd get forks, we'd already (awkwardly) finished the desert and we're ready to leave. Unfortunate to say I feel over all it was an underwhelming experience (my third time dining here) and I can say that it's a nice restaurant but the quality and service could be improved.
(2)
Jonelle B.
A very modern style place with the right side of the restaurant that seemed to be ascending seating. The bar in the middle also was a great seating area with TVs to watch the games. The left side was normal seating- but the place itself was packed. Fun shoju drinks with exotic fruits. We ordered a bunch of things- - homemade tofu (freaking amazing) MUST ORDER - Tofu salad ( great too ) - rainbow roll (not a fan of cucumber in the cali-roll) - teriyaki salmon ( it was yummy- but a smaller portion than expected) - cucumber salad ( liked the salad, but I was expecting thin slices cucumber with vinegar but it was spears of cucumber- with a vinegarette and flakes of fish- which were interesting ) - tempura ( very light tempura batter which was scrumptious and didn't seem heavy and greasy) -lobster roll-ish thing- was just like a lion king... Yummy but slightly heavy with cream. Our waiter was super knowledgeable on the menu and very attentive. Overall great experience!!!
(5)
Tif-funny T.
Finally got to try this place out. Enjoyed their sushi very much. I tried their crunchy shrimp roll, lobster dynamite roll, yakisoba noodles, and their honey toast. The service from grant was great. He never rushed us and gave us time to decide what we wanted. Very approachable and friendly employee. Shokudo is lucky they have him as a server. He even walked me and my family out. If you haven't tried this place out yet go and have some good sushi.
(5)
Deanna P.
I must have ordered the wrong things or just been in a bad mood 3 years ago because this place rocks. The rolls are amazing
(5)
Alexander G.
This place is yet another I've walked by countless times and never bothered to check out. My first experience there was great, so I went back a few more in the last few weeks. My rating here and review are based on all the visits combined, which I'm sorry to say, has suffered after multiple visits. The decor is lovely. I love the high ceilings, spartan walls, and wood decorations. The main dining room has cute little booths for couples and the stepped opposite side gives all tables a view of the restaurant. The bar is awkwardly in the center, making the entry way and routes to the restrooms difficult. The wait staff has been mixed. My first visit was excellent, the second two were less attentive. My most recent visit was slightly argumentative when the incorrect food arrived and needed to be sent back. The food itself has been mostly fantastic. I've tried the Dragon, Spider, Fried Rice Ahi, and countless other rolls. The freshness is great. The most recent visit, everything was slightly off however, a bit on the soft side. I recommend staying away from all the non-sushi dishes. I thought the chicken katsu was mediocre and the pork was just bad (although its sauce was delicious). The yuzu sweet toast was meh; lots of sugar and not much substance. It can be a great place to go, but I will go back to just walking by from now on.
(3)
David C.
Hey! What's with the bad service lately? One night the hostess can't seat a party of five at the high tops because they're "being used as the staging area for a large party", ten minutes later after haggling while the restaurant is empty we get seated there anyway. (Never saw any staging). Another night we're overcharged and our waiter says "You got the menu with the wrong prices" and refuses to change it. Now I get seated and in the five minutes I'm there with menu down and looking around not a single server brings water or asks for my order. Done with you. Doraku is down the street and waaaay better in service. Their extensive sake menu doesn't hurt either.
(1)
Rhemielyn U.
I've been eating here for years now. It holds a sentimental value since this is where my husband brought me on our first date. I love coming here for happy hours. This time we came here for my birthday. The staffs are always friendly and food is always good. My favorite is their sushi pizza, lobster dynamite, bi bim bap and garlic shrimp fried rice. Food came right away and the waiters always ask if we needed anything. They have a private room for more intimate dining. Don't leave without having their honey toast
(4)
Jessica K.
This place is awesome. It can be pricey but its Hawaii everything is pricey. Plus I don't mind paying for delicious food and excellent service which is what I always get here! Thanks guys!
(5)
Fefe J.
Shokudo. Mainly known for their honey toast. Yes, it is super good. I admit I always gotta grab it when I'm here. But their sushis are pretty good, too. I think they have a really good happy hour menu. This place gets pretty noisy after 8 PM, and the usual crowd are of the younger generation. Service has always been the same, which I can't really complain about.
(4)
Michelle I.
During undergrad, my friends and I used to eat here once in a while. I like the fact that it's in town right next to Ala Moana. It doesn't have the best parking garage, but when I went on a week night it was free parking. Anyway, I just dined here with a friend to celebrate her birthday. It was a last minute thing so I ordered a drink and dessert. She ordered dinner since she finished work late in the evening. I never tried the vodka sodas so I asked the waiter for his recommendation. He suggested the blueberry vodka soda, so I ordered it. The blueberry soda looked good and it looked like there were blueberries in the picture. My friend got the Li hing sake, kimchee fried rice, spicy tuna nachos, and dynamite fries. I was disappointed when I received my blueberry vodka soda. I had no blueberries. I sampled the Li hing sake and I actually liked it. I should have ordered that instead of the soda. The kim chee fried rice was okay at best, same for the dynamite fries. When dessert time rolled around, I got excited for the honey toast. I know it's only honey toast but it's been a few years since I last had it. I ordered the strawberry puree and my friend ordered the cookies and cream honey toast. Again, I was disappointed because the strawberry honey toast hardly any strawberry chunks. Even towards the bottom of it there weren't many strawberries. My friend's oreo honey toast on the other hand, had nice chunks of oreos and it looked so much more appetizing. I should have ordered the half size because maybe then I wouldn't have felt so bad about paying $9.45 for 5 small chunks of strawberries lol. In all, I'm glad I got to celebrate my friend's birthday here because it is a nice restaurant, but unfortunately didn't have a good experience with the drink and dessert. If I have to come back here, I pretty much know what to order if it's another late night get together.
(2)
Raymond S.
This place has excellent customer service a pleasant atmosphere and I loved it here and I'm glad I came and prices are worth it all
(5)
Heather S.
Not gonna lie, food is pretty good here and prices are reasonable. As simple as the honey toast may seem, I haven't encountered anywhere else that taste as good as theirs. So, the reason for the 3 stars... the service. Some servers I will say, are just awesome. They go above and beyond, BUT... majority of them, are not up to par in my standards. And my standards... they're not too high. I don't expect my water to be filled or to get extra napkins without me asking. But, if you say you will do something, do it. My friends and I are pretty much the same... we're not picky and particular about certain things and we don't have so many requests. If a waiter is perhaps being rude, we will hold our tongues for a while. We're one of those who won't say anything until enough is enough. There has been close calls to asking for the manager, but we've let it sly time and time again. Coming here, I always just hope for good service to go with their good food, but lately, that hasn't been the case.
(3)
Michael W.
"A place to eat", indeed. There's no lack of family-type traditionalJapanese teishoku restaurants around town, but where Shokudo stands out is their ability to evolve and develop their menu. Seems that each time I return, there's a new menu item, or some new aspect of the restaurant. In the beginning, there was curry rice ishiyaki. Then, sushi pizza. Followed by a full line of draft beers, a sushi bar, and constant evolution of their drink menu. Shokudo seems to keep their staying power by changing with their customers, keeping it fresh and new. In particular, the sushi bar Shokudo boasts has a wide array of fresh fish available, and it's good stuff. Had a couple pieces of maguro nigiri, and it was amazing. On the other hand, there are just some things that should stay the same. Enter Honey Toast. If you haven't had it, HAVE SOME. Amazingly simple - toasted white bread, drizzled with honey, topped with vanilla ice cream. For this fan of simple desserts, I'm sold. On their appetizer side, the homemade tofu is a must for tofu fans - very silky, smooth and creamy, it will change your mind about tofu. More often than not, my visits to Shokudo are during the lunch hour, where their dinner portions are a little too kanak-attack inducing. Instead, the lunch combinations make for a reasonable lunch portion, almost like a mini teishoku. Seriously, it'd be great if they had the combos available at dinner time. Finally, you can't talk about Shokudo without talking "happy hour". Shokudo does it right with really, *really* reasonable portions of their menu for great prices. Like what? Like Honey Toast Jr. (half size) for $3. And a carafe of sake for $5. Only drawback is that if not for the happy hour, Shokudo will make your wallet lighter real quick, but it's a good stop for Japanese fusion and comfort foods. Ikimashou!
(4)
W Q.
Excellent happy hour, 4-6pm The items are a few dollars each, $3-$5 If you sit outside, they will not serve ramen, it is for indoor seating only. Good food, great service, and excellent value. Located on Kaiolani close to Ala Moana mall, plenty of parking at Ala Moana mall. This is not a fancy place, it is cheap good eats, great for large groups. It's a pretty fun spot to be.
(4)
Emma C.
I am waiting to be seated in the happy hour area even though it's empty!!! It's insane! I haven't tried the food yet but right now I already have a negative feeling on this restaurant. I asked how I can't be seated but the waitress said I have to wait! To me.... A great restaurant should have good customer service besides good food. Don't offer If don't to want people to come for happy hour special but don't let your customer wait for no reason.
(1)
Keala L.
Came with a friend during a Sunday night for a little appetizer & dessert. We ended up getting thee famous Honey Toast. It was good but a little salty, so we sent it back. They comped the honey toast & apologized. The service that they provided was EXCELLENT! 10 stars to Kylie our server. She was so sweet & very accommodating to everything. I will definitely be returning again :)
(5)
Brian B.
I've been here a couple of times and always sit at the bar. The place is always busy so getting a table takes some time. The bar is nice. Wade, the bar tender, is very attentive and funny. Its always a pleasure sitting at the bar and talking to Wade. The food is good and tasty. If you go in the evenings, plan on a wait for a table.
(4)
Rhea B.
3 stars because the food was awesome as always. It would have been given a 5 if the service wasn't so bad. They're usually great with service especially when they're busy but for a not so busy Wednesday night their service was horrible. First off the hostess didn't even bother to greet me. She just stared at me waiting for me to tell her how much people was on my party. I clearly said 3 adults and 2 kids, and the hostess was like "SO 5!?" What a rude way to come off. Then she goes on saying "our tables are meant for parties of 4, do you mind squeezing one persons chair?" I don't mind I guess. Then she also says "Also you might have to wait a while because we need to pull two tables together which is not available right now." I peek in and see so many tables open. Waited for about 20 minutes which is usual wait time but it wasn't busy at all. I came in around 8:45 PM. They call us in to sit and I guess they thought it was appropriate to put us on a high top table with 2 kids. My cousins couldn't even reach the table. And they said they had to pull 2 tables? That high top counter table in the front was empty and no one was sitting there. So we had to wait another 5 minutes for them to set up another table that w open the whole time we were waiting. Lastly the waiter service was horrible as well. The servers who gave our orders always had to apologize for giving our food to the wrong table. DTThey also felt it was right to give our rice bowls that was a wrong order for the other table to us. The waiter was like "we gave it to the wrong table but they didn't touch it." Dont they have order numbers for the tables? Idk what was up with their service last night but it sucked and it wasn't even that busy. I've come to Shokudo many times but this was the first time that I've had bad service from them.
(3)
Emerald S.
After so long not coming here, it felt kinda weird. Idk what is but at first it was going well. However, it ended up downhill. Of course food was the same but the sauce for the karaage was kinda watery but it was whatever. Then the server was not really checking up on us. Kinda waited for awhile for a few things. But overall it was okay I guesssssssss.... We just came here for alcohol lol.
(2)
Justin F.
The garlic Scallops where amazing definitely and the service was really good a definite 5 stars
(5)
Rachel S.
This was my first time here and I was really excited to come since there's a big hype about it. I ordered a shrimp tempura udon which wasn't all that great. And I also ordered the spicy tuna crispy rice which wasn't amazing either. Their honey toast wasn't as special as everyone had said it would be. Also the thing that I didn't like was the fact that they won't split bills. We had a party of 14 and they would only split it into 4 bills. It was really inconvenient. I wouldn't come here again.
(2)
Savannah P.
Bummer. I felt so sick after eating here and had the worst stomach ache which I had to put up with the entire work day. :( With regards to the food, I was not impressed. The hostess that seated us to our table was off-putting. I didn't receive a kind welcome from her or anything. When she seated us to our table, I asked her if they had another open seat for 2 and her response was, "These seats are actually meant for 2 people unless you want to wait for longer. (blank stare, no facial expression)." Her response just felt like I was being an inconvience to them. I should have just left at this point but I have been wanting to try their food. Well in that case, I'll just sit here in this strange small booth, order and get out of your way as soon as I'm done eating. Tried the sushi pizza ($14.95). It's so awkward to eat, either with your chopsticks or even an asked for fork. You just gotta grab it with your hands and stuff it into your face. Anywho, the toppings were falling off all over the place and I felt like there was a lot more rice than needed be. Some parts of the rice were burnt and wasn't pleasent to eat. The jalapeño on top was more than enough to add an extra kick, but if you eat the whole thing all you really taste is straight heat and nothing else. This dish alone was SO filling. Opted for the Yakisoba noodles with beef ($9.95) Wayyyy too much soy sauce and the cabbage was left in huge chunks in some parts. Overall our bill came to $27.94 (with tax) (also ordered one soda $2.00) just for 1 small sushi pizza and a small yakisoba plate. The value of both dishes and qualtity did not justify this price. Overall, the food alone for its value, quality and taste for me and not to have felt good the rest of the day, wasn't good enough to be wowed to come back again.
(1)
Angel H.
My roommate and I go pretty often and normally sit at the bar. It's not very busy on off nights but on busy nights it definitley gets hectic for Matt and the other bartenders such as Caroline and Wade but service is still great. They all manage to find the time they need to check on every one at the bar top and talk some story while getting their orders out. I order a few things from the menu that I personally enjoy such as the mermaid roll, yoghurt shochu, and the kimchee pizza. But everything I've tried so far from their menu has been fantastic. Overall it's a great atmosphere with good food and great service. It's nice coming in and having waiters and waitresses come up and say 'Hey, welcome back'. The waiters and waitresses are all pretty upbeat and fun to talk with, especially Chelsea!
(5)
Nadine J.
This is my favorite Japanese restaurant to eat on the island by far. I love their sushi but the other dishes are good as well. Tonight I had some of my favorites the beef tataki, gyoza, seafood dynamite, hamachi, shrimp tempura, and drank the lychee saketini. Soooo yummy.
(5)
Mikayla M.
This is hands down, one of my absolute favorite restaurants! I've gone here numerous times and I'm always impressed. I love their food and of course, their famous honey toast! You can't go there without getting that! The wait time is pretty long depending on what you get but I believe it's well worth it. I love going here and recommend for those who haven't been here to go!
(5)
Brian B.
Oh Shokudo how you disappointed me on the day I decided to celebrate my birthday with friends... Ok, so I will grant them the concession that I didn't have a reservation for the group of 10 people I had but it was disappointing that it took a lot of questioning before they decided it was worth their while to seat our party. Seriously, one whole side of the restaurant that was reserved strictly for reservations was completely empty when we were there at 4pm. The worst part is when we asked why we couldn't be seated when there were so many empty spaces, we were told it's because those tables were reserved... Ok, fine but then when we sat at the bar for 10 minutes and we saw nobody being seated in the supposedly booked up area, we were told that the tables would start being filled by the reservations starting at 6pm!! Are you kidding me?? Soooo, your first group of reserved tables won't be filled until 6pm & it's ~4pm-ish and we are here looking for a table and you can't seat us?? Again, this would be fine & dandy if any of the tables were taken but they weren't.... When we finally got seated and ordered from the Happy Hour menu, our orders were extremely delayed or we had to ask several times to check on them. Utensils & plates that were asked for never came for a long time, and even when we asked for them again it still took a long time before it was finally brought to us. Mind you, the area we were seated in was empty except for our party... When the food came though, it was good. We had a few sushi handrolls which were definitely tasted great and had fresh cuts of fish on them. We also tried the steamed gyoza which was nice and soft and came with a tasty sauce which wasn't too strong or salty. A few other things we ordered were the spicy tuna nachos, teriyaki chicken quesadilla and charsiu ramne jr. which were all good. For drinks I had the japanese beer Echigo, yogurt shochu & a shot of Crown Royal which were all great as expected. For dessert we ordered Honey Toast with Oreo ice cream which was a delight! As mentioned earlier, I will give this place a little bit of a pass because we didn't have reservations but it's hard to give much of a good review being that there wasn't a reasonable explanation why we couldn't have been seated. I've eaten here previously and never really had the same type of terrible service as I did on this occasion either, so I will grant them that as well. Will I come back again? Sure, as long as getting a table with a more normal-ish sized party isn't as painful as extracting wisdom teeth. Hopefully what we experienced this past Saturday(9/28) was just an anomaly regarding service too otherwise I will definitely pass up this place despite the great food it has... I'm pretty sure that won't be the case next time I'm here, but we'll see.
(3)
Xia V.
This place does have a bit of everything for everyone. It's a fusion of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, so make your pick. If you can't find anything else that you know where to, it is convenient, variety of choices and you will not be disappointed. I've have tried almost everything in this place, an exception to rolls, they're too filling. It is fast and prompt and the wait staffs are really nice. Drinks are of good selection too. I say don't be afraid and try something. The raving dessert, it is alright. I'm not into soo sugaring, sweet stuff like bread and ice cream, but we did tried. I wouldn't order it again.
(4)
Candice A.
Everything we get here is amazing. Only thing is I think they do some pre-made stuff like box mash potatoes. I love how different some of their sushi is. Staff is great!
(4)
Florence K.
I used to LOVE Shokudo. But now...it's just mehhhh to me. Comparing Shokudo recently to its previous many years ago, it leaves a lot to be desired. Let's begin with the food. Many many years ago, I saw mochi cheese gratin on the menu and fell in love with the dish. Mochi? LOVE. Cheese? LOVE! Mochi AND Cheese?!! YESSSSS!! The two mixed with a perfectly balanced mixture of sweet and salty sauce was like heaven in my mouth. It would be the one dish I'd always order during every visit to Shokudo. Recently, I've noticed the flavors in this dish aren't as...perfect. But not only was my beloved mochi cheese gratin not as good. Every other dish I've had recently lacked flavor...and was bland. I really wanted to add salt or shoyu to pretty much every dish I had which is saying a lot because I never say a dish is too bland. The worst part was the honey toast. Now, I usually DON'T order honey toast, because I have this big rant about how it's just bread, ice cream and honey. I could EASILY make that myself at home, so I really don't want to pay for anything that will take me less than a minute to assemble. BUT, on my last visit, since all my friends wanted it, I decided why not? I'll order one for myself. The honey toast had way more flavor than any of the dishes I've had recently. And NOT in a good way. The honey toast was SOO salty, I could barely swallow it down. I had to grab a huge scoop of ice cream to counteract the saltiness of the toast. After a couple bites, I really couldn't stomach any more down, so I just left it on the table. The honey toast seriously tasted like it had more salt than probably all the other dishes I had that night COMBINED. It was just so hard to eat. I still have a bad taste in my mouth whenever I think of Shokudo's honey toast. Shokudo WAS a really good restaurant, but it's been slowly going downhill. They seriously need to up their game to get their food quality to what it once was.
(2)
Lynn R.
Used to love going here when it first opened. But quality in their sushi has really diminished. Tuna was not fresh at all and had a dark tint to it, which I was surprised that chefs still served since a roll cost about $14. Their homemade tofu is still the best I've had but noticed they've really gotten cheap on the greens making the salad more like tofu on a garnish of greens. Waiter and other workers were very attentative and brought more greens, so they made up for some disappointments. I'll keep going for their hot foods and their tofu salad, along with their honey toast. I just don't recommend eating sushi there. For $14 I could've gotten over a pound of spicy Ahi at Foodland.
(3)
Lei D.
I ate here for the first time last night and it was underwhelming. The food was great, and the staff were friendly, but the atmoshphere was just ok as it was very noisy and the booths are cramped. We were moved to a table which was much better, but our server was a bit slow. I have to say the food tasted great and the quality was there too, which somewhat justified the prices. I recommend the red eye roll, which has spicy ahi and cucumber with ahi sashimi on top. Very good flavor! I would rate 3.5 stars if given the option. I may try them again, perhaps at a different time to see if it is any better, but at $75 for 2 people, it may not be right away...
(3)
Micah A.
Shokudo shokudo, I really don't know how the management it is right now but this place is going downhill as some of the helpers had mentioned. why? Because of these: 1. Customer service: I liked the happy hour idea, but I do not like how these servers are taking their sweet ass time to bring out our food as well as taking their time to come out to us to take our orders. This act made it felt like they're doing this on purpose so that the customers can't take advantage of the happy hour offers. What a mess. What worse is that when me and my friend went to a midnight happy hour, March 19, 2015 at 10:45pm to be exactly. We got seated and guess what? Him and I waited 20 mins just for a god damn server to take our orders! Is this a joke? Let alone that hardly anyone is there meaning that ihis stupid restaurant is half empty at this hour. And that server had to be rude of responding to me that 'so I guess I will ring ur order'. Whoever you are, watch your manners because without customers, your ass won't get paid! 2. As many ppl mentioned, food is also starting not to be worth it, even the happy hour. When I got my garlic clams, some of the broken shells are still there which I almost got hurt while chewing the actual meat. Also, I remember the other time too, they served me a honey toast with a dirty plate. What is this? Shame on you shoyu, serving customers dirty good. Do you guys still have dignity? I guess not since even customer service is going down hill. I think I'm not gonna eat here for a while and I DO NOT recommend midnight happy hour. Workers over there are a joke! Thanks for such bad experience! Im switching to Doraku sushi, I just went there and they have better service as well as better choices! Bye shokudo!
(2)
Dream N.
I really want to give it 2 stars and a half . I'm from Utah and we get better sushi at takashi's . I had their chu toro because I ordered their Ootoro (fattiest toro) but the chef did not recommend it that day . I also had their hamachi cappacio appetizer. It was good and maybe I'm thinking beef cappacio but capers would go really well with it. I tried uni and discovered it's not for me but I don't think it has to do with shokudo. Uni is a delicacy that I've always wanted to try. Their desserts like the honey toast and tempura bread pudding are plain. I think the reason people over look their plainess is because they want to like it since it "looks" yummy. It's pretty plain though. But the stars I gave are for service. They may be busy and slow but my waiter was attentive
(3)
Kim Y.
This is always a good "go-to" place when in the mood for some casual japanese food and sake. We tried a new roll called "kusai kudasai"...so yummy!!! I always order the tofu salad and the yuzu hamachi, which never disappoints. They're having a 10-year anniversary special on their honey toast...with BACON, it's $19.95, but you're guaranteed a $10 off coupon for your next visit. You also have a chance to win $1000! Of course we tried it, but didn't win. Our waiter, James was so much fun! He made our dining experience extra special!
(5)
Michael C.
My most recent visit was with the Yelp Book Club for its August meeting. I would highly recommend making reservations if lunching on the weekend as we did. LUNCH: The lunch menu, apparently, has some great finds/options for those seeking individual portions, and/or vareity of items in smaller portions. Bento boxes, with choices of different entrees (including chicken and salmon), as well as noodle bowls can be found on the menu. There are also $3 glasses of wine and sangria available. DESSERT: FYI for those dessert fiends.... The honey toast toppings/flavors can be combined!! Who knew?! Not I says Michael C.! Apparently Maka K. did. We ordered 2 stacks of honey toast for our large group. Strawberry + Chocolate: Interesting yet satisfying. Cinnamon + Caramel: Loved this combination. I always order the plain honey toast with no add ons, but after discovering this mix/combination option, I think I will make it a point to be more adventurous with my dessert choices on future visits. SERVICE: Very satisfactory. Our server Bob, though an older gentlemen, was very friendly, polite, and very patient with our large group. He was kind enough to split the check amongst our group so we would have an easier time adding up our respective totals. BOTTOM LINE: Great finds and options on the lunch menu. Save room for dessert!!
(4)
Carol B.
One of the worst experience ever! The manager Matt was very rude and seem like he wasn't kid friendly. The one waitress We had was more concerned about rushing us to leave instead of accommodating us, and seemed races towards me and my family. I have eaten here before when there was under another manager and never felt like this..... We still tipped well regardless of the terrible service
(1)
Eileen W.
First time I was here with my friend who's a local, I had great service. Come here again with my boyfriend a year later? There were some hiccups but the waitress and manager took care of us and comped our honey toast. How sweet of them!!!
(4)
J. B.
First time at Shokudo, in years. Went with my sisters and mom, who is very picky about her japanese food. I made a reservation for 1 p.m., got there about 20 minutes early. We got seated right away. We all got some vodka sodas to start, which was perfect. We all had different flavors, but I liked the Yuzu best. Everyone wanted something different, so we all decided to just go for it. We got- Spicy ahi and crispy rice roll ** Tempura roll **** Shrimp tempura **** Agadashi tofu ***** Home made tofu *** Hamachi carpaccio ***** Mochi cheese gratin *** Unagi and rice bowl *** Lobster dynamite ***** While the spicy ahi and crispy rice, was the least liked, it was still good. It was an interesting twist on a spicy ahi roll. Best, was the Agadashi Tofu...words cannot explain how good it was! My sister was practically licking the bowl. Also, the Hamachi Carpaccio, was like butter. So, so fresh, and delish! Everything was pretty spot on, our server, Matt (I think) was also very attentive. I have a feeling, this will be our new go to family spot from now on!
(5)
Cullen K.
I went here yesterday to celebrate my friends birthday and had an awesome experience. Our server, Cheyenne was very polite and friendly. Couldn't have asked for better customer service! I looooooove Shokudo food. There isn't anything i tried that i didnt like. My top 3 are definitely: 1. Garlic scallop bibimbap 2. Yuzu hamachi carpaccio 3. HONEY TOAST!!! I also really like the agedashi tofu and ume cucumber salad, though they changed the dressing on the cucumber since i last had it. I asked the host, Sean, to let Cheyenne know to switch out the ice cream on our honey toast with one that i brought that is nondairy. And to put candles on it. I was so happy when she came out with it exactly how i ordered cuz so often these things tend not to. They also gave us complimentary bread pudding for his birthday, though it was waaaaaaaay too much with everything we ordered- we still ate it. Lol All around good experience and can't wait for my next visit :))
(5)
Dylan D.
Pretty good and the Mochi Gratin was flavored. Sometimes there are lots of people, so there are reservations available. Sometimes it takes time for the food to arrive, and that can be a little disappointing but mostly it was good
(4)
Jessica H.
We went for a small group dinner last night. Our first order came out great which was the hamachi carpaccio with dressing on the side and garlic rice. Both were very good. We also ordered the hamachi Kama which is a special and that was pretty good, a little oily; however the size was very descent especially for the price. Service was pretty good til this point; however, our waitress began to forget about us. She rarely filled our water and we had to ask her to do so a couple times. One of the sauces got knocked over on our table and spilt all over in which she finally brought extra napkins over but didn't offer any towel to clean the table or ground. Our orders then began to come out really slow and when we ordered dessert it took longer than normal. When the honey toast finally came out, the plate was dirty and looked like it hadn't been cleaned. We split the check on 3 different cards and when we got our cards back they weren't our cards. She had given us the tables next to us and had given the next table our credit cards. Luckily we were sitting right next to each other and exchanged credit cards. Food here usually is pretty good and service has never been this bad before so I don't know if last night was just an "off" night.
(2)
Caitie A.
I like it here, I've been several times. Weird though, upon making reservations, the hostess on the phone,Chelsea, said they had some kind of two hour rule..: that if I dine at 8:30, I would be expected to leave at 10:30. I don't think I've ever heard that before, at a restaurant like this. Isn't that what reservations are for? I take it to be kind unwelcoming.
(1)
Fred B.
I'm not into all those Japanese infused dishes and fancy rolls. When I go to a sushi place, I always eat the plain and simple fish on rice dish. This place I have to say is pretty good! I hear the that the wait can be long at peak hours, but haven't experienced that yet. This place over doraku anyday!
(4)
Crystal B.
I finally got to try Shokudo this past Friday after years of drooling over friend's pics of the legendary honey toast. We arrived early, but it was already packed so we had our choice of sitting at the bar or outside...since we've had some cool, blustery weather lately we opted for the bar. The bartender was incredible quick and friendly and while we waited we got to watch the sushi sensei whip up rolls and carefully crafted sashimi plates from his station. We ordered the lobster roll, chicken karage and gyoza as well as the 10 year anniversary edition maple bacon honey toast. Our orders came quickly (except for the honey toast which took a little extra time but this thing is a MONSTER :) ) and everything was on point with the similarly fashioned Izakaya dishes I enjoyed in japan. The restaurant was a little crowded and chaotic and the doors near us were constantly opening and closing allowing a cold breeze to come in which was a little irritating. Overall a great experience and cheaper pricing than my other recent Japanese fusion/sushi crush, Doraku. I won a $10 off coupon with my 10th anniversary honey toast order so I'm excited to go back and try more of the sushi and sashimi. Park at Ala Moana on the first floor, near the Ala Moana hotel and just walk over to Shokudo. Arrive early or get reservations if you can and try to get a table inside for more privacy.
(4)
Lauren C.
My husband and I stumbled upon this place and we loved it!! Very modern decor, close to Wakiki and full bar. We ordered the gyoza, sushi pizza and spicy miso ramen. All three were great but it was the ramen that I still can't stop thinking about! Service was attentive and prices were reasonable.
(5)
Vanessa B.
Good food. There tends to be a wait. There is a parking garage and the mall is right behind it so you can park there as well. I've been here a few times and the food and the drinks never disappoint. I like the place.
(4)
Jenna V.
This place can get very busy on the weekends and occasionally during the week. Good thing is they're one of the only locations that stay open late so there's no rush. They now have outdoor seating as well so the wait may not be as long. As far as the food goes, their extensive menu Is full of variety and just about everything we've ever ordered was a hit. Their sukiyaki bibimbap is my favorite. Their appetizers are always a must have when dining. You could just order a few and have a pretty awesome spread. The mood is like any Asian restaurant with a contemporary feel. Don't forget to order their honey toast for dessert. You might as well get the ice cream as well.
(5)
Rise D.
My friend and I decided to go to Shokudo for happy hour. We were seated outside, which was fine until a lizard dropped onto our table and ran across three plates of food. We told the waitress and she apologized and took away our food, and did not replace it. We told the manager and he gave us only 10% off a $70 bill. Also, the drinks tasted fine, but definitely not strong at all. The other weird thing was that the waitress would not let us order soup. Probably not returning to Shokudo for happy hour ever again.
(1)
Meli E.
I have never been to a restaurant where a waiter stops taking orders midway, and walks away. Regardless of how big the party is, we only had 7, that is what a pen and paper is for (which he had one!) If it's one thing Shokudo has always lacked, it is customer service. When it was last call for food and drinks, our waiter, Matt, only stopped by the table to inform us at the very last minute, but did not bother to stay to see if we even wanted to order anything for LAST CALL. Which, btw MATT did not return with a drink we ordered. Really? And the only time he returns is with our check. Rude. Whatever happened to this place? They forgot the importance of customer service and how it is to keep a restaurant's reputation.
(1)
Bradley P.
This was the first time i went there and had a verry good experience. Got a bunch of things that are totally dilish and the pork chops that was way to tuff to eat was comped, and they apologize for the way it was. Hunny toast was really good and will be going back for it again.
(5)
Stas A.
5 stars because the food was great and the customer service was great! I had Kylie as my server and I've been there twice for my birthday, coincidentally I've had her both times! Very happy with our customer service. Thank you so much Kylie!
(5)
Jenifer H.
When shokudo first opened, I loved to come here all the time. It was cheap, decent quality, and had fun options (in comparison to traditional asian food). Now... you need reservations or else you'll be standing in line for hours for a table. A few things have gone different. Prices have gone up, service is slipping, portions are getting smaller. However, it still doesn't detract my friends and I from coming here when we are all home from college! What draws me in is the Honey Toast... every time. But note you can buy the thick cut bread at saint germain and make the honey toast on your own! We've tried, and it's delicious. I must say my favorite dish is the Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice. Probably a mix of the crispy and the smooth fish and the warm and cold making it taste so good. If only it didn't disappear in one bite! I also love their Tofu Salad. That is one thing that I think has remained the same! The tofu is homemade, so always smooth and silken, with a nice light dressing, and a decent portion size as well. I also had the chance to go for a fathers day buffet there thinking that it would be most of the things on the menu... which it was, kind of. They had some staple dishes, but none of it was the quality that they normally serve their dishes at. I was kind of dissapoointed. But nonetheless we did leave full and content. I love crab legs and I remember they had a huge selection of those! Despite things slightly declining in quality there, I still try to go at least once when I am home.
(3)
Jayleen C.
All I can say is, my first time here and it was the best. Nothing went wrong and everything went smoothly. My friends and I went on a Thursday night and it was pretty busy. We waited for no more than 25 minutes to be seated. We got seated and right away got greeted by our server, Victor. He was really nice and asked us if it was our first time. And of course my friends went ahead and told them that it was my first time here. I already asked my friends what were the good things here and they told me. Victor started us off with drinks and we got the virgin lava flow. I can honestly say, it was so good. After we ordered our drinks, we ordered our food right away as well. My friend got udon (I forgot which one), and the tempura roll. My other friend and I got the garlic shrimp rice bowl and shrimp tempura. I got a bite of everything except for the udon, and I felt like I was in heaven. The tempura roll was so light and delicious. I wanted to order more but I had other food coming haha. The shrimp tempura was nice and lightly battered. Don't know if the price was worth it. But I was satisfied with it anyways. And the garlic shrimp rice bowl, OMG. I was literally burning my mouth with it because I wanted to keep eating it. After that my friends and I were having a small chit chat before dessert. The 3 of us shared the honey toast with an extra scoop of ice cream and with caramel drizzle. I am not gonna lie this stuff was sooo good. My friends told me that everyone just eats the inside of the honey toast, but nope, I ate the crust as well. Only because I am a fan of crusts so that's why. As soon as we were done, Victor asked us if we wanted our checks and got our checks right away. Forgot to mention that Victor did a good job on serving us and checking up on us. Overall, my first time experience here was AWESOME. Can't wait to be back for more food.
(5)
Jay P.
Hi, Yelp. I guess I'm back... *This is a combination of more than one occasion where I've dined at Shokudo.* The oxtail ramen is extremely small and does not taste like it was braised for six hours (as it claims to have been on the menu). In fact, the broth basically reminded me of the instant ramen soup package. I don't recommend this at all unless you want to be disappointed. The spicy tuna roll is smaller than I expected but still packed a generous amount of flavor. However, the size of the roll makes me question whether I'd order it again. The foot long chicken katsu is great for sharing with two people or more. I had this with a friend and it filled both of us up (if you also include our beers in the equation). The honey toast is simply overhyped. A great "group dessert" nonetheless if you're aiming for something along that line. Another thing I might add is that service isn't the same on every table (or from what I experienced). On one particular night, our server neglected us and helped the table right next to us more. And by neglect I mean he only filled up their waters when we also had empty water glasses. On another night, our server was nice enough to keep checking up on us and made sure our experience was a pleasant one overall. tldr; Portions are small and service can either be good or bad depending on the day, but most of it is tolerable if you share it with good company.
(3)
Treanna R.
Last night was my second time at Shokudo... The service was nice we had a place setting for 12 of us celebrating a birthday... It is a nice setting and kid friendly... Although we ordered... Everything came out EXCEPT the kids 12 inch chicken Katsu... My daughter ate rice and French fries waiting for her chicken... We canceled the order... Because my daughter fell asleep and then it came right before we had our dessert... I don't know how many times the waiter jimmy came to ask my husband how was everything... And bring us drinks but never catered to our kids... We bought the most expensive bottle of Sake, spent over $650 on the grossest milkiest oysters, nasty uni which felt like it was scraped off the shell and not layered onto the rice, I got sick from their oysters... So we carried out our children, which seemed to be a waste because they did not eat, I got my clothes covered in soy sauce because the training waiter spilled it all over my neck and clothes... To top the night off with sleepy kids, money spent, nasty oyster taste, the hostess who sat us, had taken a picture of us outside and cut off half my family... If you would like a overly concerned waiter about drinks, (no food) covered with food when they clear the table, never bring out food for your kids, and a horrible picture to top the night off with over priced check! This is the place to be at shokudo... I am a business owner, and I would never recommend this service to anyone, this was an epic fail hands down... And when you tell them their oysters were warm on the inside... They look at you and tell you... I'll let the chef know... And come back and bring the bill!!! Our waiter was jimmy and the training waiter who spilled every soy sauce on my white blouse... I don't remember his name... But we had a 8:30 reservation for 12 on July 16,2015... From business owner to business owner I would be relieved to know they care about the comments and persons who come here... My niece who celebrated her birthday here likes this place... But myself and my money will never come back... Especially when you complain about the food being WARM! when it's oysters on a half shell on ice... And they come back and bring your check for the table... It was insane
(1)
Andy G.
Let's just start off by saying that this is by far my favorite restaurant of all time! I love it here, the atmosphere is great and service is always nice. When its busy, there is usually a 30 minute wait if you don't make reservations which is always fine with me. The garlic shrimp fried rice and honey toast are the bomb and a must have every time!
(5)
Jalene H.
I've came here a few times and the service and food was great. Tonight, for the first time, the service was horrible. We waited almost two hours to finish getting our food. Between the mix up with our orders and another table along with the time we had to wait for our food, it was just unacceptable. Just for a shake, it took them almost 30 minutes. We got here around 9:40 and are only leaving at 11:40. Ridiculous.
(1)
Rekshitup D.
There food & Service is awesomeness, I eat there at least once a month. By far my favorite place to eat. I always start with the Lobster Dynamite (Hella Yummerz) Then End with of course the famous Honey Toast with extra Honey. YeahBah! But everything on the menu is great also.
(5)
Jamie M.
I came here on Saturday for lunch, and it was busy. There were a ton of people waiting outside, but luckily, my party of two was able to squeeze in before the large parties. The host was very enthusiastic and accommodating. I ordered the assorted tempura bento, which came with salad, edamame, tempura, rice, and miso soup. It was only $10.95, which I think is a great value. It also helps that it was delicious! My boyfriend ordered the teriyaki quesadilla, and I would highly recommend it. The meat was super tender, and it tasted great. My only gripe was that we also ordered the mochi cheese gratin, and our server forgot! I recall being a little concerned that our server was not writing down our order at all when he first arrived, and I was thinking to myself..."dang I knew that was going to happen." And up to that point, I was also thinking the service was good but not stellar. Anyhow, it's like the server read my mind. He offered us a complimentary half order of the honey toast for dessert, which despite my bulging belly, I accepted. It was, of course, great, and it was a very nice "I'm sorry" gesture. I totally appreciated it, and it brought my experience back up to five stars. Now, back to the mochi cheese gratin...I thought that it was interesting, but I didn't love it like some of the other reviewers. I love mochi, and I love cheese gratin, but together, I don't love it. I'm glad I tried it, but I don't think I will be ordering it again. The consistency of the concoction made it difficult to eat. And it's just not my cup of tea. Overall, I had a great experience. I will be back!
(5)
Chelsey N.
Everytime I come here I have to order the classics: unagi rice, steak tataki sushi, hamachi carpaccio, and homemade tofu. They have a host of other wonderful dishes, including sushi pizza, bi bim bap rice, a full sushi bar, and the winner of them all, honey toast! The service is on average pretty good. The wait can be a little out of hand even with reservations, but lunch time isn't too terrible. Shokudo is that place that you are always down to eat at, but can only sometimes afford. Which translates to: I'm dying to go back!
(4)
Michelle T.
The last time I was in Oahu, my cousin and cousin-in-law took us here for dinner. We had a bunch of dishes but what really stood out to me was the sushi pizza and the honey bread dessert. Honestly, if you don't eat anything else, come here for the honey bread! It's one of the best ones that I have ever had and nothing in NYC even compares to it. Seriously, order one less dish during dinner and save room for dessert!
(4)
Cencia C.
We keep going back for the pork chops -- tasty! Great service as always.
(4)
Ynah Patricia E.
I'm usually a regular but tonight's service was horrible. Our waiter, Chris, didn't offer us satisfactory service. Our honey toast order took about 25 minutes to arrive on our table. I had a friend who ordered a shake and it took another 15 minutes. I must say that I'm very disappointed with tonight's service. Shokudo, you've lost a loyal customer. If yelp allowed for 0 or negative stars, that's definitely what I would've rated them. HORRIBLE!
(1)
Leah P.
Ever since I moved to Oahu, Shokudo was on my to go list. I've seen all the pictures of sushi and honey toast and lychee mojitos. I figured it was pricey and something to go to for fancy occasions. So I steered away til the time was right. Tonight was my boyfriends 25th birthday. We got tired of frequenting yakiniku places (which has been my thing since we've moved here) and he wanted sushi so it seemed like the perfect time to try out shokudo. And boy are we glad. We got in at about 630 on a Tuesday night. We were told it was going to be a 45 minute wait but got seated quicker. The booths for two were nice because you werent exactly across each other or next to each other and it was private enough you didn't hear your neighbors. We were greeted by our server Tremaine. He showed us the drink menu off the bat. My boyfriend got a Stella and I got an iced tea. Those were pretty basic although the Stella was $6. Kinda pricey. Tremaine never let my glass empty. He always came out with a new one before I could even ask! We had the edamame, cucumber/ume salad and the assorted tempura to start. Edamame was basic, a little too salty. The cucumber salad though, that was amazing. It came with fish flakes on top for a nice hint of texture. The assorted tempura was also basic. My boyfriend thought the sauce tasted funny but I liked it. Then we had the tiger roll, spicy ahi roll, garlic shrimp rice and chicken karage. Everything was excellent but by the time I got to the karage I was already pretty stuffed. The stand out was the garlic rice. For dessert my boyfriend got a complimentary honey toast for his birthday and I got the bread pudding. I preferred the bread pudding but the honey toast did live up to its hype. Overall, My experience at Shokudo was a great one. At the end, Tremaine also gave us one of his "unofficial" business cards and told us we could always request for his section whenever were in. His service was amazing from start to finish. And whatever the cooks and sushi chefs are doing back there, keep doing what you doing! We'll definitely be back.
(5)
David A.
Sashimi sampler is expensive and does not come with rice, soup or salad. Not worth it. Service was slow. I'll try this place again - maybe I hit it on a off day - but I was disappointed. Now I have to go and pick up lunch at another place because I'm starving.
(2)
Lori F.
When I hear "Shokudo" the only thing I think of is their Honey toast. So simple, yet tastes so amazing & 2-3 people can share one!
(4)
Dana M.
Simply amazing great service, super friendly staff. Cheese mochi, foot long chicken katsu, dragon roll and honey toast---WOW
(5)
Lani K.
We went to Shokudo for our son's 18th birthday and we had such a wonderful time. There was 13 of us and didn't realize that we were going to be seated in the party room. That was awesome way to begin our night. We had James T. as our waiter and he was awesome and knew his stuff. The food was great as well as the atmosphere.
(5)
Hoku T.
4 stars because out of the 3 times we've been there. We had to sit at the bar not by choice tho, it was super busy. Bartender was super friendly. Nice restaurant, awesome food, awesome prices,
(4)
Makana J.
My wife and I went to shokudo this past Saturday and we was blown way. We came here before but it was just alright it did stand out for me for what I can remember. So we decided to give it another shot. From the time we got there to the time we left was just awesome. We had reservation @ 6:00pm and we arrived pretty earlier knowing its Saturday it can get crowded. We checked to see if we could check in early and it was no problem and it was pretty busy. The hostess sat us in the booth. It's pretty neat how they have the booths for two set up. Are waiter grant who was super helpful. He Came and took our drink order. My wife had the lychee mojito and I had a plantation iced tea. Both of our drinks was really good. I wanted to try different plates so we order the Mochi cheese gratin which was awesome. Next was the spicy tuna crispy rice. It was so delicious and that marinaded Jalapeño gave it a real good taste. We also had the volcano roll which it was to die for the best by far. We also order the assorted tempura. which was really good. The char Siu pork with Japanese scallions was awesome. We also ordered the lobster dynamite. It was so creamy and delicious. And for desert we got the famous honey toast which was awesome. Our waiter grant was terrific he gave us the low down on all the plates we ordered. He checked on us to make sure if we needed anything and it was pretty busy. He made our shokudo dinner experience even better. My wife and I was totally impressed on the food and the service we got from shokudo staff. I gave it a five star!! We're definitely coming back and referring this place to people family and friends.
(5)
Lani W.
Food is good. Happy Hour specials are good. Beware if you have children if you end up with the waitress named Chelsea. She seems to have a real attitude problem when it comes to children. Instead of talking to me about my child, she seems to think my toddler understands an entire lecture about climbing as I'm sitting right there. And not to mention that face she made as my 11 year old sat at the wrong table. She just cost this review an entire star...good job! You don't like kids...go work at a club or a bar where children aren't allowed.
(3)
Jun Z.
Great sushi and honey toast. The ambiance was nice and the service was quick. I'd suggest this place to my friends.
(4)
Mengying L.
Like the atmosphere there. Delicious food and nice services. I love sushi pizza and their honey toast!
(4)
Corinne E.
I haven't been to Shokudo in awhile but I really enjoyed the flavors on my last visit! Everything was just mmmm...mmmm good! Even liked my lychee martini! I was going to pass on the dessert but my friends all wanted to try the Honey Toast and ... wow... taste the inner squares and prepare to say "yummy!" Nice atmosphere, spacious, and was lucky enough to catch Brian Yang from Hawaii 5-0 at a nice enough distance while I ate my meal. So it was a good evening! Great to share food family style and enjoy more dishes. Service was excellent! Oh... and make reservations... we were going on a Friday and I remember it being a large place, I didn't think it was necessary if we went early enough but I called the day prior and lucky thing I did!
(5)
Aline T.
I just couldn't stay away from that sake sampler. I came back just for that and brought a friend who also enjoys kubota manjyu. We enjoyed it so much, we ordered the tokkuri. That's where things got tricky. Nooooo, I didn't get wasted (although I set a new high record of 5 shots). The tokkuri sake wasn't smooth at all. Long story shorter, the manager Kepe gave us two free shots. However, I had to ask to take the tokkuri off the bill. Waitress was great, never made it feel like we were at fault. Kepe was respectful, friendly and handled the situation as expected. I'm very happy that they listened, responded and supported the customer. Did I mention we came during happy hour? Cheap, good eats! We got the Takoyaki Russian Roulette for fun. It comes with 5 pieces. When we realized there was only one piece left, I looked at the takoyaki, looked at my friend, looked at the takoyaki. Me: Hey...did you get the hot one yet? LF: ...no...did you? Me: ...*looks at the last piece* ... no. *Change of subject* blah blah *Back to subject* Me: Sooo....do you want it? LF: .... Me: What if they're just messing with us and there isn't even a hot one and it's all in your mind? LF: Still don't want it. Me: FINE! (Curses, it didn't work.) Did I get the hot one? No!! There was none! Unless it wasn't hot on my radar, in which case, I still win! Level up to 5 stars for good eats, great service, the best sake and a fantastic time! Kepe mentioned he was going to bring in sparkling peach sake! A good, new product he came across last October. I look forward to returning many times for more sake and grinds!
(5)
Laura O.
EXCELLENT food and service. We had two kids under the age of 5 with us, and they were very accommodating. The menu was interesting and appealing. The desert we got was simply delicious. We liked it so much we went twice in one week. Definitely a must go for the Japanese food enthusiast. The twists are worthwhile.
(4)
Jorge H.
Honey toast. Enough said.... (drops mic) No, seriously... The food is good as well. We ordered the Tokyo Shoyu Ramen which had great flavor but not a lot of kick to it. I'm used to some garlic/spicy ramen and the only solution they had was Tabasco sauce. In addition, we ordered the spicy tuna crispy rice which had great flavor and the crispiness of the rice added a nice touch. (Although at the end of the night, it was a little stale.) The Mochi Cheese Gratin is a MUST. Oh my was this delicious and the cheese was stretchy like a fresh out the oven slice of pizza. And the tofu salad which had a good kick to it and very flavorful, especially for a guy like me who doesnt really "get" tofu. But my oh my... their bread and butter (no pun) is the Honey Toast. If there was every anything remotely close to a taste bud orgasm, I'd say I had a multiple. This is seriously the best dessert I ever had. So good that we went back for seconds two days later, even after scarfing down a cheeseburger 20 mins before. If you aren't hungry, but want dessert, there is no better choice out here than this $8 delight. And it's worth every penny. Shoot, I'd pay $20 for this. (just don't tell the owners)
(4)
Cara K.
This is one of my favorite places! I always start with a lychee mojito and the mochi cheese gratin. Their lobster dynamite roll is to die for. The tempura was crisp and over battered. Of course you have to finish your meal with some honey toast!!
(5)
Randoll C.
When in Hawaii, eat Japanese! That's what my cousin, a fellow Yelper did for dinner on my last night back home in Hawaii. Unless you're walking from somewhere, parking is in the structure and I was told that it is security monitored so be sure to park in the designated spots for Shokudo. On Sunday's, it's FREE! The entrance to the restaurant on the street level, on the street. I don't know if they accept reservations but if you get there early, like we did, we were seated immediately. When we left, there looked to be a good wait outside. Not a very big waiting area inside. The service was awesome. Everyone was attentive, courteous and friendly. Everyone from the bus persons, to the manager. I forger her name but she did stop at our table and we chatted a bit. As for the food, I liked the food. But not to the point that I could say I loved it. Pretty big portions and pretty big prices. But that's to be expected because of the location. Decent variation of dishes and I liked everything my cousin and I shared, but we both didn't love it all. We even tried the honey toast they I've heard so much about. Again, I enjoyed it but if by chance I were there again, if I didn't have it, I wouldn't lose sleep. I feel a little bad about a three star rating, however, I had a good time with my cousin and we enjoyed our dinner. It just didn't "WOW" us like we were told would happen by others who had been there.
(3)
Julie O.
Happy Hour specials are the best! 4 to 6pm great service, food options, and japanese eats. Live eating the ahi nachos, tempura, cucumber salad, and honey toast. #winnas!
(5)
Ashley N.
Returned here once again since honestly, I can't even remember the last time I ate at Shokudo. I wasn't really in the mood for anything special, and my boyfriend isn't picky, so I decided to come back and dine here since it used to be one of my top 5 places to eat at. We arrived around ~8:10PM on Friday night, and it was packed! However, this is the usual for Shokudo on a Friday/Saturday night. Definitely recommend making a reservation if you don't want to wait. When we entered, we weren't greeted (I stated this in my last review, as well) - my boyfriend and I actually had to start the conversation with "Dinner for two." and the host simply looked up and replied "Any reservations?", in which we replied no. The wait time was around 30-40 minutes, so we put our name down and went outside to wait. The highlight of this night was that it was actually only a 15-20 minute wait, so we were seated at around ~8:30PM. It was filled to the brim inside of Shokudo, which meant it was even louder than usual. It wasn't exactly a romantic dinner night since we practically had to use our "outside voices", indoors. I didn't mention this before, but some of the seating is a bit odd. There are these "booth" seatings, that doesn't allow you to face who you're eating with, instead you're sitting next to them... So I hope you don't mind sharing a menu, because that's exactly what you'll have to do in these mini booths! Anyways, we were seated at these exact booths, and the hostess that sat us, didn't even explain the menu, nor did she give us the sushi menu either. She literally put the menu on the table, and walked away before we even sat down. We were greeted by our server who brought us waters. I believe he's either new, or I never saw him before, because I used to come to Shokudo all the time, but I never met him until tonight. He was honestly a little bit awkward to talk too. Not very personable, nor was he very chatty. But he did his job and was attentive to filling our waters, and correctly getting our order. Anyways, my boyfriend ordered a Shirley temple ($2.00) to drink, and I just stuck with water. When he returned with my boyfriends drink, we began to order. My boyfriend got the Spicy Tuna Crispy rice ($12.45), and the Garlic shrimp rice ($12.45). I ordered the chicken Karaage ($9.95) and a side of brown rice ($2.25). We waited around 10 minutes before my boyfriend got his Garlic shrimp rice delivered first. The server mixed it for my boyfriend, and left us to enjoy our mea-... Oh wait! They delivered the food inconsistently so now it was either we let the food sit until we got all of our food, or let my boyfriend eat while I watched. My boyfriend is a gentleman, so he waited for me to get my food, which took another 10-15 minutes to bring all of it out at the same time. This has always been an inconsistency that I noticed in my previous visits at Shokudo. They aren't very good at timing the meals so that all the people in the party can eat and enjoy at the same time. Instead, they have to pick with either watching others eat, or watching the food go cold. However, when all the food DID get to the table, it tasted good (as it usually does!), which was a plus. The chicken Karaage was still as I remembered from months ago, my boyfriends garlic shrimp rice was hot and full of yummy garlic flavor, and the spicy tuna crispy rice, was exactly as it's named! Overall: PROS: -Food tasted good. -Service was satisfactory. CONS: -Hosting stand is STILL subpar. -Food is delivered inconsistently. Shokudo used to be one of my top 5 places to eat, however I see that it has slowly, but it surely dropped from it's rank because of the service (hosting), and the inconsistencies I've noticed over my visits. Which is why I decided to give it 3 stars instead of 4 like in my review 3 months ago. However, It's still a reliable place for a "go-to" dinner if I'm not sure what to eat. Will I be back? Probably, but I won't expect anything spectacular.
(3)
Mike P.
My first time here..slow lunch, friendly staff. Started with vegetable tempura, very yummy. On to the mermaid roll, again very yummy and nicely presented. Then onto the sashimi sampler, oops , do you guys usually serve the salmon frozen? Our server Bri, was apologetic and quickly returns the dish to the kitchen and the manager returns with apologies and an offer to make something different. Problem fixed and overall a great lunch.
(3)
Joseph H.
The atmosphere was not what I thought it would be. Only hearing about the good food from friends, I was expecting a nice Japanese restaurant where me and the family could enjoy a meal. When we got there It was noisy with people talking loudly and the sounds of dishes clanging. I honestly felt as if I was in a regular diner. With that being said the food was delicious!! We ordered a variety of foods from salmon to ahi salad and even sushi. We topped off the meal with the honey toast which is ok, definitely did not live up to the hype I heard about. It tastes similar to the toast topped with honey that I make at home. So if your looking for an outstanding Japanese meal and don't mind the diner type setting, Shokudo is the place to go.
(4)
Taryn L.
While my friends are huge fans of this place, I feel like I am that black sheep of the group that disagrees with the group consensus because, given the choice, this would not be my first pick. The ambiance of the place is like a happy hour restaurant, with a bar smack-dab in the middle of it, but decorated like the typical Japanese restaurant. It can get super busy with a wait of at least an hour for a party of 4 during the extremely busy times. And, they don't take reservations from 6 pm to 8 pm...so if you want to eat dinner during the normal dinner time, you'll have to take your chances with wait (you may end up eating later than 8 anyway). The food is okay. My usual order is the bi bim bap - I cannot resist that scorching, steaming hot stone pot that crisps the rice, cooks the egg, and makes the dish nuclear hot. They also give a small dish of hot sauce to add to the pot so that you can determine how spicy you want your bi bim bap. The item that this restaurant is known for is the honey toast. It is good, but definitely not my go-to dessert. To me, it is just thick, sweet bread drizzled with honey and served ala mode. I always get this dessert when I come to Shokudo, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get it. Service overall is usually pretty good, even when they are busy. I never had to wait extremely long to order food, receive it, and get the check. If anything, the biggest wait is always to get a seat.
(3)
Jessica-Nicole U.
I can't believe it took so long to review this place.. let alone go. Went for my friend's birthday. It's a nice atmosphere. It even has an outside seating area. The bar is right in the middle which I thought was pretty interesting... gives the places two sections and I always sat on the right side when you walk in. The honey toast is really yummy, but not THAT yummy to have a million people raving about it. Customer service was okay. I feel they are understaffed with the amount of customers they get. Reasonable prices, location, parking, and overall... fan-made
(4)
Alyssa M.
thought i would update my review since i returned to Shokudo just this evening. My family wanted to go to Shokudo for drinks after my grandmas burial -- i admit, i was not too fond of the idea of going back since my last visit a year ago. stepped in, requested for seating for 10 people -- was told it would be about 15 mins while they set up for dinner. while waiting at the bar...saw a familiar face! it was our server from a year ago, Tremaine! like an amazing worker, he of course remembered me. & as he promised me, if i ever did choose to return to Shokudo, he'd take care of me; & he did! my review this time around wont be on the restaurant itself, but more on the service. Tremaine has made our visit for myself & my family a great one! I'd return for only 2 reasons -- Honey Toast & Tremaine. No Tremaine? Well then no honey toast for me.
(4)
Pabs G.
Nice place for lunch or dinner with coworkers, friends, and family. Food is great. Favorite is the mochi au gratin. The honey toast is a treat to be enjoyed with others. Price is moderate, but presentation of the food cost too, right? Parking is in the structure, but be careful because I managed to get stuck on one of the higher levels requiring security to open the gate. Who knew!
(4)
Maka K.
I LOOOOOOOoooooVE Shokudo!! Or I guess I should say that what I really love is the Honey Toast (more on that in a min). I've been coming to this restaurant since they opened 8yrs. ago when I was still in high school (damn...I wish I hadn't thought about that part), and I love the restaurant more now than I did then...because now I can drink, hahaha. Parking: Free in the parking garage in the back half of the building (behind the restaurant) with validation. Happy Hour: HELLO! I'm so there! The BeforeDark HH is 4-6pm and confined to whoever can fit at the bar (about 8-10 seats or so). The AfterDark HH is from 10p-12a and takes up a much larger area of the restaurant. All the food items on the HH menu range from $3-$5, how can you beat that?! Items offered range from edamame, to sushi, to kimchee pizza, to honey toast jr, to takoyaki and a bunch of other tasty stuff. Obviously, there are drinks on this menu as well, though other than the $4 house wines, I can't remember what they are off the top of my head. But I think it includes discounted bomb shots, sangria, and beers. Food: I've never had anything from Shokudo that I didn't like, seriously, not joking. I don't like unagi (eel), but I think the unagi rice is delicious! I don't really like shrimp, but the shrimp tempura is really light and crispy. And who comes up with stuff like Sushi Pizza?! Sushi rice on a nori "crust" and topped with california roll crab mix and jalepeno slices~~~delicious! The handmade tofu is soft and tastes nothing like any other kind of tofu I've ever had. That's only to name a few! I swear that the rest of the menu is delicious! For the health conscious out there, they have lots of great healthy options, so I never feel like I'm walking into temptation...except with the honey toast.... If you can make it for lunch, definitely do so! They offer great lunch specials, like my favorite "Healthy Bento Box" that comes with 4pcs of sashimi, 4pcs sushi, handmade tofu, and a small salad. They also have a few drink specials during lunch, like a $3 sangria! HONEY TOAST!!! Yes, this dessert gets a section all to itself. If you don't go to Shokudo for anything else, YOU MUST GET THE HONEY TOAST!! Also known as "brick toast" by some, it's a small tower made with two THICK (about 3" thick) slices of Japanese bread. The centers are cut out, cubed and toasted, the crusts are stacked, and the cubes are tossed back in. Then the tower is topped with two scoops of vanilla ice cream and drizzled all over with honey!! I don't care if it doesn't SOUND amazing because IT IS amazing!! Original version is made with just honey, but you can pay extra dollars to have them add other toppings on it like strawberry puree, chocolate sauce, azuki bean, etc. You want to do it! You want to get it! You want to eat it! Period. Service: I've had slow service, I've had new trainees, and the lot, but I have always had smiley and patient service! I don't know who does the hiring, but good job! Your employees are awesome! Conclusion: I've been going there for 8 years already and I'm not about to stop anytime soon!
(5)
Kanya G.
Goodness, I've been here countless times! For birthdays, get-togethers, or when friends just want honey toast. Sad to say that I feel that this place has become kinda overrated. I wouldn't go here for authentic Japanese cuisine or amazing sushi. The following description kind of reminds me of the phrase, "jack of all trades, master of none." They do have interesting kinds of sushi rolls and main dishes/sides, like the sushi pizza and cheese mochi, a variety of lunch specials and fufu drinks, but there's nothing that sets them aside from other places other than their honey toast. Now, I think, well... I can make it at home. Maybe it's the increasing frugality in me lol. Atmosphere is nice. The restaurant is more open now. Service varies-- sometimes employees are very hospitable, other times they don't seem too happy.
(3)
Deena I.
A hotel concierge recommended this place for a quick eat and for the famous honey toast. We decided to have dinner there right before our flight back to L.A. We went in around 5:30pm and there was no wait - in fact, the place was pretty empty! I'm Japanese and just loved the menu. It reminded me of home and the creativity of the menu was awesome. We ordered the Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla, The Mochi Gratin, French Fries & the limited edition Yuzu Honey Toast. They were all so delicious! French fries sound underwhelming but it was still so good. Our waitress was Chelsea and she was great! So friendly and attentive. The other servers were always more than willing to help too, which was my favorite part. It didn't matter who's table we were, they all were happy to assist. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jamie G.
Went there for happy hour (from 4:00-6:00) and with a short wait, our party of 5 was seated at a nice table near the window. Service was AWESOME! Our server hadn't started his shift yet, so another waiter came by to get us started. Happy hour menu had the regular beer, sake, and wine. I ordered a huge $8 Lychee mojito. I'd post a pic but it disappeared before I had a chance to snap. Sorry! Everything we ordered was beyond yummy. The sauce on the Gyoza was fantastic, Dynamite Fries was...well, Dynamite! The spicy tuna nachos were fantastic, sushi rolls were fresh and tasty. I normally wouldn't rave about a Tofu SALAD, but OMG! I'm going to have to go back and force my caveman hubby to try it. Of course, we had to try the Honey Toast. The presentation itself was beautiful. It was a good dessert... comfort food at best. I really wanted to try this sizzling dessert that the table next to us ordered. Oh well, there's always next time... Tip: Go early! We arrived a little before 5:00 and had to wait a little to be seated but by the time we left at 6:30 there was a line of people waiting to get in.
(5)
Alex C.
First of all the hostess (Chelsea) told us we would be seated in 30-45 mins or less and we had to wait over an hour and 15 mins and she kept giving us crap excuses. She didn't want to double seat the server's section so we had to wait extra time, also her stand off ish attitude didn't help. Then we got seated and the food came out pretty fast, but they kept spilling food or placing the wrong food on our table. Eventually the manager gave us some free fries because he noticed our angry our group was for the bad service. The only reason to come is the honey toast. The food was good, but the service was just beyond terrible.
(2)
Sam M.
I recently went here for a small graduation party my really good friend was having. He absolutely loves Shokudo, and from hearing many goods things about the place, I was very excited to try the food there. Now, perhaps I went in there with the wrong mindset thinking that I was so ready to eat some good Japanese food. Because, I do LOVE my Japanese food. Since it was a party, everything was pre-ordered and brought to us as things were ready. My boyfriend and I were extremely surprised when we got the food because it was all sorts of Japanese food... but with a twist. The best I can describe it is... Asian-American Fusion. Maybe we just tried the wrong things... I wasn't very satisfied with our meal And then the ever so famous HONEY TOAST CAME I was excited. But then I realized this is something I could probably make at home. Driving home that night my boyfriend jokingly said "So... I've figured out why we don't really like Shokudo... We're just too Asian" (We're both over 75% Japanese) We laughed. But unfortunately I don't think we'll be coming back. We both enjoy Gyotaku much more than Shokudo
(2)
Goldie L.
Shokudo is a semi-modern, lively restaurant/bar. Pretty spacious. Our bartender/server was so attentive +++++2 stars I had the garlic shrimp over rice served in a stone pot. It was so buttery. It was pretty good but I felt like I gained a couple pounds after eating it :/ Drinks are cheap. My lava flow was ~$5. Can't wait to try their happy hour next!
(4)
Samm N.
Disappointing from all the hype... All the food came out at different times...dramatically different. Everyone had finished eating and one of my friends didnt even get theor food yet. One guy gkt his food before all of us but since he had to wait for us to get out food he ended up ordering $40 worth of sushi because of the time they sent out all the food. The udon took forever to come out compared to the sushi and an unagi rice. We had emty water cups and they djdnt come to fill it up. So we drank each others. We asked for seperate checks and the waiter bundled up 4 of us together. So we had to split the check up when we onl uhh had large bills. Also the gratuity was already put in which is understandable yet too high for their poor service. Udon was cold and the sushi was falling apart. Also the waiter knocked my pins on the ground and under the booth seat as well at rice and food from the plates on my jeans.
(2)
Joyce M.
I love the food, but I feel like the service could be a bit better. Our waiter was kind and funny, but the problem was with the girl at the front table. We came in all happy to be there bc it was my friend's first time, but there was no smile on her face whatsoever. She didn't even say to follow her to our table.. Just. Nothing.. Hence the -1 star. That kinda killed our mood but the lovely service of our waiter along with the other staff made up for the unpleasant welcome. Oh, and can't leave the food out! Everything was delicious!
(4)
Mayanne K.
I ate at Shokudo this year two times so far, and I'm already thinking of going back and getting the Mermaid Roll... The first time was lunch with a party of 6 on a Saturday. We initially had a reservation of 5, but we just asked our server if it was possible to add on another table or chair. He was very accommodating and explained to us that once the party next to us leaves he will push the table over for us. The service really blew my mind. I have never noticed the food or service as much before until that day. Our server (I wish I got his name!!!) was quick and smooth when bring us our food and taking empty dishes away. We ordered many dishes to taste the different dishes and to share with each other. I don't think you can go too wrong when you order any dish at Shokudo. Even their french fries have a unique touch! Or many I just really like french fries. The second time I ate at Shokudo (was actually the weekend after the first) I went for dinner with my boyfriend. We got in and were seated around 6:30pm. It was Sunday and there were other tables available around the time we went. However, it did get busier as the night went on. Once again the service was quick. We were seated, greeted by our server, offered drinks, the whole routine. After we ordered our food came out in a timely manner, about 15 minutes? I ordered the spinach salad and the mermaid roll, and my boyfriend ordered the chicken katsu. The chicken katsu was crispy and the sauce had a different, yummy flavor about it. I ate the entire mermaid roll.... it was perfect with the tempura and spicy tuna on the top. Past crunchy rolls I've had at other restaurants only have the tempura with chili sauce, so I was in love when Shokudo put the tempura and tuna together! Short version: If you haven't been to Shokudo in a while, like me, go check it out. They seem to be adding new items to the menu and even bringing certain items back by popular demand. You'll keep coming back for the consistent food and service!
(4)
Elizabeth G.
I "discovered" Shokudo about six years ago. Since then, it's been a staple restaurant for me and any friends who come to visit me on the island. Although the menu has evolved quite a bit, they have kept all my old favorites: agedashi tofu, lobster dynamite, and unagi rice. There have been times that the servers have questioned if we will be able to eat all the dishes we order, but we always do! Of course, no matter how full we are, we have to save room for that Honey Toast! The original is still an old favorite, but the cookies and cream one has quickly taken a close second for me. Service is usually spot-on. Every once in a while, I'll get a server who seems to be really slow or confused, but this definitely isn't the norm. I do recommend reservations, but usually if I just show up and my party isn't too big, I'll be seated within 10-20 minutes.
(5)
Shannon M.
This place is great! I always get the garlic shrimp rice bowl. Recently had the mochi cheese. It is delicious!! Recommend reservations unless you don't mind waiting. Honey toast is big enough to share... They only do the jr size during happy hour.
(5)
Nikki S.
The last time I ate here the guy who was serving me named Reo he was fantastic the most accommodating I have had in a long time. The food was a bit over priced I expected more.
(4)
Paul R.
Honey toast, please :) My last Shokudo visit was not so great to bad. We were celebrating my girlfriend's birthday and they lost my reservation, had to wait and extra 30 minutes to get seated, found a fly in my drink, and service was slow!!! But my overall experiences have been very good. BUT the wait is always long. This place is really popular so be sure to make a reservation, but pray they don't lose it :p.. Drinks: We started out with the cucumber and the lychee mojito. I ordered mine with shochu and it was so much better that the lychee that was in rum. The waitress was happy to have the drink remade with shochu. Grinds: We ordered the lobster dynamite. Creamy sauce with lobster chunks on top of sushi rolls. Its very good. And some mayo based japanese sauces can be a little too rich, but this has a good balance. We also had an order of salmon sashimi. Around $8 and comes with five pieces. nice cuts. Thicker than most places, and really fresh. Good pick. Last we had the chicken karage.. Not very good at all. Very plain. The same as many places, not as good, as most places. Wouldn't try it again.. DESSERT:!!! This last time we got their honey toast and its good, but definitely try the cinnamon honey toast. That little bit extra makes it so much better!! I could eat it every day!!! All in all a great place. Everyone should try at least once!
(4)
Tracy U.
Couple of weeks ago my Sister in Law and I went to Shokudo for Happy Hour. Sat at the bar at 5:57 pm and the bartender said Happy Hour was over. Happy Hour ends at 6:00pm, not 5:57pm. The host are rude too. They asked if we had reservations , I said I tried to calling but no one answers the phone. Tried there again last night for late night Happy Hour. The Happy Hour Pal App said Fri and Sat HH 930pm to 12pm. So we got there at 11pm, the host are stuck up and rude. Asked for Happy Hour and they said they no longer have HH on Friday and Saturday nights. For a party of 2, the wait was 15-20 minutes. The place wasn't full, so we left.
(1)
Skye W.
I have eaten at Shokudo's twice. The first time I was introduced to this place was with friends. We sat at the bar and took advantage of the happy hour menu. Everything we ordered was well-prepared, and came out promptly. As we began sampling more of the mojito flavors, we did begin to get loud and giggly. The person helping us seemed entertained and let us enjoy ourselves. It was an overall fun time. The second visit was a little more special. My husband and I, along with our daughter celebrated our ninth anniversary here. The waiter helping us recommended all of his favorites, from pupus to drinks. He let us look over the menu, brought us everything with perfect timing and made our anniversary memorable. Besides the honey toast, I recommend the tofu. It's divine!
(5)
Jordan S.
I went here for my birthday dinner with my boyfriend and it was great! Service was fantastic, the food was amazing, and they gave me a free dessert for my birthday! There prices are fair but I'm a college student so I'm definitely going back for my next special occasion!
(5)
Kristin I.
I normally am ok with Shokudo and would give them 4 stars, but this last visit didn't make me too happy so thats why this is a 3 star review. To start, the hostess was nice, she told us the wait for 5 people was a 40-50 minute wait, but if we wanted to, we could eat outside and get served right away. So we decided to dine outside. Our waitress was great, friendly, kept refilling our waters. We ordered maybe 10 minutes after we sat down. Our drinks took about 5 minutes to come out. A party next to us came after we ordered our food, and some how got their food and drinks immediately. Which i didn't really understand, they got beer, we ordered beer, they ordered sushi, we ordered sushi. They ordered warm appetizers, we ordered warm appetizers. So why were they getting everything before us? It took our food about 30 minutes to come out. I ordered the hikari fries, when they came out, they were luke warm. No one likes luke warm food. And my friends Garlic Shrimp rice was swimming in oil. It was just a buzz kill that we had to wait so long for our food, and when the food came out is was so-so or not hot. I think I'll have to try eating here again, maybe i can update my review next time.
(3)
Brandon M.
Had a trainee named Miguel. Very attentive to our tables needs. Asked how my sushi pizza was and made sure our water glasses are kept full. He'll become a very good waiter and server
(5)
Angela H.
Went in on a Wednesday night for some dessert. The wait was horrendous, so we decided to sit at the bar. I got the honey toast, and ordered some extra caramel (for $1)--I got a tiny dime sized drizzle. The dessert came out dry (and I have a major sweet tooth), so I asked for some extra honey on the side. The toast was very sweet and tasty--something I would definitely order again. My only gripe with Shokudo was the "too good for you" service--the hostesses were snooty and standoff'-ish, and the waitstaff seemed distracted. Overall, tasty dessert, but snooty, distracted staff. Worth it? You decide.
(3)
Dave F.
Shokudo is a Japanese restaurant with a diverse menu and a nice atmosphere. But Shokudo is not the restaurant you go to if you want traditional Japanese fare. It's more of an Asian fusion type of place with fancy sounding names for sushi. If you want real sushi, go to a sushi bar that doesn't have California rolls and caterpillar rolls, etc. on their menu. If you want the fancy sounding names and the unusual combinations, come here. We ordered some standard sushi such as unagi, maguro, etc. They were average. We also had the tempura assortment which was good and the cheese gratin mochi, which I didn't eat and my dining companion happily devoured. It's just a thing I have with cheese on mochi... She thoroughly enjoyed it! The shrimp tempura and assorted vegetable tempura was light and crispy. We made sure we saved room for dessert so we could enjoy their signature honey toast! Now this dessert may be copied, but cannot be duplicated. The secret is the bread. As we all know, there are all kinds of bread... Different textures, doughy, all kinds. This dessert uses two extra thick slices of bread that is hollowed out, then cubed and toasted. The cubes are placed in the hollowed out centers, drizzled with honey and topped with vanilla ice cream ! Heavenly! I would come here just for this dessert! If you haven't tried this yet, please do. Then you'll know what I'm trying to say!!! Yum!
(3)
Rain Greg J.
This place rocks!! The service was spot on!! The food was perfect. The menu is great, a bit of a twist on the standard Japanese favorites. Prices are excellent considering the ambience, quality, and location. It's a casual classy hip establishment. They have the best happy hour specials I've found. The gyoza comes with sauce so good we were dipping our sushi in it, we had to get another order! We had to try the sushi pizza also, it's so unique. It was very good a little hard to eat, but worth it. (We drizzled some of the gyoza sauce over the top.) Some gentlemen next to us ordered the tempura and it was beautiful light crispy, I could tell the oil is fresh, the batter is light they don't crowd it in the oil and it's not overcooked, which doesn't take long. We got there about 4:30 and it began to fill up quickly. I like the sushi bar being in the middle of the restaurant. We enjoyed watching them at their art. This place has it going on, give it a try, you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Jovie R.
When it boils down to Japanese food (my fave), the more authentic it is, the better. The food here is ok but not the best. Ambience and seating is good, noise level above average. The food prep wait time was ok. The one thing that earned my high remarks was the customer service. Tonight we had the lobster dynamite, pork chops and strawberry honey toast. The lobster dynamite was a little too sweet for my taste, the pork chops (with katsup dipping sauce) tasted like home cooking. The smell of the food was great but the taste wasn't there. The honey toast and drinks were good.
(3)
Jay M.
This is one of my favorite places to go for Japanese. Style lunch and dinner. This place is AWESOME!
(4)
Melissa M.
Chad & Calvin are very courteous and give great customer service! Even though they know my boyfriend, they were still very helpful and I could see how well they do with other customers!
(5)
Katiana N.
Love the Yukari french fries! Oh and ask for Reo, the waiter...thank you for the great customer service! !
(5)
Brianna D.
I would love to give this place a 5 star but my server was horrible, took forever to give us a water refill and only checked on us twice. But all in all food was amazing as always definitely coming back hopefully with better service.
(4)
K A.
People here are nice; excellent service; waitress tend to our needs; on point with the menu; food was bomb; too full to even have dessert; if it's your first time here, honey toast is a must have; lobster dynamite dip best appetizer ever it's another must have
(5)
Denise L.
Yuzu mojito and fresh tofu the best ever. Friendly service. Go late lunch really early dinner there is no wait.
(5)
Jill N.
Came here on a Sunday evening for happy hour with my boyfriend. We sat outside and I'm glad we did because it was so hot inside the restaurant. We had good service from the waitress who didn't mind us ordering practically everything on the happy hour menu and even reminded us to order the honey toastright before happy hour ended so we could get the cheaper deal! I wouldn't order the dynamite fries or ahi nachos again... all of the mayo sauce makes the fries/wonton chips mushy. The garlic shrimp fried rice is kinda pricey for the serving size but is definitely worth it :) overall, it was an enjoyable dining experience if you're looking to just kick back and grind some pupus!
(4)
Rebecka A.
Honey Toast!!! Love love! Traditional is sublime; no need to worry about fancy additives like cinnamon. Ice cream + honey + buttered Texas toast = yay! I had a delightful cocktail here too. It looked like an aquarium with a Swedish fish, rock candy at the bottom of the blue drink. :D They have delicious milkshakes as well. When my friend and I were splitting an Oreo shake, they even brought it to us in two glasses. They have fabulous sushi rolls (Try the volcano roll! tempura-covered California roll topped with poke! Delish!) and the lobster dynamite appetizer ($10) is delicious-- very creamy, zesty sauce. It doesn't come with enough bread pieces, but you can get 7 more pieces for $2 or so. I think their outdoor seating area is new but haven't been there yet when it's open for dinner.
(4)
Kelly M.
When I first came here I didnt see what the big deal was, but now Ive grown to love Shokudo. I always get the Garlic Shrimp Rice. Its the only thing I eat here but I hate when I have to freaking share! I see everyone sharing their food n shit n my cousin likes to do that when we come here but why?! I always feel like I need to order another Garlic shrimp rice everytime someone wants some of mine. I need one for sharing and one all for myself. Things that I do share are the Mermaid sushi roll and the Honey Toast. I never saw what the big deal about the Honey Toast was until recently when I realized you could order chocolate syrup with it. So now i just drench my Honey Toast with chocolate syrup and were good to go!
(5)
Guy H.
Amazing every time! Volcano roll is a must! Come for the food, stay for the hot servers!
(5)
Brandi-Nicole D.
The hubby and I have been here a bunch of times for date nights. Two of our favorites are the balsamic beef sushi and the lobster dynamite roll. We try to order something different each time we go. On our last visit, we ordered the chicken karaage, it came out within a few minutes and after we each took a bite, I found that the chicken was still pink(don't want to risk getting sick). It took 10 minutes to get our server to come back because she was busy with a bigger party. She exchanged our chicken for a fresh one, but no apology. As much as we love certain items here, our last experience will sadly keep us from returning.
(2)
Jonalyn P.
I came here to celebrate my nieces birthday. Right when we got there it was packed. We had to wait a period of time because we had a party and we didn't make reservations. We didn't make reservations because we picked the restaurant last minute. Which was out fault. After I put our party down on the list, the hostess just seemed lost. She was sweet but she seemed pretty overwhelmed. For a fast past job like this I think you should always be on top of your tasks. When my table was ready the hostess told me to bring my party in... When I brought them in we were still waiting and a server asked us if we were on the list and what not. I answered the same questions that the hostess asked me to the server. There was no communication happening whatsoever. When we got seated we got a different server. She was extremely nice and tentative. She had a smile on and made us feel welcomed. We ordered several appetizers.. Such as the crispy calamari which was alright I had better and the chicken karagge which was tasty. The entrees we got were sashimi sampler which tasted off. It was tough and the fishy taste lingered in your mouth which to me seemed like they didn't clean it that well. We got salmon teriyaki which was very salty, and the chicken teriyaki which tasted better than the salmon but it wasn't to die for. Overall this place gets three stars because the food to me was kinda disappointing and pretty expensive for what it was worth but our server was extremely nice. It was cool to try this restaurant out but I don't see myself coming back anytime soon.
(3)
Maxine C.
Yummy! I love shokudo! The food is delicious and goths prices are great! I have been here countless times and each experience has been nothing short of superb. My most recent visit is what prompt me to write a review. The food was to die for and the service was perfection. A particular gentlemen named keelan was helping us that evening. He was very nice and made our experience at Shokudo the best one yet. Can't wait for the next opportunity (or excuse) to get some honey toast :)
(5)
Julie D.
I've been here many times. Recently been going here for their happy hour from 4PM- 6PM with friends. The happy hour menu ranges between $3-$5. We practically order everything on the menu. Under the $3 section my faves are the steamed gyoza, spicy tuna nachos, dynamite fries, garlic clams, agedashi eggplant, and honey toast. Under the $4 section my faves are the teriyaki chicken quesadilla and the ramen salad. Under the $5 section they have really good kim chee fried rice. The bombs and yogurt soju are super yummy as well. These alcoholic beverages are all under $4 too. Can't go wrong with that. DON'T LEAVE THIS PLACE WITHOUT TRYING THEIR HONEY TOAST. The last time we came here, they tell us happy hour is now outdoors. It's a good concept but it would help if there was some kind of shade. As we were eating, it started drizzling and it was getting into our food. Luckily it was drizzling instead of pouring or we'd be soaked and probably end up running out of this place without paying the bill. They have a private parking structure so parking won't be a problem.
(4)
Jaq. M.
Look Yelpers, Shokudo is a staple in Honolulu. You can always get a table, and the food is clean and fresh. But disappointments are bound to happen as we are all only human. To mitigate the issues caused by human imperfection, I suggest you go to Shokudo with a list of menu items that are amazing. If you do this, you may find yourself jumping up for joy and running to your computer to write a review similar to this one. This review is inspired by my latest visit to Shokudo. It was nothing short of fantastic - my gastronomical mind was blown. It was really, really, great. See first paragraph. Here's how to have a fantastic experience: 1. Sit at the bar. 2. Ask for Carolyn to be your waitress 3. Order a mojito - any one. 4. Order the following things: - Lobster Dynamite Roll - Ume Cucumber Salad - Yuzu hamachi carpaccio - Kusai Kudusai Roll (A MUSTTTTTT if you love garlic!!!!) - Spicy Tuna Roll 5. Order a second mojito, if the food is delayed. No sweat off your back, because you're enjoying the cool A/C and conversation. 6. When your orders come out, close your eyes and taste the flavor combinations. 7. Enjoy!! Stay hungry, my friends.
(5)
Jenna S.
The Hamachi Carpaccio and Spicy Char Siu with Scallions is super good! Those are actually the only reason I ever come back here. During happy hour be sure to try the Kimchi Fried Rice, it's the bomb. It's really savory and has shredded chicken inside. Those are really the only things I eat here, I don't like their rolls, and the other food is meh. The garlic ribeye and watercress salad is also good, just make sure to get it with rice and skip the wasabi mash. The honey toast is WAY overrated, yes it's huge, but really? It's not that good. If you want real honey toast go down the road to Izikaya Taiyro. I suggest getting the Tempura Bread Pudding instead!
(5)
Jennifer N.
So yummy! I absolutely love the hamachi carpaccio and the ume cucumber salad. It gets a little loud if you sit on the left side of the restaurant. I enjoyed sitting on the right side more. You have to have the honey toast, which is very simple, but tasty. The tempura is light and crunchy and tastes of fresh oil, not stale old fryer oil.
(5)
Sheylei B.
Sat at the bar while waiting for our table. Matt gave awesome service great bartender. Moved to our table server Chad was great as well, but our food took a while to come out. One of our friends got his honey toast before his sashimi, which was odd. There are a few things that I like there but the taste isn't as consistent.
(3)
T N.
If you are looking for a quiet elegant Japanese restaurant, you are going to the wrong place. Shokudo is vibrant, young, hip and LOUD. Staff is efficient and friendly. Food is good and service is fast. They take reservations and it would be wise to make one unless you enjoy sitting outside for awhile.
(4)
Rachel S.
The food was good, but the service was great! Our waiter bob, was excellent. We never went thirsty, he made sure our food came out as soon possible and he was quick to help us when we weren't sure about our selection. He also made us feel very special for being on our honeymoon. Thanks for the service!
(5)
Rebecca R.
There were three of us who went here to eat for the first time. We ordered pop and beer to start off. After I drank less than a quarter of my pop, I noticed some type of black spot on the inside of my glass. Nasty!!! It wasn't pop. I don't even want to think about what it was since I had already drank pop to the point where my pop was emptied out below the crud. I said something to the waiter and he apologized and brought me out another pop, but it did take a bit longer than it should have for it to be replaced, all things considered. The waiter warned us ahead of time that food came out at all different times, however it was still odd to get our main entrees first and then our appetizer. And the appetizer took a very long time to come out. The waiter also never came back to refill our drinks. He was busy, but still could have checked on us more often. Service was very slow. The food was a hit for all of us. We had the special of the night - which was filet mignon chunks wrapped in bacon, with a side salad and some ginger soy sauce for dipping. The salad had an Asian dressing. The filet was some of the best I've ever had, it practically melted in your mouth. We also ordered the char-pork, which we didn't really like. It was too fatty and bland. We also had the tempura calamari and lobster roll sushi. Those were very good. The calamari was well cooked and had a good sauce on the side which wasn't overpowering. The lobster was fresh. We skipped dessert as we were all full. The dishes are a Japanese fusion style. The decor inside is art deco chic, with staged seating on one side and they also had outdoor seating. A bar separated two different eating areas. The noise level did get a bit loud as the restaurant filled in, but not overpowering so you couldn't have a conversation. The whole bill was $85 with tip. We have talked about eating here again, but unfortunately they will not have the bacon wrapped filet as it was a one night special.
(4)
Emi H.
I had a Twilight moment. No, not vampires and man boys who turn into giant puppies, but a Yelp flavored, Alfred Hitchcock style flashback. You have now entered.... the Yelp Zone! (Enter Yelp style dream state) I'm in Shokudo, but I'm not in Shokudo? It looks like Shokudo but now there's a sushi bar and they serve omakase. We sit down for the whole nine yards and to our surprise here are actual Japanese sushi chefs who are delighted to serve us. And I'm not talking Japanese from Pearl City, I'm talking real deal from Japan. Awww damn. No way can this possibly be real. We do twelve courses of amazing nigiri which dance in our mouths. I clap my hands together throughout our meal and wish I spoke Japanese so I could tell our chef how happy his food makes me. We order the $15 sake sampler and down three different shots of rice wine which make me even more giddy with delight. But then I tell myself, wake up, this cannot be real. We have never cared for anything at Shokudo except for the honey toast. I pinch myself and yup, it's real. I poke the Japanese sushi chef in the forehead and he's really there. WTF? (I waive away the Yelp style dream state which is just from a fog machine because I like the production of my reviews to feel as real as possible) It's the real deal and I have finally found where I belong in Shokudo... at the sushi bar.
(5)
Angel R.
This is one of my favorite Japanese fusion restaurant! First off the customer service is great. They treat you very nicely and always up to answer questions or give recommendations. My favorite things to order are Salmon/Unagi bowl, sushi pizza, and honey toast. Can't remember what else but these apparently are the ones that stick with me. The Unagi/Salmon bowl comes with rice in hot stone bowl topped with the fish. There's a dashi set (wasabi, chopped nori, and dashi) that is recommended with the bowl. You can ask then to put it in for you which is tastier than without it. The sushi pizza is awesome. Nori on the bottom (like a pizza crust), a layer of rice, and then pieces of jalapeños on pieces that you can take apart (like pizza sort of). The honey toast is what Shokudo is pretty much known for. There are different flavors, cinnamon, regular honey, chocolate, or strawberry. If I recall correctly, there's caramel too. I recommend the regular because it is not as sweet as the other flavors. Occasionally they have cookies n cream flavor. Anyways it's two huge slices of toasted Japanese type bread where the inside is cut out and chopped. The crusts house the chopped pieces inside while topped with two scoops of ice cream. Then it's drizzled with honey (or whatever flavor you ordered). I recommend shokudo to everybody! I also recommend calling for a reservation because this place gets really busy during dinner time.
(5)
Allissa C.
LOVE this place! Food is wonderful and atmosphere is lovely. My only problem is that it's a bit warm... Every time we get a booth seat, I end up getting really hot. I definitely recommend the lychee martini! SERIOUSLY delicious! Sushi is yum, mochi cheese gratin is delicious. If you're after something creamy, anything "lobster dynamite" will hit the spot! Also, the home-made tofu is delicious! I believe they make it every 20 minutes! And of course, don't forget the honey toast! YUM!
(4)
Kumi M.
Lunch specials are resonablly priced and tastes like authentic Japanese. Our server, Gabriel, was excellent. Greeted us, made suggestions, was attentive, left a little note on our receipt, and even went out of his way to open the door for us as we were leaving.
(4)
Eddie A.
Decide to eat here on a weekday, eatting with a dear friend Lyna and the homie Joseph joel. Got seated in the corner of the dining room for a party of 3, hostess was the coolest to recommend drink that she drinks. Decor is still the same through the years that shokudo, wish they could renovate to make it more modern. Food quality is still up to par, which is good on taste and quality. Still got room to order honey toast, to end the night.
(4)
Paige J.
BJ is the best waitress I've had in a while! Her personality was so welcoming and she recommended amazing entrees such as the amazing garlic rice! She got me in love with Shokudo. I'm definitely coming back because of her.
(5)
Hayley K.
I haven't been here in a while and it was my best friends birthday so since she wanted to come here so I was all for it. I usually have a good experience here. The service isn't always the greatest, but the food never disappoints me. Well let me rephrase that... The service sucks when you have a large party, but when it's just two people the service is great! :) We ordered the bibimbap, chicken karaage, lobster dynamite roll, red eye roll, grape calpico, Orion, and some other beer. The bibimbap is awesome and I think I'll order that the next time also. Lobster dynamite roll and the red eye roll are the two sushi dishes we always get. She ordered the chicken so I don't know how it tasted, but she ate it all so it must've been good. I admit I will never order the grape calpico again. I usually love grape, but this drink didn't do it for me, I think I'll stick to my usual lava flow. I do remember they used to have this orange creamsicle type of drink, which was my favorite, but I'm not sure if they still have it. Then we had honey toast for dessert and this time I was not impressed. I usually love their honey toast, but not tonight. It was bland and not to mention it took FOREVER for them to bring it. I think they forgot about it because the whole night we had amazing service.... Just up until dessert time. Boo. Our bill came out to about $150. I think next time I would like to treat her to somewhere else. Oh well.
(3)
Vivian L.
Me and my boyfriend loooove this place. But it can be a hit or miss when we go.. I usually get the tofu salad and eat that all to myself haha and share the dishes with bf. He usually gets the spicy tuna crispy rice and one of the stone bowls. -spicy tuna crispy rice is pretty unique but sometimes the rice is either really really over fried or just weird.. spicy tuna can differ depending on who's making it i guess because sometimes its just not spicy at all and other times it can make you cry. -garlic shrimp stone bowl is a bit oily but still good. -never have room for honey toast when its just me and him but when i go with a group the honey toast recently has been different.. doesn't seem like they put an effort into it now. ice cream ratio isn't enough. but still good. the service is also a hit or miss. sometimes its good (best server we ever got there was a guy named BUHBUH however you spell it haha). other than that most of the times check will come 20 mins later which is irritating. I'm pretty sure the hype made it extremely show over the years. other than that i think we'd still go but i see this places quality and service going downhill soon.
(3)
Jenna L.
Hubby and I went here last night because we were out late and it was open! We ordered the spicy tuna nachos off of the late night $3 menu (they were tasty!) and then we had the sushi pizza, the mermaid roll, and kusai kudasai roll- with the honey toast jr for dessert. The sushi pizza wasn't bad, but wasn't really our taste. The rolls, however, were completely awesome! The mermaid was my favorite, but the kusai was pretty amazing. And my husband downed the honey toast- I barely got any for myself! All in all, we'll definitely be back!
(5)
Amy Y.
My friend wanted to try the honey toast here. She's been craving it for a whole year. So we came here for dinner. There were four of us, and we wanted to share the food. We ordered three dishes (red eye sushi roll, mochi cheese gratin, and dynamite lobster). I guess those were the well known dishes mentioned on yelp. I really love the dynamite lobster. It had a mixed taste of sweet and salty. Delicious! The mochi cheese gratin was pretty good. Something new I never thought I would try. The red eye roll was not that special. It's like a regular spicy tuna roll. Finally, it's time for the honey toast...*drum roll*..I like the ice cream, the toast was just meh. Nothing special about it. My friend loved it. Our bill came out to around $40. I don't think we were full after that. The portions were kinda small for one dish that cost around $10 each.
(3)
G N.
I selected Shokudo for convenience, my friend came in from Portland for work. She stayed at the Ala Moana Hotel and I work nearby. We had a lot to catch up on since it was 4 years since we last saw each other! We had a 4-hour dinner, the first 1-1/2 hours was spent talking. Our waiter was extremely accommodating and gave us all the time we needed to get reacquainted. Once our appetites got the better of us, we ordered the lobster dynamite, sashimi sampler, tofu, and the teriyaki chicken quesadilla - all excellent choices and all recommended! Dinner was very relaxing and enjoyable. We'll definitely be back.
(4)
Leigh N.
First time visit to Shokudo this weekend to celebrate my BF's graduation from UH. We had a party of 10 and were seated in the private room at the back of the restaurant. Everyone was super comfortable with plenty of room to move around, mingle, laugh loudly, relax and enjoy each other's company. Menu choices are abundant and prices seem to be on par with other local Japanese restaurants. Hubby and I shared the "foot long" chicken katsu (average) , spicy tuna crispy rice (not very spicy and the crispy rice was similar in texture to a tater tot which was interesting) and Yukari fries (very salty). If not for being in the company of such wonderful people, I probably wouldn't have liked my dining experience here. Service wasn't horrible and the food wasn't terrible but nothing was outstanding. Don't hate me but that includes the honey toast as well. I wouldn't avoid going back to Shokudo in the future but I won't be rushing back either.
(3)
Brittney K.
The food was alright for the price. Sashimi was chewy & sort of terrible- I wouldn't order it again. Service was ok- seemed unorganized (2 people tried to take our order). We had an entire bowl of ramen untouched & the server said she would pack it up for us, then that someone threw it out so they were making a new one to go- when we got home we realized it was the smallest serving of ramen- like two bites! Way to over-promise & under-deliver. Honey toast was nothing special & quite dry. We spent around $120 for 3 people and wished we had gone somewhere else.
(2)
Greg S.
We had an amazing dinner here at the suggestion of friends who live on island. The hamachi carpaccio with yuzu lime is a must if you like sashimi. This dish just works, it's depth of flavor belying the simplicity of the ingredients and preparation. I had a gigantic breaded pork chop which was crunchy yet moist inside. My wife and I shared a couple of sushi rolls which were a little "fusion-y" but very well put together and delicious. And of course, the honey toast for dessert...think small shoebox sized loaf of sweet cinnamony pastry with ice cream. Service was truly great. We went in late on a Sunday night when the restaurant was absolutely packed, with no reservations, and only waited 5 minutes for a great booth in the middle of the restaurant. Our server Wade was perfectly attentive and friendly without being annoying. He was able to answer all our questions and offer awesome suggestions for our meal. It seems that they have a very professional and well trained waitstaff all around.
(5)
Matt G.
This is the 2nd time I've been here. We had the Sushi pizza, spicy scallop roll, & vongole Udon. The rolls didn't have much flavor, but that's fine. The portions were pretty solid, but we came very hungry so we ordered the shoyu ramen at the end. Everything was delicious overall. Service was solid & food came fairly quick. We topped it all off with the renowned Honey Toast for desert. So good. Definitely recommend this place as a must-experience.
(4)
Vince B.
2013 Update: We keep going back to Shokudo so I guess we really like it still. My daughter has introduced some of her high school friends to Shokudo recently. Now there is a new generation of fans getting indoctrinated. Ambience: Decor is still the same but it seems to be holding up well. I like the tables in the area that rises upwards. This is a simple but unique restaurant that makes the best use of its space. Food: We stick with the things that we like. Fresh tofu salad, pumpkin tempura, teriyaki salmon, garlic rice and sushi rolls. They still offer a special birthday version of honey toast if it is your birthday. Green tea iced tea was also great. Unsweetened and just the way I like it. These were all five star items on our recent visit. Quality, presentation and taste were excellent. Service: Friendly hostess seated us quickly. We had a reservation. Our waiter "Bu Bu" deserves the "Waiter of the Year " Award. Funny name but he was great. Friendly and helpful with lots of effort to ensure that everything was as nice as possible. I'm sure all the wait staff are not as good as Bu Bu. But, they are all excellent based on our past visits. When we left the hostesses and managers sincerely thanked us for coming. Service rant: We also had excellent service at the Kaneohe IHOP recently. I really wish the management at Roy's Waikiki and Sarentos Top of the I would send their wait staff to IHOP and Shokudo for inspiration and re-training. I'm getting tired of paying big prices and getting uninspired lack luster service. Sometimes it seems that the waiters have quit trying ...don't get me started!!!! Five Stars: Shokudo deserves it! Five Stars from me! We're coming back.
(5)
Russell I.
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Hawaii. The salmon rice and the bibimbap are my favorites; I like how the stone bowl cooks the rice at the bottom, so it gets nice and crispy. And if you go here be sure to get the honey toast! The prices are a little high, but well worth it. Plus I enjoy the atmosphere.
(5)
Kyle P.
My first experience here was great... Food was great, service was spot on. When I brought my girlfriend here we were told it would be a ten minute wait. Not even 5 passed by before we were seated, then graciously given water nearly immediately afterwards. During that first time I would have said it would have been a 5 star experience. Food was amazing, service was courteous and fast. Importantly the food came out in the order one would have expected. Appetizers first, then the main course, then dinner. This past time? not so much. The wait was still 10 minutes, although looking at the area I was confused as to why. The hostess said they had to clear some tables and then we could go in. Which was fine. Except that I saw that three of the tables were cleared already. So I don't understand why there was a wait? Especially for the two couples in front of us. In anycase we were seated within 10 minutes, but it took another 10 minutes for our water and then we ordered. I wasn't hungry so I ordered a tempura udon. Something small. My girlfriend ordered the Sakura roll and Ootoro, to which I added the fresh tofu which I thought to share with her. We were told there was no ootoro which was greatly disappointing to us since that was the whole reason she wanted to come to Shokudo in the first place... but we can make sacrifices for the food right? My udon came out fairly fast. Maybe 10 minutes after I ordered. The odd thing was that we weren't informed that there was no fresh tofu until another 10 minutes after my udon came out, and my girlfriend's sushi still hadn't come out. Regardless we chose another tofu selection and we continued to wait. Impatient and hungry my girlfriend picked off my udon, but noted that the noodles were kind of hard still (which is weird considering it was sitting in the broth for 20 minutes). So I tried some myself. I'm not going to pretend that I'm a noodle expert... but I can taste the difference between uncooked noodle and aldente (I cook all my noodles aldente at home) and this time it was clearly uncooked. Also the batter for the tempura was thick and uncooked in some parts as well. Anyway another 15 minutes passes by and finally the tofu comes out. Which my girlfriend devours immediately due to the long wait. Another 10 minutes passes and her sushi comes out. Now this is strange... because I figured that something like sushi would not take this long. 20minutes? ok. 45? That's a bit excessive. The only thing that was fast that night would have been getting our check and receipt. No apologies. No explainations of why it took 45minutes to get one roll of sushi. Just heres your check, hope you enjoyed your meal. Then left. We had planned on getting desert, but we didn't feel another possible 30 minute wait would be justified for what may or may not be what we expected from our previous visits (Which by the way the one before this they forgot to put in her order entirely). After this past experience I'm not sure that we'll be back. We used to have great memories of this place but it's gone downhill over the past couple years....
(2)
Kody R.
Yesterday was our first time here, i was quite pleased with our expirience. There were four of us for lunch, kaleo, our server was excelent. He was attentive and very pleasent. We ordered way too much food but everything that we tried was great. Upon leaving we got a "thank you and goodbye from nearly everyone. Will def be returning here
(4)
Eric L.
Sherri was very helpful. She recommended me the charsiu pork and the gyoza, passion vodka soda and the cucumber mojito. Loved it all! Thanks for a good dinner
(5)
Jenny F.
After a bad experience here, I decided I needed to give my honey toast addiction a break. I tried to stay away, oh yes I did. I told myself, shokudo had broken my heart one too many times. But I just. Couldn't. Stay. Away. I came with an out of town visitor, and every single one of my complaints from last time was fixed. I don't know if it was just my server, but it seemed like the change came down from above (hallelujah!). My waiter was ridiculously attentive, and from the get go he explained that menu items will arrive at different times, and that they were running low on hot stone bowls so it would take about thirty minutes for one of those entrees. Saying all of that upfront would have saved them a from a less than stellar review from my last visit. He also unwrapped our chopsticks for us, cleared our plates as soon as we were finished with a dish, and always made sure we were satisfied. if that's not crazy good service, I dunno what is. I also think it helps if you're doing family style, so no one has to wait for their entree to come out. We got the dynamite lobster (which was seriously the bomb-badumching!), mochi gratin, and the tofu salad. I highly recommend the lobster and the tofu salad...their home made tofu is so silky! The mochi gratin was interesting...chewy texture, blend of Japanese and cheese flavors. The only reason I'd order it again is because it's so freaking intriguing. And of course, no night at shokudo would be complete without some of that honey crack toast. Yes please. Mmhmm.
(4)
Phalen H.
Very nice dining experience. Our server was Bri and she was very attentive. Our food arrived in a timely manner and it was very good. The highlight of our meal was the cookies and cream toast dessert! Very good. We will return!
(5)
Jenn C.
I came here during my stay in Hawaii with my stepmom, who is Japanese. She's a pretty harsh critic when it comes to Japanese food because well, that's where she's from and also because she's a fantastic cook herself. Needless to say, she was impressed with Shokudo's amazing food which is a testament to how delicious it is, and how amazing the service was as well. We ordered a lobster dynamite roll, the fresh tofu, and the dish with crispy rice topped with spicy tuna. We were so freaking full, but we kept on eating because it tasted so good. If you have kids and you're worried about them being rowdy, they have ipads so you can play a movie while theyre eating to keep their attention within the table. Kepe, the operations manager, did an amazing job of taking care of us that night and even spoke to my stepmom in Japanese because she doesn't speak English too well. Talk about amazing service! Same conversation in 2 different languages to accomodate both of us! I can't say enough good things about this place.
(5)
Carly H.
9.1.13. A fav for girlfriend reunions, Shokudo has been a long time favorite of mine & my friends. This restaurant has been around for quite a while...so the dust in the restaurant is kind of thick--just don't look at those wooden hanging "curtain" things. Aside from that non-hygenic quality, everything else about Shokudo is fab! Parking: located behind the front of the restaurant; after you come here once, you won't forget. Stalls are marked for Shokudo customers. If you come at night just make sure you don't park past the marked level with the chainlink sliding fence or you might get locked in. Food: AMAZE!! Favs include Sukiyaki Bibimbap, Tofu Salad (tofu is homemade & SO delish), & of course the Honey Toast!! Service: always pretty attentive & friendly. Price: I would say it's moderate, but at the end of the night your wallet will say yikes. Atmosphere: honestly, I always feel like I need to be a little more dressed up to dine here. Still pretty casual with a modern feel. There are bathrooms that stay pretty clean. Mirrors are prime for girlfraaan pics haha. I love coming here for special occasions (e.g., Mother's/Father's Day, etc.) They will usually have a set buffet for those particular days & the food items will vary depending on the occasion. Make sure you call early for these special days; they'll give you a reservation time & you'll only get two hours. If you come here on normal days, I would also suggest making a reservation. I don't think there's a time limit during the lunch hour, as we weren't kicked out the last time...but I think they enforce one during the dinner hours--boo. Meh, you can weigh the tradeoffs for yourself. I know I will still be coming here :) Yelp 365 Challenge: #243/365
(4)
Gray G.
One of my favorites! It was all the rage when it first opened a few years ago. Everyone had to get their honey toast. Still do! That's their signature. I think that's the main reason people go here. Of course for their food, but honey toast is just in the name. If they didn't have that they'd just be another Japanese restaurant. It's such a simple dessert that you can make at home but it's much better when they make it. Don't get me wrong, they have delicious food too! Hence the 5 Star rating. Go there and get the mochi cheese, or the tofu salad, and the garlic shrimp hot dish! Making me hungry just thinking about it.
(5)
Amy F.
Shokudo...always a great choice! Had a yummy Valentine celebration with my sweetheart. Every thing is delicious! Oh, and need I mention the Honey Toast? A must have, even if you are stuffed! Yum!
(5)
Yelp J.
We come here all the time with our kids, they offer IPADS for children to borrow, while parents enjoy their dinner..You just have to leave your credit card with them . [No charges tho] hmm..... Oh you MUST TRY the Lobster Dynamite. ONO!!! Honey toast too of course. and if you get there for Happy hour, Ahi poke nachos is the bomb!
(5)
Kenneth M.
I was just there last week and the food was great. My wife threw my Yakudoshi party here and the service was great as well as the food! I would recommend this establishment to anyone looking to have some great food at affordable prices!
(5)
Ariana M.
OVERALL: I like to eat at Shokudo with friends. It also makes a great place for a casual dinner date. I kind of feel this restaurant is a bit noisy. I noticed everyone's voices kind of echo's in here and can be a bit frustrating when you're trying to have a conversation. SERVICE: Service is usually good as well sometimes if its busy it can be a bit slow, but it's honestly not the servers fault when it's packed. THE GRUB: Lobster Dynamite: Lobster baked in rich creamy dynamite sauce (MY FAVORITE) Assorted Sashimi: Ahi, Salmon, Hamachi, Ika and Scallop Karaage Chicken: Honestly just like anywhere else lol Sushi Pizza: Backed sushi rice with salmon, scallops, crabmeat, and onions, cut into bite-sized pickled jalapenos Sukiyaki Bibimbap: Mixed rice with sukiyaki beef, kimchee, bean sprouts, chives and hint of chef's secret served in a sizzling hot stone bowl. Honey Toast: bread cut up into pieces and served with honey and ice cream
(4)
George S.
Lunch review only. Sat at the bar and ordered the Shrimp Tempura Udon and hot tea. The broth had a balanced but complex taste. No need for sea salt or pepper. Noodles were thick and tasty. Shrimp was good as well. I will mark place for a future dinner.
(4)
Stacey L.
Came here for some late night drinks so we didn't get a chance to try the actual food. From my understanding, the food isn't super authentic. The honey toast was delicious and the best honey toast I've had. It's also really cheap during happy hour (I think around $3 something). They also have some fun drinks to choose from! There's shooters for $3, and saketinis for $5 if I'm not mistaken. I really liked the Lychee Saketini. Overall a super fun environment for drinks+snacks.
(4)
Col Y.
The two choice lunch Teshoku was yummy! As always, lunch prices are reasonable and was worth it! I'm stuffed
(4)
Derrick H.
We like this restaurant. We had ordered 3 of the hotpots, the unagi, garlic shrimp and the bibimbop. All were very good. One person ordered the tofu salad and really liked it saying that the tofu was very soft and light. another person had the oxtail ramen which as usual, was very good. Our server was very nice and had come by several times to ensure that we were enjoying the food and re-filling our drinks. Again, the honey toast was a great way to end the meal.
(4)
T S.
Customer Service was awesome, food was outstanding! Salmon was perfect, wasabi mashed potatoes were yummy.... But... Dessert was out of this world!!!
So I wanted to give this place 3 1/2 stars but I can't select half a star so .... Well, anyway, you catch my drift. Not too busy tonight so our wait was only ONE hour instead of the usual TWO hour wait we're usually told every time we try to get a reservation for this place. So, it's our first time and I'll probably not come again. Not because I think it sucks because it doesn't but because It didn't really do much for me. The food was delicious, but it better be because how hard is it to make tempura or chicken katsu or California sushi or pretty much anything u haven't already tried at ur local sushi place or Plate lunch joint. I loved the lobster dynamite dip but soon realized after running out of the 4 little pieces of toast that comes with it, because some how they figured out that it was ok to have an off bread to dip ratio, where was I? Oh yes, the dip was too sweet! My lychee mojito was love at first sip! But then, fell out of love by 3rd sip. Again, too sweet! Which seemed to be the theme of all our food we ordered tonight which left me feeling like I needed an insulin shot or something. "The must try item is the honey toast" they said. So, because I knew I wasn't ever coming here ever again, I decided to try it even though I felt as though I would slip into a diabetic coma at any moment, and I thought it was ehh. It's exactly what it says it is, honey on toast with vanilla ice cream. Oh but the best part was...wait for it....u only eat the middle! Yes, the entire outter portion of this big beautiful concoction is unedible, yes I just made that word up, unedible if u will. So anyway, to make a long story longer, after wanting and longing to try this place for sooooooo long I finally did and it was just alright for me. The waiters were aca-amazing though. Service with a smile at its finest. Except for the the hostess,who apparently fell asleep during the service with a smile portion of orientation, she was unfortunately, serving attitude. In all, my experience at Shokudo was fairly pleasant. Domo arigato Shokudo but sayonara forever! Unless someone wants to come back, their treat.
(3)
Al D.
I used to come here a lot but stopped a while ago. I visited again recently and sat in the patio area for the first time. The patio area is a good addition. However, the outdoor seating and tables appear a little dirty. The good thing about the outdoor area is that happy hour is served there, which is terrific because before it was only served at their tiny bar. Their happy hour is an excellent deal. I recommend the kimchi pizza, spicy ahi nachos, and dynamite fries. Skip the agedashi eggplant and the California roll. The honey toast is good too.
(4)
Malia V.
Love this place! Always enjoy the food & decor. Love the honey toast (extra honey). Must try the udon, Teri queso, garlic shrimp rice, & the mermaid roll. Yummmmm!!!
(5)
Camille B.
My first time here and the food was amazing! The prices aren't bad either! For the quality of the food you get, I don't mind paying. We ordered the spicy Ahi roll, spinach Salad, Udon, shrimp Tempura, chicken Katsu, and cookies and cream honey toast. Everything was delicious and came really fast because we caught them at a good time! Our waitress, Malia, was awesome and we were really impressed. I put 4 stars because the hostess didn't acknowledge me at all when I walked in to put our name for a seat, even when I came up to her. I had to say "hi" to her loudly before she even looked at me. I understand how being busy feels, but in customer service acknowledging your customers is a big deal.
(4)
Gabie L.
It doesn't look like a "traditional Japanese sushi bar" but you never get disappointed. They have two different happy hour time (after lunch time & late night time) and happy hour price is quite reasonable (mostly, $3-5 menu). I expected food shouldn't be that good as cheap price but food was actually great! I ordered spicy tuna roll, kimchi pizza, and ramen salad and all menu was successful (especially ramen salad!!). It seems there are several individual tourists who go on trip by oneself so here is a good place to have meal for such tourists. At the same time, this restaurant is huge so it seems to accommodate many groups.
(5)
Taylor W.
Chelsea was da BOMB!!!!!very attentive waitresses a chef this is my favorite spot to relax and unwind
(5)
Daniel B.
I have not been in a while, but the food was the same. Tempura was ok, but I had the bento box which offered enough variety to keep me happy.
(3)
Nakai96786 ..
Food is good but management is poor ate their once and will never go again the manager Sean is a douche. We had reservations at 8:00 we arrived early like 7:15 and my mom talked to the host justin and he said that he will let us know when our table is ready, let me remind you now this particular day was very windy amd very cold and 8:00 comes up and we notice that inside is packed there are no tables so me, my dad, and brother go into ask about our tables and theres a line and we see a family of 4 that just came in through the door and they IMMEDIATELY get seated and we're like WTF! And finally we talk to the host and we ask him what happend he tells us our reservation was at 830 and my mom tells us that this was the same host that told her 8:00 so we are there telling him that he was wrong and then he blames someone else tellin us that someone screwed up but yet he was the one who scheduled us. So then they get the manager Sean and he comes walking with his chest out all punchy and points at us asking one of the workers THEM? THEM? So we talked to him and he also makes some bullshit story about how someone else screwed up and we eventually just gave up and left becuz there was no way to get through them and he didnt offer us nothing like a free honey toast nothing and this was for my dada bday we almost got into a big beef with the manager sean was a prick and the host justin almost got lit up too. We will never go back there again
(1)
Andrew I.
The lobster here is delicious. The honeytoast dessert is to die for. I would actually come here just to order honeytoast for takeout lol Thsts how good it is. The prices are really expensive though. So be prepared to break your wallet. It's like they say; You get whst you pay for.
(4)
Faith C.
Our wait was about an hour. The service was AMAZING and the food was good yet too exotic. The SWEETNESS was too real. I really enjoyed the Virgin Lava flow which was delicious. The honey toast was very delicious and edible on the inside but the outside was not the best part to eat. But overall i love the style of the restaurant and the service, but the over SWEETNESS of the food made me feel like i was eating dinner and dessert at the same time. The Honey toast was a must order though because that what was recommended but like i said the inside way down is where the gold is and the only good part.
(3)
Jordan S.
Alright, lets just get this out of the way: The Honey Toast is AWESOME. After you eat, order it and love it. It is big enough to share. Hell, the Honey Toast Jr. during happy hour is big enough to share, and in my opinion WAY better as it has a better Ice Cream/Honey to bread ratio. Now that we have confirmed the Honey Toast awesomeness, let talk about some other stuff. I've eaten here several times, it is one of our normal late night places. I have never been disappointed by food. Tonight I had the pork chop bites, and they were great. I have also had their foot long Katsu, also awesome, numerous kinds of sushi, and various other dishes; all good. I wouldn't come here just for drinks as their beer selection is limited, and really the drinks are nothing special. But for late night food, it is a great place to go.
(4)
F G.
Was very disappointed with service. Our server was nice and polite however our food came out very fragmented and too far apart. We even got our honey toast and then wanted to cancel a sushi roll that never came out. Our server said no we can't cancel it was already being plated. That was not true because it still took 10 min to get it. Such a waste and just made the whole experience crappy. Food actually was good but the honey toast was not plated well - inside was cold and it looked messy. Overall the word disappointed comes to mind.
(3)
Casey H.
Great for family style dining
(5)
Johanna M.
A trendy spot with good food. They have a good sake selection and an interesting menu. The food is meant for sharing, so that makes it a fun experience. My favorite dishes here are the tofu salad and the agedashi tofu. They make fresh tofu in-house and it is really good. I never realized what a difference fresh tofu makes until I ate here. The unagi rice is also really yummy. They have a lot of other dishes that are pretty tasty. The service has always been pretty good too, which is nice because so many restaurants around town don't emphasize the importance of good service. I think it goes without saying that the honey toast is delicious and we always have to order it when we come here. It's a fun place to eat and we will definitely be back.
(3)
William E.
This is pretty much an izakaya restaurant, and it's not #1 in my book, but it's great because it's open very late, it has a bar with some uniquely Japanese flavors (e.g. Yuzu), and..... Honey Toast! I've been here several times and never been unhappy. I'd say it's my #3 or #4 choice, which isn't bad at all considering how many izakayas are around. Almost everything on the menu is delicious, and I've tried almost everything on the menu. Food flavor and quality has been consistent and the service is generally spectacular. You'll often be waiting to sit, though, because it gets busy (and consider its location). Some of my favorite dishes include the lobster dynamite (dish), sushi pizza, anything hamachi, and just about any of their maki rolls. Parking can be found around back between Shokudo and Ala Moana, but there's some street parking around as well.
(4)
Tyler T.
Nothing special, mainly just a young hip spot that's super hyped. Scenery is awesome tho, cool place to take a date, don't suggest the honey toast though, just buy bread, toast it, drizzle honey, and put some ice cream and pau.
(3)
Larlar S.
This place is seriously overrated, especially on Facebook. Everyone has a picture at this joint, but there is nothing outstanding about it. I rate this restaurant three stars because everything is aesthetically pleasing, yet there is no umph to it. The honey toast is the most memorable dish because the presentation is beautiful. A tower of thick toast, drizzled in honey, and topped with a mound of rich ice cream. I always say, "WOOOW!" when I see it, even if it's going to someone else's table. I really enjoyed this dessert when I first had it. But after the second time, it suddenly became too sweet and kind of tiring. I recommend a GREEN TEA ICE CREAM HONEY TOAST. That would be amazingggg. The other dishes are alright. I am not a big fan of tofu, but their homemade tofu definitely stands out. Its creamy and soft consistency compliments their salads perfectly. The sushi pizza looks cheap, tastes cheap, and should be cheap. However, like everything else on the menu, it's overpriced. Bottom line: Shokudo is a place to be fancy and for this reason, a great place to hang out. This is one of the few places where you can dress casually or formally due to its fun and trendy ambiance. Also since the food is mediocre, you won't feel the need to stuff your face and talk with your mouth full.
(3)
Yary C.
Love this restaurant. Our orders came separately wich it su@!!s cuz my boys where super hungry and it took a long time it was kinda slow. But food was great my kids love it!!
(4)
M K.
I love this place!!! Flavored vodka sodas (lychee, yuzu, grape Calpico, blueberry just to name a few) to start with for the ladies. Favorite sushi rolls are kusai kudasai and lobster dynamite. Garlic shrimp rice in the Korean style hot bowl is a must. Don't forget the honey toast for dessert.
(5)
Kelly U.
Their menu has so many different and creative food items to choose from! The mochi au gratin sounds so weird but is absolutely amazing. The only downside is there's always a wait and you have to make a reservation ahead of time and the service is just okay.
(4)
Fern C.
First time at Shokudo last night due to the fact that I was tired walking around on where to dine. So instead of going to the Ward, it just happened Shokudo was right infront of us. Okay, let's try this Japanese place. So far, I'm liking their 3 layer/steps of seating arrangement already with a contemporary style design. Ordered the sushi pizza with jalapeno and long chicken katsu with Virgin Lava Flow. Ummm their selection of entree was only 4. First, I don't want to order the Pork Chop since I ate pork too much this week. Second and Third, the Salmon and Grilled Chicken Teriyaki doesn't entice me at all that night and Garlic Rib Eye Steak which I plan to eat steak at this particular place next week so pass for now. The only food I can eat that will fill me up would be Long Chicken Katsu. Nom! Nom! Nom! Errrrkkkk Wait!!!!! Why did I ordered Chicken Katsu when this is a local food that you can get everywhere??? Done!!! Let's go home. Let's come back here next time and concentrate on what's really good ordering at Shokodu. I have to read some of the yelpers and photo on what was really good here.
(3)
Derek S.
Went to shokudo the other night after watching Theresa Caputo and it was awesome. Its nice to know that a good nice restaurant is still open at late hours. This time when we came it was a little busy so they offered us to sit at the bar and now i think we might sit there all the time. The Bartender provided amazing service and really catered to use which was really nice and always made sure we were ok. The Food is excellent. We got there during happy hours so we kinda ordered a lot for 2. but the one thing we must order every time we come in the Lobster Dynamite it's the bomb.com , the Steam gyoza was really good and the dynamite fries. we also ordered the Garlic Shrimp which was supper cool because the serve it in a stone bowl to keep it hot. If you haven't been here i highly suggest you give it a try, Lastly dont forget to order the Honey Toast. Sadly the ran out the night we went which has never happened to use. I think they were a little shocked on how busy it was. But its also a must order for dessert.
(4)
Richard P.
My time at shokudo was fckin AWESOME!!!!!!! My server Sherri had the best customer service. And my food was great!!!! Besides the food I would give Sherri a 10 out 10 at this restaurant!!!!!! Because of her great service. I'm awesome!!!!!!
(5)
Tasha N.
I LOVE their honey toast. Their sushi pizza is so so good too.
(4)
Kuanoni K.
Popped in for a quick late night dinner. We were greeted by the hosts who showed us to our seats at the bar, where Wade served us. Wade was probably the best part of our experience, since his service was prompt, genuine and his company enjoyable. The food was equally satisfying. We ordered the Gratin which was rich and flavorful, and the charsiu which was marinated to perfection. All in all, we enjoyed the company, food and service and look forward to returning soon!
(5)
Tammy R.
Great sushi. Nice outside seating and good drinks! BEST BANANA DESSERT EVER! OMG! Great drinks too!! Strawberry mojito!
(4)
Gabrielle P.
Last night was the third time I came to this place. My first two experiences were spectacular, however last night was just TERRIBLE. I went with my friends and made a reservation for 5 people. They told us the wait would be around an hour, and so to pass the time we decided to walk to Taste Tea to grab a drink. When we came back to Shokudo, it was about 15 minutes before the expected time we would be called in. We waited and waited, and it already has been more than half an hour. Eventually the lady called my name to bring us in, but then told us we had to wait a bit because our table was "being cleared out". LIES- after another half hour, the lady comes out again but calls for another party to be seated. The party was for 9 people. 9 PEOPLE?!?! We were waiting for nearly 2 hours, and they just skipped us?! The lady told me that the people sitting at our table decided to stay longer. Maybe instead of assigning my group to an occupied table, why didn't you just put us at the table that you assigned to a group that arrived after us??? Also you shouldn't have told us that our table was "being cleared out", instead you should've just seated us at that other table you were going to give to the group after us!!! ----------------- We finally sat down after a bunch of people left. At that point, I already lost my appetite, but I still ordered sushi. In addition to the poor customer service, the waiter brought out only one plate for my friend. It was weird because she was the only one on the table who had food. We waited a while for the rest of the food to come out. This female waitress did a poor job of distributing my other friends' food ; two friends ordered shrimp tempura, but instead the waitress gave both plates to one friend thinking that my friend ordered two. Instead of assuming she should've asked if anyone else ordered for the other plate. I was the last to receive my food, and after I finished it I was not in the mood to stay for dessert. In conclusion, I feel that the food was mediocre and that the customer service did not surpass my previous experiences coming to this restaurant. THIS WAS NOT WORTH THE 2-HOUR WAIT.
(1)
Tian Q.
Reuniting my tastebuds with honey toast box, one of my fave asian desserts, was a key mission in Hawaii. These things are supposedly easy to make, yet somehow hard to find in north america. I ordered the cinnamon and the oreo honey toast boxes because I couldn't decide. And the waiter just gasped and said good luck when I told him they were all for me : / I would've destroyed both of these forts of carbs if the oreo didn't taste like playdo. -Service, good -Lobster dynamite, great -Cinnamon honey toast box, loved
(4)
Chanyle N.
I've been to Shokudo a handful of times ... And tonight me and my better half and my son brought my mother for the first time . It was a really bad experience today our wait was about 30somethinh minutes and our food took long and to top it off the food wasn't all that great. Service and atmosphere is great tho... Maybe it was just one of those days. Out of the 6 plates we shared we only liked one this time.
(2)
Ray A.
Shokudo...known for the dessert "honey toast"and meets the standard of sushi to feed a barakuda...the ambiance is wonderful for the youth of the generation but sophisticated enough for a dinner date for the older scene...the menu is unique and the good is enough to enjoy...aloha until we meet again \m/
(3)
Nicole S.
I haven't been to Shokudo in about 3 years and I seriously LOVED this place. It was sort of a ritual with my friends, we always had to go there for some honey toast! Mmm love that stuff. And after hearing people rave about the renovation I knew I had to go. So here's my run down of what we experienced. There is always a wait on the weekends, especially late at night. No surprise, and no problem. What really irritated me was the service. Maybe it's because I worked in the restaurant for about 4 years and well my standards may have gone up, but no matter the reason I felt service was slacking. The time between ordering anything and receiving was longer than I would have liked. Food came out sloppy and our lobster dynamite roll had way too much mayo (extremely overwhelming). Then we had questioned this seafood dish that we thought would be more of the custard type, server told us "yep that's exactly it" and placed the order. It took a ridiculous amount of time before we actually got the dish and to our surprise it was a SOUP. The look was hot water with steamed muscles placed to look nice. It was only finished because we don't like to waste. Whatever at this point, all I wanted was my HONEY TOAST. Eh, my disappointment for Shokudo is so much that I will not go back unless forced, or someone is treating me. Even then, I'll be kicking and screaming all the way to the door. I miss the shokudo that I went to 3 years ago.
(2)
Santos D.
The food was great, as always, but the service was very much improved. Please keep it up.
(4)
Melvin S.
I like this place--something different to eat outside on their patio area--good food, drinks, and ambiance.
(5)
Linda H.
Really liked the variety of the menu. The crispy rice w/ spicy tuna is excellent. The honey toast was a nice treat to top the night off. Japanese toast with cookies n cream ice cream topped w/ heavenly chocolate. Our server Wade was very nice and accomodating. The 30 minute wait was worth it. Woot Woot Would definitely come here again. Would like to try their other dishes.
(4)
Connie H.
Loved happy hour! Would def return. Parking is validated :)
(4)
Laurie L.
We had dinner to celebrate my son being home from school. There was my son, daughter, her boyfriend, my husband and myself. We started with a sashimi platter and mermaid roll. Yummy and fresh! We also ordered a tofu salad, scallop bowl, miso ramen, and sukiyaki bi bim bap. Everything was excellent. For dessert we ordered the tempura bread pudding and the cinnamon honey toast. I wasn't too impressed with the bread pudding but the honey toast was good as usual. We had the best server that I've seen in a long time, her name is Robyn! As a disclaimer I would like to say that the sashimi platter and mermaid roll was on the house because they were making up for a previous negative experience that we had at the restaurant. It was handled very professionally and the general manager even apologized to us. That more than made up for the previous misunderstanding of our reservations. Even if we had paid for the appetizers the review would have still been the same. Excellent work Shokudo, we will be back!
(5)
Mark M.
I can't even count the number of times I've been to Shokudo. I honestly stopped coming here a long time ago because I felt that the food and the service were slowly venturing downhill since they opened. However, I'm happy to report that after tonights amazing experience, I'm going to return with more money so I can afford to buy more sushi. We sat at the sushi counter tonight, and thanks to restaurant manager Justin, we experienced some of the most amazing sushi in recent memory. After a bit of small talk, he asked if we tried anything from the new sushi menu, and when I told him that we didn't, he mentioned that a lot of the fish came in fresh from Tsukiji. Maybe he read my mind, maybe I just look like someone who enjoys food, who knows. But when someone mentions fresh fish to me, I'm all ears. I ordered the hamachi nigiri and shima aji for us to share. I was blown away by the both the presentation, and more importantly, the flavor. Each two piece set was about $7, and that's an amount that I would gladly pay for again. After we finished the sushi, Justin came around again to let us know that the scallops were also fresh from Hokkaido. It was at this point that I knew he was psychic since I absolutely LOVE scallops. I put in an order thanks to his recommendation, and when we received the scallop sushi I realized it was so delicious I ordered another set as soon as possible. Those scallops were hands down the best I've ever tasted. Even better than the ones I prepare for myself. In addition to the sushi we also ordered the yukari fries, the footlong chicken katsu, and the balsamic beef tataki. Everything was great and it seems like Shokudo has once again found their stride. Our water was filled pretty frequently, and a lot of attention was paid our way to ensure that we were taken care of in every way possible. Many thanks to Justin and the rest of the Shokudo restaurant team for a meal to remember.
(5)
Lina T.
For the short version: - Very busy place so make reservations two hours before your desired time or come after 10:30pm for Happy Hour - Must tries are Garlic Shrimp Rice and Home made tofu. - If you have room for dessert, try the honey toast! - Parking in a spacious lot behind the Restaurant For those who would like to read: I've been to Shokudo for a number of times. It's great since its open until late hours and serves great food. The downside of it is that Shokudo is very very very busy during dinner time. Sometimes waiting can get up to 1-2 hours so make reservations (I think they take it two hours before the time you want to reserve for). Or head there later in the evening, around 10:30pm which is just in time for Happy Hour! My favorite here is the garlic shrimp rice. Every time I come here, I order it and I never get sick of it. The shrimp, along with the garlic, chili flakes, maybe onions get cooked in a stone pot. They then put the rice and will mix it all up in front of you. It's also served in the same pot so If you let the rice sit, it gets nice and crunchy (but don't let it sit too long or else it'll burn). If you're a fan of the garlic rice at the shrimp shacks, this is a good alternative for you to try! A second favorite is the homemade tofu. It's soft and silky but not extremely soft that it'll break when you spoon it up. Along with it, they have two choices of flavorings. One is regular sea salt, and the other is kind of like a light, almost like a watered down soy sauce with nori. Both ways are very enjoyable. Some other dishes worth mentioning are the the Scallop Roll, Volcano roll (which is on the specials sheet), and the Sashimi Sampler. Everyone raves about the Honey Toast, but I don't find it that special. Its good but I don't go crazy for it.
(4)
Pualena P.
It's a crime to live in Hawaii all your life and never eat at Shokudo until you're 25. So I won't admit that that was me. All I ever hear about this place is Honey Toast, Honey Toast, Honey Toast. So, naturally, I HAD to try it! Folks, the rumors are true...Shokudo's Honey Toast is to DIEEE for. Who would've thought?! Something so simple as a little bit of honey drizzled on two pieces of sliced pillow toast topped with vanilla ice cream...so simple, so delicious! But I have to say, I loved every part of the rest of my meal that came before the Honey Toast! I tried the Sushi Pizza, which was so clever and so yummy! Oven-baked sushi with rice, crab, and jalepenos on a nori crust. How innovative is that!? I've never seen sushi pizza anywhere else, and it was awesome! I think it's Shokudo's creative twist on Japanese fusion cuisine that really sets them apart from other restaurants in Honolulu. I also had their cucumber mojito, which was so refreshing! It didn't really taste like cucumber (for those of you who think that drink sounds strange) it just tasted cool, light, and refreshing. Mmm! :) The ambiance at Shokudo was really homey. I thought it would feel more "restaurant-y" but I enjoyed the comfy feel! Maybe it was because we were seated in a cozy little L-shaped booth, but I'll take it! The place was packed, but, to my surprise, the noise level was just fine and I didn't feel like I was having dinner with the strangers at the table next to us. I don't know where everyone else parks when they eat at Shokudo, but we parked at Ala Moana and walked over. It was about a minute and a half walk...and after all that Honey Toast, I was glad to have a little walk back to the car! :)
(4)
Angela A.
One of my favorite places to go to here! I always have to get the garlic shrimp rice in the stone dish! super good! And of course the honey toast for desert. I've tried the cookies and cream honey toast and the original. Personally I enjoy the original more.
(5)
Laurie T.
Held a birthday party for my daughter's16th birthday for her friends in the small room in the back of the restaurant. Our waitress Bri was awesome. She offered suggestions on the menu choices and was pleasant and efficient. The guests had a great time! We will definitely choose Shokudo again. Thank you Bri for a memorable experience!
(5)
Matthew O.
Sherri was awesome! she was very attentive and made sure everything came out on time and correctly. she even left me the pitcher of water because I drink so much water in one sitting. she was friendly and made for a great atmosphere. if you ever come to Shokudo, you should definitely ask to be seated in her section. the food was great as usual but it's always the service that puts a smile on my face when leaving a restaurant. keep up the great work Sherri!
(5)
Chris W.
Took my gram for her first time & we loved it! James provided excellent service & great suggestion on the volcano sushi! We also had the pork chop, Delish calamari salad & of course honey toast! The food was hot & great!
(5)
Romel Y.
Setting: Didn't make a reservation. Went in on Sunday, 11/23 around 6:45 PM. Parking: There was plenty of parking in the back structure at this time so A+ for that :) Host/ Hostess: Went in the restaurant, there was a woman and a man standing in the front booth. Man was busy over the phone making some kind of reservation. Woman on the other hand was just standing there, smiled and greeted me. I stood there for a five minutes before any interaction started. Man hung off the phone and proceeded to help me. I told him it was dinner for two and we had no reservations. He was about to say it would be a 45 minute wait, but then found something and told me that it would take a few minutes to clean up the table, and we would be seated :) Waiter/ Service: This is where all the stars come in! Our server's name was Karlo, got a good positive vibe from him and I knew we were in good hands. I told him that we would start with a beer and pupus and don't worry too much about coming by frequently (I told him we were the mellow table:)) Karlo was awesome and super on it! He kindly addressed us with mam and sir which I thought was a nice touch. He also came by from time to time to see if our beer glasses were empty, and refilled our beers for us!!! He also explained and kept us up to date with the food, which I greatly appreciated! Food: Food was okay, pupus were edamame and fries. Fries were hot off the fryer which went well with the beer :) PROTIP: if you're on a date, be very careful with the fries, you might have some black stuff in your teeth lol. Unagi rice was good, I was surprise that they didn't include the sauce to make it soggy :( PROTIP: if your unagi rice sit in the cast iron bowl for too long, good luck chewing it! Sakura sushi was good! nuff said. Honey toast was honey toast. SUGGESTION: I find myself only eating the inside. Is there a way to just display the inside of the honey toast on the plate? I think it gets straight to the point and ice cream and syrup ratio could be controlled much easier. (at least make it available upon request). Overall: Expect to wait if you have a party of 4 or more during peak dinner hours. Take your time looking through the menu because some times they add new items to their menus. Last but not least, ask if Karlo is working! I promise you he is the best server in their. Great customer awareness as well as a very positive attitude!
(4)
Beverly N.
I like going to shokudo. First time I went was to try to honey toast. Then all the times after that, I thought the food was ok. The sushi is good and fresh. My friend introduced me to the happy hour menu which I love, but what really grinds my gears is that you have to be 21+ to order happy hour.. which I dont understand? I have to be legal to order cheap food from shokudo?
I'm a regular at this place, and I didn't think I could love it anymore than I already do. My sister and I were finishing work at twelve in the morning and wanted a quick meal before heading home. We didn't know it was open till 2am on Saturdays! How awesome? Not to mention our more than friendly server Grant. He was so polite and attentive. Made the experience that much more enjoyable. Awesome job!
(5)
Lisa T.
Ah Shokudo..it seems you either love it or you hate it. Me? I'm leaning more towards never eating there again. The food is okay which is why I gave it an extra star. But for service alone, it would get 1/2 a star if possible, but we'll give it 1.. A few of my coworkers love Shokudo, so we often go as an office to celebrate events and have lunch together. We make our reservations in advance, but it seems every time the day of the event, something goes wrong with their management. I think we are fairly organized despite having quite a few of us, which includes getting our order faxed in to assist the restaurant; however apparently it messes up their kitchen. Sorry for trying to be helpful... The food is okay...I liked their stone pot bibimbap which is mixed in front of you. The bento boxes are also a good portion of food. And of course everyone orders the honey toast which I find expensive considering it's large pieces of toast drizzled in honey and filled with ice cream. It's good...it's a nice ending to a meal, but wish it didn't cost so much. The waitstaff was okay although after our meals were served, they seemed to disappear...had to wait a bit before I was able to receive a water refill...and it took about 30 minutes for our honey toast to arrive after half our party left... Ah Shokudo, your restaurant is nice, but the service needs some fixing. Will I be coming back anytime soon? Not likely...but if they manage to improve their service, I think I'd be willing to give them another try.
(2)
Destiny F.
Dined here spontaneously on a friday night with my Bestfriend and sat at the sushi bar. I have to say for as busy as it was Desmond our server was always on it! I definitely reccomend the mermaid roll & the spicy ahi roll both were amazing!
(4)
Kelli O.
As a regular customer to Shokudo, there is high praise to be shared for the impeccable service by Matt the bartender. He is always very friendly and easy to talk to, even when he's busy manning both the bar and tables. I return time and time again, to enjoy both the welcoming atmosphere and the delightful agedashi eggplant and garlic edamame. Not to mention the delicious drinks Matt makes - lychee mojitos anyone? :) In addition, the other waiters and waitresses are just as friendly as Matt... special shout out to Chelsea who always makes my friends and I feel like her favorite customers whenever we come in (even if she isn't our waitress, she'll stop by to say hello to us at the bar!).
(5)
Lisa D.
My boyfriend and i had dinner there a couple of nights ago. Super delicious food! We had miso butterfish, marlin poke, seared boat scallops, fried eggplant - in which we had to order a couple bowls of rice, o-toro sashimi and ikura nigiri. SUPERB!!! We also had Lichee martini's and a glass of red wine. The only reason I'm giving it a 4 star and not 5 is because our waiters personality was pretty flat.
(4)
Tracy M.
I've been coming to shokudo for at least 5 or 6 years now, and I've loved the staff and food. However, we went on Sunday, January 12, 2014 and EVERYTHING was wrong. Started off before we even got there. Tried to call nights in advance to reserve a table for a party of 8. No one answered...for any of our multiple calls. So we chanced it and went anyway. Thanks to the new patio seating outside, we scored a table outside. But the host sat someone else at the table we were saving because our entire party wasn't here AND took us off the wait list since we were already seated outside. So our 40 min wait turned into an hour and a half wait. Once inside, we were STARVING. We let our server know from the start that we needed separate checks. I ordered spicy tuna with crispy rice with extra jalapenos and a garlic steak medium. Our water took about 20 minutes to reach our table even though SEAN DAVIS (our server) kept proclaiming how "awesome" he was while taking our order. When my steak finally came out, it was well done, tough and horrible. I didn't send it back because I was too hungry. Our server did not really check on us, so we had to flag down other servers to order dessert. When we got our check, it was one big check and our server asked us to mark what we ordered ourselves. Whyyy? We asked for separate checks from the start! Then I noticed a $1 for extra jalapenos (there was 6 slivers and I was being charged a $1?!) No big deal, but throughout the years, I had never been charged, and my "awesome" server neglected to mention that there was a charge. Spoke to the manager about server's inventiveness, surprise dollar charge, and other annoyances of the evening. My dollar was taken off and we weren't forced to tip. When the server brought back our checks, he had the nerve to tell me "We took off the dollar for you, I mean, it was only a dollar. Wasn't really a big deal." Wooooowwwwww. Worst service ever at Shokudo. Topped off with horrible, overcooked steak. VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE.
(2)
Mele R.
May 11, 2014 Mother's Day dinner buffet..worst customer service from the GM and a male manager (who did not have a name tag). Seating took long even though we reserved early and arrived early (we weren't even aware of the seating arrangements they had even reserving as early as beginning April); buffet ran out of food and was not refilled in a timely manner. After speaking with a male manager about the issues, his option to us was to leave without charging us for the food we had already eaten (which was nothing because they ran out). What kind of service is that to a mother on Mother's day?! And due to auto-grat, the tip could not reflect the poor service, that was the final insult to our night.
(1)
Grendo G.
Busy as hell! Always fast. Food is amaze. I know it's odd but for me I don't care for the toast. I do love the house tofu salad and the sushi. The bar makes good martinis. This setting is loud and young crowd mostly. If you need quiet and calm this ain't the place for you.
(5)
Ikaika K.
I like the family style dining, a bit more pricey for our entire family but occasional visits are ok. The food is good, but I wouldn't say great. I wouldn't go here and wait to eat. It's not that great. But during lunch when its a bit slower, I'll drop in for a lunch meeting.
(4)
Jennie C.
It was my 2nd time eating here. Not disappointed with both experience. Tonight's experience was really good. My cup was always full of water. Customer service from the waitress was really good. She took time to explain the menu and didn't rush us to order. She made me feel comfortable. The food was really delicious. My friend and I ordered the sushi pizza and the lobster dynamite. They were so good. The piece of chili pepper on each piece of the sushi pizza surprisingly wasn't hot. It was just right. The lobster dynamite was true to its name...it was dynamite. My main meal was the bibimbap. It was served in a hot pot and it stayed hot the whole time I was eating it. It was a lot too...couldn't finish it all. I had to save room for dessert. Dessert...the best part about any meal. My friend and I were actually planning to get their signature dessert, the honey toast. But when our waitress told us about a dessert not on their menu, we were more attracted to it...the tempura bread pudding. That sounded really good. We both ordered it and we weren't disappointed. It wasn't sweet, and the sauce was a little tangy but blended so well with the bread pudding and vanilla ice cream. This one is highly recommended. Overall, my experience was really good.
(4)
Lexi L.
Hinone Mizunone was my Shrimp Tempura go to place until I found Shokudo. Right across from my doctors I kept saying I need to go one day but never did. Boy have I missed out. Finally went to try the tempura and a glass of wine - out of this world. Have been back multiple times, and finally venturing out - have had the most humongous Chicken Katsu - delish, the Calamari Salad - equally delish, and most recently the Spider Roll Soft Shell Crab Sushi and Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi. I usually go alone and sit at the bar and make new friends. Had the California Tornado come in one night - a bunch of guys from California with an Expense Account - they ordered up tons of Sake. Shared my Chicken Katsu with them. Do you think they shared their Sake? Hell no. No good deed goes unpunished. But okay since there was so much Katsu no way could I eat it all. Better for my waistline too. It can be hit or miss there with the staff - I've been miffed as they don't like to sit one person at a table, and always pass me off to the bar, but heck, the bartenders are great and they get my huge tips instead of the table wait staff.
(4)
Mark P.
Came in yesterday for lunch pretty much right when it opened. We got greeted promptly by our waitress (Bri) who also sat us at our table. The food was great and so was the service. Bri quickly offered us a new table after realizing we eat like pigs and couldnt fit all our food on the table. Lol. But we managed on that table. The food came out very quickly. I dont know if its becausr you just opened for the day but the service was outstanding not only by our waitress but also the other one too...i didnt get her name. Very attentive.
(5)
Charue P.
Just order! Everything is good. My only disappointment is that my stomach isn't big enough to order everything on the menu in one sitting.
(5)
Diane K.
Be sure to make a reservation during peak dining hours or you and your party will be waiting for quite a while. Everyone raves about the Mochi Cheese Gratin, but I wasn't impressed. However, I thought the following were GREAT pupu-style picks: - Ahi Tataki with Garlic Chips - Yuzu Hamachi Carpacchio and my absolutely favorite Shokudo dish: - Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice For dessert, their Honey Toast is indeed a great choice. You'll be surrounded by tables with these thick slices of toast. I'm always amused by the remaining toast crusts. There's always a small chunk missing, most likely left behind someone wishing to savor its honey goodness only to be met with bland, honey-less disappointment.
(4)
Jenny A.
The ambience in Shokudo was very nice, along with the decor. The food was good - I ordered the Lobster Dynamite Roll and my boyfriend got the Udon with Sukiyaki and Steamed Gyoza. Our waiter was really nice, he helped me decide between the Lobster Dynamite Roll and Volcano Roll. The LDR (lobster dynamite roll) is basically a California roll, with the lobster chunks and lobster sauce on top. The roll seemed cold, but the lobster sauce was fresh. If you don't like the mayonnaise-y taste too much I wouldn't recommend this dish. It was too much of one taste for me. Or you can get it, and just share and get different things because I wasn't fond of the same mayonnaise-y taste over and over again. the steamed gyoza was okay, just use tons of sauce for flavor. Without sauce - not much flavor. The udon was chewy, and very filling. The honey toast was good. I liked eating the bread chunks with the ice cream and honey, but I didn't really eat the crust.. I wish they offered the mini during dinner not only happy hour. I also didn't like how we got seated all the way in the back next to a loud teenage party, because we made a reservation... so shouldn't we get nicer seats that aren't all the way in the back? That's just my opinion. Other than that, I liked the food.. A little pricey... but it's okay. I'm actually gonna try their happy hour dishes, so expect to see a review on that later!
(3)
Tiffany O.
First time ever eating here but it was amazing! Went with friends and my best friends family for dinner on a Friday night. We got their back room and had amazing service the whole night. It was quite busy when we arrived but as we had reservations we got right in. We had the back room for our large group and was told we would only have 2 hours to be there but I think we were there longer. The service was fabulous considering how super busy the place was. We had kids in our group which was not a deterrent to the busy staff who treated them really we. Everything we ordered from the char-su pork, mochi cheese gratin, ribs, fresh mochi, shrimp fried rice, etc was so good. We ordered a lot of plate for everyone to try which worked out fabulous. The mixed drinks were great as was the japanese beer. If you haven't tried it you have to get their dessert honey toast. Something totally different and quite tasty. Recommend making reservations when you go as we passed by a few other times and they always seemed to be really busy. Great for dinner but also happy hour.
(5)
Joseph M.
The most recent addition that I love about Shokudo is their happy hour on Monday through Thursday 10 pm to midnight with $3, $4 and $5 selection of clams, sushi, jr ramen, jr honeytoast and a lot of other selections with their menu items. Always a great place to eat, talk stories with friends in a great environment in Honolulu
(5)
Kristine C.
I was very excited in going here for my very first time. But I have also been told that this place was not good. I am quite stubborn and thought to give it a try anyway. My girlfriend and I wanted to come here for happy hour. So we went to the bar and the chef at the bar stated the half side of the bar is only if we are ordering sushi, so STRIKE ONE. My friend and I decided we would sit at the seating area next to the bar with a high couch because there were no seats left at the bar where you can actually have happy hour. So we sat down and we were are suppose to be meeting two more people and we wanted to take the high stools from the bar that were not being used. But the host stated we are not allowed to "steal" (he actually said this) bar stools to be used on the high tables. He stated "technically" the high tables were only used as a waiting area and is not a dining area. (STRIKE TWO). Plus we are not allowed to have happy hour in their regular dining area (STRIKE THREE). To me, that was too many rules for someone to break that's visiting there for the very first time. So we've decided not to give them business. The only good part is they validated my parking, (they get one star for that. YAY!) Otherwise I am so happy not to have dropped a penny on this place. NEXT!..
(1)
Taylor K.
I'm never disappointed whenever I come here. The most recent visit our server was Sam. He was so kind and accommodating. We didn't have to wait for our food for too long because he brought each plate in a timely planner. There wasn't a single moment where I wondered when our food would arrive because he made sure that we were happy and eating. As for the food I do recommend their Lobster Dynamite Roll, Raging Tiger, Ishiyaki Loco Moco, Sushi Pizza, and of course, their Honey Toast! I also love getting their Virgin Lava Flow or Green Tea shake now and then. You get more than what you pay for here.
(5)
Tiffany O.
I don't know how many times I have been here, but for some reason, even though the food is overpriced and overrated, I always seem to come back. First of all, the wait is a big NO-NO. If you have to wait for Shokudo, not worth it. Always make a reservation. Parking is right behind the building, very convenient. I feel like I've tried almost everything on the menu. But after their renovation, they added a sushi bar, and a small separate sushi menu. I like their Mermaid and KusaiKudasai Roll! Very flavorful and overwhelming. Before, I used to go just for the Honey Toast, but after a while only on special occasions, when my stomach can handle it, we get the Cookies n Creme one! I think that's what it was called... I always wanted to try the Cinnamon one though... (I think).... As for their drinks. I just tried their Yuzu Vodka with Honey and it was a big NO-NO again. Their Lychee one is good too! As well as their Mojitos! Also, their Lava Flow is delicious too~ :-) They now have an outdoor seating, but I've never seen anyone out there, except when waiting for indoor seating. Other than that, the interior is lovely, which is why I seem to always come back!
(3)
Kari G.
Carolyn was fabulous! We sat at the bar for my birthday dinner and had so much fun! She was quick at our orders and remembered everyone's name. I loved that:) Wonderful food and service! I highly recommend her and Shokudo!
(5)
Andrew K.
Make sure the host/hostess get you on the wait list if you're a walk-in. My sister and I checked in with the host tonight and were told to expect 45-60 minutes but the wait could be shorter. Gave them our name then headed back outside. We then waited and watched as all the guests there before us and then nearly all the guests who had come after us were seated. We figured it was a combination of guests with reservations and lack of two-person tables. We had been waiting 50 minutes at this point and found it suspicious that everyone but us had been called in. I went in to ask the host how soon we'd be called in and turned out he forgot to put our name in. We got a 'sorry' and were promptly seated right next to the server station. No comp on anything, I guess because we didn't wait longer than the prescribed time. But still to know that my party was lost in the shuffle and forced to wait maybe 20 minutes longer than we should have wasn't a good way to start the meal. At least our server Aaron was attentive and personable. Even though the spicy ahi was lacking in the spicy ahi roll, agedashi tofu and house tofu salad were delicious finds. But not even the honey toast was worth the Disneyland-esque wait.
(2)
R M.
My husband and I were looking for some place to eat on Christmas Day, everything near us on the Leeward side was closed. The closest thing to decent dining was Zippys but we wanted to try something different. SHOKUDO WAS OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY! we were happy that a good restaurant was open. We ate there for lunch. Very busy on Christmas Day 2013, I suspect because it was only one of the few restaurants that were open. Great food. Had a custom order of 2 cooked Salmon for $6.00, a Salad, and a few items from the Happy Hour lunch menu. Reasonable prices and fountain drinks came with refills. Very nice ambience and they seated us in a good booth so that our Son's stroller would not get in the way of customers.
(4)
Kristy A.
Tonight was my first time at Shokudo. After a long day at work I was rushing to make it on time for our reservation. I was a few minutes late and although they were booked up they graciously sat me even though our whole group hadn't arrived yet. I apologized to our waitress Chelsea and she was very pleasant and did not make me feel bad at all. She was accommodating and when we asked for recommendations she was quick to give us her suggestions and favorites! I appreciate great customer service being in the retail industry! Shokudo is very fortunate to have Chelsea on their staff!! Also, not to mention the food was delish and the honey toast was just as I was told....amazing! I only wish I could have are more, but I was stuffed!
(5)
Bobby l.
Love this place when I visited. The thick toast is the right texture and they put butter and honey on the toast. Add ice cream and toppings, you've got perfection! They have happy hour and birthday specials
(5)
Brittney N.
I come here a lot and the service has always been good, but last night was just not what I expected. I came at around 10:30pm on 6/25/14 with a couple of friends wanting to the do the late night happy hour. We were seated promptly at the right side of the restaurant next to window on the bottom level next to a party of four. (I will be detailed as possible because I don't know what the waiters name was. Tall asian guy.) He came to take our order and I asked about the happy hour. He simply said that it's on the other side of the restaurant. I've heard so many good things about this happy hour and it was my first time trying it out, so I was asking him if he knows about any tables that are open. He basically said that he doesn't do tables and we can wait for either the bar to open up or for a table. Then he proceeded to say that if we're not at the table we were seated at, then he will assume that we went to the other side of the restaurant for happy hour. He told us to think about it and left. He didn't offer us any water or anything. It felt as if he didn't even want to deal with us and didn't even try to help us out with another table. I get it, it's late and you want to go home and not deal with any customers. But you were with us for like 5 minutes and you didn't even try to help us out. His attitude just prompted us to walk out and leave. It's okay though, we can spend our money elsewhere.
(2)
Dylan P.
I usually come here with friends or family and service is great, but tonight was terrible. Our Waiter, Davis, took a while to refill drinks and didn't read back our order so while my party all received their food and finished, I waited a little over an hour for my food to come. I had to flag a waiter to speak to a manager. My meal was on the house which was the right thing for the manager to do, but tonight's service was ridiculous. If I didn't flag down that waiter who knows how long I'd be waiting. When receiving the check, for my entire party of 5, they still failed to take out my "on the house meal" on the check. I've never had to complain about this place before.
Really good place to eat if you have some money on hand! Friends and I got here at around 9:20pm and the wait for a table was only 10 minutes! It might have been because everyone else was at Punahou Carnival or something, but the wait isn't bad at night if it's always like this! The Char Siu is a must for people who like salty pork! Sushi pizza is always good too. Just like what everyone else is saying: THE HONEY TOAST IS A MUST HAVE. My friends and I all got one to ourselves and it's literally the best dessert ever. If you want to see my vlog about it, check it out here! (The Shokudo part starts at around 5:39) youtube.com/watch?v=TLzJ…
(4)
Natalie P.
This place has been on my visit list for a while now and it finally happened. We decided to do the HAPPY HOUR from 4-6, on a Sunday night! When we arrived, they told us that in order to do happy hour we had to sit at the bar so we said sure why not. We got to the BAR AREA and the seating was actually really comfortable...except having to occasionally glance at the person across from you. When we sat down we were greeted by Heidi, who throughout the night was supper nice and helpful. We looked at the happy hour menu and proceeded to ordering: FOOD FROM MOST FAVORITE TO LEAST FAVORITE: *Steamed Gyoza ($3) - the sauce makes this dish supper delicious *Spicy tuna nachos ($3) - these nachos are truly tasty *Cali Roll ($3) - supper good *Spicy Tuna Roll ($3) - ok *Chicken Quesadillas ($4) - ok, but could do w/out this dish When it was time for DESSERT we asked about the Honey Toast Jr. ($3) and she said it was was big enough for one person so we each ordered one, when they brought them out I was surprised at how big it was, we could have definitely shared one. The honey toast was good, but it wasn't great, I guess I was expecting french toast so when I bit into the bread and realized it was dry it hit me that it was toast! The overall experience was awesome, great service, food and prices! I love happy hour!
(5)
Andrea L.
Came in with two of my friends around 10:30 at night. Came in and was nicely greeted. Our server was really nice. It was one of my friend's first time there so he asked our server the well known items and he knew what exactly what they were and how good they are. Food came in pretty fast and our server always checked up on us, so that's a plus. And love the music they play as well. LOL.
(5)
Christopher T.
I love their food! Especially their Honey Toast! Parking is easy to find! The only downside is the amount of you might have to wait for coming in when it's busy, but that's your fault for coming when it's busy anyway. The service is good, but the foods better with an amazing price. I'm always confused what to wear, because it seems formal but people come in pretty casual, so I'd say just put shoes on and a nice shirt and you won't feel weird.
(5)
Jasmine N.
Went for lunch today to celebrate our birthdays and was disappointed. The chair was wet, the server totally forgot about us and didn't even offer us anything for our birthday. Even though I've seen people with honey toast birthday cakes. Just meh. The only saving quality is their mochi cheese gratin.
(2)
Kris S.
Mediocre Japanese restaurant that my daughter loves because of the honey toast dessert.
(2)
Sara N.
Yes, please. Closest thing I've came to that is actually sushi. The menu is extensive with so many things to choose and priced very well for the lavish decor and upbeat setting. We were seated immediately thanks to bar service. If you plan to keep it less casual, MAKE RESERVATIONS. The wait was around 1.5 hours if we chose to sit in the dining area. One more thing- lychee martini. That was the tipping point that had me rating 5 stars. I WILL be back.
(5)
Erni M.
Tuna was some of the best I have had anywhere. They have a very full menu that would please a lot of styles. Pretty good selection of Sake as well. Red Eye Roll I would highly recommend.
(4)
Mar M.
It was a 5 restaurant until dessert. It wasn't that it was bad, but they were running a special which was 3 layers of honey toast instead of 2 for twice the price. Our server, while sweet and very helpful otherwise neglected to inform us of the difference in price and size. We ate the garlic scallops and rice, omg it was so frickin' awesome! The miso something salmon, it's on the new menu, was amazeballs! It was perfectly cooked and a great compliment to the rice. The rainbow roll we, I emphasize the we, because if I'd eaten all of this myself I would have popped like Mr. Creosote! Anyway, the rainbow roll while excellent paled in comparison to the other dishes. Finally, thank God, we ate the house special, the honey toast. It was good, but not 15 dollars good. It consistes of essentially a loaf of thick cut Japanese bread toasted, cubed, and mixed with scoops of ice cream. Sounds crazy, but nice. A classy place resorting to nickle and diming customers seems out of character. Otherwise great food, great service and nice atmosphere. Will definitely go back but will double check the specials before ordering.
(4)
Annie L.
I'll admit, I was never a huge fan of Shokudo- unless there was a party there, I wouldn't go out of my way to frequent this restaurant. Surprisingly though, Shokudo has surprised me in the past few months, and is now a place I quite enjoy.... For those of you who don't know, Shokudo now has a sushi bar. Although there are only a few seats, the sushi is actually pretty good- EXPENSIVE, but yummy. I'm actually waiting for their patio to open up. Shokudo is expanding their waiting area outside into a HAPPY HOUR patio. I've seen their benches and green walls up for some time now, and the hostess told me that they'll probably be opening that up within another month. Shokudo's HH and late night is a really good deal, but due to the limited seating at the bar, it's a bit tight to get a seat currently. Hopefully after the patio opens, it will allow for more people to enjoy HH. After all, they have a LOT of beers on tap, and with discounted food items, you know you'll see me there!
(4)
Ezra G.
I am definitely a fan of their Honey Toast. & I love that they now have seating outdoors. The vibe there is always great. Customer Service is always great. Although they've gotten my orders mixed up or took long with it, I am not an impatient person. Especially when I have my daughter, I am quite patient. They are always courteous. Parking structure is quite small. DO NOT BRING YOUR TRUCKS TO PARK IN THEIR STRUCTURE. FIND STREET PARKING. Their food is good. Not so great BUT for their price it is good. Their HONEY TOAST is what I ALWAYS get. Yes, I did get to the Honey Toast part. Shokudo is famously known for their honey toast so I do recommend that you do not miss a chance to get that at Shokudo.
(4)
Gabriel T.
Dining at Shokudo is always da bomb of a good time, well at least for when I go there. I went here a few times with friend, co-workers, and colleagues and stuff. It's conveniently located right near the Ala Moana area on Kapiolani Blvd. on the intersection of where First Hawaiian Bank is and Mahukona St. It's a great place for dining for a special occasion or just pay hana kine dining. The staff and customer service is good. The prices are decent. We dined here a couple times with my dance crew and the accommodations where good all around. I believe if you have 14 people or less your group is eligible to go in that back private room area. If you have more than 14 then you get accommodated more in the back and they just combine and tables and stuff. I always like dining in the back room though more than the outside. As far as the food goes my favorites are the any of the udon noodle bowls and soups. The pupus, I like the edamame, french fries, chicken karaage, mochi cheese gratin, and gyoza. Their sukiyaki bibimbap aka loco moco is pretty unique. For any of the rice bowls, they mix if right in front of you which is pretty cool. For the sushi, spicy tuna roll, sushi pizza, lobster dynamite, and spider roll are winnahs. The dessert favorite is always the infamous HONEY TOAST. You can order it with various flavors (chocolate, caramel, cinnamon, etc.) I like to get it the original with just ice cream and good 'ole honey. In regards to the Honey Toast, I just want to say that it is very unfortunate that there is the common practice of people always just eating the inside of the Honey Toast and leaving the outside out. I mean that is completely understandable since you know, people are full from their entree meal and what not. It is also understandable that the crust is too hard to chew and stuff and it takes an extra effort to just eat it. With those two things said, out of respect to the Honey Toast, at least try to attempt to eat it. It is almost like eating bread or a sandwich and leaving the crust out. To solve this honey toast problem and somewhat unjustful practice of eating the honey toast, here is one solution. When you get the honey toast, order an additional side of honey on the side, and get at least an total of 3 scoops of ice cream on top of the honey toast. If you are worried about spending that extra money, don't worry you won't regret it when you eat the honey toast, trust me. The way I see it, when people eat the honey toast, the ice cream and honey to accumulated and ingested into the middle of the honey toast which contains the bread balls and rolls which is pretty much the meat of the honey toast. That's the part where everyone eats. As people are eating the honey toast, little do they know they end up wasting all the ice cream and honey on the meat, failing to properly distribute the ice cream and honey to the crust as well! The ice cream and honey is what make and aids the honey toast. When it is gone, all that there is left is just crust and breading and pulls all the fun out of the honey toast. So that my friends is the reason why you must order ADDITIONAL HONEY AND AT LEAST 3 SCOOP ICE CREAM. and I'm done.
(4)
Tracey O.
This used to be one of my favorite restaurants but it has gone down hill! The food was disappointing and uninspired. Even the mochi cheese gratin, which was my favorite dish there, didn't taste as good. With so many great japanese restaurant, I would not recommend this place anymore.
(1)
Justina B.
Very unique spin on sushi rolls. I thought the taste of the meal was okay but will make a point to try different dishes next time.
(3)
Jason W.
First of all, the menu is quite pretty indeed. The ambiance is also pretty awesome! The food fares well and the prices are decent for what you get but... Shokudo didn't really stand out to me. It reminds me of one of those solid athletes who has the right stuff in different areas but has not yet put it all together to take it to the next level. I hear the Happy Hour is the bomb-diggity so I'll check that out before say 'Shootsdenkbe' to this guy but for now, it's a bit of a'ight. Didn't live up to the hype but they got the main things right.
(3)
Crystal S.
I love coming to Shokudo because of our server Sherri! She was so outgoing and knowledgable about the food and drinks she serves! She is now my new best friend! The food here is great and the drinks are delicious! I highly recommend coming to Shokudo and asking for Sherri!
(5)
Terry K.
Yelp Challenge 365 # 91/365 Other than sushi, Shokudo dishes are stable up through their Honey Toast. You will not be disappointed with any of their dishes. A definite no fail in my humble opinion is their luncheon teishoku. The main course will vary by the day but it is served with a nice salad, miso soup, rice, some niimono and their main course. For the price,it can't be beat and the best? Flavor and preparation of the food always consistently good. If you plan to visit in the evenings go early. Their happy hour has $5 appetizers and great beer specials. They are busy! It gets even more crowded as the evening wears on.So if you are unable to stop in early, be sure you have a reservation. Shokudo is one of the handful of restaurants that have opened, remains open and remains consistently good. By the way, you can park in the building and if you're after hours, you can park at the First Hawaiian Bank Parking lot across the street. There's always Ala Moana Center for parking as well. Parking is my biggest gripe and concern whereever I go and on this note, Shokudo gets a thumbs up
(4)
Mari M.
One of my favorite restaurants. The decor is nice, but they're so DUSTY! Don't want no dust bunnies in my dynamite lobster roll, which I order every time I go there. I also get the cinnamon honey toast if I'm not too full. I gave 4 stars because of the cleanliness and the place feels so crowded. Not so much that the place is packed with people, but the tables and booths are so close together that I feel like I might accidentally poke my boyfriend's eye out with my chopsticks. There's always a wait time when we go, so get there early before the rush. Service has been great so far, can't say we've ever had bad service.
(4)
Kay M.
Called ahead to make a reservation since I had a fairly large group and I know they can get pretty busy here. When we arrived I was surprised to see that they had a private room waiting for us! Which I thought was very kind. The food was great like always and our server Matt was AWESOME!! Yes their food is a little pricy, but it's well worth it considering the high quality taste, great service and nice atmosphere. Highly recommend!
(5)
Lehua K.
We loved everything we tried. From appetizers, dinner and deserts. You have to try the HONEY TOAST, my nephews loved it...
Got a chance to go back and eat at one of our favorite Japanese restaurants in Oahu. Made advanced reservations and was impressed that they re-confirm with you the day prior. I guess it's needed because it was super busy even at 9pm. While the service was still excelent, the newer items we tried weren't that great. Not sure if prices went up but damn, it's pretty pricey! We got seated in the bigger part of the restaurant in the "comma-shaped" booth this time, not on the tiered side which is where we first experienced this place. It was definitely louder but was fun to people watch. FOOD: Menchi Katsu - Saw this listed on the chef-recommended menu. Its ground pork, beef & egg mixed together and breaded with panko, then deep fried. Comes with wasabi-infused mashed potatoes and a small watercress salad. Pretty much tasted like a meatloaf katsu. Not being a fan of wasabi at all, I was concerened about the mash. Waiter said you can hardly taste it. It was the total opposite. It was pretty green! Not recommended. Lobster Dynamite - A California roll topped with the lobster dynamite mixture. It was okay but not great. The topping didn't taste as rich and sinful as a dynamite sauce should taste. It was a little dry and a bit bland. Red Eye Roll - Spicy tuna roll with a sliced tuna on top. It was good but not the best spicy sauce we've tasted. Loss of 1 star due to the 3 new foods we tried that were subpar and high(er) prices on certain dishes. Our favorite dish still remains the sukiyaki bi bim bap, which we had again.
(4)
T P.
It really makes me sad to write this but this place has gone down. I was reading through the reviews and I was also there on the 7th of December and I had the same rude encounter with the hostess. Unfortunately she is that way all the time . It's almost like the people that come there to eat are a bother to her. Anyway, this used to be my favorite place but the lack of quality in the service has ruined it for me. They have a really good happy hour but when it takes forever for your food to come out and when it does come, it's cold (which usually means that the server left it on the line too long) it ruins the experience. Now on to the infamous honey toast. It's a wonderful creation but the last couple of times that I ordered it the ice cream was melted and the toast was cold. Maybe if this place replaced the staff members that are substandard they could make a come back!
(2)
Julie N.
Oh wow I didn't review this place yet? I've been coming here for years.. it seems as though a lot of the young crowd come here now. Maybe I'm just getting old.. ha. Love the honey toast.. what a genius invention! The sushi rolls are not bad. I enjoy the soft homemade tofu and the unagi hot rice bowl. I love how they mix it up at your table too! During lunch, there are lunch boxes, which are awesome! I actually like coming here for lunch better.
(4)
Alice C.
Eversince they've reopened on Black Friday, I swear I've been here 4 times within the past 2 weeks. Does that say anything to you? I've been strictly trying the different sushi on their new sushi menu. I've had the: Tiger roll yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… Kusai Kudasai roll yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… Volcano Roll yelp.com/user_local_phot… Amaebi - I love love love amaebi. It is sweet shrimp (Try drinking beer after taking a bite of the sushi, it enhances the shrimp taste) yelp.com/user_local_phot… The deep fried head that comes after is completely edible yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… The rolls come in 8 pieces. For me, one roll is pretty filling. Don't get me wrong, I still love their original menu but I've just been so excited for their new items. I also enjoy their very friendly staff. I've had many different servers within the past visits and each and everyone of them are so friendly. They even come by often to refill drinks. All to make the visit more enjoyable. This is my new late night spot. :)
(5)
Janelle D.
The food, the drinks, the wait staff- everything is excellent! They get very busy, especially for dinner, so reservations are highly recommended. I am addicted to the lychee mojito with shochu- I went back twice in a couple of weeks just for that drink! The food is delicious- mochi gratin, crispy spicy ahi sushi, and lobster dynamite are my favorite! The honey toast is a must have! The wait staff are attentive and friendly. Our waiter, Bob, is the best ever! He gave us suggestions, off the menu specials, and told us about the half order honey toast (which I never knew existed). He was so personable and nice! We love shokudo and try to go there as often as we can! Parking is convenient and free with validation.
(5)
Hope Y.
I would've loved to rated higher, but the hubs and I went to lunch during the week, and service was slow and disappointing. It was his first time there, so I was excited for him, but after getting our mochi cheese gratin and fries, we waited...and waited....and waited...for our tempura and lunch box. The manager came by and said he would check on it, but i'd say we waited 20 minutes for the tempura box set, and the side order of tempura didn't come, so we cancelled it. As always, the tofu was amazing, and the box set was big enough to serve us both. If it were on food alone, they'd get the 4-5 stars, but add in service, and they were just A-ok.
(3)
Amanda A.
Well I've only gone here because my sister and boyfriend love their sushi but I've gotten full off their food anyway. I'd say this isn't exactly a Japanese restaurant, more of a restaurant that serves Japanese-ish food. They have their special sushi rolls but they also serve things like chicken karaage, chicken katsu, tempura, gyoza, fries, etc. I do like their hot rice bowls but they can get a bit too oily. They heat these bowls up and then throw in either shrimp or salmon and then let it cook then they throw in some rice and mix it all up for you. The ambiance and overall vibe of the restaurant is nice, which is probably why the wait is always like 45 min to an hour. If you have a party of 6+ then I suggest putting in a reservation. And what they're really known for is their honey toast which is toasted Japanese sweet bread that has honey drizzled over it served with a scoop of Vanilla ice cream. I hate seeing people waste this because they think they can eat the whole thing by themselves. To me, one honey toast can feed up to 4 people. The prices here are also on the higher end so this is a once in a while type of restaurant.
(3)
June K.
Love it here! We tend to pick Shokudo for it's excellent happy hour menu. And when you come during happy hour, there is no wait! My favorites from the happy hour menu are: ramen salad, ahi nachos, and honey toast! Of course I need an ice cold glass of Kirin to wash it all down. The regular menu is quite awesome too. We always get cheese mochi gratin, sushi pizza, tofu salad, unagi bowl, and honey toast. The service is always great and timely. Getting into the parking lot is difficult. I drive a truck and the entrance is a tight squeeze. If you come at dinner time, don't bother looking for parking. You'll have better luck at the mall. The ambiance hasn't changed much since the restaurant first opened, but it's modern and not bad on the eye. More recently, an outdoor section was added, so we'll check it out next time when the weather isn't bad.
(4)
Marifer S.
4 stars instead of 5 because of the small portions in addition to a pricey menu. Good place to go to for occasions. They also have happy hour but the menu is very limiter. They're sojus are delicious!! And Honey toast crunch for dessert is a must!!
(4)
Stephanie T.
Make a reservation if you plan to go for dinner because otherwise the wait can be up to an hour. Luckily I had made reservations earlier that day and was quickly seated when I arrived. They were pretty slammed the night I went for dinner, but as usual it was worth it. Our waiter was very kind and made sure to check on us and apologetic when it took him longer than expected to get to us, but still provided great service to us. We ordered beer, Kirin and Echigo, both which are very smooth and tasty. For food we had the clamari tempura as a starter, the spicy ahi crispy rice, ahi sashimi, and bi bim bap hot stone bowl. The bi bim bap came out very late after we had finished all the other food so we were stuffed by the time it came and only had enough room in our stomachs to fit in a couple bites. We boxed it up and took it home though. I wish I had room for some honey toast because that is one of my favorites, but it just wasnt happening this time.
(4)
Wendy S.
All food here is yummy! Just make sure you save room for the dessert. You HAVE to eat the honey toast! If you just ate, you can probably share it between 2-3 people. They no longer have the shave ice, but hopefully one day they bring it back :-) Speaking of shave ice. The service here is sooooooo excellent! I brought my kids in to have dessert and when my 3 year-old son found out that there was no shave ice, Wade (our server) made him an icy drink in the flavor that he wanted! OMG! Give this guy employee of the year for going above and beyond! 10 stars for making this potential meltdown dining experience into an experience that will make my son keep wanting to come back!
(5)
Nicole M.
I think the best time to go here is late at night - no wait and no need for reservations. All I need is the honey toast and fries!
(5)
Jennifer Y.
Went with friends last Wednesday, and although we had to wait forever for our table even though we had reservations (hence the four stars), we were otherwise happy. Since it was the night before Valentine's Day the place was decorated with cut out hearts, which was cute. Our waiter, JT, was great and so funny! He really made the experience a great one. He guided my friend and her boyfriend as to how the restaurant worked because it was their first time there, and was a really nice guy. He checked up on us throughout our meal and when one of our dishes didn't arrive, he apologized and got on it right away. Speaking of dishes...we ordered pork gyoza (two plates), lobster dynamite roll, spider roll, spicy tuna roll, teriyaki chicken quesadilla, and noodles (a friend of mine ordered that for herself). I LOVED the lobster dynamite roll, pork gyoza, and quesidilla. Another friend was being a hog and didn't share her spider roll even though we were doing family style haha! JT told us that there was a special honey toast fondue dessert that was only available until...Saturday I believe. So we ordered one of those, and an original honey toast. Both were SO GOOD!!! For the fondue there was chocolate fudge in a little pan, heated with a candle, with some other chocolate sauce in a saucer. The food to dunk were mini marshmallows, cube rice krispies, bananas, honey toast (of course), and gummy bears. On both desserts was a big helping of vanilla ice cream. Again, SO GOOD!!! Overall I enjoyed my night out. The highlights were everything that happened after our long wait outside in the crisp air. I'd like to go back again and just order the lobster dynamite roll. Good stuff.
(4)
John N.
Shokudo is one of those restaurants that feel really old school but has caught up with the times. Not only their food has been progressively updated, they are insightful enough to keep their best food on the menu. Loves: Honey toast - If there is only one food I can eat at Shokudo, I'd skip everything and go straight to dessert. Honey toast is HEAVENLY! Unagi Rice Bowl - Served in a hot stone pot and is very addictive. Rich flavors of the unagi and stone rice combine into some kind of superhero of foods. Salmon Rice Bowl - If the unagi bowl is too flavorful for you, check this dish out. It is much lighter than the unagi bowl and still taste just as good. Service - Attentive, fast, and friendly. All you ask for really! Not so love: Sushi Pizza - Not sure why but not my cup of tea. I know many who love it though. The wait in line - The place gets really busy so it isn't so uncommon to wait 30 minutes at least to beat seated. Parking - The parking structure is very tight and doesn't have enough stalls on a busy day. Overall, with the new renovations and menu, Shokudo is poised to become an even better restaurant. Hopefully they evolve more and also keep their favorites like they have been doing. 100 Reviews, 1 Day 16/100 January 12, 2013
(4)
Mitzi D.
This review is only for the brick toast. The combo was yummy my only wish was for the bread to be a little lighter and less dense. The restaurant itself could use a good scrubbing. Looking around there was a dirty floor and a layer of dust that was pretty yucky to look at.
(2)
Kim S.
Honey toast still a hit! Inspired others to order it despite being stuffed from dinner. =)
(4)
Jennifer L.
I have been to Shokudo twice now, both times with larger parties. Last night we were there with a group of 12 and the restaurant was very busy (obviously on a Saturday night). My thoughts on the food: the menu is insanely long. Like, if you are an indecisive individual, you will need a xanax before you order. Way too much stuff. That being said, the items that I have tried have been pretty good. Fish is fresh, lobster dishes are well cooked, and the honey toast will make you feel like a mythical beast. So good. Our waiter last night was named Matthew and HE was a treat. Very attentive and handled our large, loud group like a champ. The world needs more Matthews. Overall a good experience. Comfortable with a nice atmosphere. Except for the paper lamps that hang way to low and seem to have it out for tall people.
(4)
Lei N.
I can no longer say, " I've never been to Shokudo", cause after today (January 10th) I've already eaten lunch here! I was going to take the bus here but I caught a ride with a friend instead. There was traffic!!! Next time we've got to leave more than half an hour early. Getting to Ala Moana area we parked around the back in the Ala Moana Pacific Center. For the longest time I thought this building was ATTACHED to Ala Moana Shopping Center itself... yeah I was wrong. Parking area are for the restaurants and whatever other business they have in this building. I had made a reservation the day before for five people at 11:30 a.m. and since we were late and our reservation was under my name, we had the other person in our party to grab our reservation/table. We had a table towards the front. The interior of the restaurant didn't seem fancy, the ones towards the back were. Some pieces of furniture looked cool that I wanted to look at them a bit more closely. There's a bar area as you enter through the doors. I liked the booths (which lined the walls away from the front entrance); though it does look like it's meant for two. Ha-ha. Our waters, chopsticks, napkins and menus were already waiting at the table. Since I hadn't been here before our waitress, Molly gave me a run through of their popular dishes and what she recommends us doing by sharing amongst ourselves, etc. etc. She even asked what we wanted to have out first which was the sushi and work to the individual ones. What I got to sample: Homemade Tofu Salad - Gail ordered this one. I am not a salad person! But we had plates and she started mixing the salad up and distributing to all of us so I had to eat. I liked whatever made it crunchy. A lot of tofu, gross. It was all mushy especially after she mixed it all up. The shoyu added flavor to it. I don't know what it was but I liked it. Maybe if there was less mushy tofu. Learned from Gail that Shokudo makes their own tofu. Mermaid Roll - It was listed under "New Sushi" and caught my attention as we looked throughout the menu on what we wanted to order. This is one of the only times I would eat shrimp. Nothing special though, just sushi. It was like a combination of Crunchy Maki from Ninja sushi with spicy tuna. Miso Soup - This came with Gail's bento but she didn't want it or didn't like the taste of it so she passed it on to me THOUGH I was trying to save room for some honey toast. It tasted different from other miso soups I've tried before. Tokyo Shoyu Ramen - By the time this came out I was starting to get full! The first part I took a bite out of was the hard-boiled egg that was cut in half. At first I thought it was only a slice but lifting I saw it was half. I really liked this dish, maybe a bit more if I hadn't already been getting full from the sushi and miso soup. The meat didn't have much flavor. It took a while for all of us to finish our individual dishes before we ordered dessert. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… ) Honey Toast - And FINALLY dessert! We decided to only order one and share it together and have the original one though there are other flavors / toppings. OMG!!! No wonder people come back. It is SO delicious and so sweet. Maybe a bit too sweet. I thought everyone was just over exaggerating but... I just want to go back and have some more! Ugh. Maybe I should have gotten a separate one... NAH, I couldn't finish that even if I tried! This alone makes up for the other dishes that I've tasted. Of course at first I wasn't sure how to start into the honey toast. I thought you cut into the outside crust then stopped and just dug in front the top with my fork. There were soft pieces and others were harder. I really enjoyed the honey and ice cream. Yummy. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… ) As we finished up our dessert we talked story. Of course they told me as I made a reservation that we had two hours and I think we went a bit over. Our waitress came by and gave us tea as we were waiting for our full tummys to settle before heading into the office. Also don't forget to get your parking ticket validated! Overall, I would only come back for the honey toast.
(3)
Annie U.
Had the best time celebrating a 16th birthday party. Our waitress Bri was efficient, helpful and fun. I was unsure if this was the location for a party but would do it again and again. The food was fab, but the service was even better. Thank you Bri and Shokudo!
(5)
Jill k.
it's always great to re-unite with old friends. on this trip to hawaii, i was able to do just that. shokudo seemed an appropriate place to reunite, as shokudo itself, did a great job of uniting flavors from japanese, hawaiian, and american cuisines. this is what we ordered: * albacore tuna on crispy rice * agedashi tofu * mochi cheese gratin * seafood dynamite * chicken kara age i am pleased to say that all of these things were yummy! even the mochi cheese gratin was surprisingly flavorful (i admit i cringed a bit at the thought), but the albacore tuna on crispy rice was my favorite. i can't wait to come back and try more!
(5)
Jane L.
I LOVE SHOKUDO!!!!!!!!! I've eaten here a few times in the past few years it has always been a delightful and wonderful experience. The food is always good it has never changed well they added items to the menu but they are delicious. It just sucks the past few times that I have come here I never have enough room to eat honey toast.
(5)
Jay Y.
Shokudo Japanese Restaurant is Tokyo Table back in the mainland, except the ambiance here is better and the waitstaff are more attentive. If I have never been to Tokyo Table, I would have probably thought this would be the best place to ever go to for drinks, desserts, and people watching here on the island. We ordered the following: Chicken Katsu: just OK. Udon: Marukame Udon tastes 100x better than this Ox Tail Ramen: Didn't like this at all. Our friends ordered a bunch of other dishes, but I wasn't able to recall since we came later. Advice: Come here with a group of friends and order their drinks, light appetizers, and their honey toast! Reservations are strongly recommended during their busy hours. 5 Stars for great service, ambiance, pricing, and company!
(5)
Jenny S.
I came here often and i usually come for the late night happy hour! Their three dollar menu is just simply...A-MA-ZINGGG! From spicy tuna nachos to chicken quesadilla! Although the portion is smaller than the regular menu it's stil a lot of food for JUST $3!! Besides the amazing deals, the people here are always so nice! I think their customer service is one of the best! I went to shokudo today for my friend's birthday dinner and our server was more than accommodating! Our water stayed filled and he was very patient with us while we were deciding what to eat! For my friend's birthday he even let us choose the ice cream for the happy birthday honey toast with NO EXTRA CHARGE!! For regular dinner hour, I got the mongolian beef ishiyaki and i absolutely LOVE it! It's better than their bibimbop and I"M KOREAN!! The beef just melted in my mouth and the flavors just excited my taste buds! It was simply delicious!! I also ordered their mojitos and usually a lot of restaurants don't make their mojitos minty enough and too leafy but not here! It was perfect!!! Overall, whenever I visit I always leave wanting to come back and with a smile on my face! I know my friends and I absolutely coming here, it won't be long till we visit again!!! BTW for someone who's never been here before no matter what you order (it will be good!!) you MUST MUST MUST get the honey toast! You'll absolutely LOOOVVEEE it! I guarantee it!!
(4)
Rhi M.
Love, Love, Love this place. I am a KCC culinary student and lots of my classmates work here. (I don't like this place, just because of that). The drinks are really good here. I love lychee so I order the lychee vodka soda. There are still more I need to try. If you love sushi, this is the right place for you. I usually order the sashimi and tempura, and a spicy tuna roll. The atmosphere is great! It can be for a casual dinner out with friends and family or somewhere fancy to go out on a date. Either way this place is great. I want a chance to eat at the bar one day.
(5)
C D.
James C. is the man to see for the best experience ever! He gets orders in & brings the food out quick! He knows his menu and recommended a special cinnamon honey toast ;-) See him- you'll love Shokudo even more than you already do!
(5)
Raina A.
I love this place so, so much. I just took off a star because of the wait. We waited for about an hour, twice. But the food...oh man, the food. So delicious. The sushi and the katsu is pretty good. The shrimp fried rice is AMAZING. It's just a little spicy (enough to give flavor, but not take away the rest of the tastes), and the amount of shrimp they give is pretty good, compared to other places. The honey toast is amazing, as well- we can't ever leave without having that. The service is always good, but nothing out of the ordinary.
(4)
Jared W.
Shokudo! Great Honey Toast! Asian Style with some "local-ness". It doesn't have authentic Japanese food and I guess that is why they call themselves Shokudo which pretty much translates to "cafeteria" or "dining hall"! During Dinner time it can get busy so expect to wait for awhile. ~ Food ~ I posted below pictures and some info on the food! Balsamic beef tataki sushi ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) Taste is not bad! It is not anything amazing. Garlic shrimp rice!" ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) I don't know if i would order this again. Just as plain as it sounds. Rice and garlic and some shrimp. I wonder if just anyone can make it with those 3 ingredients. Cheese Mochi gratin ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) This is interesting, but not for my taste buds. "Spicy ahi crunch" ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) One of their better appetizer- crunchy and GOOD!! Chicken Katsu" ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) This was pretty good. I had better chicken katsu, but I also had worse! "Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio" ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) Order this because it was GOOD! Yuzu Citrus Vodka Soda"( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) i always get this when I come here. Lobster Dynamite" ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) This is one of their better dishes. ~ Honey Toast ~ If you never been to Shokudo, leave some room for this! The Original Honey Toast ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) Delicious! Nobody really eats the outsides of the Toast. Chocolate honey toast ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) This was pretty tasty! Cinnamon Honey Toast ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) The food there is not amazing, it tends too look different or have interesting names but nothing spectacular. I wish they would really change it up and add some flavorful things to their menu.
(3)
Jon H.
I don't really go to Shokudo to eat dinner...instead, it's one of my favorite places to go after dinner to have dessert. Why? Two words: HONEY TOAST!!! It's magical stuff. I usually get the plain honey toast, but cinnamon is oh so lovely, too! ...the only real drawback to Shokudo is the smell that lingers on your clothes when you leave -_-
(3)
Lisiti T.
EXCELLENT PLACE! Our host, our waiter and the food! If you go there let MATTHEW know he was an awesome waiter. Everything he recommended was very tasteful. The lobster dynamite, loco moco twist , and the spinach salad. There were a lot more we order but these were the best. Aside from the food and service, it is a small and crowded place. This is not a place you want to bring kids, too many things to break. When seating make sure your table will be big enough to hold your group orders. Even though there was only four of us, we ordered 6 meals. It seemed we had to eat our food as fast as possible because every time they bought out the next meal, there was no place for it on our table. Overall, the atmosphere of Shokudo was very uplifting, although the wait was 45 min. it goes by fast if you have a great group of friends who know how to entertain. It doesn't seem crazy busy (at least the time we went) and it wasn't too loud or too dull. Definitely would go back.
(4)
Thuy L.
To be honest, the sashimi here was very good. I order the sashimi sampler & it was great! The sashimi was so fresh that it melt right when it was in my mouth. The prices were reasonable, the waiter was horrible. It was my first time here & our waiter was name Matt & he looked like he didn't even enjoy working there. I believe he only checked up on us like once then he never returned, lucky the table sitting next to us was also his table so when he checked on their table that was the only way we could catch him. Then when we asked if we could have our billed separately, he simply just said I don't remember who order what so I can't do the bill for you, his attitude was horrible, so at this point I just wanted to get out of this restaurant so we told him that's fine, just give us the bill however then. 15 mins later, still no bill. Then AFTER serving a new table next to us, he finally comes over & says oh I'm going to get your bill now. WTH?! Out of all honesty, I would give this place a 4 star but because of this waiter horrible service & attitude I knocked it down a star. I would come back here to eat again but I will request for a different waiter with a friendlier approach to customers. However, I did notice a waiter name bubu? He was more catering & friendlier to us. I WOULD HAVE WISH HE WAS OUR WAITER INSTEAD OF MATT. Btw, I'm still in the restaurant as I am writing this review, that's how upset I am with the service.
(3)
Stacia S.
First time here and love. Manager James is amazing. He has this hypnotic power, he tells you to look into his eyes and makes you order awesome food. Carolyn is equally amazing and helped block James's rays, she was just honey toast blocking him because we had other dessert plans. Loved the lobster dynamite roll!! This gap girl had a great time!
(5)
Ashley S.
Ok, what's not to love about this place? Cool and hip, great food, great drinks and great dessert! I know everyone (even those under a rock) has heard about their honey toast but do you know about their bread pudding?!?!?! WINNER!! You have to try it. We sat at the sushi bar because they didn't have any tables available but if you can sit there you can pretty much order anything from the menu.
(5)
Nina U.
There are a million an done reviews on here so it doesn't take a genius to know this place has to be somewhat decent. Make reservations and park in the garage in the back (same road like you're going to Side Street Inn). Then you can walk through to Kapiolani to get inside. The best part is waiting for your table to be ready because then you can get one of their tasty drinks from the bar. And please don't order chicken teriyaki. I know it's safe but try something new. There are a million and one other things on the menu. But be sure to save room for their dessert toast. Just get the plain honey one and ask for an extra scoop of ice cream if you're like me and want one bit of ice cream for every bite of toast.
(4)
Jessica S.
Hubby and I really enjoyed this restaurant. It is right by Ala Moana Shopping Center which makes parking super easy and convenient. Which, for someone who gets cranky over parking - this is a huge perk! We had EXCELLENT service! Our waiter was Matt, and he was awesome. He was very kind, chatted with us, helpful, fun and attentive. He was really an all around great server. This made our experience here just that much better! The honey toast still confuses me, because it seems so simple. It seems as if it is something I could simply make. Though, I bet if I did make it, it somehow wouldn't be so delicious. It just seems odd something so simple could be that tasty! Food: Food was pretty darn tasty too. We got a sushi pizza, chicken teriyaki quesadilla and the goyza. All of them were very good. I loved the sauce that the quesdilla came with. My husband has a theory, "You can make anything good with tortillas" - and Shokudo proved his theory right. The goyza was good, though nothing too special. The sushi pizza was unique and very tasty. All around, pretty good. Not the most amazing food EVER, but it was still good. Fun environment, good food, good service, they served me my favorite drink, good dessert, good company - really, what else could you ask for?
(4)
Casey D.
One of my very favorite restaurants on Oahu. Absolutely delicious menu, and very consistent god service. The only down side is the wait times, but that is to be expected of a restaurant this good. Try the Lobster Dynamite Roll or the Volcano Roll. As an aside, I was waited on by a server named Robyn who was all around awesome. Haven't seen her there before, and I'm bummed I haven't soooner!
(4)
Linda D.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! The food is amazing and the service is friendly. My friend and I were in an unagi mood and ordered the caterpillar roll and the unagi rice. It was GLORIOUS. After that, we ordered the famous honey toast..... whoever created that was a genius. Overall, GREAT food, ATTRACTIVE wait staff, and FRIENDLY service. Can't wait to visit this place again on my next trip!
(5)
Joyce F.
Seriously, if all they served was the lobster roll and honey toast, I would still frequent this place. But i've had quite a few of the other dishes, and every dish I have had is AWESOME! I love the vibe of this place, all the servers are handsome and beautiful, and the food is great.
(5)
Angela M.
*One serving sake, Karaage chicken, rice set, mochi cheese gratin, melon float, plain udon, teri chicken quesadilla, yakitomi fries, azuki pillow toast w/extra ice cream scoop, forced gratuity = $80* Dear Shokudo, Remember when we first got together you had fabulous foods for reasonable prices and we saw each other often? Then you chucked some of my favorites off the menu and raised the prices of everything else, but I forgave you and we continued our friendship? Then you let the quality of the food begin to fall and gave us ripped and creased menus and bits of dust would drift down from the chains above the bar, but I continued to give you chances mostly because of your mochi cheese gratin and agedashi tofu? I'm sorry, but I can't do this anymore. Even though your giant laminated menus are very nice. It is simply illogical to pay $80 (inc tip) for a meal that is mediocre at best with sub-par service and leave with not a single leftover crumb. Your rice set has devolved into a bowl of not-so-fluffy white rice, miso soup that tastes as though it were from a packet, and a few strips of pickle because you've run out of takuan. The karaage chicken is good, but very ordinary. Everything for the most part was decent but ordinary, and the pillow toast is definitely no longer worth $11 with it's whole one tablespoon of azuki beans and almost invisible drizzle of molasses. I could create much more amazing concoctions armed with a loaf of day old St. Germaine bread, an ice cream scoop, a honey bear, and my wits. Your server was nice, but very forgetful and did not deserve the generous gratuity that was so graciously added onto our bill. I'm not sure why gratuity was added onto the bill, is it because we had a party of 6 (above food total only accounts for 2 plus 2 little people)? I didn't realize my 2 and 4 year olds counted towards such things, but I suppose here they do. Upon arriving at 5pm we were informed we would have to vacate our seats by 7pm. 2 hours? Easy peasy. That is, unless you account for the fact that everything, including beverages, takes an excruciatingly long time to arrive. So long that you begin to think the kitchen has forgotten you, and just when you're on the verge of giving up hope that edible morsels will ever arrive, one dish shows up. I will not be seeing you anymore. When I think of all the hot pot, all the Indian food, all of the containers of mochi ice cream I could buy for $80, it causes me physical pain. I could have even bought a dress. Goodbye, Angela
(2)
Gin N Juic E.
Shokudo is great for everything from groups to first dates in that its a neutral choice where everybody can appreciate the atmosphere, the food, and great service. Once inside you have no problems hearing your company while able to enjoy the ambience. For food the lobster dynamite is comparable to nothing I have tried before whereas the honey toast is basically edible crack. You can't go wrong here and every time I have gone it has be an overall tremendous experience complimented by great service.
(5)
Justin S.
I had my birthday dinner there this past Friday night. Our waitress gave excellent service. The food recommendations were excellent. The food was really good too. Overall experience was top notch! I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Tina S.
I've been here a few times with different people. They don't have many vegetarian options, and since I *try* not to rewrite menus to my liking, I settled on the vegetarian roll sushi plate. The last time I ordered this, the plate came with salad and sushi for about $11. This time, it was just the sushi (one roll cut into 8-10 slices) and no salad for the same price. I was disappointed when my order arrived sans salad, especially since our server told me the salad was included when I ordered. I also had to ask for chopsticks, since we were not provided with utensils. One of my friends ordered the chicken quesadilla with no sour cream and extra tomatoes. It arrived with sour cream and no extra tomatoes. Our server was apologetic and fixed the order right away. My friend ate it happily, so it must have tasted good! My other friend ordered udon (enjoyed it) and fries to share (which I enjoyed:)). Of course the honey toast with cinnamon was delicious! Multiple oversights aside, our server handled my drunkie friend with dignity and tried to accommodate our various requests. He offered us tea and more water when we overstayed our meal, and allowed us to take our time chatting it up without pressure to leave.
(3)
Co Y.
Love this place as always! I recommend making a reservation for large parties or busy days. Love the food...all of it. I haven't had a dish that has disappointed me yet! Prices are average for a sushi place and not crazy outrageously expensive. Love Shokudo!
(5)
Tyra K.
I'm sorry but I don't really get why people are so crazy about this place?! Its really nothing special, except for the honey toast I must admit that is delicious, but what else does this place offer then the honey toast.. ?? Over all quality of this place went down Big Time, and it seems like its not getting any better.. There is so many other places in Honolulu I'd rather go to. Maybe if it was cheaper I'd even consider for a quick meal something casual, but since there is always a wait (really do not understand why) I would just skip this place entirely and go to a much more desirable place... Ok maybe I'm a little spoiled when it comes to yummy Japanese food, but at least I'd pay more to get the quality.. What doesn't go thru my head is the fact that the food here is junk and yet still pricy.. Hm ok I just don't get it.. Two stars is to SOME of your staff.. I guess you never know if you will get a good or bad server here at least you get the good ones occasionally so that's why I'm actually being nice and giving u guys a 2 star... Its sad that you've been in business so long and no improvements only a downfall I do hope that possibly you improve in the quality of food an if even necessay charge a little more I'm sure that would be a bit more satisfying... Good luck!
(2)
Jen N.
We always have a great time when we go to Shokudo! Kepe is super funny and always takes care of us. He and the staff were very attentive to our needs and provided great recommendations for new dishes to try. We made a reservation a week ahead of time so that we could avoid a long wait. Will definitely go back again!
(5)
Kanani K.
Slow service...got our order mixed up...waited for over 45mins for sushi
(2)
Marnie W.
This is the abso-f**king-lutely best place to have a low-key birthday dinner for two on a weekday. Reasons: 1. An extra $20 allows you to reserve a table (the restaurant's choice) with a flower arrangement (your own) waiting for the birthday person. Imagine my delight and surprise to find calla lillies (my favorite!) sitting in a corner booth when we arrived. yelp.com/biz_photos/qTx-… 2. The $25 birthday discount with the "Dream Diner" card. Our final tab ended up being just $5.60. yelp.com/biz_photos/qTx-… 3. The free, adequately sized Honey Toast (with candle, of course!). We could barely finish it. yelp.com/biz_photos/qTx-… 4. Staff are very accommodating and friendly. How could anyone in the service industry (with a conscience) be standoffish or impolite to a restaurant patron on their birthday, anyway? ;-) 5. Customer parking is free in the Ala Moana Pacific Center and, since it wasn't the weekend, very ample. We had no problems finding a space. Five stars for Shokudo. Thank you for making a big part of my 32nd birthday a very memorable one =-D
(5)
Kevin O.
our server grant was awesome! so friendly and helpful! the lobster dynamiteroll is my favorite thing on the menu but twice now i have received it with it basically falling apart. the rice wasnt rolled hard enough or something. the honey toast was amazing as always. this time we tried it with the strawberry puree and it wassooo delicious. $2 more but pretty worth it
(5)
Jason L.
This could have been an awesome experience but our server misunderstood and never put our appetizer in. Waited for about 20 minutes while others were served and never received it. We asked what the delay was and she thought we didn't want it. We decided to leave and cut our losses and eat elsewhere. The Li Hing sake wasn't too bad.
(1)
Theresa T.
Came here for happy hour, and I just gotta say... the Dynamite Roll is amazing. All topped off with a bed of lobster... who can go wrong with that?! Mm... the roll is incredibly rich though, so unless you have a big appetite, this is a roll that needs to be shared! The honey toast was delicious too! I think the only problem we had was the strawberry milkshake... which looked milky and tasted like Ensure. A trendy lookin' place with a good happy hour menu. Service was prompt and attentive.
(4)
Arthur S.
HMMM... from my first visit here, id have to say that shokudo is a decent place to eat. In my opinion its defiantly more american-westernized. Its not real authentic japanese style cooking. If your into imitation crab and westernized sushi rolls, then this place isnt bad to go. Also if you like to come here with a large group of people. A few memorable dishes i tried: 1. Sushi pizza- it was good, but just that. Basically a giant california roll laid out flat. cut into squares. more crunchy. Possibly good for small groups 2. Mochi cheese gratin- A unique dish. probably the tastiest of the two. Im not sure if this is served anywhere else in hawaii. Its cheezy, chewey goodness soaked in tasty sauce made it an excellent dish, except I found the portion size to be more of an appetizer. Definitely worth a try. 3. Lobster Roll- ehhhh... had the lobster roll, but it seemed too similar to other westernized rolls that ive tried at other chain resturaunts. - 2 stars: shortly after finding out the accept take out, i called ahead and ordered take out. I arrived and the receptionist at the front desk told me to have a seat. As i sat there patiently waiting for my TAKE-OUT after a hard days work, a lady came around and told me the bartender had it behind the counter. After the bartender arrived i still had to wait for my order. guess where it was the entire time? Already prepared behind the counter, getting cold! All the while i was waiting i couldn't help but notice a few of the restaurant staff conversing with angry expressions on their faces about some small insignificant incident that happened in the restaurant that day which made it seem like a restaurant soap drama. if your gonna be pissed off because you got horrible tip then find another palce to work! but before you go, at least hand me over my food before hell freezes over!
(3)
Brittany L.
First impression was very good, the place is very stylish and I really liked the booths for two. Service was excellant, we had a waiter named Conner, although he was very quiet he provided good service, all the food came to our table at a reasonable time and he was very polite. We came here for the sushi, which was SO good! We got a sashimi plate, the red eye roll and the lobster dynamite. So so so good. The only thing I have to be picky about is whats the deal with the honey toast? We ordered it and it just wasn't as good as previous reviews state. That was the only disappointment for this trip.
(4)
Erwin G.
Good food. The Honey Toast is a must try! Service here is Outstanding!
(4)
LeaDan Y.
Makes me feel like I am in a posh club whenever I walk in. I love the food and the atmosphere. I'm never disappointed by their food or drinks. Recently however the wait staff have become a little too "in your face" which I really don't appreciate.
(3)
David H.
Had a fantastic business lunch here! Server, Nikki, was terrific at making recommendations and prompt service! Highlights include the char siu pork, and lobster dynamite roll. I highly recommend you check it out!
(5)
Dustin W.
Oh Shokudo...why are you rolling downhill. The first time I went here it was a fantastic experience with great sized portions and friendly service, and the food was just delicious. The honey toast was moist on the inside and crunchy on the outside. It was bliss (probably would have gotten a 4 1/2 stars) Now that I'm yelping and have been here 2 other times since, in which the service was meh, and the portions shrank to go along with rising prices ( great combo ) I'm forced to give only 2 stars. Why? 2nd time was still pretty good the service took forever, probably spent 2 hours in there. The portions were smaller than I remembered them and the quality started lacking. I mean if you're going to spend that long preparing my food, at least have it come out right. 3rd time went with a bunch of friends shared a bunch of stuff, and portions were practically bite size, felt like I was ordering Otoro for the price. I also did a special they were having, order a 3 piece honey toast and get a prize at the bottom, first piece was real dry, even with the ice cream. 2nd piece found a pube in my bread. Went to the 3rd piece and was already kinda meh. Was cool that I got the toast comped and kept the prize of $5 off the bill, but quality, price and service has been lacking from this place since that first visit.
(2)
Nick W.
OVERRATED. Came primarily for the honeytoast, but since we were already there ordered some tempura and some asian chicken quesadilla things. Portions were so small it was more of a snack than a meal. Finally the honeytoast came out. It was huge and was a struggle to finish, so I guess it was worth the money in that aspect. However our toast was super dry and had to be smothered in melted ice cream to make it even edible. Buy some texas toast from Safeway and make this yourself, you can probably do it better.
(2)
Amanda D.
I walked in with an almost empty Jamba Juice and I was told I had to finish it before being seated at the restaurant. No problem, I'll take my smoothie and my business elsewhere!
(1)
Freida G.
love this place! love the food especially honey toast and lobster dynamite. i can eat here everyday! the only downfall is that it's too busy and long wait.
(5)
Joe W.
The one time I actually ate at this restaurant and I couldn't stop eating! Food was AMAZING! Service was courteous .. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Tracy T.
Service awesome, Bob our waiter was very attentive. We had the combination lunch platter and it was very, very good!! Dessert of half order Honey toast was perfect for the 3 of us. Beer was ice cold.
(5)
Jonathan P.
So the other day I got the munchies pretty early..so I decided to try Shokudo's early happy hour (4:00-6:00pm daily). I've never been to the early happy hour, just the late night happy hour (sun-mon 10:30pm-12:00am). Long story short...I wasn't too thrilled. The service was pretty slow and seemed to take longer than usual to get our food. So out of all the dishes we ordered, I would say the top two were probably be the all-in-one roll yelp.com/user_local_phot… and the yuzu hamachi carpaccio yelp.com/user_local_phot… . The all-in-one roll is one of the current "chef's specials" and it is pretty much everything in one roll (ahi, salmon, hamachi, tobiko, avacado, and shrimp tempura) Unfortunately this wasn't a happy hour dish..and we ordered it 3X but it was good! As for the yuzu hamachi carpaccio...well...it's HAMACHI! What's not to like? It's rich with a very smooth and buttery taste and by far my favorite fish! What I wouldn't get EVER order again would be the happy hour spicy ahi roll for $3. yelp.com/user_local_phot… . Come on, just look at it! Nothing impressive and had a lackluster appeal. And it's in 4 pieces...I thought Japanese places never serve things in four because of their superstition...hmm. Each time I return, Shokudo seems to get a little worse. I was going to rate it 2 stars but the Honey Toast Boosts it up 1 star in my book. The only good thing about happy hour is the honey toast jr for $3 yelp.com/user_local_phot… . It's perfect if you don't like sharing food or just want to indulge a bit..without feeling like too much of a fatty from eating a regular one. Oh and if you order 2 Honey Toasts Jrs it's the equivalent of a regular honey toast but cheaper!
(3)
Michelle Y.
Came here for honey toast got here at midnight and they already closed kitchen. If your open till 1 am ur last call shouldn't b an hour before u close.
(1)
Rylan C.
Everything on the menu to me is overpriced and the food is over rated. The desserts is probably the only thing that keeps people coming back for more. Also the service is way better than the food sad to say. Better to make a reservation than go on waitlist cuz wait times can be a long time especially on the weekends
(3)
Chantelle T.
Updating because enjoyed their late-night happy hour menu. Seriously, it's a total steal considering how much food you get for the price. We got the spicy ahi nachos which was yummy. I would definitely recommend getting this. We also got the honey toast jr (one piece of toast) which was also a steal at $3. For drinks, I'd recommend the lychee mojito w/ shochu. So delicious! I was definitely a happy camper at the end of the night.
(4)
Grant S.
First time ever at Shokudo! I have been hearing of this place for quite a long time but am never in the area to try it out. We went to celebrate a co-workers birthday graciously coordinated by yelper Alice C. We had a party of around 15 and got seated at the top tier of the dining room. The decor is quite nice and the restaurant looks very clean. The servers have a pretty nice classy uniform. The menu is interesting to say the least. For actually having a meal here I would have a hard time deciding what I would get. Not really many entrees and more of it is apps, sushi, and ramen. I wish there were more "real food" options. We tried the pork chop, chicken katsu, mochi cheese gratin, spicy tuna roll, garlic shrimp rice, agedashi tofu, and honey toast. The pork chop was pretty good, served with ketchup and watercress- a good pupu style serving. The foot long chicken katsu was well breaded with a generic tonkatsu sauce. Not bad. The mochi cheese gratin (thanks to yelp recommendations) was surprisingly good. As you would expect gratin-ized mochi would taste like, the dish was a very nice surprise in flavor. The neat chewy texture of the mochi with the creaminess of the cheese is very nice. The spicy tuna roll had a nice kick to it, but at the end of the day, it is a spicy tuna roll. Garlic shrimp rice was a very nice surprise. Served in a stone bowl and mixed in front of you, this dish is exploding with garlic flavor. The simple, yet tasty dish seemed to be a staple of those in our party. Agedashi tofu- nice soft tofu with a nice dashi. Decent. Honey toast- I've had remnants of honey toast from friends before but never in the restaurant. The honey toast was very good. I would most likely order it when I go back, but I do think it is a tad too sweet. My overall opinion of this place is that the food is good but pricey. Seems to be targeting the post club crowd. I must say that the music they play is very good. I know it doesn't really make a difference but the (XM? satellite radio?) station they had it tuned to was rockin. It was a nice alternative rock blend with hits from the last 10 years.
(4)
Ar S.
I got the foot long chicken katsu and it wasn't good. I enjoyed the saki though. The dessert is good but the coffee is shitty. so come for the dessert and the drink! ;)
(3)
Jenn T.
Some new found loves here... The lobster dynamite roll is pretty amazing. It comes with a california roll topped with baked lobster all over! When I tried it I had no idea what it was. I just picked up a piece and popped it in my mouth. I had to do a double take since my taste buds were like "OMG DELICIOUS!". The mochi cheese baked thing...not sure exactly what it's called, but MAN ALIVE, that was yummy!! It's this warm baked mochi topped with cheese, nori and comes in a nice dashi sauce...seriously delicious. I love all things mochi and that was pretty tasty! The agedashi tofu here is also really good. It comes hot, crispy and the sauce is sweet but salty. It's topped with bonito flakes and the tofu just melts in your mouth! And of course, the HONEY TOAST, which is literally the only reason you need to stop by here. The ice cream on top makes it that much better!! I used to think, man why is this place so crowded. It's generic japanese food, with a restaurant that looks like a bar/lounge and is kinda expensive. However, after eating here a couple times, I am totally on board with Shokudo!
(4)
Kristy K.
Shokudo, a place I use to HATE...is now A-OK. I guess it just depends what you eat. So what changed my mind? Here's what we ate. -Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi -Sushi pizza -Chicken Mochi Pizza -Salmon Rice (I didn't care for it) The other 3 things were awesome!!! The beef sushi could of used a few more pieces for the price. The sushi pizza was really good and that jalapeno was super duper hot. The chicken mochi pizza was different but a good different. I think it was the mustard that they put on the pizza that made it work. Weird huh. The only bad thing I have to say is that it's kind of pricey. Anyway, I'm glad I finally found something that I like to eat. Also, if you're celebrating a birthday they give you a free honey toast. YAY!!!
(3)
Rza Marie R.
Every time I've come here the food was okay, there loco moco which to my understanding is seasonal was probably one of the best I've tasted at the restaurant aside from their honey toast! I recommended the honey toast!
(3)
Emma W.
Since it was so popular and want to try at least once, went there today for lunch! But this place is over rate and over price! The Raman was nothing close to be good! And so small too! I don't think I will visit there again!
(1)
Kristen N.
We were at Morimoto's having a Terrible dinner (we left before the entree it was that bad!) and I went to Yelp and Shokudo popped up.. read the reviews and decided this is where we would go for lunch the next day.. Needless to say we ended up here three days in a row twice one day... The sushi chef's are darling.. but the food was delicious.. we tried all the "regular" stuff.. but then said ok you make what you want and wow! WAY BETTER! The scallops, the cheek, uni (had three orders it was that good!) , tofu was off the charts...the maguro was so beautiful.. and salmon, hamachi.. should I go on...? just all around delicious! the mochi gratin was interesting... will certainly go back! Even tried the honey toast but not my favorite as I would rather eat more fish than sweets. But will be back!
(5)
Marichu Joy S.
I love coming here especially during the late night happy hour. They have $3 specials which my bf and I love to take advantage of. OH and you get a free honey toast if you go there for your birthday! :-) Things I love to order: $3 Menu: Garlic Clams Gyoza Teriyaki Chicken Quesadellas Spicy Tuna Rolls California Rolls HONEY TOAST Regular Menu: Fresh Homemade Tofu Homemade Tofu Salad Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Lobster Dynamite Roll Lobster Dynamite HONEY TOAST
(5)
Kaitlyn M.
Make sure you get there an hour before they close. They do last call an hour before they close which is ridiculous. I could understand a half hour or fifteen minutes before but an hour is ridiculous. Not impressed.
(1)
Lyraleli K.
I love their honey toast. Went here to celebrate with my baby and my husband. The place is nice, I like the design or layout. The food are good and definitely the service is great. The reasons why I really don't gave them 5 stars are because of these two: 1) their fries calamari looks like frozen and lots of breading, 2) the plates that they set up on our table were still dirty on the bottom. We found out that the plate was dirty when we are trying to give our baby a plate for her to play with her chopstix while we're waiting for our foods to arrive. When my husband lift it up and handed the plate to my baby I saw that it is sooo dirty still on the bottom, although the top part looks like super clean. We called the girl who assists us and discretely handed her the plates and she apologized to us and changes our plates with clean ones (top and bottom). Yet, over all i will still recommend this place to all of my friends.
(4)
Chelsea G.
Went here last night for a random happy hour get together. Happy hour is from 4-6pm. Upon arriving, I was disappointed to here that happy hour was only at the bar. OKAY fine, I can live with that. Happy hour actually had a variety of items that sounded pretty good! I ordered myself a sangaria ($), spinach salad ($9) and dynamite fries ($3). I must admit for the price of these items, they were very filling! Customer service was pretty decent this time around and I was pleasantly surprised by this! I docked off stars from Shokudo, because there customer service is either a hit and miss. The past two times that I came here, the customer service was poor. I don't care how busy it is, I believe each customer should be greeted warmly upon ordering food. I did not get this the last time I came. Waters took forever to get, and it took 45 minutes just to get something as simple as yukari fries and hot udon noodles. I ended up getting my main entree before having my fries and noodles!!! This place would have a better reputation if they were able to retain their customers. Shokudo has potential to be a place of good eats and great times, but because of the customer service, I doesn't seem like much people would want to give this place a try after having one bad experience!
(3)
Jennifer C.
I recently came back to Shokudo for a birthday dinner of a friend. Everything was going okay, food was still mediocore, nothing really stood out for me. Again, I rather have sushi across the street at Genki Sushi. It was going well until we ordered dessert, many people ordered the famous honey toast... but it took half an hour to come. And while we were waiting, the host told us that we had 5 minutes left and we needed to leave. I thought that was extremely rude, here we all are waiting for our dessert that's been taking forever (we reminded the waitress a couple of times) and we still haven't gotten it and you still ask us to leave? Excuse yourself, I don't think so! Don't have any intention of going back to Shokudo ever again.
(1)
Stephanie K.
Had a great time tonight! Got seated asap, server and server in training were super nice and attentive to our table. Good was great, even the new rolls they offer. You have to try the tiger one, sooooo ono! And of course, sucker for honey toast, especially when I rarely have room for dessert. I suggest family style when dining here.
(5)
David H.
We were visiting Oahu for the day and met my wife's BFF here for lunch. We got there a few minutes before opening so there was no wait once they opened. A bunch of employees greeted us as we walked through the door which was nice. We were seated promptly and after perusing the menu we ordered the tofu salad, which was delicious and refreshing, the lobster dynamite roll, which my wife and her BFF couldn't stop eating, the shrimp tempura roll, which was crunchy and just the right amount of sauce, the gyoza, which was cooked perfectly and crunchy on the outside - just the way I like it. I also ordered the teri salmon steak entree, which was cooked perfectly as well. Unfortunately, we didn't have room to eat the honey toast. My wife had tried it on a previous visit and said it was not-to-be-missed but we couldn't pack another bit into our stomachs! If you don't want to wait for a while to get in, try getting there before lunch opening. Service was great and didn't feel rushed. We probably would have come here on previous trips, but our favorite restaurant in the area, Angelo Pietro, is right next door!
(4)
Tanya T.
Went here for a late night dinner and ordered the Ox-Tail Ramen. This was okay, the broth was good but the ginger strips that they put all over the top were a little too much I had to pick them all out. I did however get a taste of the Honey Toast, and that was SOOO GOOD. Although I only had that one bite, I wish I got that after :(. I'm still craving it after days. The place closes at 1 on weekdays and 2 on weekends, and that's pretty cool.
(3)
Jonathan C.
Shokudo, from the outside seemed like a large fancy diner. My brother and I only went inside because there was a decent sized group standing around outside. I'm glad we went in!!! The food on the regular menu is good. Some VERY good, others are decent. I didn't taste anything that I didn't like. There is a nice mix of traditional Japanese flavors and exciting fusion items. The Mochi with melted mozzarella was an excellent example of the fusion. I was afraid it might be too greasy because of the "cheese", but I forgot that mozzarella isn't typically greasy. The cheese blended very well with the mochi. Everyone talks about the sweet toast. It is fantastic. There are many excellent dishes on the menu, but the main reason I went back a second time is because of the excellent service I got there. One person is chiefly responsible for that. The bartender Jess made me feel genuinely as though I belonged there, even though I was only in Hawaii on vacation. She was friendly, despite running around like a crazy woman and pumping out a LOT of drinks, and when I returned the second time, I felt like we were old friends. The rest of the staff were also great. Everyone had smiles on their faces and made me feel welcomed. This restaurant is a definite "must visit" for anyone in Waikiki for any reason or length of time. Tell Jess that the hapa-haoli brothers from San Diego say "Howzit!" :)
(4)
Laura S.
I got a lot of recommendations from friends to come and check this place out because it was amazing. It was a Thursday night when me and my boyfriend decided to give this place a try. We did a walk in and got sat right away, which is a plus, considering the restaurant looked pretty full. Upon walking in, I noticed the decor, it was beautiful. The bar in the middle had these thin gold chains hanging on the top and it had the illusion that the bar was being held by these strands of gold chains. The chandeleur in the middle had the same concept with the gold strands as well and the shades made of small wooden panels gave this place a very modern deco look. It was very appealing to the eyes to look at. The decor is definitely 5 star worthy, but the reason I gave them three stars is the food was not as extraordinary as I was led to believe. We ordered the sushi pizza and the mochi au gratin for the appetizer as it was recommended by the waiter. The sushi pizza was pretty good, but definitely not worth paying $15 for. As for the mochi, I had never experienced it topped with cheese before, it was always a desert for me, so it was interesting, it would most definitely be something I would eat again. As for our entrees, we ordered the tokyo shoyu ramen and the shrimp udon. The udon noodles were cooked to perfection, but the broth lacked in flavor. The ramen was very flavorable, but reminded me of the ramen you can buy in the packages at the store, so I was not impressed by either noodle soup. The portions of this place is kind of small for the price as well, but it is town, so it is somewhat understandable. As for their customer service, it was definitely above par. The waiter always kept coming back to see if we were okay. Overall, it seems like a solid 3 star rating type of place. I will have to try it out during happy hour when my fingers aren't pinching the penny so hard. But I will definitely be back to try their signature dessert. :)
(3)
raechelle v.
Shokudo, I must give it to you. You really did a great job for Mother's Day. Thank you for making my mom and I's Mother Day a great experience. For starters, I had no clue they had a special Mother's Day buffet going. Thank goodness I stopped by the Shokudo tent at the Yelp Uncaged event at the zoo. Got a flier from the tent when I picked up my Saketini and called right away for reservations. On Mother's Day, we rolled in to Shokudo for our reservations. We were seated right away for our 6:30 reservations. We were greeted right away by our server. I should have gotten his name. He was excellent. He was a young Filipino guy who always had a smile on his face. He greeted us with a smile and got us started right away on drinks. We headed straight for the buffet. All of my favorite items were there. Excellent sushi spread with my favorites of Hamachi, Salmon, Ahi, and the Lobster Dynamite Roll (my all time favorite at Shokudo). They even had tiny slices of the Sushi Pizza. Then over to the main entrees. Shrimp tempura, Mochi Cheese Gratin, Chicken Karaage, Grilled Teriyaki Salmon Steak, Prime Rib, and so much more that I can't even remember. There was also udon noodles and Garlic Shrimp Rice. And the real highlight of the buffet and just sent me to food heaven....ALASKAN KING CRAB LEGS! Oh brother, no Snow Crab here, but the real deal King Crab Legs. It was good that we got early reservations because when I went up to take my share, there were so many good pieces. The only thing I didn't like was the vinegar they used for the crab legs. I think they used sweet sushi vinegar and they kept running out of butter. But, what I did like was that they didn't over salt the King Crab legs. Oh, and another highlight....HONEY TOAST that you could customize! You could add strawberries, Oreo cookies, chocolate syrup, and get as much scoops of ice cream. It came with every buffet dinner that was ordered. My husband wanted to share with me but I was like why? Go get your own! He couldn't believe that each buffet order came with Honey Toast. I ate mine up all my by myself. And again, our server was excellent! He really went out of his way to make our dining experience special. Our cups were always filled with water and he was nice enough to ask if we wanted tea at the end of the dinner. Our plates were always cleared when we were done. And I liked how the Manager came around and gave all the mothers a magenta carnation stem flower. That was a nice touch. As we left, our server took the time to walk us to the stairs leading down to the main eating area. He wished us a Happy Mother's Day and shook my husband's hand. It is rare to find that kind of respect given at an establishment. I was really impressed. I haven't been treated like that even at various fine dining places. I looked all over to research for a buffet dinner perfect for my mom. And nowhere out there that I could find, offered Alaskan King Crab legs, not even the top rated buffets on the island. And for $39.95, you can't go wrong. Shokudo, keep the Mother's Day Buffet coming. It was a winner. I'm just hoping prices don't go up and quality doesn't go down next year. This buffet just might become an annual Mother's Day Buffet for us.
(5)
Ha N.
I was beginning to warm up to this place so I visited it three times the other week. The first week was 4 stars. The girl who helped us was really sweet. It was nearing the end of happy hour (4-6pm) but she didn't rush us. Even though it was 6:00, she said, "Go ahead and take a look at the menu. I'll put your orders in. :)" During happy hour, we spent around $60 including tip. Crazy. Alcohol plus spicy tuna nachos (2), garlic edamame, calamari, and two entrees off the normal menu. I love the edamame because I love garlic so much... The spicy tuna nachos are decent but a little too rich for two orders. For the entrees, the spicy udon pasta was a-ok. I had to ask for a side of sriracha. The BF had the salmon dish which was too sweet. Calamari was ok. ------ The next time we came, I found myself craving the udon pasta again. Weird. It doesn't hit the spot but it's a light form of creamy pasta if you're ever craving any. With udon noodles. We got the guy to ask the kitchen to make the edamame but it wasn't quite the same. Because of that, I knew I had to come back during happy hour. ------ The third time is the last time I'll ever step foot in Shokudo. I can't stand inconsistent service. We came in at 5:50PM and a girl said we couldn't order from the happy hour menu because they did last calls already. BULLSHIT missy. I was shocked beyond words and had enough energy only to walk out of that f*cked up establishment. I don't see how one girl can get the kitchen to make our food 15 minutes after happy hour closed but another girl can't get our orders in 10 minutes before. All for their garlic edamame. Pfft.
(2)
Ka'imi L.
I never thought the day would come when I'd be unimpressed with my dining experience at Shokudo. Shokudo has always been a great place for me and a few of my friends to eat delicious contemporary Japanese cuisine before heading out for a night on the town. This time though, I think their standards may have deteriorated. I'll skip to the pros and cons, since I think everyone in Hawaii is well aware of what Shokudo provides for its customers. -----------------------------------------PROS-----Â------------------------------------ - The table was ready for us the minute we arrived for our reservation. - The waitstaff was very friendly and knowledgable. The manager has always been kind and courteous to me and from what I observe, other customers as well. - The sushi rolls we ordered were very tasty! - They're open until 2AM on weekend nights! -----------------------------------------CONS-----Â------------------------------------ - I'm not usually picky but I was annoyed that the Shochu I ordered had way too much ice and only a smidgen of liquor. - The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting. From all the business this place gets you'd think they'd at least have a proper cleaning crew to keep the bathrooms neat and tidy. The dryers and the paper towel dispensers weren't working, and the ground was littered with trash. - The Edamame was horrific. How hard is it to screw up Edamame? There was no salt, and the sprouts were soggy. I asked the waiter for salt, and the table salt didn't help at all. We ended up discarding the entire plate because it was so bad. -----------------------------RECOMMENDATIONS------Â-------------------------- - Order the Lobster King Roll. It's soooo good. - Save room for dessert and order the Sweet Honey Toast. It's a hit at this place. Unless you can't live without the Sweet Honey Toast Dessert, I say that at the rate this place is going, Gyukaku puts Shokudo to shame.
(2)
Sang Wa O.
Went two nights ago and both my co-worker and I got food poisoning - up at 5 AM, stomach bubbling, butt gurgling, wondering if I can make it through the day at work kind of food poisoning. Called the restaurant as soon as I thought someone would be there to answer, and actually spoke to the manager directly. He was very blase about the whole affair and even suggested that it wasn't actually food poisoning (oh, are you a medical practitioner on the side as well?) and while he did ask for my name and number, nothing came of it and as far as I can tell he doesn't care enough about his patrons or reputation to follow up. So, for the brave (or foolish) who still decide to throw caution and money to the wind and eat/drink here, this is what we got that night: (alcoholic drinks) 4 different martinis made with sake: a Momoko, Kikuka, Aiko, and Konatsu plus (food) yukari garlic french fries, mochi cheese gratin, lobster dynamite, calamari tempura, negi char siu pork and (dessert) the honey toast. We were warned that the Aiko was very sweet and often gets sent back, but it was actually pretty decent. The drinks were tasty, not very strong but went down easy. Now for the dreaded food - the lobster bake was creamy and lacking any real descernible pieces of lobster. Nothing special and not very memorable. The garlic french fries were really very tasty (and I don't even like fries usually) and the calamari + wasabi mayo dip were also good. The mochi cheese gratin was such a bad mix of two things that I usually love, I was quite disappointed. Not enough cheese and the warm texture of the mochi was just off. The pork was charred just right and was paired with some onions and was also a plus. The honey toast is overrated and just a block of bread, lightly toasted with an afterthought of honey and two globs of ice cream. If you have $8 to burn swing by my place and I can make you the same thing for 1/2 the price. It's really too bad that we got so sick that we were out of commission for the entire next day. Some of the items on the menu tasted good, but who really wants an extra surprise following you around after you leave in the form of a stomach bug? Whether it was funky fish or unclean hands handling our meal, something wasn't right and that's never appetizing. Avoid at all costs! Oh yes, we waited about 20 minutes to sit at the bar, and if it weren't for the *fabulous* bartender named Heidi (give her a raise!), we wouldn't even have been able to sit down because we literally had to fight 2 rude, sketchy old men that showed up after us for our spot. The rest of the staff made no effort to monitor who had been waiting and for how long. I think people just see long lines at this place and guess that there's a reason for the crowds - not in this case. Our other bartender Paul wasn't the friendliest, but perhaps he was having a rough night (or maybe he also got something from eating the food there).
(1)
Jorie H.
Always a favorite place to eat. We always start our meal with the honey toast, yum yum. And now they have added a sushi bar with a full selection of fresh fishes (including Oh-toro, my fave!)
(4)
Dawn Y.
Service was VERY POOR. Had to practically beg for water refill. Others got service faster and friendlier then what we received. I expected more out of one of my favorite restaurants. The only reason for 2 stars is food was good.
(2)
Destinee K.
My experience? Let's start with parking in meters near the mall and having to step in liquid on the sidewalk that smells like hot garbage compliments of Shokudo's kitchen. When I entered the restaurant, I got a smile with no words from the hostess. I'm wondering if she was thinking of something to say to me. Whatever it was she didn't say it fast enough, I went to meet my party. I had the plum wine (good if you like fruity) and Creme Sake for drinks. The lobster dynamite roll and chicken katsu was good and earned the restaurant a star. My waitress was forgettable but what i couldn't forget was the waiter for the table next to mine who acussed me of throwing a take-out box at him when he bumped into our table, making our take-out boxes fall on the ground. He picked them up and tried to give it back to us to use. No thanks! Overall, I thought the ambiance was nice (and loud), the prices were overrated and the service was not worth us spending $200. The food is the only thing that was good but the price is making it foggy for me to remmeber how good it was. I don't think I will be back soon.
(1)
Sheena C.
Okay, so I visited Shokudo bc of a dinner outing with the SO's family. the quality of the food has improved a little (menu has changed since the last time I've been), BUT the sushi pizza is a big NO unless you enjoy hard, crunchy rice. Also, the udon broth lacked a full flavor and the noodles were a little too firm for my liking. Cocktails were yum, as always, but I still probably won't be back on a regular basis.
(3)
Sam G.
New to Shokudo. Slow service. DO NOT order Unagi Rice My two friends and I ventured to Ala Moana and found nothing we liked to eat. We walked across the parking lot because one of them recommended Shokudo. The wait was estimated 30-45 min; I think we would have been seated, ordered, and finished eating faster at the adjacent Italian restaurant. I'm surprised we actually finally got called and seated by the window and ordered within 35 minutes. Our server was Codey, and he seemed genuine up front. When talking to us, he squatted, which was a form of respect to the customer (he is at a lower level when talking face-to-face). We all ordered alcohol except my other friend who doesn't drink alcohol. He also ordered Unagi Rice. Time slowly passed as we waited for our drinks and meal. I joked to my friend that we would get our alcoholic drinks before he got his water... and I was right! We saw Codey take orders and give water to customers sitting next to us and my friend was just baffled. It seemed like a personal insult. We got our food next; my friend still did not get his water or Unagi Rice. I finally spoke up for him so Codey could get his water. What a shame. After we finished both our meals and the unagi rice finally came after 30 minutes of sitting down. This means my other friend had waited an hour to eat. And believe me we were all hungry, and willing to eat anything. (We're good friends so we shared our food as he waited). Not surprisingly, a lady who I assume was the manager came by and apologized for the long wait. Seriously, it was just rice that was stuck to a melting polt with unagi topped on it. I joked that they reason for the delay was they had to run to Don Quijote to get the ingredients. I also told my friend it's up to him whether he wants to tip. But because we are all good Christian believers, we tipped accordingly. You'll never see us there again!
(2)
Jarrett H.
I'm writing this strictly for the honey toast. Oddly, with all of the people raving about the honey toast, I never tried it until recently. I was quiet impress with it. It reminded me of the garlic pillow toast from Kit n Kitchen but a lot better and more. Kit and Kitchen was more savory while the honey toast was sweet with ice cream. I was quite impressed with the amount they gave. It was like an entire loaf of bread. Yes, this may not be the best thing for a low carb diet as my date constantly reminded me as we both scarfed it down. Oh well, diet tomorrow. It was a fun adventure trying to find the right combination of ice cream and honey toast. I hope I can come back and try different things on the menu the next time. The waiter was very helpful and friendly. I felt no rush considering I stayed there for over two hours with just honey toast. Also, considering how busy it was we got a table pretty quickly. I recommend this place.
(4)
Eric F.
My friends and I came here as one of my last stops before leaving Hawaii and what a great meal! Everything's meant to be shared, so the dining is Izakaya style. We had: Sashimi Sampler Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi Sushi Pizza Yukari French Fries Mochi Cheese Gratin Char-Siu Pork & Japanese Scallions Chicken Wings HONEY TOAST Though some dishes like the sushi pizza weren't nearly as good, the food overall was consistently exceptional from dish to dish and I especially loved the honey toast =D I'd never seen such huge pieces of toast in my life and it was pretty neat to see the insides hollowed out and cubed up before being drizzled with honey. A big thumbs-up for the bottomless Kona coffee as well! Very smooth and thoroughly enjoyable black - a surefire sign of quality coffee. Highly recommended for a relaxed meal especially with a group!
(4)
Terrance Y.
After coming here a couple of times for lunch I like the decor and a different ambiance than I expect but I've always so far had the pleasure of helpful and cheerful wait help the service is decent although depending on what you order it could take a bit to come to you. The food is decent for the price which is about average for a Japanese restaurant I've seen but never got the toast :-( mostly because I'm too full to get the dessert of low on funds to splurge on it (or maybe I'm Cheap?, nah it's the having kids part that makes me feel poor) As far as the food goes there are decent portions and about average taste for the price (like I said earlier) but then of course I haven't had the chance to try more items and look forward to doing so soon! Parking is pretty good you can get parking in the building or cheat and park at Ala Moana and walk over. I've never experience the place being extremely crowded during lunch so it seems not a problem getting seats. I look forward to coming here again.
(3)
Jeanette L.
We were in Waikiki for 7 days and ate at Shokudo twice! So good! Here's what we LOVED: Lychee Saketini (SO GOOD) Mochi Cheese Gratin (holy.crap) Tofu Salad (fresh tofu!) Lobster Dynamite Roll (amazingggg) Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi (yum) Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio Stuff that was only OK: Sushi Pizza Agedashi Tofu (though, some people in my group really liked) Def recommend (and would recommend making reservations!)
(5)
Ursula C.
Finally got to try this place. We were about 20 minutes away when we decided to eat there. Because I had read that it gets packed, I made my reservations through the Yelp app. And thank goodness we did, it was after 12 and there were at least 6 different families waiting outside. I went in to let them know I had made reservations but because we were early we would wait outside. I didn't like that when I gave my name and said I made reservations, the 2 hosts looked at me and looked at each other and nodded with raised eyebrows. Yeah, so I'll be going ahead of people waiting outside. You take reservations, it's not my fault that those people decided to just show up and wait for available tables rather reserve them. Ugh! Ok, enough on that topic. We were waited on by Matt, who was pretty cool. I had to ask him several times to bring some forks. And although we were ready to order, he would come by our table, mumble "take your time" and run away. Thank goodness they had others refilling the drinks. We also waited awhile for our checks. We all ended up laying our head's back and we must looked like we were going to sleep because the GM (who was awesome) came by to see if we were okay. Once we told him we had been waiting awhile, our check finally came. As for the food, I can't say that it was anything special. My kids scarfed the fries and rice but only had few pieces of their chicken katsu and karrage (which they normally love). My husband enjoyed the Lobster Dynamite and the sushi that he ordered off of their new item menu. I ate up their tempura and all I can say about is that I'm happy it was big. Unfortunately, I didn't have dessert because I got full trying to finish my kids leftovers. I'll go back because my husband liked it and wants to go. Hopefully my next experience is better.
(3)
Jacob L.
Hum...I find this place just okay. I can't really say i like it to give it a 4 star (Of course can't say i love it) The food wasn't so bad. I don't know what people find in this place...It was very busy. Maybe a great hangout spot...don't understand.
(3)
Kelly V.
Wasn't all that impressed with the honey toast however; the food was great and service was excellent.
(5)
Nina N.
It's what's inside that counts....... I thought that it was just crust with ice cream, and little did I know hidden underneath the delicious creamy vanilla was toasted buttery insides of the toast!! heck yes! yummy yummy in my tummy!!! :) I love milk toast, and I was so glad that they had it in hawaii!!!!!! yeah for milk toast. I swear the chinese invented milk toast with ice cream, but whichever, yeah for the asians hahaha
(4)
Jerry F.
Foot long chicken katsu is as described. Couldn't even finish it. But so tasty. Also had the Sukiyaki Bibimbap which was very fulfilling. The only thing I regretted not getting is the Honey Toast for desert. By that time, I was so full!
(5)
Gavin P.
Drove from mililani to have a last minute dinner with my girlfriend, we get there right at happy hour (11:30). This being my second time here, expecting it to be very good cause I heard good things about the food. Ordered our food with some appetizers with our server HECTOR. We waited for 30min and recieved no waters. Our appetizers finally arrive and still no water!? We literally had to ask him for our water. Another 30min go by and still no food, mind you it is not croweded at all. Another 15min still nothing, by this point its kinda of obvious that HECTOR didnt place our order, I had to ask him about our food now!? He made a excuse that the kitchen "LOST" our order. At this point im pretty irritated, so we decide to leave. Before our way out I ask to speak to a manager. I told the manager what had happened, and he seemed like he didn't care at all!? He didnt say one word to us and walked away!? Didnt catch the managers name but very unprofessional and disappointed in their service and the way they handled everything about the situation. VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!
(1)
Jennifer A.
Okay Lets Just Start With I LOVE SHOKUDO. For Happy Hour This Is Definitely The Place You Want To Be. Good Food, Good Ambiance & Just A Great Look A+ To Their Interior Decorator. Now The Reason For The 3 Stars Me & My Boyfriend Have Been Regulars Here For Our Entire Relationship We Love It There! For Some Reason Last Night I Was Just Disappointed With The Attentiveness Of Everyone We Came Into Contact With Last Night. First Of All Our Food Took Forever Which I Could Not Think Of Any Reason Why It Would We've Gone On The Weekends When Its Super Packed & Still Got Our Food In A Timely Manner But It Felt Like 20 Minutes In Between Dishes Where I Was Literally Played Games On My Phone To Pass The Time. It Was Also Very Disappointing That We Tried Ordering More Food & Yet Its Like They Don't Pay Attention To What You're Saying They Mess Up Our Entire Order Which Messed Up Both Of Our Checks. Not To Mention I Asked For A Simple Refill On My Soda & I Got It After I Asked The Manager For It & He Had To Personally Get It. Its Like I Order Food Write It Down, We Ask For Something & My Waiter Just Walks Away While My BF Is In Mid Sentence. Ugh Overall Terrible Service Last Night But Luckily The Food Is Just Delicious So I Thought 3 Stars Was Reasonable
(3)
Rose M.
We come to eat here whenever we're in town.. My fav is the LOBSTER DYNAMITE! and of course you can't forget the HONEY TOAST! Every time we come here we always have great service. Nothing to complain about... We recently found out you can ask to borrow their IPADS!! Lol... AHHH! if i knew that we could have asked for it every time! Its always hard to keep our children still when trying to enjoy lunch/ dinner! Well , know we know .
(5)
M T.
Our waiter was horrible. Professional manner of serving was not provided evenly between other tables and ours. Most of time at this restaurant was simply waiting. Quality of good was not bad. We enjoyed homemade tofu & ishiyaki dinner. Wish to have better service to complete nice dinner.
(1)
Gavin S.
I've always been a fan. I don't go to this place all of the time. Tonight I had the Sukiyaki Udon and their gyoza. My friends ordered a bunch of the other things. This isn't about the food. The food was good. Don't get me it wasn't. It's atmosphere is great for getting together with friends. Tonight we got together for one of our classmates who came in for the holidays with her family. It was a good time for all. What I'd like to focus on that impressed me was the service. Our classmates kid falls off the chair near the glass window when we first get there, the staff come running to check on us. The kid was given an iPad was ok by mom. But the staff still came to check. Then they tell our party of 15 that they can only split the bill 4 ways. So we all figure out how we are going to do our bills by table. At the end of the evening, oh and our waiter was Tremaine. Very impressed with him. Between him and our assistant came back to check on us often. He ends up splitting the bill for convenience by couples or singles which came out more than 4 ways. I gotta give it props to them. Thats what you call service. He didn't have to do that but did. The man has got it. In the restaurant industry the food counts but what speaks volumes in my book is service. I was impressed with the service for going the extra mile. I normally won't come home to throw up a review. I had to for this. I love to get good service. That will get me to go back to a restaurant. It really shows that they care for their clients. Thank you again Tremaine!! Keep up the good work man!!
(4)
Travis L.
Always a favorite. Highly recommend any of the stone bowl dishes and the honey toast. However, it is pretty busy and food can take awhile to come out so timing your orders becomes a skill.
(5)
Lisa Y.
Though the food is good, it took several tries to get someone on the phone to make a reservation. Then we were told several times that there's a 2 hour limit...just in case they were busy and needed the table...I think they can use some customer service tips...
(3)
Phillip S.
Jeasus crimany this place is friggin amazing. Had a server "BuBu" that was amazing. Lobster dynamite or Lobster dynamite rolls are this shit. Get a bunch of friends, make reservations, and everyone order something different. Even if you're not sure you like it, try it! Try to save room for the dessert but that's hard to do since the food is amazing. Lived here for 3 years and this is the place I go if I want to make an impression of Hawaii to visiting friends. Pricing can get steep fast but if your taking it easy then you're fine. Parking at rear in a cramped garage so don't bring a huge truck.
(5)
Lianne R.
I'd say I'm kind of a regular at Shokudo and I always sit at the bar when I go. It's not just because I love the drinks they serve up. The bartenders there are great! Last week was especially awesome. Yooey and Jacie were attentive and quick to come by when they saw our glasses getting empty. They also made the time to have a little bit of quirky conversation with us, which I appreciate in bartenders... shows they care about their customers. Drinks of choice: House sangria, umeshu and soda, and the new yogurt soju carafe... delicious!
(5)
Julia O.
We all know what everyone comes here for...HONEY TOAST. I love honey toast and that's why I go to Shokudo too but honestly after eating it so much, I've finally realized, hm this really isn't that special. I dunno this last time just wasn't the same fun honey toast experience I'm used to...I know they get their bread specially made from a local bakery but what's stopping everyone from making it themselves?? I would say it's so worth it if it weren't so EXPENSIVE. $7.50 for bread, ice cream, and honey...really? Well, I find that everything on their menu is pretty steep but I am a fan of their food. My favorite is the beef tataki on balsamic rice, SO GOOD but again so expensive for the amount you get. Also they used to have this curry that was super good but unfortunately they discontinued it :(. They have a sister restaurant in Irvine, CA called Tokyo Table which I've been to and to my surprise, they have it! But sadly I can't hop on a plane and fly to California every time I want that curry. We usually get good service there but I gotta say our most recent server, B-Lo was really good! I think I've had him before but he's always super friendly and attentive. All in all, this place is good but too expensive for what you're getting. The ambience is really nice but it can get pretty loud and the L-shaped booths are awkward...we're always stepping on each other's feet or hitting each other's legs, they didn't plan that one out too well. But I still keep going back because I usually have a pretty good experience every time I go. The wait time is usually long so make reservations. They use Open Table so that's a plus!
(3)
Michiko H.
Shokudo is that place you go with your girlfriends for some cocktails & pupu's during happy hour. Other than that during regular hours they are pricey! Also theirs a weird rule if you go for Happy hour be sure to be seated on the righthand side of restaurant, the other side doesn't get happy hour. Weird, I know. Ordered the: Unagi Rice: $10 Mabo Tofu:$8 Ahi sush rolli: $9 spicy ramen:$8 (delicious!!!) Also all the Hype for Honey Toast is B.S. Nothing special that you can't make at home. If your lazy to make it than get it at shokudos. Overall I'm pleased with the food, all very tasty even for the price. Customer service: Its a hit or miss with who ever you have. The waiter we had last time for my friends birthday was like a ghost, only appeared rarely. Ran out of water several times and he totally butchered the checks when we asked for separates. My hubby & I would rather go to Gyukaku, but thats just us =]
(3)
Shanisse I.
since they close at 1-2 in the morning its a good place to go late night with friends..they have a good happy hour menu and that's the only time I would go ..their regular menu is ok and you can tell that its more of a pupu place to go but the food tasted good..their tofu salad however was kind of watered down :/ Staff was ok...we ended up waiting half an hour after our reservation just to sit down.. Personally I'm not in love with the honey toast like everyone else but ill still eat it if I'm sharing with people.. All in all this place is ok but I'd rather go to gyukaku if they were opened till one or two in the morning.
(3)
Osvaldo M.
Being a beaner in Hawaii is tough. Being a person who doesn't like seafood, let alone raw fish and sushi, it's tough to find a way around eating it but this place turned out to be ok. As soon as you walk in you look at the decor and layout and it is a very elegant and sleek looking restaurant, so as far as first impressions go this place makes a good one. I have tried a few things at this place and some were good, but others that I don't think will be that memorable. One of the things I had was the salmon. The only reason why I got the salmon was because I wanted to try the wasabi mashed potatoes that came with it. I love spicy food and potatoes so I figured they would be great, and they were. Sadly though I thought that was the best part of the dish. The teriyaki salmon was good but I think that if you are going to cook it with the skin then the skin should be crispy and not flaccid like the one on my salmon, the dish was missing a different layer of texture, plus flaccid fish skin is not all that appetizing. I like edamame and pork gyoza but I really don't think the ones here were all that great, they were good did not stand out to me. Two things that I was surprised I enjoyed were the the rainbow roll and sushi pizza. I was really skeptical, especially about the sushi pizza but it was really good. What I loved about it was that they cut it into square pieces and put jalapeños over every slice, that helped keep the fish taste I still don't like that much down. But be warned, the service here is not the best you'll encounter. First time I came a friend never received her rice and I got a dirty fork when I asked for one. The waiter would have known if he checked up on us a little more often. The second time the waiter checked in on us after we got the food and not again until he brought the check over. The food is good and not overpriced, this place is ok, not A-OK.
(3)
Layna F.
Like their vodka soda drinks and the stone pot dishes. Everything else I can live my whole life without eating again.
(3)
Carol H.
Omakase by Hero at the sushi bar is simply the best! Always fresh, creative and delicious. The entire team is super friendly, attentive and make us feel at home. Sit back and enjoy. This is our favorite sushi bar in Honolulu and we've been to quite a few!
(5)
Michael E.
Tried the sushi pizza OMG so so good.
(5)
Joanne M.
The good: - Anything in the stone pot: bibimbap, shrimp, unagii. All of it. So delicious. - Honey Toast: Every time Shokudo is mentioned, someone is going to talk about honey toast and everyone is going to go crazy about it because we all know it's the best dessert to end your night here. - Drinks: Actually I just like the virgin drinks -- Lava Flows, Green Tea Float/Shake. I'm a big fan of green tea, and either version is awesome. - Happy Hour: Their happy hour food is a must. I love the Spicy Tuna Nachos and Chicken Quesadilla. Two drinks I recommend are In the Doghouse and the Yogurt Soju shooter, of course. Probably one of the best places I've gone to so far with good a good HH selection. - The workers: very nice and attentive. The bad: The portions for regular seating in the restaurant are supposedly family size, but they're not that big really. You need to know this, especially if you are planning to share with friends. Plan and observe sizes well and the prices.
(4)
Gordon H.
I would say it has it's goods and bads. I called to make a reservation, but no one answers the phone. So I left a message and told them to call back to confirm. I had a feeling they probably won't call back so I called maybe two hours later just to confirm. They finally picked up and I told them about my reservation and the girl Melissa told me they are all booked for the night. I asked her if my reservation is confirmed and she said no and never got the message! I was a bit upset when they don't pick up the phone and said they don't have my message. An hour later, they called back (another girl) and said they receieved my message and will reserve my table. That was all weird. So we get there and got seated after 10 min of waiting. After we get seated, we got greeted by our waiter (Ryan) but never asked about our drinks until the second time he came back. The food was good, we had mochi cheese gratin, marine salad, fresh tofu, and garlic shrimp rice. All of it was delicious, the mochi cheese sauce was very flavorful along with the cheese was stringy and good. Marine salad had strips of squid on top, Fresh tofu was fresh and refreshing. Garlic shrimp was aromatic and garlicy good. But the most popular and yummy was the Honey Toast! We had an original which was butter and honey. The ice cream with honey and toast bits was very good. They have other flavors that can be topped. I'd recommend it if you go there.
(4)
Anna K.
This place is for yuppies that dont know good food if it walked up to them and smacked them in the face. The food is decent but sooooo over rated.I'll give it to them for being innovative with the sushi but as for taste they dont rank high with me. Ninja Sushi smashes this place just on taste alone. The decor is nice ,booths are awkward,service is so-so and the wait time can kick rocks.The real reason I venture here is for the Honey toast :) It's different and yummy in all aspects. What kind of Idiot goes to a Japanese restaurant for dessert ? Myself along with hundreds of fellow Honey toast fans. Simple dessert nothing extravagant but it's great. If your gonna dine here be sure to try it ,It'll keep you coming back for more :))
(3)
Mellanie S.
Came here for a company party recently. When we made the reservations we requested for the private room weeks in advance. When we called the day before to verify that we had the private room, we were told that someone else had already booked it. Strange, because we reserved it the day after they opened from renovations. But oh well cant do anything about it (minus 1 star). Our company arrived at our scheduled reservation time at 12:30pm. Waited about 10 minutes to just get our drinks, another 10 minutes for the waiter to take our order. Serivce here was so sloooow. For a group of 14 I really think they should've have us 2 waiters. By the time my bimbap came, like an hour after, I was already too full from sushi and eating my coworkers food. (Minus 2 stars for slow service). Desert. It was also one of our co workers birthday so the day before we called the restaurant and requested to have 3 honey toasts. 1 chocolate, 1 strawberry, and 1 cookies and cream. We also requested to have them write "Happy Birthday L****" and to bring it out together so we could song to her. First off they brought 1 regular honey toast when we asked where were the others our waiter said they're still working on it. Told the waiter we wanted all together so we could sing. Was told he brought it so we could eat something while we wait. In my head, I was thinking how hard is it to write happy birthday on a damn plate?! Already irritated, we just wanted to sing to our coworker and leave. 10 minutes later, our waiter brings 2 PLAIN honey toast, still no happy birthday cookies and cream or strawberry -___-. Puts a candle on it and so we start to sing since we were already there for almost 3 hours. The supervisor comes to inform us a few minutes later that they had messed up on the cookies and cream and had to redo it. We told her never mind we just want the check. (Minus 1 star) I used to love this place, but now its just a total fail.
(1)
Tessa t.
i'm giving this place four stars because of (1) their awesome happy hour and (2) their good service.... they have $3 happy hour special (late night)! their quality of food is more 2-3 stars...however! i am a bit on the cheap side...so i gotta LOVE this place! i suggest their $3 ramen, kim chee tofu, spicy tuna nachos, garlic clams, and teriyaki chicken quesidilla!! plus their $4 kirin draft beer or wine :D
(4)
Hats A.
You cant really go wrong with this place ... I thought it was very good ... i wish I can get to eat their more often ... Luv it , I just give 4 star i dont think name fits the price, name sounds like caferteria food so you imagine to be very cheap ...
(4)
L K.
Mmm, yummy. Went there with some friends and we decided to order to bunch of things and share. Everything was pretty good. The homemade tofu is yummy. And the sushi is all fresh and tasty. For Mother's Day today they had a buffet. It was good. Just crowded. A little pricey at $29.95/person for brunch. They did have their famous Honey Toast for the buffet, but in a smaller portion. Still just as yummy though, and you can go back for more and more. One small negative thing, they were running really low on toilet paper and one of the waitresses said to use napkins. Err...clogging much? Hopefully someone ran out to get some. Anyway, if you haven't tried their gigantic Honey Toast dessert, go there to get some. At $7.50, the price isn't bad for the humongous portion you get. Mmmmm.
(4)
Ben D.
I've been to Shokudo three times now and I can't get enough. Between their Honey Toast and Fresh Homemade Tofu (also comes in a salad form), there is a great variety in food to be offered here. On my list of things to try, that come recommended by my friend that works here, are the Chicken Mochi Pizza (without the chicken) and the Mochi Cheese Gratin. There are many dishes for the adventurous in addition to these, including their Sushi Pizza, Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla, and the Banana Flambe (which is delicious!) if you're looking for a sweeter find. Yesterday, my best mate also made a trip to their bar during happy hour (which is really late! 10:30pm to midnight) and sampled some of their drinks. Definitely recommend the Yogurt Soju shots - they come carbonated, which makes it better than any of the many other yogurt sojus I have sampled before. I also recommend their bombs, which are made with Pinnacle, a whipped cream flavored vodka, paired with their juices. I had the Yuzu Ball-and-Chain, which tasted great with very, very subtle hints that there was even any alcohol in it to begin with. The Li Hing Shots, on the other hand, while sounding epic, were diluted and underwhelming. There's a good variety of drinks to experiment with at very cheap prices: shots for $2; beer, wine, bombs, and sangria for $4; high roller vodka selection for $5. The interior of the restaurant awes a lot of people as it is a high-ceilinged, trendy take on minimal, Asiatic design. It's inviting, definitely, and the bar shelves are suspended above your head on ropes - not sure how safe that is, but it's fun to stare at. They really should clean their air ducts though, there is a lot of visible dust from the main dining area. Prices are moderate to high, but again, you pay for the ambience. I haven't experienced poor service at Shokudo, unlike many of my fellow Yelpers, so I can't say anything but positive things about it. And I've never had to wait more than 15 minutes to be seated. As far as dress is concerned, it lies somewhere between "just got back from Pearlridge" and "going to dinner with the family at a nice beachfront restaurant up on North Shore." You pick, no one will really care. Bring some foodie friends and die as you indecisively peruse the menu trying to narrow down what tantalizing dish you want to order. Cheers!
(4)
Rita B.
Love their Plum Wine. Honey Toast is a must and their Melona Floats!! Service is great!!! Spicy Tuna Roll is YUM! I ate so much there, and everything I had was great! I wish I wrote this review right after I came back!
(5)
Teri Y.
Awesome service. Ordered volcano sushi, tempura, sashimi, tofu salad - all incredible. Then had the honey bread - a lot of fun. Going to go back and will take friends with us.
(5)
Ro M.
Honey toast = Heavenly bliss. Don't leave here without trying the Honey Toast:)
(4)
Missy S.
Went here tonight with my family to celebrate my college graduation and gotta thank you fellow yelpers for the food advice! Tonight judging what some people said were good we tried some of the recommendations and fell in love with every dish we tried. We had reservations for 5:30 and the timing was good. We were seated towards the back and our waitress was very attentive and did a great job. She took our orders and we didn't have to wait forever for food, we actually got food immediately, it was awesome! So this is what we ordered tonight: 2 orders sushi pizza Lobster dynamite dip Lobster dynamite sushi Ahi on crispy rice sushi Mochi cheese gratin Tofu salad Sukiyaki bibimbap Yukari french fries 2 orders honey toast with vanilla icecream Each dish had a very unique asian fusion flavor. My recommendations are definately the lobster dynamite sushi, ahi on crispy rice, mochi cheese gratin, honey toast. All were cooked and prepared well. Also these food portions LOOK small, but do not underestimate! You get full quickly, especially when eating ricey foods. But good thing we were a party of 7 so boy did we finish those dishes with full bellies!
(5)
Sara S.
Ok Shokudo is pretty much a "go-to" place for my friends and I. Or should I say WAS. The past few times I've been have been disappointing. Sure their food is good- I recommend their LOBSTER DYNAMITE, TOFU SALAD, BI BIM BAP (you can get better at legit krn place tho), MOCHI CHEESE GRATIN, their bento dinners and of course, their HONEY TOAST. Also make sure to hit up their happy hour and cocktails! But as far as their service goes, it is HIT OR MISS!! Last time I went, they FORGOT one of our orders and then instead of apologizing the waitress kept saying "Sorry, it's coming right out." Everyone else's food had come and we didn't know whether to start or not since she said it would be "right out" 15 min later... "Sorry, it's almost ready." Everyone starts eating. Another 10 min later, "Sorry, something happened with the order, so I just put it in 'again' and it'll be out shortly." LIKE WTF. Obviously you forgot our order the first time. It finally comes out but by then most ppl were getting full. What a waste. It especially irks me to have a dish come later than the rest... The time before that, the waitress forgot one of our rolls (the ahi jalepeno with crispy rice) but we didn't care cause we were just like ok we just don't want to get charged. THEN when we were basically done with our meal we decided to warn our waitress that we for sure didn't want the crispy rice since we were done. She responded "Sorry, I forgot about it but I already put the order in." We were just like uhh we don't want it any more...... but it literally did come out right as we were talking to her so we were basically STUCK with it. FAIL. We got revenge though by using a lot of change to pay part of the bill/her tip. Don't piss us off! I don't know if the food is enough to make up for thiis bad service. I do enjoy the dishes I mentioned previously, but I am NO longer a frequent customer, maybe just for large parties.
(3)
Sheila S.
I'm super picky but this place was ok...lots of spicy foods (not a fan). The Calamari had no flavor unless you use the mustard sauce dip thingy and I wasn't a fan of that. Also a little upset that the rice was WASABI it felt like everything was WASABI but it was ok. No impressed with the taste of the Honey Toast just the size! I honestly think this place is a bit over rated! The service was excellent though I give that 5 stars!
(2)
Lehua K.
I've been here before with friends for pupus and beer...last night I went with a friend who's never been and was blown away by the food and service. We sat at the bar and ordered some of the faves.... The lobster dynamite was ridiculous good and I loved e hamachi carpaccio. The manager on duty Justin suggested we try the fresh scallops sushi... And WOW! That was unreal. Justin also suggested the anago sushi ...again another winner. He and our server working the bar Crystal were awesome... Justin also gave us an order of honeytoastmehich I love but was almost too stuffed to eat. But i soldiered on since it was my friends first time trying it. Lol. Anyway the whole evening was great and we are coming back again to try some of other thousands of items they have on the menu.
(5)
Scott H.
Ate here a few times, its pretty good.
(4)
Aivy C.
Honey Toast! That's exactly what I came for. I wasn't disappointed. We also shared a spicy scallop roll - just okay, kind of expensive - and a Teriyaki Chicken quesadilla. I normally do not like Teriyaki Chicken anything but they had an interesting dill dipping sauce and part of the filling included KEWPIE MAYONNAISE! Very generous portion for the price. I'd come back but just for dessert and drinks. If you're a vodka soda person, you'll have a lot of fun perusing the drink menu!
(4)
Blake M.
Moneyball: decent food at a decent price. Makes: easy location by ala moana / pietros. Easy free parking in the back of the building...on a Friday night @ 9:30 they weren't even giving out tickets any more. Gotta love plentiful and free parking...just watch that turn exiting the parking structure....ouch. Food is pretty good, drinks average price. Prices seem fair, $20 gets you really full. Misses: we had to wait a bit for our table, but no biggy, we ordered drinks and food (pupus only at the bar), and most of our party including me came 30 mins late. Service at the bar was great BUT service after we were seated at our table was bad. They messed up our order and looked at us like we did something wrong. We ordered two things and they managed to screw up one order and burn the other...Our waiter vanished after we asked for our check: 20 mins later we ask some other waitress. 10 mins after that I just walk up to the bar where those workers actually care and finally got our check 30 minutes later. Food tried: tempura udon was like any other tempura udon, chicken karaage and cheesy Mochi are MUST orders, pizza was burnt but the manager cooked up another one himself, awesome guy.
(3)
Christina M.
I absolutely love their food. They use fresh ingredients and unique but simple recipes that create delicious dishes. The service by the way is outstanding and courteous (even though I was blowing my nose on everything in sight not once did the waitress or hostess succumb to the gross out face I would not have been able to hide if I saw someone in the same position). The dishes we ordered were Teriyaki chicken quesodilla, some sort of beef udon, and the balsamic beef sushi. Okay so I'm a weenie when it comes to texture and I can't handle uncooked meat (I'm working on it promise) but I can tell that it tastes delicious. So as soon as I stuck the balsamic meat sushi in my mouth I had two thoughts: "OMG this tastes like heaven" and "If I chew this anymore I'm going to vomit from the texture" (again this is my own idiosyncrasy and is no reflection on the texture of the food). Turns out it's only lightly seared on both sides, so I got it cooked to more of a medium and was good to go (oh and no snarky glances from the waitress for wanting the meal a different way than it was meant to be prepared!). It was gone in about a minute. The entire dish tasted amazing, with delicious fresh beef taste, fresh sticky rice, strong balsamic taste with fried onlion crumbles on top. My friend go the teriyaki quesodilla which I was iffy about trying because normally mexican + asian means absolutely disgusting to me but this is the first time that a restaurant managed to pull off the c-c-c-combo. The udon my other friend got (another dish I've never been too impressed with) was like eating comfort food. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the broth was amazing. I normally like pho over udon for this reason because I've found the broth to be tastier but I could have chugged the udon broth. Dessert! We got honey toast because it was my friends' first time and we all agreed it's not special. I do not understand the obsession with it. It tastes exactly like it sounds. Sweet bread toast with honey. However, it is fun to share and is an amazing presentation. Now we also got my personal favorite: the banana flambe. I could eat my weight in this dessert. Tastes like fried bananas and the caramel on it kind of crystallizes and ceates an amazing texture. Only reason I give this place one less star is my annoyance with the promotion of honey toast when it's not their best item at all. We're going back next saturday after New Years in China town!!!!
(4)
Cara G.
The Bibimbap is always excellent, as well as the Chicken Teriyaki Quesadilla. The Tempura Roll (the deep fried one) is also a favorite, along with the gyoza and the Garlic Shrimp Rice. While the Honey Toast is the main attraction, give the Banana Flambe a try, as it comes with caramel/chocolate drizzled ice cream. The service is decent and the prices aren't so bad, but it's a really great place to come to eat and catch up.
(5)
Tim B.
I went here a couple of months ago with a Japanese fellow I was dating at the time. The Mochi Cheese Gratin was absolutely to die for. I hate that phrase, but what else can I say? Trust me. Stop in for happy hour. Have a couple beers, a couple orders of Mochi Cheese Gratin and finish it off by splitting an order of Honey Toast. It's absolute heaven! Nice ambiance and VERY friendly [and cute] service staff.
(5)
Jody S.
Every time I have eaten at Shokudo I look forward with anticipation to the end of lunch when I can enjoy the dessert, honey toast with vanilla ice cream. Yummy! The place has a really cool vibe with oversized Asian lamps and funky modern design elements. Today I had a chance to dine there with a few business associates and we decided to dine "family" style so we could share a bunch of items rather than eat our own individual lunches. We started with the Sushi pizza, which was a bit spicy today but definitely onolicious! We all enjoyed a few bite size pieces and cleaned the plate in under 10 minutes flat! Thereafter we shared a California Roll, Spider Roll and a Mixed Tempura plate. Overall each of the selections were tasty, light and enough for all of us to share and leave feeling full!
(4)
V C.
"I would punch a baby for it." The makings of a Bruno Mars song -- and a line that brought me to Shokudo, in search of its fabled honey toast. That review came from a recent Honolulu transplant hailing from Chicago, and lest you think Chicago people are mobster types who wouldn't blink at punching newborns for dessert -- okay, well, we'll leave that stereotype alone. Suffice to say, I dragooned The Husband to Shokudo after dinner at a nearby Thai restaurant (where we had met a friend). Shokudo was packed on a damp Wednesday night, but we could sit at the bar immediately. The waiter who seated us told of an anniversary special of a $15 three-layer version which involved finding prizes or at least a $5 coupon for the next visit. Considering the massive two stacked layers are the size of karate-breaking bricks (if the bricks were perfectly square but just as thick), we decided not to try our chances for golf clubs or a flat-screen TV. (Yeah, we are terrible gamblers.) So, would a line of babies standing guard before Shokudo feel their all-too-brief lives endangered? Nah. The honey toast ($7.45) is certainly a novelty, but aside from its sheer towering mass, at its core it is merely two slices of soft fluffy toast (its insides cubed and also toasted), drizzled with honey and top-loaded with vanilla ice cream. (We abstained from any extra toppings, but the likes of chocolate or azuki beans are available). True, the honey toast as a whole is stronger than its individual component parts -- which makes it a nice corporate analogy for team-building, but the quality is reminiscent of -- although better than -- a chain restaurant (like Claim Jumpers in Northern California) substituting sheer size over subtle quality. If the ice cream were a touch more gourmand perhaps... However, that said, I do believe the honey toast offers an infinite possibility of varieties. A spin-off breakfast joint, in which the honey toast would come with island fresh fruit or a bitter espresso syrup. A flaming honey toast, kind of like a marshmallow-over-a-flame experience, but with the excitement of spontaneous combustion. Different types of artisan honey. And, of course, franchising honey-toast at carnival, in which you have to play the Punch-a-Baby to earn your slices.
(3)
Armida Y.
This place is so gross! I've heard so much about this place and all about their honey toast--- went here a month ago, I must say the cookies and cream honey toast was awesome until we found hair in it! Not only did we tell our server, he told us that was the second hair a customer has found that night! Ewwwww!!!! I shall never go here again, unless their staff starts wearing hair nets... Isn't that a mandatory uniform in a restaurant? Just sayin'
(1)
Trish P.
still one of my favorite places to eat. remember to speak up when talking to your server or even your friends b/c its un-naturally loud in there for some reason... and its not even from the music, which btw is a cracked mixture - on my last visit i heard The Jackson 5, Beyonce, and Fall Out Boy in that order.... strange. they have a new late night menu, but its only on certain days - Sun - Wed.... my last visit consisted of the beef tataki balsamic sushi, tempura roll, karaage chicken, and fresh tofu.... all were good... except this time around the tofu wasnt as good as before. my last bite of it tastely strangely "cheesey". the beef tataki was really good, but i think could use a couple more pieces on the plate....
(4)
Randall P.
The food was great, but the experience left a lot to be desired. We sat in an area where the overhead light bulbs needed to be changed, leaving us eating in a very dim atmosphere. When trying to order our dinner, they were out of their most popular items making it more difficult to decide again what to consider. After 10 minutes of waiting for the waiter to take our order again, she was very helpful in helping us decide. The highlights of the meal included the Lobster Dynamite Roll, Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi, Spicy Miso Ramen, and the Awesome Finale of Honey Toast dessert. Normally I would have to take off a few stars if the experience was not up to par with my expectations, but the food was so good.....they got bonus points for making my tummy happy. Thanks Shokudo :)
(4)
Jessica S.
Seems a little Americanized to be, but menu still contains pretty standard Japanese fare. Ordered agedashi tofu, Mongolian Beef ishiyaki, and udon. Portions were a little small in proportion to price, but I didn't find anything wrong with the food. Tasty, arrived in a reasonable time. I just wanted extra white onions for my udon, and they charged $1.50 for it which was pricey to me. Next time, I'll cut my own up and bring them! Honey toast was probably the main attraction of the night--nothing exciting, but it's different. Would come here again.
(4)
Shari Y.
Shokudo has been one of my favorite restaurants since they opened. Every time I went I've had great service and the food is a little expensive but worth every penny. I would recommend the mochi cheese gratin, honey toast, fresh tofu, lobster dynamite, and chicken karaage. They have great drinks too, can get a little pricey but to me it's worth it. The only reason I do not give them 5 stars is their happy hour is not up to par. They have too many rules associated with it and to be quite honest you go to happy hour to be HAPPY not GRUMPY because of all the damned restrictions! All in all Shokudo is great to go with friends or family.
(4)
Melanie S.
I've been to this restaurant before with my Filipina mother and grandmother and we had no problems with seating. However, this time I came with my white boyfriend and we watched THREE couples get seated before us even though that had arrived a significant time after us. All the couples were Asian. I'm not saying this restaurant is "racist" but I could tell by the way the hostess looked at us she thought we didn't belong. Finally after they seated a couple who arrived TWENTY minutes after us my boyfriend went up and inquired as to why we were still waiting after arriving before the other couples. She looked annoyed and sat as immediately. Other than this hostess, the food was AMAZING and our waiter was great. I love this place but I was totally offended by this hostess and her complete disregard for us. I'm not sure if it was a race thing or if she's an idiot, but it just looked bad on her end. Anyways... I totally recommend the food and it's a great place to go!!
(2)
Marck N.
The food here is very different and unique from your everyday Japanese and Asian Fusion restaurant. My friend and I shared the sushi pizza, char siu pork, grilled teriyaki salmon plate, and pumpkin tempura (we needed a vegetable dish). The sushi pizza is way out there and quite enjoyable. Sushi rice served crisp in a pie shape with salmon, onion, and crab meat (a mayo mix). A nori base is the crust underneath. To compare the taste, I would say it is like eating a seafood salad served on crisp sushi rice. Didn't really care for the char siu pork as it tasted like something I could get anywhere. The grilled salmon is served with teriyaki sauce and a watercress. The salmon was crisp in texture & sweet and oily in taste. The watercress was really great (only because I haven't had it in years). Refreshing as it is served with a miso dressing. The pumpkin tempura was like eating a potato chip. The pumpkin is sliced very thin, then deep fried. It was very crispy and surprisingly good. Anything fried is good, but this was unexpectantly good. I would say this is a great place for friends to hang out. Not really a place for special family dinners, as there appears to be more small (2 seater) booths in the restaurant.
(4)
SugarPlum F.
I don't write reviews unless I've been royally screwed over OR I'm greatly surprised so thankfullly its the later. Took my dad to the Fathers Day Buffet which was so great. Great food. Excellent service delivered by Ryan. So impressed we tipped out twice (my mom has a thing about handing out $2 bills for luck...i think he got a few. And I tipped out again for the overall bill. Thanks Shokudo for an awesome buffet experience!
(5)
Alexis O.
So far my experience with Shokudo has been very good! I am a fan of their Unagi Rice and the Mochi Cheese Gratin, and most importantly the HONEY TOAST! Honey Toast is really good, but I wish you could add fruit in it as well, I think that would make it even better. Food quality is very fresh and tasty, and it comes out very quickly. The atmosphere in Shokudo is very good, although a bit noisy, service is also pretty good too. Went here with a group of friends (about 15 of us), reservation process and everything went smoothly. The only thing about Shokudo is that its pretty pricey, and portions are kind of small. And to finish my review off, like i was asked to do, chris the manager is awesome! hahahh :D
(4)
Cintamani A.
One of the more reputable looking places on Kapiolani that is open late. Even for a late Tuesday night the place was packed which shows how popular it is. On the surface it seems quite hip and somewhat sophisticated but it's just anything you would get in Waikiki with some gimmicky dishes. I won't deny at the time I had fun eating the various appetizers and entrees and shake but I look back on and just think it was pretty average and over-priced for certain items. The Takoyaki Russian roulette appetizer was such a pathetic letdown. My exact words when I was the lucky one to consume the piece with the supposed intense amount of wasabi was, "Does each one contain a little wasabi in it?".
(3)
T W.
I actually wanted to put 3.5 stars. Service was attentive n friendly. Food tasted good (lobster dynamite n mochi cheese gratin). Problem was everything we ordered took VERY long time to come out!
(3)
Hanna N.
The food and pupus are pretty good. BUT the HONEY TOAST is something you will NEVER forget. mmmmmmm
(5)
Alysha K.
Shokudo has a really good happy hour from 4-6pm that includes discounted pupus and drink specials. Goose is only $5. Even though the other foods I've tried were just meeh, I really enjoy eating the homemade tofu (salad) there. I've recently gotten into homemade tofu and Shokudo has one of the best. It's so silky and they serve it with a really good, creamy miso dressing. I've even ordered it as take out before. In fact, I am craving that salad right as I speak!
(4)
Joann H.
AAAHHHH. The only thing from the menu that I have ever favored most was the spicy ramen. But a bowl for $14 or so? I could make better at home. I've been to this place several times with different sets of friends; their company and the atmosphere was usually the best experience I got to trips there. I'm pretty adventurous with cuisine, so when I saw (crispy rice sushi?) on the menu, I felt compelled to make that my order. Half an hour later, I was served deep-fried rice with raw fish, -_-* dun, dun duunnn! I certainly do not comprehend why people are so hypnotized by the honey toast here. The flavors don't complement one another; rather, they are rich add-ons. Simplicity is the way to go for dessert since the menu attempts to overload its customers with confusing main entree copulations of who knows what from who knows where. I'd only recommend the mixed drinks with vodka. Opt for that in your martinis instead of gin. You can't fail with beer, it's beer. If you don't drink alcohol, just order a soda. The water is rich tertiary treatment (as with all other eateries serving water from the tap).
(2)
Annie W.
I wanted to save my 100th review for an awesome restaurant, BUT I haven't yelped any review in days!! I have to yelp... It was like midnight and this place was still packed with all types of people. We were starving, so we needed food and we needed it 2 hours ago. We were told that they had late night specials, but apparently it did not apply to Friday nights (that was not cool) The prices are okay to high for Hawaii. I ordered a unagi w/ stone rice for nearly $15 and their sushi is just o-k. Skip the sushi pizza, it's just appeared to be baked California rolls, but flat (rip off). Can't go wrong with edamame, because that was delicious and warm. We had really nice company so that made it pleasant while enjoying a late night din din. The ambiance is a chill place to hang out though. Since it was super packed, service was pretty slow, and we asked for ketchup during 5 different times from 4 different people before it finally showed up.
(3)
Shay F.
I used to go to this place once every week....I don't go as often anymore, but I still think that the food is good. Today I had the cobb salad, which was better than I thought it was going to be, the mochi-cheese gratin, and the rainbow roll. They were all good. I even had the sangria drink. It was my first time having that so that caught me by surprise. I guess the only thing that I don't like about shokudo is that you smell like shokudo when you leave. But I guess you can't really help that...
(4)
Nicole R.
I will definitely return! The food is really delicious and the menu is different enough from most Japanese restaurants to make it fun to pick things out. I need to go back a few more times for sure, because there are still a bunch of cool items on the menu that we didn't get to try this visit! Here's what we ordered and shared family style: spicy tuna on crispy rice, calamari salad, pork ramen and a volcano roll. Everything we ordered was fantastic - the spicy tuna had great kick to it and was really fantastic served on the crispy rice. It was so good that we ordered a second plate! The calamari salad was a surprise to me - I wouldn't have typically ordered that, but it was really delicious. The salad's cilantro dressing was absolutely out of this world! The volcano roll is incredible - honestly, perfect. My least favorite dish of the evening was the ramen - it wasn't bad, but the pork flavor was a bit overwhelming for my personal taste. Others at the table loved it. To drink, we had passion fruit vodka sodas which were really yummy and Japanese beer. The service was good - friendly and efficient and when we asked for suggestions on what and how much to order, we were given excellent guidance.
(4)
Sierrah I.
Everything was "okay" here, food and service wise. Came here for the Happy Hour (4-6p.m.), which has various $3 & $4 dollar items and drink specials. Steamed Gyoza Garlic Edamame Tako Karaage Chicken Quesadilla Kimchee Pizza Eggplant Mini Shoyu Ramen Kimchee Fried Rice were some of the items on the Happy Hour menu. Best thing about Shokudo? Honey Toast was $4.00 on Happy Hour. I'd come back, for just that Honey Toast. Did you know you can add Cinnamon to your Honey Toast? $1.00 more, but totally worth it.
(3)
Vincent Q.
A spur of the moment lunch led me to Shokudo once more. Sitting by the wood curtains, remembering my friend's comment, "It looks like wooden kamaboko things!" Homemade Tofu- 4-stars- Simple, squishy, and falls apart so easily. The look of the dish has a certain elegance, entirely Asian. The tofu even sits in its own watery juices, and a small dish with green onions, nori, and sea salt is placed nearby. You also get a bowl of dipping sauce to go with it. Altogether, they actually work with the subtle flavors of tofu. This is definitely a surprise waiting to happen. Pumpkin Tempura- 4 1/2-stars- Oh, kabocha, how I seem to love you. I have even transformed my guests views of this Japanese pumpkin, actually a winter squash--thus you understand the flavor a bit more. Deep fried and battered to perfection. The pieces are firm, moist, and oh so sweet. I will now order this every time, and fight people for every slice. It comes with the same bonito-styled dipping sauce as the tofu. Yukari French Fries- 3 1/2-stars- These fries look pretty darn good; crispy, firm, and not too oily. They taste a little better than average, perhaps because of the ingredients, or the fact they can be dipped into any of the sauces Shokudo has available. The simple sprinkling of sea salt and nori helps add both subtle flavor and artistic flair. "Foot Long" Chicken Katsu- 3-stars- The one, most average choice we had is the chicken katsu. Overall, it was flavored normally, and had a brown, fried crust, which was oddly darker on one side than the other--length-wise. I could tell a lot of chicken was put together to make this dish, but the thickness of the pieces was disappointing. I think a half-foot, twice-as-thick katsu would have been preferable. The weird yellow spots in the katsu, I think, is the batter, or that's what I told myself and my guest. Ambiance- Well, it seems they play some oldies and other calming, laid-back music I didn't realize the first time. During the day, I quite enjoy the large open windows. I don't think this place really gets any direct sunlight, which is also a good thing. Even in the daytime, the red-colored ceiling and decor still reflects off surfaces inside. There is always a more casual, slower pace eating here, which I enjoy. Service- Good, frequent service. I do enjoy service that doesn't bother you too often when you're eating, talking and enjoying yourself. Yet, they can still be available in case you need them. The open spacing here helps, and the tables are definitely separated between the servers here. So you never feel too cluttered, even if the place is packed, since seating is quite generous. Conclusion- Day or night, this is a good place to relax and enjoy some interesting dishes, either more traditional, or twists on the usual fare you get everywhere. Actually, this is some of the better vegetarian dishes I've had, since I've been trying them along with my usual eats. I will note, I had the iced green tea, and unless you totally love green tea, having it iced it an odd surprise! I gotta stick with my traditional hot cups of tea. Iced was really weird for me, even if the flavor was spot-on, rich and green. We always need a nice place to relax and eat, so keep this place in mind.
(4)
Holland M.
I go here with friends, family, cousins....strangers doesn't really matter XD I really like the atmosphere. There's something about the chandelier and the Japanese lanterns that make the experience really dazzling. Maybe because I really like red, orange, and yellow, iunno XD I do like the Shokudo center piece they have under the chandelier. I couldn't stop taking pictures it was so nice. XD Music: wow, I love the music choice. Modern Alternative, songs from 2003 and later. Brings back great memories with high school friends. Now, on to food. I look at the menu every time I go, a lot of it looks really good, but I'm mainly there for the signature dessert, Honey Toast! The first time I went they were having a special, peanut butter and chocolate, and I was lucky enough to snag 1 of their 600 cards for 2 scoops of ice cream for a year. Also, the proceeds for every purchase of honey toast is given to aiding Japan. So, I've been going back constantly to get my ice cream on and get in a little karma! But, Dessert without a drink? Unheard of! I really like their saketini choices. But I have to say my favorite (the one I always get!) is the Kikuka, a tropical lychee saketini. I've always been a fan of lychee and lo-and-behold an alcoholic drink, life is indeed wonderful ;D Overall, Shokudo has won me over with great atmosphere, dessert, and drinks.
(4)
M. T.
My husband and I went on a Friday early evening (~6pm). We usually see this place with a long line of people but apparently we got there before the traffic. We ordered: lobster dynamite ($14), salmon steak ($14), and beef udon ($10), no drinks, no dessert. We couldn't decide which one we enjoyed more: the lobster or the salmon. The prices are reasonable and the portions are large. It wasn't too loud. Our waitress was pretty nice. A person who seemed to be the manager also came by to ask if we were doing well. The only complaint I have was that the booth were they made us sit was cramped for two people. We are fairly tall (~6 ft) and it was uncomfortable for the both of us to sit in that spot. Overall, I enjoyed the food and the service. We will go again.
(4)
Shan S.
I love this place... the service is freaking awesome! Our waiter was so helpful, upbeat and right on point! The ambience is classy but hip at the same time... menu is not confusing. Me and 2 of my girlfriends got a bunch of sushi rolls and the honey toast, some drinks... lychee kine alcoholic drink.. idk what it was called but was good haha... Honey toast was bomb of course, I wish i wasn't so shame i'd order another one lol. jkjk. I would come back, parking is kinda bummers but oh well, i'm still sold on this place.
(4)
Kristen S.
Honey toast!! :) amazingly scrumptious dessert...DO IT. Also good are the drinks (lychee saketini..mMm), the gyoza, and the ramen! I had the spicy miso ramen, which was salty but delicious. The perfect amount of "heat" - not blazing hot but enough to make my lips tingle at the end..perfect! We didn't have any sushi here, but only because we've had our fill of sushi and sashimi here in Hawaii the past week or so. But for sure, it looked fresh and we'll have to try it next time. Kudos, Shokudo!
(4)
Jason C.
I've always wanted to try Shokudo so I was glad when I got the invite. Really interesting setup, especially the tiered stadium tables on the one side of the restaurant. I went with the Unagi Rice Ishiyaki, thinly sliced Nagoya-style unagi filet served in a sizzling hot stone bowl. It was brought to the table very quickly, maybe too quickly, like I got someone elses order. You could feel the heat radiating from the bowl and hear the rice sizzling. Visually it was pretty ordinary, just unagi on rice, I know that's what the description said but it would have nice to at least get some assorted tsukemono too. The unagi itself was excellent, it was a thick and tender with a very good kabayaki sauce. My friend had the Garlic Shrimp Ishiyaki. Since my dish came out so quickly we had to wait awhile for hers. The description said "plump shrimp", however they were anemic and small (26-30 size). It was garlicy and I liked the addition of thinly slice chili peppers which added some nice zip and color. Because my friend really wanted her rice crispy, they transferred her food into another extra hot stone bowl to insure it would get crispy. She was happy and I was impressed with the extra service. Overall, I feel like there's too much focus on the "flash" and not enough on the food. I would go back but it's not the first place I would think of if I'm craving Japanese food.
(3)
Bill T.
Honey Toast! A delecious ending to an OK meal and something I'll go back for again. Many of the items we ordered were on the spicy side, which my son and I like, but the rest of the party was a little taken back. The restaurant decor has some nice touches with hanging window chains and a big circle thing in the middle of the dining room. But there was still a "cafeteria" feel about the place, partially due to the lighting being turned up in the evening. Parking is accessed from the street behind the building and though the lot is tight, we found plenty of parking.
(3)
Malachi M.
Second time here while on vacation. It's a must stop for great Japanese food. Look it up when you're in Oahu by Ala Moana. Ask for Lauran.
(4)
Dominique Y.
After a long and tiring day, my bf and I wanted dinner somewhere close to our hotel. After perusing my Yelp bookmarks, we decided on Shokudo and were very pleasantly surprised when we discovered it was just across the street ! We were told we had a 30 or so minute wait, which was no big deal. Walked to Don Quixote real quick and were seated immediately upon our return. The interior of the restaurant is nice, but.. loud. Yardhouse-like. Probably better suited for young people in big groups who are going to be drinking. That wasn`t really what we had in mind [like I said, we were really worn out], but oh well. I ended up ordering the unagi rice ishiyaki and my bf ordered the grilled teriyaki salmon steak. Oh yeah, and the ahi tataki with garlic chips appetizer. AND, per just about EVERYONE`s recommendations on Yelp, we also ordered the strawberry honey toast [!!]. The ahi tataki was aiight. We`re pretty picky about tataki and weren`t blown away. Also, the garlic chips were kind of a strange touch. My unagi rice bowl came out in one of those sizzling hot stone pots, and my server mixed it all up for me, like a little mini show. Nice surprise ! Pretty tasty too, although one too many bones.. My bf liked his dish as well. Salmon was well-cooked and his salad was quite tasty. Now.. onto the best part. We boxed the honey toast because by that point, we were getting too tired to even be in public. My boyfriend kept claiming he didn`t want any, but the second we opened it up in our room, he started gobbling away like there was no tomorrow. LISTEN TO THE HYPE, people ! It was GOOOOD !! Ah.. fond memories just thinking of it. And although it`s $10 [for the strawberry one, at least], you get two "slices" [which was too much for me, even.. and I`m a dessert fiend !]. Although the food was good, and the dessert was GOOD, it was a bit too pricey for what it was. I`m hovering between 3 and 4 stars, but really.. $60 for this meal ? My cheap side is coming out and pushing me down to 3 stars.
(3)
Shelley C.
This is a decent restaurant. I was not wowed but it was fine. Good drink menu. The sushi was good - they even made a sushi combo for me that was not on their menu. Our service was great - saw alot of reviews to the contrary. The waitress did get my drink order incorrect but it was no big deal. We were seated right away - came at 430 on a week night. We had the garlic rib eye - excellent. The lobster dynamite - have to say I was expecting more - it was good but again, no wow factor. Enjoyed the spicy tuna with the crunchy rice and jalapeño but the tuna could have used more spice. Great fries. We did get that honey toast dessert - really? It looks very impressive - excellent presentation. The bread for me was very tough. We had the original version. So all in all decent. The bar area looked very inviting too. If I go back it maybe for cocktails and small kine sushi like for happy hour.
(2)
Grand Master J.
Very crowded (mostly young people) but the food was trendy. Not a place to go for a quite meal, room was very big and felt like I was eating in a bank lobby. food was good.
(3)
Dustin N.
Honey Toast w/ chocolate sauce...AMAY- ZA - ZING! Never had a bad experience cause i keep coming back especially with the "after dark" menu, you cant beat $3 ramen(well $4 if you get char siu)! Overall one of my favorites!
(5)
Daniel R.
Will definitely recommend for people not to go here. The last (seriously LAST, and never again) we've caught hair in our food. The first it was in the honey toast, deep inside the honey toast, and I swear to God it was a pube! I'm not trying to make harsh assumptions but what else are we going to think it was?! It was so disgusting, the second time, it was in the sukiyaki bibimbap! UGHHH. The very last time I went there our server's name was MATT, tall Japanese dude; HE SUCKED! What a f*cken disappointment, I'm not 21, Shokudo changed their happy hour "policy" and only people 21 can do happy hour, even for food! 11:00 at night, no where's really open, so me and my friends decide to stay. AND we're stuck with the crappiest waiter ever! OMG. I don't see why people keep returning back! THIS PLACE IS A MESS! Why can't you guys be up to par with your sister restaurants in California, TOKYO TABLE. Serving the same food, but quality is 100x better, and WAAAY cheaper! Shokudo is a rip off! I remember when unagi rice was only $10, and had more. UGHHH.
(1)
Ashley C.
Interesting set up! You can dine on the main floor (street level) or on their tiered dining area. This place can get pretty packed so getting their early is best otherwise it's hit or miss for timing on beating the dinner rush. You can get pretty any sushi you want and they do offer bento meals too. We did try a sort of sushi pizza and in all honesty it wasn't bad! It's basically an open faced sushi served like sliced pizza. I like chicken karaage so I had to try their version. It was actually very flavorful and piping hot upon serving it to us. The service was great and the pricing was a bit more but at least the food is good. Don't mind paying a little more so long as it's good. Ended with the pillow toast desserts. I could do with or without the toast, I liked the ice cream more than the toast. Would definitely come back!
(4)
Russell T.
I give them 10 stars! Amazing service, prices, presentation and OMG, ahi tuna on crispy rice and kal bi on balsamic vinegar rice! Who wants to diet after that! The tofu salad is so wonderful as they prep it fresh daily. The shrimp tempura is lightly battered and you get shrimp in your mouth the first bite! No heavy greasy batter taste. And can't forget about their late night social specials from $3, $4 & $5 must haves! Like their signature teriyaki chicken quesadilla for $4! My next visit I will try their ISHIYAKI - hot stone cooking! Maybe I'll see you there. From awesome management to employees, no wonder the food is fabulous! Russell Tanoue my-rt.com
(5)
Shantel V.
Oh Shokudo, if only there were kid-friendly items.... Despite the fact that my 8 yr old had a pout on his face the entire time we were here because he didn't "like" what he ordered and in turn it put a damper on my mood, the food was still good, and so was the service. So, everytime we come here I'm so tempted to order the Honey Toast as my appetizer, just to make sure that I don't leave here without it. The main dishes that I order everytime is the Sushi Pizza, Tempura California Roll, Gyo-za, and the Chicken Quesadillas... The sushi pizza is perfecto! just enough seafood, sauce and not too much rice! I would hate to be full off of just rice. Tempura sushi exactly what it says.. A California Roll that's tempura'd, Ok, I don't order the gyo-za everytime but it is on my mind everytime we come here... Depends on how hungry I am... and then the Chicken Quesadillas. I can't even begin to describe how delicious the quesadillas are. It's served with this yummy goodness of homemade cilantro vinegarette that is just superb with the quesadillas. (hold on while I wipe this drool....) Even with all of that being ordered, I still manage to find some room in my bottomless pit of a stomach for the Honey Toast. I have yet to try the drinks here...
(4)
Martin C.
LOBSTER DYNAMITE! The lobster dynamite was amazing. My friends and I were scouring the plate for any bits of veggies in the sauce afterwards: it was that good. The Unagi Rice was good as well, and the staff was very attentive and friendly. The honey toast wasn't all THAT amazing, but all in all, great place to eat!
(5)
Green D.
Good rolls, variety of sake and import beers. The menu has a good variety of options with decent prices.
(4)
Kimi A.
very disappointing as far as management!!! this rude dude who is suppose to be an example is in need of some customer service classes. Your grouchy face is right in the front and its the first and last thing i have to see. I understand it is busy and we had a large party and we did add more people but that doesn't mean you need to be a douche. things can always change but you don't need to roll your eyes or sigh super loud or talk like a freaking prick. yes we had a baby but we didn't hear you say to flip the high chair over to accommodate the car seat OK. we were too busy trying to get out of the way and sit. you don't need to yell and say it again with a damn attitude!!! we didn't hear you!!!! If we ask for another chair just bring it and don't take it away after your coworker just gave it to us. like WTF!!! who does that??? and when we leave would it kill you to say thank you and bye, only you did not say anything. to this person, you know who you are. Get some help for your anger issues and if you don't like working with people i suggest you quit, immediately!!! on another note, i would like to thank Ryan. He was patient, kind, quick and did everything with a smile. He even cleaned all the plates and crumbs leftover on the table before our honey toast came. I know we were demanding and upset. (you can thank the prick for that) i really appreciated all your hard work and efficiency!!!! Jeremy was great too...very helpful and instead of yelling at us he would kindly SUGGEST other options...hint hint to the rude person.
(2)
Skye W.
Recommended by BF to come here. I think his recommendations must have been outdated because this place was definitely not as great as he claimed. Decided to dine here before our evening flights back to the mainland. Sucked majorly that we ate at Romy's three hours before Shoduku, so none of us were starving. I got two rolls, the scallop one and the red eye, as well as the ume cucumber salad. I took most of my dinner to go, thinking I would eat it on the plane. I threw the rest out. The rolls had too much sticky rice and were just really boring. The cucumber salad was pretty good. My friends got rolls as well and they were just boring and fat with rice too. There must be better places on Oahu to eat Japanese food. Blah. On the bright side, the lychee martini is Awesome and our server was the sweetest thing. Leilani!
(2)
Naseem K.
This has been in my drafts for review for quite some time and I never remembered to post it! Mind you, this is from a year ago, but I'm sure it all still applies!! --I went here while on a trip to Hawaii with some friends and a local suggested we try it out for dinner. Being a sushi lover since I was around age 6. I can safely say that this was one of the best sushi places I have ever eaten at. first off the sushi was beyond fresh, the portions were perfect, and most of all the service was amazing. They open the doors for you when you come and go and I've never met a server who actually took the time to talk to us about the best places to visit in Hawaii, the best places to eat at, and by the end of the night we even ended up making plans with him to meet up and have him show us around. It was amazing! Oh and of course the honey toast is pretty much a whole different level!! Ask for Brian Lo. I will definitely be going again. This was one of the best dining experiences. Ps- this was our second night in a row going and one of the other servers from the night before ever remembered us!! So friendly!! They really live out true meaning of ohana.
(5)
Judy L.
They have a "Before/After Dark" special where a bunch of pupu's are $3. Not bad, given their reputation to be quite expensive for a small plate of food. About 5 minutes after we were shown to a table, we had to change tables because the After Dark special was only on one side of the restaurant. I tried 11 out of the 18 pupus. Plus: - Sweet Spud Fries. Always yummy. - Ume Cucumber Salad. Tasty. - Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla. I think this was the best out of all the plates. - Kimchee Tofu. The tofu was nice and dense and the kimchee topping was yum! - Spicy Tuna Roll. I contemplated on putting this on the cons part, since it was so spicy that I had to swallow instantly to get the burning out of my mouth, but I can't resist spicy tuna. - Honey Toast Jr. You can't mess this one up. It's a classic. Minus: - Crunchy Yukari Mochi. Tastes like a salty chewy thing.. eck. No depth of flavor. -Spicy Tuna Nachos. I didn't really care for it. -Agedashi Eggplant. It was still a bit hard... I like my eggplants softer.. -Russian Roulette Croquette. They're just balls of mashed potatoes, fried. One of them had a spicy wasabi surprise, and the rest was bland.. Good concept, but food was not good. - Casanova Ahi in a hot tub. There were 2 pieces of ahi on the top of a large bowl of rice. The waiter doused the ahi with a broth to semi cook it. Dish had a very clean and healthy flavor. Rice was a definite minus. The proportion of the rice to the ahi was absurd. It also was not sushi grade... I just ate the ahi, drank all the broth, and left 90% of the rice. All in all, I think people love the decor of Shokudo, but the food is overpriced and its quality is questionable. The atmosphere is almost like you're in a nightclub since you have to shout to your friends if you want to have a decent conversation.
(2)
Emma C.
My husband and I come here fairly often, and have never had bad service. In fact, today we had particularly excellent service from a fab server named Nina. She's not new; I just haven't reviewed before (shame on me). Anyway, we ordered the Red Eye Roll and the Spicy Tuna Roll, and they were delicious, as usual. The fish is always fresh and melt in your mouth. Shokudo's just brought in a master sushi shef from Japan. They're now flying some types of sashimi grade fish out from Japan's Tsukiji Fish Market. I tried the sangria for the first time. $3 special! Can't beat that! They do put a lot of ice in the glass, so when I ordered a second one, I specified that I would like less ice. Nina smiled understandingly, and made it happen. I don't normally like red wine-based sangria as much as white wine sangria, so I told Nina I wasn't sure I wanted to order it. She said that if I ended up not liking it, they'd take it back and get me a different drink for no additional price. Now that's service. :) I ended up liking it a lot (hence the second one). We ordered the honey toast, as always, and as always, it was spectacular. Five stars for a reason! Definitely go here!
(5)
Tina H.
If you're a protagonist in a martial arts movie and you're trying to find a restaurant to kill your villainous arch nemesis in, rest assured that Shokudo is the perfect setting for your final, violent showdown. Located on the corner of Kapiolani Blvd. and Kaheka Street, Shokudo is not only known for it's delicious, one-of-a-kind sushi, but it's also gained status for it's hip and friendly atmosphere. When you do your first dramatic walk in after surviving the shark cage trap your nemesis laid out for you, you'll not only notice the panic and fear in your enemy's eyes, but the modern, Asian furniture and artwork that makes this place so upbeat. Before you stab your rival multiple times for the trouble he's created in your life, try out Shokudo's very unique menu first. I recommend the basalmic beef tataki sushi, the mochi cheese gratin, and one of their sizzling rice bowls. I've never been dissatisfied with these choices and find the meals to be flavorful and very different. Dishes are served family style, so you'll probably want to share some of them with your arch nemesis before you kill them. The service at Shokudo is pretty on par, though there might be a bit of a wait for your meal if it's a busy night. From experience, I can say that the wait is worth the fantastic food, and you could probably use that time to do a dramatic monologue. I find that notifying my enemies on their forthcoming deaths is so much more effective over sashimi and sake. The restaurant closes pretty late (up to 1 am and 2 am on their respective days) so take your time with your battle. If you're worried about how you'll clean up after your murderous, bloody rampage, don't be. Shokudo has relatively clean restrooms in the back though it's starting to look used up as time goes on. All in all, this is a great restaurant to kill your enemy in. And before I forget -- Try the honey toast!
(4)
Helia H.
The Cinnamon Honey Toast is a must! Navigate downtown Honolulu traffic and parking to try this dessert. It's delicious!
(4)
Patrick D.
Nut'n Honey I have had Shokudo on my shortlist for over a year, due to the ravings of friends and neighbors. Finally, after a lengthy waiting period and a confluence of events, I got to go (yay?). The wifey and I ordered the following: 1. Mochi cheese gratin - I love mochi. I love cheese. After having this dish, I really L-O-V-E mochi and cheese together. How could this dish be better? Teach me how to make it myself so I can eat it every day. 2. Agedashi tofu - Not bad. Best thing is that it doesn't have a thick batter. Other than that, it was just tofu. 3. Sushi pizza - Baked sushi with stuff on it. Just average and a little bland. I could have saved stomach space without this. 4. Sukiyaki bibimbap - This was a passable imitation, one that I could have done without. 5. Honey Toast - Who woulda thunk bread, butter and honey with some ice cream would be so damn good? For $8, I feel like I could make this myself at home. Nonetheless, other than the Mochi Cheese Gratin, this was probably the best dish of the night. Was it worth the wait? Kinda. Hey, they have free parking, so that's a definite plus. What would I order next time? Nut'n honey.
(3)
Jennifer D.
Love love this place! Take my parents every time they visit. It's a must for my mom. You haven't lived until you've had the honey toast :) only downside is its very loud.
(4)
Jen F.
I went there during "happy hour" on a Thursday (2-5pm I think). To get the happy hour prices, you gotta be seated at the bar, or the tables in the bar section. No problem, I've gone there before and had a great experience. The hosts and waiters have always been friendly. This time however, the bartender (a younger asian guy) was a huge a-hole! He was unfriendly from the get-go, demanded to see ID's with no greeting or semblance of a smile, then refused to serve us because my ID was expired. Its not like I'm suddenly someone else or my age changes because the card is past due?! Is it really such a huge deal? I wasn't even planning on getting any alcohol, so I dont see why it was a problem? While its true that I shouldn't have neglected to renew it because I've been extremely busy, I did not deserve to be treated like that, and guess what- I have used it dozens of times in other places and NEVER had a problem (ordering drinks at THIS very location, or even to verify identity at the bank!) So why oh why am I being denied service now? Lets be honest here, he could've just checked my date of birth (I am well over the legal drinking age), served us, gotten tipped, and everyone would've gone home happy. Instead, he felt the need to make a problem out of a irrelevant issue. But thats not even the problem. He was extremely short and rude about it! It wouldn't have been a big deal if he was nice and took the time to explain that it was policy or something. But no, he wasn't apologetic, he was condescending and dismissive. I was surprised and asked "really?" and he gave a smart-assed answer and walked away. My boyfriend and I just stared at each other astonished. I've never been to a restaurant that treated their customers so carelessly. We left feeling completely unwanted and rightfully upset. :( I am a huge fan of their honey toast and get cravings for it regularly, but I will avoid this place like the plague in hopes of never encountering that jerk again. [UPDATE] A couple of people have informed me that the bartender could have been fined for serving me with an expired ID if a liquor commissioner had showed up (even if I had no alcohol wouldn't have mattered, I guess?). That is certainly an reasonable plight. Like I said originally, had he taken a minute to explain that to us, we would have understood no problem, and probably returned to enjoy Shokudo on a later date when I had my things in order. I reiterate, the real problem lies with the bartender who was unnecessarily rude to us for no reason! He is in the service industry after all? If that kind of attitude is acceptable at Shokudo, they obviously do not value my business / their customers.
(1)
Artemis A.
All aspects of my experience were great. ****Service- expedient/friendly/helpful Restaurant was clean, and next important thing, bathroom was clean! My favorite dish: Housemade Tofu on greens and shrimp tempura! OMgggg!!!! The only self induced con of my visit was that I did the honey toast on take out (BADDD IDEA). Poor thing lost its vigor for life by the time I got home, it was soggy, wilted and more less tasted like lifeless bread. I"m pretty sure an Eggo waffle would have been tastier at this point. Next time, Im makin room for the toast after dinner!
(4)
Shirley H.
I love the modern Japanese decor of this restaurant. plus, at least in my experience, the girls who eat here dress well - my kind of place =) As for food, we tried the garlic tuna and eel rice, both of which were delicious. 4 stars for a classy dinner date spot.
(4)
Mel L.
My family and I had an excellent dinner tonight. One of my favorite places to dine. Thank you Matt for your generous hospitality, I ready appreciate it. Thank you to our waitress Robyn, you are the best!
(5)
Loryn G.
This is my absolute favorite pau hana destination! I LOVE IT! The Kakaako location never gets too busy and the valet parking makes it easy to get in and out (though I think the parking fee is like $3 without tip- still worth it IMHO). The fish is always fresh, the uni nigiri is AMAZING and the happy hour menu is great for food and low prices. The house sake for $5 is tasty as well! I usually sit at the bar, but there are some really cool tables / booths that are ideal for romantic dates. The staff are always friendly and knowledgeable and I will probably be going here at least once a month! :)
(5)
Chris K.
Shokudo is unequivocally the best Japanese experience I have ever had. The lobster dynamite roll is butter. My service from the wait staff, the sushi chefs, and even management was absolutely perfect. Kepe came and introduced himself, and even put the napkin in our laps. He looked busy but he was still meeting all of the patrons and ensuring all of our food and service was outstanding - and it really was unmatched. I will definitely be returning on my next vacation!
(5)
Rob C.
It was crowded tonight so service was a little slow. We had the Ume Cucumber Salad, Lobster Dynamite, Assorted Tempura, and Tempura Shrimp Rolls. Overall good food and good service. We didn't have room for dessert so next time we'll try the Honey Bread. I would recommend this place for a casual night out.
(4)
Kim M.
I've boycotted this place for years. I never thought I'd return, but I'm glad I decided to give this revamped restaurant another try. Shokudo has definitely turned around -- the menu looks appetizing as ever. I've also noticed the constant line/ crowd outside Shokudo (for happy hour, I presume). Could it really be that good? I think so. Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio ($13.95) The yuzu pepper vinaigrette and bits of pickled wasabi were both delicious complements to the buttery hamachi. I liked this dish a lot. Ahi Tataki with Garlic Chips ($12.95) I never met an ahi tataki that I didn't like. The homemade ponzu is good, but nothing outstandingly memorable. The garlic chips were a nice addition. I'd have this again. Agedashi Tofu ($7.45) A safe and delicious dish. Not outstanding, but it's good. Honey Toast The honey toast is a must at Shokudo. It's a simple concept -- honey, toast and ice cream -- which is almost too delicious to share. It's been a Shokudo trademark for quite some time now, and I'm glad they've kept it going. Even though the menu has changed a bit, the honey toast still remains. Honey Toast Jr ($3) This is the HH miniature version! BeforeDark happy hour runs daily from 4PM-6PM (only at the bar). AfterDark happy hour runs Sunday through Wednesday from 10:30PM-12AM (only at the bar). Check out the stellar $3, $4, $5 pupu menu!!! Overall, my 2012 experiences here have been great! What a turnaround from its darker days, years ago. Check out the regular and late night happy hours for some awesome-sauce deals! 31 Yelps Review Challenge - #20/31
(4)
Leslie P.
This is a modern Japanese restaurant and a little fusion. Their menu had sushi pizza and teriyaki quesadilla.... Anyways, two of us met up with our other friend who works across the street. We ordered the lobster dynamite roll, spicy tuna crispy roll, mochi cheese gratin and an udon. The lobster dynamite roll was basically baked lobster atop California roll pieces. The other roll was crispy rice swuares topped with spicy tuna and a slice of jalapeno. Both of these was good, but nothing too special. The mochi cheese gratin was yummy! We also ordered three specialty martinis at $9 each. I had the drunken gummy bear cocktail. It was good, but was too sweet halfway through. There were three gummy bears sitting at the bottom of my martini glass. To finish our meal, we ordered a honey toast with caramel and cinnamon. This was two 2" slices of sweet toast hollowed out and re-filled with toast cubes, drizzled with honey & caramel and dusted with cinnamon. Then it is topped with two scoops of vanilla. It was amazing! This definitely made up for the just okay meal.
(4)
Katrina Y.
One of thee best happy hours!!! Love love love this place. Prices are pretty reasonable, service is excellent & the food just completes everything!! What more could you ask for? Check this place out for yourself. Make sure you make reservations though cuz this place gets packed!!!!!!!
(5)
Marlaina R.
It was my first time in Hawaii and one of my friends who I was visiting suggested this place for an early dinner. He knew the menu inside and out and he made ordering simple for us... I wish I remembered exactly what we ordered but all I remember is the sushi pizza and that everything we ordered we liked. The honey toast dessert was incredible! It was the first time having a toast-style dessert like that and since then I have been trying to find one that compares. I have not been successful. I wish they could mail me some of that stuff! One thing we did not like was the sticky table and the fact that I had to take a napkin to wipe the crumbs off my seat. Also, the service was sub-par. The place was bustling and busy... because they were understaffed! Apparently, that seems to be the norm. The food gets 4 stars... the service and cleanliness gets 2 stars... so, this place gets a solid 3 stars.
(3)
Ramon V.
We were visiting Honolulu and our friend recommended we eat at shokudo. I had the Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio, it was delicious. Their menu had such an amazing sushi selection, I had a hard time deciding. Our waiter Grant was very helpful and he knew the menu very well! He knew the menu up and down, 5 stars for the service alone!!
(5)
Jaymie T.
Food was good. The mochi cheese gratin was awesome! The service from B-Lo and Chris was pretty awesome! Those are some cool dudes! Friendly and lots of fun!
(5)
Annie C.
My friends and I have visited Shokudo every time we've visited Oahu, primarily for their yummy honey toast, and haven't been disappointed yet! The food here is pretty good, well, the Homemade Tofu Salad is at least. I've had the dynamite roll before, but found that to be a bit too heavy for my taste. The homemade tofu is really soft and delicious, and goes very well with the dressing and crispy wonton strips. I highly recommend it! We split two honey toasts between nine of us. The honey toast comes with two pieces of toast and two ice cream flavors, so if you just ask the server to split the toast, they'll do it for you! I always go for the cookies & cream with my friends! The atmosphere is very modern, a bit noisy, but fun to go with friends and split dessert! The wait and reservations are a bit of a hassle, as half of the restaurant is for reservations and half is for walk-ins. The weekend we went was graduation weekend so it was really difficult to get a reservation for nine, but we managed to get a reservation at an odd time on a Sunday evening. Yay!
(4)
Cassie T.
Shokudo, Shokudo, Shokudo. Worth the wait. Tasty eats. Yep, that sums it up! When we first arrived at Shokudo and were told that there was a 45 minute wait we were a little shocked. But, we scored two seats at the bar which offers the full dinner menu. Can I just add that above the bar is a floating rack and its awesome? Okay thanks. I absolutely loved the Aiko (Beloved) cocktail which is probably one of the tastiest drinks I have ever had. Was there Thai walls? OMG. It's a Strawberry and Cream Saketini and only $8 bucks. Hubby got the Original Mojito. He stated that it was strong. I couldn't believe that he said that since he is a drinker. It's a good thing, also $8 dollars! yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… Let's see, how do I get started with the food? Appetizers! We ordered the Ahi Tataki with Garlic Chips. I loved the ponzu sauce. At only 12.95 this was a great way to get started at Shokudo! yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… Next, we split the Lobster Dynamite Roll which was proclaimed by the Bartender to be one of the most popular items. Heaven in my mouth. I loved this roll and was secretly wishing I didn't have to share with my hubby. This is a California roll topped with a creamy lobster dynamite sauce. There are chunks of lobster on top of the roll. This will be my standard option when I'm here. How much will it set you back? Only 14.45. You have to try this! yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… Finally, we ordered one of the Ishiyaki items...the bartender made another spot on suggestion, the Garlic Shrimp Rice. This dish comes out steaming in a stone bowl. It was mixed up table side and the smell was to die for. It was only surpassed by the fantastic taste. I love garlic and this was right on point. LOVE. I have heard many fish tales about this place and the magical Honey Toast. I have to admit I didn't try it. But, never fear I WILL BE BACK!
(5)
Chad Y.
Oh Shokudo, what happened to you? Let's be honest, you are like any bad relationship. You started off stellar and still have some high moments, but you take advantage of our relationship and abuse me with bad service and an occasional bad item. However, I keep coming back for more simply because you offer me your oh so delicious Honey Toast. If you don't have a reservation, you are bound to be in for a wait. if you are somehow able to actually make a reservation, then your wait might be just a tad shorter. Making a reservation is an ordeal in itself with the number going to a an answering machine that the staff may get around to checking. Or they may actually pick up on the rare occasion where you can somehow find out if a table may be available. So plan to spend a good chunk of your night here is what I'm basically saying. The menu is quite good and a good majority of the items on it are truly stellar. The mochi cheese gratin is certainly a unique and interesting dish you have to try out once to experience it for yourself. The lobster dynamite is sheer heaven for lobster lovers with well sized lobster pieces served in a rich and creamy white sauce that is well done and perfectly seasoned. The teriyaki chicken quesaldilla may sound simple and plain, however its cilantro dip that it is served with take it to another level. The bi-bim-bap is quite good and the service is quite impressive. Inevitably you will order the pork chops, the sushi rolls, tempura, gyoza, and more only to find that the flavors are decent, but nothing that is truly wow-ing. Service is definitely hit or miss. The hosts sometimes have a good understanding of the wait times and other times are truly way off. I personally prefer to be told a longer wait (that's realistic) than to be told of a shorter wait and be tragically disappointed. The wait staff are also hit or miss with some being incredibly pleasant and knowledgeable and other times where you are a chore to their occupation and just have no understanding of their menu. The ambiance is certainly clean and contemporary. While you may sometimes seem like you are sitting with the people at the next table, I have yet to really feel intruded or being overheard. Parking is available in the building with the entrance off Kona street, on the makai side. The seating is comfortable for that romantic date or for group dining. Lest I forget, you really come here for the honey toast. Who would have thought that cubed bread served with honey, a fruit topping, and vanilla ice cream would be a culinary marvel, but it definitely is. The high quality ingredients blend together in a great orchestration of flavors. Oh Shokudo...well, we may love/hate each other in our relationship, but in the end of the day i'm satisfied. I didn't say happy...but I did say satisfied. Like I said...we have a bad relationship where we might one day either fall magically in love or end with a bad breakup.
Came in on a Saturday - 945pm, no reservation. Service: Said wait would be 20-30min for 2 people. We noticed 3 large parties who came after us seated before us. Asked hostess what is going on, she said she is waiting for a few checks. Told her about the large parties and she said they had large parties leave so just filled the space. We got seated 45min after we got there. Asked for a manager who just apologized and said they won't seat a 2 party on a large table. We just asked for communication and didn't get it. We were seated with "Grant" - the saving grace for the evening! He was personable, professionable, and knowledgeable. We appreciated it after the run around from the hostess and manager. Food - we used to frequent Shokudo regularly, and have noticed the food quality has gone down...but honey toast is always great.
(2)
Jeremy L.
Food was fantastic. Two items on the menu that stood out were the Lobster Dynamite Roll and the Honey Toast.
(4)
Susan W.
I thought I had reviewed Shokudo in the past, but guess not. So everytime me and my friends go out to eat, we either can't finish all the food or some of us (like me) aren't full at all.... which was what happened that night. I was still hungry so I ended up filling my stomach with a whole lotta water. I remember getting a sushi roll that was nothing special and friends ordered some of the popular dishes mentioned here i.e. the lobster dynamite. Note the self, if I ever come back here... I think I'll be ordering my own dish and no sharing lol. Cause we shared everything and that wasn't enough to keep me full especially when I didn't eat anything since lunch....Shokudo has some tasty food but their dishes are def. for only ONE person. The servings are so small. They are a bit on the expensive side as well, not sure if it's worth the price. I don't see the hype for the honey toast. It was my second time getting it, and yep...I still think it tastes the same. No wow factor. The presentation of it looks amazing, but the toast... man I hate it lol. Dry, hard, and stale... I like the ice cream on top if anything. But apparently some people (like my friend) LOVELOVELOVE it.
(3)
Kawehionalani M.
Went here last night, they have a new menu that came out and well pretty interesting things on there. Not to expensive on the new menu but still its all about that sushi rolls, nigiri, and other stuffs. :) For a friday night it wasn't that crowded only waited 20 min. so that is a good thing, compared to other nights when its super packed. I would say the yakisoba and the Lobster with the bread was awesome! Totally worth your money. The assorted tempura & the sushi pizza, is also bomb so your choices are really unlimited! Enjoy your eating!
(4)
Elle V.
The stars are primarily based on the decor, happy hour menu items, unique-ness of dishes (not necessarily quality or quantity), and free parking. Of course it's too good to be true right? Right. The service bites! Especially during late night happy hour. But let me get back to that. Lobster Dynamite Roll / Fries (happy hour): So bomb!! But the catch, sometimes it is made with way too much mayo. It is just disgusting to eat if I don't scrape some off. Honey Toast: You can't go to Shokudo without people bugging you if you had some honey toast. I have to say the variations with oreo, green tea, strawberry is way better than the regular honey toast. Hot Pots: I always order the Unagi but I've tried the Bi Bim Bap and Garlic Shrimp. Both are lacking in the amount of ingredients besides the rice. Sushi Rolls: Usually I just stick to ordering 3 dishes and honestly never order a sushi roll. I've tried the spicy tuna roll and another one with unagi in it from picking off of friends and it is not great at all, Ninja sushi serves better rolls than Shokudo! Now... the service! Okay this just happened to my friends and I last week Monday. The server who starts with a J and ends with a B makes his first mistake.. my two guy friends order a pitcher and one of them orders a crown & coke. Waiter pours a glass for my first friend and then fills a second glass for my second friend then hands him the crown & coke and says "you can't have two drinks at one time you'll have to tank that." WHY WOULD YOU POUR HIM A GLASS OF BEER IF THAT WAS THE CASE? Idiot. He never came to refill our waters or check on us after the food was given to us. Oh yah and $17 Kirin pitcher? What a rip. Basically, if you need some place to eat late at night or if you have company that's never been here before.. then GO! But don't expect 5-star service or 5-star food.
(3)
Dusten U.
Came to shokudo and was told by the host Chelsea our wait would be 30-40 mins. We waited for an hour and a half to be seated! One of are guests really wanted to try the honey toast but had to leave because of the long wait! It was not that busy and numerous parties that arrived after us got seated before us! Service was okay but wouldn't recommend coming to this place! The host ruined are whole dinner!
(1)
Leila M.
So far I've loved everything I've tasted! EXCEPT for the banana dessert!! DO NOT GET IT!! It is horrible!! They probably use the bad bad bananas they have left. The bananas tastes so awful that I spit it out! Other than that, the sushi pizza was pretty good, the sushi is good, and the HONEY TOAST IS AWESOME! Cinnamon is yummy!
(4)
Lo K.
Tofu Salad was amazing. The tofu is made in house. The mochi cheese gratin was also interesting and savory. Like the ambiance and the wait staff was decent.
(5)
Cyn C.
This used to be one of my favorite restaurants, yes past tense. Will not go here if possible. The customer service is poor and has consistently declined over the years. The hostess did not inform us when we sat at our table at 4:25pm that there was another reservation at 6:00pm. The waiter, did not know either. It was ridiculous that it was on him to tell us when he delivered the dessert at 6:00pm. The manager should've explained the situation and apologized. The manager even saw us discussing this issue with our waiter but did not stop by our table to offer any apologies or to help diffuse the awkward situation for his waiter. As our food took longer to come out, it was unfortunate that we had to gulp down our food and couldn't even enjoy it. We even offered to move to another table so our waiter wouldn't be burdened with the next party but they said no. Ended up emailing mgmt to inform them of our concerns and to better train their hostesses. The reply that we rec'd from Matthew Iannaccio, General Manager, was a copy and paste general reply... at first it almost sounds sincere but then a friend mentioned she got the same exact email before. During this visit, my friend ordered the ramen and didn't finish it. It was uncooked and in a big ball. She didn't say anything b/c she rather just pay for it than have them do something horrible to her food if she sent it back. In the past, also had another incident where they tried to kick us out, stating a 2 hour rule. Then we told them what time they seated us, then they realized they were wrong. No apology either. The worse was the time, we were waiting for a table and the host kept picking at his teeth with his fingers and a toothpick. He would then grab menus and seat people and go back to his picking. I even videotapped him. Shokudo is probably one of those places that would spit in your food if you said anything so we waiting until after the meal to show the video to the manager so he could properly train his staff. On the other hand, food is good for big groups to share. My faves were mochi cheese gratin, bibimbap, sushi pizza, and of course the honey toast. Food quality seems to have declined over the years too. If it weren't for the food, would only give them one star.
(2)
Liz G.
The Mochi cheese gratin, sushi pizza, yuzu hamachi carpaccio all have very distinct flavors! The mochi cheese gratin was so cheesey and chewy. Very yummy! Sushi pizza was good too with a spicy kick. Only downside was that it was hard to pick up with chopsticks because it kept falling apart. I liked the yuzu hamachi the best. It was so tangy with the lemon. I'm salivating just thinking about it. All the dishes we tried were small to medium portions, but that makes sense because the flavors are so distinct. The honey toast topped it all off. We added a chocolate drizzle. It's warm and soft, and not as hard as Guppy's brick toast. So between the two, honey toast wins! Our server was very nice too. The place has a modern vibe and ambience. I did notice though that the window decor with linked wooden slates is visibly gathering dust bunnies. Set my allergies off. Not bad for the only gripe I had.
(4)
Dennis Y.
Called in reservations for six about 1 1/2 weeks ago for Fathers Day luncheon ($34.95). Don't park upstairs in AMC parking lot, as all entry ways into the Ala Moana Pacific Bldg itself is blocked off,...ALL OF THEM.. so I had to get back into my car and park downstairs in the building's own structure...which I guess on Sunday is free, as there was no parking attendant. We knew going in that their famous dessert was not listed, but that they were offering instead 'homestyle bread pudding'... Lunch was hectic at our 12 noon seating...we were seated about 12:10pm (as I had to wait for my entire party to come, so really only about a 5" wait) the baby back ribs, shoyu pork, and Kali bi were very tasty and fall off the bone..prime rib was good, though they mainly had medium rare portions which I didn't like, but it too was tasty with thyme and sage herbs on the exterior. After my second plate of food, it was time for dessert..well, my son and nephew went first and came back with the honey toast dessert the are famous for!!! I was like, YES!!, they decided to offer that, since I didn't see their home made bread pudding..they provided you with the honey drenched bread, and one could put their choice of toppings: strawberry sauce, crumbled oreo cookies, chocolate, caramel syrups , condensed milk and of course the obligatory vanilla ice cream... I guess this is their junior version (1piece of bread instead of the 2 pieces), as I've seen my son bring home leftovers of the regular sized portion...believe me, even for a man with a hearty appetite, the junior portion of the honey toast dessert is more than enough...they said there was a two hour time limit, but by 1:50 pm when we were pau, it looked like the crowd of patrons were winding down...we never felt rushed by the staff. Attentiveness by the staff was there, not like what I see on some reviews here on Yelp.. We'd go back to Shokudo without hesitation!
(4)
Nicole C.
I love Shokudo. I don't think they serve a single bad thing here. I've been here many times, and I haven't had a single bad experience. What I recommend: Spicy ahi crispy rice - SO delicious!! I could probably just eat the crispy rice. Beef tataki - beef in a vinegar sauce with crispy things on top Rainbow roll - tasty, although this one is hard to screw up Yuzu hamachi carpaccio - I already loved hamachi, but it's the yuzu sauce that made it wonderful! Sushi pizza - so the picture in the menu doesn't look that great, but I assure you it's quite tasty. I've also had some of their ramens and udons, but they weren't super special. It's hard to screw up ramen and udon, and their ramen and udon were fine. Additionally, I found that the honey toast is yummy but could use one or two more scoops of ice cream. It's just too dry as is.
(4)
Cameron B.
I liked their sushi pizza. I still need to try their honey toast but it's hard getting desert after stuffing your face with all this food. Maybe I'll just get drinks & dessert next time. Good place to get drinks and chat with friends. Takes reservations and food comes out fast even when the place is busy.
(4)
Courtney O.
I LOVE shokudo!! Shokudo is great for date nights, girls night out, or parties. I know because I've had all of them there! I've always had great service at Shokudo. However, there is often not an opening if you try to make a reservation on short notice so do plan ahead. The menu is very extensive and will have something for everybody. For lunch they have lunch bento sets which are very good. For dinner, there is a wide array of everything ranging from sushi pizza to bi bim bap! Choices galore! I suggest getting a bunch of different items and sharing them with your group. Whatever you do, SAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT!! My favorite was the cinnamon honey toast but recently they came out with oreo cookies & creme honey toast! TO DIE FOR yelpers!! I also LOVE the drinks at shokudo. They have these vodka soda's that are so delicious. My favorite is the passion fruit. They also had infused sakes (pom and mango flavors) but I'm not sure if they have it anymore. There is a parking lot in back and they validate your ticket but most of the time the gate is up and you don't need a ticket. You could also park at Ala Moana right across the way.
(4)
Emma P.
I end up giving Shokudo the benefit of the doubt despite going against several of my dining pet peeves (as others have pointed out: uneven service and pricing proportionate to trendiness). I don't know, honestly, I think it's the honey toast. I really do. At the end of the meal, it melts all sour feelings and wraps me into a glorious food coma of sugar, dairy, and carbs. How can I not credit them that? The food is consistently good. I don't crave anything on the menu (other than the crack -- I mean, honey toast), but it's solid fare (I do like their spicy ramen best). I've heard the happy hour is worth trying, especially for the smaller dessert portions. I'm not sure I can convince my boyfriend to accompany me again since he has a strange immunity to honey toast and an even stranger knack for getting the stink eye from waitresses here. At least our meal was paid courtesy of the gift card he won from the GAR Expo! Talent comes in many forms, I suppose.
(4)
Corbin L.
Justin the manager will take care of you. Great service, not too expensive, good food and lots of it. You HAVE to get honey toast for dessert! Shoots
(5)
Tiffany N.
Emi H told me this is kind of like a Denny's in Honolulu, but she also told me we had to try the honey toast here. And when Emi says I have to have something I trust her so we swung by Shokundo after dinner to pick up a dessert. Holy heavens this honey toast thing is delicious! They take a giant piece of bread, hollow it out, toast it, drizzle it with honey, and stuff it with ice cream. Sounds good doesn't it? I preferred the insides of the bread to the crust, but I have to say it's up there on the list of things I would like to take with me to a deserted island. We also ordered a shave ice here and enjoyed that, too. I could see that the restaurant was kind of generic in the menu department, and the customers did seem to skew a little young so the Denny's comparison is understandable. But, I've never eaten anything as good as the dessert thing at any Denny's so I would easily go back and eat it again.
(3)
Kaileen Y.
I have two words for ya...HONEY freaking TOAST! Ok so, technically that's three words. But, you get the point. Last night, my friends & I had another one of our infamous "Girls Nights Out". Our initial plan was to go to Shokudo for happy hour, but it totally slipped our minds that all but ONE of us were 21and over. So, we had to scratch that plan. What a bummer! Last night was my first time ever eating there. And, I've been hearing such great things about this particular dessert called the "honey toast". So, you can just imagine I was more excited to try that than to eat some actual food! Considering that only 2 out of the 6 of us had eaten there before, we decided to order a whole bunch of stuff to share. We got gyoza, chicken katsu, spicy tuna crispy rice, sushi pizza, calamari, and the rainbow roll. It was all great...I especially enjoyed the sushi pizza and the rainbow roll. However, the spicy tuna crispy rice was a little disappointing in my opinion. For dessert, OBVIOUSLY we got two orders of honey toast & shared it among the 6 of us. Like many have already said before, this is the one thing that would keep me coming back to Shokudo. It's like heaven on a plate!!!!!! Regardless of how full you are from dinner, this dessert is worth trying. It is bound to make you forget about how full you really are!! The vibe in this place is great. Great place for a date or even a small party. The waiters were nice too. Oh, one last thing....HONEY TOAST! yep...don't ever forget it. :)
(4)
Mike K.
ordered recommended dish and i wasn't impressed .
(2)
Arynn I.
I've only been here one other time but I remembered the Honey Toast... I think this is what everyone talks about and it is DEFINITELY my must have. No matter what you get, SAVE SPACE FOR THIS!!! There were 3 of us and we actually ordered quite a bit of food...at least I thought it was a lot. I got Tempura sushi (california roll fried in tempura batter) which was super ono. My friends ordered everything else and we just picked off everything. We got Hamachi roll (from the menu insert), Spicy tuna, Ahi Tataki with Garlic Chips, Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio, Pork chops, and salmon rice bowl. When everything was on the table I didn't realize that we had got so much food! The average dish here is around $10.00 give or take, depending what order with the entree's around 12-14 except the steak (24.95). What we had ordered was more than enough. I actually started to feel quite full from just my sushi! I also ordered a drink- Yuzu Citrus Honey - it's a "soda drink" and it was fabulous! And I'm lightweight so one was enough... but I think that I was a little tipsy because I ate all my friend's lychee from her lychee saketini. I loved the variety of beverages (even though I just had one). It makes me wanna come back to try others! And for dessert we had a half order of honey toast, ice cream on the side. The sweet and sugary pieces of bread with the vanilla ice cream is such a great way to end a good meal! Love the menu choices, easy location to get to (for town-driving challenged person like me anyway), nice ambiance (although some of the music was meh) and great eating/drinking! Cannot wait to go back! #Yelp 365 Challenge - 055/365
(5)
Dung N.
This is a must-go-to-stop if you're in the area! This is by far, one of my favorite Japanese restaurants. The decor is stunning. This venue is absolutely a couple of notches above any other Japanese restaurants I've been to. I love their whole entire set-up. I'm gushing all over this place and we haven't even gotten to the food yet! To start, we ordered the 'Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio(thinly sliced yellowtail sashimi with yuzu pepper vinaigratte).' The sauce wasn't overwhelming and it had a nice, light taste, which was delightful. For sushi, we decided on the 'Lobster Dynamite Roll', which didn't blow me away but it was still good. The 'Sushi Pizza' was a definite hit! It's so uniquely prepared and it also helps that it was yummy! I can't handle jalapenos but even after peeling it off the top, it still left a small kick...which wasn't bad. Now, here comes my favorite part of the meal. Dessert! We saw so many tables around us order the 'Honey Toast', which is to my knowledge, their signature dessert. It's the specialty of the house---thick Japanese white toast cut-out and cubed, drizzled with honey and topped with vanilla ice cream. One bite and my mouth was in complete bliss. There is nothing like it and nothing comes close. Who would of thought of bread being so damn goooood?!?! I can't even find the right words to describe it. YOU HAVE TO TRY IT!!! Love love love love it. After all said and done...you best believe I'm coming back! Until we meet again....
(5)
Elaine P.
I've been going to Shokudo for a few years now but the quality and service is really starting to decline. Sadly I had to give 2 stars when my friends decided to take me out to Shokudo for my birthday dinner. We ordered the Mochi Cheese Gratin - half cooked, sauce was watery, almost no taste Garlic Pork Riblets - nothing special Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio - portions were smaller than before but tasted great Red Eye Roll - pretty good Calamari Tempura - tasted like it was fried in really old oil, color didn't look right Ahi Tataki with Garlic Chips - nothing special Spicy Tuna Roll - okay Bibimbap - my friend seemed to enjoy it I ordered a Lychee Mojito, which was nice. This could just be the waiter we had. However, the plates our waiter gave us were visibly dirty when the restaurant was fairly empty that night. The service was meh.
(2)
Reiko S.
We went for my bf's mom's 86th bday celebration. The service and food was excellent. I would suggest not to eat too much, the dessert of Honey Toast is not to be missed. They have added a new sushi bar.
(5)
Esther Y.
HAPPY HOUR 4-6 PM AND HONEY TOAST!!!!!!!!!!!! When I'm living in a new city temporarily, I like to explore and not go back to the same place more than once (to make time for other new places). But Shokudo...has been one of the rare places I've been to twice. I've only been to the happy hour at the bar (self-seating) and had some yummy pupus, and the highlight of each visit is definitely the honey toast with ice cream. adi342%$#JASLKDJ this is something I might actually crave! The second time was when I took my parents here. They're hard to please, but even they enjoyed the simple ramen, kimchi tofu, and especially the honey toast. You really can't go wrong with the honey toast! And that's like the 4th time I've mentioned honey toast in this review. ;)
(4)
Troy T.
You can't go wrong with Shokudo..... Well, let me back up a bit... For their famous honey toast and mochi cheese, this place is hard to beat on those late night cravings. Always packed, (granted I only come here after 11pm time), Shokudo has a great ambiance to it. Casual to hip, there is usually a short wait to get a table for a group or if you're just coming in for happy hour. Granted the past reviews didn't really speak too highly of it, and if I was on Yelp last month, I'd probably wouldn't talk so highly about the service either. That being said, we recently went back to cure our sweet tooth, and I could definitely tell their service kicked up big time!!! Everyone greeted you with a smile, they were hustling around, working on overdrive. Something's they missed, like clearing our table after we finished some drinks and plates of food. But again, ask me a month ago, I couldn't get water!!!! I'd recommend this place to outside visitors and friends. I rarely come here, but I'll be back ordering more than likely the same order I always get.
(4)
Ellie J.
Why didn't I try this place earlier? I came here for the honey toast but was pleasantly surprised at the drinks and food. The in-house made tofu was YUM-OH-SO-GOOD. My mouth is salivating just thinking about it. The establishment is in the back of Ala Moana mall, making it a bit hard to find. You can park at the Nordstrom parking lot and walk down to the restaurant. Check out their happy hour!
(5)
Kimo A.
A party of 20 is always a challenge. And, I give credit to restaurants that have an organized staff that they can manuever this with as little drama as possible. Shokudo is such a restaurant. We decided to eat here after one of my friends had his White Coat ceremony. He entered the UH John Burns School of Medicine MD program and we wanted to go someplace special. I have been to Shokudo over 10 times. Usually we go for the late night Happy Hour when we are able to get more of a variety of smaller portions. I used to enjoy the $3 Salmon Chazuke, however they took it off the menu a few months ago. The food is delicious and it is consistent. I really enjoy the slab of tonkatsu and the garlic rice with shrimp. My favorite dish is the homemade tofu. Seriously, I had to think a while on whether or not I wanted to write that on this review because sometimes they run out. The homemade tofu is creamy and is served with a condiment of broth, sea salt, seaweed, and green onions (about $8). I always tell people to order their own. Our party of 20 people enjoyed rounds of sushi, ramen, bibim bap, garlic steak, tempura, and tofu. We finished our meals by ordering 5 orders of honey toast. The service was excellent and we were glad that we chose Shokudo for such a life-celebration.
(5)
Jennifer T.
Happy Happy Happy Hour:) 4-6 every day. $3.00 plates of food, and when I say food I'm not saying it in a $3.00 kinda way, this is AWESOME! $4.00 house sake Spicy tuna wontons, spicy tuna rolls, garlic clams, edamame, eggplant with bacon OH MY! I will dream about going back for inexpensive yummy food.....so I guess I will be having some very sweet dreams! Oh....I tried the honey toast. Not my favorite thing. How about that, I am definitely odd (wo)man out there.
(5)
Steve N.
After watching the Robert Irvine-esque reconstruction and revamping of Shokudo, I was hoping for a much better experience than during a visit about a year or two ago. Unfortunately, they really haven't changed much. And by changed that much, I mean their menu is exactly the same with the exception of a handful of new offerings that are presented on a crinkled up piece of computer paper that had been laminated after the crinkling. Makes me wonder why they would spend the time and money to close the restaurant for several weeks, but not bother to order new menus. Fortunately, they made sure to train the waitstaff. Our servers were awesome and did a great job. On to the food . . . Calarmari Tempura with wasabi aioli - one of the highlights, but some of the pieces were clumped together. I was a line/fry cook in college and it takes all of about five seconds to properly shake and separate the calamari so that it fries properly. Portion size was small, but the picture on the menu was small as well. Ahi Sashimi - have had better quality ahi at Sushi Man. Salmon Sashimi - decent - about on par with Genki. Hotate (Scallop) Sashimi - not very exciting, but this was a first for me. My wife liked it. Red Eye Roll - was so so - about on par with Sushi Man. Chicken Karaage - good - pretty hard to mess up fried chicken. On par with Genki. Lobster Dynamite - another highlight - stole a bite from our friend's plate and was a pleasant surprise. Honey Toast - I don't eat dessert, but this was a definite hit with the rest of the table. Probably won't be back as I can find much better ways to spend $100 bucks.
(2)
Rebecca C.
not quite sure what all the hype is about this place... came here for a baby shower and we were placed in a cozy private room. it'll comfortably fit about 18 people. tofu salad - had better elsewhere calamari salad red sushi roll - wasn't all that great oxtail ramen - delish but need more oxtail... sushi pizza - interesting but yum to jalapenos mochi cheese all in all i had a good experience. i still have not tried the famous toast dessert here but the ones we were served didn't look all that great. it was lacking butter and honey syrup which left the bread dry... i did however try the same dessert at tairyo and boy was it delish... one day i'll head back here to try theirs...
(4)
Laura D.
Good service, good food. Great, fun atmosphere. The Ishiyaki rice bowls are really tasty as is the tofu salad. The sushi is a-okay.
(3)
Lyman W.
love there happy hour 3-6 p.m. prices are $3, $4, and $5 food is good and drinks are reasonable. I recommend the cheese gratin spicy ahi tuna.
(4)
Sharlene D.
10:30 - Midnight Happy Hour...? $3 for Honey Toast Jr. - aka the perfect size for one person to tackle the great dessert. $2 Ling Hing Mui Sake Shooters ... Can I say, yes? :)
(5)
Yi F.
We had garlic clam, honey toast jr, unagi rice, lobster dynamite, uni sushi. Everything is perfect and we got the happy hour deal. It's absolutely worthy trying.
(5)
Desiree V.
My first honey toast and I loved it.
(4)
Tamra P.
I am newly obsessed with their tofu salad. Apparantly they make their own fresh tofu and it is divine. I always feel guilty because I order that and don't really share like you're supposed to. So if others like it too we usually get two. We also had a few sushi dishes, and chicken karaage which everyone enjoyed. Went with family after the Nutcracker knowing we could get food late and it wasn't a club or bar (hello, mother in tow!). It was also the night before my bday so I enjoyed the complimentary bday honey toast! Whoo hoo, this was my cheat night of the week. Carbs never tasted so divine. I told my husband that I was dreaming of eating a loaf of bread for my birthday and wow, the dream came true. It's a half portion of honey toast but even the two of us couldn't finish the scrumptious delight. My sister, her bf, and my mom devoured most of their honey toast. Never in my life have I seen my mom eat so much dessert....this must be a winner!
(4)
Sheila G.
Dirty dishes, bad service and mediocre food... I was really excited to try this restaurant out as friends have posted going here on facebook. Unfortunately, Shokudo didn't sway my bf and I the right way. While ordering our food, we asked if we could split the check (there were 8 of us) and she said that she could only split the check up to only four, which was possible. Then she lied to us saying that all our orders were mixed and that splitting the check would be difficult. She first asked my bf's two friends (they brought their girlfriends), then myself and my bf and then his two other friends, in that order. I don't think that was too difficult to split up. The only check that was split was the first couple because "they were sitting on another table". The second thing that I disliked was the food. My bf and I ordered carpaccio ($14), sushi pizza ($14) and miso ramen ($9). The only thing that we enjoyed was the carpaccio and that in itself was a disappointment as the portion was so small. The sushi pizza was below average. Do they cook it first over foil because my teeth started hurting as if foil was in my teeth? The ramen was also overcooked. It felt mushy. And as for their famous honey toast ($8)... are you kidding me? That bread was dry. That's what I would feed a bird if I was at the park. And what honey? We barely had any. I also felt bad for my bf's friend because he ordered oxtail soup ramen and he had to wait a while, while watching everyone else eat. Tsk tsk. Beer selection was good though. I normally would not complain like a baby about a restaurant but this restaurant had to be the dirtiest one that I've gone too. I wanted to eat where everyone was but since our party was big, we were sent to the back. I felt like a reject customer because the back was ugly compared to the front part of the restaurant. We were given plates and boy did that ruin the night for me. A couple of the "clean" plates had crumbs stuck on the plates and they were just washed. That is fricking nasty! A couple of the forks also had something stuck on it. Again they were just washed because they came out wet. And majority of the small plates were chipped. I'm sorry but if business is going good for a restaurant, they should be able to afford new plates.
(1)
Kathleen G.
I like the interior, but never got to see how their lights were, since my friend and I went there, late afternoon, but the sun was still high. They serve the food family style. So for someone as petite as me, I find the servings big. Since my friend is petite like me, we shared whatever we ordered except the drinks [of course] hehe. We got lobster dynamite, calamari, the salmon thing, and the garlic shrimp rice. They were all yummy. If only my stomach expands, I would eat them and actually finish them all, but sadly no. They give 1 floor of honey toast, if you're celebrating your bday there. If not It usually comes in 2 floors. haha! The server who was assigned to our table was awesome. His name is Troy. He's so nice. We asked him to help us remove the case on my friend's iphone because we couldn't take it off. Pun aside, the experience was great! :)
(4)
Arturo G.
Went here a few times for Happy Hour which is great. Good food, good drinks, and good prices. But when i went here during regular hours it is not so great. I ordered Mongolian beef and it wasn't so good even though it was supposed to be the chef special. There was barely any meat and the meat I had, had lots of fat. I give props for the presentation of serving it on a super hot bowl so when you eat, it stays hot. The honey toast is good but I am not a big fan of it because I have been eating ice cream bread ever since I could walk. But if you're wondering what that is it, it is 2 huge pieces of toast with the center cut out in cubes and toasted and honey drizzled on the cubes. It is served with i think 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream. I think you can now add different flavors for an additional $1. I would only come back for Happy Hour.
(3)
Casey C.
Been here twice now, first time was with a few friends visiting from the mainland. We had the chicken katsu, sushi roll, yakisoba and they were just ok. Second time was about a dozen of us friends and family, seated in the nook behind the bar. We got a lot of different stuff and it was so much better. The unagi rice bowl, special vongole pasta, udon, tempura, and tofu salad, were highlights. Got honey toast both times. If you aren't expecting anything other than japanese-style bread toasted, drizzled with honey, and topped with a few scoops of ice cream, then you are in for a treat. If you expect more than that, you'll be disappointed. Service was good both times. Ambiance was nice; modern decor, kinda noisy. We had to wait almost an hour on a friday night the first time, so the second time I made reservations several days in advance. Now they're doing renovations so I'm not sure what it will be like next. Parked at Nordstrom lot both times for free.
(4)
Denise L.
This place is way too overrated. I went here for my 18th birthday because I had recently moved to Hawaii for school and honestly, the food was not that great. Granted, the lobster dynamite (appetizer) was really dynamite, but the main entree was just awful. I had some weird Garlic shrimp bimbimbap type of thing and it was gross and flavorless. The second time I went, I ordered udon, and that was pretty bland. Most people go for the Honey toast, but hey, if toast is what brings you to a restaurant--cheers!
(2)
Annie W.
Sorry, but after tonight I think giving them a 2 star rating is a gift. I usually go for happy hour with my girlfriends after work. We would lock up the office early just so we can make it to Shokudo happy hr before the crowd gets there...that was the extent of how much we liked the place. But tonight hell broke loose and I suppose our happy relationship with Shokudo imploded. Tonight I went with the guys and one of them didn't bring their ID. But i thought since we weren't ordering alcohol they would still be cool allowing us to dine at the happy hr side of the restaurant. The host didn't know so he went to grab the manager and the manager said in the most condescending tone that ID is absolutely required for happy hr. I was so bothered by this that i told my party that I rather go some where else, so we left and right before we exited I told the manager that he just lost 7 customers over 1 tiny reason and all he could say was "sorry its policy". Dude, I get it, I worked in the service industry before! But man, I thought being a loyal customer to them was enough to get genuinely good customer service. Well thanks for letting me rant. Let's move on to the critique of the food, service, parking etc. FOOD + PRICE: As you guys can tell, I like to go for their happy hr just because I like the variety and the prices. All the pupu's are between $3 - $5. My recommendation is to get the ramen and honey toast since those are the two items that they haven't really messed up yet..... and yes I am saying "yet" for a reason. I think they changed chefs or something because the food tastes different since the beginning of the year. To be honest, the last time I ate at Shokudo (which was last weekend) I was ready to put Shokudo on my "drop off" list ( the list of restaurants that I will give one last chance to make up for their bad food) because they messed up 5/6 of our dishes... the cucumber salad's dressing was done wrong, they gave us old fries for our teriyaki fries, our melon soda floats had too much syrup and not enough carbonation, and many many more mistakes....yes I go there too often to know how things are suppose to taste like! And unfortunately I can tell something went amiss... well moving on... PARKING: Luckily Shokudo is located right in front of Ala Moana so for you early bird happy hour people, you can park at Ala and walk over. If you are the late night happy hour type, then you can park at their designated parking lot located in the same building complex. That parking is free after 8pm or so as the booth attendants are no longer available after hours! Free parking is always a plus ;) AMBIANCE: The restaurant is nicely decorated. During the day there is plenty of natural light shining through the windows and during the night the place is somewhat dimly lit. It creates a nice atmosphere for group outings or girls night out. SERVICE: I see an attempt to ensure good service but it doesn't feel right. I get my food, I get the smile, I get my drinks etc, but for some reason the service lacks the heart --- it's not genuine. Despite that I kept going back for the cheap food lol... but don't get me wrong! If it wasn't for the cheap deals I wouldnt even bother going back. An establishment with the lack of heart for their customers will start slipping sooner or later. OVERALL: If you're cheap like me and don't care much for the service, then go for it! Fill your tummies and leave lol.. but if you're a stickler for service, a nice dining experience, and carefully handcrafted dishes then I don't recommend this place. Like Jason W. (below) said " [it] has not yet put it all together to take it to the next level".
(2)
Anita C.
I was a Shokudo and Honey Toast virgin (until this weekend), yes I know, sadness... I am from the mainland, please forgive me. We had a party of 9, arrived around 5:15pm and we had to wait 45 mins. The decor is modern, trendy and not over the top - I liked the simpleness of it all. For some reason I was craving udon, so I got the hot udon soup, the lobster dynamite roll and the grape vodka soda. The whole table shared a honey toast since we were super full. The udon is a typical udon, nothing special. Now the roll... ummm ummm goodness! Big pieces of lobster and the california roll made perfectly. The grape vodka soda was delish as well! It was pretty cheap too, under $7. We were hoping to catch happy hour but our server told us that happy hour is only for the bar, oh shucks, next time! The honey toast... oh my, where have I been all this time on island?? It was soo good that we even ate the crust! I am coming back very soon! I wanna try the sushi pizza and the cookies and creme honey toast !
(4)
Kama A.
Been here a few times and have never been disappointed. Not much of a sushi/fish kinda guy but this place is the exception. The past few times I have been here was for dinner and every time i left i remembered thinking "that was worth it". Awesome laid-back decor and not noisy or too congested. Even the smaller (2) person seats were high enough you could not see the tables next to you. Gave it a private and personal atmosphere so I could hear HOT date next to me!! Ordered a la carte style which included: (1) Cheesy Mochi Gratin - This is exactly as it is labled. Imagine a "Cheesy"+"Mochi" colab with a hint of buttery furikake goodness. Never tasted anything like it before in my life but it is GOOD!! (2) Lobster dynamite dip-Choke lobster and creamy consistency seemed like it would be great as a main dish or even dip/chips. (3)Teriyaki Cicken-This was also on point and tasted like the chicken you get in Shirokiya bentos. Definitely Japanese style served with some ono wasabi mashed potatos and watercress. Grinded the whole thing and left some damage in no time. The wifey got some elaborate looking sushi roll that she scarfed and said was the best sushi ever(like I said I don;t eat sushi so you gonna have to take my word for it). Service was top-notch and although I was with the finest female in the house(wifey) it didn't seem like the emplyees were perving or overdoing themselves to "kiss ass". I like that. We were so stuffed on our last trip we didn't get to eat the hONEY TOAST. But I know ya already know all about that... In my opinion relative to the quality of food the prices are underpriced but I'm totally OK with that. Guarantee panty-dropper concluding a romantic date night....trust me! *SWAG*SWAG*SWAG*
(5)
John K.
Pricing on food was expensive, and I felt bloated after the meal. The assorted tempura was done correctly, real crispy batter. The Cali rolls were also delish. Quality of food was excellent overall, was not expecting it to be as filling as it was.
(3)
Darcy K.
Employees are really rude over the phone. They dont have much personality here in person either, unless you are at the bar. I called to make a reservation for my auntys birthday dinner. The girl on the phone said she could take a last minute reservation and put me down for 6. When she asked for my last name, I started to spell it out for her since it is a bit long. I started, "K-a-u" and she cuts me off saying, "Thats it?" I honestly dont care how fast you can follow someone spelling their name out. You dont have to be rude about it. I called on the day of the dinner because I wanted to cancel. We decided to go to OJIYA (a much better choice!) but no one was answering the phone. I literally called for an hour, every five minutes. When 6pm comes around, they call me and leave me this message, "We are calling about your reservation for 6pm. If you dont show up within 15 minutes we will give away your table. Oops looks like we cancelled it." Seriously could you be any more rude? I dont know where these rude know-it-alls were at when I was calling for a whole hour during lunch time, but this is yet another reason why I do not like this restaurant.
(2)
Ryan T.
I've always wanted to visit Shokudo, but did not do so until last night with some friends. Contrary to other reviews, the service from our waitress while not excellent was satisfactory. As far as the food goes, I thought that it was overpriced and okay at best. The best thing we had there was the hamachi carpaccio. Some of the fusion dishes really did not work for me. The wasabi mashed potatoes that came with our teri salmon were a complete miss. I don't know who came up with this dish, but it was completely dry and had very little taste. Instead of wasabi, they would have been better just putting on furikake on top and calling it a fusion dish. Other than being a cool swank place to hang out, I really do not know how this place is so popular. The only way I would come back here is if the gf wants to come here on a night out or if I am craving a girly mixed fruit drink which they have a wide selection of.
(2)
Donald A.
Other than the reservation thing, the food and atmosphere are awesome. Short story, drove thru the North shore and passed Fumi's and Romy's Kahuku Shrimp stands. Big-time craving for garlic shrimp from the sweet smells we encountered driving pass Kahuku and Shokudo satisfied it for me! Thus, I recommend the Garlic Shrimp in the stone pot and wash it down with your favorite beer or beverage. If you can handle it, finish off with a honey toast dessert and it's time for a "kanak attack." Mahalo to our servers, Brian and Tremaine for a great eating experience. Also to Kaeo, who cleaned up after us so quickly. Don't come into town much but this place is worth the drive! @aweau
(4)
Nikki T.
This has been one of my favorite spots to go to for dinner and just for the drinks. I mean I am a huge fan of tokyo table in Irvine, but being the original and Hawaii I feel like this is my, you know, ONE. I love the atmosphere, and contrary to popular belief, I have never received bad service here. I mean hawaiian people are friendly, right? Now what to get... Lobster dynamite, Chicken Karaage, Agadeshi Tofu, Tuna Sashimi Salad, Bluberry Vodka Drink, and of course (drum roll please)..... HONEY TOAST. There you go.
(4)
Jeremiah B.
Debated between three and four stars, but went with three since it is the mild sense of disappointment that stands out more than any feelings of approval that I might feel. Actually, it was really the lovely company of my date that made eating here enjoyable. Otherwise, it was hot, perhaps because we were seated next to the kitchen, a bit noisy, and the food, while good, was not great. We ordered the tofu salad, which was the best dish of the four we ordered. The soft tofu went well with the crispy shoestring potatoes. The bibimbap bowl was just so-so. Not very flavorful, and the waiter who mixed it wasn't very careful. We finished with the cinnamon toast, which was very tasty, but I can't help but think that Shokudo could do more with this dessert. Our main waiter was really great, though. Very attentive, professional, and friendly. If you go on the weekend, get there early as it gets busy fast. At least there is parking at Ala Moana.
(3)
Millie H.
Okay, last night was our 2nd trip back to the restaurant and this time I brought my best friend with me and my husband. At first when we arrived, there was a huge crowd of young people outside the restaurant. We thought ohhh my gosh this is gonna be a long wait. We went inside hoping maybe they have open bar seats and sure enough they did, Hoorraayyy! The service we had last night was amazing our waitress came quickly over served our waters and took our drink orders! Then we placed our food order in as she dropped off our drinks, mind you the wait was not that long maybe a few minutes. Probably within 20 minutes of waiting our food prefer started coming in one at a time but, efficient enough to keep up. The food was soooo tasty that I want to go back again soon. Our first visit there was horrible and we had terrible service but, last night was top notch and awesome. I even like the part where our waitress asked for our ID's that was supppper nice to hear! Lol We had lobster dynamite roll (couldn't get a picture because everyone devoured it in seconds), beef tataki sushi (ohhh my gosh sooo Ono), spinach salad (yummyyy), home made tofu (ohhhhh to die for) & chicken karage (nice and juicy) ohhhh and I can't forget their famous honey toasted dessert (it was a one time thing but, good).. We'll back as I am already drooling as I am writing this. Mahalo for a great Friday night
(5)
Chanel M.
Yay! I finally got to eat since like idk 2 years ago i think was the last time. We had excellent service. My waitress's name is robyn. She was so nice. Im surprised how patient she was because my party was huge and our reservations was at 10:45 and the restraunt closes at 12 on sundays. They have excellent food here. Of course i had to get honey toast! I had the oreo one. So damn good. I love their oreo shakes too. I recommend anyone to go here. Good food and service.
(4)
Mindy J.
Got the garlic fried rice- it was ok. the hamachi appetizer was amazing though. wouldn't go back
(3)
Grace L.
I realize I have a bagillion review updates for shokudo and I have been a die hard fan over the past few years. I love my chicken quesadilla and agedashi tofu. And who doesn't love their signature honey toast? I haven't been here in a while, mostly because I'm an indecisive person and I rarely make reservations for restaurants (shokudo's wait time is always too long without one). My bf and I finally decided on a day and we actively made plans to dine here. Everything was fairly normal despite it having been pretty busy. I did feel rushed since our check was delivered while we were still finishing up our meal. However, I was a little confused regarding my bill. Our bill came out to $35.71 so I paid $101.01 so that I would receive $65.30 in change. When I got my change back, I got a flat $65. On the bill it indicated that our server punched in that I gave him $100.01. So in his mind and according to his calculations, he gave me an extra $0.70 because he gave me back $65 instead of $64.30. To me, he short changed me $0.30 since I actually gave him $101.01. I get that $0.30 is not really a big deal but dude, that's still my change. And servers should be attentive enough to count the bills before punching it in. I waited to point it out but he didn't return and I don't know where he went. I deducted a dollar from the tip and left. I'm not upset about my change but rather the carelessness that went into the transaction. I'm a die hard shokudo fan and have been over the years. I've always had good service here without any problems. It could've just been a bad night I guess but still, I expect more, especially since we used to come so often! It was alright and not worth throwing a fuss over but still, this was disappointing... :(
(3)
Angel H.
I haven't been here in a while, so we had lunch here the other day. The restaurant was packed. To my surprise, they had their Lunch Bento Box, which is their lunch specials. I'm not sure how long they've had it but it was a good deal. The hubby got the teri chicken and chicken karaage combo box. It came with edamame, salad, rice and miso soup. I didn't try anything in his box. I ordered the assorted tempura box that came with the same sides. The miso soup wasn't too salty and had bits of tofu in it. The salad had corn in it and had some kind of vinegary dressing on it. I'm guessing it's their house dressing. My bento box came with 4 assorted tempuras; shrimp, purple sweet potato, eggplant and zucchini. The tempuras were done right. It was crunchy with just the right amount of batter. Most importantly, it wasn't greasy and soggy. The real reason we came here was for the honey toast. Their honey toast is the best and I don't like bread. I can never get enough. It's two huge slices stacked on top of each other and served warm. It's cut into cubes and toasted crispy on the outside. Inside is soft and chewy. We usually get it with cinnamon. Once, we ordered it with caramel and it was just too sweet because they already put honey on it. They also put 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream on it to finish it off. This dessert is amazeballs! I took off a star because I like to get the melon float but they were out. It's melon syrup, with Sprite, and topped off with vanilla ice cream. The drink is so good. If you're going to order off the regular menu, it's on the pricier side. That wouldn't be a problem except that the amount of food on the plate is minuscule, so you're going to have to order a plethora of plates.
(4)
Joanne A.
I've been to Shokudo sporadically through the years for birthday celebrations, girls' night outs, and dates, and for the most part, I've had good experiences. The menu includes an assortment of tempura, sashimi, sushi, and noodle choices as well as other pupus, salads, and entrees. I love the lobster dynamite roll! I also often order the grilled teriyaki chicken, which comes with wasabi mashed potatoes. I'm not particularly fond of wasabi but I do enjoy their twist to mashed potatoes. Shokudo also offers ishiyaki (hot stone cooking); my boyfriend loves the sukiyaki bibimbap and I like the garlic shrimp rice. And I can't forget to mention their honey toast! It's a simple dessert with vanilla ice cream that's full of flavor and definitely worth a try, especially the Oreo cookie & cream one. Shokudo has a good happy hour from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm daily, and a late night happy hour from 10:30 pm to midnight on Sunday-Wednesday. The happy hour menu includes $3-5 pupus. As for drinks, I often order their lychee vodka soda, kikuka (lychee saketini), or lychee mojito. Yes, I love lychee, and lychee drinks make me happy! :) There's a parking structure in the same building but it can get full. Also, the ceilings seem a little low so I'd recommend those with bigger vehicles to park at Ala Moana/Nordstrom and walk over.
(4)
Melody C.
To all the aunties, uncles, twenty-somethings, popos, gung-gungs, etc. Please consider boycotting Shokudo. Tonight I experienced one of the most brazen and vicious examples of money pilfering in the restaurant industry. I know because I'm a kid of two servers at major hotel chains in Waikiki. They've been working the industry for over 20 years as servers. My parents have told me all kinds of stories where co-workers have gotten caught or fired from tricking the system and pocketing money. I never thought I would be a victim of it. That all changed today at Shokudo. We had a party of 15. The server, Kaleo, informed us the check can only be split into four tables, so groups of 4, 4, 4, and 3 respectively, and cannot be split individually. I believe that this is a scheme. They want it to be difficult for everyone so that you end up stuck in a situation that gives them a prime opporutnity to conduct this scam. I ended up in a group of 4. Our bill total was $67.13 ($57.28 food and tax + 9.85 automatic gratuity). Fine, I understand, we had a large party that's alright, automatic gratuity is expected. So, I handed him $43 in cash and my card with the instructions: "Here's cash and charge the rest on card." $67.13 - $43.00 = $24.13 $24.13 should have been the only charge on my card. What I got back was $24.28 + $9.85 = $34.13 (This was already charged to my card). He punched in gratuity TWICE. Notice how the totals are similar? $67.13 was our grand total, and $34.13 was the total after he punched in the tip TWICE. This already tells me he purposely calculated $24.28 with the $9.85 tip so that it would equal $34.13. He probably hoped I wouldn't notice since the cents were the same (both 0.13). Sorry, I'm not that easy to trick!! There is no way my subtotal without tip can be $24.28, we only gave you bills, no change! He intentionally made up this number so that the numbers would look correct on the grand total. ~ Because I was in a large group and in a rush to leave, I signed the receipt and didn't look carefully until I got home. Once I saw what I explained above, I called them. Only after calling and waiting for them to call me back, they told me they had no evidence of the previous $67.13, only the $34.13 total. Excuse me? How does this happen? I was there just half an hour ago. How do you not have record of this? So, armed with both reciepts, I had to end up driving back to Shokudo tonight to get my money back--to prove to them that they charged me twice for gratuity, since they 'LOST' the reciept with $67.13 on it. Once there the manager, Leatrice went back and forth, consulting with Kaleo, then coming back with him. She never actually apologized to me once, which I found odd. Then Kaleo explained that he only received $33 in cash. Whoa whoa, don't even try buddy! We gave you 2 tens, 2 fives, and 13 ones. I don't think that adds up to $33, more like $43. Secondly, let's say we did give him $33 cash, the total owed from $67.13 would be $34.13 FLAT, not a combination of $24.28 + $9.85 gratuity. See what he was trying to do there? Because $67.13 - $34.13 = $33 Nope that doesn't make sense!! Because the SUBTOTAL (without gratuity) should equal $XX.13, NOT the total after adding $9.85 gratuity. In this case, the subtotal ($24.28) with $9.85 gratuity equaled $XX.13. Now ask yourself why is it so important that $9.85 gratuity is added in addition to this calculated number of $24.28? And why is it that the $67.13 receipt went missing? I wasn't able to piece it out at Shokudo, I was too flustered and annoyed about the double-dipping scheme. But turns out its much bigger than this. When I went home that's when it hit me. They pocketed the cash. There was no record of $67.13 in the system because the transaction was NEVER processed, JUST PRINTED. This way they pocket the $43 cash and charge me $9.85 in tips as well. They "double dipped" and cheated the business. That is why the only record was the $34.13. Once I realized this I was a bit stunned I'm not going to lie. On the phone I accused the server, Kaleo of hiding the $67.13 receipt, I told this to Leatrice, the manager. She told me that it was impossible gave me a laundry list of reasons why they could't do this. I found it odd that she wouldn't be perplexed that a group that dined there only a while ago had no record of ever spending $67.13. Then it hit me, the manager, Leatrice is involved as well. This explains her behavior. Not only did she not apologize once to me but she didn't say that she would retrain the server or make sure that it won't happen ever again. She even backed away when I began to scold Kaleo for his deceit. This raised red flags for me. I'm almost certain this is a tag-team duo arrangement. Together, as a team they pocket money, stealing from both owner and guest. The owner of Shokudo needs to do an audit, NOW. I wouldn't be surprised to find that thousands of dollars in money is missing. Disgusting.
(1)
Mae S.
Delicious delicious! Hands down the best. A bit pricy but worth it. Honey toast is a MUST
(5)
Henry M.
I walked in right as it turned 10pm I'm by myself. The hosts graciously rushes me to the bar but I say no I want a table in the corner presumably by myself. She adamantly puts me in the perfect booth. I've already read the happy hour menus etc online on the yelp app so I know what to expect. Half ass cuisines at low rates. But holy hell am I stunned at the late night menu. Great drink specials and great servings of all of the main items but during late night. Shokudo Japanese you've made me a fan and I graciously thank you for your service. The drinks weren't watered down and I'm low key drunk in the booth by myself. IG: hen3rah I will be back...
(5)
Shu Jin S.
Our server was wonderful, really patient and friendly. All the servers are top notch here. You can expect to get catered to and for them to hand mix your hot pots (should you get one). I got the bibimbap hot pot and it was good - it could have been spicier, even with mixing in the entire bowl of Korean hot sauce. Good though. The homemade tofu is a must-order. It's unfortunately I could only have a scoop or two due to my allergies. But it was so worth the stuffed nose! Excellent meal, my only regret was skipping the dessert. It looked so good.
(4)
Paul C.
SHOKUDO (noun) definition in Japanese: canteen; mess hall; cafeteria, small dining room. I recall receiving a postcard sent to my home before Shokudo opened their doors for business back in 2006. I vividly remember seeing that red postcard. It had small plates of food, just like how food is served in Japan. The deep-fried chicken wings really got my attention and this place seemed very promising. But sad to report after many, many visits here I find this place more of a social gathering in a convenient location but don't get your hopes high on food here. To be frank I really don't see what all the hype is all about for this place. Yes, the Happy Hour Menu is very reasonable but the quality is horrible. I've tried many things here, especially when they first opened with some colleagues from work only to walk out confused. Ideas may be great but the food is not executed well. Needs help with quality control. The ever so popular Honey Toast. Nothing special in my opinion. Toasted white bread, ice cream, whipped cream and sauces/syrup dressed all over........what a waste of space in your stomach. I'd rather drive to Bubbie's and eat one of their ice cream cakes as Bubbie's dessert is much better in quality and satisfies my sweet tooth. I cringe when friends want to come here. Service is spotty. Very inconsistent. The hostess at the front could use a course on greeting people with a smile and needs personality. Sometimes I feel like being sarcastic but I remind myself it's not worth my energy so I refrain from comments and repeat to myself I've come to Shokudo to spend time with friends. I feel bad for writing this review. The food here does live up to the literal Japanese meaning of cafeteria where one can expect marginal food. This is definitely NOT a place of my choice to eat at. I'd rather stay home and eat instant noodles than dine here.
(2)
Mimi N.
To be honest, I really came here just for the honey toast....but given how there are some pretty unique dishes on the menu, couldn't resist trying some of them out. Overall, Shokudo is a pretty cute and laid back restaurant. The interior was nice and neat (with the designs) and thankfully, didn't have to wait long for a table. Ordered a few dishes for lunch: Sushi Pizza, Lobster Dynamite, Crispy Rice roll, and the honey toast. In summary, most of the dishes were ok. I love the sushi pizza concept, however, the sushi itself felt a bit too dry and lacked any strong flavors. For the dynamite dish, the sauce was awesome. Like, I have no idea what's in it, but it was so good. The creaminess and slightly salty and sweet taste of the sauce were well balanced. The only thing that I was a bit let down about the lobster dynamite dish was - where was the lobster taste? I saw tiny pieces of lobster floating around but didn't even taste a hint of lobster in it. Perhaps the sauce was too overwhelming? Next up was the crispy rice roll. After seeing so many reviews and pictures about this dish, I was pumped to try it out. Sadly, I was a bit disappointed with the rolls. Awesome idea for a roll, with crispy rice on the outside for the extra crunch that's different from a tempura roll. However, the rice was a bit too burnt and dried out, the roll itself wasn't too savory and overall, it was a bland dish. Finally, the honey toast. Honey toast here is worth the visit. The bread was perfectly toasted, and overall, this was quite a refreshing snack. Kept it simple with the original, and keep in mind, this is a pretty large dish. So if you don't feel like eating too much of this yummy dessert, there is an option to order a mini version of it. I would recommend stopping this place if you're in the mood to try a new dessert like honey toast.
(3)
Sungjin S.
We had an excellent waitress, BJ. She was so friendly and helpful. She had made suggestions and they were perfect. Excellent experience overall. Atmosphere: We didn't have a reservation so we waited a few minutes but when we were seated the restaurant was very spacious with high ceilings. Service: BJ our waitress was so kind and helpful. Excellent service, felt like I was dining at a Michelin 3 star restaurant just by her high quality service. Food: We followed BJ's suggestions and tried the fresh tofu salad (tofu made fresh every 20 minutes), mochi cheese, garlic scallops in a hot bowl, and the famous honey toast with vanilla ice cream. The tofu salad was so fresh, light, clean and full of flavor. The mochi with melted cheese on top was very unique and worth trying, never have I had that combination before. The dish was like a mash up of italian and japanese flavors. The honey toast was absolutely wonderful. Intangibles: Don't come here for the sushi. You must try the unique dishes here to include all the above and more.
(4)
Jeana P.
After a night at the opera on April 22, 2015 Wednesday night was the first time I stepped foot into Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar. Wow...what a big difference of decor since Angelo Pietro. I was in a group of 5 and we were seated at a table. 3 of us on one side and I got to sit next to the window. **My review is based on my experience at the restaurant. The waiter hands us the menu plus the late night happy hour menu. I glanced through the big menu and seen the photo of Sashimi Sampler....ok I want that. I looked over the happy hour menu and seen Garlic Clams...ok I want that too. Once my two dishes arrived I noticed that the Sashimi Sampler which consisted of 3 small thick slices of Ahi, Salmon, and Hamachi did not have the vegetables like the picture showed. Very disappointed. The Garlic Clams was overloaded on the garlic and very salty plus the clams was on the smaller side. I was still kind of hungry and I looked over the happy hour menu again. Char Siu Ramen Jr. caught my eye. When James the waiter came around to our table and asked if we needed anything I put in an order for my ramen bowl. When the ramen bowl came out...now I know why they call it Char Siu Ramen Jr.. The dish was served in a small bowl and only one char siu on top of the ramen noodles. The broth for the ramen was on the salty side too. Normally I would always finish the ramen broth especially if it's delicious. Excellent customer service from James our waiter for the evening. The food wise could use a little improvement. Cut down on the salt for the garlic clams and for the ramen broth. Please add the vegetables to the Sashimi Sampler (cost $17.95)...I wanted to eat some cucumbers and carrots with my sashimi. If there's just going to be just the sashimi slices then at least cut down on the price by $5.00. I'll give the restaurant a try another time when I'm in the Honolulu area. Hopefully my next experience would be a better one.
(3)
Elle B.
Mainly came here for the honey toast my friend hyped about so much. I can see why, it was derrricious for being such a simple dessert! However, the lunch bento was just so-so. I also found a piece of hair under my teriyaki chicken so it couldn't have been mine. I didn't want to tell our waitress because, for once, I kinda felt bad. I'm the annoying type who looks at every inch of what I eat after finding so many pieces of hair and what not in restaurants.. So I let this one slide. But service was friendly. We went during the week around 11, and were seated right away. Only a few other guests we there. Then as soon as it hit noon, it was more busy. Overall, I'd say I would only come here if I was craving the honey toast.
(3)
Kathy A.
Another fabulously fun event presented by our wonderful Yelp leaders. Where else can you drink alcohol while you prick you fingers making ribbons for the Honolulu Aids Walk? The ribbons were red so the bleeding didn't show for those of us who are repeat stabbers. By the time we got our ribbon rhythm rolling we ran out of little gold pins! Ah shucks, now all we can do is enjoy the company of other yelpers and have more cocktail! Thank you Arynn for sharing the Honey Toast! Thank you Terry K for fun conversation and bringing your +1! Thank you Emi for your kind words! Nice to meet and talk to so many people but especially Rod, Michael and Darren. Too much fun for so little that we gave.
(5)
Joanne E.
Favorites here include the yuzu hamachi carpaccio, mochi gratin, lobster dynamite, steak tataki nigiri, and rib eye steak. Everything was prepared well. The rib eye steak came with watercress on a sizzling platter, making it even more mouth-watering. It was juicy, fatty, with a perfect amount of seasoning. So ono! We also splurged on the green tea shakes, which were good but didn't have quite enough green tea flavor and too many calories for me. The kiddos (and the adults, too) enjoyed the foot-long chicken katsu and chicken karaage. The katsu was very crispy yet juicy, one of the best yet. The servers were super attentive, friendly and helpful. Can't ask for much more. I just read about their omakase in Emi's review, so we went back for the 2nd time in 3 days to try it! The one we ordered was a platter with 3 thick slices of each of 6 different types of fish: salmon, snapper, tuna, hamachi, ikura, and one more white fish, plus uni. This was not a bad price for the quantity and quality of fish, plus it came with a bottle of hot sake, bonus! I'm not sure if it's different if you order at the sushi bar vs a table. So glad that this place has added the sushi bar, making the menu much more diverse than it used to be. Of course we had to end the meal with honey toast, with cinnamon. How does something so simple taste so good? Special thanks to Shokudo and our waiter, who brought us some extra goodies for our anniversary; tempura bread pudding ala mode! The great service on top of delicious food ensured that we'll be back soon!
(5)
Kristyn K.
Went to Shokudo with quite a large party (10) and was pleasantly surprised we were given the party room without requesting it! This meant we didn't need to meet the minimum requirement of $300, which is a price tag when reserving the room. Our server, Gabriel, was very attentive and the crew took really good care of us, down to making sure we had ample time to prep and record my grandma's free birthday dessert and singing. We ordered semi family style, semi individual. On the menu for dinner were: unagi rice, sukiyaki bibimbap, lobster dynamite roll, negi chashu x2, mochi cheese gratin x2, spicy ahi roll, teri chicken quesadilla, foot long chicken katsu, tempura roll, misoyaki salmon with a rice set, assorted tempura x3, gyoza, and their hamachi kama. For dessert, we had an original honey toast, cookies and creme honey toast, and a birthday tempura bread pudding. All and all, everyone was more than satisfied. We even had a bit of leftovers and brought the honey toast crust home for breakfast the next day! Cost wise, my grandma kept raving that it's cheaper than other restaurants we go to, and it included tip and dessert. She ain't lying. We will definitely be back, as this was not my first time here. :D
Went here for my wife's birthday. Always walked by and seen the lines so thought it must good. Reading the yelp reviews decided to try it out. Not bad for the price thought it would be pricy but it really wasent. The sushi was good and it came out really quick maybe it was because we went on a Monday. We only ate the sushi and bannanas flambe next time I'll try the other menu items. The service was very good Garret our server was very professional and knew the menu. He was also nice enough to offer my wife a birthday cake. I've been to a few sushi bars and Shokudo ranks higly as one of my favourites which I will deffently come back to. It is also convently located near my apartment LOL so I can walk right over. If you like sushi at reasonable this is the place to go. They also have happy hour from 4-6 and late night from 11-12.
(4)
Joyce L.
Sadly I can only give 2 stars for good food and online reservation. Our server was good however I found out that our server and another server aren't getting along so therefore I ended up waiting 20 minutes getting change back from paying my bill. How shameful that I have to be in the middle of the drama. Shokudo used to be a vibrant and fun place to eat. Fortunately food is still good. They also have tables outside now.
(2)
Lai T.
Dear Shokudo, I really want to like you more because your happy hour deals sound fantastic. But I just can't accept the mediocre food, small portions, and blah service when Home Bar is so close by. Please try to step it up. To be fair-I've had really delicious food from you in the past, but I've never left feeling like the server really cared if I had an enjoyable dining experience.
(2)
Joann Y.
I have had an on and off relationship with Shokudo over the years. There are times where I LOVE it, and there are times where it's not that great. So it's definitely a hit or miss for me in terms of food, ambiance, and service. I would actually rate it a 3.5 since I feel Shokudo is a bit better than ok, but yelp doesn't give you that option. Shokudo is well-known for their Honey Toast, which is the dessert I look forward to every time. However, I don't feel like it improves each time. The toast used to come lightly toasted, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. This was perfect because you could enjoy their soft, delicious bread. Sadly, there have been times where I have received slightly more burnt toast comparable to a sweet crouton, which was so disappointing. The ice cream made it better! Shokudo's other dishes such as the ishikayi (stone pot rice) dishes, sushi rolls, or homemade tofu items are always delicious. What's better than watching them bring over a hot stone-pot filled with delicious goodies and mixing it up right in front of you?! Well, maybe the honey toast. I wouldn't recommend coming here for noodles or the char-siu pupu. There are wayyy better places to go to for noodles, and the char-siu was not that good nor was it visually pleasing. The best thing about Shokudo is that it is great for groups. Large reservations? No problem. Need a small room? No problem. It's a very accommodating place. Not only that, the prices aren't too much of a dent in your wallet. So I would definitely recommend Shokudo for groups!
(4)
Mandy G.
Delicious, gratifying, and open late! I wish that I'm still on vacation so I can have more of their food. My friends took my here for dinner. We all had such a great time. Its a fun hang out place. It would be a great for dates also. Everything we ordered was so tasty. I am craving for their yuzu hamachi carpaccio right now. The honey toast became my favorite dessert of all time. You have to try this joint especially if you visiting Honolulu. I wish they had a location in Cali.
(5)
Brian K.
My girlfriend and I came here for lunch last week, and I'm disappointed to say that the overall experience was ruined mostly in part to very low quality sashimi. We both ordered the lunch Bento Delux, and after about a 30 minute wait, or food had arrived. To the untrained eye the sashimi looked quite delicious, but my girlfriend is a fisherman, and informed me that the near had been "burned" which occurs when a fish is not cooled down fast enough after being caught. Apparently this doesn't really impact the taste, but rather the mouth feel, so I didn't really care too much. What did bother me was that the tuna used tasted like skipjack tuna. The flavor was just awful, I can't believe the sushi chef used this meat for sashimi... This foul up nearly made us return my dish, but my girlfriend's embarrassment wouldn't allow me to do so. Overall everything else that came with the bento was great, but I would highly encourage you to stay away from the ahi sashimi. Aside from the sashimi, this place was probably three stars, but being such an essential piece of a sushi restaurant I'm compelled to give shokudo only 1 star. Cheers
(1)
Roxanne Lynn T.
It's been over a year since I've visited Shokudo. Years ago, this used to be one of our spots to go to when we would have gatherings with freinds. We always used to wait because this place always got busy. Over the years we started to just drift away from this place and would choose another sushi place because a new one opened in town. It was a friday a night that my boyfriend and I had randomly planned to have dinner here. And to our surprise, it was around 830pm and there was no line at all and we were seated quickly. I was shocked that it wasn't too busy as how I remembered it or just thought maybe we got there right timing and had beat the rush or something. Well I wasn't complaining though, I love the fact that we were seated right away. We had a trainee server who was serving us that night and he was doing a pretty good job greeting us and making sure our experience there was pleasant. Which was another plus to us enjoying our dinner night there. We had as for a recommendation regarding a sweet sake and the server delivered our requests. It was a delicious choice to start off the night. For our dinner we ordered our usuals: Beef Tataki, Sushi Sampler, and Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice. All were fresh and tasty just like I remembered it to be. Our stomachs were left happy and fulfilled our sushi cravings. And for dessert, HONEY TOAST IS A MUST! It's always been my favorite. They give you a free honey toast dessert within 5 days of your birthday so it was tradition that I always used to come around my birthday to get my honey toast birthday dessert as they put a candle on to celebrate the occasion. We had the chocolate one and it was sooo good. Actually I like the original regular honey toast though the best. Food prices are a little pricey but you pay for what you get for. I think what go us on our high bill was the drinks. Japanese drinks tend to be more expensive than your regular drinks. Other than that, the service was great and our experience that night gave us a reason to want to come back again some time.
(4)
Mona I.
We spent almost 2 hours here-not by choice. Their service on a Monday night was ridiculously slow. After an hour wait to even get in, we sat down, expecting greatness for the wait, but instead, this place is just a popular hangout, with over glorified sushi rolls. The rainbow roll, tempura shrimp roll, spicy lobster dynamite, and California roll were all sub par. Nothing special or memorable. The worst part was when we waited a ridiculous amount of time for a waiter to come to take our order, for a waiter to come and bring the check, and once they had our credit card, we thought they went on a shopping spree because we waited at least a half an hour for them to bring it back. We made the most of it by playing games but that restaurant is not my idea of good Japanese food, nor good service, nor a good time. To end this on a positive note though, I was digging the decor. :-)
(2)
Amanda L.
So I've never actually eaten a full dinner here - the 5 star rating I'm leaving is strictly for the honey toast because it is THAT good. For those of you who don't know what honey toast is, it's (let's be honest) like half a loaf of bread with the middle cut out and cubed and toasted to perfection and drizzled with honey. It comes with vanilla ice cream and everything together is one of my favorite desserts ever. So simple, but reaaaaally delicious. A must-have when in town!
(5)
Traci T.
Another place I like to celebrate my birthday every year. Mainly because I have one of those Shokudo Dream Diners cards that they gave out years ago. This card is awesome! In the month of your birthday, they give you $25 to use towards your bill. The bestie and I went for happy hour so our bill virtually came out to nothing. We got the char siu ramen, jr., yogurt shochu, sukiyaki kimchee pizza, spicy tuna nachos, dynamite fries, and a honey toast, jr. Happy Hour is great because prices are between $3 - $5. We usually check out the 4 - 6 pm happy hour, but there is a late night one from 10:00 - 12:00. Boo...Shokudo no longer gives you a free honey toast for your birthday. Instead, they give a free Sakura bread pudding with vanilla ice cream. I gotta say I'm not a fan. It's a fried bread pudding...kinda weird. Think it would've been better if it was just bread pudding. Would've enjoyed the honey toast way more! Our server Wade was awesome! My bestie goes way more than I do and she said he's always superb. He remembers your name just from one meeting. He's very courteous and checks on you to make sure you're okay all the time. He works the bar, but he made sure to check on us even though we were sitting on the cocktail table a little away from the bar. Thank you Shokudo for making me feel so special for my birthday!
(4)
Melina P.
I absolutely LOVE love love LOOOVE this place. The food is always good & the employees are super nice. I probably come here at least once a month. My favorite dishes include: Tempura sushi roll, karaage chicken, soy beans, yukari fries & sushi pizza. I tried the soft-shell crab roll at my most recent visit & even though it tasted amazing, I didn't care for the "crunch" of the crab shell. & of courseeeee if you're here, you MUST order the honey toast!!! My favorite is probably the Oreo cookie but I also enjoy the strawberries & original. HIGHLY recommend this place!!!
(5)
Anthony N.
It was our first night in Hawaii and wanted some fresh sashimi. After doing a quick Yelp search, we found this place. It was close to our hotel and the pics look good. My girlfriend and I decided to get the sashimi sampler, sushi pizza and a few drinks. The decor inside was pretty modern and was super busy. Luckily, we didn't have to wait long before we were seated (less than 10 minutes wait on a Tuesday night). Our server was very nice and attentive. Even with how busy the place was, he checked on use every so often and took his time answering questions. 5 stars for the service! Food was good. Eat cut of sashimi tasted fresh and of good quality. The sushi pizza had 16 pieces and was flavorful. Nothing stood out too much, besides the service. Overall, I'd recommend the place to others. It's good, decently priced and close to a lot of hotels.
(4)
Hikari K.
5 stars because our server Karlo was awesome!! He made sure our experience here was memorable. Didn't miss a beat when it came to what aiden liked or disliked. As long as karlo is working, we will def.. Come back.
(5)
Pam M.
I dined here for a friend's birthday dinner this past weekend since the birthday girl suggested this place. We were really hungry & went a little overboard ordering (eyes bigger than stomach). We had: - Lobster dynamite roll (3.5/5) - one of my favorite items that I had - Hamachi with ponzu sauce (4.5/5) - classic dish, enjoyed by all - Ahi tartare salad (3/5) - was ok - Agedashi tofu (3/5) - was ok - Spicy tuna crispy rice (2/5) - a bit too much rice ended up being overly chewy so I wasn't a fan - Unagi bowl (3/5) - this comes in a very hot cast iron pot where they mix the items in the bowl & scoop it into smaller bowls for serving. The hot pot makes the rice crispy. The eel was ok. - Salmon & ikura bowl (4.5/5) - This dish also comes in a hot cast iron pot where they mix the items in the bowl & scoop it into smaller bowls for serving. I liked the salmon & ikura more than the unagi bowl - Oxtail ramen (3.5/5) - the birthday girl wanted ramen & I don't like overly spicy food, so we settled on oxtail ramen which had a great flavor & the oxtail was nice & tender. - Tempura bread pudding (3.5/5) - the birthday dessert that is complementary on the restaurant. They used to give a half order of the honey toast with ice cream, but they've replaced it with with this dish -Honey toast (3.5/5) - can't go wrong with a dessert that they're famous for. Big slices of toasted Japanese bread with the middle cut into small squares, served with honey & vanilla ice cream - YUM! Drinks are good (saketinis, soju cocktails, mojitos) but on the sweeter side. Service is quick & friendly.
(3)
Celia Z.
"OMG, honey toast" That was my reaction when I first yelped this place. After dinner at 678 Korean BBQ nearby, we stopped here for dessert and drinks - chocolate and red bean honey toast with sake. The honey toast was good and original, but it was nothing out of the ordinary in terms of taste. Just some crunchy and chewy cubed toast soaked in really good honey with two scoops of ice-cream on top. I can make this at home for less and perhaps even better. Oh, and for the red bean, instead of giving us two scoops of ice-cream, red bean replaced one of the ice-cream scoops. Not cool. I was also disappointed by the amount of missing items on the menu. We ordered the bread pudding tempura (or something like that), but they were out. This is the same with the first bottle of sake that we ordered. They also forgot my friend's tea until he asked again. But hey, at least this place is great for groups.
(3)
Odille C.
Who doesn't love honey toast? A crazy person, that's who. This trendy Japanese restaurant is comfortably residing across the street from First Hawaiian Bank on Kapiolani. I love the decor, service, and of course the food. It's almost always full every time I eat here. The Salmon Rice is heaven on Earth and if I could order it again and again without getting fat I would. I come here as often as my wallet will allow me. The wait may or may not be long, call ahead to see how long it is, but on most days you can walk in and get a seat. There is parking in the building so you don't have to make a long trek to get your Honey Toast craving fulfilled.
(5)
Kelly L.
* Price: nothing more than $15; 4+ Star. * Ambiance: casual, modern. 3+ star. * Location: next to Ala moana shopping, nearby garage parking off Kapiolani blvd. Or at the mall then walk over. 3 star. * Meals: excellent; tapas style... many choices. 4 + star * Service : friendly, pleasant, fast, 4 + star. This is averaged to about 4 star. Since it opens for late night dinning until 1 AM and the food and service is consistently great, I add 1 extra star to the overall rating. We were looking for a late night dinning and decided to come here. We had been here before and do like the place. It is tapas or pupus style... so their menu is large. - spicy tuna rolls $3. Fresh. - cucumber salad $3. Cucumber cubes with shallots... very refreshing. - cold ramen salad $4. It served with udon noodles, assorted vegetables, imitated crab meats, eggs, shoyu. Pretty good - lobster dynamite rolls $15. It is tasty minus the creamy sauce. - spider rolls $12 as expected, fresh. - garlic clams $3. Garlic wine sauce is so tasty. Clams are big and juicy. I can drink a whole bowl! - honey toast $3.50. Their signature dish. Very rich... must have! Definitely come back!
(5)
Angela Y.
I'm sorry to say that contrary to my previous review, my eyes have changed about Shokudo. I used to enjoy coming here often, but it seems like the workers have completely downgraded, as well as service and quality. Upon entrance, the Asian hostess, who worked on the 7th of December around 3PM was rather rude and sighed loudly before asking in a sassy tone, "....for 2? Or.." very rude. Our waitress, Sherrie, was rather polite, and Sunnie, the manager, was extremely friendly. However, I did not expect to receive the ugliest looking honey toast on the dirtiest plate I ever did see. That plate should have been thrown out. I would expect Sherrie to say something about it because the condition of the plate was unacceptable. Pictures are uploaded but in person, looks much dirtier. I am quite disappointed in what Shokudo has now been offering because it really killed the vibe for me. Keep in mind that it was lunch time and was not busy or even half full, yet our food took forever. The 2 stars are for Sunnie's politeness and the other is for the kind parking attendant.
(2)
Percito D.
I have been here twice, and both time I was not disappointed. While the decor isn't the greatest, the food more than makes up for it. The honey toast is to die for, and I can see why everybody on the island hypes it so much. The service was great both times, and I definitely see myself coming here again in the future.
(5)
Sheryl G.
what: a japanese restaurant and bar where tradition takes a step forward in casual dining :) something good: shokudo, still one of my go-to places! i definitely have my favorites here but whenever i come here with someone i love to try their favorites too! so that is why my list of favorites keeps growing here : ) !! i like coming here for lunch because it's a little less crazy, but i also really love coming here for dinner and sitting at either the bar or in the restaurant~ that's what makes this place so diverse : ) !! something not so good: really, nothing! something to try: honey toast (7) and tempura roll (11)
(5)
Steven U.
I think in the Japanese language Shodudo means dining hall. But in English, Shokudo means yummy! I have been fortunate to eat here for lunch, happy hour, and dinner....and it's good times! It has pretty cool architecture looking in from the street, and the interior is nice looking as well. There is bar seating inside, as well as table seating on both sides of the bar. I believe they have private rooms in the back as well. The outside dining area looks like it gets lots of use, when it's not too hot out. The service has been pretty good here every time I have been. The servers seem on top of things and the food usually comes out fairly quick. During lunch, I liked the bento that comes with homemade tofu. It was so soft and silky....I wanted seconds. The bento wasn't huge, but it was enough for lunch. Definitely a healthier lunch....if you are into that sort of thing. For happy hour, the gyoza was amazing. If you get one item off of the happy hour menu...that would be it. At the risk of sounding like a sake snob...I try not to drink Sho Chiku Bai sake anymore....why? Well, the world of sake is so wonderful and there is so much to try... However, there is a happy hour cold sake called Li Hing sake. Just get it. Forget that it is made with 'average' sake and enjoy....repeatedly. The clams were also very good during happy hour. As well as the quesadilla, spicy tuna roll, and the tuna nachos. During dinner I have tried a bunch of things, but my two 'must haves' are the agedashi tofu and honey toast. The tofu has an awesome crispy-fried texture on the outside and is super soft on the inside. I can eat a whole order of this by myself....quickly. The honey toast is a great dessert made up of a half loaf of bread....yes, bread. It is toasted, hollowed out, and filled with ice cream and drizzled with honey. Amazingly addictive and just what the doctor ordered (not really)! I will definitely be back here....it's a fun place to hang with friends!
(4)
Ash C.
I love this place! this is seriously one of my go-to places for sushi and honey toast! the service is always exceptional here and the staff is always friendly. my last experience here, I tried to call in a reservation on a Friday night for a party of 3 around 7p but they were booked so they suggested to walk-in instead. wasn't sure how long the wait would be since it was a weekend plus it was prime time dinner time. so we got there around 7p and put down our name. was told the wait was about 20-30mins. after 10 or maybe 15mins went by, they called our name to be sat. they have a great selection on their menu and I love that they have pictures too haha. I love their unagi rice, lobster dynamite roll and spicy tuna on crunchy rice. and you can't forget about their honey toast! I've tried both their original and cookies and cream flavor. both are good but you can never beat their original flavor. I have a honey toast vip card that gets me 2 extra scoops of vanilla ice cream which I won off one of their contests last year. that's another thing I love about this place. they always keep it interesting with winning stuff. be sure to follow their Instagram to find out all about their current contests @shokudojapanese shokudo is also a great place for big parties as I had a couple birthday parties here. #4 out of 100 Yelp Reviews in 2015
(5)
Nikki H.
I'll just try to make this short a sweet on why I loved this place. 1. Parking was SUPER easy. You just find a spot in Ala Moana and walk the short distance to the restaurant. 2. It's easy to find. I mean, it's RIGHT in front of the mall. 3. Our server was super attentive, quick with drinks and brought our food out fairly speedy. 4. I asked for their spicier rolls and he gave me two suggestions, so I decided to try both and they were delicious. 5. There is TONS of space. We had a pretty large group, and there was one next to us, and the restaurant still seemed open. 6. My martini was amazing. The lychee with soju, aka, DANGEROUS. ;-) I could go on, but I feel like anything more than 5 positives is just redundant. You shouldn't be weiging if you should come here or not, you just should. You're welcome.
(5)
Kate K.
My husband and I visited Shokudo twice during our most recent Oahu trip. The first time, we enjoyed the Spicy Ahi on Crispy Rice, the shrimp tempura, and the agedashi tofu. Everything was delicious, and perfectly cooked. Our server was attentive and friendly, and for what you get, I feel like the prices are very good. The next visit (two nights later), we ate light with just a bowl of edamame and a tempura roll. We followed it up, of course, with honey toast. For something that is basically just ice cream and bread, it is so incredibly good I can't believe it. Even if everything else in your life goes wrong, honey toast at Shokudo will still be there for you. Go get it.
(5)
Izumi K.
I go there to eat honey toast sometimes. Omg it's so good! There are not so many places that make good bread in Hawaii but their bread is excellent with vanilla ice cream. Other food is good too but average.
(4)
Krizia Faith M.
This is my go-to spot whenever me, my friends, or cousins can't decide on where to eat. This has been my all time favorite place to dine in. I'm pretty much familiar with the menu because I'm definitely a regular here. Most of time, I'm only here just for honey toast :) The waiters here are always so wonderful! They give us more than a second of their time and are always making sure that we will walk out with a pleasant experience. I've never had any type of bad customer service here....lucky me! My cup is always filled and my meals are always delicious. This place never fails! I love Shokudo
(5)
Ming C.
Shokudo is a bit overhyped for me. Personally I don't like most of the menu items although several of my friends enjoy the place. I do like the honey toast and the happy hour items (like the takoyaki roulette). I don't actually like "eating" at Shokudo as a restaurant. However, more recently I've been getting into the "bar top" scene at Shokudo. Some of the regulars invited me out and I enjoy the fun atmosphere and overall vibe. Service is pretty awesome and the bartender Matt (tall Japanese guy) makes good recommendations and takes care of the folks at the bar top. We drink, talk story, go nuts with the happy hour items, do dares with the takoyaki (one is a wasabi bomb). Good times. Good parking, plenty of seats, great happy hour menu, fun bar top, good bartenders. 3/5 for the $$ rating.
(3)
Darin O.
Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar First off- how many food porn selfies are there for this place? 10 pages of photos and counting?!?!?! I know it is well deserved and some of it is really good to see photos of before ordering- but some really - if it is soybeans - I think I know what that would look like. I am glad though that the waiters when the main dishes were brought out- made a joke when the cameras came out for food porn photos. They waited patiently and explained the dishes which I was happily surprised that they said this is the ____ and it's this or that. And gave a minute or two of time- So now- I will give them more of a 'give' as in general - things take time here at the restaurant and in general things are not timely - but when they are at 'my' table they take all the time I need them. So - it is understandable now that there is some wait time - because they are spending time with guests when they are at other guests tables. Good thing or bad thing? I don't know or have an answer is that in general things in American Culture are changing - some especially with food... so just making a comment- these waiters are on their A game and make things fun for their guests in general. Good and Bad; Location, location, location. It is in front of Ala Moana- so if you don't want mall food or want to avoid too much touristyness it is just a walk up a block from the parking lot. But that makes it crowded too- long waits or crowded lines. If something special is going on- calling ahead may be the best idea. Inside- it may seem that things take long- the wait staff seems super competent and well trained and spot on in service. But they may either be overwhelmed, understaffed, or something just might be going on that guests don't know about- cause sometimes things take FOREVER..... The waiters though are spot on- WIT. They are so attentive. I asked one guy if he is trying to be like Ed Debevics - a famous restaurant in Chicago that gives 1 does of great comfort food with 2 doses of snarky wit. Either the one guy is tired of broken English and just rearing for witty banter or is just that quick to comment appropriately with groups that are obviously out for a great time. Food- as if there are not enough photos for you to look at in general on this page.... Caramel Honey Toast- I thought it sounded , well too over the top and not as appetizing as they thought but ohhh my goodness it is really decadent and great tasting so well done. Foot Long Chicken Katsu- it is chicken but better prepared than what I can do at home and even better than KFC, the Japanese/ Korean style of frying is way better. Pork Gyoza- I just like them. Shrimp Tempura- Again the Japanese/ Korean style of frying is way better with the lighter breading- the taste is just better. Assorted Tempura- here is my one odd comment you might think- McD adds salt to the fries before they are shipped, the oil they are fried in has salt in it because they only change the frying oil is changed weekly and then it is sloshed in salt- so when you have McD fries there is a ton of flavor in the salt. So back to the tempura here- there is less taste than if the vegs were just steamed and seasoned lightly so basically I think they are light and tastey but they have less flavor as in on the boring side. Soybeans- I know people like the soybeans with the shell on but I am used to eating whole soybeans so I know others don't like to see me do that- so I'll stick to only doing that at home. PorkChop with Pineapple-Onion Saute- again ohhh really good and so much better than I can make at home.... Well worth it. Salmon Rice- not as fresh as at the best local Alaskan restaurants but still good. Unagi Rice- steaming hot and smells wonderful, I can see why it seems to be a local favorite. Great location for a great night out to enjoy some great food.
(5)
Liza I.
Yay! Friday night is date night!! We had originally planned to have dinner somewhere else but, we started our evening late so the search for places that are open late was on! After we narrowed our finds to two places, we decided on here! Parking was a breeze so we took that as a great sign! The very polite guy at the front said the wait would be 30 minutes but, it was half the time. Anyway, on to the main reason for this review! We ordered for pupus, the lobster dynamite, chicken karaage & assorted tempura! (we were hungry-lol) Mmmm..yummy! We loved everything! Good portions as well. For our main entrees, my honey decided on the rib eye steak w/rice and I opted for the teriyaki Salmon w/the Wasabi mashed potatoes. Perfect, perfect and perfect! The steak was tender and prepared superbly! And my Salmon? Let's just say there was not a morsel left! (did I mention that we were hungry? - we had lots to take home tho) We ended the night with the ever so popular honey toast! We had it with vanilla ice cream and it was soooo awesome!! Next time though, I'm trying the bread pudding! :) So, to conclude, we made a great choice! They're open til 1am and the staffs are very polite and efficient! Will we be back? Why yes we are!!! Oh, did I mention that their prices are very, very reasonable? Give them a try! You won't regret it!
(5)
Asia G.
I heard about Shokudos happy hour and decided to give it a try. I called before driving into town to double check if they have happy hour during the weekend and they did so I drove all the way from Makakilo to town. Once we were seated they asked to see our IDs because I guess you need to be 21 to get the happy hour menu even if you aren't ordering drinks. They did not tell me over the phone that I needed to be 21 when I called to confirm and yet they would not let us order from the happy hour menu even though 3 of us were over 21 and only one person in the group was 18. They have terrible customer service and should clearly advertise that you need to be 21 to enjoy their happy hour even if you are going there for food. The only reason why I'm even giving them a star is because the venue was nice. Besides that Shokudo was a total waste of time.
(1)
Samantha A.
The bad: Do NOT try the Kusai Kudasai sushi roll. I have never eaten something and thought, "I regret consuming those calories." It sounded great on the menu, but the execution was...confusing. "Spicy tuna roll topped with albacore tataki and finished with garlic butter, garlic chips, and a balsamic vinaigrette." When they brought it out, I almost thought there was supposed to be beef in there and served hot. Garlic game was WAY too strong (garlic chips were really overpowering), and doesn't leave room for other flavors. The good: Service. Grant was very pleasant and attentive. Mermaid sushi roll (good), assorted tempura (can't go wrong with tempura), and homemade tofu salad (I could've gone with a lighter dressing).
(4)
Jennifer L.
This is one of those places where I frequent often enough but I'm not technically a huge fan of. When it first opened, my mother, aunt, and cousin were all enamored by this place. They liked honey toast to death! They also mentioned that the salads were good. On the other hand, I didn't care as much for the honey toast - it's good but not to-die-for good in my opinion. Fast forward years later and I'm working in the same building as Shokudo. Therefore my colleagues and I order from here...often enough. Maybe once a month or once every other month. My boss LOVES the tofu salad here and she's gotten me hooked as well. Even my colleague who hates salads and never eats them loves it. I also like their homemade tofu alone, though my boyfriend says he's had better. Other things I like: -spicy tuna roll -crispy spicy tuna sushi -mochi cheese gratin (THIS IS THE BEST) Most of the time, their food is all right. However, the one and only time I convinced my boyfriend to eat here, his teriyaki chicken was raw. It wasn't even just "pinkish" - it was RAW and not cooked. A little concerning. :/ Service leaves much to desire. It's not so bad if you eat here but the process of getting seated and/or calling in for takeout is stressful. They need to organize their host station a bit better. Sometimes it takes me 3 or 4 calls (ringing and ringing) in order to get someone to even pick up. This becomes a real issue when I'm ordering food for the boss and her clients (and half the meeting is over before someone even picks up to take my order).
(3)
Lori L.
Shokudo Japanese Restaurant and Bar is pricy and service gets spotty when they're slammed, but it's still a go to place for birthday gatherings, work pau hana, and first dates. Make a reservation or come early to avoid a long wait. Their menu is a mix of modern fusion and traditional items, perfect for sharing; and take advantage of Happy Hour to try their full bar including specialty mixed drinks and sake. Tofu Salad, Mochi Cheese Gratin, and Bi Bim Bap Stone Pot Rice are regular orders. The Tempura and Sashimi/Nigiri/Rolls are also safe choices and crowd pleasers. For dessert, skip the Honey Toast and go for the Tempura Bread Pudding with Ice Cream. Whether you just want drinks and pupus or a full meal, Shokudo is a popular option for your next gathering. Pics are from Restaurant Week 2014 Pre-Fix Menu.
(3)
Rafal S.
Great place if you want to get sushi any time, but especially past midnight. A proximate location to the Honolulu's finest strip clubs ensures a steady stream of late night customers who are tired of just looking at clams and want to actually get some delicious seafood in them. I loved the raised floor restaurant and the cabinets hanging off the ceiling.
(5)
Rob S.
I just wanted to praise one of the servers working there. Grant is seriously grade A quality service. I would come back here just for the service alone. This guy made our night awesome. If your reading this Grant, thank you!!
(5)
Jessica B.
I have now lived near this restaurant for 2 months and finally went tonight on the way home from the mall. The menu online looked great...a bit over priced but great. So I ordered a spicy scallop roll to go and gyoza. I had a sake while I waited. The bartender was great. The sake was a bit overpriced at $16 and change for a small bottle but it was fine. I was sitting at the bar/sushi bar so I saw them making my roll. The fish all looked fresh so I was excited. For me the best test of a sushi bar (I know others may not agree) is a spicy scallop roll. What size of scallop matters and if it is more spicy than scallop matters. Anyway I brought my food home and played it. Unfortunately the gyoza tasted like dumpling more than pork. And the sauce was a bit too salty for me. And sadly, the scallop roll didn't taste like anything, just rice. I am really bummed out at the sushi was not cheap but am willing to try them another time and get sashimi. We will see. But FYI their restaurant next door called bread and butter is FANTASTIC!
(3)
Jodi T.
I'm a regular at this place. I love shokudo. The Li Hing Sake is THE BOMB!!! Honey toast is always on point as well. I mostly go for the happy hour after work. Ryan is my normal server and he's awesome!! Always has a smile on his face and gets us our food and drinks quickly.
(5)
Susan M.
Living in Hawaii most of my life, I had never gone to this restaurant. On my recent vacation home, my sister took me there for dinner. I must say I was very pleased. We had tofu salad, red eye roll, pork chop bites, salmon and of course the honey toast. Everything was delicious. I usually don't eat tofu but their dressing made it Oh so good. The honey toast, Which everyone has raved about was good but ours could stand for more honey. I would definitely come back to this restaurant. Good food and great service.
(4)
Ina T.
Food here was awesome! I finally made my way after years of wanting to try then out. Everything was just as good as I heard it was going to be. Our waiter gave us great suggestions and we ordered all of them. A few of my favs were the lobster dynamite, mochi cheese, teriyaki salmon and honey toast duh!!! I have more to try on the list....I'll be back for sure!!!!!
(5)
Cristine P.
First off, I come to shokudo about 2-3 times a month. Normally when I come to shokudo there is no problems, sign in at the host stand wait (if there is any). But tonight.... Tonight my boyfriend and I came here to have a late dinner, when we checked in at the host (shelley) we asked if there was a wait. She said that there was no wait, she had to seat ONE party before us and she'll call us from outside. While we were waiting outside we had seen 2 other parties show up check in and waited. The hotess seated that one party then called the other 2 parties ahead of us. She then walked out to the patio and started talking to her coworkers about whatever's. She then finally comes back outside to us and asks if we were wanting a table or if we had eaten. Seriously??? Like we JUST checked in 10-15 mins prior. She didn't appologize or anything. Very upset at this visit and I don't want to low tip our server because it wasn't his fault.
(2)
Heather O.
Shokudo is a wonderful place where you can have the option to do family style or you can have a dish all for your self. Depending on who I go with will depend what I get. The two items that I always get when I go to Shokudo is the French fries, yes they are just fries but they are amazing with black seasoning and it's cheap and they give you a basket of fries, taste amazing with a sweet drink or beer. I also always get the tofu salad, if you love to eat tofu, then you would love this salad. They have the freshest tofu on the island! I have new to Japan and the tofu is very close to that of Japan. It comes with a light dressing and greens, they also put won ton strips on top. Until the 31st of March they are having their honey toast special! It's a three level honey toast with maple and bacon! My boyfriend said its be best honey toast they have! They won't be selling it after the 31 so go soon! Because it's their anniversary you get a special ticket and it comes with rewards, we got $10 off for next month. Shokudo is a great place to celebrate birthday or graduations or just to go with a group of friends!
(5)
Ray N.
Ive never been to shokudo before but ill definetly be back especially on friday and saturdays when djjem makes her appearance! Mellow dance music to get you going while you dine on some of the best sushi around. The service was great too a young woman by the name of BJ tended to my every need. Cant wait to come by again
(5)
Allysa C.
Went to Shokudo for a lunch date with the girls, and what an excellent choice it was! We ordered Garlic Shrimp Rice and Sukiyaki Bibimbap for our main dishes. Then, we also ordered a plate of Pork Gyoza and California Roll. Extremely delicious!!! If you like mildly spicy Korean food, then Sukiyaki Bibimbap is for you. The Garlic Shrimp Rice cooks right in front of you inside the hot stone bowl, but warning, make sure you pack some gum because your breath will smell haha For desert, we had 2 orders of honey toast (1 for me, obviously; while my 2 other friends shared another one). I had the original while my friends had the cookies n' cream. The bread cubes from the inside are so sweet because of the honey, but the vanilla ice cream kinda leveled it out. Warning: DO NOT order your own honey toast, unless you are completely sure you can finish it off! I thought I could handle it, but in the end the honey toast won lol
(5)
Beth K.
I have loved Shokudo since the first time I've eaten here. Both of my children (ages 4 and 12) love it here. It's significantly less busy for lunch than it is for dinner, so we always try to come in then. The honey toast is awesome, as is the mochi gratin. All of their floats are yummy, and you can't go wrong with any of the food!
(5)
Joseph Joel B.
Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar is on Kapiolani Boulevard located behind Ala Moana Shopping Center. The entrance to the parking garage is along Kona Street, and parking is available starting on the 2nd Floor. They always seem to have a good crowded atmosphere here, especially on the weekends, but for good reason... Their food is delicious!! They advertise themselves as a Japanese Restaurant & Bar, but I would describe their food as Japanese/Asian fusion... But even that's not fully correct because they have Chinese, Korean, French & Italian influences in their dishes. I always come to Shokudo with the intentions of wanting to try all the different items on the menu, but I always seem to gravitate towards my favorite, the Lobster Dynamite Roll. But since I haven't eaten all day since breakfast, I also decided to order something new, the Shrimp Tempura Udon Noodle. Now, imagine a California roll topped with a delicious creamy zesty sauce with chunks of lobster meat and baked in the oven for a couple minutes... That's pretty much the Lobster Dynamite Roll!! The Shrimp Tempura Udon Noodle was good too... I liked that they separated the shrimp tempura from the soup, so it wouldn't get soggy. Even though we were all completely full, we can't leave here without having any of their Honey Toast!! So we decided to share the Oreo Cookie & Cream, which is my personal favorite flavor of Honey Toast. If you haven't been here before (shame on you), their Honey Toast is enormous, and is meant to be shared. Just imagine an entire loaf of bread cut in half, and the insides of the bread cut into cubes with drizzled honey and chocolate syrup goodness, with Oreo cookie crumbles, and topped with two scoops of Cookies and Cream ice cream. It's a sight to behold, and even more delicious to eat!! Our waitress Chelsea was still in training, but she did a wonderful job nonetheless. She was friendly, polite, very attentive, and she even gave her opinion on what her favorite cocktails on the menu were, so my friend could decide what she wanted to drink. If I could rate individuals on here, she would definitely get 5 stars!! Overall, a good night with good friends and good food!!
(4)
Kobe O.
Exceptional customer service and great food. Robyn went out of her way to make our dining experience awesome. Constantly checking on us, filling our water, smiling.......I wish every dining experience was like this! Food was fresh and tasty as usual. Will be back and hope we have ROBYN helping us!!!!!
(5)
Trisha G.
I used to love going to this place, but the service hasn't really been that great the last couple times that I went. Happy hour is decent, and the outside seating has alleviated some of the wait time. The food is still decent. When I visit, I order the GARLIC SHRIMP RICE ishiyaki style - meaning it's served in a hot stone bowl which allows the rice to get nice & crispy. The AGEDASHI TOFU is decent also. But everyone knows what you go here for - HONEY TOAST dessert. Thick slices of japanese sweet bread - hallowed out and cube, drizzled in honey and topped with vanilla ice cream. Add additional toppings or eat as is.
(3)
Ericka B.
It had been such a long time since I've last eaten here! I'm glad I had the opportunity to try out their late night happy hour menu. (10pm- midnight) Everything was under $5 so we got to try alot of new things for such an amazing price. We were seated immediately upon arrival which was totally rare at Shokudo. (Reservations are recommended). We were pretty excited considering they didn't offer most of these happy hour goodies on their regular menu. Our server was amazing and on his toes the entire time. Water glasses were filled in a timely manner which was good because boy, was I thirsty that night. We ordered Spicy Tuna nachos, Dynamite fries, Sukiyaki Kimchee Pizza, Takoyaki Roulette, and chicken Katsu (not on happy hour menu). I hadn't eaten much that day and I was pretty hungry. But was completely satisfied by the end of our meals. I pretty much loved everything but let's go into details. -Spicy Tuna nachos: mmkay mmmkay, I've had these before at different places but this one was particularly good! We all agreed the spicy sauce served was super tasty! You get such a good amount of ahi considering the dish only cost $3. -Dynamite Fries: A dish so nice we had to order it twice! Loved this combo, never thought of having dynamite mixture on french fries complete with melted cheese and jalapenos! ouuuuuuuuuu kill em'! Fries were cooked perfectly, crunchy on the outside, yet soft on the inside. Very tasty! One of the faves of the night. $3 -Sukiyaki Kimchee Pizza: I was surprised by the portion, it's much bigger than a personal pan pizza from pizzahut. I'm not sure what type of bread was used but it wasn't a traditional pizza crust. It was thin and crispy but went really well with the dish. Again, nothing like I've ever tried before! Thinly sliced sukiyaki beef, cheese, and kimchee??? A definite yummy combo, but I just wish the kimchee was a bit spicer. Or maybe the cheese had overpowered the kimchee but still, a very unique and tasty dish. I would totally recommend this. $5 -Takoyaki Roulette: Roulette?! What what! I love takoyaki but was a bit hesitant because there was a surprise in one of them. Takoyaki was so good, reminiscent of the takoyaki from Shirokiya. Not to 'mushy' and good pieces of tako inside. I was lucky enough not to experience the "surprise". It was wasabi filled, and totally cleared my friends air holes! LOL. But very fun and tasty. $5 -Chicken Katsu: Nice and perfect breading on the outside and awesome amount of meat on the inside. It wasn't too "bready" and we loved it. We had to finish with Jr. Honey Toasts!!! $3!!! Overall, experience from service to food was amazing. Pretty excited to try the other dishes on their happy hour menu :)
(5)
Amber G.
Love this place. I normally come here very mothers and Father's Day for the buffet but the last two have ruined me. I was not impressed with the food and on top of the $45+ meal the charges gratuity. If the restaurant is going to do that for two or four people than just be up front and add it to the total on the flyer. I believe in tipping but I should get a choice unless otherwise stated at the reservation. Plus the food was just ok, not great like years past. I went Mother's Day and thought the sub par food was a fluke so I went back at Father's Day. It was better but still not worth the price. The regular food is great but the experience has made me not want to return. :(
(2)
Megan Y.
Friend recommended Shokudo, and it was great! Portions were satisfying, and our server was fast and friendly. Have to try the honey toast!
(5)
Emily W.
I've been to Shokudo before but I haven't been there in a while. I went back today and was a little disappointed with my experience there. I went in with a party of two and waited 10 minutes to be seated. When we were seated, there was only one waitress serving us and the 5 surrounding tables. The service was really slow but maybe because it was New Years' Day. We ordered 1 Spicy Scallop Roll and 1 Honey Toast with Azuki. The Spicy Scallop Roll was pretty good but was not as spicy as I thought it would be. The pieces were a bit on the smaller side but the scallops in the roll were big!!! The sauce tasted more like mayo than it did spicy. I would rate the spiciness 6/10. The honey toast used to be my favorite dessert but today, I didn't even want to finish it. There was not any honey on the bread whatsoever and there wasn't a lot of those small pieces that are usually the best pieces. The Azuki was a little bit too sweet for me and I usually love sweet stuff. A suggestion would be for them to have 2 ice cream scoops instead of 1 with the Azuki because we had half a loaf of bread left with no honey, ice cream, or Azuki to eat it with :(
(2)
Jimmy C.
I came here with my family a couple of weeks ago. Parking is easy since you can park at Ala Moana Shopping Center and take the ramp or elevator down to the restaurant. We had a large party of 18 people which included 6 children. Obviously with a party of this size, we expected a wait....it was within reason. We were conveniently seated in the front left corner area which provided plenty of room for everyone get in out. Our waiter (thin Asian cat with a shaved head and tatted sleeves) was great!!! He was super nice, patient, flexible and informative....especially considering we had tables full of hungry kids and picky Divas. Drinks and food came out in a reasonable time. Collectively we thought the food was good. The Sukiyaki Bibimbap, Sushi Pizza, Scallop Roll, etc were all tasty and we cleaned our plates thoroughly. Unfortunately we didn't have enough belly space for the Honey Toast. Next time....
(5)
Christey C.
It's been a few years since dining here. I don't know why it took so long to return. I had a gift card to use, so why not! Food was just okay. Nothing I would need to go back for. Garlic shrimp rice was alright, needed more shrimp, less rice. sashimi omakase took a long time to come out, and it was beautiful, but some pieces of fish were still a little frozen. The biggest disappointment was the garlic streak. We asked for it to be cooked rare, because it on a sizzling plate, and cut pupu style. What we got was a wholeI rare steak on a non sizzling plate. Sent it back, and it came back how we asked, and with really dry mashed potatoes. Their only saving grace was dessert.... the famous honey toast. Their beverages are a waste of money. Small pours of alcohol with lots of ice. Overall, it was not worth the money. Maybe we went on an off night?
(2)
Ada L.
//Atmosphere\\ The decor is pretty nice. It has a modern vibe, nice lighting, and a spacious interior that makes it feel slightly classier than it actually is. The actual service and clientele are that of a very relaxed, casual restaurant or diner. It can get very busy during dinner time. //Food\\ We ordered tempura, udon, and sushi rolls. No complaints on taste. //Service\\ Staff is so-so. They seem to have too many people at the hostess desk at the front, but even with five people up there it might take a while before they greet you. Our waitress made an effort to come across like she cared, but I found it lacking. However, I did notice some servers at other tables seemed very helpful. So maybe it's a hit or a miss. We were told unapologetically when we ordered that our orders would arrive as they were done. She didn't attempt an explanation and just stated it as if it is how it is. So those of us who ordered sushi did get ours first, and the remaining three orders arrived individually as well. At one point everyone was eating except for one. But if we had waited for all the orders to arrive in order to eat together, then most of the food would've gone cold. //Brick Toast\\ This place is famous for its Honey Brick Toast, which was the main reason we went, but that was the one order that we didn't like. I couldn't taste the bread over the honey. If you have a strong sweet tooth, you'll probably like it, because the family table next to us ordered a brick toast PER person. To them, it was that good that they couldn't share. But at our table, we couldn't even finish one between 5 people. Although it looks huge, the inside of the two stacks of toast are already pre-cut into little cubes, drenched in honey, topped with a scoop of ice cream, then drizzled with honey again. So if you don't like things that are too sweet, or this is your first time trying it, I suggest asking that they put the honey on the side for you just to be safe. Overall, I guess it's okay. Not something I would want to experience again, but the try was okay. Admittledly I teetered between 2 and 3 stars before settling on the positive side.
(3)
Tyler Y.
Awesome service with very fresh fish! I ordered the Sashimi combo, all items had great texture and quality all really fresh. The drink menu had a lot of hip Japanese themed drinks. Pricing was reasonable and fair for the quality, customer service was exceptional as our waitress was attentive and made great recommendations as to the menu and drinks. I would highly recommend this restaurant to all who enjoy good Japanese food!
(5)
Michael P.
Their Honey toast is NOT that great. But i guess since this is one of a very few places on island that has it, i can see why a lot like it. As for the food... Nothing spectacular at all. Their "sushi" are generic americanized rolls. The korean influenced sukiyaki/Bibimbap kimchi fried rice however was pretty good. That is actually what made me give them a 3 rather than a 1 or 2 star. Everyone hypes this place up only to find that is is among the not so great anything. It is a nice modern place for night lounging and drinking but that is about it. I would only recommend this place for those that just turned 21 and want to ease into the night life. Other than that, there are also other places that are better but, they're trying. Good luck!
(3)
Joanne V.
I've eaten at Shokudo many times & most of my visits have been positive ones, which is why I've rated this establishment 4 stars. I ALWAYS order the spicy tuna on crispy rice.. So simple & yum! Other favorites of mine include the bi bim bap, garlic shrimp, & lobster dynamite. If I haven't eaten myself into a food coma, I def get the famous original honey toast (You get a free half toast on your birthday! Or at least that's what they used to promote). My servers have been very exceptional. The wait to get seated & for food to arrive is sometimes quite long, but that's expected when dining with large groups without a reservation. Also, if you're unsure of what to order, ask for recommendations! My servers have always been very helpful. Good food, service, & atmosphere (sometimes a little too dim for my liking lol)!
Great meal here at Shokudo! Our party ordered up specialty sushi rolls, sukiyaki udon, other apps, and the honey toast for dessert! Give this place a try, it won't disappoint.
(4)
Sherrie L.
As I read through some of these reviews I find myself really amused. Majority of the terrible ratings are from people that frequent at shokudo who ended up having one.... I REPEAT ONE.... ISOLATED.... bad experience. Because of that ONE experience they feel the need to come on yelp, complain and rate the restaurant poorly. Like get a clue people, if you're expecting perfection you will NOT get it. Let's be reasonable in some of your expectations. As for my experience at Shokudo, if any of you want great customer service ask for TREMAINE. He will give you just that. I've eaten there several times now, the wait was never more than 10 minutes, the food has been good and the employees are extremely friendly. I specifically paid attention to how everyone works together to take care of each others customers. It was very subtle but definitely noticeably pleasant. I'm an easy customer, not needy like most of these people on yelp complaining. Have some patience, enjoy your food, and go on about your way. If you wanted fast food, fast service go to a drive thru :-) From what I see, shokudo is doing an overall great job. If you're a customer, especially one who frequents and normally has awesome service, think about that too when you come on here complaining. Half of you sound rediculous. People actually read these reviews! The company you are rating actually reads the reviews.
(5)
Doug M.
I enjoy everytime I eat there but I never knew about the happy hour menu after 10pm. had a great time.
(4)
Riana S.
Last night I went with my man friend because he was a Honey Toast virgin. I never really though Shokudo was that great but that was ONLY because I was eating the wrong things (with the exception of Honey Toast). We went crazy ordered the Sukiyaki Bibimbap, Chef's Special Tiger Roll, and the Lobster Dynamite (the one with the bread) and of course...honey toast. We first got the tiger roll and the lobster dynamite and lemme say....it was amazing. The tiger roll didn't have that stupid chili lumpia sauce that Genki keeps putting on the sushi, the spicy ahi was HELLA spicy but the shrimp tempura and the unagi sauce really balanced it out. It tasted fresh and the tempura was crispy and I all I was thinking while I was eating it was, "damn this was an amazing choice." My man friend was already going at the lobster dynamite. He was telling me I wouldn't like it and that he would eat it all because I wouldn't like it. SNEAKY MUCH!? I tried it and it was so DELICIOUS. Lobster dynamite has vegetables, lobster and some sort of mysterious "dynamite sauce". The sauce is sweet and really creamy. You need the bread to neutralize the richness of this dish. We stopped eating it after the bread was gone because it tasted too sweet without it. Here comes my favorite...Sukiyaki Bibimbap!! Cooked right in front of you in a hot stone bowl thing, you get to choose whether you want mild or hot. Here's some advice..if you actually wanna taste the ingredients go for mild because it's already hot. I think going super hot will just kill your taste buds. The bibimbap has bean sprouts, rice, beef, green onion and yummy spicy kimchee in it. I can't stop eating this!!!! Very very yummy. Last but not least, why the hell would you even go to Shokudo if you won't eat their famous Honey Toast? My man friend saw someone else's honey toast and freaked out every time because it looked super tall. He didn't get that the actually bread dough was cut into square pieces inside the bread crusts for easy access. "Oh my gosh, I just ate a really good piece. I bit into it and honey just shot into my mouth," Bronson said. But anyway, get the original, I honestly think it's the best because if there was like chocolate or caramel on it...that'd be too much already. 2-3 people can eat one honey toast, one of my problem with the honey toast is that they're so damn stingy with their ice cream!!!! Maybe try asking for another scoop because it comes with 2 but half of it is already melted. It's amazing, I don't know how something so simple such as honey, vanilla ice cream and butter soaked bread tastes so damn GOOD. You'll catch people closing their eyes while they eat this. I never eat the crust I don't know why..just personal preference. Our waiter was really nice, Bronson kept wanting to sing Miss Murder by AFI to him because he looked like the guy. If you come here, make sure you come here with money because it does cost a pretty penny but it was worth it. After all the things we ordered including two sodas and miso soup, the bill came out to $50. Not bad because we were expecting worst. You must try it!
(5)
Ashlyn C.
I'm gonna be completely honest. I have never been a big shokudo fan. I think their regular food & fancy sushi rolls are mediocre. Plus they're on the pricey side. I know a lot of their food is meant to be shared pupu style, but a lot of the time, I don't really wanna eat what everyone else wants because, like I said, I think their food is mediocre at best. That is until I ate there tonight (04-16-13... I probably won't post this right away) for my friend, Kelli's birthday. I haven't been to shokudo in a while. Probably not since like October or November 2012. Apparently, they have a new added menu. Now on this new added menu, you'll find nigiri sushi (which seemed kinda pricey to me... It was around $7-$8. Idk how much nigiris they give you per order, but if its only 2 then that's a rip because kona Kai charges $6 for 2 nigiris & I doubt shokudo has better quality fish than kona Kai), a few more sushi rolls & entree like items. Under these entree like items, you will find ishiyaki loco moco. When we got seated, we were only given the regular menus. I had decided I was going to get the Teri chicken with wasabi mash & an agedashi tofu appetizer. Our waiter greeted us, then asked if we knew about their new menu. When we replied no, he started telling us about a few of the items on this new menu one of which was the ishiyaki loco moco. He also told us about the rainbow roll, which we did get, but I seriously thought the rainbow roll was just ok. Anyway, when he was describing the loco moco (loco moco with cheese... Think was mozzarella, sliced mushrooms & diced tomatoes in that hot stone pot, hence ishiyaki), my other friend Kelly (not the bday girl) tells me, "Ashlyn, I think you're about to start drooling..." That did it. Nevermind about the Teri chicken, imma get that loco moco! Plus I've been on this weird hamburger steak kick lately... My friend, Jodi & I shared the ishiyaki loco moco, tofu salad (she said she'd rather have tofu salad than agedashi booooooo!), & rainbow roll. Like I said, rainbow roll was ok... Probably not gonna get it again. Tofu salad is good, but kinda small & very little lettuce for a $7.50 salad. Then there was the ishiyaki loco moco. It was damn good! One of the best hamburger steak dishes I ever ate! (the other one happens to be at south shore grill on Monserrat ave. oh & FYI, I took a pic of the loco moco &, while doing so, caught Jodi's chopsticks trying to dig in!) We also had honey toast (the bday one) & we also bought a cinnamon honey toast, YUM. That's one thing I have always liked at shokudo... Cinnamon honey toast. Who would've thought toasted bread, cinnamon, honey & ice cream would taste so damn good. My poor bf was so jealous that I ate shokudo because he's actually always really liked it. He tells me, "sucks cuz I've been craving shokudo & you don't like it." I had to tell him that I change my mind & that we could eat there together soon. Anyway, our waiter was awesome. I forget his name, but he was very attentive. Kept refilling our water & teapot (he had to fill our teapot at least 4 times), he was very patient. So yeah, basically that loco moco turned me from being meh about shokudo to wanting to come back soon. Till next time...
(4)
Victoria A.
Here's my update... Let's start with 5 stars, shall we? Phone etiquette: I call to make a reservation for 10 people at 10pm because other Yelpers have mentioned a 10:30 happy hour. I ask the girl on the phone if my party arrives at 10, could we still enjoy happy hour at 10:30, and she says yes. My next phone call was to inquire about separate checks. A different girl answers the phone. Her response, "I'm pretty sure"... I then request the private room and she says, "It's not a guarantee. And just a reminder, your reserved table is up to 2 hours and just because you come in during the Happy Hour, you folks cannot participate in it. Happy Hour is for the bar and tier section only." This shocked me. That was the reason why we agreed upon a late dinner. I ask, "Why can't we participate in Happy Hour? When I made my reservation and asked about the happy hour, the girl failed to mention the 'bar & tier section' part" So, whatever. Minus a star. Now, we are at 4/5 stars. Service: My water glass was NEVER refilled. My lychee-vodka soda wasn't removed from the table until the ice was all melted. No one checked on our table to see how we were doing or if we wished to order anything else. Okay, I get it... we had a late reservation at 10:00, but the restaurant's hours of operations states that it is open until 1:00. But why the inattentiveness? Why lack of service? Thus, minus a star... which brings us to 3/5 stars. Food: I ordered the Sushi Pizza and Spicy Ahi & Crispy Rice. Both, not of the traditional Japanese cuisine, however, I enjoyed the colorful flavors and creative presentation. The Honey Toast was good... but not "Whoa". Overall, my food rating concludes my review... leaving it at 3/5 stars. I would love to enjoy the happy hour that everyone raves about. But until then... Shokudo, I give you 3 stars.
(3)
Robert C.
Rating: 4.25/5 Date(s) Visited: 10/6/10 Food: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Price: 4/5 I've been to Shokudo numerous times over the years and it has never failed to impress me. Their food is original and fresh and served in a trendy, modern atmosphere by experienced staff who are always more than willing to help - and all for very reasonable prices. Food: On this particular trip I had a couple of gripes about the food, although, overall, it was of the quality I have come to expect from Shokudo. We started with their Yukari Fries which were curiously heavy. I've ordered their fries numerous times before and they've come out hot, crispy and almost airy. This time, however, they came out tasting alarmingly soggy. My friend and I couldn't quite put our finger on what was wrong. It's almost as if they had cooked it in oil that was just a little too cool for fries. Other than that, they tasted as they should: lightly salted, hot with generous amounts of yukari (what seems to be a type of noriesque product). We next got their Spicy Tuna Roll which was properly done. A light coating of sesame seeds atop a roll of spicy tuna and cucumber. The heat you get from this dish is gradual and long-lasting, smoldering embers rather than an intense, but short-lived, explosion. We ordered their Shrimp Tempura Roll next and were sadly disappointed by the size of the product we received. It was one roll with two pieces of shrimp stuck in it. The rice was rather dry and the shrimp not terribly flavorful. The plate was missing wasabi, which would've made it much more interesting. Their "Char Siu Pork and Japanese Scallions" was our next dish. Having been a fan of it when I first ordered it on a visit for lunch months ago, I was thoroughly disappointed with what we received. The strips of pork were rubbery from their abnormally large fat content and were a sad, floppy excuse for what I had ordered on numerous occasions before. We sent it back to be cooked to a light crisp (how it's supposed to be done) and got back a reasonably better dish. Still, however, there was far too much fat, though one could make a meal out of just the spicy scallions. The final dish was their tofu salad, with mixed greens in a light sesame dressing, crispy wonton strips, homemade tofu and nori. This is one of the best salads I've had, with the mixed greens providing a flavorful contrast to the sublime tofu, and with the tofu providing a delightful texture contrast to the wonton strips. For dessert we didn't get their famous Honey Toast and I'm going to tell you to not get it if you've had it before. Why not change things up a bit and order something else for dessert? Yes, their Honey Toast is good, but it's not the only thing they have! Their Green Tea Shaved Ice is, in my opinion, much better than their Honey Toast. Rather than assault your stomach with something heavy, soothe it with saved ice made with a slightly sweet and distinctly subtle green tea syrup. It pairs excellently with their vanilla ice cream and azuki beans. If you want something smaller, get their vanilla ice cream with strawberry topping. Although it's store bought and not homemade (as I had thought), the ice cream has a glassy-like smoothness. Service: Service at Shokudo is amazing, as always. Our server, Yuko, was attentive, but not intrusive. She refilled water and our tea without creating a disruption to our conversation and she was more than willing to answer questions we had about the food (i.e. the ice cream). When we sent back the char siu dish, she was more than understanding and sympathetic to our request to have it cooked a bit more. Well worth the 22% tip. Atmosphere: Sitting under their giant chandelier made from concentric circles is always a pleasure and the chains of wooden planks they have on all the windows is eternally interesting. It can get a bit loud, especially during peak hours, but never so loud that you can't have a normal conversation. Shokudo attracts all manner of people, locals sitting in shorts and t-shirts, businessmen with slacks and dress shirts and tourists wearing offensively loud aloha prints. You'll fit in no matter who you are. Price: The dinner, which left two buffet-quantity eaters stuffed, cost only $60 (including a very generous tip). I was thoroughly surprised, as I had expected to spend at least $100 here. Pretty reasonable prices for what you order, although the quality of some of the food this time around was a bit underwhelming.
(4)
Jaimie M.
The food was alright.. but what really stuck out to me was their Honey Toast!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEST DESSERT I HAVE EVER HAD. it was huge and bigger than my head.. even the 3 of us couldn't finish it. It had huge slices of toast with syrup and vanilla ice cream. mmmm thinking about it makes me crave one.
(4)
Kevin T.
This place bleeds pretension. The food is alright for what it is. However, what turns me off to this place are the hoards of douches, fake people, rich kids, and drunk club people that make their "weekly pilgrimage" to this establishment. This could possibly be a review of Shokudo's patrons to be honest. That off my chest, I can say that they do have good sushi and good drinks. It is what it is. enjoy
(3)
Kelly M.
Came for happy hour. Food was good. But nothing knocked my socks off. Not even the honey toast. It was good, but not the religious experience I was expecting based on the number of reviews. Prices were good at happy hour, but are a bit expensive for what you get at regular prices. It;s that old value cost ratio. Just a little too much cost for value given. So 3 stars at happy hour. 2 stars outside happy hour.
(3)
Megan R.
I LOVE SHOKUDO! But I'll admit, I am guilty of ordering the same thing every single time. ;] So that is what my rating system is based off of, PLUS THEIR STAFF is FANTABULOUS! Awesome customer service! As soon as you enter the door is opened for you, and you're immediately greeted by a welcoming host... what an entrance! My friend brought me here for a late b-day dindin, we were seated and scored a great section... we had the best server. He was extremely helpful, going over the specials and recommending some of his favorite dishes. We started with the A L C O H O L! I tried the peach sake! Sweet and fruity, just how I love my drinks. My friend ordered Kirin - they have a good assortment of alcoholic beverages available. Soooooo, as I mentioned earlier I order the same thing every single time! & Luckily Dylan was down to go halfsies. We got the Homemade TOFU salad: It's actually pretty weird I enjoy this salad, cause I don't normally do so much tofu - especially as the main part of the dish. But the salad greens + sesame dressing + crispy wontons! So good. Great starter. Spicy tuna crispy rice: I need SPICE in my life, so I take every opportunity to get spicy food when I can. The spicy ahi is delicioso! But when you combine it with the crispy rice! ahhhhhh THEN the jalapeño on top! YUMMMMMMMM!!!! That just about does the trick. This is my FAV for real, aside from the honey toast ;) Sukiyaki bibimbap: Here we go again with that spicy food! Bibimbap is always good! The secret red sauce they mix in makes it! If you ask for more they'll give it to you ;) HOTHOT please! Perfect amount of kimchi - yummy and spicy. I always leave the rice in the bowl extra long so it can crisp. Since it was my BDAY - we got free honey toast! Such a simple concept for desert, but so SCRUMPTIOUS. Simple can be good, especially in this case. Toasted bread + honey + ice cream. I'm in love. Only critique is you run out of ice cream, but luckily we got extra. I just ate all of this and yelping about it is making me want to eat it again!
(5)
Jordan C.
Food is pretty good. We went during happy hour and the teriyaki fries were addictively good. It's a pretty busy restaurant but the servers are quite attentive. Nothing really blew me away... especially not the honey toast. While I enjoyed that the center was all cubed and easy to eat, it was just standard brick toast to me... and that, I can get anywhere over here in LA.
(3)
Kel P.
A Big Shaka Brah to Shokudo .. Just went there for my cousin's birthday/Lady's night in November .. everything was above & beyond our wildest dreams ;) .. Chef Ken & his crew need to keep doing what they're doing .. Can't wait to go back. Here's a 'lil flavah for your ear .. we sat in the private room next to the kitchen .. when we sang Happy Birthday w/ harmony like a church choir on Sunday .. we we're given props by the kitchen .. no shame in our game ok! Tip's: *Make your reservations in advance *Come hungraaaay *Save room for honey toast, hunny! *Parking lot can be a little stressful .. but all worth it =)
(5)
Vanessa T.
Loved everything about Shokudo! Staff was great, from when I entered the restaurant, I was made to feel welcomed. Alot of times traveling I'm a party of "one", I felt the aloha immediately. My waiter "James" was da best, very akamai of the menu. Ordered everything he recommended, was too full to finish all ono drinks & food. Mahalo nui loa for making my last day at home was memorable.
(5)
Darren N.
Getting there: Plenty of parking in Ala Moana Nordstrom parking and a quick walk to the restaurant. Ambiance: Very clean and modern. Comfortable seating and tables. Service: In this family outing, our server was enthusiastic and helpful with many suggestions especially for newcomers. Food: The teriyaki chicken "sushi" is a great option for those who do not like raw fish but find themselves in a japanese restaurant. Personally I enjoyed the spicy tuna on crispy rice. Takes a bit more effort to chew but worth the texture it brings to the dish. Definitely a unique, recommended, and positive experience for me. The ox tail ramen bowl warms the stomach as well, though don't expect a huge west coast style bowl but the proportion is filling while the broth is not heavy. Their famous honey toast dessert comes with two huge and thick pieces of honeyed toast topped with two scoops (more scoops available as well as toppings) of vanilla ice cream. Another unique dish, this one is way too filling by the end of the meal but in a good way. Who to bring: Any sized party works. They have bar seating and tables that can fit huge parties. How much to bring: Depending on how many dishes you order/share, expect to spend around 8-9 a plate. Verdict: Four stars for the unique selection of food and overall experience. Based on that experience, if the occasion arises, a revisit would be a possibility. Final notes: If you're searching for an easy to find, unique japanese style dishes, and a place big enough to share an audible conversation, this place does it well.
(4)
Mike C.
Dining here during lunch and dinner hours, I recently found out about their Happy Hour specials, 4 to 6 pm and 10:30 pm to 12 am every day! There are around twelve or more selections to choose from at $3.00 per order, but here is what we tried on a few visits: a) Teriyaki Chicken quesadilla - With an Asian spin on this dish, the chicken was coated in a teriyaki sauce and accompanied with a spicy aioli sauce; nice mix of sweet and spicy. b) Tuna Nachos - One small scoop of spicy tuna surrounded by crispy tortilla chips with a light cheese sauce. c) Cold Ramen Salad - This was probably my favorite dish; think of Ja Jiang mein with egg slices and no sauce. d) Agedashi eggplant - Grilled or fried (no batter) eggplant in a nice sweet soy sauce topped with bonito flakes. e) Build your own Ramen add $1.50 for Char Siu - Medium sized bowl of ramen noodles topped with fried onion strings; added four slices of lean pork. Not as interesting as the Cold Ramen Salad. f) Cucumber salad - Nothing memorable. g) Sweet Spud Fries - Deep fried sweet potato fries cooked perfectly. They were still hot and there was no greasy flavor nor oil remnants on my fingers. h) Garlic Edamame - Just okay as Roy's marinated Edamame sets the bar. Washing this down with my $2.00 ice tea, the meals here were certainly a bargain and would qualify as cheap eats in my book. Hey, now I can afford to head out to Roy's, Le Bistro, or Alan Wong's!
(4)
Michelle L.
I'm still not a fan and still cringe at the thought of coming here leisurely. Six of us came here for a birthday dinner and we spent about 3 hours there, mostly waiting for our food. Shokudo updated their menu so there are some new appetizers, rolls, and entrees. I ordered a longtime item, the mochi gratin, and it was delicious. Chewy, cheesy, melty, and savory. mMmm. For my entree, I tried their spicy scallop roll. It was just meh. The only spicy part about it was the roll was drizzled with their spicy mayo sauce...not very inspiring. Their lychee saketini was pretty good. Not strong at all but yummy. As usual, their honey toast is addicting but essentially, you're eating bread for dessert.
(3)
Tiana L.
Love this place. I always have great service and great food. The decor is perfect. We went there for dessert (of course the honey toast) one night and it was really full. They did their best to seat us right away but apologize that it was right next to a pillar. We didn't care since we didn't have a reservation. But I thought it was nice of them to be accomodating and friendly. Their drinks are good and we love the tofu, cheese gratin, and eel.
(5)
Zar A.
I used to frequent this restaurant when it first opened about 5 or so years ago (2005 or 2006?). I remember when the menu was cheap ($5-$6 per item) and the food was good and the line was nonexistent. Well, times have changed and this place remains to serve cafeteria food ("Shokudo" in Japanese means "Cafeteria") but without the cafeteria prices (meaning, cheap). Oh, I forgot, AND with the cafeteria lunch time line! You remember when getting lunch in the school cafeteria took up half your lunch time? WHAT THE HECK?? Now, I go about once a year (due to friends who drag me here). The worse item on the menu, from my experience so far, is their udon! Toppings are side items and are in addition to the cost of the udon. My udon added up to about $10/$12 and was NOT very good. I've had cheaper and better at Aloha Sushi!! (This is a joke, Aloha Sushi udon isn't very good at all)
(1)
Obichang O.
The service here used to suck, but now every experience is as exquisite as the food. The bibimbap is my favorite, but I also order the spider roll and the spinach salad often. Of course the honey toast is an unparalleled dessert choice.
(5)
Julia H.
Lovelovelove shokudo! Here are my favorites: Tofu Salad (housemade tofu) Spicy Ahi on Crispy Rice Honey Toast Lunch boxes Lobster Dynamite BiBimBap and all their drinks of course. ..their floats are really good.
(5)
Summer B.
I am very skeptical about asian fushion restaurants just because I have a sensitive appetite. But I have been here 2x and I absolutely love it!! The food is great, the creativity is amazing, and the atmosphere is so much fun! This is one restaurant where I loved every single dish they served in its own right. The house made tofu amazing! mochi pizza amazing! spicey sushi amazing! EVERYTHING HERE IS AMAZING!!! Its a good place for a date and its a great place for a group of friends to go and order a bunch of various dishes and pass it around. Its the modern asian family style way I think. YOU ARE CRAZY NOT TO TRY THIS PLACE OUT!
(5)
Caryn W.
Went to Shokudo last night to get together with some old friends from grad school. I hadn't gone to Shokudo before, so I turned to Yelp to see what people thought of the place. There seemed to be a lot of positive reviews, so I went in expecting something good. Fortunately, I had a good experience, with a minor setback. Setback: When I initially called to make a reservation, no one answered the phone and I left a message on Tuesday afternoon expecting someone to call me back that same day. No one called me back that evening and when I tried calling again on Wednesday (at a different time) the machine came on again. I didn't leave another message, but when I called again later, someone answered and said that there weren't any spaces available for the time I wanted (6:00) since it was UH graduation and lots of people would be coming in. So I informed my friends of the problems I had regarding the reservation, another one of my friends called the following day and was able to get a reservation for the time I wanted. I didn't understand how that happened unless someone had cancelled the day after I called or something.... On with the rest of the review...the menu had a quite a bit of a variety of stuff. We ended up ordering a lot of stuff to share among the 6 of us. One of the standout items was actually the quesadilla. I know, I know; who the heck would order a quesadilla at a Japanese restaurant? I was a little hesitant at first, but I'm glad we ended up ordering it. It was really tasty even without the sauce that it came with. We also got an order of the toast, which was really good as well. I would definitely come back again.
(4)
Scott S.
Some friends suggested this restaurant. It started off well, we were seated promptly, and our server, Sean, was friendly and attentive. The noise is a bit much, so be prepared to speak loudly if you want your dining companions to hear you. Sean described the food as "Japanese fusion". Eh? Perhaps it was the dishes we ordered like the unagi bowl, spicy miso ramen, oxtail ramen, and sukiyaki udon noodle, but nothing seemed particularly unique to me. The kitchen really needs to work on their timing. We ordered pupu's which arrived almost at the same time as our entrees except for mine. While my fellow diners ate, my unagi bowl arrived 15 minutes later. Sean kept telling me, "Your dish is coming out soon." When it did arrive, looking good, he promptly smashed it all together before I could say "Stop! I want to take a picture or smash it up myself!" Next time I'm visiting, Shokudo won't be on the "must eat at" list.
(2)
Nicole R.
i LOVE this place, because the food is always excellent! If you come in on a slow hour, which is very rare, the service is awesome. Anyone of their hot stone bowl dishes are delicious, you really can't go wrong with anyone of them. If you've never been to Shokudo before, I suggest calling in for a reservation if your planning to eat after ... 6pm. Also, if you have no idea what to order, get the lobster dynamite roll, sushi pizza, or like I said one of the hot stone bowls entrees. For dessert, HONEY TOAST! ... that is all. If you're a beginner, go for the original, then when you come back (and I know you will) go ahead and try the other flavors. Occasionally, Shokudo has a buffet event, which costs $30 per person for an all you care to eat of their signature dishes. Endless lobster dynamite rolls, a variety of tempura, and HONEY TOAST. I went on Father's Day and it was purely amazing.
(4)
Vina C.
I went to Shokudo for the first time, upon hearing the fact that they have the best honey toast EVER (and it didn't disappoint)! But let me get to the whole review... Ambience: I didn't mind the noise level, even though at some times it was a little loud. The restaurant gave off this contemporary Japanese feel. The furniture looked pretty fancy (nice touch on those wooden curtains and sparkling chandeliers!) Service: There was this one guy who was working there for a while and recommended some of his personal favorites: Lobster Dynamite, Garlic Shrimp Rice, Teri Chicken Mochi Pizza, and the Shrimp Tempura. He says that if two people are dining in, they should get three meals to share in order to make room for the Honey Toast. When it came down to ACTUALLY serving our food, the service toned down a little. It does tend to get busy in there, so I don't actually blame the service for being slow. Overall, it's pretty good. The employees are generally friendly and always willing to help. Food: As mentioned earlier, here were my picks for our dinner -- Lobster Dynamite - They had pieces of lobster dipped in this delightful creamy dynamite sauce (though I'm not sure why they call it dynamite. Maybe the spice?) and you could also use the sauce for the small pieces of bread that came with the meal. Teriyaki Chicken Mochi Pizza - I'm not a huge fan of mochi, but the pizza tastes the same as any other pizza, except chewier. So think of how chewy mochi is. That's how chewy the pizza is. The pizza is a mozzarella cheese pizza, with pieces of teriyaki chicken sprinkled onto it. There's also some cheesy sauce sprayed onto each pizza slice for more flavor. Shrimp Tempura - If you've ever tried this before, Shokudo makes it SUPER crunchy. It's that good. And the portions are big. Garlic Shrimp Rice - The server actually comes to mix the rice and garlic shrimp. It's actually really good but the only thing that throws me off is the smell of garlic. I would still highly recommend this dish. Overall: It was truly a great dining experience. You don't need to play dress-up to come to this fancy venue. I've seen college kids who were comfortable to walk in with shorts and a t-shirt/top. It is perfect for a dinner date, especially at nightime. You can even see the outside of the restaurant light up. Best dinner I've had in a while!
(4)
Jonathan W.
I've eaten here several times off and on over the years and am a HUGE fan of the food. Some items in particular I love: Sushi Pizza. Basically a cali roll with the stuffing on a baked bed of rice instead of in a roll Mochi Cheese Gratin: Nice, sticky, gooey and cheesy. Great stuff! Yukari Fries: Fries topped with furikake, just brilliant :) HONEY TOAST: Their signature dish off the dessert menu. A tower of bread hallowed out into cubes, drizzled in honey and topped with ice cream and other sauces of your choice. If nothing else, come here for this! Other items on the entree menu are somewhat standard fare for Japanese restaurants with various sushi rolls, chicken katsu and several seafood entrees. Great restaurant to hit up with your friends for a night out on the town.
(4)
Jasmine M.
Just had a wonderful Christmas dinner with my family! EVERYTHING was delicious and the service by James was exceptional! Thank you Shokudo and staff for a wonderful Christmas dinner!
(5)
Don D.
Shokudo is a great place if you love Japanese food. It is casual dining. Looks: The place is awesome. Check out their home page and you can see pictures of the place. Everything about the place says "clean"! The hanging tiles in the front was a great idea. The tiered seating for dining at a table always reminds me of the seating in college. The bar area seems really "claustrophobic" cause it seems like its a low ceiling but the entire dining area has exrtremely high ceiling. Food: Normally, I dont order food but everything I have tried so far bursts with flavor. I uploaded a picture of the Lobster Dynamite Roll, which is probably my favorite dish on the menu. Service: Service is always great for me because I visit regularly. Jess is awesome! Would I go back? YES....I always do. Great place to hang out with friends and dine in. Most places tend to give you the impression that they want you to leave after eating, but this place makes you want to stay.
(4)
Kay B.
I've been meaning to try this place for about 2 years now but I never got around to it until today. It was a Tuesday and only about 15 minutes after they opened so there was no wait whatsoever. That was nice. Our server Tremaine was really friendly...briefly went over the menu with us since it was our first time there and was willing to make some suggestions if we needed it. My sister and I shared the mochi cheese, terriyaki chicken quesadilla, and some sort of bento box with rice, veggies, miso soup, and karaage chicken. The mochi cheese was awesome! I was initially a little worried that this would be a weird combination but I have heard people raving about it so I just had to try for myself. I love the texture! The quesadilla was delicious too! I am not a terriyaki fan and was happy to find that the quesadilla did not have an overly terriyaki flavoring. Bento box was delicious too. The spicy tartar sauce it came with was delicious...not spicy at all really...just a little kick. The miso soup was your standard miso soup. Finally, we had the obligatory honey toast. It was good but honestly, they way everyone hypes it up, I was expecting it to be better. I mean, I would eat it again and all but I dunno...I guess I had hyped it up to be better in my head. The inner bread cubes were the really good part but the outer crust area was just...eh. Like eating plain regular white bread. Not enough drizzle soaked into it I guess. All in all I enjoyed it and would definitely go back again...probably around the same time frame...early on a weekday. I like the lack of crowd. Ooh, one last thing I really liked is how frequently they filled my water! I am notorious for mindlessly drinking lots and lots of water while waiting for my meal. My cup never made it past half full.
(4)
Calvin John B.
So many people go here for the happy hour and that Honey-toasted thingy with the ice-cream. Everyone likes to jump on the bandwagon, and everybody absolutely is in love with the place. For me, it's just alright. Okay, I know that was a little harsh. But, the main reason why I don't like it so much is that there's not a lot of choices for someone who's into more than just rice. When I hear dinner, I think meat on top of meat. I get it, it's Japanese cuisine, but my goodness, there's starch for days! On the up side, I'll give the them props for really utilizing the space, because from the outside it doesn't look like much. Highlight: Green Tea Shake.
(3)
Isa R.
I really enjoy coming to Shokudo, especially with friends. The food is excellent here. I always order the lobster dynamite roll and the original honey toast. I have tried other things on their menu and have liked them all. Honey toast is DEFINITELY a must. I was seriously disappointed one night at around 10 PM when they had run out of bread and (obviously) couldn't make the honey toast!!! That's like Ruth's Chris running out of steak in my book.. Thankfully, that's only happened once. I gave only four stars instead of five because sometime service can be a little slow because they're so busy. I used to a be a server so I'm understanding of the inability of servers to be everywhere and do everything... HOWEVER, sometimes the wait can be really ridiculous to get a refill. Also, they seem to have a problem with firing dishes and getting them all rolled out at the same time. For instance, once I ate with two friends. I, along with one of my friends, got our main dishes. It took another 15 minutes for my third friend to get her food. This is an unacceptable situation. It's so awkward to have one person not have their food for TEN MINUTES, and I find it impolite to eat when one person hasn't gotten his/her food--so we have to let our food go cold to be polite. Food should always be brought out at the same time. Different trips to deliver food is okay, we only have two arms, but a ten minute wait for my friend's simple salad when I ordered a lobster dynamite roll? Something's not right with that. Regardless of the sometimes iffy service, I'll still be a longtime customer of Shokudo simply because of the food. I've made honey toast at home and it is REALLY easy to make, but I still prefer just having it made for me.
(4)
Melissa N.
Delicious! I think yes. My first time here I was not impressed and thought it was just another fancy japanese restaurant. I was wrong! I just ordered the wrong things. I came back the other night for dessert and I was blown away. We ordered cookies & cream honey toast. It was amazing! Two scoops of cookies n cream icecream with.chocolate drizzle and condensed milk poured over two pieces of honey toast surrounded by cookie crumbs. I was all smiles after one bite. Service was impeccable we almost had two servers that is how on it they were. I really enjoyed this place my second time around. I wish they had honey toast in Seattle!
(4)
Kelly H.
shokudo has fallen on my list of favorite restaurants. I definitely used to LOVE shokudo about 5 years ago...since then their portions have decreased and their prices have increased. I used to love their tofu salad and now it is just ehhh, ok (gyu-kaku's tofu salad is bomb compared to shokudo). I usually get the unagi bowl...I recently went with my friend because I won a bet, HECK YES!! And I decided to collect on our bet at shokudo to see if it was as good as I remember. I was definitely disappointed, but I guess it wasn't my money so I wasn't too disappointed. He got the salmon bowl and karaage chicken. Both dishes were 6/10 i would say. The unagi bowl is definitely more nom the the salmon bowl. The other dish that is pretty good aside from the unagi bowl is the cheese tofu dish, that is surprisingly really interesting and really good. Overall, I would just walk down the street to gyu-kaku...it hurts me to say this because shokudo used to be so bomb. It's definitely not horrible by any means, just not the first place i would pick to eat.
(3)
Kelly M.
I went home last month for the first time in a year and (other than friends and family) what's the first thing that's missed? FOOD!!! So of course I had my entire trip planned out around all the places I wanted to eat at while I was there. And one of the tops on my list was Shokudo. Shokudo is one of those rare chic yet friendly places. After just a few visits the hosts and servers know who you are and welcome you back, which I find amazing, as the place is almost always full to the gills and buzzing with people of all types and ages. Party animal? Sit at the huge bar. Family or business party? Check out the large room in the back. Want to people watch? Sit in the tiered area and watch all the pretty people come and go while you eat. Want to be seen? Sit in the lower area and enjoy your meal. And enjoy your meal you will. My absolute favorites are the spicy miso ramen and the sukiyaki bibimbap. Of course being a vegetarian I ask for both dishes without meat and with extra vegetables and fresh tofu (which they make inhouse daily) and they never bat an eye. As a matter of fact my favorite server, Carolyn, even remembered my entire special order even though I hadn't seen her in a year. That's exceptional service! They also have very popular sashimi and noodle dishes, as well as interesting things like "sushi pizza" which seem to be a huge hit with other diners. If you want a dining experience, go to Shokudo. Great food, awesome service, and just minutes from Waikiki. Or you can always take the party there as it's a good time.
(5)
Cheryl K.
Hmm! It has been a while since I have been here. I always remember it as being expensive for some reason. Anyway, me and the hubs always used to stop here for late night desserts and the other night we went back for old times sake (as well as being hungry late at night because we had tons of food truck goodness earlier in the day). We got there about 10:30 pm on a Saturday and they sat us right away. I already knew I was going to get a drink and a snack. I ordered a shrimp tempura udon and a grape calpis vodka drink. My husband ordered a spicy tuna roll and a sangria. My drink was really tasty and my udon was, meh, udon. You can't really spruce up or mess up on shrimp tempura udon and you shouldn't at $10. We shared a green tea shave ice. I had a good time there. Loved the music although the crowd made me feel old as it seemed they were college students. Nice place for conversation and drinks. Love the trendy decor with them surfboards hanging up. Price is decent and if I'm looking for a late night place to chill again, I'd probably hit it, oops I mean go here. Hah.
(4)
Nainoa T.
Best place to come for dessert... Nufff said
(5)
Karen T.
I only come here for happy hour, it's the most fun when you go after work with your co-workers. I recently tried the frozen foam Kirin and in my personally opinion, not worth it. Try the vodka sodas though they are the BOMB! The food is delicious here and do I have to mention the honey toast? It's only $4 and it's the perfect size! Love that the happy hour is now 21+ so it's a nice environment when dining. Service was awesome and our food came out quickly. Drinks could've came out faster.
(4)
Joser M.
2nd time here. Came with a party of 10, we got the private room in the back but not a good idea. We were forgotten in the back. Our primary server was terrible. Drinks were constantly empty, having to ask for refills. Food was alright. Nothing that left me wanting more. Maybe better service for less people.
(1)
Derrick V.
Swanky decor sets high expectations at this place. The menu is a bit ambitious, with a wide variety of Japanese selections, a few Korean and American items. We had a seared tuna salad, garlic tuna on hot stone, spicy tuna on crispy ball of rice. The first two were decent, and I liked the daikon garnish with the garlic tuna. I liked the spicy tuna the best, nice contrast with the crispy rice. We also had the fries and rainbow roll. The fries were excellent, very thin, seasoned with shoyu salt, tasted like McD's fries really. The rainbow roll was subpar, the fish tasted unfresh, or maybe not thawed out properly. We ended with the Curry Rice in a hot stone bowl. It came with ground chicken, an egg yolk, broccoli, and corn over rice. The curry sauce came in a separate saucer. This dish was pretty good but I wished the stone bowl was hotter so the rice would have more crispy bits. The menu says the hot plates and stone bowls are heated to 500 degrees, but it didn't seem the case to me. They had a couple Japanese microbrews which were ok, not great.
(3)
Jessyca M.
I love this place! Of course, you HAVE to get the Honey Toast for dessert, but I also recommend (among other things) the Mochi Cheese Gratin, French Fries, and the Rice dishes served in stone pots!! YUMM! Prices are a bit high, but the decor is adorable and service is pretty good.
(4)
Tara M.
Delicious! We are a meat and potato type of family, so eating in Hawaii is hard. However, this place is delicious and we keep coming back. You can park for free at the Ala Moana Shopping Center and walk; or park in the Bank building parking - they will validate or if after 6 pm or on a Sunday it is free parking there too. The entrees are large, where two folks can share one meal. (We are big people and can eat a lot, but we share our dishes here.) They are known for their Honey Toast! It is so big - one order will feed 4 people. It is just tasted white bread with honey and ice cream drizzled on top, but it is good and fun to try. Prices are about $10 - $15 per person. There is no children's menu. As a family of four, we spent $80 and that included two beers, wine, soda, food, and the cinnamon honey toast. We had the lobster dynamite (with extra bread that costs $2), crispy calamari salad, garlic shrimp rice = I recommend all. They do not have discounts (no military or kam discount).
(5)
Kanoe P.
Worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. The only positive thing I can say is that the hostess was friendly. Our server was horrible, and 2 of the 5 items we ordered had a hair in them. Yes, HAIR! There was a hair in our spider roll, and at first we weren't going to say anything, since we had ordered some other items and figured we'd eat those instead. BUT, when the tempura bowl arrived there was ANOTHER HAIR in one of the tempura!! Disgusting. We told our server who was not apologetic, and the manager did not take both items off our bill!!! At least comp the items that had HAIR in them!! And be a little apologetic, we didn't make a big deal out of it, and I think we were more embarrassed having to point it out than they were to take the items back!! Will never come here again, and I'm bummed because I wanted to try the honey toast. Oh well.
(1)
mf l.
Honey toast was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! If you're with a big group, try the flavored sojus (esp white peach), but careful--they creep up on you! minus one star for overpriced, so-so rolls
(4)
Jade N.
I'm definitely a fan for the damn garlic shrimp. I love how they ask to mix it in front of you .... I wonder what they would do if you said "No, I'll mix it." LOL. Besides the point... I've tried the spicy tuna roll, cucumber salad, sushi pizza, tofu, calamari salad, garlic fries...just to name a few. Loved um all. I did not enjoy the cold udon that they served me...in which they took back to make hotter....by the time I got it back my appetite was turned off. and the Honey Toast dessert that EVERYONE is talking about... not for me. it was ok but I didn't fall in love with it :/. sorry. the decor is pretty cool and trendy...staff is ok...although my last visit on Thursday, 5/26/2011....he did not fill the water and prolly checked on us once. actually not prolly....for real. that sucked...
(3)
Clifford L.
Shokudo? Isn't it that numbers puzzle that locks the brain? 2. What R those photos below? They're all 3 very UN appetizing; nothing personal. [Well, OK, mako da shark gavit 4-stars.] F NE thing, I would order the oxtail ramen. =something transitional. We'll C.
(2)
Claudia M.
Came here and looking at this place, it was very nicely decorated. I thought the ambiance was incredible. The food was delicious here and their dessert was sooooooooo yummy and sweet. I will definitely come again (:
(4)
Darci N.
Love it here. Its our second time here and it keeps getting better. The vast menu makes you spend some $$$ since you want to try everything. Tonight we dined on panko crusted spare ribs, lobster dynamite, pork chops, garlic/shrimp rice bowl, teriyaki salmon, foot long chicken katsu, and of course honey toast. Our server was great and the food kept coming.
(5)
Chelsey C.
I reaaaally wish I could say that I love this place because the decor is so cool, modern, and has a lot of potential to be excellent....but alas, I can't get myself to do it! My lasting memory of their dishes isn't significant enough to set that craving to go back unless my friends suggest it and I'm apathetic about where to eat. Last night, a couple of my girlfriends and I had drinks and shared several dishes. I was confused at first because the server just kinda crept up on us once we got seated and timidly asked if we wanted something to drink. I wasn't sure if he was a food runner or waiter until he took our actual order :-\ But we got the li hing mui sake and I also ordered a lychee vodka soda that the waiter recommended. The li hing mui sake (served cold) was toooo salty. My friend said it's usually a little sweeter so we might have gotten a shoddy serving. The lychee vodka soda virtually tasted like flavored Perrier water - sans vodka - for $6.75. I wouldn't order either of the two again. I think the next time I go to Shokudo, I might just get a beer or straight up shots with nothing fancy in it so I get more bang for the buck ;p I will express how delicious the mochi gratin, tofu salad, and seasoned fries are - perfect serving, consistency, and presentation. I would love get those again the next time I roll through. The service, though, is certainly mediocre and the price for drinks doesn't match its quality. So to conclude, I will probably be back sometime in the future but it wouldn't be my #1 choice. Sorry, Shokudo :(
(3)
Kristen K.
Everytime my friends and i go out to eat we eat here. I always get the unagi rice (its a must if you like unagi) and my friends usually get the foot long chicken katsu and other sushi's. but when its time for dessert you must order the honey toast! there is nothing else like it! i rave to everyone i know about this honey toast! i suggest ordering the toast 10 min in advance because it takes that long and it sucks waiting for it when you know how delicious it is! i also suggest coming at happy hour, everything is way cheaper because it can be a tad expensive. Great for large groups or even dates!
(4)
Stiss S.
I heard and read so many good reviews about the honey toast so when i went to Hawaii for a vacay the first place i went to eat at was Shokudo of course! Oh my goodness they were right! Honey toast was soooo good and just melts in your mouth. Also the caterpillar roll was the best sushi i had in my life or i was just starving lol but i also tried the sushi pizza and lobster dynamite since i heard they were delicious but i was so disappointed! It was not that good as i thought.
(4)
Jason R.
Shokudo has great customer service! Very clean and a peaceful environment. Not to mention, the food is terrific!!! I love the variety of sushi and it seems like their vodka soda's brings out the taste even more...if thats possible???
(4)
Linh L.
The honey Oreo brick toast was fab. However the food was just alright. The shrimp tempura roll was weak. But their ribeye steak was good. Then again it's quite hard to mess up steak.
(3)
Scott P.
Some dishes are 5 stars, some dishes are 3... maybe 2. I'm giving this place 4 stars for two reasons. One, I've had some fantastic dishes here - such as the mochi cheese, and others have frequently raved about their dishes as well (sushi's with lobster or other things on top). The other reason, is I recently heard a rumor that if you have a child (under 12?) they'll fill up an ipad with games, and let your kid play with it during the meal. I haven't confirmed that rumor, but still, pretty cool. If you're going, get mochi cheese, sushi, sushi pizza, bi bim bap bowls, and honey toast. My most recent trip here, I had the yakisoba noodles - they were a 2. Presentation was great, flavor was not very good, all parties agreed. Most of the sushi I've had here was pretty decent for a non-sushi restaurant. I've heard lots of people rave about the honey toast dessert (or something similar), and see many reviewers raving about it too, so check that out. Service has always been good for me. Prices tend to be a little high. If you're a foodie, or just looking for somewhere new to try, I'd definitely recommend this place. Shokudo's rating on yelp is about 3.5 stars, and I think that's dead on. Get the 5 star dishes and you'll walk out a happy camper. Validated parking on the opposite side of the building.
(4)
Jenny L.
Food is good but the atmosphere can get a bit loud. I also found it ODD that when requesting that my dish have no hot peppers on it, the response was "it can't be removed because the dishes are pre-made." What??? So while the food is good, I sat there removing every piece of hot pepper from each spoonful of food.
(3)
Nathan N.
It's good. That's all I can really say about Shokudo. Other than the honey toast, it's just like any other Izakaya fusion bar/restaurant. I can't really say that service is outstanding, because it's not. Parking can be found in the garage behind the restaurant or on the surrounding streets. When Shokudo first opened, they had some dishes I really liked: minced chicken served in bamboo and fried flounder. Now I look at the menu and say to myself, "I can get this anywhere." After you go there a few times, the menu gets really boring. I think people really love Shokudo because of the bar. The drinks are "evil donkey." (I hope you got that.) Great place to hang out, drink up and just much on some pupus. Suggestions: Honey Toast Sukiyaki Bibimbap Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi
(3)
Annie Kim H.
Everything is good, but what I can't get enough of is the rice in the hot stone bowl. The bowl is heated up really hot, placed in front of you, and you (or your waiter if you're too chicken to do this) dump your steamed rice and stuff in the hot bowl and stir fry it yourself. after i mix my stuff to where i think it's cooked, i like to let it sit there so the rice that is stuck to the bowl gets real crisp. I pretty much love all of the different bowls of rice, but my favorite is the garlic shrimp rice. It's super-garlicky, lots of sliced chili peppers--so simple and oh so good! if you have room, check out the honey toast dessert--it's 2 super thick slices of bread toasted, cubed, drizzled with honey and scoops of vanilla ice cream thrown on top. simple...but yes, people do swoon over it :)
(4)
Bryson W.
I went to go eat at Shokudo tonight, and I wasn't that impressed. They have a two hour limit on tables and as we were getting close to our limit, they let us know that we had to leave in 30 minutes. We had ordered some Chicken Karaage about 15-20 minutes prior to this happening, we informed the lady that we were still waiting for a dish. I am guessing she went to go check on the order, but it still took about 6-7 minutes for the food to come. I ended up taking the Karaage chicken home in fear of the lady coming back and telling us we must leave. What would they actually do? Kick us out? If they did, I would happily walk out thanking them for the free meal. To me, the price for the food is overpriced, and portions aren't that big. The food isn't great as people have raved, either. The Garlic shrimp is okay, they give 8 super fresh shrimp on rice that is friend in oil, garlic, and peppers. It was good, but the shrimp was kind of small for 12.75? + tax. The Char Siu is mediocre The chicken katsu isn't "the best in town" as they claim. L&L serves up better chicken katsu for half the price. The ambiance of Shokudo is great, the service can be slow at times, but the waiters are moving around constantly but at times a little on the "I don't know what I am doing" side of moving. Our waiter was nice, but he was a little slow moving in getting the check, and a box for my Chicken Karaage. I enjoyed the food, and I give these ratings of "mediocre" and "okay" only because of the price of this food. Upon going into the restaurant, I knew that Shokudo was on the more expensive side, but the food isn't worth the money you pay.
(3)
Jimmy T.
Great environment but can get very noisy. Not a great place for a romantic dinner. The original HONEY TOAST is something I highly recommend!! A simple dish but very tasty!
(4)
Jescelyn L.
The food here is great. Perhaps outstanding. But tonight was the worst night I've had at this restaurant. I had to wait 45 minutes for my table. That's fine its a very busy restaurant. However its not understandable to have to wait an hour for our main course, me and my bf only had 3 small appraisers while other tables were sat after me are got their food before me and left before me. I canceled our main course order because it was taking too long, 30 minutes had passed I received nothing. My server took her time to get back to me about our order and took her sweet time to get my check. When I was about to leave, finally my food came out. I was pretty agitated when I saw the clueless waiter with my food . Instead of trying to save from us starvation and leaving pissed. My server "Nina" simply said, to the waiter who brought the food. "Oh they canceled it take it back." I got into the restaurant at 8 and left at 10. I was there for 2 hours. Pardon me for being pissed and hungry. The only reason why there are 2 stars and not 1 or even 0 is because I was refunded. I don't mean to sound unreasonable or brash, but I was also offered a free honey toast dessert. But honestly I don't care, you personally fucked up my date with my boyfriend
(2)
'Ululani L.
Favorite Japanese Restaurant by far with great service & friendly staff...Oh yes! Make you wanna keep coming back. Yessah!!
(5)
RO F.
It's like I died and went to heaven.... The tofu salad is off the charts. There is nothing anywhere that rivals homemade tofu and fresh greens with Oriental dressing. The piece de resistance was the Ahi Belly Katsu. Are you kidding me? So ono! The Japanese tartar sauce with bonito in it was a nice twist. Fried moi that was so edible we ate the crispy bones. Good thing I live far away... this could become an addiction!
(5)
Natasha G.
My Boyfriend, Son and I came here for the first time on Halloween night after trick or treating, it seemed all the employees participated and their costumes were good. The waitress that served us was simply wonderful, she introduced herself and her costume and was just the right amount attentive. We ordered the rice set, loco moco and foot long katsu. The loco moco was mixed for us and I'm glad they did because we had no clue what they were talking about when they asked if we wanted them to mix it for us - dammit the loco moco is frickin good!!! Katsu was delicious as well with the homemade katsu sauce and the miso soup with the rice set was so yummy. We were very full but read all over yelp to try the honey French toast so we just had too! We got it with chocolate drizzle on top and though we were really full - we finished it 'cause it was too good to stop! I see there's long lines a lot but when we came there wasn't. The restaurant is a bit cramped but the way they do it, you won't mind.
(5)
Tori M.
I really REALLY REAAAALLLLY wish I could give this place five stars because I've had nothing but great experiences here. Matt and Kylie have been my servers there the last few times I've gone and they were nothing short of amazing but my last visit was absolutely horrible. I went there at lunch for my friends birthday, we were seated and put in our order, the guy that took our order was great when he was actually there but the girl that brought our food was a different story. I remember it as if it were yesterday, Sherri (the girl that brought our food) came to the table with two shrimp tempura rolls and yukari fries. I hadn't eaten all day because it's shokudo, I'm gonna treat myself to a grand meal. She brought it to the table and said "I'm guessing one roll per person?" I said no and she scoffed saying "wait. What? Really?" UM yes really. Is there a problem? I should've said but I was overcome with shame and shock. I then told her the fries were mine too and she laughed, saying "what? WOW" with a face of disgust. I wanted to walk out right then and there had it not been for matt and Kylie's great service before reassuring me that this is not what shokudo is usually like. Our original server disappeared into thin air and Sherri helped every table next and near us except us then graced us with her presence *sarcasm ofcourse* to say that our server is lazy and would rather sit down than serve us so she "HAD" to serve us the dessert portion but we just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. We had little to no attention but when a group of muscular guys walked in, their table had not one, not two but THREE waitresses and Sherri OFCOURSE waiting on them hand and foot. My friend and I left immediately as we obviously could feel unwanted... In a restaurant. Needless to say, I will walk right out if I ever see Sherri working and return when matt or Kylie or just absolutely anyone else is worrying. Sorry shokudo, this experience was definitely memorable in the wrong way.
(1)
Nat N.
This place gets crazy busy in the evenings, which translates to slow service, but the food is always amazingly good and satisfying. We went on a Friday night at 6:45 pm with no reservations, and had already planned on dining at the bar because we knew we wouldn't get a table. The bartender was really nice, however, the food was very slow to come out. I give the bartender props for noticing that we hadn't gotten our food in a timely manner, and once she went to the kitchen to check on our food, the food started coming out. The agedashi tofu is a must. You get three large chunks of tofu and they give a good amount of dashi. The chicken karaage is what you would normally expect it to be. Fried chicken. It's not one of their better menu items but the hubby has to order fried chicken whenever it's on the menu. The spider roll (soft shell crab sushi) was amazing! I snatched the end pieces as soon as the plate landed in front of us. The end pieces are the best because they have the most meat (the crab claws). We had to top off the dinner with what drew me to Shokudo in the first place - the honey toast with cinnamon. It never disappoints!
(4)
Krysten I.
Make reservations, but don't expect anything when they ask if it is a special occasion.... I've been here a few times with my friends, and there has always been a long wait in the past, so I decided to make reservations beforehand. The guy I spoke to asked if we were celebrating and I informed him that we were celebrating a birthday. It was a day after my friends actual birthday, so it wasn't really important that we got to embarrass her, but I thought that since I had mentioned it, they would at least tell her happy birthday or something...... Nothing. Whatevs, the waitress was all over the place anyways. We had to ask her to refill our waters a couple times and our entrees did not come out together. We had the cheese mochi, calamari and beef tataki for appetizers. The cheese mochi is pretty good if you eat it as soon as it comes out, if it sits for awhile, the cheese gets hard and its not very good. The calamari is decent and comes with very mild wasabi mayo. The beef tataki was surprisingly good, but a weird temp, kind of cold? I don't know if it was supposed to be served like that. We each got a stone rice bowl (~$12 each). The bowl is hot and cooks the rice. The other times I have come, the rice got crispy, but this last time, the rice didnt get crispy at all. My food was just hot and a little harder to eat because it was so hot. The garlic shrimp and garlic scallop bowls are decent. Super garlicy and a little spicy. I've had the bi bim bap once and it was nothing memorable. The honey toast is good, but I can def make it at home.
(3)
Rhi S.
I've only eaten here twice but absolutely loved it both times. Recently my boyfriend and I came here for our two year anniversary. There was no wait at all even though half the restaurant had a party. The staff were all very nice and friendly. We ordered the rice w/ miso soup (2), gyoza, chicken karaage, and the shrimp tempura maki. We only had to wait about 10 minutes until our food started coming out. It was really good ~ I think that's the best shrimp tempura I've had so far! For dessert I had a strawberry shake and we ordered the honey toast too. The shake was soooo delicious! It reminded me of the shake they used to have at Thirst Aid at Ala Moana (if anyone remembers that far back). The honey toast was AMAZING as usual. I definitely recommend coming here and trying that! All together it was only $60 w/ tip for all that food we ordered, so it's not too bad. I feel you really get a lot for what you pay ~ food is delicious, and the service is great!
(5)
Heidi C.
heaven. i love this place so much i could come here with my boyfriend every weekend for a date night. hate it when its busy and when we have to wait but we'd wait because we LOVE this place so much.
(5)
Joy T.
Had lunch here on Friday and because we got there early it wasn't crowded.
(4)
Daniel D.
Whether with a sizable group or just one friend, Sokudo is a good value -- food is good, there are some creative items that are unique and tasty. I've found the service to be generally good, and today it was really good - the hostess sat me at one of the very cozy booths (good for 1.5 big people), which really isn't so good for a busienss lunch like the one I had today (great with a significant other though!). The waitress was happy to move me, saying the "customer is always right" (I like that) and our new waitress Chelsea was terrific and very personal as well. I commented to the original waitress that she lost us as we moved service area and her response "it doesn't matter, we work as a team". With service like this they deserve 4 stars!
(4)
Sheryll Y.
My friends and I ate there for the first time and we loved it! We sat at the bar where we received the attention of two bartenders: Jessi and Paul. They were the best in the suggestions for drinks and food. We also had the best service despite the busy hour we came at. Thank you Jessi and Paul for your awesome service and our first time at Shokudo Japanese! :)
(5)
Mari R.
Shokudo has quickly become one of my favorite go to spots. But remember to MAKE A RESERVATION or you could easily wait up to 1.5/2 hours for even a small table, especially on weekends. Even on weekdays, friends have said that they got in okay, but don't chance it. This place has excellent food but you could get extremely hangry waiting for it! Let's just say that we were willing to wait 2 hours for shokudo rather than to give up our name on the waiting list to go to Pietros instead. That's how good the food is! Our faves include the tofu salad (their tofu is to-die-for), lobster dynamite (be sure to order extra toast), ishiyaki garlic scallop and tomato rice, the chicken katsu, the steak and mashed potatoes, and of course the infamous honey toast, choco style. Who knew toast could be so delicious? We also went once to eat at happy hour and were very pleased with the prices and delicous food (4-6 daily). Also this restaurant is extremely loud, if you are looking for a romantic, quiet dinner, this is not the place to go. Be prepared to shout over your meal and to eventually just chow down and give up talking period.
(4)
Talia C.
After the renovations, I think I like Shokudo more! Not much of the interior changed, but the menu added more beer selections, and the sushi quality improved!! The ikura nigiri was sooo yummy :) Mochi cheese gratin and sushi pizza are a couple of my favorites from here! As for drinks, the yuzu citrus honey and lychee vodka sodas are a must! Sometimes depending on who makes the drinks though, they can be a bit on the strong side. The only thing that always gets me is the wait. Which is why I think it's better to always make a reservation or call in advance to ask how long the wait is. Other than that, great place to eat or even have a couple drinks!
(4)
Kris O.
Shokudo Date with Aly Since 2011 started, I felt like I joined the circus, since I've juggled the following commitments: 3 jobs, being a full-time student, my boyfriend (aka my blog) + I recently started a Marketing & PR internship. Also I'm currently in the process of planning a Japan benefit concert. However, in the past few weeks my life has slowed down & because of this down-time I was able to have a lunch date with another busy bee Aly Ishikuni, vocalist of ALT/AIR . I mentally counted down the days until my lunch date with Aly since I've been craving Shokudo's Chicken Karage Bento which is only serves during the day. But the main reason I looked forward to my lunch date is because it's been forever since I connected with a friend & didn't feel rushed. Which is why I felt giddy as a schoolgirl when Aly & I discovered that neither of us had immediate plans for the remainder of the afternoon. I love that I'm always able to depend on this Japanese restaurant to deliver exceptional customer service & delicious food. Shokudo is the perfect atmosphere to reconnect with friends over lunch, go on a romantic date with someone special or enjoy something sweet (Honey Toast) to celebrate any occasion.
(5)
Garrett Y.
Excellent customer service, gave great detailed information about the food and drinks we ordered. Victor was an amazing server for us. I recommend this place to anyone thay wants an amazing dinner here. It's a bit pricey but well worth your money. I recommend trying the blueberry soda vodka and homemade sangria.
(5)
Jenet Y.
Always a great place to dine! Love a number of dishes including their tofu salad and mochin gratin, marinated pork belly and their hamachi dish! Yum! Also awesome wait staff!!
(5)
Reimi D.
I'm writing this review a bit late--we stopped by about a month ago. We arrived here around 5 pm on a Saturday. We did not have reservations but the hostess offered seating at the bar. Since we just wanted a quick meal of pupus, we agreed. The service was prompt and the food was yummy. We ordered the chicken katsu, the lobster dynamite, crispy sushi, and gyoza. The food was great...nothing really special about the gyoza though. It was good, but not great. The bartender was really nice and kept the drinks coming. All in all, we had a great experience and the food was yummy.
(4)
Kelly K.
The best Garlic fried rice I had so far! Service was terrific! Definitely need to try the Honey toast with ice cream and caramel!
(4)
Lehua S.
This place is pretty good. Their menu isnt that expansive(great pictures!) but they have a lot of signature dishes!! We loved the lobster dynamite roll, that had big chunks of lobster! The garlic shrimp rice was another favourite! Tofu salad is a must. Instead of getting the infamous honey toast, their shave ices are huge! and delicious! The honey toast can be a bit dry.. but very fast service and cool atmosphere! Very good for family style.
(4)
Teresa L.
Parking - they have a garage underneath but i usually just park at the mall and walk over. Wait time - this place can get really crowded so expect a wait time if you are going at dinner hours Food - mehhh. the food's alright not extraordinary, but not terrible at the same time. I like to come for the atmosphere. I've enjoyed their crunchy rice spicy tuna, bibimbap, shrimp rice, udon, honey toast, spicy tuna nachos. The spicy tuna nachos are pretty interesting because its an unusual pairing but it works very well. The only downside is the spicy ahi isnt very spicy and doesnt taste very fresh. I'm a pretty picky sashimi eater so I have high standards. Service - if I'm at the bar, the service is great. Bartenders tend to be very attentive and easy to flag down. When I'm in the dining room and it's really busy, the service is alright. Happy Hour - they have happy hour from 4-6 daily and 10:30 to 12 on mon - wed & sunday. They have a select menus of pupus for $3 - $5. Also they have a honey toast jr too! Perfect serving size for one.
(4)
Janae F.
i LOVED our waiter, He was attentive, friendly, and recommended some great items. The ambience was perfect. The Hamachi Kama was superb, the edamame was the BEST I EVER HAD, and oooohh the HOney Toast, Oh man oh man. Waikiki is not complete without a stop at Shokudo.
(5)
Austin B.
When you walk in, the tiered seating is nice to look at. Overall though, despite the above average prices, most of the food here is average and the service is average. Likes: The interior looks nice and it's a nice place to eat at with friends. Also, they have some interesting fusion type dishes. I like the rice bowl dishes because the hot bowl gives the rice some nice crunchy bits that add some texture. Dislikes: I think a good portion of the menu is overpriced, considering the quality you get, especially for the sushi dishes. Also, some of the upholstery in the tiered seating area needs to be replaced because it's cracking and it's sharp. It's not pleasant when you're wearing shorts. Favorites: Despite the negatives, I'd come here just for the honey toast (which I have done). Yeah yeah I can make it myself, but it's so much more satisfying when it's served to me. You can change it up with the different flavors, but original is the best. If i have to order food, I'd get the bibimbap. I don't normally like tofu, surprisingly for me, their tofu salad is pretty good. This is a nice place to eat out with friends because the interior is nice (aside from the cracked seats). When it's time for dessert, get the honey toast (good enough for 3-4 people).
(3)
Wendy C.
Shokudo sells a lot of americanized fusion style japanese food. It's a nice and big restaurant that is great for big parties, but don't come in expecting anything authentic. I was well aware of this and enjoyed the food, in particular their shrimp roll!
(4)
Shigemi W.
Went there last minute & really happy they were not busy yet. Our orders came out slowly, but it was hot this time. Waiter very alert, we didn't have to keep looking for him. Very efficient to notice if we needed any refills & if our food is what we expected. He seemed to have a lot of tables to take care of. But he kept a cool head & always has a smile. Thank you for a very relaxing evening.
(4)
Regina F.
Wednesday, 05/22/13, 08:30p I called early in the afternoon to make a reservation for a party of seven. The gentleman was in the process of getting my information and I made the mistake of mentioning that we were coming for dessert. Suddenly, there were no more reservations available for the time slot I requested. I was advised to just walk-in and that I shouldn't have any problems. Of course, this wasn't the case when we arrived and of course, I was told that no one answering the phone would have told me that. We took our party elsewhere. I'm sure we'll be back; we love the honey toast. However, we will NOT mention that we're ordering dessert only, we'll be more cautious when recommending Shokudo to others, and we'll pray that another restaurant offers this dessert so we can patronize them.
(1)
Kevin C.
Definitely a good choice when you want good food, but I've seen Shokudo during much better times. It used to be cheaper and the portions were bigger. I do enjoy their happy hour though! Before Dark is from 4-6pm daily and After Dark is from 10:30-closing. The After Dark is especially popular. They begin seating for it at 10:15, so if you want to guarantee a table arrive a little early! The last time I went, our waiter was nice enough to take our happy hour order before 10:30 so he could order it right away when the time came. The menu has changed. NOT everything is $3 anymore. BOOOOO! :( Things come in the $3, 4, 5 tier now. Don't worry, the Honey Toast Jr. is still $3. REJOICEEEE! As for regular food, I like the Tofu Salad and Bibimbap. Definitely good go-to's when you want some good and safe.
(3)
Ka'awaloa K.
Shokudo's was pleasant, quiet, and I really loved the intimate lighting. Our waiter and other staff were very attentive, professional, and delightful. The food was wonderful. We had a great time :) Mahalo for a wonderful experience!
(4)
Jas T.
Great food, good vibes, and our waitress Caroline was awesome. She was friendly, recommended great food and drinks. (No regrets on anything!) People come to restaurants because they know the food is great. When the service is great as well, it's a HOMERUN! Some of my favorites: Spicy Crunchy Tuna- won't find this unique style of crispy rice sushi anywhere. Their ISHIYAKI's are so tasty! As I'm writing this I'm craving the food. Lobster Dynamite- There were actual lobster pieces that weren't hard to see. Shoju drinks were yum!
(5)
Juliann C.
Why does everyone think its worth it to wait at least an hour to get into this place?! The Good * Parking is never a problem! * One of the more enjoyable places to eat a honey toast * Bibimbap is pretty good * Salads are good The Bad * The ridiculous waits to get in * The ridiculous prices you pay for small portioned food * I just REALLY hate waiting for a seat and my food! & it doesn't help that Shokudo is a place where people like to take their time and eat. It's definitely not an in-and-out kind of joint, which sucks to wait! The Weird * $10 for honey toast. Shit expensive for toasted bread and ice cream -- if you really think about it!
(2)
Julianne C.
Really? What's the big deal here? So I've finally decided to visit Shokudo after 5 years because lately I've been hearing people rave about their honey toast. Blah blah blah...We went there on a weekday at 7:00pm and was told there was an 1 hour to 1 1/2 hour wait. We were shocked because we saw plentiful tables that were vacant. Ok fine, I consider myself a patient person. Then upon learning that there were no young children in our group, were were offered the high tables seating. Ok fine, we like to people watch anyway. I ordered the red eye roll...aesthetically, my sushi looked beautiful when it arrived. My tastebuds on the other hand were none too pleased. At the time, all I could taste was the rice vinegar and the soy sauce..... fish? what fish? Though I must say, the supposed fish was very tender, so good job on that. I definitely would've appreciated it more if they gave it a lighter hand on the vinegar. After stuffing my face with sushi, we ordered the honey toast. Okay, this must be the most OVERRATED dish ever! It's just bread and ice cream people?! Where and what in the world is the earth shattering element here??! It's a big carbo-load attack covered in honey and vanilla ice cream... I mean it's okay and good (a 5 year old's wet dream!), but I wouldn't call it "amazzzzing" or a "must-try!" Personally, I find other Japanese restaurants better than Shokudo, hence why I haven't dined here in 5 years. Perhaps I'll visit again in another 5 years?
(2)
Chris S.
My goodness this place has horrible customer service. We had a party of 12 and they said our wait would only be 45 minutes so we decided to wait. I'm just going to say right now that it wasn't 45 minutes....we waited for over an hour and a half and they still didn't have our table ready. If they told us that our wait would have been that long, then we would have went somewhere else. But then these retards don't know how to properly give a reasonable estimate wait time. My friend just graduated and we wanted to celebrate his accomplishments. Because of this place, they ruined the night and we couldn't celebrate his achievements. I advise not to go to this place unless you don't mind waiting for hours and hours. Honestly, at one point I was playing candy crush because I was so BORED FROM WAITING! That's about it bro. This place sucks...
(1)
Christina A.
Shokudo is pretty pricey, so I really only go there for happy hour and sit at the bar. The food is great and is served in a timely manner. The servers are awesome! Everyone is super friendly!
(4)
T. B.
My husband and I went to Shokudo for happy hour/dinner tonight. This was my husbands first time to the restaurant and he was more than pleasantly surprised. We sat at the bar and our bartender was Wade. From the start Wade was energetic, attentive and gave us great service throughout our meal. The food and drinks were awesome and their happy hour menu is a steal! Definitely will be back soon!!! Thank you Wade!!
(5)
Scott M.
So disappointed, Shokudo is not what it used to be. Went for my wifes birthday the other day. Shokudo used to be one of our favorites, however, things have changed, alot. The dining area is very dirty, lint everywhere, dust on fake trees, torn seats, holes in lights. The silverware (my daughters fork) and mini plates had dried crusty food on them. The bathrooms were dirty, and sink and toilets looked as if they were not cleaned in awhile. The workers seemed to be using the restrooms to change clothes. The menus were falling apart and a wreck. The service was slow and sassy. To start, We ordered agedashi tofu, yukari fries, and mochi cheese gratin, which are supposed to be hot/warm but were served cold. The ribeye sizzling plate and salmon bowl were both over cooked and mash was extremely dry and tasteless. The waitress did not refill our green iced teaeven once, although refills were free. Worst of all -the servers forgot to bring an order (ahi roll) to our table and accused us of receiving the dish twice, when we had not recieved it. Very unproffesional. We think the waitress gave it to another table by mistake as she seemed clueless. The only highlight was the honey toast, but considering we were charged for it when it should have been free on birthdays added to the frustration. Thankfully, live and learn, we did not get sick from the food, and will not be returning.
(1)
Denise K.
Trendy Japanese fusion. There's nothing traditional about it and that's why I like it. If you want fusion, this is your spot. Sushi Pizza? Think of it as a flattened out California roll. It's pretty good! They also have beef tataki sushi with crunchy fried onions on top - a must order! There's another sushi roll that has spicy tuna atop crunchy rice cubes, innovative and fun to eat. And as everyone has already stated, you can't go home without trying the honey toast with ice cream. You'll roll outta there a happy camper!
(4)
Pumehana A.
Great service from Ryan! He greeted us with, "Hey guys, happy holidays!" Now, Christmas time is my ABSOLUTE favorite time of the year, so he's already got an A in my book. He also informed us of Shokudo's gift card special after his initial greet-- something most servers usually pitch at the end of the meal; this was pleasantly out of the ordinary. Throughout the meal Ryan was extremely attentive to detail (i.e., clearing empty plates as we were finished, replacing a saturated bev nap, offering another round right before our kirin was finished, and checking on us on his way over to his other table). To be quite honest, Ryan's service was a breath of fresh air amidst a plethora of mediocrity. Thank you for a great experience!!
(5)
Lance K.
Oh shokudo...I can't say anything extraordinarily outstanding bout this place, but I also can't really complain about it either. This food here to me is just okay, with the exception of the honey toast of course xD. My favs from here are the Teri chicken Quesedilla (I know odd for a Japanese place right) and the mochi cheese gratin....OH and also the bi bim bap lol I love how the rice gets crispy in the pot! The drinks are tasty but a little on the sweet side. The service is usually consistent with the servers being friendly and quick. Overall the food is not great but not bad, but the service is always good and dat honey toast being the crown jewel of this restaurant. oh also the wait can get pretty long on peak hours so try to come early!
(4)
Robin K.
The food is consistently delicious and the service is attentive without being intrusive. Love the crispy shrimp tempura sushi, tofu salad and the honey toast with vanilla ice cream. The homemade tofu is a treat.
(4)
Ashley M.
Brought my grandma and sister here for their first time after bugging them to go for so long. I always enjoyed coming here before, but this place really went downhill over the years. Host/hostess was rude, they just ignored me as I stood there while they continued on with their conversations and I had to interrupt them in order to put my name down. Waited about 15 minutes for our table and got seated. Waitress was okay...but the food was kinda meh. I noticed that their lobster dynamite contains mostly vegetables such as broccoli & what not. I was disappointed with it, to be honest. Felt as if it tasted much better before. Had to get their honey toast, which was pretty much the best part of dinner. Other than that, don't think I won't be coming here unless I have to such as a party one of my friends plan.
(2)
G P.
Great contemporary Japanese (and other asian) cuisine. I had the bibimbap and it was excellent!
(4)
Juan F.
Came here just for dessert. We ordered the Honey Toast and Shave Ice. They both were just average. The Honey Toast was big and with two scoops of ice cream. However, it didn't wow me. I could probably make that at home. We got the Melon shave ice. The ice wasn't as fine and fluffy as I'd like, but its okay. I like the atmosphere here! They play good music and the setup of the restaurant is outstanding.
(3)
NickMitsTheDemiGod ..
A really overrated experience! The most over hyped thing there is their Honey Toast! Imagine a piece of toasted bread with ice cream in it!! Whose terrible idea was that? Toast 2 ego waffles. add 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, and agave nectar. Better than Honey Toast
(2)
Diane E.
The boss brought our team here today for lunch to celebrate a birthday. Lots on the menu to choose from. The array of Udon noodle bowls looked enticing, but I opted for the spicy tuna roll. Everybody ordered something different and it all looked good. We shared the Red Eye Roll (spicy tuna with fresh tuna on top) and the Foot Long Chicken Katsu. We shared the Honey Bread dessert and they brought the birthday girl her own. A great time with the team. Some of the drinks looked interesting...I may have to come back after work some time and imbibe in one of them.
(4)
Justin Y.
Last I checked, kim chee char siu was supposed to go on a plate and not on customer's shirt & head. Thanks Shokudo for proving me wrong AND charging us for it! But ok, let's do this in some kind of order just for kicks. The food was ok. Not great for the price that's for sure. The fish in the sushi was old, the wasabi must've been SUPER old as I literally ate half of the pile by itself, chew on it, inhale anddddd...nothing. Sad & actually quite gross when you think about it. The service was slow, and well...quite appalling. First strike was when my friend's yuzu vodka drink came and the waiter dropped the yuzu on the table then...just walked away. Wtf? Get a new one maybe? But that was just small beans compared to the rest of the "experience". Whoever the busser was at our table needs some kind of training, because he spilled all the juice from the Kim Chee Char Siu thing all over my new shirt & in my hair. THEN he spilled the crap from my friend's salad all over his pants. Nothing got comped, no manager coming over to apologize, AND they had the nerve to tack on an automatic 17% gratuity. If I HAVE to tip for someone ruining our clothes, do we get to charge for the shirt & pants too? Maybe even a shampoo for all the pork and kim chee chunks in my hair? Ugh. Just UGH. Boycotting this place from now on. Why bother putting all that money into redecorating if that's how people are going to get treated in there?
(1)
Alex D.
Okay, what is up with the lines even late at night? The ultra hip decor in a restaurant by a mall? The girls in the 10 inch heels on the dates with the guys in the flip-flops? And why does every table have the hollowed out toast with scoops of ice cream on top? Ice cream on bread... wtf? Infused vodka cocktails reading like a soda fountain menu? None of the above makes any sense... but it somehow, someway... it comes all together nicely for a cool night out in HNL. Yummy food, cool vibe, cosmo island uber hip atmosphere....Shokudo gets my KUDOS fo' SHO easily. OH, and one last question: what kindda of crack yumminess is in that honey toast?
(5)
Jules N.
I think the food here is "meh", but the BF has this permanently etched into the "Please do not ever take me here" list. Not because of service, (which is okay, never had bad wait help), not because of ambience & setting (which is bad, cause there's a ton of teenie-boppers here), but for his complete and utter dislike of their food. We've tried almost everything on the menu, and here are the only items that he's liked: -Agedashi Tofu - Pretty good actually -Sushi Pizza - It's california roll ingredients with a Jalapeno on top. He likes spicy things. -Edamame - You either like edamame or you don't. Yep, that's the entire list of items that he's liked and we've tried almost everything on the menu, even the specialties menu. We usually spend ~$80-100 including tip and it's really not worth it for the quality of the food.
(2)
Joyce F.
For: food, service, location Against: Other essentials: Free parking on the backside of Shokudo. Drive down into the lot (same building) then wait the Shokudo marked stalls. Also, their lunch menu is pretty legit with smaller, cheaper versions of some entrees as well as $3 sangria, etc. More: The food is delicious here. Key words: Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio and Garlic Shrimp Rice. Both amazing. The Carpaccio has a yuzu sauce and is served over julienned daikon. So fresh and I love the citrusy vinegar flavor. The Garlic Shrimp Rice was such a nice surprise. It is served in a hot stone bowl with so much garlic (yum) and chili peppers. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and we let the rice crisp up a bit before eating. I usually stick to sashimi but the Lobster Dynamite Roll was good with huge chucks of delicious lobster piled on top. Skip the Spicy Scallop Roll. After everything else, the flavors were just mediocre and didn't impress. The assorted tempura was light and crispy. We also got the Tofu Salad - good vinaigrette-ish dressing with crispy wontons to balance the silkiness of the tofu. Good dish but not incredible. I've had the Tuna Sashimi Salad before which I loved (anything with raw fish, citrus and vinegar and I'm happy). Have to shout out the service there. We had Bob as our waiter although even waiters from other sections would come and clear off our table. Bob was friendly and frequently changed out plates so that we wouldn't mix flavors between courses. This can be a waste at times although the attentive service was nice. Happy hour from 4-6 and 10:30 to close.
(5)
Chyanne O.
this joint has been here for a looong time. i remember my high school years. i think they've been trying to step it up a little with the sushi bar and all, but it's still just ok. food is good, but not great. sushi could be better. service is a hit or miss. some are attentive, some are just.. horrible and slow. pray you don't get those. i still don't understand why the wait is so long almost all the time on prime hours... the honey toast is good but it's just overrated. btw, don't order the vodka lychee drink. all you taste is the lychee syrup.. too sweet it's just so nasty.
(3)
Eddie M.
Ate here Saturday night with the family. Great service up front and did their best to accommodate us with our 5 month old daughter! Food was great and will be back!!
(5)
Nicole F.
The wait for this restaurant can sometimes be time consuming because it is the cool spot to eat for the younger adult crowd, but the wait is always worth it. I am a regular, and the staff is always friendly, and there to make your meal enjoyable. They are famous for their honey toast, but the agedashi tofu, and mochi cheese gratin are must try's.
(5)
Misty P.
I have come here three times and all the times I have come here the food was great. I wasn't reall a fan of their stone garlic rice pot though. It had a bit too much butter for my taste. However the appetizers of sushi, sashimi, fries, shrimp dynamite and tempura were delicious. The honey toast is simple, but great with ice cream. It's a little bit pricey but I'd come here again. The decor was nice and modern, but I pay attention to detail, and the blinds need a good dusting/cleaning. The service was ok. Not the best, but it was friendly and we didn't have to wait too long for a table or our food.
(4)
Michele K.
One of my favorite places to go when I have late night food cravings!!! They have pretty good happy hour specials. (Before dark from 4-6pm and after dark from 10:30 till closing!) They have a special food menu where everything is $3. The teriyaki chicken quesadilla is SO GOOD. It's definitely one of the popular dishes because I saw so many people order it! It comes with a cilantro dip, so if you like cilantro... I think you'll love it! The honey toast is also another popular choice. For the food on their normal menu... I'd say my favorite is the stone bowl bibimbap. I've tried the mochi cheese gratin and the spicy tuna crispy rice too. Those are pretty good, but the bibimbap is definitely my favorite! I don't think the drink specials they have during after dark are that great. The prices are good, but they don't have many choices. I got a kirin draft for $4, but the cocktails on their normal menu were all normal price. lame. :( Shokudo has good deals for food during happy hour, but I think there are better places to hit up if you want better drinks. Sometimes service is super super slow. It took them a while to bring out our food and I got my food at least 10 minutes after my friends.
(4)
Christina S.
I used to be a regular here a few years ago and just haven't taken the time to go back recently and I really don't know why. I love this place! They do get really busy on the weekends so if you don't make reservations be prepared to wait a really long time. But today I went relatively early on a Monday so we were seated immediately. I always look forward to having their sushi and they had their albacore tuna on crispy rice sushi on their seasonal menu (my favorite dish at skokudo!!!) I'm sad that it willbe gone in a couple of weeks. It is really good seared ahi on fried crispy cubes of rice topped with a picked jalapeño and awesome sauce. Soooo good! You really can't go wrong with ordering anything on the menu. My other favorites are the spicy tuna on crispy rice sushi, sushi pizza, mochi cheese gratin, and the rice bowls served sizzling in a hot stone pot. Plus you can't leave without hovering the honey toast dessert! I don't think I have ever had a bad experience here other than waiting a long time for a table, but it is totally worth it!
(5)
Maryhmelle C.
Me and my boyfriend would occasionally come here, especially when I'm craving their honey toast. We usually come around lunch time because 1) the wait Isn't as long as during the nighttime dinner rush and 2) The waitress Alyssa recognizes us and always makes sure we have great service, which is a plus 3) the wait for the food is 10x faster in my opinion.
I haven't been to the restaurant yet, but I tried their cocktails while at the Yelp Elite Battleship Bash event, which is why they only get 3 stars. I love their peach and yuzu saketinis! The yuzu isn't as sweet, so if you don't like super sweet cocktails, I recommend you order this one. Their peach one is definitely sweeter, but not cloying. It was my favorite of the two.
(3)
Jessica C.
AMAZING!!! The food here is great but the customer service is better. Our waiter, Grant, was super polite and friendly. He provided one of the best customer service I have ever experience. My friends and I were celebrating a birthday party and he offered amazing customer service. Alongside that, the food here is great and very reasonable. Definitely try the yukari French fries and the honey toast. A+ for customer service. I will definitely be coming back again.
(5)
Margie N.
My absolute favorite place for their homemade tofu salad, dynamite roll, sashimi platter and their famous honey toast! We went here a couple of years ago and wasn't impressed. Someone gave us gift cards so we thought we"d try it again. We were so glad we did because this time it was absolutely perfect. The hostess mentioned it was her first day but she sure didn't show any signs that this was her first day! The waiter was amazing and helped us with the menu cause there were so many choices. Confident 5 stars!
(5)
Nikki N.
So I have not been to this place for a while. However, I love the service, the new food items, and the fact that I don't feel like I'm paying too much even though the prices are not cheap. We got there on Friday night at 7:45pm and go seated by 8 even though they were really busy. I saw the winter menu and decided to order from that instead of my usual. I got the Crispy rice, soy, walnut shrimp, ume cucumber, and my boy friend ordered one of the udon bowls. It was all BOMB. The only thing that I was not satisfied with was my Ume Shu with soda was filled to the top with ice and I only got like 4 sips out of the cup. I didn't mind about the drink though cause at least they kept my boyfriends water cup full and took away plates that were empty so we had room on our little two seater booth table that was comfy. The service was very efficient. A different person came by to deliver our food, came to fill water, came to take plates away, which I loved! I hate it when we have to wait forever for our particular waiter to come by for service. Thanks Shokudo for the awesome chill Friday night out.
(5)
Yon S.
Been here a few dozen times over the years, since they first opened. They just opened a few weeks ago, after being closed for renovations a few months now. The inside looks the same, the menu was the same. Not exactly sure what the renovation was for. Looks like all they did was add a sushi counter on the existing bar. Food was very disappointing. I miss some of their original menu items, and I let them know, but I have a feeling they are not bringing back the buta kakuni and the cobb salad where were draw items for me and my dining mates.
(2)
Cindy L.
We had a group gathering here with about 25 people plus kids. Obviously they don't have the room to accommodate such a big group, but we made do with the chairs and tables around us. The best way to eat here is to have a whole bunch of items on the menu and share, and so we did. We had the following items: Agedashi Tofu: Lightly fried tofu with lots of bonitos and dashi broth. Very yummy! Pork Gyoza: Eight pieces of gyoza, nothing really special. Chicken Karage: Fried chicken breasts. It was a bit too dry for me. Although it came with an excellent dipping sauce. Lobster Dynamite Sushi: Excellent California roll topped with lobster bites. Tempura Roll: California roll with fried crust. Yaki Soba: Very delicious stir fried soba. Caramel honey toast: Cut out toast squares drizzled with honey, topped with your choice of ice cream and caramel syrup. The food was good and the service was excellent.
(3)
Natasha T.
Giving this place a 2-star, because I really don't think the food is anything special. I've been there a few times and every time was just mehhh. My last experience was pure crap though. I ordered the fried calamari, and it was awful. I've eaten a lot of calamari, and this is one of the worst places to get it. Too much breading, no flavor, etc. My husband also got katsu, and it was SO FRICKEN OILY. Like how do you mess up katsu in Hawaii? Such a fail. The honey toast never disappoints though!
(2)
Jacqueline G.
Walked in on a Thursday night at 11pm. It was a full house for it being a week night! Sat in a two person booth by a glass window looking into the kitchen (Probably not the best design idea) But the dining room decor was modern and eye catching. I loved the two person booth though! Perfect for intimate dinners. Our server was helpful, told us that usually 3-4 dishes are good for two people. Started off with the calamari appetizer. It was ehhh. The tempura batter was not the best I've tasted. The lobster dynamite roll was yummy! Large pieces of lobster with a tasty sauce. Ordered the Ishiyaki garlic shrimp rice. The hot stone bowls are brought our with your food in it and someone mixes it up for you table side. I loved the flavor dish. The rice cooked to perfection. Ordered the chicken katsu as well, should have gotten a different dish. You can get chicken katsu anywhere! Highlight was the Honey Toast with vanilla ice cream. Simple but good! Next time I'm in Oahu for the weekend, will stop by again. I heard about their late night half off specials but we payed full price for everything. Maybe only for weekends.
(4)
Ashley H.
My boyfriend and I tried this place for our anniversary, we heard it gets packed so we made reservations in January. Our anniversary was on the 18th of February, they only had two slots left so we picked 6pm. I was excited to eat, we got there and was greeted by the host, we told her we had a reservation she said okay one moment and left us standing for 10mins the manager finally noticed us and sat us down. We went straight to ordering I got the karage chicken because I was eating sushi all week and my boyfriend got a spicy soup. His soup was good, my chicken was plain. I couldn't stop thinking about the honey toast since everyone is always talking about it. We got the double with oreo ice cream it was good but not heavenly like everyone made it seem. The manager thanked us for coming and even took our picture for us. The service overall was good. I could see us going back.
(3)
Aaron Y.
Good lunch menu and food was really good. Also, validated parking which makes it very convenient.
(4)
Faithyui C.
I like this place. the staffs are nice. the restaurant is clean and kids friendly. closed to Ala Moana Mall.
(4)
Joseph F.
Waited an eternity to get in on a crazy Friday. They have a wide variety of Japanese dishes done in the local style. Sushi was competent enough, and simple things like gyoza / chicken katsu were fine. We didn't enjoy the garlic shrimp flavored sizzling rice as it was simply overpowering, and I was the only one in the group that enjoyed our shrimp tempura udon. Service and atmosphere was outstanding, and it is kid-friendly, but we didn't really think it merited the reviews overall.
(3)
Kiare K.
I have never took the time out of my life to write a review on anything, but after my experience at Shokudo on 03/19/14 i need to. I just came back home from college and if you've ever been away for college, you know how it feels to come home and eat good again. So my girlfriend and I along with our two good friends made reservations and still waited over 20 minutes for our table. We were finally seated and our server was really nice. This is my girlfriend's first time and only my second, so we were excited. We ordered within 5 minutes. My girlfriend's food came right away and so did one of my other friends. Me and the other person had ordered the teriyaki chicken quesadillas. Time goes by and my girlfriend is half way done with her food. The server comes and apologizes about how long the food is taking and lets us know that the manager is going to buy is dessert. We say okay and he leaves. Now that my girlfriend is almost done with her food, the manager himself comes and says how he is sorry and will buy us dessert. He says "how about some honey toast? you have to try it right!" He leaves and we finally get our food. The quesadillas were really good, but as we were eating my friend that had also gotten the quesadillas sees a cockroach come out from in-between the menus and crawl behind them. I was completely grosses out and disgusted. I told our server quietly because I didn't want to make a huge deal about it. He didn't do anything about it. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. He didn't offer to move us to another table, nothing. I scooted completely to the other side of the table practically pushing my girlfriend off the table. The server came back and asked for dessert orders. I didn't order because I was grossed out. My friends and girlfriend did though. We got two honey toast and when the check came, our server said that the manager had taken care of ONE of the desserts. I know in these types of situations the managers usually only offer one, but when he was talking to us he made it seem like we could get whatever we wanted, he did not specify that he was only taking care of one, because we had ordered two orders of quesadillas. What if we didn't have money to pay for the other one? And that the cockroach thing hadn't even been acknowledged. We could have made a big scene but we didn't. It may not seem like such a big deal, but coming home from college and just wanting to have a nice dinner with friends you haven't seen in a while is not a lot to ask for. The food was great, but the other things that happened out weighs that. I would also like to throw in that we are college students and money isn't handed to us like how it was when we were younger. I wish we had spent our $80 some place else. I won't be going back to Shokudo.
(1)
Rachel G.
Recently the shokudo restaurant and bar has been serving less than optimum food. When I first started going there four years ago the experience was 5 stars. But now the service and food has declined. But all in all I mainly go for the happy hour. Very cheap, very private and a good bang for your buck! Try it out, you may like this place and have a better experience than I recently had.
(4)
Denise T.
Be sure to arrive early if you plan on getting a seat! My friends and I have made Shokudo one of our go to spots whenever we feel like eating dinner. This place has a nice atmosphere and you can enjoy Japanese fusion cuisine without having to dress up for it. The Unagi rice is dah bomb because whenever I order it, it always comes out sizzling in a stone bowl and it tastes sooooo good. :3 The best part about Shokudo is their honey toast, like seriously I wish they made honey toast everywhere! Who knew, bread and ice cream could taste so delicious? The Cheese Gratin is something you have to try, although I find that it tasted okay, my friends seem to love that stuff. The sushi pizza is pretty awesome too.
(5)
Christopher W.
Fast, simple , and accurate review for people who don't want to read a novel finding out if a place is good. Ordered (2/2 stars) My favorite is the eel fried rice in iron bowl. Very tasty . Tried pretty much everything on the menu. I would recommend this place to anyone. Must try the honey toast dessert. Service (1/1 star) Very good service . Very prompt. It is very good considering this restaurant is always packed when I go. Cleanliness and parking (1/1 star) Very clean for being a very busy restaurant. Just remodeled kitchen. Plenty of parking in the back Good for casual or semi-fancy date nights or group parties. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Gabby B.
Came here the other night with some friends and everything was AWESOME! Our server Gabriel was very knowledgable about the menu and even answered some questions that my friend had about the sake. He was attentive and sincere, and always kept our drinks full which is a huge thing for me. Every Time I come here I always get the same thing over and over again (garlic shrimp rice) which is still absolutely amazing! But this time I wanted to try something different. Our server, Gabriel, recommended the bibimbap and I don't know if I'll ever go back to the garlic shrimp rice lol it was phenomenal and had so many different flavor profiles that just worked together and the whole table agreed. (Tip: let the rice sit longer to make it extra crispy- so good) We were very pleased with our experience and made sure to save room for the anniversary honey toast (maple bacon) which was probably my favorite one I've ever tried. We even got a $10 coupon off our meal in April from getting the anniversary honey toast! Overall we had a great experience.
(5)
Deborah K.
Eat the homemade tofu. Simple, clean, delicious. I could eat it every day of my life. The stone pot rice did not crisp up as it should but it almost didn't matter. Everything was delicious and the service was delightful. Great unexpected drinks too. I had the yuzu honey cocktail. We were only in Oahu a few days but this was the only restaurant I wanted to eat at more than once.
(5)
Diana N.
The service was particularly exceptional today! The servers and wait staff were helpful and entertaining. Honey Toast is a must order. We also enjoyed the Garlic Shrimp and Sukiyaki Bibimbap. My husband and I took my parents here for their first visit and they thought the food was good quality with a fun twist.
(4)
Jonathan L.
Came here two nights in a row. I didn't know that there is only happy hour on Sunday to Wednesdays. So It was a big fail on Thursday when I went. I guess they have happy hour on less busy days. When we came on Wednesday after the yelp party it was 10:15PM. The host was nice enough to seat us a little before happy hour started. It was not really packed inside. There were big parties here and there. They told us the happy hour option doesn't appear until 10:30 so we just took our time deciding what we wanted until then. We started with a round of yogurt shots. Those were the bomb! I couldn't taste a hint of alcohol at all. Maybe that's why people get so messed up. Good thing I only had one shot. After we ordered everything from the happy hour menu. For the food we got the teri chicken quesadilla, kim chee fried rice, garlic edamame, pork chops, spicy tuna roll, and lobster dynamite. Every thing was pretty good but I thought some of the items *cough" spicy tuna roll *cough" was not really worth the price. Also the chicken quesadilla was kinda burnt. But I really like the cilantro dip though. Again everything was good but nothing memorable. Ended the night with their happy hour honey toast(It only comes with one toast opposed to the regular one which comes with two). We got the cinnamon one for a dollar extra. Honestly I didn't think it was really that good. I don't know what other people were raving about. They put too much butter on the bread which made it taste really salty and they also put too much honey as well. So first you taste the saltyness then comes the super sweet honey which was not a good combo. Good thing it had ice cream or else I would've been even more pissed off. The service was so-so. Our waitress disappear for a while until the end of our meal and poured water for us once. The mens bathroom is pretty messed up and dirty. There were napkins on the ground everywhere and when I flushed the urinal and it overflowed. Sorry Shokodo. Oh yea parking is in the back of the building.
(3)
LL C.
you may need to wait during evenings/weekends. the server was very friendly and apologetic about the wait. the food was all solid. and yes, that dessert with the bread and ice cream, that combo does work and it is phenomenal.
(4)
Viv P.
Our family went to Shokudo on a whim on a weeknight on the recommendation of our teenage daughter. It was a 30-minute wait, which was fine since we heard it was a good place. At least there was seating for us outside. The first thing I noticed when we got seated was how loud it was. Hmm, maybe I'm just getting old... Our waiter was friendly and extremely helpful. There were many items on the menu to choose from. He asked if it was our first time (which it was) and helped us with our selections. His best advice: choose about 4 items because it's more than it looks. We finally settled on the Gyoza, Assorted Tempura, Sushi Pizza, and Chicken Katsu. All were great and I would recommend any of these. Honey Toast for dessert was a must. Since we were so full after dinner, we split one order of Honey Toast between the four of us. It was super good, and one plate kept us just on the verge of exploding. All in all, it was a great experience. Not someplace I would go out of the way for, but very agreeable for social gatherings.
(4)
Bernie B.
I usually eat here at least once when I'm in Honolulu. Sat at the bar this time. Matt, the bartender, made this visit particularly pleasant, and watching the sushi chefs was very entertaining. The scallop roll and char-siu pork with Japanese scallions were the highlight of this visit. Try the bar when Matt's working - pretty much all the food is great (although, in my opinion, the honey toast is a bit over-rated).
(5)
Edwin E.
I took my Intern here for a late dinner and had Ryan as our server. The staff were super friendly, courteous, and helpful. We had the mocha dish, sashimi platter, pork chop with special pineapple sauce, and calamari tempura. Needles to say, everything was so good. Great place to hang out with your friends, or date or meetings. Mr. Park, another server is excellent. The best place to treat yourself with excellent Japanese food at very reasonable prices.
(5)
Anthony L.
A modern take on Izakaya (Japanese tapas) food. Pros: Tofu Salad looks blah, but is amazing! Honey Toast is as good as the hype! Pork-chops are perfectly balanced with the veggies they are served with! Mochi cheese, that's right. Mochi infused with cheese! Albacore on rice cracker Ox tail ramen is boss! Waiters are honest and knowledgeable Pricing is decent ambiance is prefect for a date or a big group Cons: Nothing i can think of. Remember kids, this is an izakaya style restaurant not a sushi bar. Great modern take on Izakayas, highly recommended!
(4)
Michelle L.
Two words. Honey Toast. This simple concoction made from 4 ingredients (bread, honey, vanilla ice cream, and butter) was AMAZING. And this is coming from a girl who isn't big on sweets. (I actually looked up the recipe online, it's SUPER easy to make.) It's definitely big though, so plan on sharing it with someone. We shared it between 5 people, and ended up all diving in in and picking at it like a group of hungry velociraptors. Other items on the menu: Crispy rice with albacore tuna on top - yum. Exactly like the description sounds like. Slightly spicy because of the jalapeno they put on top, but that can easily be removed if you're not into spicy foods. Garlic shrimp with rice in stone pot - one of the more substantial dishes. The garlicy flavor infused the shrimp and rice, making it savory and memorable. Sushi pizza - I would pass on this item. Conceptually it sounds cool, but it's really just an unrolled california roll with cheese and japapeno's on top (baked). The menu says it contains a bunch of other goodies, like scallops and what not, but I didn't really taste those items. Lobster dynamite roll. California roll with baby lobsters smothered in sauce on top. They aren't very generous with the baby lobsters (one piece per piece of roll) but no matter, this dish was still good. Mochi gratin - PASS. This dish just wasn't cutting it for me. It is just cheese on top of mochi, but I didn't appreciate the flavor combinations and heaviness of the dish. Drinks: Lychee martini and pomegranate vodka soda were both good. However, the pomegranate soda had no alcohol taste in it (which either means they masked the flavor very well, or there was little to no vodka in it to begin with) Between 5 of us (with drinks and dessert included) the total came out to be $25 a person, which I thought to be very affordable for such a fun and unique dining experience. MAKE RESERVATIONS.
(4)
Rochelle M.
First time dining here, we almost made the decision to not eat here, based on the last two reviews on Yelp, but boy are we glad we came! The service was EXCELLENT!! Every single staff member was extremely kind and helpful, Kelsie was an AWESOME server! And the food was so so delicious. We had the creamy lobster california rolls, homemade tofu salad, shrimp tempura, and the crunchy shrimp rolls...everything tasted perfect and hit the spot!!! Worth the drive and every penny!! Fast, friendly service, and GREAT food!!! Will definitely dine here again since we didnt get a chance to try the Honey Toast yet....next time for sure!!
(5)
Chane L.
I used to frequent Shokudo almost every other weekend. I had stopped coming when I got turned off by a inexperienced hostess who was rude and not helpful. I want to say that I had secretly boycotted Shokudo for almost 1 year. But do you know that going cold turkey with no Honey Toast for dessert is absolutely horrible! I broke down and gave in when my boyfriend suggested that our dinner date be at Shokudo. I did miss the Honey Toast very much, as well as the sushi! I was aware that they had special sushi chefs and I wanted to try because I heard the nigiri and makimono rolls were better than before. I was a little skeptical when I arrived to the hostess stand, but the hostesses were attentive, and immediately greeted me. I gave my name for a party of 2. I think the floor manager was standing near and overseeing everything, and he had come over and asked us if we would like to sit at the sushi bar. We would be seated right away. I said yes! *high five* for going above and beyond! Our waitress came only minutes after and we already knew what we wanted to order, so we got our drinks and I ordered the kudasai roll, and the raging tiger roll? I can't remember the exact names, but it was something like that. It was oishi! The boyfriend always orders the unagi rice. He also had some of my sushi. I wish I tried the omakase, but I was already full. Next time I will order that. The selection of nigiri had a large variety. There is also a short explanation of what each sushi is. So its good for visitors who are not familiar with the names, they'll know what they're eating. Of course, for dessert, we ordered the Oreo Honey Toast. I was amazed that it tasted better than I remembered. We devoured it all, including the crust. I remembered the crust of the bread being hard and like cardboard. But this new honey toast crust was moist and crunchy, not difficult to swallow. As we finished up our meal, we noticed large groups arriving, our waitress seemed to have gotten tied up, so we waited almost 20 minutes for her to give us our tab and come back for it. The manager swung by us and took our payment, and she came back with the receipt to sign. I wanted to tell the manager and our waitress how awesome they were, and that they got me back as a regular! I'm so happy to relapse back into my sweet addiction to Honey Toast.
(5)
Faye M.
I don't know what's wrong with this place & why I keep coming back!! It's really nicely decorated & the food and drinks are good, but damn. Service sucks!! I've been coming here off and on since they opened & only 1/4 of those times have I received the service I'd expect from any restaurant. One thing that happens almost every time: the food comes out in sporadic intervals, we could get one dish every 15/20 minutes & the waitstaff don't bat an eye. I also met a few friends here for dinner one night and the hostess didn't even bother walking me to the table they were at. She just pointed in the general direction of the back space in the elevated seating area. WTF!! This past Saturday was the last straw. I made reservations on Open Table for dinner at 8:15pm for 2 (me & my BF). We get there at 8:05 and are seated immediately. Our waiter, Ryan was nice and friendly and took our drink orders and then our food orders. We ordered 4 items: Yukari Fries, Sticky Yakitori Sticks, Char Siu Pork, & Lobster Dynamite. Our fries came out first, maybe 10 minutes later and they were pretty good. Almost 10 minutes later, nothing else came to our table...our waiter told us that the rest of our food should be out shortly, but it was almost another 10 minutes before the Yakitori came out!! As we were eating our Yakitori, I noticed the staff setting up tables right in front of us for a large party. So a party of 12 sits by us and they start to order and everything, while we're still finishing up the Yakitori. I'm keeping an eye on them because 1: this is a large party, and I'm thinking they probably have to wait longer than us! And 2: I'm just niele like that! So we finish eating our Yakitori stuff and just sit there, waiting for our last 2 items. My BF is on his 3rd beer & I'm ready for another drink - hoping it would calm my nerves. We are now entering our 45th minute. The table of 12 meanwhile, are all eating their dishes which they received faster than we did and we're only a party of 2!! Ryan tells us that the kitchen "never received the order slip"...I never worked in a restaurant, but thought that one would place the entire order at one time, on one order slip? IDK - he didn't give us details as to how the restaurant works, all I know is that that party of 12 are finishing up their dinners while we haven't even received the second half of ours!! We get the Char Siu and it's cold. It sucks. We are not happy. The Lobster Dynamite comes out shortly after & we could tell that it was hot, since it was still bubbling a little. Ryan comes by and asks "Well, was it worth the wait?" Ummm, NO, IT WAS NOT WORTH THE WAIT!! We tell him our pork is cold, and we don't want it anymore. But minutes later, a runner comes with a new plate of Char Siu, my BF tells him that we don't want it anymore, and he leaves. Then our waiter comes back with the plate like that was gonna make a difference! Another waiter came by and apologized because he gave our last 2 dishes to his table (the party of 12) and all I could do was give him a fake smile, because while we're just starting on our last dish, the big party are packing up their leftovers!! So yeah, we just ate the Lobster Dynamite & finished our drinks. My BF went to the restroom & that's when the waiter decides to come by and apologize. So not only did the kitchen not receive the tickets for our Char Siu & Lobster Dynamite, the other waiter serves it to his table instead of ours - I honestly don't know what to believe. So I calmly tell him that although he was really nice & kept us updated, the fact of the matter is that we were here at least a half hour before that party of 12 was and they got all of their food before us. He apologized and said that he'd check with his manager as to what he could do about it. He came back with the check and comped our last 2 dishes, but the manager never came by to apologize. Maybe it's because of my job, but I really pay attention to customer service & the whole night I saw the manager walking around, helping out a bit...but towards the end of our meal: he was hiding off to the side, staying away from our general area. I'm not sure if this is all coincidental, but the least he could have done was apologize on behalf of the restaurant. I do not foresee myself EVER coming back here, even if it's for a friend's birthday - I will send my regards and tell them I'll see them at the after party. ps: EFF THEIR HONEY TOAST!! I WILL NOT MISS THIS PLACE ONE BIT.
(1)
Kevin B.
After a long one-month-ish wait, Shokudo's back. And back with it is my favorite Lobster Dynamite Roll. Good news is there are two new rolls in town, as well. The dragon unagi roll, which I can now add to my list of favorites there, and the other not-so-date-oriented garlic-filled KudaiKudasai(?) Roll. I recommend trying both (or at least the dragon roll if you're on a date). Add to that the scallop roll and mochi cheese gratin and you've got a roll feast and leftovers for the next day. I'll be back. K
(4)
Evan F.
I've been to Shokudo quite a few times, tried most of their menu, and I just really am not impressed. As a matter of fact, I feel like every time besides the first time I ate there I've been swindled into going back due to special occasions for friends. I don't quite understand the hype behind it. The sushi is average at best, some of the other options like the bibimbap and others are nasty, and it's pricey. Pricey to the point I regret spending money at Shokudo. That honey bread ice cream dessert is pretty good, though.
(2)
Tawnie-Ann M.
My first and only time coming here was a pretty unforgettable one. We were lucky the place was not busy so we were seated right away. We ordered Shrimp tempura, honey toast and we wanted the lobster dynamite, but they were out of lobster so we had to settle for the substitution, scallop dynamite instead. Food was okay. Nothing worth raving about. It was no better than any other Japanese place I ate at. Even the famous honey toast was ok to me. It's honey drizzled on toast with ice cream?! Nothing that special...anyways, after our first bite of the shrimp tempura we noticed a dead German roach floating in the tempura sauce!!! Eeeekkk!!! We notified a waiter who said OMG let me get YOUR waiter...our waiter came by and apologized and told us he was going to inform his manager. The manager came by and sincerely apologized for the incident and reassured us that they have pest control done once a month. He end up comping the shrimp tempura, but I think it's safe to say that was probably the last time we eat there!
(2)
Tiffany S.
Came here for their happy hour with a party of 10 around 11pm and were greeted and seated promptly. Our server was very helpful with our happy hour menu. Call me a pig... my bf and I ordered 5 items from the happy hour menu! Everything sounded really appetizing so we ordered to our stomach's content. We ordered the spicy tuna nachos (which we didn't like so much cause the "chips" were fried wontons and I felt they were pretty oily), kimchee fried rice (delicious), teriyaki chicken quesadilla (pretty good, I liked them), garlic clams (wish the clams were bigger, but very flavorful), and the dynamite fries (I would've been fine without it. Too saucy for me... or it could've been that I was too full.) My friends and I also ordered the sushi pizza and that was pretty good as well, but some pieces were spicy as hell (according to my friends.) Even the people who can eat spicy said it was too spicy. Overall, I enjoyed the hh food, ambience, and service.
(4)
Rob P.
AMAZING!!! No other words describe this restaurant besides Amazing, The service, food, ambiance, and sheek new upgrades make this place irresistable, not to mention the new sushi bar. The food is more Asian Fusion style and is the place to go whether you're looking for a quick bite at the sushi bar or dinner out. My girlfriend and I make it here at least 3x a month for a date night and usually sit at the new sushi bar. The chefs are right in front of you and delighted to offer suggestions and make the roll right in front of you. Our Chef is Hiro, he's the best! The manager, Alden came over to see how our experience went and thanked us for coming in. I think it's Awesome that the managers are so connected to the customers to ensure quality service. Now, ONTO the good STUFF... DESSERT. Honey Toast, Honey Toast, Honey Toast!! Unreal. This stuff is at the crossroads of incredible and magnificent! The combination of soft toast, coated in honey and served with your choice cinnamon and other flavors. Drinks are great and pretty reasonably priced. I like the vodka soda they serve. It's not overpoweringly sweet, but they are dangerously addictive. Happy hour is 4-6pm during the week and they also have an after hours menu later on at night. The menu is different from the normal menu, but is amazing as well and you can choose the normal or after hours menu. You must try! Great service, food, and open late....really don't think there's any question, No brainer. Shokudo is as good as it gets. 5 stars!
(5)
Kimo K.
Great if you can get in. Love the place.. everything about it. Nice bar. The sushi chef is a master behind the knife. Good to order a lot and share your food with group of friends and just enjoy the great atmosphere, sushi, sashimi, Ahi tataki, spider roll with beer and sake. Great curb appeal. The desert if famous and sexy. The staff is plentiful, expert and attractive. Young trendy crowd with locals, mostly asians, some gay and always a wait which means it is good. Many items around $10. I like the theatrical seating.. where you can see and been seen. I would hate to own the old pasta place next door. Decor is top drawer and brings glamour to a strange little corner on the way to and from the Ala Moana Mall scene and "K-Town".
(4)
Bo-Bae K.
Came here for a friend's going-away party and made reservations for 11. We waited for 20-30 minutes and suffered through a guy in a blue collared shirt brushing us off when we asked about how much longer it would be. When we finally got seated, it took the staff another 15 minutes to even bring us water, and we still hadn't placed our orders for food yet. An hour after we got seated, our food finally came out and it was just mediocre, nothing spectacular. All in all, I wouldn't wait 2+ hours for food I could get from a cheaper place and empty my wallet for the faux trendy, "classy" feel that most people seem to think they find here.
(1)
Jasmine H.
Wtf, you have to be 21 to see the effing happy hour menu !? Seriously -_____- who does that ? I mean it's only food not like I wanna order alcohol I just want a discount on my damn food . #fatgirlproblems
(1)
Sharon H.
On a recent Friday night, we made our way to Shokudo anticipating the good izakaya-style selections and trendy ambience dished about by other yelpers. We were not disappointed. Expect the noise level to be short of deafening at times, and the mood lighting waffling on and off throughout the night. My litmus test, agedashi tofu, was good albeit lukewarm by the time it arrived on the table. Other nice flavors found in the chicken teriyaki quesadilla served with a cilantro dipping sauce, sour cream, chopped lettuce and fresh diced tomatoes; the chicken karaage, served piping hot and bursting with juices upon the first bite; and the yukari fries! Bliss. The yakisoba noodles were alright, just not my favorite, I think because of the bonito flakes overload. My dinner mates certainly enjoyed it, since they love that fishey taste. Parking was easy with plenty of choices -- restaurant garage, Ala Moana and the FHB lot across the street. A few cautionaries: when I made the reservations, the staff said that we had to be in and out in two hours. We went slightly over that, and were not kicked out so that's a plus. When I got home, however, I could smell a greasy smokiness on my hair and clothes, and I recall that the table next to us had ordered something that was being flambed table-side. While you can't know what other diners are going to order, just know that you may leave smelling like the food someone else ate!
(3)
Randy F.
Shokudo is a restaurant that specializes in nouveau-style Japanese cuisine. Our friends, Honolulu natives, James and his wife Susan, took us to this popular restaurant and helped us navigate the menu. The result? A thoroughly excellent meal with a few eye-opening and memorably delicious choices. Cheese gratin mochi - a definite favorite the combination of melted cheese and mochi is perhaps one of the last combinations I thought I'd see, but it matched perfectly. The gooey cheese and soft mochi went wonderfully well together and were a delicious, albeit high caloric, treat. Tofu salad - house-made, ultra fresh tofu was mixed with bonito flakes, tomatoes, lettuce and ponzu. A refreshing and delicious healthy appetizer Seaweed pizza with jalapenos - Another innovative food combination that had a nice crunchy and spicy kick. Not as well executed as the cheese gratin mochi, but cutting edge. Seared tuna with garlic - a large hot iron plate was accompanied by fresh tuna and large pieces of garlic. Cooked for a short period, the tuna tasted great with the accompanying ponzu sauce. Korean bibimbop rice - standard fare, nothing special, but tasty Lobster rolls - a large sushi roll with a enormous amount of lobster and mayonnaise mix on top. This was my one choice from the menu and it was the most disappointing. While the lobster was present, the roll was otherwise mediocre. Stick with the cooked dishes and appetizers. I'd say pass on the sushi if this roll is indicative. Honey toast - the star of the meal, I was thrilled to see honey toast on the menu. After having it in Vegas at Izakaya Mai, I've been looking for it everywhere. Shokudo was my first success and they did Vegas one better - they have 5 different types. We opted for the cinnamon and it didn't disappoint. Butter and cinnamon infused the honey toast bread and a generous dollop of vanilla ice cream rounded out the huge dessert we all shared. Shokudo is a fun and popular restaurant that has a very diverse menu. Stick with the cooked entrees and appetizers and you'll have a meal reminiscent of other new Japanese fusion Bay Area places like Gochi or Tanto. And definitely order the Honey Toast. Shokudo accepts all credit cards, including American Express.
(4)
Stine H.
This is a way overdue review for Shokudo. During my visit to Honolulu, it was nearly impossible to find above average restaurants...until finally my father stumbled upon shokudo while cruising the streets. His motto is 'if it's packed, it's good' so we went here for dinner one night after failed dinners previous nights. The interior is very modern and hip. Similar to restaurant bar and lounge asian fusion places back home. Shokudo provided an array of different foods from sushi, to udon and cooked entrees. Their beverage menu was endless! Lot's of interesting looking alcoholic beverages and non alcoholic. I opted for a refreshing iced green tea latte to beat the heat. My parent's got fruit flavored soda floats..very interesting. One was a honeydew soda with vanilla ice cream and the other green tea? They were definitely sweet, a good drink to end the meal but not to drink with your meal. For our starters, we got shoe string fries with some kind of japanese salt? A spinach salad that was very simple, yet delicious, and some sushi rolls. We also tried the sushi pizza and to my disdain, it wasn't as good as I expected it to be. Everything else was mighty delicious though. My mother ordered udon and my father opted for a sashimi platter. It came with scallop and squid sashimi topped with fish roe too which was a pleasant surprise on top of the usual salmon, tuna, and hamachi. For tourists and locals, if you're in this part of town and desperately looking for good food...I recommend Shokudo!
(4)
Quinn S.
I have always wanted to go to this place because every single time I pass by it is OPEN and crowded! - day or night - this has got to be a good sign! The first time I went here was for Happy Hour. They seem to have a lot of drinks and appetizers on special. I can't recall everything (or anything) that was ordered, but they were all tasty. I guess it helped that my friend knew the bartender too cuz the drinks were good and strong;) I can recall my second visit here and I was very pleased. They had some New! appetizers including Tomato KimChi. I did not expect to like it at all, but O-M-G, I loved it! So fresh, so clean, so refreshing! Not a strong KimChi flavor, but a great flavor in general. A whole tomato chopped into slices that was probably marinating in that wonderful sauce for days! I devoured it like the world was going to end like-right-now!!! I also had the Garlic Shrimp fried rice. I guess that is more of a side dish as opposed to a meal. It had a nice flavor, but I thought there would be a little more to it, maybe some veggies or something besides just rice and shrimp with garlic. Since the tomato satisfied me beforehand, I did not mind at all. I will definitely go back and order the rice and then try one of their many other dishes. The parking is great because it's FREE and plentiful! This makes it a place where you can keep coming back, not worry about parking, and know that you will always leave happy and satisfied!
(4)
Jesse C.
Came here for one of my homegirl's birthday party. Its ala carte style so we ordered a bunch of dishes. Mind you these aren't cheap prices. I can tell you right off the bat the sushi here isn't it. The spicy Miso Ramen had fresh chives but the flavor was mucked; nothing came out distinctively except the chives. The dynamite was good. I know everyone raves about the honey toast. They need to work on just making a few good dishes because it feels like a jack of all trades but master of none. Seriously this restaurant could be awesome if they just focused. I would've gave them 1-star but our waitress was super and I heard they have an awesome before and after dark specials that can't be beat. I remain skeptic.
(2)
Joe K.
Number 2 daughter loves this place, and wanted dinner here for her birthday, so we made it a family outing. I remember celebrating another birthday of hers a few years ago, but didn't quite remember if we enjoyed it or not. (maybe too much cocktails before ) Our server was friendly and attentive, I reminded myself not to get too carried away this time with the event. The family ordered apps, and it became a tasting frenzy when they all arrived... so many different things to try. Things like Mochi Cheese Gratin, a soft gooey mochi with a cheese topping, in a sweet salty shoyu like sauce. It's a bit chewy but the textures and taste is awesome. The Lobster Dynamite Roll, like a California Roll, but topped with Lobster chunks, and a sweet chili cream sauce (mmmmmmm, ow, hot, mmm!) Agedashi Tofu; a lightly battered tofu fried, and served with a light shoyu dashi broth, garnished with Bonito flakes. My dinner was the Salmon Rice; A stone bowl , that was probably under a broiler, and is super hot, filled with rice, topped with Smoked Salmon, Salmon Roe, watercress, and a bit of pickled ginger, mixed together at our table by the server. The bowl is so hot that the rice gets crispy the longer you let it stick to the sides. I love the saltiness of the roe all over rice. The wife got the Tuna Sashimi Salad, a large plate crispy veggies, Wasabi Mayo, and an Apple Soy Dressing, very refreshing. And also she ordered A Lobster Dynamite, but different, It had chunks of Lobster in the dynamite sauce, but instead of on a bed of rice, it came with French Baguettes, mmm so good with the Sashimi salad. I was so jealous. The grand kids wanted the Oxtail Ramen, and you just know that it was my sole duty to give the broth a taste test. Passing with flying colors, so much complex flavors, comfort food in a bowl! Don't you love watching little ones slurp noodles. Birthday girl, got a Garlic Shrimp and rice; same concept as with the Salmon Bowl, but with large Garlic Shrimp instead. And she wanted to share a Garlic Steak with me. A Garlic Rib Eye steak , broiled to perfect doneness, and served with Garlic Mash. A perfect Surf, and Turf! They are known for their Honey Toast dessert, but as we were kinda full, we opted for a lighter fare and tried the Baked Banana Flambe, sliced Bananas, drizzled with Caramel and chocolate, topped with Vanilla Ice Cream, and a Dark Rum Flambe, soooo decadent! Also got some Green Tea Shave Ice. A scoop of sweet condensed milk, a scoop of Azuki beans, under a mound of tart slightly bitter green tea smothered shaved ice. (spoons for everyone!) Service was excellent, food was great, just on the pricey side, but definitely a place to celebrate a special occasion. Will return again.
(4)
Stefanie M.
I've been going to Shokudo for many years now and my impression of the place hasn't changed much since the first time. Depending on the night this place wobbles between a three and four star. For their lack of consistency, I'll settle with a three star review for this Izakaya style Japanese restaurant. They still have good food and good drinks for decent prices but service is okay depending on who you get and food itself is a hit or miss. The menu items that I usually order is Spicy Tuna on Crispy rice, Garlic Shrimp Rice, Mochi Cheese Gratin, Yukuri Fries, agedashi Tofu, and Sushi Pizza. I've had other dishes over the years, but they weren't impressionable enough for me to remember, let alone order again. Recently they have adopted a cheap late night menu. From the items I have tried didn't impress me and the portion size is so tiny that it probably is worth less than $3 and you may as well order from the regular menu. Four tiny pieces of sushi for three bucks? Yeah, I'll pass. As for drinks, they have Kirin on Tap and a bunch of fruity vodka cocktails. They also have a decent sake collection and special flavored infused sakes for specials. They have a full bar and a good variety of drinks, so that is a plus!
(3)
Michelle B.
Apparently, you need a guide to eat at this restaurant. A guide in the form of a friend who is willing to order a dessert bigger than both of your heads put together. A friend who has a really big cranium and will stick with you to the end of this gargantuan dessert. The heavyweight winner: Honey Toast! I'm not going to do justice to the ridiculousness of a half loaf of bread that they've hollowed out, toasted, drizzled with honey, and then stuffed with ice cream. You just gotta go look at the photos and then decide if you have a friend brave enough to share this with you. The food was still pretty mediocre but the dessert more than made up for the edamame beans with ice crystals and the dry piece of salmon teriyaki in my bento box. The night we went the place was stuffed to the rafters with bachelorette parties and 21 runs. If this sounds fun to you then go there on a weekend, if it doesn't, stick to eating Honey Toast on Tuesday nights.
(3)
kay c.
I just love the ambiance of this place and their carb-arific dessert toast. This place serves a great assortment of japanese-korean-asian fusion cuisine, from sushi pizzas to bi-bim-baps and everything in between. They have a fantastic-ly priced happy hour offering pupus for $3 and select drinks for $5. This is a great time to get their honey toast as it is a smaller serving and you can practice portion control. But I think its totally worth it to get the full order of the toast (includes two scoops of ice cream!) as it definitely does not disappoint. The pupus are all delicious, but if you have time for a sit down dinner with a group of good friends that would be the best. Preferably a larger group so you can order a bunch of different plates and share so that you can try more! Tip: Make sure to make reservations on Thursdays through Sundays because this place is packed by 7:30pm or completely booked.
(4)
Heather B.
AWESOME AND FANTASTIC!! Nice presentation. Great vibe for taking your date. First time here and definitely will go back again next time I visit HI. It's very crowded so get there early.
(5)
Cristina H.
I used to really, really like Shokudo, but my last few visits here have brought it's ratings down a star. It's probably because I've gotten used to the menu and nothing seems to be be as unique as it used to be. Over my many visits to Shokudo, I've tried quite a bit of stuff, but only a select few have made it to my "must try again" list. That short list includes the bi-bim-bap bowl (with burnt rice please), green tea latte, lychee mojito and drumroll please... the yogurt sochu (the whole carafe just for me). I also used to be a fan of their honey toast, but I've learned that Izakaya Tairyo's version trumps Shokudo's any day! I still love the ambiance and their service is still good, it's just the food that doesn't get me excited like it used to.
(3)
Spense T.
There's a reason why all my friends and my wife's friends repeatedly use this place as a setting for bring everyone together for a dinner. The food has always been good with me, and that's from someone who can't eat seafood. The karage chicken was the most recent thing I've eaten from memory, and that was very good. I won't get into the desserts too much because everyone else has praised its kickass-ness enough already.
(5)
Samuel C.
Went in at 11:00pm for a late dinner. Had the spicy tuna roll, home made tofu, and gyoza. Tofu was tasty but warm and a little on the firm side. I prefer cold tofu and a little softer. Gyoza was good. Nice and crispy on the outside with a good filling. Spicy tuna roll was good but nothing special. Service could have been better. The table next to us had a server that stood out with a happy demeanor and was very attentive. Ours was just OK, she did enough to get by and didn't seem sincere. Music was a little loud but we didn't mind, it is for the late night crowd playing up to date music. Enjoyed the atmosphere and modern decor. The menu is way too large. We were on a two top table and we opened only one menu which took up the whole table. The reason for the large menu is because all the items were pictured (which is very helpful). There are a lot of items to choose from and is basically 'pupu' style. They have a 'Chef recommendations' menu as well as a 'seasonal' menu for both food and drinks which are both innovative and fresh. ----"There is no love sincerer than the love of food"----
(3)
Katie K.
I really wanted to like this place; as it is close to my house, open late, and had Japanese food, all of which I love, but I'm sorry, my first experience was my last, and no good. Surprisingly we got seated right away--we were only a party of 2. Our server however, was clearly overwhelmed: it took him a while to greet us and take our drink order, and then dropped the wrong food items on our table twice throughout the night! My friend and I ordered beers and 3 different sushi rolls: Spicy Ahi, Lobster Dynamite, and Spicy Scallops. I can honestly say all of them were just okay...at best. There is sooo mush better sushi here on island. My favorite of the three was definitely the Lobster rolls, but really only because of the lobster on top! The rolls themselves were just plain 'ole California Rolls. So really, with the blah sushi rolls and the tacky '80s overly elaborate decor, I have no intentions of returning to Shokudo. Maybe their other food items are better--the gyoza that got dropped accidentally on our table for a few seconds looked good--but I just don't think I have patience to give it another try.
(2)
Maile P.
Awesome experience....,our waiter JT was so helpful in suggesting some delicious choices... Very fast service and friendly staff... Thanks JT you made Shokkudo worth visiting!!!!
(5)
Cammie T.
Great late night happy hour Sunday-Wednesday. It's my go to place when I want a late night snack or drink!
(5)
Radianne A.
Best time to go is happy hour. Otherwise, don't go cause it ain't worth it. I've had better honey toasts...
(2)
Sheri D.
Two words: Hamachi Carpaccio So freakin delicious!!! Seeing the mixed reviews about this place, I was a little hesitant to try it out, but Shokudo pleasantly surprised me with great, solid dishes when some friends and I went out to dinner a few days ago. Besides their hamachi, the chicken katsu, lobster dynamite, and Red Dragon roll were AWESOME! So good!!! Oh, and let's not forget about the Honey Toast... so, so, so yummy! It was a little intimidating at first but I forgot all about that once I tasted it. Delicious!!! Yup, I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Kristian G.
Although I've been here several times, I only really like to go here for their CINNAMON HONEY TOAST! It's so yummy and big enough to share with a friend. Besides the honey toast, I really like the design of the restaurant. It has a nice chill ambiance to it. Although the restaurant is loud, it isn't unbearable and you can still hold good conversations with others at your table.
(3)
Eric W.
I had few drinks and honey toast. Prices seemed reasonable and drinks were good. Honey toast was a bit sweet and we couldn't finish it. We had two drinks and honey toast and paid less than $20, which seems reasonable.
(3)
Kayla R.
Shokudo is probably one of my top favorite Japanese restaurants (so far). Okay, maybe more of a Japanese/ American style restaurant, but still one of my faves, none the less. The dress code seems to always be pretty casual (shorts and slippers allowed), but the atmosphere some how still feels pretty classy. Perfect for that 'last minute decision meal' with a bunch of friends. Just be sure to have a bunch of friends with you since most of their dishes are like family-style and are pretty good sized portions, it's also best to make reservations (especially at night) unless you want to wait long. The staff was very friendly, but the wait for our food and drinks took super long for it being so empty inside the restaurant. It almost felt like the staff were all taking a break in between their rush hours. Even the servers were walking slow!. Still not a good excuse to take an hour to make food. I've been here many times before, and usually come during their busy hours, but have never gotten slow service like this before. strange. As for the food, my only complaint is their Tempura roll. Two words: almost tasteless. Probably the only thing on their menu that I don't like and would never order again. Over all I really like this place, and will be back again. Maybe even during busy hours, that way they'll have an actual excuse for their slow service.
(3)
Nick S.
Delicious Japanese food with a modern twist. We enjoyed the usual suspects mentioned in the other reviews; the cheesy mochi gratin, sushi pizza and lobster dynamite roll. On top of that the homemade tofu was excellent and a spicy crispy hamachi roll we ate from the specials menu. We ordered the obligatory honey toast for dessert, and it was tasty, but essentially just cubes of white bread toast drizzled in honey and served with ice cream, I could probably take it or leave it in future, knowing I could make it myself for about a buck at home. However, nothing dampened the experience, it was a grade A meal and I will definitely return when I'm next on the island.
(5)
Randi J.
The wait is long (make a reservation), the portions are smaller while prices stayed the same (oh well, we're still in a recession, right?), all the adult beverages that I've had were watered down (might not be such a bad thing, we all gotta drive home, ehy?) but the food is ono and atmosphere is fun. My friends and I go back again and again. Favorites: Tofu Salad Garlic Shrimp Rice Vegetable Tempura Sushi Pizza Honey Toast The only hiccup; Is it just me or is the floor unusually slippery? I always almost slip on my way to and from the main dining area to the restroom. ??? Maybe it's my shoes.
(4)
Kimberly H.
A happy hour favorite of mine. The food is great, the service is unfortunately a hit or a miss. I've had absolutely great service here most of the time but when it was bad, it was terrible :( I really wouldn't recommend this place if you have a large party only because they have a 2 hour limit on the table. It's great for the restaurant so they can "turn and burn" tables to generate more sales but bad if you're there to celebrate a birthday party or any special occasion. Even with my bad experiences here, I still keep coming back ONLY for the food and drinks.
(3)
Victoria R.
Came here for a friends party. Drinks from thr bar took forever to come. But that doesn't stop me from eating here. My favorites are Tempra roll and Teriyaki chicken Quesadilla.
(4)
Geoffrey N.
What anyone would look for is the complete experience. Atmosphere, food, and service. Atmosphere was great. I tend not to be too impressed with restaurants with high ceilings and flashy decor but I must say that Shokudo definitely made it work. It's a tad loud but still very comfortable. Food overall was very good. My cousins had ramen, and I had the bibimbap. Bibimbap was a bit dry for my liking. Sushi pizza was interesting and surprisingly tasty. I like the japanese fusion concept and the bold attempts to showcase new types of food. The service was so-so. Waiter was nice but he seems like a newbie. Usually they would ask "How's the food, is everything ok?" before you finish the food. A minor detail. I'd come here again but have other restaurants on my mind.
(3)
Genevieve G.
The food is pretty good! But the service is SOOOO SLOW! it's like they make you wait for your food on purpose so you have enough room for the honey toast.
(3)
Jen K.
PART TWO OF TWO. Since my post was truncated by Yelp. Before we ordered, I got my heart broken a little. I wanted the Fresh Homemade Tofu so badly I would've ripped someone's arm off to get to it, but our waitress informed us that a few items were out for the night, including my beloved tofu because the tofu machine was broken. On one hand, it was kind of nice to see proof that the homemade tofu was indeed homemade and at the mercy of modern technology. But on the other, how do you think they made tofu back in the day? Get back in the kitchen and hand-press that shit, wench. So no tofu. I'll have to come back now. That's how they get you. I had to drown my woes in sake. They have a lot of alcohol, including wine, shochu, and a healthy selection of sake and the menu even had like a sake barometer that illustrates where on the dry-sweet, light-full body spectrum all of their sake lies. They have small (300 mL) and large (720 mL) bottles. We got a small bottle of Shirakabegura junmai ($15), a dry, full-bodied sake. It was alright. I'd say the sake-ometer was pretty on pointe. They serve it in a large sake box full of ice. They also have lots for frou frou non-alcoholic beverages. I saw a Grape Calpico float on the menu. Next time. To start, we got the Yukari fries ($4). Meh, they were okay. Its a creative idea to use shiso as a salt substitute, but the fries themselves were not stand alone good. They were shoe string, the supreme cut of fries, but they were too dry. They're served with ketchup. But even before the fried dropped, we got the Garlic Tuna Ishiyaki ($13). I'm not a big fan of tuna. Tuna is like Sashimi 101. Its like the most vanilla, beginner fish to me. Its what you try when you've been eating California rolls all your life and then decide to transition over into real sushi. But this was surprisingly good. The tuna had a nice fat content and, accompanied with lemon and garlic had a mild buttery flavor. It was served over a bed of minced onions with ponzu dipping sauce, minced daikon, lemon, and a slice of garlic. It didn't even need the ponzu. So yummy. Ishiyaki hot stone. Its like yakiniku, only you have a hot stone about you cook your shit over. This is perfect for me because if I'm gonna eat cooked fish, its not gonna be cooked very much. As my bf says, just walk it through a warm room. We debated over the Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio ($13) or Albacore Over Crispy Rice ($12). We decided to get the Albacore because it was a dolla cheaper. Nah, I had the hamachi before (and it was good) so bf wanted to try something that I hadn't had before. Even though we both love hamachi so much we'll probably end up having a threesome with it someday. I don't know why he picked the albacore ... But it was good. Its served nigiri-style, slightly seared over a little block of baked rice and a little slice of pickled jalapeno. Even though it wasn't my first choice, I was very satisfied with it. We also got the Mochi Cheese Gratin ($7) because if there's mochi on the menu I have to order it. Mochi and cheese sounds way decadent. And it was good. It was baked with mozzarella and shoyu dashi and garnished with nori. There were four small pieces and when you pulled them apart, the cheese would just stretch like a Little Caesar's pizza. It was just a little too salty.
(4)
Nikki W.
This place is amazing. I am so mad at myself for waiting until the day before I left Hawaii to go there. It most certainly on my to do list for every visit back home now.
(5)
Ashley S.
Worst customer service! We had our Christmas party there. Service was crap. They would not honor happy hour just because we were sitting in one part the restaurant.
(1)
Sam N.
great food! the bibimbap is legit. my wife is 1st gen korean and she thinks it's better than most korean restaurants'! mocha cheese gratin is good. spicy tuna crispy rice is awesome. get there early for dinner (5-6pm) and you won't have to wait in line. go there late and be ready to suffer the consequences.
(5)
Catie T.
Delicious foods!! I would recommend the honey toast its the best dessert! :)
(5)
Pamela S.
My friend and I got Losbster Dynamite and sushi pizza and they were delicious! We drank some plum wine and had a great time. If you go with just one other person, you can sit at the bar and there's no wait.
(5)
Cinsational C.
My friends took me here for a casual pre-birthday celebration on a Wednesday night. Although they said that they could only accommodate us at 8:30, we arrived an hour early and they were still able to seat us. We ordered the spicy tuna on crispy rice, spinach salad, homemade tofu, chicken quesadillas, scallop rice in the stone pot, and some cocktails (and the sake sampler.) The food was ok. I'd probably go back just because it's enjoyable. It's clean, fun, and energetic. I especially enjoyed the sake sampler.
(3)
Laura N.
Another awesome visit. My friends and i came down for the Kawaiikon. Our yearly visit. Good food, good drinks, and good friends to hang with. The perfect combo. Mochi cheese gratin was awesome. And the surprise winner for drinks was the melon soju. Was dangerous, couldn't really taste the alcohol. Good thing we stopped at 3 bottles....
(5)
Rob D.
Good food but sometimes the food comes out of kitchen slow. They should also make sure that everyone's (on your table) food comes out at the same time so that some people aren't eating alone when everyone else is finished. This happens often.
(3)
Jennifer H.
I really wanted to like Shokudo but I didnt care for any of the food I tried here. I had all these tall and fancy looking drinks and even the giant french toast dessert thing.. I dont remember everything I tried just a hot stone bowl of sizzling rice and Unagi (eel). Eh.... its not that good..Looks better than it really is... The food seemed not to work out for me and I was not that impressed. Its a nice looking place but the food didnt wow me...it seemed like imitation wannabe fusion...Food with no soul.....you will leave feeling ripped off by a cheap stripper.
(2)
Jirarat S.
It was Saturday night around 8:30 and from all of the people standing around outside, you would think they were waiting to get into a nightclub. Fortunately, we had reservations and got seated right away. It was loud inside with a young, stylish crowd. Plenty to look at for guys...for girls, not so much. The food wasn't that memorable, but then again, we stuck to the basics: spicy tuna roll, shrimp tempura, yakisoba, salmon rice bowl, seasoned fries, and lobster dynamite. If I had gone by myself, I would've chosen other dishes but since there were 5 other people, I just let everyone else order. The one thing that did amaze me was the honey toast. We got their special which was the cookies-n-cream honey toast. Who would have thought that bread, honey, and ice cream would make a great dessert? I was doubtful at first but after taking my first bite, I knew it would become a favorite. That alone deserves at least 3 stars. I gave an extra star for the service. Our server was friendly, patient, helpful, and timely. I'd definitely come back and eat honey toast again.
(4)
Melissa E.
The food here is so-so.. We had the shrimp tempura, california roll, catepillar roll & the red eye roll. They red eye roll however, had the freshest tuna on top! ( I mean, were on an island, so i wouldn't expect any less ) The other rolls weren't anything special, but that is expected with these plain rolls. Haha. What we REALLY come here for is the famous HONEYTOAST! My boyfriend & I refuse to leave Hawaii without having this at least once on our trips there. It's the perfect blend of taste and texture. It's so simple, but we love it!
(4)
Suzanne R.
What an interesting place. Tried it out last night with a party of 8. We were seated right away, surprisingly, based on what other Yelpers have said. Our waitress was very friendly and recommended a few things that we ordered and liked. However, the service was a bit spotty. It took us a LONG time to get water at our table, well after food had started arriving. They forgot one of the dishes we ordered (which turned out to be a good thing, since we were all so full). And my drink order was overlooked for a while as well. We ordered a ton of stuff and shared everything, and almost everything was pretty good. The stars of the show were the Tofu Salad, Lobster Dynamite Roll, Rainbow Roll, Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice and despite it being talked up so much that I thought I'd be let down, the Honey Toast. We definitely could have done without the fried noodles. They were not good and had a really funky taste. But overall, I liked it. With everything we ordered and split between 8 including tax and tip (included in the bill) it came to $32 a person. Not too shabby. I'd go back for sure. Maybe during happy hour though. My two questions are: (1) What is a chicken quesadilla doing on the menu? Totally weird and (2) What is up with their music selection? It was all over the place, ranging from Aerosmith to Chris Brown to Leanne Rimes to Nelly (yes, Nelly) to Tim McGraw (and no, not the song he did with Nelly.) Very odd selection. And a bit distracting.
(3)
Kimberly L.
Parking readily available, dynamic fresh housemade innovative yet traditional food, very reasonable prices, cool decor, and good-looking people. It's totally a win! I admit the first time I came here I vowed I'd never come back, but that was years and years ago when it first opened, and I came with the wrong people (my family) expecting the wrong things. Good place for a date, bad place to come with your mom, dad, and little brother. We found it overpriced for a family-style dinner. Five or so years later, I've been back half a dozen or so times at the bequest of friends or be/for/e a night out. Win! The staff is pretty trendy and good-looking, and the food is priced very well for such a cool place in such a central location. Lots of Asian college-aged kids come here. Went on a Sunday night at 9:15 or so. They close at ten. We were seated immediately in the best table ever! It was at the top of these kind of stadium seating rows where we were Kings who Surveyed All Below. Including food, fake boobs, lava flows, and an unfortunately shitsu-faced woman. Fun! The guy mister is on a diet, so we ordered tofu salad $9, beef bibimbap $12, and teriyaki salmon bento $15. And a coke for only $2 which was gulped down by the mister in about three seconds flat. The waitress came back about 1 minute later and refilled it (free). She also left me an entire pitcher of green tea (hot) for me. Nice. Very nice. The bibimbap didn't taste that great, and was kinda greasy, and didn't turn as crispy as I like on the stone pot. We asked for it spicy and it was barely spicy at all. The taste wasn't good to begin with, so some spice to mask it would have helped. Oh well. Just don't order it again. Tofu salad was amazing, with fresh housemade soft tofu, applesoy dressing and sesame dressing as well. I asked if they sold the apple soy chinese dressing and unfortunatley they don't. boo! I was literally almost going to lick the plate. and this was a salad, people! For only nine bucks this is a total steal. I will order this again and again. Teriyaki salmon bento was nice. Came with takuan, magenta pickled yucky things, tons of edamame, and rice and 3 unsettlingly healthy-tasting gyoza. No dipping saucce for gyoza. Too bland for me. I think maybe because it was made from good ingredients, from scratch, and I'm used to the frozen 99 cents for a dozen variety. The salmon was the star. I'll just order it ala carte next time. Moist and seared with a delicious glazed drizzle on the outside. Very ono. Too much edamame. Did not eat it. All in all, our waitress was the bomb excellent and gave us superba nd very attentive service without hovering, the food was innovative, fresh, and quality, and the prices were incredibly reasonable considering what we got. I like it.
(5)
Lani B.
Just came back from Shokudo for a birthday celebration. Food was very good but nothing that really rocks, other than the Honey Toast. Among the four of us, we ordered the Mochi Cheese Gratin, Katsu, Pork Chops, Bi Bim Bap, Lobster Dynamite, Yukari French Fries and Honey Toast (of course!)...all very good! We had a fair amount of leftovers that next time we'll do without one or two items. The wait staff was nice and attentive tonight, even told us the kitchen was a little behind but our food came quicker than anticipated. I really like the modern vibe and ambiance...reminds me of when I lived in LA. Enjoy!
(4)
Michael E W.
Honey Toast and Happy Hour Pupu
(3)
WonderWoman W.
Should have written this back when I went. It's open later than most restaurants and was crowded at a late hour. I recall my ahi salad was tasty but not memorable. What was memorable was the "priceyness" and the overrated honey bread. It's just nondescript doughy white bread with honey and ice cream. Fried bread would be tastier, ask Native Americans. Waffles would have been great. My friend wants to go back, but since it's on my tab, I make the call and, so far, there are other places to go.
(3)
Josh P.
This would be the go-to place for those of you who want to experience a trendy meal, on an inexpensive budget. The place is modern enough so that it attracts the attention of younger groups, but compared to high class asian eateries, it falls short of the decour alloted to the more fashionable restaurants in town. I would recommend taking your buddies from work here, your friends from school, or if you need to find a place in town that's open til 11. However, if you're looking for the true restaurant gold, Tsujiki Fish Market on the 3rd floor of Ala Moana, Gyotaku on King Street, or one of the little hole-in-the-wall restaurants near Shokudo are a better choice. 3/5 for being a decent restaurant. Nothing wrong with the menu, but surely only average at best. Edit: I went here during Happy Hour (4pm-6pm) and I've got to say, my friend and I ordered 8 dishes between us for $26. So if you can beat the crowd at 4pm, then go for Happy Hour, it's worth every penny!!
(3)
Ken A.
We're always on guard when a place tries to be 'nouveau' anything, but Shokudo pulls it off with modern riffs on Japanese cuisine. The honey toast gets most of the attention -- and it's worth saving room for -- but the whole menu just works, on a level that could make it in Tokyo. Oh, and they were one of the first (maybe the only?) places in the United States to offer frozen beer foam ( gizmodo.com/5898804/froz… ).
(5)
Amanda A.
Everytime I eat at Shokudo I am never dissapointed. I love their HONEYTOAST! Shokudo is not only a great place to eat, but it's also a friendly atmosphere with an energetic staff. Everytime someone asks me where to get a good meal, Shokudo is on the top of my list. They have a wide variety of sushi, sashimi, noodle and rice dishes, and even french fries; there is something for everyone there! And their drink list is great too! Everytime I get a cheat meal from my training Shokudo is the place I go.
(5)
Jay K.
What the crap is with people who endorse Shokudo and Yanagi? Both are pretty disgusting and charge $$$! don't waste your $, crap quality = crap taste no matter how much sauce you put on it
(1)
NoneYa B.
A "Must See & Experience" Restaurant in Honolulu! :)
(4)
Kristine M.
The thing I really appreciate about Shokudo is that there really is something for everyone. Their menu is quite extensive and offers a pretty wide array of nom nom choices. Also, because it's such a big place, you don't have to wait very long even when you have a larger party. I love the agedashi tofu. It's da bomb! I also enjoy eating the various sushi rolls, you can't really go wrong there. I've heard the mixed drinks are good and really enjoy the tea. Everyone goes on and on about the honey toast. It's simple, warm, and yummy. You can't not order it if you're there. It's blasphemous if you do. All in all, it's a great place to go. Just pray you have a good server, otherwise you'll be waiting forever as you watch those around you eat and drink to oblivion. Also, don't pay any attention to the totally dusty decorations floating around you... :)
(4)
Cassandra L.
I totally procrastinated and waited almost a month to finish this review. But, I guess it's a good thing because I only remember the best and worst things about my lunch here. Mochi cheese - It sounds like such a weird combination, but it's SO GOOD! I love the addition of the nori because it adds almost a nutty flavor to the chewy goodness. Oxtail ramen - this was a big disappointment. The oxtail was not fall off the bone, but chewy. The noodles were SOGGY. I mean, so soggy that even my 2 yr. old won't eat them because they were mushy like baby food and he's "not a bay-beeee!". The soup was really really salty.
(2)
Millicents F.
honey toast yum! and the flavored sake!
(4)
Deb D.
This review is based only on visiting the restaurant last night. I've been to Shokudo at least 5 times and always go with guests. Last night we sat at the bar and I ordered Ox tail soup and I must say that this is the first time that I have been disappointed. There was only one piece of meat and it was 75% fat and bone. Barely a mouthful of meat. Therefore the soup was quite greasy and not too pleasant to eat. We also ordered french fries and edamame which are always great. My daughter ordered a salmon plate which she liked but the watercress had too many stumps and the mash potatoes were dry. My friend ordered a crispy calamari salad which she said didn't have enough dressing but the balsamic beef tataki was to die for. Our server was great and patient with our indecisiveness! I will not let the bad soup choice alter my opinion of this restaurant. I usually have great food here. I just won't ever order the oxtail soup again and I will return to try again. I would normally give it a 4/5 star rating.
(3)
Alina Noelani C.
Their service could have been A LOT better. The guy barely checked up on our table or asked us how we're doing. And it kinda seemed like he didn't want us to be there, Geez! However! The FOOD! I had their crisyp spicy ahi appetizer which was yummy and their Garlic Shrimp Rice was awesome. The chocolate honey toast was pretty good too... next time I go I want to try the caramel one. But overall it was a good dinner, just wish their service was better.
(4)
Michelle O.
Ahh Shokudo. If only it were in my neck of the woods, I'd go every week! TRY THE HONEY TOAST. All I can say is ... YUM-O! If nothing, you should come here to try this dessert. It is two big honking pieces of toast (think 5 inch thick texas toast) with the insides cut out. Then they take the soft white bread part and cut it into cute little cubes, somehow toast it and throw it back into the 5 inch crust, drizzle honey and top it off with ice cream. I know, I know, that may not sound like the "normal" dessert, but believe me, it is AWESOME!! I'll try to post a pic. I'd come back just for the honey toast but the rest of our food was pretty darn tasty. The menu is quite extensive and since it was our first time there, we ordered whatever sounded interesting. We started with the Pupu Platter. Don't recall what was included... edamame, fries, chicken karage, some other stuff... all I know is we polished the dish. The Sushi Pizza was the bomb. It sounds like just ordinary sushi but it was laid out (just like a pizza) and baked... and the way it was cooked made the rice crispy on the bottom and made for an interesting texture and taste. We also had the Sukiyaki Bibimbop. This is a korean-style rice dish with beef, kimchee, other yummy stuff and served in a sizzling hot stone bowl. Ok, I can't tell you how much I love the hot stone or clay pot rice dishes. The rice gets this nice crispy crust on the bottom and it makes it sooooo goood! Overall, I really liked the food that we ordered and most definitely will come back for the honey toast!!
(4)
Derek K.
The $3 happy hour menu is perfect! Order two things for your self or share a bunch of items amongst friends. A couple highlights are the honey toast jr and the spicy ahi nachoes. There are bunch of different things that can satisfy your taste buds on the menu. The one mistake that I made was ordering the salmon chasuke...again. The first time I had it, I didn't think it was that good. This time it was better, but still disappointing. Overall, a great place to have happy hour. The service can be slow, but it seems like the wait staff is more attentive than before. At $3 a dish, you can't go wrong.
(4)
richL L.
When you go to shokudo, you definitely need to know the best tasting things on the menu. If you don't know them, I don't think that you will enjoy your shokudo experience. When i first discovered this place, I was there on a daily basis. It wasn't just their food, it was many of the waiters. They are helpful and friendly. They never let me down. My favorites are: lobster dynamite roll. Not the lobster dynamite with the bread. The lobster dynamite roll has a better balance of flavors. The dip version is more on the saltier side. Udon with sukiyaki beef and mochi. Their broth is amazing. Bibimbap, Mochi cheese gratin, tofu salad (they make their own tofu), agedashi tofu, miso soup, seared ahi, sesame seed spicy ahi, and of course their honey toast original or cinnamon. I love this restaurant and the whole atmosphere.
(4)
Mako S.
thier foods are good. I had spicy soup noodles and was tasty! we orderd some dishes. all of them were good! I can't say i like the atmosphere though... I would prefer more cozy chair :P I don't know why I might not stay there for a long time with chatting.. but foods are wonderful ;)
(3)
Spongey B.
I have never been a fan of this place with the food being sub-par and the crowds of people always in there (I never understood why so many people like this place). My latest experience was when I was with a friend who phoned in an order. We got there at the expected pick-up time, but we still had to wait another 25 minutes. The hostess was apologetic, but words only go so far. Where's the compensation for time wasted? I'm never going there again even if it's just to wait for a pick-up order with someone else.
(1)
Zhen L.
After an extremely long time, I came back here for an outing with friends. And no surprise, I thought it was great! My friends and I ordered six-seven dishes, and they came out in less than 10 minutes each! We were so surprised at the pace that they came out. Honey toast was awesome like usual, but having a birthday honey toast was even better! Server was in a rush, but never failed to remember to check up on us. Keep up the great work Shokudo!
(5)
Kayla K.
Shokudo is like the go to restaurant for me and my friends when we wanna have get together dinners. It's just so comfortable and the food is so good and inexpensive when ordering pupus to share (: It's reasonably priced in my opinion and the food is good! My favorite dish there is the spicy ahi on crispy rice. It's spicy (my fave) and flavorful! It's awesome. Second fave: Yes, the sushi pizza. You have to try it. It's different but it works. It really does. Whenever I come to eat here, I always get the spicy ahi on crispy rice and the sushi pizza. They are musts. Other good ones: Mochi cheese gratin (sounds weird, but it's super good. trust.) balsamic steak sushi or whatever it's called garlic shrimp rice fresh tofu Oh and they have these $3 pupus at certain times during early day and late at night. These aren't really that great I'm telling you now. Like half of the menu has this gross sweet sauce on it that's so overwhelming. My friend and I just came back from here actually. We ordered the spicy ahi nachos, dynamite fries, and gyoza first....they all had the same damn sauce on it. Gross. Then we got the nachos again (I scraped the sauce off) cuz it was good (minus the sauce) and then we ordered the salmon chazuke, spicy ahi rolls and garlic pizza bites. My friend had one of the pizza bites and low and behold that gross sauce was on it. But the salmon chazuke was sooooo good. Chazuke is like when you put dashi soup on top the rice. I google'd it on my phone haha. And then the spicy ahi I took home cuz we were full... But you should definitely check out the $3 pupus. It's a great deal. My only warning is be aware of the gross sauce thats on top a lot of the dishes. It's not super disgusting but its a strong flavor that is very overwhelming. Honey Toast. Yuuuuuuuuuumy. Nuff Sed.
(4)
Tania L.
Again, one of the places in rotation for lunch with my mom. When she first went to this place she loved it so much she went THREE DAYS IN A ROW. If she were writing this review she might even give it five stars. But she's not. I am. And so... Well, first off, their food is good. Of course, like many places, it's about knowing what to order. They've got a better handle on certain foods than others. One problem I did notice is the consistency problem. Their herb grilled chicken is either good... or bad. Lol. My family is in the food service industry so they can tell right off the back what type of meat is being used. Sometimes they use breast, other times it's thigh. Thigh is not as healthy, but then breast is just so dry! Yeah, I can nitpick on every single item we've ordered in the past but the fact that we would be able to tell you about the many items we've had tells you that it must be good enough to be a repeat customer. Although, I will tell you that you should try the salads (the ahi tataki salad, the spinach salad, they used to have some seafood salad which is pretty good too), the chicken karaage is ALWAYS soft and flavorful, the agedashi tofu is a must, their garlic shrimp rice is pretty good, and I really like the spicy ahi on crispy rice as well as the hamachi carpaccio. Also their desserts are good, the honey toasts and the green tea shaved ice thing (they improved on it, more flavor and less ice!). I wish they still served the green tea cheesecake, which was mine and my son's favorite. Okay, so food on the side, service... Ahhh... service. Who knew that service could have such a huge effect?!! Well, we all know that it does. Their hostesses range from nice to SUCKY AS HELL! Young girls who just don't have that charisma and experience. Servers... they're pretty okay. Some a little better than others, but they're okay. Not as "attentive" as they could be I suppose, but what can you expect? The managers are very caring (most of them used to be servers themselves) and friendly. Well what else can I say? Wow, after that spit about the service I almost want to lower my star rating, but I won't.. for now. I've only dined there mainly for lunch and sometimes for dinner but never late at night. It wouldn't be my choice, but then again I'm not trying to play the role of the sophisticated 20-something professional in Hawaii (sorry to bag, but a lot of ppl are like that and it's kind of annoying).
(4)
Shayna R.
Shokudo! I didn't really care for this place the first time I tried it (they constantly change their menu, and I think I chose all the things that they've since discontinued), but I've since grown to love this place for the consistently tasty food, fun atmosphere, and good happy hour offerings. I love the unagi hot stone pot and how crispy and tasty the rice gets. I've often dreamt of making it myself, but I can't imagine how I can do that at home and not burn my little hands, so I'm happy paying the $12 or so to get a perfectly done bowl of it at Shokudo. And I love the homemade tofu salad (though I know my limitations and wouldn't even dream of being able to make something as light and custardy as their tofu!). Why can't eating healthy always be so delicious and easy!? For happy hour, try the cold ramen. It's super light and refreshing and, though it's a deal for $3, I always end up wanting a full-sized serving of the stuff!
(4)
CarolAnn S.
the service wonderful and the food delish
(5)
Brandon B.
My first time here, went around 2pm on a sunday. Got seated right away. Then proceeded to wait with it not being too busy, just caught in talking for about 15 minutes. Then I was like where the hell are the drinks. And then followed by who the hell is our waiter?! Got up and grabbed the nearest waitress. Told her what we wanted and said we didn't know who our waiter was. She took our order, food came out with our drinks pretty quick. We were nearing the end and still had not met whoever was supposed to be our waiter. I felt like we were in the dead zone for waiters. So i went to the manager, told him we had no waiter and we wanted the honey bread. All the food was delicious, 5 stars all around for the food. We got our check and i left 35 cent tip to round out my dollar. I have no idea who got that 35 cents but they did not deserve it unless it was the cooks. So my first experience here was pretty bad for service, but the food made up for it. The friend we went with said that has never happened to her so hopefully when I return I will not be stuck in the twilight zone of no waiterness.
(4)
Liz C.
Honey Toast. #foodgasminfinity!
(5)
Jermy D.
They have a fairly decent happy hour here if you're jonesing for some sake or $3 sangrias. The happy hour food is good, but a little small. I enjoy the edamame and agadashi eggplant. The honey toast jr. is the perfect size for two people. The drinks are pretty good. Sometimes, I think the sangrias are a little more juice than wine, so I would stick to the sake if you're looking for a good buzz. Who can beat a tokkuri of house sake for $5 (i think it may be $3 or $5, not sure). The service at the bar is always fast and friendly. I would recommend this place if you just need to relax or unwind and aren't too terribly hungry.
(3)
Sam O.
Lobster dynamite roll, spider roll, and passion fruit vodka soda every time! The li hing sake is good too. Unagi don was disappointing. Fresh tofu is so soft and good. If you've never had FRESH tofu, you must try this. Many of their servers seem kinda clueless. I now either sit at the bar, or ask for Connor. Also at the bar, you won't have a lamp hanging in your face.
(4)
Gary N.
Just came back from eating a late lunch and I just realized that I missed on Happy Hour! I thought that they only had that late at night, but now I know that they have it during the day as well. Happy hour is where they feature a number of delicious plates for only $3 each. I ordered the Healthy Bento while other people ordered the Combination Bento (twice), and the Deluxe Bento. There were four of us. I enjoyed my Healthy Bento. It came with miso soup (generous amounts of tofu), salad (delicious shoyu dressing), tuna and salmon sashimi (so fresh!), homemade tofu, and 4 pieces of California roll. The Deluxe Bento truly was deluxe which appeared to be the Healthy Bento and Combination Bento in one. My sis's Combination Bento came with teriyaki chicken, assorted tempura, furikake rice, pickles, salad, and miso soup. The only thing that I found strange was when we ordered hot tea, it only came with one cup. We had to ask for more. Overall, not bad for the price.
(4)
Jose C.
Shokudo took a step down. I had two rolls tonight and they were small and not well made. I'm not happy about this because it's been a favorite place of mine for the year I have now lived here. What I would brag about was how big and delicious the rolls were. No more. Both were small, over priced for the size, and the flavor was messed up. I returned two and the third was ok, but with ultra thin avocado. I loved being able to come here for a great Mai Tai and a roll and I was done! So good! Step it up, Shokudo! :)
(2)
Daphne F.
So yummy. My friends and I come here for happy hour between 4p-6p and after 1030p. We found it a little pricer than we'd prefer when we came here other than those hours, but its always packed. We usually order the vodka and soda with fruit flavors, but they're only on happy hour in the early afternoon and not in the late evening. The honey toast jr. is perfect for people who have never tried it before (btw its onolicious) and a great size for just a couple people. The food is fine, my friend likes the beef bento box, but I haven't found the meals to be anything to write home about. Overall, the bar is the best thing about this place, and the free parking around the corner. People here have always been friendly and we run into our old classmates every now and again to keep things interesting.
(4)
Kelly K.
Shokudo is a great place to gather a group of friends or to grab a bite after work. My reviews on some of the foods are... Must try... -Fresh Homemade Tofu-suuper soft and the sauce w/nori that comes with it gives it enough flavor...healthy too! -Char-siu Pork-its fatty and yummy! -Sushi Pizza-!!! I looove this! I always get this. The jalepeno on top gives it a kick and the seafood inside baked together is soo good! -Clam Miso Soup-great hint of clams in the miso soup w/couple clams (in shell) -Unagi Rice and Garlic Shrimp Rice-comes in a hot stone pot. They mix the food for you and as some of the rice sits it becomes crispy rice. It's like a hot but better fried rice. Both are very flavorsome! -Honey Toast-!! A must try for dessert. Nuff said. -Vodka Soda-A drink w/Vodka inside...the Lychee and Passion Fruit is yummy! Okay... -Mochi Cheese Gratin-I thought I wouldn't care for this that much but its actually quite good and flavorful. -Lobster Dynamite-it's okay, I love the idea of it but I wish the mayo was baked more so it's not as mushy when you break into it. -Sashimi Sampler-bad experience but it could've been just that one time... Now, the late night $3 menu after work is awesome (10:30pm-12am). What I usually get are the Agedashi Eggplants (eggplant in sauce w/tako flakes on top), Spicy Tuna (4 pieces), California Maki/Roll? (4 pieces), Cold Noodles, and the Jr. Honey Toast!
(4)
Cyn D.
Shokudo is a really contemporary, glass-walled Japanese restaurant and bar that's great for a family dinner or a night out with friends. Sushi options are limited, but there are good ramen choices, curry, and stone pot dishes. They even have bi bim bap (this place must be owned by Koreans). All this plus a full bar and convenient location near Ala Moana mall makes it a great dinner stop.
(4)
Jeffrey M.
A great place to grab food or a late night snack with friends, Shokudo is another one of the places I always go to when in Hawaii. Their interesting dishes are both tasty and easy to share and the atmosphere is great as well. Just try to make reservations if you can, because it gets really crowded and wait times can be ridiculous. As far as my top recommendations go, the tofu salad is a must have- their homemade tofu is delicious, silky smooth and soft. It's so completely different from the typical firm tasteless stuff you get at most places. They have some really good sushi dishes as well; I'm a big fan of the spicy tuna on crispy rice. The cripsy rice adds a nice contrast to what would otherwise be a pretty ordinary dish. The unagi rice and bibimbop are both good as well, coming out in hot stone bowls that add a bit of crispiness to the rice. The yuzu hamachi carpaccio is good, but it's really hard to screw up hamachi, especially when it's nice and fresh. And the mochi cheese gratin is definitely a must try if you want something different- the chewiness of the mochi adds an interesting texture, while the cheese, dashi, and nori add great flavor to the dish. Of course not everything is a must try, although to be fair I don't think I've ever had anything I would consider bad. The balsamic beef tataki sushi was interesting, but too similar to beef sushi dishes I've had elsewhere, and could have used a bit more balsamic. The gyoza is another dish that is fine, but not anything special. Now if you've heard of Shokudo, it's likely that you've heard of their honey toast. Available in a variety of flavors, the dish comes out with two thick square crusts stacked on top of each other, filled with cut up cubes of the insides resting in the middle, drizzled in honey (or whatever other flavor you got), with a couple scoops of ice cream on the side. I'm not a big dessert fan, but whenever I come here, somehow I end up ordering it to share with friends. It's a good dessert, but there are always a few things about it that bug me. First off, not enough ice cream. I think adding one more scoop would be perfect. Secondly, I wish they toasted it just a little bit more. I think it would be great with a little more crunch, especially the pieces cut from the middle. Finally, a little bit more honey would be great, just to add that last bit of flavor it could use. Also worth noting is their drink menu. Personally, I haven't had any, but my friends have tried several of their vodka sodas and mojitos and generally been happy with them. Overall, Shokudo is one of my favorite places to sit down with a group of friends. The dishes are overall excellent and easy to share, and the laid back atmosphere is nice without being overly loud.
(4)
Reyna R.
Always end up eating here at late hours while I'm on vacation back home. I'm not going to lie, I love this place! I just wish they had better service. I ordered my all time fav., Tiger Roll. I swear, it took like half an hour for my food to arrive. Other than that, you MUST order their Honeytoast!
(4)
Natasha G.
like i've said earlier this is my favorite place to unwind before i go home from work. kelly and paul are the best bartenders! attentive and friendly...thanks!
(5)
Ryan O.
I'm a server so i write reviews from a servers point of view. great food, great atmosphere. It feel like dinning at a high end place with a moderate priced menu. Service: I've been there three times and two of the three times; was with a very large party. As a server i know Big parties means a lot of attention but knowing in most case your tip will be added on to the bill. Most servers will have the mind set "i know for sure im getting a tip being that it's a large party. so i dont have to worry about giving them great service" this is what i felt my server was thinking. she had other tables and spent very little time attending to us a party of 12. though she was nice she put up a wall when we needed the check split. she said it was against store policy to split the checks and then continued to tell us that if we needed to take out cash that there was a ATM across the street!!! If a server ever says they can't split the check it's BULL SHIT! either they're too lazy to do it. (It can be time consuming splitting checks on the computer) or the restaurant is so old that they don't even have a computer.
(4)
Anju J.
Had a good server. Kinda loud, but the atmosphere wasn't bad. Good sushi too! Try the Lobster Dynamite Rolls
(4)
Amber M.
At first glance, Shokudo seems pretty cool..neat decor, a funky selection of food, and mostly good-looking servers. But alas, dining at Shokudo is akin to getting smashed and going home with the "cute" gogo dancer you met at the club -- it seems like fun at the time, but when all's said and done, you leave feeling dirty and a little broke! Though I've only been to Shokudo a handful of times, on each visit the first thing that caught my attention was how the restaurant always smells vaguely like cat pee, especially on the right half of the restaurant (what ARE they cooking that gives off that odor?!). The food is nothing to write home about. Most appetizers and entrees are palatable, but far from satisfying with tiny portions that don't complement their large price points. The french fries are good - never soggy, excellent in flavor, different from average fast food style fries, but good restaurants are not built on french fries alone. Also, I realize this may be a fluke thing, but on one occasion I ordered the green tea shake and was sick for the rest of the evening. Bad milk, possibly? The only thing that salvages a night out at Shokudo is their famed honey toast dessert. Yes, it is amazingly tasty, but consider this - it is simply honey, toast, and ice cream. Yes, you could reproduce this yourself at home. And you probably should.
(2)
Retired B.
I ate here back in 2008. I would say its more asian fusion than just regular japanese. Portions are big so we did family style. We shared some sushi rolls and meats for grilling, but none of the dishes really stood out. Service was decent, but a little on the slow side. It was hard to get a table so reservations would be a good idea for larger parties.
(3)
Mako H.
*Update 2** menu has changed again, for the better, loooookin good, got the sushi pizza, ebi-garlic rice and cal roll, chicken karaage and fries good stuff, glad we gave this place another chance service is not great though, if you expect this you'll enjoy your meal
(4)
Tammy T.
I give 3.5 an "A-OK I'm a fan". Not a YAY! but an "eh" So yes, the menu is always changing. Which in a way sort of sucks? If you love something, the chances of it being there the next time are slim. So if you had high hopes to enjoy this items, with intentions to get this item, and it not be there...well that just seems like a waste. We got (pictures): Fresh Tofu - 6.95 Ginger Kurobuta Pork - 14.95 Sukiyaki Bibimbap Rice - 10.95 Assorted Tempura I heart the tofu! Fricken Heart it! That and the honey toast! The ginger thing was burnt. Well it taste charcoal-ish. The tempura was thin and the batter was thick, and it was super oily. The other thing I found out was that the raw fish isn't fresh, it's frozen?!? Which was a shock to my chef friend that I went with which made him sad *tear* Now looking at this write up make me wonder why I gave them a 3.5. One, for the tofu, two for the honey toast, and three because it's open till 2 AM which is hard to find a place that serves food till that time. The service is blah. I think you pay for the environment you are in. It's good for groups, you get to share food together, drink, talk story, etc.
(3)
Jonathan I.
I started going to this place regularly when they first opened, and continued too until recently. Since then the food has changed quite a bit (for the better) yet the ambiance and atmosphere has stayed exactly the same. Food-wise, Shokudo currently has a few good items on their extremely large menu. By large, I mean physically large. I am not a big person by any means and when I open up their tri-fold menu all the way, I can barely reach both ends. Once I get past this ordeal, my eyes go directly to what I have learned to stick with....Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice, and the Beef Tataki Sushi with Balsamic. Odd dishes, but pairs nicely with a nice cold Sapporo. Other than those two, I have tried almost everything there, but haven't ever really been thrilled. Hell, originally a few friends and I would go to Shokudo at least once or twice a week for drinks, and while they ate, I opted to just drink. Only when they first revised the menu did I dare to try the food again....and even at that I would rather choose to go elsewhere for a meal or pupus. So why rate 4 start you ask? Well, I for one LOVE the decor. It is simple and well thought out from an architectural/interior design stand point. To add to the "likes" the bar staff there were always so personable and cool...to the point where a few of us are actual friends now, go figure. To me, these two factors make me really like this place, and if they were to improve on their food menu, I might just start becoming a regular again...
(4)
Oh Y.
Went back. Ate real food like a civilized person this time. Practiced my "calming breathing" as the waitress demonstrated an attitude with an uppercase A. BUT the food was delicious and the tab at the end of the night was surprisingly affordable (for Honolulu). Party of 10 = $200, included 4 glasses of wine.
(4)
Christy K.
Decided to give it another shot-- I came here with my girlfriend the other night before having a night out on the town. I forgot to mention last time that Shokudo makes my favorite alcoholic drink: the Lava Flow. THIS must be why I keep on coming back. This drink is sweet delicious heaven in a glass... though I could've sworn I got a slice of pineapple before... So we get in and are trying to get out within ~20 minutes. We promptly order two lava flows, the lobster dynamite roll, and a honey toast. And we begin our wait. A few minutes later, a busser comes by who noticed that we had already ordered and asks if we want water. We graciously accept and he brings them. Five minutes after that, while we are wondering where our drinks are... they are brought to us. YUM! Eight minutes after our drinks, our waitress approaches us and says, "I just checked with the kitchen, and your dynamite roll should be out shortly." Oh-kayy... Ten minutes after that, our roll gets to the table. The roll was very delicious. The topping was hot and my friend and I savored each of our four pieces. Oh, and I forgot to say that by the time we got our roll (30 minutes later), we knew we wouldn't have time for honey toast. We cancelled it. How sad! The honey toast eludes me once again!
(2)
Tia M.
GREAT FOOD. Must get the spicy tuna crispy rice, ahi tataki, dynamite lobster roll & OMG HONEY TOAST. That is all.
(5)
Jenny L.
Try the TOFU SALAD!
(3)
Serenie S.
The freshly made tofu..... TO DIE FOR! It like melts in your mouth and it has such good flavor. I'm really picky about my Udon and it can't be too sweet or too salty. This was perfect. I tried the sushi pizza. Not my thing but it does have a bunch of flavors so I understand why people always say to get it. The honey toast. Yums. I don't even really like honey, but all the flavors mixed together was delicious! I went around lunch time on a Friday and it wasn't too busy. The service we got was great so we left a fat tip! The server was on it and he was very friendly. The prices are very reasonable for what you order. I like the atmosphere too.
(5)
Jace B.
Shitty that the happy hour is only for 21 and over. It's only for food too, that's the only reason why it's two stars for me. I'm 18 and then stupid.....
(2)
Watah H.
Went to happy hour and found only one beer special and have to sit at bar. Ok, restrictions aside, the food is ok and bartender friendly. I haven't seen the place packed yet, but overall decent food. Could add more beers to their happy hour repertoire.
(3)
JD L.
When this place is busy, service can be blah. Love the lobster dynamite roll, volcano roll, yukari fries, hamachi sashimi and the honey toast! This is a nice place to chill with friends.
(4)
Derek N.
I have a weird relationship with this place. On the one hand, I don't like it for the most part. On the other, I find myself eating here a lot because of my friends. Everyone wants to eat here. I gently suggest going elsewhere, but this is where we end up. So they do have a happy hour menu that is pretty reasonable; $3, $4 and $5 items. However, certain things (like Tako karaage) they just don't have anymore; and this can be extended to their regular menu as well (ahi-stuffed mushrooms). I don't really like a lot of the dishes, so I find myself only eating certain ones over and over. For example, the spicy tuna nachos, which for some reasons my friends love, are really bland. If I'm really craving gyoza I might get the steamed gyoza, but it has a weird taste... can't they at least fry it? The portions are not that good of a value for what you pay. This is even more true of the regular menu than the happy hour one. I generally find myself sticking to Dynamite Fries ($3), Kim Chee Fried Rice ($5) and Sukiyaki Kim Chee Pizza ($5). I guess if you're not hungry, this would be a good place to go. The honey toast, while simple is rather delicious. The service is kinda hit or miss. B-White, aside from having a really cool name, is a great server. However there have been some that have gotten orders wrong or charged us regular price when it was supposed to be cheaper for happy hour, or asked us if we were ready for dessert while we were still waiting for three of our dishes. Apparently the really convoluted explanation was that they didn't have enough of the weird dishes our food came in kept breaking because they were poorly made in China. They couldn't just put them in some other kind of dishes? On the bright side, the manager Chris seems like a really nice guy. The music and ambiance are kind of weird. The music, while seeming to stick to a certain genre within each CD (or however the music is organized) varies greatly from night to night. The decor kind of works, except for the surfboards just randomly inserted into the chains above the bar. I am 12 years old and what is this? The food is a 3 (with the exception of honey toast), and the service averages out to something a little higher than a 3. Rounding off to the nearest star we have a 3. I don't know what else to say here. They're open late, and that's cool.
(3)
Chi-Hye M.
Does anyone else get the feeling like they are being rushed when you eat here? The food is ok...not the best, but just ok. They have a sushi pizza that's pretty good... Service was not so great....but the manager was awesome!
(3)
Jaynie K.
Beautiful interior, delicious fresh tofu, aaaaand, desserts that make my toes curl!!! The honey toast is crazy freakin' delicious, all the right amounts of crusty, and yet soft, pillowy, drizzled with delectable honey, and topped with ice cream. I dream about it. And the green tea shaved ice with azuki beans... I'll be honest, I was there with a batch of people, and I was like a starving little animal on NatGeo... I snarled and pushed people away from that huge tub of shaved ice while scarfing it down at lightning speed. Mmm.
(4)
Yasuo O.
seriously? again? went there on sunday and once again, a horrible experience. But I did notice that the portions got smaller! I guess there was ONE change from the last time I was there. the service is always ok. The food is what bothers me. I dont know why they have a see through kitchen to be honest. Its like you can see the soot on top of the hoods and the grease all collecting. why? Why not put up decorative art there or something? BTW, I can tell ya, being Japanese and being from Japan, this aint authentic! (sshhhh.. scare away the haole tourists.. gasp!) but this is not too bad. the price is ok. RINGER: I gave em my credit card and the girl looked at it, flipped it over and asked for my ID. which is cool. I thanked her for asking for my ID. then she flips is back over and says.. we dont take this kind of card... WTF? I told her it was an american express. and she says.. really? without getting into details, the manager came out, smiled and took it and charged it. uhm... dont matter if the card is blue or white or red or black... its still an amex... maybe a lil bit of training would help instead of embarrassing me and parading my card around like its a disease?
(3)
Brian A.
For some reason I always call this place Sudoku, my bad. It has a clean hip young vibe to it. Right off of Kapiolani, it's hard to miss with it's wooden panel shades coming down the windows. Unfortunately, to me, nothing on the menu really stands out. It's kind of like a Japanese fusion restaurant. It's really cool how some of the booths are terraced tough. It's a place to take someone for drinks and dessert though. Their signature dessert is the waffle-like, stacked with ice cream in the middle and a honey glaze on top. It can get busy during peak hours. Parking can be accessed in back, but I find it easier to park at Ala Moana and walk over.
(3)
Kalae P.
The food, first of all, is okay. It's Japanese, yes, but prepared in a contemporary, normal, sort-of-fast-food way. I didn't try an of the sushi or house specialties so I'm not too sure if I got a good sample of the place. I walked in looking like I had just come from the beach (haha) but nevertheless didn't really care. Looked around...very nice decor & may I add some hotties up in that joint, gotta venture there more often (haha). I ordered Shrimp Tempura & Rice Bowl (ala carte) with a plantation iced tea. It was the normal tempura just a little higher priced. It was sort of satisfying though. The food = meh/ok/satisfying enough. The price is not the best, but pretty good for a decked-out place lookin like this, so whatever (what's $15?! haha). Overall, I need to try some authentic house specialties, otherwise I'm not too sure the food is that spectacular and something to rave about.
(3)
Breynden I.
Gabriel at Shokudo is the best server. He has the best sense of humor. He remembered all our orders and that we wanted to split our check. All around great guy ask for Gabriel at Shokudo!
(5)
Jenny H.
I ate at this restaurant before everyone became obsessed with it. Definitely not authentic Japanese, but not bad. A few pros and cons... Pros: - the way the dishes are prepared haven't changed with the increased customers; many times I worry that a restaurant's service & food will suck once it becomes really popular, but Shokudo proved otherwise. - the center of the honey toast [period] Cons: - I think they bumped up their prices - now they're always busy - not a big fan of their parking I love their: - Agedashi Tofu - Beef Tataki on Balsamic Sushi - Sushi Pizza - Unagi Rice - Honey Toast Tips: - make a reservation - complementary honey toast for your birthday dessert - park at Ala Moana by Macy's so you can kind of walk off something before you make a 30 min drive home to Ewa ;) Honestly, you should eat here... at least for the honey toast!
(4)
Nat N.
I miss this place so much! We found this place out of sheer luck. We were leaving Ala Moana Mall, ready to head back to the strip to find something to eat, when something about Shokudo's decour caught our eye. We instantly yelped the place, saw all the wonderful reviews and decided to turn back around to park at the mall. It did not disappoint! The bibimbap at this place is amazing. It was the first time I had ever tried bibimbap, and boy was it worth it! I've tried several places here in California since but nothing has compared. I think it's the only place I've been to where they mix it up for you, right in front of you. Of course we had to try the sushi pizza, one of the most innovative dishes I've seen. The dish itself really just tastes like a California roll, probably wouldn't be that memorable if it wasn't in the form of a pizza, but definitely worth ordering. Like everyone else in the restaurant, we ordered the toast with a red bean topping. We felt it was slightly overrated, but probably because I selected a horrible topping to pair it with. It's not every day you get red bean as an option for a topping so I thought it'd be a good idea. An extra scoop of ice cream probably would have been sufficient. We tried going back on our last day there. I had called ahead of time to see if we could put our names down for a reservation. The girl assured me no reservation would be necessary, as there was only a 15 minute wait. I figured that would be fine, since Ohana East to Ala Moana Mall is about 10 minutes, we'd have no problem. We left as soon as we got to the car and got there maybe 15 minutes after my call. Once we arrived the hostess told us it was over an hour wait! Man, what a difference 15 minutes makes! I decided it wasn't worth the wait and wanted to enjoy my last night doing something else. That, right there, was one of my biggest regrets of the trip. I should have just waited that hour. :( Oh how I miss Shokudo.
(4)
Kristen C.
I came here a while back for a party and it was good. My auntie and I shared the tempura sushi, gyoza, and bi bim bap and we enjoyed everything. I especially liked the bi bim bap because of its presentation. It comes in a hot bowl and they mix everything table sized and the rice that gets nice and crispy on the bottom and sides are the best part. I wanted to order the honey toast because that look SOOO GOOOOD but we were just toooo full. The food is pricey but I wasnt paying so idk if i would come here on my own. However i will make it my mission to go there just for the honey toast!
(4)
Aprilei R.
A trip to shokudo after a long night shift. Managed to make it there around 11pm, to find out they are open till 1am. Hostess seemed quite unhappy. server was unfriendly at beginning, but cheered up...although service was fast. Tried one of the entree on the chef's recommendation - sashimi tostada..horrible! The fish tasted old and too "fishy". I like my sashimi to melt not have to chew my jaw off. The spicy tuna on crispy rice was on point. Different texture, but you can't go wrong with spicy tuna. (EX)Boyfriend had the Kirin and I had the green tea shake (must have for green). Ended the night with honey toast. Portion was good..although the toast could use less butter because by the end of it both my (ex)boyfriend and I felt like we had eaten about 2 sticks of butter. Overall the experience was all right. Will try again at earlier time..hopefully it can only get better.
(3)
Carlyn Y.
I love Shokudo! It's the perfect place for pau hana (especially after a long work week) and equally perfect for a night out with the boyfriend! We love to just sit at the bar and eat and the service, food, and drinks are second to none! I personally love the cheese mochi (although my boyfriend is not the biggest fan but all I can say is "Yay! More for me!") and the ever popular honey toast! In all honesty, there is so much selection that you really can't go wrong with the menu! The drinks are top notch and besides having Kirin on tap (how cool is that) they have the best saketinis and Japanese beers that always hit the spot. Their bartenders are amazing - friendly, helpful, and did I mention they make the best drinks? My two favorites are Jess and Paul...go there on a Friday night and you won't be disappointed! My only complaint is that some staff behind the bar seem to not be as customer service oriented as the bartenders. One girl was re-stocking for literally an hour (I didn't know it could take so long to re-stock a bar but then again, what do I know...) and never acknowledged that we were there, let alone asked if we were okay...and she was right in front of us! I was shocked! All is well though...with amazing food, amazing drinks, and amazing bartenders who provide amazing service, I definitely recommend Shokudo!
(4)
Wes N.
Great decor but a little on the bright side- Service depends on the waitstaff you get... Food is good. Unique cuisine. Try it once and you will know if you want to come back.
(4)
Byoung Kyu S.
Made a return lunch trip to Shukudo. Ate alone so sat at the bar. The service was great. The girl working the bar is great. She is extremely attentive without being too annoying. Ordered bibimbohp in stone bowl and agadashi tofu. Great food and I was stuffed. Only drawback was that the stone bowl was WAY too hot. I like to let my rice sit a while before mixing so it can be nice and crispy. But because the bowl was too hot, the bottom of the rice ended up burning and turning black. Agadashi tofu is $8 and the bibimbohp is $11. I also got hot tea which I was not charged for.
(4)
Traci H.
I was able to make it for their late night happy hour. I ordered my usual favorite...mochi cheese gratin...mmmm. This was my first time trying their happy hour menu, where the items on the menu were $3. Also most of these items are not available at other hours. My bf and I got the spicy tuna roll (4 pieces), and they were big pieces. I liked the cucumber in it. Also the spicy tuna nachos, it was interesting. I don't know if I'd get it again, but a must try once. Oh and add a little shoyu, it makes it taste better to me. Also we had the teriyaki chicken quesadilla, which was ok. I'm not a big cilantro fan, and it came with a cilantro dipping sauce. Also for the late night we got this mochi dish, I think it was yukari mochi. (Sorry if it's wrong.) It was pretty much deep fried mochi with salt and maybe nori sprinkled on top. It was WAY too greasy for my taste any my bf's taste. We had a bite and that was it. If it wasn't for the fact that I knew that they had a special cookies and creme anniversary honey toast I would have gotten the Jr. honey toast form the happy hour menu. After having th cookies and creme honey toast I wish I did. The cookies and creme over power the delicate taste of the honey toast, and that's all you can taste. We didn't finish it all. This was a learning experience at Shokudo. I'm pretty much sticking with my favorite from now on, throwing in a change here and there.
(4)
Dino K.
The first time I went here, they just opened. I didn't think it was that great. I just had dinner here last night and I must say that alot has changed since I first came here. I had the grilled chicken teriyaki and it was quite tasty! I rated 4 stars instead of 3 because of that awesome desert they call HONEY TOAST!! :)
(4)
Mallory P.
Wow I'm surprised to see this place only receive 3 1/2 stars. From what I can remember I had the bi bim bap and I can assure you that if people ordered this then maybe shokudo will get 4 1/2 stars. I also remember ordering the chocolate honey toast for dessert, which by the way was f***ing huge but good, but I swear I might have developed diabetes after consuming that monstrous sugar rush of a thing they call dessert. So why such low ratings??? The prices maybe??? Regardless, I definitely want my boyfriend to take me here again when I visit.
(4)
elisa o.
Great place! You are definitely paying for the ambience! Price can be a little better. The last two times I was there the food temperature was not that great. Food tasted warm and non piping hot!! I highly recommend the oxtail ramen! mmm... good! And the fruity shave ice! So ono! I like the hours of operations and can count on a decent meal late at night. Weekends til 2!! I definitely will tell you to order the FRESH TOFU!!! AWESOME!!! I do not recommend the SUSHI! If you want sushi look at my other reviews.
(4)
Inthira M.
I've always liked this place, the decor is modern, it has a lounge type of feel, the staff is attentive, and the food is pretty good. The only thing that stops me from going every week, or every other week, is that it does get a little pricey so when I finally get the chance to come back I can't wait to eat! Since they've opened they've changed their menu a couple times (just certain menu items have been removed, others added), but have finally settled on one. I LOVE their drink menu, it's so inventive and there's pictures for almost every cocktail that it's hard to choose. I usually try one of their flavored vodka soda's. My favorite is the grape calpico (It's a Japanese n/a drink that I believe is a milk mixture of some sort), and lychee and watermelon are always a good choice. FYI: if it's too much soda for you they have martinis with just about all the same flavors and you can get it with either vodka or sake. For food, agedashi tofu is awesome with 4 huge pieces of tofu topped with bonito (fish) flakes and green onions in a dashi soy sauce (my mouth is already watering), the yuzu camachi carpachio is bomb (go to the website and look at the picture- 'nuff said), calamari is always something people like to get and it's fried perfectly, I just don't like that sort of mayonnaise mixture to dip it in, the mochi cheese gratin looks fantastic. I personally haven't tried it but there's a ton of cheese melted on the dish and that's reason enough for me to try it next time I go. For entrees, etc. the spinach salad is awesome and although it's not a Japanese dish the crispy wontons and the dressing it's tossed in makes it so that it blends right in with the rest of the dishes. The bibimbap Korean style fried rice is awesome, all of their sushi is good because they're big pieces and it's so tasty. One thing to note, though, is that for being a Japanese restaurant they don't have as much sushi or unique sushi rolls as other places I've seen. Finally, to end the meal you HAVE GOT TO get the honey toast. It is so big and so good, it literally melts in your mouth. I just go for the original one, but they have flavors like chocolate and strawberry. Another favorite (and another HUGE dessert) is the shave ice. I've only tried the green tea but it's topped with condensed milk and azuki beans and a scoop of ice cream... I couldn't stop eating it. This is definitely a place you should try if you have the chance. One hint: make a reservation, they're always booked with the only openings at the bar.
(4)
Joey B.
Nice atmosphere, very trendy crowd. I've gone here during the evening/night three times. All three times I have come to the same conclusion. The food is not worth the price they charge. The service was really slow, and they messed up our order a few times. I got my bottle of wine before my food.... that was kind of strange. All three nights I've been there it was busy, but considering the price they charge, you'd expect promptness, and accuracy. I'd say, just go to Don Quijote and purchase one of their bentos in the seafood section (they're great!), then walk on over to Shokudo, for drinks.
(3)
Kellie K.
A few weeks ago I tried to make reservations for dinner to celebrate a friend's bday with some honey toast. Unfortunately, I never got past making reservations. My experience with the hostess was that bad. 1. I called at night (they were still open) to make reservations, and no one answered. I left a specific message with the date, time, and number of people in the party, and asked for them to simply call and confirm the reservation. 2. The next day I called back, since no one had returned my call. The hostess greeted me on the phone, and said let me put you on hold for minute to check the calendar. Minutes tick by, and she never comes back! I hung up. 3. They call back, but I missed the call. In their message they apologize for missing the call and that they were very busy the night before. Instead of confirming the reservation like I had asked, they simply said to call back. Ugh. 4. I call again, there's no answer, and I get sent to voice mail. This is just a few minutes after they called me, I know someone's there! 5. I call again, and someone answers. Hooray! But instead of getting the standard greeting, "Thank you for calling Shokudo....", she asks "Are you the one asking about the menus" I say no, and immediately she clicks off and the line goes dead. Uh, what happened to common courtesy? Sorry Shokudo, I gave you 5 chances and I think that was more than enough. If I can't be make reservations quickly, and easily, then all the honey toast in the world can't tempt me to come back. Goodbye Shokudo!
(1)
Molly L.
Been here twice in one week. Loved the food here. The Mochi Cheese soup is to die for. All the food here is great. Great ambience, fast food service and great lighting. I'd go here again, twice in the same week LOL
(5)
Michelle C.
AMAZING food! Went here after another restaurant close early. SO glad we did! Ashlee was a FABULOUS server!! Try the Mochi Cheese Gratin!
(5)
Nina T.
i have been here a few times, the food is alright, the price isn't too bad, their japanese beer is good, not strong at all. server is nice and fast. i would come here for late dinner because they open until 2am, plenty of parkings. I love their dessert, honey toasted, their vanila ice cream is a bomb, wanna try more of their desserts, would prefer make a take out order, not worth the long wait just for dessert. the wait is ridiculous...i guess if i go with a big group of friends, would not mind to wait that long...otherwise, too crazy!
(4)
Ema C.
Shokudo gets: 1 star for cool decor. The place just looks really good! The wooden blocks though, kind of remind me of kamaboko blocks all tied together . 1 star for decent food at a decent price. They have melon soda and green tea shave ice, which is delish. -3 stars for the waitress not knowing whether a dish had any sort of seafood in it (bonito extract, etc.). This is a huge minus because I'm literally deathly allergic to all seafood and a waitress not knowing what the ingredients are in the food they serve is on a bit ridiculous. She did not bother to check with the cook either, which is just poor service in general. Poo on that!
(2)
Estelle T.
I had a great experience the first time I came here. The food is definitely different. It's your typical sushi, but modernized. It was interesting and ono. I tried the Udon, Sushi Pizza, Spicy Ahi on Crispy Rice, and Honey Toast, they were all okay. The udon's broth tasted like it was from a packet, like the ones you buy from the supermarket for like $2. But then again, it was only $7. The Sushi Pizza was definitely different, but then to describe it, it's just a california roll that was laid flat out instead of rolled and baked to a slight crisp. It wasn't as good as I expected it to be since 1) it kept falling apart 2) it tasted like a california roll. The Spicy Ahi on Crispy Rice was definitely a winwin. 1) The rice was salty on the outside and sweet on the inside 2) Spicy ahi was excellently flavored to go well with the rice 3) the crispy texture tied everything together. The Honey Toast was alright, everyone goes wild about it, but to be honest, it just tasted like bread, icecream, and honey.. But, the bread did melt in my mouth, it's weird, I never knew bread could taste that good but I just had a higher expectancy for this dessert since there were raving reviews about it. Other than the food, I really liked the decor, it's modern and it's quite a sight. I give the service 5 stars, they were great. All in all, I'd come back here again, but probably not for a while.
(4)
K F.
This was my first time, and was very pleased, I loved the choice of music, really added to the atmosphere and experience, I wish I could get a copy of that playlist. My waitress was knowledgeable and very helpful, the decor added to the experience, I like the graduated seating and lantern style lighting. I found a wide range of choices on the menu and my kids ate everything served. I felt comfortable with my family there and could see this being a great date nightspot. I had the rainbow roll so that I could gage the flavors to compare and was pleased. Rating high on my list of other restaurants in Oahu. I would have no problems bringing my out of town visitors here
(4)
Lester A.
I cannot wait to come back to HI to eat here again. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious, i regret not saving enough room for the honey toast dessert. but next time i will. Sushi pizza was a must try, very different but very good. The Hamachi Carpaccio and Beef Tataki sushi was addicting. There were so many things on the menu I wanted to try and plan to the next time I'm here. Must have the vodka sodas. The place looks amazing on the inside too. Just a great place to eat i think.
(4)
Camille N.
So this place is our favorite Izakaya, wide array of really good SAKE. The food is pretty good too. Loved the oxtail ramen, sukiyaki bibimbap, pork chops, tuna on crispy rice and of course honey toast! Aside from the drinks and the food, customer service is excellent. Staff is very attentive and knowledgeable of the drinks they serve (sake in particular) So the only gripe I have on this place is the crazy wait time, if I need to wait for more than 45 mins, I'm gonna have to pass :)
(4)
diego m.
Been there before but forgot how memorable it was......... NOT There is an old saying that goes like that: "What does not kill you, will f*ck you up" Fast forward to the slim recessionary reality to 2009. Me and 2 friends went there last week and neither of us took the patience and virtue to check the prices and in doing so, we order a bunch of items. Expensive is not an understatement. 1) Char siu deglazed with a vinegray sauce - A little salty 2) Ahi Salad with grilled onions - Good 3) Pork Potslickers - Good - Not too Oily 4) Garlic Shrimp with rice - Good stuff 5) Spider Roll - Good 6) Calamari 7) At least 5 more items that I was too drunk to remember 8) A sh*tload of sake The bill came to over $150 for the 2 hours we were there. Food is good but it normally will require a financial bleeding. Not a smart choice to make when we are in a recession. Now, I am broker than broke. But you bet my stomach was happy.
(3)
Olivia M.
I would have given this place a 4 a few years ago, but their quality of food has gone down. The stone bowls are usually my go to (bibimbap or shrimp). They use to have an amazing chef special, curry katsu, but they took it off the menu. Their drinks are really good (vodka sodas and mojitos). They are almost always busy and service isn't anything special. Good place to go to for large groups if you make reservations.
(3)
Genie G.
My son had been here before and said I had to try it, so one rainy day in Honolulu while we at the mall we decided to take a stroll over for some lunch. I was so surprised, they serve a tofu salad (I am not a tofu fan) which my son said I had to try since they make the tofu in-house. It was so good and very tasty, I think I ate about 1/2 of it. Then we had this spicy tuna sushi, which was spicy tuna on crispy rice squares, another great choice. Also tried to oxtail ramen, that was good but nothing I need to rave about. But I do need to rave about the sushi and that fantastic salad. Ran out of room for the honey toast, so I'm saving that for the next trip there.
(5)
Evelyn T.
DAMMIT i fell victim to the hype again. This is one of THOSE places. The pictures look good, the reviews are promising, but when I went there, I was utterly disappointed in the food and experience there. I ordered the sushi toast out of curiosity, and didn't WANT to finish it. The boyfriend ordered the bibimbap which..was OK, similar to something I could have concocted at home. Had to get to toast, ofcourse, which was huge, and impressive looking, but didn't blow my mind. Tasted like bread with Nutella. The sake and beer was good stuff, though. Go here to drink and to kick it, but not to have a dinner of overpriced "Japanese" food. Like someone said in another review..yes, it is a Japanese Denny's.
(2)
Zoe M.
Yea! So much fun here!! Trendy, vibey location, that's big enough to probably never wait too long, and simple enough to park at the mall. You could be all dressed up here or quasi scrubbed out and fit in just fine. Drinks are moderately priced here, yeah! ;). And they're very tasty, I had the blueberry vodka drink. We ordered all our Japanese faves and thoroughly enjoyed all, and hubby ordered a huge entree that he deemed magnificent as well. Highlight--pumpkin tempura, love it! As recommended, ordered the honey toast, dang it's HUGE! Was shocked when the check came, we usually drop $100 easily on sushi nights, and it was something like $70 . Will definitely be back, great place to take friends from outta town (everyone loves a trendy, decently priced, yummy Japanese restaurant!)
(5)
Brent C.
Have been there twice and received excellent service. The food on both occasions were great and delicious. Both times were during the lunch hours on a Saturday. We were seated fairly quickly (awesome) but the seating is pretty tight (not so awesome). I just love the combo Lunch Bento Box and have to always finish the meal with Honey Toast. On the second visit, brought my mom, aunt, sister, niece, and nephews - all for their first time. They had always wanted to go, so I brought them there to have lunch. They were extremely impressed with service and food. Everyone that works "front of the house" are just awesome and very accommodating. This place has quickly become a favorite place for lunch when in the ala moana area.
(4)
Tae C.
Very Good food. nice
(5)
Marjorie C.
I have a fat girl confession to make...when Shokudo had their late night specials with a mini honey toast costing less than $5, I used to head over there after eating a Chirashi special from Sushi King. That means sushi, ice cream, toast, honey and throw in Shokudo pupus and their vodka sodas and it was midnight snacking turned into a stuff-your-face-smorgasbord. I love Shokudo because it offers a late night atmosphere where you can hang out with the hip crowd. The tiered dining area to the right (when you enter) makes you feel like you're intimately dining even though you're surrounded by throngs of people. The tiering also makes it great for people watching ;p Shokudo is a great place for any occasion, had their lunch specials and the prices are reasonable and the food is good, been here with a large group of people (15+...back room, unfortunately when we went the air conditioning was wacked so that meant sweating) and a dinner date for 2. Each time I've been here the staff have been friendly, patient, and accommodating. They have interesting dishes like sushi pizza and teriyaki chicken quesadilla. I stick to the hot stone pot dishes or the ramen. It can get pricey but my friends and I usually share dishes and we've been stuffed each time we've gone so it's worth it. Parking is in a shared lot behind Shokudo and Angelo Pietro, spaces are a little tight but there's usually lots of open parking spaces.
(4)
Tupu S.
Don't jump out of your seat until dessert. I had high hopes for this place since I heard nothing but GREAT things about this place from friends, colleagues and team members.. But of course, before I made my way to town I had to see what my Yelp friends say about this place.. Seeing the mix reviews about this place told me this place is "aight" ( pronounced AH-EYE-T) Sooooooo, we had the private room in the back - 4 stars for the nice cozy VIP status feel to the room. Perfect for small private parties and or business meetings which I was there for. The first thing I noticed, our server was as friendly as sharp stick in the eye. Seriously, so sharp it felt like fire ants biting at your bare skin.. (feel the cringe) Any who, lets order.. We had everything from edamame, bento boxes and everything else between. the FRESH HOMEMADE TOFU was pretty tasty along with the SPICY TUNA on CRISPY RICE (loved the texture of the combo) and the HONEY TOAST was worth waiting for.. Although @ first I was a bit skeptical about the Honey Toast deal, it was an interesting dessert that would make me come back for more. If I wasn't so full, I would've ate the entire thing by myself rather than sharing it with 5 other people... All in all, Shokudo is cool. Nothing to go and twitter or facebook about... but a good place for some good food and good company. Would recommend in the future for a casual place to eat.
(3)
Shirley L.
I have been to Shokudo about three times over the last one and a half years. I must admit, my most recent visit on December 21, 2009 was the most disappointing of them all. We ordered: chicken kara-age, spider roll, and shrimp tempura roll. Likes: Food was *okay* but not for the price we paid. Echoing the comment of another reviewer of Shokudo, eight bite-sized pieces of chicken does not justify the $10 bill for that item (of course, excluding tax and tip). Dislikes: Hmm...where shall I begin... (1) The service was beyond terrible. During my previous visits to Shokudo, I have experiences awkward waiters. In fact, he kept hovering over our table, asked us if we were students, told us about his educational pursuits, something about his girlfriend, his living situation. We got the whole life story, yet all we wanted to do was sit, eat food, and catch up amongst ourselves. Even so, I brushed it off as the waiter being new. This time, our waiter was not only awkward but was also rude and pushy. He kept coming rushing us to order when there was NO ONE else at the restaurant (at 4:30 in the afternoon), he kept coming back to ask if we were going to order anything else, he was in a hurry to bring us the check. Upon receipt of payment, he said, "You guys have a good ni..., I mean, nah, stay as long as you want." Anyone capable of reading between the lines will understand this to be a request that we leave. We stayed maybe another 10-15 minutes to catch up with my friend with whom we have not met for over a year. At that point, our waiter came to our table and informed us that the host has asked that we leave but was too embarrassed to come tell us himself. (2) Prices. As I mentioned in the "likes" section, Shokudo's prices are too high for what they're offering. I was expecting more taste and substance for what I paid. (3) According to a friend, Shokudo claims to have a full bar but cannot even offer a properly served jigger of cognac at the end of a meal. Conclusion: DO NOT GO.
(1)
Nicole S.
Tradition meets trendy, and out pops Shokudo. I was pleasantly surprised by the tasty blend of Japanese and new age flavors and technique. This is a great date place. Although it is trendy (understated, not in your face face flashy or pretentious), you will find young and old locals noshing on some interesting grinds. The cheese mochi sounds odd, but is surprisngly good. Think: gooey comfort. The lychee-tini was one of the best that I have had...I like my fruity martinis to be on the sweet side and less dry, so this was cocktail was a great fit. The gyoza and ramen are also pretty bomb. The honey toast was particularly memorable. Low carb dieters steer clear of this dessert - it packs a mighty sweet and bread-filled punch. It is a pretty filling dessert, so it should be shared by three or more people. I will definitely be returning for more cocktails and to try the sushi rolls!
(4)
Kayfo T.
Zippy's - Zipac. Liliha Bakery - Coco puffs. Shokudo - honey toast. Some things are just naturally associated with each other. When I think of Shokudo- I think of their awesome honey toast. My favorite is the original...just honey. No matter how stuffed I am after an awesome meal at Shokudo, there's ALWAYS room for honey toast. The rest of the menu is pretty good too. Although, their prices have gone up over the last year or so. Some of my favorites are the dragon sushi roll, yukari fries, cucumber salad (with ume dressing!), and did I mention the honey toast? Shokudo is a great pau-hana hang out for pupus and drinks because they're open until 2am on weekends! Service is also really friendly. Definitely a favorite.
(4)
Leslie K.
I. Love. Shokudo. Whenever I come back home, it's always first on my list of restaurants to revisit. My favorites: tofu salad, red eye roll, pumpkin tempura, and honey toast. These are all musts whenever I visit. I love the decor, although I prefer to not be seated on the risers (the servers, understandably, are less attentive when getting to you involves aerobic exercise), and the high ceilings. It is very trendy, but still family-friendly (although you might want to leave the kids who can't blow their own noses or tie their own shoelaces at home).
(5)
Nicole K.
i only recently started going to shokudo when i started college. i looooove japanese food (because i'm japanese). sushi pizza? who knew. but it's excellent. i like their hot stone soups, too. gotta try everything at least once. i live for the square bread and ice cream with honey dessert...i get that every single time.
(5)
theresa s.
great modern atmosphere and fun for groups. everything that i have tried here is super delish-- the portions are large and good for sharing. love the honey toast! not too sweet and just the right amount of honey. service is always proficient. crowded most of the time. make a reservation in advance if possible.
(5)
Melissa K.
When I first came to Shokudo two years ago, it immediately became one of my favorite restaurants. The next few visits were equally awesome ... but unfortunately the last two were disappointing ... and I really have no desire to return. The atmosphere is trendy, modern and very nice. It's a fun place to go for yummy pupus and drinks at 11:30pm with the girls. Love the lychee saketinis. The sushi and rolls are good but not exceptional. Portion sizes may be a bit small compared to what Hawaii folks are used to so be prepared to possibly order a few extra entrees or appetizers. Be warned: the menu changes ... so what you may enjoy one time may not be there the next. Dessert is awesome. I love honey toast. The name may not evoke images of grandeur but the actual dish is splendid-- two gigantic slices of soft bread covered in vanilla ice cream, honey and a type of topping ... I like strawberry. The bread is Japanese style and has the perfect combination of softness and bite ... the "crust" is similar to french bread. The portion is huge so be sure to share with your friends ... even then, there will probably be left-overs. If I do return again, it will be for HONEY TOAST! =)
(3)
James B.
Honey toast??? Hell yeahhhh! Delicious!! What a desert. Yum, yum, yum! And awesome shakes!!!
(5)
Ash G.
I like Shokudo, despite being on the pricey side, it is a good place for a date or night out. During the day they have a good lunch special that I believe ends at 4pm. My boyfriend and I went one day during lunch (we live amazingly super close by) and we were pleasantly surprised about the lunch specials (which costed about half the price of when we have gone for dinner...nice) I tried this place when it first opened and have been there now about 6 times. I have also been here about 4 times to pick up food and bring it back to my apartment--and 3 of those times I only ordered the Honey Toast with caramel! The honey toast is so good and addictive, you got to get the caramel drizzle on it--its the best. The food is good, I have no complaints. I haven't had any real 'wow' moments, except for how they present some of the hot food and cold sake. I like the agedashi tofu and the seared ahi, which they bring out on a hot plate, as well as the ramens they have. The sushi I have had was pretty good, although I really liked the unagi roll the spicy ahi roll kinda disappointed me. They have some cute creative drinks, aside from the sake (i love sake). I like the vodka drinks, although I know I am probably getting ripped off (price-alcohol content) I still really enjoy the blueberry vodka soda drink they have, as well as the lychee. Shokudo provides some good dishes in a fun and cool atmosphere--worth of try if you got some money to spend because you can run up a big bill easily with a couple dishes. AND they are open late night, till 2 (last call for food and drink by 1-130am) so great for late night munchies!
(4)
Damon T.
two words. honey toast. enough said. wow.
(5)
Doctor J.
Looking for a great Japanese resturant while in honolulu...come here...you'll won't be disappointed.
(4)
Ann Marie N.
So dissapointed in shokudo right now..Easter afternoon my family and I decided to have Easter lunch at one of our favorite spots. No wait, sat down as soon as we walked in. Great service may I add..butttttttttt I noticed there were left over old food crusted on our utensils, so we used chopsticks, my kids on the other hand used the more cleaner utensils. The food at the time was great, just like our usual day at shokudo. We ordered the mixed tempura, redeye roll, teri chicken quesadilla, hot udon soup, and chicken karaage, and ofcourse oreo honey toast. Once we got home later that night, my husband and I felt very sick, in and out of the bathroom we both, yup, you guessed it food poising, and may I add we had nothing to eat before nor after shokudo..it's been two days and I still feel like someone punched me in my stomach..Shokudo was one of my favorites, now it's just not a place I would step into.
(1)
Anthony B.
GET THE OREO COOKIE HONEY TOAST!!!!!! That is all.
(4)
Layne H.
Good place to gather with friends and have a family style dinner. The service is great there with friendly staff. The food is ok, some items stood out from others. Kind of pricey for the portion that you get, depends on what you get though. The one thing that I don't recommend is the ahi tataki, how can you pay for five pieces of frozen ahi for 15.00 dollars,you can get that Kuru Kuru Sushi for third of the price. The other thing was that it felt like I was cramped, I guess they are trying to utilize all the space that have but when the workers and customers are getting into each others way it gets irritating.
(3)
Mista J.
This place is always packed on fri,sat,sun! So if you don't wanna wait 45mins -1hour I suggest you make reservations! All in all I give this restaurant 4 1/2 stars!:D their honey toast with vanilla ice-cream & caramel sauce is the bomb digidyyy!!!
(4)
Braden K.
honestly, half of the time we hit shokudo i'm under the influence. that being said, if memory serves me right, its a neat place with a cool vibe.definitely a chill crowd and with the cheap happy hour menu items, you really can't go wrong. right next to the FHB behind alas, you'll find this japanese restaurant. a great place to start the night off with a few drinks and a quick bite while planning out what trouble your crew is getting into! check it out one weekend, you won't regret it!
(4)
Katrice K.
So I just went there this past Saturday for a friend's birthday and found they updated their menu to include boxed lunch sets. My boyfriend and I split the super combination which included: Miso soup, four pieces of california roll, soy beans, small salad, some tsukemono, and we chose tempura and chicken karaage. All that for $13.95. The food was excellent as usual! The tempura came with two shrimp, a shiitake mushroom, pumpkin, and one other vegetable. For the price there is just so much food that it is easily shared with either a appetizer and dessert for two people. It's still one of my go to spots for large groups. However, the boxed lunch is only available during lunch.
(4)
Ellen Mae V.
This place seems to get a lot of hype. But in my opinion the food isn't the best. I think a few of their dishes warrant some acclaim for example: their fresh tofu, the sushi pizza (because it's different), the garlic tuna and the unagi rice. Nevertheless personally I think you can get BETTER sushi, bentos and other Japanese dishes for cheaper at other restaurants. $14 for a dynamite roll is just a bit much. Don't get me wrong, the food is good but not the best. And for the price, I say try elsewhere. Despite all this, I give Shokudo props for the ambiance. The restaurant has a very chic and modern take to Japanese dining. The bar and its late hours often attract young and trendy crowds. There is one highlight! THE HONEY TOAST!!! It's so irritatingly simple of a dish and if you go to Don Quiote across the street you can buy the exact same ingredients. BUT... it's the perfect late night cap! Share it with a few friends and call it a night! The honey toast is definitely worth the stop from the club to your house.
(3)
Daniel W.
Best Sushi to ever make it to my mouth. You would expect good sushi in Hawaii and Shokudo is were it's at. And sushi is just were they start. The desserts amazing and unique. The dinner options Great. The drinks great prices and selection. A must stop.
(5)
Love K.
Love it here! They have a nice big, bright, very open private room in the back where I held my bachelorette party. I like the atmosphere here - modern decor and a hip feel. This time I went back to meet up with my old high school friends. I ordered the lunch bento with chix karaage + teri salmon (but received teri chix instead) minus a point here for screwing up my order. I was very surprised with the chix karaage but I didn't touch the teri chix. They put some sort of dynamite/tartar sauce over it. It was very good! My daughter ate the mochi cheese gratin, which is always a winner. I also ordered the lobster dynamite roll, which was very very good too! The server was nice, however, the bartender took a really long time with my alcoholic drink order. I ordered the momoko sake tini (peach flavored). I saw that the restaurant wasn't busy so it should not have taken close to 10 minutes for my drink order. Overall, it was a great experience and of course I'm waiting to go back there again!
(4)
Shecky S.
IMO this is one of the best restaurants that I've tried on Oahu. The atmosphere is young and fun. They have a lot of beers on tap. The food was really good. I got the Asian quesadilla which was amazing. The sweet bread and ice cream dessert was incredible as well. Good service.
(4)
Conrad G.
What did we order? 3 Honey Toast Jr. How was the taste on a scale from 1 through 5? 3 How was the service on a scale from 1 through 5? 4 Did we feel it was worth the price? Yes Will we visit Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar in the future? Yes
(3)
Les Is More M.
y'know, I get that this is a popular place... but I honestly don't get why. parking can suck really bad first of all, and if you can't park nearby, my preference is to go elsewhere to find somewhere more convenient where I CAN. secondly, the menu prices are a notch or two above what I'd consider value driven. it is like they want to sell their location (see parking issues above), decor (which is nice), and/or service (more on that later). in my opinion, the quality of the food is probably the most important issue, and I find their selection and quality just OK. don't get me wrong, it isn't BAD food, but I'm not blown away by the grinds there. call me fickle, but that's my opinion. as for the honey toast, it reminds me of my childhood since we enjoyed a variation of that growing up... but the way people go hysterical over it baffles me. Now, given - pretty much all japanese restaurants are not cheap or value driven. I get that. And I get that people - especially preppy townie folks here in HNL need places to congregate, eat and socialize. It is my opinion that when sake samplers are the best thing on your menu, you're inevitably going to disappoint a segment of your customer base, and unless you brew the sake in-house, that's just leading to disappointment. The service isn't bad, hostess seats you reasonably quick if you have reservations. We just popped in for a dessert, roughly 8:15 pm one evening - because you guessed it, people in our party were "craving" that honey toast dessert (*rolling my eyes*). they told us we'd have to probably wait at least 45 minutes to an hour because we didn't have reservations. I peeked in, and there were open seats, but maybe they prefer customers who don't mind paying for dinner AND desserts. SUMMARY: the food was fresh, the quality wasn't bad, service was ok, and atmosphere was neat and reasonably clean. I'm just not blown away by this place, like so many others are. I'm no food critic or chef, but I do know a good value when I see one... and this place isn't it. Pound for pound, I can think of 3 places (japanese restaurants) I'd prefer before going back to Shokudo: Hinone Mizunone, Izakaya Nonbei or Aki-No-No.
(2)
Kevin A.
BEER AND TOAST Who would have ever guessed that the two would go together? As most people have discovered, Shokudo is renown for their honey toast dessert, gargantuan pieces of bread, toasted, cubed, drizzled in honey, and topped with vanilla ice cream. Pair with an ice cold beer and you have an unlikely, but glorious pairing. While I was pleased with the toast, the rest of my meal was just ok. The unagi rice portion was a little light and the sushi wasn't memorable. I'd probably go back to Shokudo, but just for beer and toast.
(3)
Michael L.
Not the best place to have sushi or Asian fusion. The food section is different with offering sushi pizza; hot stone plates and various appetizers. The best appetizer I could recommend is the "Mochi cheese gratin" a very nice servings of mochi with baked, melted cheese. The problem I had with Shokudo was the high price for semi-ok food with the extremely slow/bad service. This is a great spot or parties to meet up and have long conversations while not needing to wait for their foods. Mochi Cheese Gratin = A Honey Toast Original Desert = A+ Ishiyaki Garlic shrimp Rice = C- Yakisoba = C- Sushi Pizza = B Lobster Dynamite Roll = B-
(2)
Jen C.
We were desperately looking for a place to grab some late-night food after a long Monday and our hotel recommended this place. On walking inside, you think it is like some place you would find in LA it's so big and grandiose. We ate at the bar and the menu is extensive with lots of choices for many different palates. I went with the Japanese udon noodles (no tempura) which was good but the broth was a little oily. We also got the honey cake which was awesome! It was light but delicious -- especially the ice cream! Our waitress Jess was definitely one of a kind -- friendly and outgoing, you'd think you've known her your whole life. Served its purpose for a late night dinner after a long day.
(3)
Lily R.
Thank goodness for missed flights! I was able to have one more night in Oahu and had the pleasure of grinding here! My local buddy suggested we come here after 3 of us in one car driving in circles couldn't make up our minds. We all wanted good quality food but were going back and forth from authentic japanese to curry house. As soon as we walk inside Shokudo, I am instantly impressed. The place is well laid out and the decor they chose is moden yet unpretentious. I was weary about the reviews warning it was a "be seen" restaurant but it wasn't at all! We ordered Sake, Cucumber Salad, Agedashi Tofu, Karaage Chicken, Spicy tuna on Crispy Rice, Yakisoba Noodles...and HONEY Toast. All were AMAZING. The dishes came out promptly in order. We had an awesome waiter. All of the above fed 3 hungry adults for about $25 each including tip. If we didn't choose to have Sake it would be more like $20pp. Not bad! If you come here, don't leave with out trying the HONEY TOAST! Save room for it!
(5)
Irene C.
Several things I wanted to mention. The agedashi tofu is pretty flippin good because the broth is heroin-good. The rolls leave much to desire. . . .just having rice and seaweed doesn't make it an awesome roll! It was $14 for a california roll with some shrimp on top. NO MAHALO. I really did enjoy the calamari salad, well. . . .just the cilantro vinagrette, but that's because I can eat an entire bunch of cilantro for a snack. I did like the decor. . .it's Asian, I'm Asian. . perfect match. The booths looked cozy, but seriously. . I do not know what was going on. Every frickin couple in front of me and in a booth were macking on each other. It was very unappetizing. I didn't know chicken karaage was such an aphrodisiac.
(3)
Dar C Y.
Went to shokudo to celebrate a birthday. The food was delicious of course but the service and reservation policy is just terrible. We get seated and the waitress is quick to take orders which is nice but she could have given us a few moments to just relax. Drinks were ordered and we were hungry. We ordered our food and it started to come out fairly quickly. The waitress shares with another person from our party that there is a 2 hour limit and then we need to go. I was more upset with the fact that there is a limit of how long you can be in a restaurant. If you want to kick us out then it says to me that you don't want our business. It really spoiled the experience. I work in the service industry and it's the service that brings most customers back. I will not be going to Shokudo for any type of celebrations.
(2)
Candice D.
Say it with me now: "Unagi bowl" Yes this place may be a tad too talked about, but I think it lives up to the hype. I actually went here *after* hearing all the hype and still was pretty happy with the results. I think that the menu's kinda half and half, meaning that half the things i've ordered were superb,and half the things i've ordered were just "okay". If you want to feel like you've gotten your money's worth, I would order the Unagi bowl, the seafood salad, and the tofu salad. Go ahead and throw your own ideas in there, these are the menu items that are my favorite. I think that the dessert is awesome, though it gets a little boring halfway through because there's just so much of the same flavor throughout. The ambiance of this restaurant is to die for, it was designed well and gives you a feeling of a more upperclass restaurant/lounge without the really painful prices. The prices are kind of painful, though, especially compared to most restaurants in Hawaii. It's got more of a California portion for the money. Free & easy parking in the building's built-in parking structure, which makes it a nice experience. Note that if you have someone in a wheelchair, though, it will be easier to drop off that person on the side (there's a little side part where you can safely stop for a minute) as the parking garage is not 100% wheelchair compliant. If you're looking for interesting japanese fusion food and a strong drink, this is the place for you.
(4)
Royden A.
I love getting a chance to eat here! From the regular to happy hour menu everything is good. You can go in dressed casual and come by yourself and sit at the bar or come with a bunch of friends, then you can order all kinds of different food to try! Some of my favorite things are the vodka sodas (grape) and the honey toast. Theres no way to describe it but to say you gotta try the honey toast for yourself cause its soo awesome! Parking is readily available in the same building and its free. If you plan to come in a big group i would say call ahead and make a reservation, i've never had a problem getting seated just coming with two or three people.
(4)
Christa W.
hey, chick at the bar. SCREW YOU. i can drink as much champagne as i want. and who the hell orders it by the glass anyway ?!?! everything else about this place rules, btw.
(5)
Aisha C.
This place is particularly popular for their Udon noodles from what i heard from my local Hawaiian friends so we decided to check it out! i thought the decor was pretty hip, modern and loud. we ordered some rolls, udon noodles and their grilled items, i thought it was just ok and did not taste good to me! however ill give it 3 stars just because we went back there twice to get their dessert called "HONEY TOAST" thats the only best thing on their menu and the only thing ill go back for.
(3)
Krystal T.
Shokudo has good food, but somewhat steep prices. It's the kind of place you would go to if you're craving some garlic shrimp and honey toast. All the menu items are pretty good: the spicy ahi roll, the tempura, the rice dishes, etc. The atmosphere is pretty relaxed, and the crowd is usually on the younger side. The service is somewhat of a hit or miss. On the numerous occasions I've come here, I'd have to say that half the time the service was below standard expectations. I still remember the waitress who was in such a foul mood when about a dozen of us had come to celebrate a birthday, this was over a year ago. She got a bunch of our orders wrong, mixed-up, or forgotten altogether, and clearly wasn't even apologetic about it. We had her again tonight, and she was much more polite. Other times, the host or hostess is bad with customer interaction and makes it clear they don't enjoy their job at all. I guess it's a hit or miss with the service here. Happy hour is pretty good if you're craving some good ol' honey toast. There's a late night happy hour menu where all the items listed are $3.00. Jr. Honeytoast is on that menu. A simple dish: toast, honey, ice cream. But executed so well here. A few drink specials are also on the menu, and I've usually gotten an order of some sort of sake. This isn't my favorite place to go to (unless it's to get my honey-toast fix), but I would definitely recommend it. The food is decent, just a little pricey.
(3)
Shar K.
Really like the bar and food at this resturant. went a couple of times with friends and really enjoyed it. The vodka soda's are really good and the bread desert is really yummy. price range isn't that expensive, or from what i remember. I liked the sushi pizza it was something that i a new way to look at sushi, and very yummy. would definetly go again...mmmmm!!!!!
(4)
Yena W.
This restaurant is huge. You can clearly see it on Kapiolani and is right next to another huge restaurant, Angelo Pietro, home of the famous salad dressing. I guess because it's so huge, I've never had to wait for a table, but that does not mean this place isn't bustling. The other reason to go to Shokudo is for the trendy and young ambience. It has a sleek urban look with lots of oversized ceiling fixtures and dim lighting with candles on the table, and they always decorate for every holiday. The restaurant looked even more red than normal during the week of Valentine's Day with red heart balloons everywhere. And now that I actually think about it, I don't think I've ever seen a senior citizen patronize this place. It is usually a young crowd here. There is a full bar, and all the drinks on the drink menu are fruit based, sweet and weak cocktails. And last but not least, Shokudo is like a Japanese Chili's - their menu is large with something for everyone. Ramen, udon, gyoza, sushi, agedashi tofu, yukari fries, salads with light vinaigrettes, hot stone mixed rice, curry, and on and on and on. The best thing to eat hands down though is the honey toast. You just have to get it. And I believe they donate part of the honey toast sales to tsunami victims of Japan. But charity or not, it's good enough to eat on its own merit. Overall, it's a fun place to go eat and drink with your young friends.
(3)
Cindy L.
The thing that sticks out in my mind was the horrible service. The 4 of us ordered quite a bit of food. There wasn't enough room for all the plates, and our server was very slow to remove empty plates. She also wasn't good at checking in on us, refilling water, or giving us more napkins. I ordered the pineapple vodka soda. It was refreshing, but super weak and sure didn't look like the one in the picture. Where was my pineapple ring? The food was alright. We ordered the: *spicy tuna roll (not spicy at all) *tofu salad (kind of bland) *sushi pizza (interesting concept, just alright) *mochi cheese gratin (way tastier than it looked, would order it again) *char-siu pork (not bad, would order it again) *hamachi carpaccio (delicious, definitely would order it again) *crispy flounder (fish was bland, but tasted great with ponzu) *unagi rice (good, but our server didn't do a very good job mixing it) We ended the meal with the honey toast. 2 super thick slices of toast with honey drizzled topped with ice cream. Interesting concept, pretty tasty, but for $7, I'll be making this at home.
(3)
Lorinne N.
Food was awesome I especially live the garlic shrimp rice, but the place was slow and we had to wait awhile to get served. Our waiter was great but he was definitely working his ass off with all the tables he had. Went on off hours like after 2pm.
(3)
Jodie B.
I was treated to dinner here for my birthday by my sister, her husband, our good friend. It was the first time that I had the honey toast and it was awesome! What's not to like? Toasty japanese style white bread, butter, honey, ice cream, more honey! Yum-o! I'm a dessert person so I always save room for dessert and this one did not disappoint! The food was okay, but I would come here just for the honey toast!
(4)
Shige O.
Def. a huge fan of this place. Food is always a winner and so are there deserts and sake and other alcohol selections. Service is always good when i go as well. Free parking, fairly casual dress. Def. good for large groups as well. Happy hour and late night menus are offered which are even better! The honey toast by far Ive had them all and i love them all. Def. puts a twist on Japanese styled food and drinks. Also a huge fan of the green tea float. Located in front of alamoana shopping mall along kapiolani blvd. Def. not a hard place to find at all.
(4)
Paul T.
I have been reading yelp reviews for a long time now, and I have finally joined as a member. It's only fitting that by first review is for Shokudo. Great food--try the fried tofu--tasty libations, and ample parking even though I usually walk over there. 5 stars because It is consistently a great place to take my fiancee for a date, or just show my friends from out of town a good time. Always good service, and reasonable prices. You can't miss the honey toast. Bring an appetite!
(5)
Lea K.
Honey toast and spicy ahi nachos on happy hour....YES please!
(3)
Mark S.
I was really skeptical and hesitant about this place, but as always everything was fine once I saw the menu and found things that I could eat. Here are the items that tried: Char-Siu Pork & Japanese Scallions Those small and lean strips were e pretty tasty and flavorful, especially with the sauce that was provided. Chicken Karaage w/Spicy Tartar Sauce Not the greatest chicken karaage I've had, but not bad either. What made this dish was tartar sauce which wasn' that spicy. Beef Tataki on Balsamic Sushi A MUST HAVE if you go here. small strips of meat on top of rice. Man, it's so good! One of the best dishes we had here. Ishiyaki Stone Bowl - Rice Curry This was my main meal of the evening. Pretty darn good except for the broccoli and carrots that I don't like. Also, I'm always a little nervous anytime there are raw eggs involved with dishes that need to be mixed in right away. Once I got everything mixed together though it was smooth sailing. They're curry wasn't that bad. Dessert - Honey Toast w/Chocolate Now I'm going to start off by saying I was expecting good things from this Honey Toast. From the moment we entered the restaurant EVERYONE seemed to be ordering it. And in all honesty everyone that I saw come out looked really good too. Well, when we finally got ours it wasn't really all that it was cracked up to be. The bread itself was ok. While you got a lot of it, I was expecting a little more sweetbread like taste. Another downer was that we only got two scoops of ice cream with it. Chunks of bread filled the rest of our hollowed out pieces of toast. Definitely not what I was expecting. -------- As for the rest of my experience there . . . be sure not to dress up when you go there. The AC system is terrible when the place is close to capacity. When we asked our waitress about it she apologized profusely and basically told us that while the AC was on, it just doesn't work very well when the restaurant gets full. Thank goodness we were almost done with our meal when it really started to get unbearable. I had to use our menu as a fan to keep myself cool. Other than this there weren't any other negative aspects to our dining experience. The service was good, food good, drinks good, and I thought the price was pretty reasonable.
(4)
Kayla S.
Shokudo has been my favorite japanese resturant. The food is amazing but pricey so sometimes just going for dessert is something to consider too :) Save room for some yummy honey toast:) i love the cinnamon honey toast, its like a cinnamon roll x20. For food, i really like the tempura dishes :)
(4)
Angie D.
We just went for the honey toast, but had a nice meal as well. I recommend going the " family style " route and trying a little of everything. the ahi sashimi was good, but expensive, the garlic steak was nicely done. The waiter did forget to put in one of our orders and by the time we remembered we didn't want it anymore. It's busy there, but it's a nice atmosphere. Great company makes it even better :)
(3)
Tiffany G.
I am always satisfied with Shokudo :) I think I've ate about everything on the menu and I feast here.. and I MEAN FEAST. Spicy tuna on crispy rice, chicken karaage, garlic shrimp, and yeah.. all that good stuff. Especially the honey toast. :) brightens my day. Out of all the experiences at shokudo, the food has always been consistently tasty for me. Sometimes the wait can be a bit long and the service inconsistent. but I've met alot of admirable customer service providers. One particular night, I had the best service here. My boyfriend and I had just been turned away from ridiculous Red Lobster who said they'd seat us up until 10 and at 9:50 or so turned us away even after me confirming with them on the phone while parking. So first, we get to Shokudo and Mark or Ryan (the hosts) get our name. We already expect to be waiting awhile for our seats, as is the usual at Shokudo on such a busy night. But as we're waiting, the host comes to us and asks us if we're 21 and checks our ID. He offers us a table in the over 21 area using his OWN INITIATIVE! Great service there! We're seated within 5 minutes of putting our name in. Then, we order a feast (maybe 7 or more dishes) and yes its that good. We get our food in a timely manner and don't get any snickering or weird looks for feasting. Sitting at a table in view of the kitchen, I see the general manager Chris (or as I've concluded him as the GM from previous experiences) with an apron on. I tell my boyfriend how amazing that is that he's helping out when they're low on staff. But then, as the night continues on and we're for our garlic rib eye steak, Chris shows up with the steak plate in hand and explains to us that it's the last steak. He says that its too small for his standards and wants to know if we still want it, he doesn't want to rip us off. I'm amazed by this and say that we still want it. And he says, I'll dock off $5 since it's not up to standard. Without us even asking! GREAT SERVICE! That's when i realize that they're not low on staff, this GM is going above and beyond, inspecting and quality controlling the dishes that are coming out of the kitchen! There needs to be more service providers and manager like this in food establishments. The food here is awesome and its definitely being run by the right people.
(5)
Sam S.
1st and foremost, i LOVE the saketini!!! it's goes down as easy as water, and is as smooth as silk! Homemade sangria taste a lot like arbor mist sangria. The food itself is good. I have eaten a lot of their menu: Honey Toast! - Yum! Banana Foster - is ok, I don't think i'd be ordering this again. Garlic Shrimp Rice - good! Homemade tofu salad - one of my favorites! Tempura calamari - comes with a mayo & wasabi dip, which pairs nicely if you like mayo :D Mochi cheese Gratin - This is different and innovative, I like it Lobster Dynamite - is good, but very rich Chicken Karrage - special Pork Gyoza - nothing special Service itself, is poor.
(4)
Amit G.
I have been here two-three times. Last time was the best experience because we just ordered a bunch of appetizers including sushi, pizza, and tempuras. The food was came out quickly, and was delicious. We ended with honey toast filled with ice cream, and it was just as delicious as I remembered it from the time before. If you're wondering, three-four people can comfortably share one of those big suckers (or two just extra-hungry people). They also have a full bar so you can get your choice of beverages.
(4)
Rachel M.
Horrible, horrible! I talked a group of friends to come have lunch with me and my boyfriend (the first time we were all able to finally hang out outside of work) at Shokudo. Going soley off of recommendations we went on father's day which surprisingly wasn't as packed as I expected. The hostess was meek and would barely utter a word as she got us a table. She mumbled something about $40 for the buffett but we didn't think it would be $40 per head and that the table menu wasn't valid during certain times of the day. So we got squished into a back room because we had kinder (aka, little boy) with us and was served by a very nice waitress. She was streched out however and we were left to sit and wait for a while for our drinks. The food was basic at best. Sushi was nothing to scream about. I've had WAY better at Kozo sushi. The food was all typical local and Japanese meats with some salads. It was not really impressive to any of us and nothing looked really appetizing so much so, we were ready to ditch even before dessert. However, our kind waitress talked us into some honey toast before we left. It was alright however everyone could taste a DISTINCT flavor of garlic on our cinnamon sugar toast! Who puts garlic on that??! I can make that stuff easy at home. In fact I could make all of this stuff at home for way cheaper and it would be way better. Anyway, the king kicker was the $180 bill. For four adults and a little one...we all nearly sh*t ourselves. I believe it was a mutual desicion from everyone to never return to Shokudo. We could have gone to Buca de Beppo on Ward and had twice the food, 10 times better, for half the price! Shokudo= mediocre service + mediocre food + break the bank prices. Never again!
(1)
Leea P.
What a joke! I've been a long standing customer @ Shokudo only to be literally standing long! If the hostess did not tell me it was only a half hour wait that turned into an hour, I would've gone somewhere else instead of wasting my time. When I spoke with the manager he did absolutely NOTHING to rectify the situation or COMPENSATE MY TIME. I never look out for freebies but a free drink or something would've made things a flow better instead of showing no effort whatsoever! Whoever hired the manager should really reconsider because he was not a professional. However my waiter was on point. He did a great job serving us. The quesadilla was a bit soggy but everything else was great. Wish the management would step it up to keep their loyal customers. Totally reconsidering on whether or not I should stop recommending guests staying @ the hotel that I work @ if the service is poor & misleading. Even though the food is good, service AND food quality go hand in hand. Customer service should never be compromised. What a bummer!
(2)
Thi L.
Went here with a co-worker to grab some pau hana pupus & drinks. We sat at the bar and were greeted by the friendly bartender. She was very nice & smiley as were the rest of the wait staff. Ordered from the $3 happy hour menu: sweet spud fries (good), ume cucumber (good), teriyaki chicken quesadille with cilantro sauce (omg, this was a surprising tasty combo), garlic ahi (cook your own on the hot plate) and the mini honey toast (not very mini at all and those cubes of buttery-honeyed bread...mmm). It was all very tasty & was enough to serve as dinner. I think the bill came out to $30 something inlcuding the drinks, not bad at all.
(4)
Brandon B.
Shokudo is an award winning Japanese-style cuisine restaurant most notable for its contemporary decor and zany dishes. People pack the restaurant at peak times enjoying the ambience, which is a lot better towards larger groups of people going out for a special occasion (somewhat lounge-like). There is a bar, which offers a strong selection of spirits that goes hand in hand with the style of dining Shokudo offers. If you decide to pay a visit, you best prepare yourself for a decently large bill. Shokudo likes to base the menu around izakaya style dining, which are kind of like small side dishes that you order when you are drinking (aka. ala-carte dining). This comes in handy when you like to share with a few friends when you feel adventurous to pick some of the more interesting dishes they offer. Some of these include the cheese gratin mochi and the beef sushi. There are a few normal standalone dishes as well for those that want to play it safe. Either way you play it, it's still quite the price for each dish and trying out many types of dishes in izakaya style can rack up to a hefty amount. Unless you're in love with the style or feel no pain at the bill, Shokudo is more of a novel place to visit once or twice for a special occasion or night out. It's best to try out its culture fusion dishes and make a loving or hating memory of it.
(3)
Cary I.
had some time to kill so we decided to check it out... we sat at the bar. the service was a bit slow but i'd expect that at the bar. we had the hamachi carpaccio, sushi pizza and the lobster dynamite roll. i got these because they're out of the norm...they were good, but i wouldn't say GREAT. the carpaccio was the best blend of tastes out of the 3. the atmosphere was very nice though. most likely going back soon to try more of their other dishes.
(4)
Kaili N.
it's actually more like 3.5 stars. my mom loves this place. it was only recently that i came around and started to actually enjoy it, too. the menu selection and food seems to be better than when they first opened. we always order: agedashi tofu, beef tataki sushi, ramen (surprisingly really good!), and chocolate honey toast. the spinach salad is okay, but i haven't had it in a while. we've also stopped by a couple of times just for dessert and they never made us feel awkward. i also like that they are open late, prices are decent, servers are pleasant, parking is hassle-free, it's clean and casual. only weird thing is if you are seated on the kitchen side of the restaurant - there's a glass where you can see the cook's faces...and they are always staring down at all of the girls. i never noticed until my bf pointed it out...but now i can't stop noticing! seat us on the other side, please!
(4)
Tin T.
Went to shokudo last nite for my bday dinner with friends. So a friend of mine waited around 8:30pm for the happy hour waiting list. When almost everyone arrived around 9:30pm. The hostess sat us down on a cocktail table and said we will be seated at 10pm at the regular table. 10:00pm came around and not seated. 10:15 rolled around and we were still not seated. Finally, a friend of mine asked the hostess that we are ready to be seated. And the hostess tells us (in a snobby way) "oh I'm sorry but I just gave your table to a party of 18 ppl who just walked in." so we had to sit on the cocktail table. Dinner was good but our waitress(Jennifer) was not really there to serve us. She took our orders and left. The only time she came to us is when we got her attention. So 12am rolls around and we're ready to leave. It takes her 45 mins to get our check. Spoke to the manager on duty and just said sorry. That's not acceptable and that was it. We were very upset that nothing was done about anything. We should of ate at sweet home cafe. Better service and their friendly. Never going back to shokudo again!!
(1)
B. D.
I love this sushi place.. also love the late-night summer hours! For the days we spent in Hawaii.. we went here 3 times!!! I love the mochi gratin, tofu salad, and the bi bim bap and eel in the hot stone pot. The drinks are delicious and I can't wait to take my family here the next time we all go. Homemade tofu... wow! I'm definately coming back here when I return.
(5)
Stephen B.
This place kicks butt, the Sushi Pizza in particular is not what I expected, you gotta try it out. For dessert I had the Honey Toast, topped with real honey and ice cream, simple but delicious. The place can get packed though, and service will trail behind.
(4)
Erika B.
#NAME?
(3)
Tyler D.
Not bad at all...They have a nice selection of food. Nothing knocks me out here, but I like the variety, and the style of the place is pretty unique. I like to sit at the bar and eat a little while I drink. The girls seem to like the saketini type drinks here. I sipped one a few times and they are pretty tasty.
(3)
Christina L.
Shoku-what?? Pretty good for my first time here. I love sushi so much, but I wasn't ultimately feeling what they served-it's just "A-OK" in my book. The place is cool, waitresses may need some help, but one thing that will stand out is their dessert menu. From their Honey Toast to their banana flambe. Very impressive.
(3)
Sara C.
This is a really good place to go with a group of friends because you can order a few different things and share with everyone to cut costs... however if you're like me you'll end up spending that extra money on the vodka soda drinks because they are so damn tasty! I order the lilikoi vodka drink with Grey Goose (yes the better vodka REALLY makes a difference in this case!) and it's so delicious. Someone else complained that it tasted like a watered down drink with some sugary substance to it, but I completely disagree. I'm sure it all depends on who is mixing the drinks that night, but I've almost always had great drinks here. Anyway about the food: It's good, very good in fact. I like that the menu is pretty diverse and there is something for the sushi lovers as well as the people who don't like seafood. I'm one that isn't big on seafood and I really love their Soba Omelet and teriyaki chicken pizza. My husband loves their unagi rice bowl, he gets it every time. Other people have mentioned the honey toast, and it is worth getting if you've never had it before, it's very good. They have some other 'toast' deserts such as chocolate syrup instead of honey, or strawberries, but I think the original honey toast is the best. The staff at Shokudo has always been very friendly, and we've found that the food comes out pretty fast, even when you have a large group of 10 or more people. Parking is pretty easy as there is a garage attached to the building, but sometimes it's full so I recommend parking at Ala Moana and walking, it's only a 2 minute walk.
(5)
Samantha S.
Would've been a 5 star review if I JUST had the honey toast but the food was subpar. I decided to have multiple dishes to sample the traditional food choices. Lobster Dynamite with Toast ... Seemed really popular at the restaurant but when I had it ... I wish I hadn't ordered it. I really wanted the sushi pizza but they were out. The combination of jalapeño, rice and tuna seemed promising. The salmon hot pot thing was pretty good ... Standard though but I would order it again. The chicken karage was tasty but once again didn't blow me away. Now the moment I had the honey toast I wish I didn't order any of the previous dishes because if I could have downed 2 orders of honey toast I would. The butter ... The honey ... The texture of the toast and to top it all off the very awesome high quality vanilla ice cream were absolutely the only reason I'd come back ... They had variations of the toppings and ways you could dress it up but original was amazing enough for me.
(3)
Kyle W.
The Miso spicy ramon was great along with the lobster roll. It gets crowded later at night. But a great place to go eat.
(4)
Margaret B.
Cool stylish decor. Interesting creative menu with some standouts. Homemade Tofu and Sushi Pizza were great. Honey Toast was interesting - not sure if i would have it again or try something different. The Hot Dishes looked awesome - will try that next time.
(4)
Grimeater A.
Shokudo was on it's way to my 4 star bracket until my last visit. I've always fancied their so called "Sangria", but they just serve it with too much ice. I don't wanna pay good money for ice!!! I understand that ice is cost efficient for restaurants but when my drink is 88% ice I get turned off no matter how good it is. This sangria already comes in the shortest glass in the restaurant so extra ice is a even bigger jip. I thought I outsmarted them when I ordered my Sangria with light ice...boy was I wrong. I got a half filled glass with half ice. They gave me less ice alright, too bad they gave me less Sangria too. Considering I ordered 6 dishes plus dessert for just me and my gf I didn't expect them to be so cheap over a beverage. Just had to get that off my chest...on to the food now. The "hot" dishes are pretty good, especially the Chicken Karage. Make sure you stay away from the sushi. It's the worst sushi I've ever had in my life. Do try the Honey Toast for dessert. It's a simple dish but it works.
(2)
May B.
Came here after 10:00pm after a very loooong day & I must say this restaurant is awesome!! The decor is fabulous and the food itself was delicious. I had the red eye roll and the lobster dynamite while the bf had the loco moco (served in a clay pot!) and shrimp tempura roll topped it off with dessert which was the French toast with ice cream! Loved the French toast & simply love the food! Will def. Come back again!
(5)
renee i.
Over the weekend I went here for lunch. I wish I ordered something other than the shrimp and vegetable tempura. It wasn't as tasty as I thought. I mean, how can you go wrong with tempura, right? It didn't have the crispy-ness i liked. However, two other people I was with ordered the hot pot dishes and their meals looked way yummier! I would definitely go back to this place but not order tempura. The interior is modern and the staff is very friendly. The seating feels very intimate even with the people who aren't sitting with your party. The seats are really close to each other and I could overhear other people's conversations. Although, maybe some people enjoy that.
(3)
Stacey K.
most of the seafood is frozen, then defrosted, then served. except for maybe the lobster dynamite, which is yummmmmyyy. that and the bibimbap is prob your best choice. even though the dolsotbibimbap tends to burn
(2)
Rueben B.
went there for lunch one day, host was rude from beg. to end. food - average price- totally over price serv.-average
(2)
Rania L.
The food here was bland and unmemorable.... Only one person in our party was raving about the food...everyone else was just eating like they had to because we paid for it. The crazy toast and ice cream dessert is just retarded...who came up with such an idea... its not bad, but do you really want to eat a giant slice of bread with ice cream??? not me...
(2)
Miki L.
I've eaten 4-5 times at the bar, never in the actual restaurant seating. Service at the bar tends to be consistent and good. The drink menu features some interesting Asian beers you don't normally see, several sakes and a bunch of blended and mixed fancy cocktails. They have a $3 happy hour food menu, featuring a nice selection of little plates. Nice for groups of folks who enjoy nibbling. I had the cucumber salad and edamame, both a great start to the evening. They've got some happy hour drink specials, but seems they ran in the $6-7 range. (Not the happiest happy hour prices.) Happy hour ends at 6 pm. Also order the chicken karaage. Nothing to write home about. The seared garlic ahi was nice (for $10). Free parking in the building at night. After all is said and done, Shokudo is a good end-of-the day stop for a group looking for a drink and a nibble.
(3)
Chad F.
Ate here last week while in town for business. Are server was excellent and made sure everything we order arrived on time, hot and tasty. The items on the menu are meant to be shared family style. The Hamachi carpacho was very good, the hot stone pots also rocked. Several different sytles. The spicy miso ramen was Killer as well. The items were filling and the prices are a little high, however the food was good. The honey toast is a must for that sweet treat at the end.
(4)
Jennifer D.
Does the thought of mochi topped with melted cheese and seaweed in soba broth make you cringe with horror? Try it and your taste buds will sing with delight!
(3)
janne c.
love this place! open late, fantastic atmosphere and good food. it's not the best but it def hits the spot for lunch, dinner or a late night get together. Free parking in the building is always a plus. So far I've tried: tofu salad, bi bim bap, unagi on rice, ramen, chicken teriyaki, sushi pizza, chicken karage, yukari fries and of course the honey toast! I absolutely love this desert! I've also tried the green tea shaved ice def worth trying if the honey toast is sold out. i never leave this place unsatisfied!
(4)
Jessica C.
ONO, baby! Went with a group of 8 or so and ate our brains out - seriously. Then again, what else do we do? There's nothing like bumping into people around town in Hawaii, and that's something we ended up doing here as well. Great table, great decor, ambiance, this place was happening and I loved every second of it. Food - big menus with lots of appealing entrees, apps, etc. to order. I didn't get the frou-frou drinks but I hear they are legit. Food wise, we got the fresh tofu - in fact, we added another order because it was so good, mochi cheese gratin - really flavorful, sushi pizza - good, the ramen tasted realllly good, and the salmon and roe bimbimbap style rice and we had miso salmon. I might have missed a few dishes as all the sake my cousin was pouring was definitely hitting my head. Dessert of course - is that coffin bread thing - good stuff! Where is this type of place in SF or the Bay? I can't wait to go back to Hawaii to have this place again.
(5)
James W.
Wow! My new favorite place! As someone who has lived in the U.S. and in Japan, it has been impossibly difficult to find a restaurant that encompasses the essence of both cultures at the same time... Until now. Shokudo offers a delicious menu with a delightfully friendly and sophisticated staff. If ever you get a chance to venture into this exciting little world that is Shokudo, I highly recommend sitting at the bar. You will be greeted promptly and graciously by the cheery bartenders who welcome you with a smile. I am still uncertain as to how they manage to eclipse the excitement of the beer tap flowing, shakers shaking, and the blender busily bustling, but somehow it just worked. I was overwhelmed simply watching all these beautiful drinks being carefully assembled ever so effortlessly. I felt as if I had redeemed my golden ticket and now was free to wonder about Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Jaw on floor and drool flooding bar, I was unable to decide on a drink order when asked. Fortunately, the helpful bar staff (Yui?? and Jess??) were there to my rescue. Charmingly personable, yet professionally prompt, they were able to accommodate my palate with both food and beverage. Trust me, trust them. They know best. Even our server (Brian?) made me feel welcome when he acknowledged my (the bartender's) great selections. I have honestly never been to a high quality bar or restaurant that has made me feel more at home than Shokudo. This humble review cannot do the place justice. Hats off to the chefs, servers and bartenders for making this place magical.
(5)
Lance C.
The honey toast icecream here is so good... I need to find some thick Japanese style bread to make this on my own. Also tried their martini, koyuki, not very impressed. I like the concept and ideas though. I would consider this place as a good place to chill at late night.
(4)
Meep M.
I really like the decor and energy, but the service is a bit slow. The food is different, but just OK. I do love their honey toast with strawberry or caramel! It's verrrryyyyyy sweet, yummy, but fattening. They do have a lot of yummy drink specials and also sangria, which not a lot of places serve. All in all, a great place for friends, but not on the top of my list of places I frequent.
(3)
Myles k.
HONEY TOAST!! Ok ok. We took pictures of it.... and they do not do justice for its humungo size! This place is great. I'm so glad one of the people in our groups knew of this restaurant. 1. The decor is beautiful. 2. Our waiter was awesome. He recommended us great dishes. 3. The food was yummy. 4. Dessert was even better. 5. The Lychee Vodka soda was good-- good enough, without a hard kick to it! I'd highly recommend it!
(5)
maria o.
Came here with my friends after work last week. The food was ok, but next time ill come here just to eat their honey toast and ice cream, its super good.
(3)
Jason G.
What's more important, substance or style? We make that decision almost every day, from the clothes we wear and cars we drive, to the company we keep and neighborhoods we choose to call home. The question is also relevant when choosing a watering hole. Do cheap beer prices justify a lower standard when it comes to service and overall cleanliness? Why drink at the classiest joint in town if a college kid at a keg party can make a better cocktail than the guy they've got tending bar? Open since 2005, Shokudo Japanese Restaurant and Bar continues to enjoy steady business from curious Honolulu residents. A diverse menu, coupled with innovative interior design, have made it an instant hit among both late-night scenesters and families looking for an affordable dining alternative to Zippy's or MAC 24/7. The key to an enjoyable drinking experience at Shokudo is to realize what this place is and what it isn't. As the first American location of 50 planned for the next decade, it's definitely an ambitious attempt by owner Tetsuya Emura to get everything right the first time. He enlisted the help of Japanese designer Yasumichi Morita, who also planned the layout for upscale Manhattan eatery Megu. A private dining room, two semi-private tables and a tiered seating area are a cut above the usual rectangular space with a bar at one end. And the emphasis isn't entirely on drinking -- the English translation of Shokudo is "dining room," not to be confused with an izakaya, or Japanese-style pub that offers food. More than 60 items are served here, with seasonal specials rotating in and out every couple of months. Shokudo's 2 a.m. closing time also means you can avoid the dinner crowd and slide through for a few before moving on to The O Lounge, Venus or Zen. Eight different types of sake, two kinds of shochu and plum wine provide alternatives to the usual martini choices. Although I didn't realize it at the time, my first drink here provided fantastic insight. Shokudo currently offers Budweiser in a 16-ounce aluminum bottle, and I found myself hooked by the shiny new container. But halfway into my beer, I realized I was drinking just another bottle of Bud. Mixing simple with sophisticated kicks up the cool factor enough for patrons to forget about spotty service or weak drinks, and still recommend it to friends. Oversized paper lanterns and a curtain of wooden slats connected by S-shaped metal links make you want to stop and stare. But keep in mind that a reputation as the trendy alternative can only last so long before people get bored and move on. For now, Shokudo remains a must-visit for the upwardly mobile young professional with friends to impress and money to burn. starbulletin.com/2005/07…
(3)
Jodi J.
This place is ok. The pricing is a little high and they have so much going on with their menu. I have never been to a Japanese place that specialized in everything. Shokudo seems to be spread a litle thin. That being said my lunch was yummy. I had Ramen of some sort. Hubby had a bento box. We also ordered someGyoza which were actually very delicious. Iw ould go here again and probably limit my self to the cooked options the sushi isnt the greatest.
(3)
Maria T.
A friend and i happened upon this place by accident. Of course I've heard of Shokudo, but I wasn't planning on coming this particular night. After driving around for more than hour to find another popular sushi bar, I said let's just go here , that way I can try their ever popular honey toast. We weren't sure about parking, so we just parked behind the building at the mall. The wait was approximately 45 minutes, but we sat at the bar in ten. There was A LOT of people there! I suppose that's Friday night in Honolulu! The place was bustling with all kinds of different people and running wait staff. Service was awesome. My friend had a lychee mohito, made with shoju that was out-of-this-world! Dam the laws that be, or else I would have sat there at the bar, drinking until I embarrassed myself. We had shrimp tempura that was crispy and light and flavorful. We also ordered some various rolls that were quite tasty. The reason why I don't really remember exactly which rolls we had, was because we were just pointing to things on the menu, one of these, one of these, one of these. Yeah, we were hungry. But I Do remember that everything was fantastic, the service was great and the food was gone. Which sadly, left me no room for the Honey Toast. I will be back.
(4)
Micah P.
Had unagi bowl and various appetizers. More of a trendy bar in my opinion than a restaurant. Food was decent but definitely nothing special. Lots of fruity drinks and a cool decor. Hit it up as a pregamer for drinks but as for the food...only if you're baked or drunk.
(2)
Craig H.
This is a GREAT PLACE. I've been here a few time since I've moved back into town and really like the food, the atmosphere, the service and the price. Definitely one of my favorite little places with its art deco japanese style. I LOVE THE DYNAMO ROLLS- they are basically california rolls topped with the tastiest crab concoction ($12). Good little selection of beer and wine and they are priced right . I have found that the service is always good- young, good waiters and waitresses. It was one of the few Japanese inspired places in Honolulu that really reminded me of modern Tokyo. Lots of lights, color and wannabee hip furniture. I have tried a lot of very good things there (Tuna Tataki Salad comes to mind real quick), but I am not too sure about the dishes they like to serve in the hot bowl... not that they are bad, but just kind of average comfort foods like a mom's dish- not very flavorful. For better ventilation the windows should have been designed to open... or turn up the AC and fans. Overall- Shokudo is a winner.
(4)
zoe s.
Mmmmm! Shokudo was a great experience. Good service, great food and great food presentation. My favorites that we ordered were the sushi pizza and mochi au gratin! The Caramel Honey Toast was great too! Yummy dinner and definitely have Shokudo on my list for the next time I'm in Hawai'i.
(5)
Lourie A.
By far one of my favorite restaurants in Hawaii! The ambiance, the food, the service, and the extensive drink menu. We had a great time here on our visit this past January. They had some original menu items that were inventive but more importantly tasty...Japanese tapas! Since Shokudo is an ocean away, I'm glad to find out they have a sister restaurant here in the mainland (LA Area)!
(5)
Levy O.
Shokudo is one of the few restaurants in Honolulu that's hard to miss. It's because the place is a gigantic red lantern-lit corner on Kapiolani Bvld! The first time I went to Shokudo was last year when I went for a visit and I have to say they were better back then. I had a pretty good impression of overall the foods and service last year. Now that I live here and became a frequent customer of Shokudo, I have to say that I'm bit dissapointed. Especially now they just changed their menu...or actually took several good things out of the menu, like their seafood salads. The foods in general is good, bit on the pricey side for the size. But I figure, you'd have to pay for the place and presentation. Their sushi and salads are in general good. Their pizza sushi is so-so..eventho it sounds like a good idea, but the execution was not so great. The bim bim bap and gyoza are bit too salty...but their Agedashi tofu is really good. The ambiance is quite nice. Eventho the red-themed interior exudes bit of sexiness from outside, inside is actually more like family restaurant (instead of a bar/lounge). Most patrons are there with groups of family & friends and sometimes there's too many birthdays in one night resulting in "Happy Birthday to you" song being sung way way to many times in 1 hour...(hint: guys, knock it off) Service is usually nice & friendly..(hey, they sing "Happy Birthday to you" 10x a night...I have to give those guys big credit) A little thing that bugs me about Shokudo is their alcoholic beverage service. Whenever I ordered wine, I notice that it depends on who pours it. Some gal pours a little, some pour bit extra. So if it's your lucky night, then you get more vino...if not, no vino for you!! Also, their vodka-mix drink is mostly water down that you're basically paying $6 for soda water and a splash of sugar. Overall, Shokudo is still an-okay family gathering place that serves decent foods with nice ambiance...so 3 stars. Oh, 1 more thing.....parking is easy...just park in the free garage behind it. But still,...3 stars....no more no less
(3)
Guan-Tai C.
Easily the best restaurant we went to during our vacation in Oahu. The food was delicious and the decor was pretty cool. I loved the fact that menu had pictures of all the items, which made it much easier and even more appetizing when it came to ordering.
(4)
Alyssa K.
I recommend getting one of the Nabes. I LOVE the Chanko Nabe. Order the big one and share!
(5)
Beverly P.
Uhh..ok, it looks nice from the outside but trust me, you're not missing anything. The decor is cool and contemporary, but that's about it. We went there randomly for lunch because our pho place was full. Service was good, but the food was just OK. The sushi appetizer had hard rice and my bf's "cold" dishes still had tons of ice chips in it. Overall, I wouldn't go again.
(2)
Kevin S.
The first truly unique restaurant that I've seen in Hawaii in a long time. Its basically Japanese tapas, but the food is soooo good. We had the deep fried tofu which is basically agedashi tofu kicked up a notch, the fried noodles, and the bimbimbop. All of it was really good. That said, definitely save room for desert as the honey toast is gooood. Also for you night owls its open till 2 am on Friday and Saturday and they have some very refreshing vodka drinks.
(5)
Tracy Y.
I came here with friends over Labor Day weekend and thought the place pretty nice. I had the lychee vodka soda and thought that was very refreshing. We had the mochi cheese gratin, lobster dynamite, and beef tataki on balsamic sushi for appetizers. I loved the mochi cheese gratin! It's definitely worth trying if you're come here. The lobster dynamite was good, but there was nothing special about it and had very few lobster pieces. The beef tataki on balsamic rice was only okay. The beef was a little on the chewy side and the sushi rice could've used a little more flavor. We also order the old fashioned yakisoba and I was a little disappointed because it was lacking in flavor. My friends actually put soy sauce in theirs. The cinnamon honey toast that came with two scoops of vanilla ice cream made up for the dishes that were lacking in flavor so this place gets 3 stars.
(3)
K K.
I've been to Shokudo numerous times and had an okay experience. The food is decent and service and atmosphere was good. This past weekend we went with a couple of friends and things were not the same. The food portion seemed to have shrunk. The place was dead and most people there were not ordering food. Drinks and dessert or just 1 or 2 dishes for the table. At first I thought it was kind of strange but after we got our orders I understood why. The portion size was small for the price they charge. $9.95 for 8 bite sized pieces of chicken? Are you kidding? Soy beans was over $5 and it looked like you only get 1/4 of a $1.29 frozen bag. After it was all said and then our bill was almost $200 and I hardly ate anything. The icing on the cake was when we got our bill it had 17% gratuity already added even though we didn't have a party big enough to warrant the charge. Oh well, saved us 3% of additional gratuity. Service was actually slow for the place being almost empty. If you're on a diet this place is great. Anyone heard of the "Shokudo diet"? :-)
(2)
Mike S.
I have been 3 times, the first time the service and the food was excellent. The second and third time the service killed the overall ratings, therefore it received a 2 star...
(2)
Ryan T.
This place is great. The bartenders are always friendly and attentive. The drinks aren't overpriced, and the food is always excellent. The menu changes every few months as well so you can always find something new and interesting to eat.
(5)
Danny B.
A fusion of old and new Japanese style of cooking. The food is good, not the best I've tasted. Seating arrangements are decent. It's arranged in a weird staircase set up. Back to the food...the prices are some what decent. The appetizers are alright, not too much to choose from. The entrees on the other hand is different. Take a chance on something new and try out this restaurant, but it wouldn't be my first choice.
(3)
Hnl -.
Happy hour (daily from 4-6) and after dark (mon - wed 10:30 pm - midnite) is THE BEST. They did recently change it from all items $3 to $3-$5, but still a good deal. Agedashi Eggplant, spicy tuna, and honey toast jr are a must for $3 each!!
(4)
Tiffany K.
seems like there are some mixed reviews about this restaurant. anyhow, i came here with a large group of friends on my vacation in oahu. the service was pretty good here. our waiter was very nice and attentive. i actually didnt order any food, so i cant say much about it. however, the presentation of the food is very nice. i had ordered some desert and some friends ordered alcoholic drinks. We ordered the green tea shaved ice (red beans were yummy... but the shaved ice was not that soft), baked banana with ice cream (yummy!), and green tea cheesecake (yummy). also, i thought the sake sampler was very cool-looking. most of all, i was impressed with this restaurant because of the price. considering the location, interior design, and presentation of the food, the price is very low. maybe because im from the bay, it seems cheaper to us, im not sure if thats the case. but if anything, desert and alcohol is good here and a cool place to hang out with a group of people.
(4)
Melelina I.
I've had better. Giving it 1 star for the decor since I can't give it lower than that...I've had wayyy better.... Reasons: Tried 3 different rolls: sushi pizza, lobster, & rainbow and the fish didn't taste fresh or good. The rice on the sushi pizza was hard. The lobster was like california roll with a splash of lobster. And the rainbow wasn't tasty at all coz the fish tasted old. Our drinks sucked and it wasn't one bartender coz 3 different ones made them! Dirty martini was very salty. Lychee mojito and lychee martini didn't have any alcohol. Cosmo tasted like sprite. Strawberry martini was like pure juice. Honey toast was very disappointing (I heard that's what they're famous for). I was looking forward to it after a bad meal, but it just didn't cut it. The bread tasted bland and dry even with the ice cream and honey. Last reason, everything was so expensive! We paid $120 for these and we weren't full or tipsy at all! Where's a mcdonalds since that's all we can afford now???
(1)
Randall P.
A Friend and I randomly decided to grab a late night meal. Shokudo is a good late night change pace instead of Sorabol or Like Like Drive Inn. Sunday thru Thursday they're open till 1am and 2am on Friday and Sat. They have a modern decor and was dimly lit. We were seated right away without a wait. I ordered a tofu salad and the Agedashi tofu. It was delish! Shokudo also has a full bar with a decent list of sake. Another point in my book. I was left with a good first impression. nuff said.
(4)
JAN I.
I think this restaurant is awesome. But this past Saturday I had visitors from the outer islands and it was about 1 am. I remembered they were open till 2 am so I figured take them there for late night munchies. What a disappointment they didn't take us in, saying that the kitchen is closed. They should have a cut off at 1:30 am instead of 1 am. But then again I don't want them spitting in our food.
(1)
HeSaidSheSaid K.
SHESAID: We've been to Shokudo many a times and we always leave with a full belly and a satisfied smile on our faces. Recently, we caught their happy hour. Before I go into the review of the happy hour and seeing that this will be my first review of Shokudo, I must say something about a couple items on their regular menu. I love love love their spicy tuna crunchy sushi - it's like a party in your mouth. You get heat and a soft texture from the spicy tuna and the rice appears to have been seared on all sides making it warm and crunchy. The mochi cheese gratin is great. The fresh tofu is simple but the condiments they serve it with will definitely kick this dish up a notch - and it's a guilt-free, protein-packed appetizer. Oh, and the honey toast *sigh - let's just say you gotta save room for dessert. You know, I could really go on and on. But anyhow, Shokudo definitely uses their imagination when it comes to their menu, combining the unlikely and rarely ever is it a miss. Now happy hour, they have two - "before dark" 4pm to 6pm and "after dark" 10pm to 12am (i think) with a special menu where all items are $3. $3!!! We had the garlic edamame, spicy tuna nachos, spicy tuna roll (4pcs) and Cali roll (4pcs), ahi cassanova, and honey toast. They also have a few drink specials - I had a vodka soda (calpico) and he had an echigo. Bill came out to $18 for food and just about $14 for drinks. $18 for food!!! For good food too! HESAID: been to shokudo over 20 times. I really like the bi bim bap, garlic shrimp an the unagi hot pots. The honey toast with chocolate is just great. The beef tataki is very flavorful but it's really hit or miss on the quality of meat (That never stops me from ordering or finishing it tho!!). It's different but the mochi gratin is good too. Would have never tried it but a waitress suggested it. There's sooo much good food it's hard to choose just a few. We rwent for their happy hour wich has appetizers: $3 for a plate. We had 6 dishes between the two of us and that alone was just $18!!! Our drinks cost more than our food items. Shokudo will always be a place to frequent.
(4)
LA Sunshine M.
Thanks fellow yelpers for the recommendation. The place is within five minutes of walking from the Convention Center. From the outside, the cool vide and brightly lit restaurant remind you of an expensive, but sub-par quality establishment. This is not one of those places. The waitress is very friendly and the food is very good. I heard that they have few places in California, under the name of Tokyo Table. I might go back there again before I leave!
(5)
Mallory M.
hmm. maybe i would give this 1 and a half stars. just went there for my friends birthday. they actually gave us a time limit to be there and than kicked us out! i didn't even know that a place could do that. let alone a place thats alacarte? and with a tab over 200 and still going. we ordered the honey toast because it was his birthday but we never got it because they were in a rush to kick us out and give us our bill. if it wasn't for good company and the yummy garlic shrimp rice i would have given this 1 star! oh and i would like to say that the red roll SUCKS ASS. idk if i'll give this one another chance.
(2)
miss b.
Good, forward-thinking restaurant for Honolulu. At least they try to be creative, sometimes successful, sometimes less so. Trendy vibe lends great atmosphere for a lively date. FOOD: I like a big menu with lots of creative selections. Something for everyone to try something new! ~Yukari french fries: had some weird dried seaweed thing sprinkled over it. An attempt to be creative, but needs more focus on taste. ~Sashimi: was pretty good. Nice selection. ~Garlic marlin seared on hot plate: I think the searing needs to be done on the whole block of fish before slicing because the end result on such a small piece of fish is always less than fabulous (fish ends up sticking to the hot plate, looking molested & ragged). I like do-it-yourself things though, like their DIY sushi roll dish. Cute. ~Chicken karaage with spicy tartare sauce: nice touch with the sauce! ~Love the HONEY TOAST! Definitely GOT TO GET SOME! Damn there are still so many things I want to try, like the stir-fried udon with king crab, oxtail ramen, mochi cheese gratin & their cute selection of floats. SERVICE: Rather young & amateur. My friend said the waitress (who was like 18) was flirting with her boyfriend (who's in his 40s). RUDE! Don't sell yourself for a tip, otherwise you might as well hit Hotel Street. I was disappointed with the service the 3x I went as well. DECOR: Awesome decor. Big room feels too big, not cozy at all. I like the steps side better, where the graduated steps are trippy, and there's better lighting, too. BATHROOM: Good. OVERALL: Good gimmicky place for something different. Ahead of the curve in Hawaii, a touch of mainland style, but not entirely successful gastronomically.
(4)
Gary L.
Do you like tapas? Do you like looking cooler than you really are? Well here's an izakaya type restaurant which will sure to set your tastes and fashion sense on fire. Located near the Ala Moana mall, this chic restaurant has a contemporary design and for whatever reason every patron was well dressed ready for a night of casual dining with their friends. I felt a little under-dressed in my "This is my Damn" T-Shirt with jeans, but I would come back and wear a "Master Debater" T-Shirt with no shame or regrets. Regardless, it's a casual dining spot for sure. Go ahead and wear as little as possible, I'm sure you'll still get served. The prices are a little steep but for the most part the food is decent and again the environment is really what you pay for. The food ordered will come in smaller shareable portions and I would particularly recommend the fried Tofu there. To end your Shokudo experience, you can not leave without ordering honey toast. This thing comes with two massive slices of buttered toast, drizzled in honey, and topped with two scoops of ice cream. You may be thinking "big deal I can take two pieces of toast and slap ice cream and honey on them." Well let me tell you something. Many have tried and all have failed. Your pathetic attempt of a honey toast creation will never be as good as Shokudo. NEVER. Don't even try. Forget about it. Concede to the greatness that is Shokudo honey toast!!!
(4)
Cheryl D.
Lauren took me here for my bday dinner date with her and it was great! I loved the design. In pricey SF space they would never do the lovely design and art-itecxture they did here. The food is cheap! everythings like $10 unless you order a steak or something. Tofu with bonito was really good, big portion, steak perfect. Garlic Shrimp bibimbap - it was good, and I LOVE crispy rice. But I was sad to see a puddle of oil in the bottom. I loved the honey-toast. I love Hawaiian Bread alone - but this, this! Not too sweet, and big for a dessert! It might be dry if i weren't for the ice cream! (OH YEAH thankz Lauren for making me look like a fool sitting there as the staff sang - you took video and it looked like I asked them to sing for me because I was by myself - moded.)
(4)
Tiffany Y.
Love this place. The Honey Toast is awesome and the Lychee vodka soda is my fave drink here!
(5)
Cin G.
Love this restaurant. They dont require a reservation, they are open late and its decor with the hanging lanterns are cool. I love the menu, the sushi and all the different things ive tried for myself and sharing with friends and family all taste good and the prices are reasonable so you cant go wrong.The foot long katsu was too much even for my hungry nephew, he only ate half and fell asleep ha ha... I am in love with the honey toast dessert! We had a party of 10 so we took a booth and 2 ladies next to us let us have a table they had next to them that was unoccupied so we could extend our table for some friends arriving late with our kids. The wait staff was friendly and good even with all of us ordering lots of items. We did wait a while at the end of our meal for our check the last time and boy did we go all out. $300 tab! But we do tip good and the waiter was a nice guy after all. I had a great experience the last time i came for a reunion with my friends and i loved it. Its nice to have somewhere in town to go that has great atmosphere and great food. You gotta try the oxtail ramen...ono!
(5)
C O.
This is a lovely place to get out and enjoy modern preparation of traditional Japanese cuisine. The flavors are clean and well concieved. The decor is simple and modern, the service is wonderful, and the bar is fully stocked (though misses on the wine, usually). The seafood is always fresh and well prepared. The honey toast is wonderful--you have to get it after dinner. I highly recommend the garlic tuna, a bowl of ramen, and a nice tall Saporro. It can get a bit noisy at times--try to sit up on the terraced dining room side instead of the main floor seating.
(3)
Jin B.
Great place to have dinner with friends in a very trendy part of Honolulu. Right in the heart of the Ala Moana Center is this ecelctic Asian Fusion restuarant. It's a bit deceiving because when you think japanese restaurant, you think sushi, but there is a very TINY menu for sushi and most of their dishes are cooked. I probably wouldn't come back here for the food, because it was just alright....and the dessert was OK too, but I'd come more for their mixed drinks! YUM! They have one of the best mohitos I've had in a long time!
(3)
Lee R.
Nice modern decor and friendly, helpful wait staff. The first time I went, we ordered the hamachi sashimi and it was almost TOO fresh...I expected the meat to still be wiggling around! The food comes out very quickly, both times we went all our food came out within 15 minutes. The agedashi tofu is excellent, tofu lightly fried with a soy-tasting sauce. Tofu salad was nalo greens with a lump of fresh tofu in the center, light and refreshing. I really liked the spicy tuna roll, more emphasis on the fish and less mayonnaise sauce. The karaage chicken was excellent, fried chicken with a lemon wedge and spicy cole slaw-type sauce. We went again last night, and tried the bibimbap ($10), which comes in a sizzling stone bowl inside a wooden box. It was good, I've had better at legit korean restaurants. Tried the ahi carpaccio ($12), seared ahi in a balsamic/soy type sauce, tasty! The desserts looked good, but we elected to just have another Asahi ($6) instead. All in all a fun place for dinner, and not too expensive.
(4)
Lisa C.
11/7/11. Nice looking place. We had the chicken katsu and the teriyaki chicken with rice. Service was excellent. Prices reasonable, $12-15 Good portions.
(4)
Rainbow B.
The food I can definitely pass on. It's decent food. Edible, but not super yum. The 4stars is for the honey toast. Goddamn it's good. On a pretty bad day, the honey toast will make you float into heaven. O.M.G. Feel like crap? Go get some honey toast and make it all go away....
(4)
Ed K.
wooooo.. just ate a good meal @ shokudo. first time going, probably because the outside look like a standard sushi bar. but the inside is grand; high cielings, full bar, ventalation, modern furnishings & music and about 20 tables to the left and right of the bar. stadium seating; we were seated nose bleed at the top. very spacious but not noisy enough to eavsdrop. the evening was delightful and the food was delishious. kinda learned that when there's carpaccio sashimi, it's a fancy japanese restaurant but we didn't have that because there were many other dishes new to tastebuds such as mochicheese, sushipizza, icecream w/ bread crust. mochi cheese was as good as it looked like the top cheese of lasangna. haha.. had to have the sushipizza because it had crab and jalepino. theres no dough or cheese in it but was something new and delightful, wasn't bad, zero wrong. sashimi was sliced thick and not stingy. i would recommend going in a party 5 or more ($20 a head) so that you can order the variety and share like we did. went with good company so there was nothing irritating or disgusting at all. the stairwell in the parkinglot didn't smell like piss. my stomach is sitting happy, belly is smiling, was a comfortable and delightful dining experience.. happy birthday J1W!
(5)
Justin S.
We ate a lot of food here. The menu is large bright and very tempting. House made tofu salad was very tasty. The freshly pressed tofu was light, creamy and sweet complimenting the crunchy won ton; very well made. The greens and the light dressing were good, but they kept the tofu as the star of that dish. Their version of sushi-pizza is not nearly as well done as Kona Grill or Morimoto's, and i would not eat that again. It is an unrolled dynamite broiled and topped with jalepeno. The shoyu ramen broth was ok, nice noodles and a small piece of char siu. Chicken katsu was meh, but that is what the kids eat, so had to try it. Lobster dynamite, spider roll and fried ika were also pretty disappointing. Surprisingly, wife ordered the teri-chicken quesadilla and it was quite nice. Overall ok if you stick to the specialties. If everything were house made like the tofu, it would be a really great place to eat.
(3)
Kent I.
Shokudos is a nice, trendy and overpriced. I have gone to this restaurant many times with friends and its a nice place to hang out or check out people. The interior is cool and the atmosphere is alive and fun. Basically, if you are going for some drinks and a few snacks, this place is great. The food is hit or miss, but generally pretty good. The service can be pretty horrible though and the prices can be very high ($4 for a very small bowl of edamame?!). Their honey toast is awesome. Good place to go to at least once.
(3)
Jennifer G.
Very good solid sushi. We did not try the honey toast, which I not am kicking myself over after reading these reviews. We drove past one night and the place was packed so we made a mental note to return and it was great. Lunch bento boxes, great spicy tuna and dragon rolls, great edamame.
(3)
GJ S.
my review is more of a 3.5, not a solid 4. i remember coming here for an inside out tuna roll with black salt and couldn't finish it because it was just absolutely terrible. i think that's what's kept me from straying from my usual order: fresh tofu salad spicy tuna (or whatever sushi they have) on crispy rice honey toast outside of that, i'm a bit skeptical of their menu. hey food trauma does that to you! but i know if i order those things my stomach always leaves very, very happy! ambiance is a solid 5. the decor is incredible, and i love the tiered booths on the one side of the restaurant. service i think is a hit or miss, but that's a given at most restaurants i think.
(4)
Serena M.
So kind of the hostess to ask us if we are over the age of 21, would have been even better if she actually carded us. It's been awhile since I've been asked. Anyhow we arrived here during their late night happy hour after a failed attempt to eat at another place earlier. I wasn't expecting much from this place but we ordered so many things that we were bound to have some good things in the mix. A must try is the Mochi Cheese Gratin with it's chewy mochi stringy mild tasting cheesy goodness with an asian flare sauce. I was expecting a bigger portion since the picture on the menu made it looked pretty decent sized but I guess their pictures aren't made to scale. Two other things worth noting is the Ume Cucumber Salad and the Fresh Homemade Tofu. We ordered a bunch of those stuff but not memorable enough to mention. Oh yeah we also had the honey toast with red bean and it was a little dry even with ice cream. One thing that bugged me though was that the light above our table kept flickering like a strobe light and I don't think it was intentional.
(3)
Summer G.
Hi my name is Summer this was my first trip to shokudo and now I'm an addict. From the hostess to our waiter I always felt taken care of. Lowell (sorry not sure if that is the right name) was on point his recommendations were what we decided on and they were all great. He only thing I would change would be start with the honey toast!!!!! Heeheehe them suckers are huge to share among three people.
(5)
Jennifer W.
Always a long line. Always a wait. It's not worth to wait, so make a reservation. Minus a star for that. I would have thought they would have another location by now. It seems like they are going to have a outdoor lounge area soon. Tofu salad-absolutely love Veggie roll-have it deep fried. So delicious! Mochi w/ cheese-what can I say??? Do I need to say anything? Agedashi tofu-perfect Fries edamame
(3)
Jackie C.
This place is known for their honey toast. My cousin loves it! I love getting the sushi rolls. My family and I try a new roll every time we come. The sashimi bowl is a little overpriced compared to most sushi places. Overall this place is really good though. Their staff is friendly and the restaurant looks very nice. You can dress nice for a cute date night or casual. The only downside is that it is super popular, so there is always a wait, especially on the weekends.
(4)
Megan T.
Shokudo is known for their infamous honey toast dessert which is simply toasted bread, honey, and ice cream but is so incredibly good. My favorite is their cookies and cream honey toast, if you haven't tried it you should. It's hard to only order one or two dishes when I'm with family and friends because everything on their menu is delicious! But here's a list of things I ALWAYS order when I come here... 1. Garlic Shrimp Rice - comes steaming in a hot rock bowl where you waiter/waitress mixes it together for you 2. Chicken Teriyaki Quesadilla - with sour cream, a green salsa, tomatoes, and lettuce 3. Pork Scallions - tender and in this vinegar-like juice. YUM Although there is so much food to eat and choose from, always remember to save room for some honey toast!
(4)
McKena M.
Shokudo is always a treat! Although a little bit pricey, my friends and I like to treat ourselves when we're back home from college and grab a nice dinner here to catch up. The decor is beautiful and the servers are always attentive and polite. The menu is also very extensive and I can guarantee you that everyone will be able to find something they want to eat! However, I think a lunch/dinner at Shokudo is done best when everyone orders a few dishes to share. Moving onto food-- I've tasted the Shrimp Tempura Roll, Sushi Pizza, Fresh Homemade Tofu, Mochi Cheese Gratin, Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla, Garlic Shrimp Rice, and Honey Toast. Sushi: I ordered the Shrimp Tempura Roll once and it wasn't anything special. I've had much better tasting rolls elsewhere for cheaper and it was my mistake to get something so simple when there's more unique food items on the menu. I'm not a huge fan of fish, but the Sushi Pizza is tasty. The jalapenos add a nice kick and the crunchiness of the baked rice created a unique texture to the dish in a good way! Pupus: The Fresh Homemade Tofu is amazing! I'm a huge tofu fan and the texture of the tofu is perfect. It also comes with green onions, sea salt, nori, and dashi broth for your tofu, which really dresses it up. The Mochi Cheese Gratin is a must. My description of it wouldn't probably do it justice, so I'll just say that this dish is amazing. I'll always order this when I come, no matter what! The Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla is really tasty. I'm not a huge mayonnaise fan, but there's the perfect amount in the quesadilla. The homemade cilantro dip is also excellent. Ishiyaki: The Garlic Shrimp Rice is sooooo good. Oh my god. This dish is served in a stone pot that comes out of the oven at 500 degrees, so be careful not to bump your elbow into it! This dish is probably my second favorite (after the Mochi Cheese Gratin) and a must-order as well. Dessert: Yes, the Honey Toast here is tasty, but I feel that Shokudo's Honey Toast game is either on or off point. Some days, the bread is generously coated with butter and honey, while other days, it is dry and bland. Because of this, I wouldn't necessarily recommend getting this. However, it does make for great IG pictures! All in all, a delicious place to eat. I'd recommend reservations if you're coming with a bigger group, especially at dinner time, but my friend and I were seated immediately even during a busy dinner service. PS: The Melon Float tastes like happiness in a glass. More specifically, Melona. Absolutely delicious and great palette cleanser in between bites!
(4)
Kelly O.
Co- worker and I decided to try it out Friday during happy hour. It wasn't too busy around 5, and we both had plans that evening so we thought we would pop in for 20-30 min. A hour and a half later, we were able to leave. There were 4-5 servers on the floor, all chatting amongst each other, none of which paid us any attention until 20min after we sat down and after I had to wave somebody to come over. The guitar player saw us waving and even said the waitresses name on the microphone to help us out. Charge us for beers we didn't buy, and took another 10 minutes to edit the bill to the correct amount. TERRIBLE SERVICE. Won't be going back.
(1)
Claire F.
GO TO HAPPY HOUR, skip normal dining. The happy hour specials here are AWESOME! $3-5 pupus and $4 drinks ($2 sake/soju shots)! Early bird happy hour is 4-6pm and late night is 10pm-12am. If you want to pig out on a ton of decent/good food for only a small dent to your wallet, here's your place! Faves: +Garlic clams - $3 (comes with about a dozen mini clams cooked in an awesome butter sauce; we've been known to order 3 plates of these for just 2 people...) +Takoyaki roulette - $5 (5 pieces of takoyaki, one filled with wasabi, the others plain. In my opinion, they should make all of them with wasabi!) +Spicy tuna nachos - $3 (a ton of spicy ahi for only $3) +Honey toast - $3 (a mini version of the wildly popular dessert) +Agedashi eggplant - $3 (I love agedashi and I love eggplant so I might be biased here, but it's only $3!) Sorry to hate on the normal dining. I know a lot of people like the food on the regular menu here, but to me it seems a little overpriced, especially when you compare it to such awesome deals during happy hour. The food (aside from the sushi) also seems a bit Americanized, and I tend to prefer traditional/authentic Japanese preparings. Things you must do, regardless: - Order the honey toast. It's wildly popular here, and although desserts aren't usually my thing, it's a unique, novel, and yummy treat! - Take a picture in front of the restaurant. I don't know why, but everyone does this!
(4)
Mary G.
Yummy food as always! Our server Robyn provided excellent customer service. Like I would dine here again because of her. Super nice, hilarious, and sweet person. She even stopped low when talking to us. She always checked up on us. She kept smiling the entire time even though the AC went off. Lol. I'm a server myself in a Japanese Restaurant too so I could relate. She talk stories with us cause she knew our friend. So thankful for the honey toast and bread pudding birthday cake!
(5)
Angela H.
So the honey toast...uh...is it supposed to be dry? Is the ice cream supposed to help it go down easier? I dunno if we got a bad batch or what but it never got finished. Didn't see the need to force it down just cuz it's the famous honey toast. I'd say the hot food was better like the lobster dynamite and tofu salad. Very delicious and satisfying. Drinks also were better than I thought they would be. Grape vodka calico and yuzu honey vodka were refreshing and not too sweet. I could have had many more of those dangerous and beautiful concoctions! Service was excellent-sincere and helpful, I'd say 5 stars for service. I'd go back if I were in the area, and well heck, I'd probably still order the honey toast just to see if it was the same as before.
(4)
Kristian L.
Haven't done happy hour in a while, but it was our first time doing happy hour at 4-6pm. We were seated right away. Like always great friendly and fast service except our serve forgot to put one of our orders in. It was also our first time sitting outside in the lounge area. It was nice, but hot and we were placed right next to the speakers. Overall, the food is always delicious especially their spicy ahi nachos.
(5)
Jesse J.
Wish I could give this place a 5 star review, but due to recent mishap I'm giving this place one star. So I took my cousin here for his birthday along with three other's. Everything seemed great. Waiter seemed nice and friendly, food was great, and service was fast. Everything would have been kept at five stars, till my third cup of coffee was served, or what seemed to be coffee in a coffee cup. IT WAS SHOYU or some other black salty sauce used in their dishes. To compensate for it, my $2 coffee drink was taken off the bill followed by an apology from the waiter. This may seem like no big deal, but when I thought about it, there's no other restaurant that I've been to that mistook shoyu for coffee. This makes me thing that this was either deliberate or the employee's are messing around with each other. Shame, I considered this place a really good restaurant and I still do, but there's no excuse for mistakenly giving a customer a cup of shoyu.
(1)
Starla T.
I decided to throw my grad party (14 people) at Shokudo and I'm so glad I did. They allowed me to reserve my seats a few weeks in advance which was awesome because I wanted their private party room. Didn't have to put a down. Since the restaurant can be pricey, I decided to ask if I could set a menu...and to my surprise, they had set menus! It was so awesome. At least at the end of the night, you know what you're going to be paying. I coordinated and modified the set menus with Alden the GM and he was very quick to respond to my emails. On the day of the party, we go seated right at the reservation time. After ordering drinks, the food came out one after the other with the right timing. Not only did my guests LOVE the food they were FULL...mission accomplished. Overall, it was a great experience and it made my night. The only meh:....a total of 4 checks for the entire party. I wish I had known earlier.
(4)
Naryssa F.
Great service and asian fusion food in a trendy setting. Their honey toast is AMAZING. Their sushi rolls are good and fairly priced.
(5)
Aim H.
Sometimes you return to a place that you have tried and your experience just isn't the same. Well, I returned to shokudo tonight for happy hour once again and was not disappointed. I even had the kids with me and they loved it as well. Our server (Bri) was very pleasant and refilled our drinks before we could even run out! We tried some of the same foods along with some new ones...... Dynamite fries= was a nice twist on fries. Creamy and cheesy. Spicy ahi roll= nice big pieces of fish inside Edamame=lightly salted so that it had some flavor but not too salty Ramen salad=my fav of the night. Totally unexpected saimin salad with some cucumbers, bamboo, bean sprouts, pork , and a dressing to die for. To top it off, there was live entertainment which we enjoyed!! Our bill for 4 of us was about $42!!!! How awesome is that! This is definitely a must try place!
(4)
Jason C.
Shokudo. A japanese restaurant where asian food meets trendy and modern. This restaurant is almost always full during dinner hours so reservations are recommended. I've been here multiple times and as far as consistancy goes in taste... it has always been pleasent and amazing. First of all, their sushi roll preparations are unique and different, without sacrificing taste. Their sushi pizza is something I have only seen here in this restaurant and I have been to many cities trying sushi. The sushi pizza is square in size about 7 x 7 inches with a layer of sushi rice and a crab, salmon, scallop, and onion mixture on top, cut into bite sized pieces with a thin slice of jalapeno on top. Delicious. The lobster dynamite roll, a classic that I usually get. A california roll with pieces of lobster mixed in sauce on top of it and onion garnish. It's tasty but its very filling, if you are looking to try more rolls, this roll can definitely put a dent in your plans. The volcano roll and the spicy scallop roll, one of their new rolls on their extended menu . After tasting spicy in El Paso, I know what spicy means. The 'not-so-spicy' spicy scallop roll, has just a hint of spicy to make you wonder if it deserves the name spicy scallop. This roll is wrapped in soy paper, it's an alternative to seaweed to keep your sushi in place. If you don't like the taste of seaweed this roll maybe for your tastebuds. The volcano roll, which was probably named for their attempt to make it look like a volcano rather than tasting like one was scrumptious.The tempura was used to represent the bottom and the tuna on top was designed to make it look like lava, at least thats what i think because it was not hot/spicy. I think it was very clever. The stone pot dishes, a must try! The stone pot is heated to 500 degrees fahrenheit and your dish is served in it. It continues to cook your food for 20-30mins (so DON'T touch the bowl, its hot!). I had the garlic shrimp and my wife had the unagi bowl. Both dishes are simple, basically its just rice with the seafood that you order. But being served in a stone pot gives the rice a crispy texture. The waiter/waitress will offer to mix it up for you, i usually let them do it. The dish is simple but very flavorful. Sometimes less is more, thats how I see this dish. Try it! The honey toast, a great dessert to try. Its another simple dish but its soooo good. Its basically a toasted half loaf of bread with ice cream and honey. The warm sweet bread mixed with the cool ice cream is a treat worth trying. In the picture below, I got the original. In my opinion the original has always tasted the best, and theres no need to fix something that wasn't broken. Though if you're looking for a different taste, it is offered with different ice cream flavors. The service was good. My party was a walk-in for dinner time (lucky us). We were a group of 4 but when the group size increased to 5, they were able to provide us with another chair. We couldn't get another table because the other tables were all reserved. They tried to accommodate as best they could and it was appreciated. The for food ended up taking a lot of room with us five ordering, making space limited to eat on and cluttered. If i was to pick 3 words to describe the atmosphere it would be trendy, welcoming, and bright. The environment was clean, like restaurants should be. Food arrived quickly, no crazy wait time. Things that could be improved: After the fifth guest arrived, she wasn't paid much attention to. She took chopsticks from a different table to eat. Other than that, there's nothing else for me to critique with service.
(4)
K C.
After many visits, I'm finally writing a review for this place. Hands down favorite for us is the lobster dynamite. Always seem to get it every time we come here. I really wish their selection of food would change or expand. PARKING never seems to be a problem for us (maybe we just get lucky or come the right time) Its usually packed on the weekends, which is why we avoid going during those times. As for SERVICE, it usually sucks! For the handful of times we've been here, we always get crappy service, but I can understand how busy this place gets. BUT, for the very first time we had excellent service! We went on a monday night and our waiter Josiah?? (OMG I can't remember his name) I believe he said he was still training. Anyways, seriously the best service ever!!! For someone who was still training, you've done a way better job than those we've had in the past here. Attended to us many times, always came by to fill up our cups and checked up to make sure everything was going great. Thats the kind of servers we need more of. FOOD, as I mentioned, we always come back for the lobster dynamite or even the lobster roll. Another favorite is the shrimp fried rice. As for honey toast...Not a huge fan if it.
(4)
Sarah T.
Best server - Gabriel Very polite, attentive, and had a winning smile. He made sure everything was okay and tried to make our experience the best experience. thanks Gabriel! Besides that, the food was great! It came out sporadically between me and my friends, but the taste made up for it. Definitely made up for my past bad experience here.
(5)
Lowana L.
My bf and I recently visited Shokudo, and I haven't been here since before they added the outside eating area and changed up the menu. We came in around 930 on a weeknight, and it was fairly busy but there was no wait, so we were seated rather quickly by a friendly hostess. The sushi roll was very good, it was both shrimp tempura and a California rolled combined. Very good. We also had the mochi cheese gratin, so different but very tasty! I really enjoyed it! My bf had the sukiyaki bibimbap, which pretty much inhaled. After it cooled off a little of course because the bowl it's served in is 500 degrees! I had the garlic shrimp fried rice, so good! I like keeping it on the bowl for a while so that the rice gets all good and crispy! Dang my mouth is drooling as I type this! For dessert, we had their honey toast of course. Always the same, perfectly made and sooo delicious! The thing that stood out the most, was out server, Nina. She was very personable and recommended a sushi roll on the new menu and the lychee vodka soda for myself. Shout out to Nina for the great job! Thanks for everything!
(4)
Rhesa S.
Always the "guarantee" when contemplating a night out for a cool place to hang out and enjoy good food. If you can snag a table early, congratulations. Otherwise, try asking for open seats at the bar, since it's full-service there as well.
(4)
Irenio S.
Service is at an all time low, hella disappointed...we came in and waited forever and a day to order and then when we finally did our drinks came 15 minutes later followed by our appetizers came after our main courses. Our main course came after 45 minutes and we had to ask for it, the. Our sashimi came 20 minutes after we received our main course.
(1)
Jenny M.
Staff was very accommodating when making reservation. Fast service. Ono chicken katsu. Only no go was spicy tuna crispy rice was rock solid (busy time maybe...overcooked?)
(4)
Victoria C.
The food here is always off the charts. This is my go-to place for my sushi fix. The service is always exceptional, but today exceeded all previous experiences. Bri was awesome!!!!
(5)
Ashley N.
UPDATE I previously gave Shokudo a bad rating due to a series of events that occurred on my friend's birthday. I realize that every restaurant has their bad nights, , so this is why I decided to update my rating, having visited Shokudo a number of times since writing my original review. As a young adult, going to Shokudo in Hawaii is a must, it's kind of like eating a plate lunch at Rainbow's. Everyone I know either has a birthday celebration here, a holiday get together, or just a simple catch-up lunch. I noticed that their service did get a lot better since writing my original review, which is very nice. I do like their recent renovation, including their new sushi bar. My dad LOVES sushi, and has been going with my mom even more than I have! Their sushi doesn't compare to Gaku, but it is definitely better than Genki. Their new menu options are pretty good as well, but it doesn't beat their other menu options, such as their mochi cheese graitin.
(4)
Charmaine R.
Just ate there last night and the server was nice, but felt he didn't have much experience with a large party. We originally booked a private room. And once we arrived, they said they accidentally booked another person for our room. We then had to wait to be seated for a party of over 10. When it was time to for the check, we asked the server to split it however he wanted our party to pay one check of a group of 6. All of our checks had our wrong orders. We had to show him what we ordered.
(3)
Jen F.
This is great sushi with lots of interesting options! There are many parts to the menu, so you will have plenty of selection for what you're looking for... be it tempura, sashimi, sushi rolls, noodles, salads, etc. The decor is very nice and classy in the restaurant, and the wait staff is friendly. If you have to wait for a table, it's worth the wait because the food comes pretty quickly. Definitely returning here!
(5)
K D.
Horrible experience at this restaurant on Thursday, 3/6/2014. I've been to this restaurant many, many times before, but today has lead me to never want to come back. It started with my coworker's attempts to call the restaurant to place a take out order for our one hour dinner break. We had pretty limited time, so we thought that by calling in our order would hopefully save us some time. Oh boy were we wrong!! My coworker tried twice and the phone just kept ringing. Then I tried calling twice and the same results--it kept ringing both times. We both then just opted to walk over to the restaurant and just order in person because we didn't want to lose anymore of our break time. We walked in and was greeted by a waiter. I first asked if the number we were dialing was correct and the waiter handed me a business card. Turns out, we were dialing the correct phone number. Why on earth were they not answering? I glanced over on the right side of the podium where a greeter stood and it looked like a man was on the phone. So I thought maybe that's why, the man was tying up the line. Unfortunately, this man on the phone seems to be a floor manager. He should know better not to tie up phone lines like that for the risk of losing potential customers. We've also tried several times in the past to phone in an order and have had to try several times before getting through. We then proceeded to place our orders and was told it would take 10-15 minutes. Our break started at 5:00pm exactly and it was 5:12pm by the time we finished placing in our walk in order. Our office is nearby so we decided to walk back to the office and come back in about 15 minutes. Just to clarify that we already knew what we wanted to order so no time was wasted in that sense. We get back to Shokudo at 5:27pm and was greeted by Lindsey. We inquired about our take out order and Lindsey said "oh I forgot to punch in your order so let me do that now." She didn't sound sincere or apologetic and when asked more about what's going on, Lindsey simply said "I got busy!" Lindsey then proceeded to say your order will take about 10-15 minutes to be ready. What?! Another 10-15 minutes? Some of you may think this isn't too bad of an issue waiting another 10-15 minutes. This is true if we had more time and if we failed to use our time wisely, but we simply didn't have more time and we did our best to use our time well. I had also expressed to Lindsey that our time was limited, but she didn't seem to give a hoot. This and her insincerity is what really pissed me off. Lindsey then tried to correct her actions by saying "we will try to rush it for you guys." Even the floor manager came to us and assured us he had told his staff that they should attend to our orders first. Tired, with no desire to grab food elsewhere, and hopeful these people would make it quick this time around to make up for Lindsey's mistake, we decided to just wait. Lindsey then insisted we pay and so we did. Our bill came out to about $116. We decided to just wait at the restaurant. 5:46pm rolls around and we were FINALLY given our order. Grand total of a 34 minute wait on what should have only been 10-15 minutes. Ridiculous. We felt that Shokudo made zero attempt to right the wrong. We didn't feel any attempt of rushing our order, hence the grand total wait, even if it was solely Lindsey's mistake of forgetting to punch in our order because she got "too busy." Oh, they did offer us WATER while we were waiting. We don't need no stinkin' water, we'd like our time back please so we could actually enjoy our dinner. We had about 7 minutes to eat some of our food and it was back to work. Never buying from them again. We'd rather spend our $116 elsewhere and I recommend the same for you!
(1)
Kristen R.
Went here last night. This was my second time going. Brought my boyfriend, it was his first. The food was awesome, but one downfall was that my Unagi rice was burnt. The hot bowl was way too hot and it ended up burning my rice and made it hard and crunchy, but it still tasted good. The honey toast was great too! Our server was friendly, but one think that irritated me was that when we were done with dessert, he asked my boyfriend if he wanted water and he declined. So with that, we thought he would then bring back our bill because we were ready to leave. But no he didn't. We waited 5 minutes. He came back around and asked if he could take away our finished dessert, and he did. Then again, we thought he'd bring the bill. NOPE! We waited another several minutes until FINALLY he brought the bill. That decreased the amount of his tip. I'm usually a great tipper, but if the service is gonna lack in any way, then I think that doesn't deserve good tipping.
(3)
Taryn K.
To be honest the food here is good but nothing really special. I usually the unagi rice which I love, but it literally just taste like rice with unagi sauce. This time I ordered teriyaki chicken because I didn't feel like eating fish or sushi but I wouldn't order it again. It was extremely oily to the point where it looked gross. The homemade tofu is SO good though! This time when we went our waitress was extremely friendly, but the food took a really long time to come out. They are always busy so I would definitely recommend reservations, although it's hard to get reservations at exactly the time you want. Finally, the honey toast. I must admit it's really good, but very over priced and over rated and I'm pretty sure you could just make it at home. Shokudo is good for a place to eat if you want to go out but not spend a ridiculous amount of money. But it's really not THAT special
(3)
Arlene B.
Been going here for years and it never disappoints! I've been going here alot lately for dinner and drinks after work on weekdays. They have great food and good drinks and a great happy hour. The last time I went their I sat at the bar and had the sweetest bartender that took care of me and my friend. Her name is Carol and she was very nice and checked up on us regularly. She also made me a special drink after I told her I wanted a li hing mui drink and she whipped up something that I loved. Go and see her! This place has a very modern decor and is clean from what I can tell. They can seat you very fast on weekdays but not as much on weekends. The setting is very casual and its def. good for dinner get togethers or just a drink with friends. I will never stop going here.
(4)
Andy K.
The garlic shrimp fried rice is bomb, I always enjoy eating honey toast here! I'd have to say most of the food is good, but not the best. Only come here mainly for the honey toast.
(3)
Leanne P.
In Hawaii, the food choices are overwhelming. We wanted to go somewhere that the locals go to though, and one of our friends said to meet up at Shokudo. Being the Yelp Elite-r that I am, I checked it out online! I was so excited to see all the yummy food, drinks, and desserts! When we got there, we got such a great vibe from the staff. They were quick to welcome G and I (tourists) and my friend (local). My friend has been here multiple times so she had us peruse the menu first to see what we'd be interested in. After a LOT of discussion, we decided on: Lychee Mojito: Fantastic! Very subtle alcohol taste, but you could tell that there was a lot in there. We had it with the sochu which was amazing :) Sushi Pizza: little pieces of sushi with a jalapeno on top. I knocked the jalapeno off because I'm pathetic when it comes to spice, but still excellent. Lobster Dynamite: My favorite thing! Baked lobster and some veggies covered in a yummy sauce and cheese. Served with some bread. Unagi Rice: Another favorite. Let the rice and unagi cook a little longer for some added crispiness and flavor. The sauce was amazing. Sticky Sticks (?): I put a question mark because I can't remember the dish's actual name. It has sticky rice and a few yakitori sticks. It was very good, I loved the consistency of the rice. A few of the sticks had vegetables (which I stayed away from :P) Honey Toast: Their famous dessert! It was humongous and so yummy. I'm not a huge fan of honey (I wish they drizzled maple syrup or chocolate or whatever instead of honey), but it was still pretty damn amazing. The ice cream on top was truly the "icing on the cake". They've got great specials and their special menu looked amazing. The prices are really reasonable, and make sure (if you're a tourist!) to look through the coupon book provided to you by your hotel. Ours included a coupon for a free honey toast! ($7.50 value!).
(5)
Jeremy T.
Shokudo is one of my favorite restaurants! The entrees are pretty sub-par, so don't even bother with them. I always get sushi (Balsamic Beef Tataki, Tempura Roll, Lobster Dynamite & Volcano Roll are my faves), and of course Honey Toast for dessert (cinnamon is my fave!). You CANNOT leave without getting the honey toast, as I'm sure you've already heard. It can be a little pricy, but it's definitely worth it. I am also in love with the Ishiyaki Loco Moco, which is a loco moco cooked Bi Bim Bap style! It's a little carby though. Always make reservations, or you may have to wait 30-45 minutes to get in.
(5)
Britt N.
Last night my boyfriend & I along with our 2 friends tried shokudo for the first time. We had reservations so our table was all set & ready for us when we got there. Our waiter bubu, gave great customer service. Probably the best customer service ive ever had. We ordered the steak, tempura, lobster dynamite, chicken karaage, fries, asst veg tempura, & the spicy tuna roll. The spicy tuna roll was really spicy, yet really good. The honey toast was amazing, & so was their lychee mojito. Kind of pricey, but definitely a place to try.
(5)
Jake M.
The place is generally pretty full, and with good reason, so make a reservation! I've never had to open the door for myself on the way in or out because the staff is impeccably hospitable and always make me feel like a guest. Shokudo serves traditional Japanese and Japanese fusion dishes. From spicy mayo scallops to the ribeye steak, this place is tasty. One of my favorite dishes is a sushi ball roulette (I forget the exact name). They bring you six balls of sushi on a plate, all of them delicious, but one of them dangerously spicy....and they don't tell you which one. The LATE NIGHT HAPPY HOUR has some really popular dishes dirt cheap and the HONEY TOAST is a must! Thick, cinnamony toast cut into bite sized squares, drizzled with honey and served with ice cream, it's among my favorite desserts.
(5)
Linnie B.
Lobster dynamite roll, char siu pork, ama ebi, hamachi carpaccio, fresh oysters, HONEY TOAST (of course) was all "OMG" in my mouth! We ordered more items and they were amazeballs!! Definitely coming back! Service was also a plus!
(5)
Lar P.
Sat at the sushi bar for lunch and everything was excellent; from the iced green tea to the recommended sake. The selections were prepared perfectly-no need for shoyu or wasabi. The server, Malia , was excellent.
(5)
Teresa K.
First time at Shokudo... Did not disappoint!! I had dinner the first time. Must try the Lychee vodka soda... Soo good!! The passion fruit was ok as well. Service was top notch! Better than some Fine dining restaurants I've been to. Attentive staff and yummy food and drinks!
(5)
Sara T.
Happy to say that Shokudo gets an additional star for great service and great food the last two times I was here! The late-night happy hour is awesome with a ton of choices, and I am still a fan of the fresh tofu. Next time I go I will take better notes about what I order :)
(4)
Trisha T.
The late night happy hour is fantastic! Honey toast jr. for $3? Bring it on. You can get a decent variety of foods for a very reasonable price. I've never had a bad meal here.
(5)
Chiko K.
Excellent customer service Kylie was amazing fast service GREAT food Honey toast is the BEST dessert in town!! Make reservations it's very busy!! Don't believe what the negative reviews said all not true!
(5)
Sky A.
Had an AMAZING dinner here! We sat outside and really enjoyed the music. The musician was even able to play songs that we requested. Sherri's service was awesome! She recommended dishes to us that we never thought we'd try but ended up loving it all! She was a great waitress and would definitely go back to her for her terrific service. Thanks Shokudo and Sherri for making my tummy happy and my night amazing. :)
(5)
Alicia D.
Honey Toast. Honey Toast. Honey Toast. Happy hour, Happy hour, Happy hour. I love Shokudo! I have never had anything I didnt like here. Sometimes the wait is long but I dont even care, as long as they never run out of Honey Toast. Wow I would just be devastated if that were the case. You always get your food quickly and its always good. I usually go during happy hour to get pupus off the $3.4,5 menu. I love the Gyoza and the Quesadilla (yes its asianized) NOM! the Udon and the Kimchi fried rice. I usually go here on a week night after my class because its open late and I love that. Its always very clean and the servers are very personable. I also enjoy getting drinks here. I cant help loving flashy lights around the bar. Great for all reasons! Can class it up or dress it down. Parking is easy as well, never have a problem. I love bringing people here for the first time to watch as their eyes light up at the glory of Shokudo magic.
(5)
Moses G.
Came in for pupu's and drinks the other day and sat at the bar. Dynamite lobster roll was awesome and creamy and loved it...and i don't like seafood but this was good. Also got awesome service from Matt the bartender. Being a bartender myself i was very impressed with the level of service Matt have to myself, other bar patrons and even take guests he was taking care of...would definitely go again and sit at the bar.
(5)
Radiant C.
How did I not write a review for Shokudo already? Nonetheless, Shokudo is like that staple restaurant you and your friends go to either for a lunch meeting, after work pau hana, or a night cap. My friends have even spent our time at Shokudo during Single-Awareness-Day... I mean Valentine's Day... Surrounded by dim-lighting and lovestruck couples. Hrmph. Nonetheless, any occasion, Shokudo Japanese Restaurant has always been a comfortable place to dine at. I would never feel too dressed or too dressed-down at Shokudo and it is a welcoming feeling. Whenever I come to Shokudo, I tend to just stock up my tummy with sushi rolls and sangria that I can't even get to the honey toast! Sucks, I know. I keep telling myself that I'll just come for the honey toast. Only the honey toast. Shokudo has expanded their menu recently (well like last year) with new drinks and especially rolls. OH MY TUMMY! My personal favorites are the Volcano Roll and the Beef Tataki (the meat melts in your mouth!) and the Kusai Kudasai roll. You know whenever you look at a menu and you feel overwhelmed and you just end up going with your fallback menu items? So here at Shokudo, I have a few: Sushi Pizza, Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, and the Lobster Dynamite Roll. Shoot! That's a whole meal for a few people. Top it off with my regular sangria and I'm golden! Waiting has never been an issue as there is enough coverage outside to stay out of the sun. Parking is a bit difficult for me since I drive a large car. But that is my kuleana. Parking isn't that difficult, just as long as you kokua and don't park on top or over the line. Overall, going to Shokudo is a comfortable experience.
(4)
Sonya C.
Shokudo has to be one of my favorite restaurants! Every time I come, I am never disappointed. My absolute favorite is the lobster dynamite roll and the chocolate honey toast. It's best to come with a group of people so you can order a lot of items off the menu and share. Be prepared to wait a while for a table - but that's how you know it's good!
(5)
Shirani O.
I apologize for the monstrous review I'm about to write. But I STRONGLY RECCOMEND you folks read this before even thinking about eating at this restaurant. Arrived here with my boyfriend around 11pm. Had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. Was seated, but not greeted for what seemed like 10 minutes. When we were finally greeted, our waiter, HECTOR, just said "Do you guys want to order anything?" Without introduction or offering of drinks, happy hour specials, etc. After asking for water twice, we finally received them after about 20 minutes, no exaggeration. He gave us good drink and food recommendations on both menus. We put in our alcohol and pupu order which seemed to take a while. By the time we were done eating our pupus, we put in our dinner order, and the restaurant crowd started to die down. Thank god we had our mixed drinks to hold us over for the next hour we waited. (One of which was watery- the yuzu vodka, and one was awesome-the lychee vodka.) Both my boyfriend and I come from customer service work backgrounds (restaurant and sales) so we tried not to let the nearly hour wait on our dinner entrees bother us. We started doubting our waiter, questioning if he forgot about us, while majority of his time was spent near the computer counting his money. But, we refrained from saying anything. Waiter came by to mention that they were doing last call on honey toast, so we figured we'd just put our order in, even though our entrees haven't even arrived yet. Another 10 minutes go by, and our mini honey toast arrives. By that time we realized the reason we were waiting so long for our entrees because the order was probably never sent. We flagged our waiter over, and asked why we received dessert if our entrees never even made it to the table. His response-"What entrees?" OMG. I knew we shouldn't have been so patient or give him the benefit of the doubt. We reminded him of what we ordered, and his response? "Oh, the kitchen probably lost your folks ticket, I'll be right back." LAME! Don't you dare try and blame your kitchen boys on your lousy service! By that time, our date and my boyfriends second dining experience there was ruined. We were over waiting any minute longer. We returned the honey toast to a random worker, and walked straight to a manager. After telling the manager, SONNY, the situation, he had the audacity to just stare at us, say no response, and just WALK AWAY! How unprofessional!!!!!! I don't care if we look like a young couple being annoying and complaining, we are still your paying customers! I've been treated like that by waiters, but NEVER by a manager! By that time we knew none of this was going to be solved, so we paid for the alcohol and pupus and left. Our server apologized, saying "Tonight was my bad." No apology from the manager. After waking up this morning, I still couldn't believe what had happened. I called the restaurant and spoke with another manager named CHRIS. Chris was so nice, personable, and apologetic. He apologized for Hector and Sonny's behaviors. I know if he was working, maybe the situation could've been fixed. But he wasn't, and what can he do for me over the phone? Nothing. I just hope something changes at this restaurant because they have a popular reputation, and I wouldn't want anyone else getting the treatment that we did. Chris hopes that we return to give them another chance, but to be honest, knowing that another encounter with HECTOR OR SONNY is possible leaves a bad impression with me. Both waitstaff and management need major improvement (minus Chris).
(1)
Gunther W.
Am currently in the restaurant and am so very disappointed with the service. We came in with a large party and the service getting the food to our table was really spotty. I waited 35 minutes past when other tablemates got their food. One person who sat right by me ordered the same time as all the rest of us and it took 1 hr and 10 minutes from order time. Most of the party was done eating whem he got his food. Also when one pupu arrived, it was COLD. The wait staff was very apologetic but just past the point of doing any good. Food was great when it finally came out.
(2)
Jason D.
I usually never go out to sushi. However this place changed my whole outlook on sushi. Def have reservations or sit at the sushi bar. That's what I did and avoided a 40 min wait. Lobster dynamite roll and spicy tuna over crispy rice were the best sushi rolls I've had. I've only ate sushi about 7 times but my gf who eats sushi all the time agrees.
(5)
James G.
I do like this place but there were some things that stood out to be problems to me. We had James (Great Name) he was a very outgoing individual and very thorough so we had great service, 5/5. I love sushi and looking at the menu somethings looked amazing while others meh. Problem 1, the plates are too big to be served on such small tables. If that isn't an oversight. Problem 2, the wasabi was a disappointment. It looked to be an upscale sushi bar so I expected it to be fresh wasabi but it was the powdered kind and wasn't even hot at all so all my sushi was being dipped into was almost pure soy sauce. It might come off as some so small to some but if you really love sushi, wasabi is very important to you. Other than those two things everything was great. The Gen Mai was served at the perfect sipping temperature, not scalding hot like some places where you have to wait 5 minutes for it to cool down, just perfect temp. We had: Caterpillar Roll - 5/5 Spider Roll - 4/5 (The soft flavor of the crab is slightly overpowered by something in the roll) Lobster Dynamite - 4/5 Assorted Tempura - 4/5 Shiso Fries - 3/5 Teriyaki Chicken - 3.5/5 Teriyaki Salmon - 4/5 -Watercress Salad - 5/5 -Pickled Ginger - 5/5 -Wasabi - 0/5 The Honey Toast. Great stuff, VERY filling if you actually eat all that bread. We had the cinnamon/caramel one, very tasty. My daughter snatched once scoop of the ice cream for herself so the wife and I had to share the other. The way the Honey toast is structured is interesting. They take a thick loaf of Japanese bread (forgot what kind), they hollow it out to leave the frame of it and they toast the insides that were removed and toss it with honey and cinnamon after it's been crisped up a little then return those parts back into the middle of the bread then place 2 scoops of ice cream on them and serve it warm. As you are eating the ice cream and picking at the bread the ice cream drippings coat the toasted bread pieces on the bottom and creating a tasty ending. Parking was perfect, there's a free parking lot (Mall Parking Lot) literally 200ft from the restaurant. Overall as an experience I would rate it 4/5. We will be back.
(4)
Holly B.
What a wonderful experience tonight! Chris was very friendly, helpful, and attentive. The Happy Hour (3-6 p.m.) specials are $3, $4, and $5 and so worth it! We enjoyed the creamy gyoza and the spicy ahi rolls x2! And I love the cheese mochi gratin, tempura, and tofu salad! The soft drinks are refillable which is another plus. Affordable and satisfying! If you go around 4 p.m., you will be seated quickly and served quickly too! Everyone is friendly and the waitstaff seem to help each other seamlessly. Will be back to enjoy their ono offerings again soon!
(5)
Sarah H.
WOW! This place was recommended to my friend and I by a local gal and we weren't disappointed! We had the Sakura, Kusai and Mermaid rolls which were amazing. The service was wonderful and the banana flambe looked and tasted waaaay more amazing than the block of bread. (I don't get it-sorry!). Also, the best gyoza I've ever had.
(5)
Renee H.
Service is horrible! This used to be a really good restauraunt, but each time I go it just gets worse and worse. They aren't even busy when things are going wrong, so no excuses. Not going back again. First horrible experience was when the busser carried dirty dishes over my friend's head and spilled sauce all over her. The manager said he would take care of the cleaning bill, but didn't take her name or any other info from her just walked away. When we tried to give them the contact info, they declined - what lip sevice BS. Another time the restauraunt was filled with smoke from grease in the kitchen being too hot or something. Everyone's eyes were burning and people were coughing. They didn't even offer any satisfaction recovery, no 10% discount off of check, nothing. Another time we went for happy hour special and the tables were packed together so tight (but not occupied) that the waiter could't walk past the table without bumping into it. Well, he bumped it so hard all of our drinks spilled, and that would be okay because mistakes happen, but again the manager didn't think it was a big deal, just wiped up the table and left the soggy food, didn't even bring us new plates. He said, you were almost done right? Yes, done. Very done with Shokudo.
(1)
Aileen Q.
This is a must visit when you go to Oahu. The service is good. Our server was nice, I don't know his name but I'm pretty sure he's Filipino. The food was so good. This restaurant was actually recommended by a friend. Their honey toast is super delicious... Heaven!!! I super love their garlic shrimp rice. Their tofu salad and pork chop were so delish as well. Everything was so delicious. I would love to go back here on our next visit to Hawaii that's for sure!
(5)
Reid A.
Seems to be a trendy place, but I have no idea why... I've eaten here a number of times and the food was okay. Nothing really stood out, including the famed honey toast. I don't mean to say the food is awful, but it's certainly not noteworthy. I've had one bad experience with the food. I think it was old crab meat for the sushi pizza. I had hives after dinner and it was not a fun experience...I'm not allergic to crab, so it had to be rotten or something. The atmosphere is kinda neat. A red and white interior theme is nice. I like the use of the blinds, which they used those kamaboko wooden blocks to vertically line the windows. I'd only go here if I was invited for a birthday. Otherwise, I'd pick another place for modern Japanese food.
(3)
Jin B.
This place needs to reevaluate their entire business direction. Good customer service=repeat business=surviving the food industry Unfortunately, the management here are either oblivious to the fact or just very apathetic. I gave this place 3 chances & all 3 times, nothing spectacular, only disappointment. The last straw was a few weeks ago, when I had to coordinate a lunch party for 23 people. I spoke with a very rude gentleman named Brandon who I later found out is one of many confused managers their. He insisted that my party chooses from a pre set menu and not from the regular menu. I told him we were there a few weeks ago with a similar party and ordered from the reg. menu, sent our order a day in advance & that went okay. He replied that he remembered our party & that our party caused the kitchen a lot of confusion & hassle. REALLY!!! We frickin' sent you our menu selection a day prior. I tell him I needed to check with my party and will call him back. I call back in 5 minutes, no one picks up the phone. Call a second time 10 minutes later and let the phone ring for 2 minutes straight, nothing. Call the 3rd time, a ditsy girl answers, I ask for a manager, she asks for what purpose, I tell her I spoke with Brandon, call a couple times with no answers & I need to get $#!+ straight with you people. She puts me on hold and gets Alden, another manager who tells me Brandon told him about our conversation. I then spend 20 minutes trying to get this new guy to allow us permission to order from their reg. menu which wasn't a problem a few weeks before....f*@# it! I HAD A FRIGGIN HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE TRYING TO HAVE A PARTY AT A RESTAURANT THAT DIDN'T WANT THE PATRONAGE OF 23 INDIVIDUALS. I HAD TO ACCOMODATE THE RESTAURANT TO GET MY PARTY THAT WAS REQUESTED BY THE GUEST OF HONOR . SPOKE WITH 4 DIFERENT MANAGERS WHO SAW US AS A NUISANCE. I'D RATHER EAT A 7-ELEVEN SUSHI ROLL THAT COST $1.49 THEN SPEND $14.95 FOR SUSHI MADE FROM FROZEN TUNA & A SLAP OF MAYO. I'LL CELEBRATE AT ANGELO PEITRO'S ON THE DAY THIS PLACE CLOSES DOWN FOR GOOD. THE WAY THAT THIS PLACE IS RUNNING, I WOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT LONG.
(1)
Kimi K.
Customer service needs improvement. Expect to wait a long time even with reservations. I hope that these employees learn that our time is just as important to us. The waiting time to be seated and served was not reasonable. The food, however, is good.
(1)
Sasha L.
I don't really like the food here. It's good, but not great. I don't really eat the entrees here. However, I do love their honey toast! Honey toast with Vanilla ice cream and extra honey is the main reason I come here! Also, their Girly drinks are really yummy too! Anything with Shochu and calpico is a must!
(4)
Peter C.
VERY SLOW service. Three hours between the time of our 8:30 p.m. reservation and the time we received the check. We weren't seated until about 15 minutes after our scheduled reservation, and our food took a long time in coming to us. However, the awesome food will bring me back. We all shared a variety of appetizers, all of which were excellent: homemade tofu salad, lobster dynamite w/ bread, edamame, sushi pizza - oh wait, our sushi pizza never showed up on the table, although it did show up on the check at the end of the night. :-/ As for the entrees, although we were warned that they may not come out all at the same time, they did, and we were pleasantly surprised. Apparently, that's not the norm. I thoroughly enjoyed my lobster dynamite roll (very rich and AWESOME), and the sizzling unagi bowl my neighbor had ordered looked so good I stole a spoonful (apparently, it's best when it's crispy-burnt, just a little bit; it's part of the experience). Everyone raves about the honey toast, so of course I had to get it. I ordered it with no toppings, since I'm such a purist (actually, I didn't feel like paying extra for toppings on a dessert that already costs $8 by itself). I was unimpressed. After all, it's a couple of big pieces of toasted bread, drizzled with honey and topped with ice cream. What SHOULD have I expected? I'm not convinced our server was the reason for the slow service. She was very attentive the entire time. She and her teammates were very pleasant and helpful during our visit, and I'm sure I'll be back for the awesome food someday... when I have several hours to burn. Pros: EXCELLENT food (except the Honey Toast), pleasant staff Cons: SLOW food orders
(3)
Rubie G.
The lobster dynamite roll was SCRUMPDIDLYUMPTIOUS. Enough said. No, really though, This will be one of my go-to dinner spots whenever I'm back in Oahu.
(5)
Ashley K.
First of all, definitely recommend getting a reservation if you want to eat on the weekend!! Lunch bentos are delicious and well portioned!
(5)
Debbie R.
This is the holy grail of Japanese food. 'nuff said. If I may be so bold as to recommend: spicy tuna on crispy rice, garlic shrimp rice then finish off your meal with the Honey Toast. OH, and the menu has pictures of all the offerings . . . very helpful. By the way, the food comes out looking EXACTLY like the pictures . . . !! This place is a winner!
(5)
Missy T.
I have been here twice since starting this review, and I can confidently say that while Shokudo definitely earned a solid 2-star rating, they sure are consistent. The first time a friend and I had lunch there (4/16/2012), our primary goal was to see what the Honey Toast hype was about. Seriously, our friends wouldn't shut up about it, so after our meals (I had the Shrimp Tempura Udon Noodle) we ordered one to share between us. Fast forward to my second visit - I was there with a party of about 12 and it was about time for dessert. The first-timers in the group saw the pictures of the infamous Honey Toast and asked if anybody had tried it. The following is my Honey Toast disclaimer: "The Honey Toast is a small structure made of bread. It is delicious, and you are not ready for it." Seriously, you'll cycle through all five stages of grief. Denial - "It's not THAT big, I'll finish it just fine!" Anger - "WHO THE F--- ORDERED THIS?!" Bargaining - "If I finish it all, can I have my soul back?" Depression - ":'(" Acceptance - "I will die because of this, and I am fine with that." So, to sum that up - You share that Honey Toast with a whole bunch of people, and you share it HARD. While the dessert is worthwhile (the Banana Flambe was pretty awesome, too), the entrees were just meh for the price. My udon the first time was okay, super filling, but mediocre in flavor; not the best $10 I've ever spent. The second time I got the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice I had mentally bookmarked during the first visit. I love me some spicy ahi, and was super excited to try Shokudo's version. I was a little disappointed when my plate arrived - the plate definitely could have used some wiping around the edges before it left the kitchen. The actual flavor was alright, although everything had a lukewarm temperature to it. I was expecting the rice to be hot, or at least warmer than it was, and the tuna to be cold. The rice WAS crispy, so that wasn't a let down, and the jalapeno slice on each piece of sushi was a nice addition, although it didn't make of for the lack of heat/flavor in the actual tuna itself. Again, not the best $13 I've ever spent. I'll go back to Shokudo to try their Happy Hour, I have yet to have ordered drinks from there, but will probably refrain from any lunch/dinner invites unless it's a special occasion for someone. Bottom line - Dessert, yes. Anything else, meh.
(2)
Diandra M.
I love it here! Great for a late night meal, or a nice lunch. If you ever want to just for for dessert, I suggest trying their Honey Toast! I love their menu and absolutely love the FREE green tea! The staff is young and energetic and provide excellent service!
(5)
Laura W.
Super trendy, but still casual. Got their lump crab meat roll. Interesting concept, but don't know if id order it again just because I wasn't a huge fan of how creamy the crab mixture was. The honey toast was yum! And the portion of edemame was great! Even had left over edamame to bring home!
(4)
Toni M.
Got seated quickly on a Friday evening and had great service - very attentive. Modern decor with cozy ambience. Enjoyed the lobster dynamite roll and, of course, the honey toast. This restaurant is a must when visiting Honolulu!
(5)
Raych D.
After my 5th birthday dinner (actual birthday) at d.k steak house last night I wanted to go to Shokudo to have some of their honey toast and since it was close to 1030pm for happy hour me and my ex did just that! Came in without a problem because we chose to sit at the bar just for the honey toast and maybe a shot or two. The place looked pack! Maybe because it was mid-term week so everyone needed to relax?..anyways the bartender Jess was super fast and nice, she ordered our junior honey toast as soon as 1030 hit and she even gave us a free scoop of vanilla ice cream after she jokingly said "I won't charge you for it, just give me a fat tip hehehe"! We ordered the li-hing sake shooters waiting for our dessert...and that shot was interesting to say the least. Maybe because sake with li-hing is already a strange combo but it tasted kind of bitter in my opinion. When we got our bill it was so cheap only like $7 for everything...so we ended up giving her, her "fat tip" like she requested
(4)
Ray L.
Go for the lunch specials here. The bomb is the tempura bowl. Its huge! There's many reasons to make a visit to Shokudo if you haven't yet. In addition to the lunch specials, they have happy hour deals which would make any monday blues go away. Lunch specials consists of a laminated sheet with various ramen noodles; miso, spicy etc but again the tempura bowl is a must try! Service is alway good with friendly hostesses and wait staff. Of course parking is never a problem with the Ala Moana center nearby.
(4)
Lillian H.
Shokudo has great food (definitely not traditional Japanese, though). I've loved the food at Shokudo since my first visit when it opened years ago. My friends, family, and I frequent Shokudo and is a common gathering place for us. Normally we have a good experience, but this past visit really ruined it all for me. It was a Sunday mid-morning, I was hungover from the night before, but I had to drive in from Mililani to have lunch with my family because my brother was in town just for the weekend. I tried to call around 10:30am to make a reservation, but my call went to voicemail. I figured they can't be THAT busy for lunch, so we just went without a reservation (party of 5). When I arrived, my brother and his girlfriend had already put our name down on the waiting list. We were next and they had told my brother they were setting up the table already and it should only be about 5-10 minutes. We sat outside waiting for 30 minutes, even after we checked in again twice. This did not make me happy at all. We were kept waiting, despite what we were told, for half an hour in the sun, while I desperately needed a cool non-alcoholic drink. When we were finally seated, NO ONE came to help us!! NO ONE served us WATER or asked what we wanted to drink! They just assumed we didn't need anything while we were looking at the menu?? I thought the standard procedure was to ask what we wanted to drink before taking our order, or at least to bring us water. Our waiter was really boring, unexciting, and overall just MIA. We kept needing things (i.e. water, tea, dessert) and he was never there to ask! He never checked in on us! We had to wave other people down for help. It was just ridiculous. Yes, it was pretty busy, but there were so many workers walking around, so I'm not sure why he couldn't pay attention to one of the tables he was assigned to. I'm not going to lie, I will probably be back for the food, but I really hope they improve their customer service ASAP.
(2)
Curt C.
Come for the Sushi, stay for the honey toast... Located next to Ala Moana, the parking lot is a bit hard to find and its a bit cramped, but there is usually enough parking for all. I recommend making reservations as it can be quite crowded especially during the dinner rush and can take over an hour if you didn't make reservations (trust me, I know haha). There is also a happy hour, however it is only from Sunday-Wednesday 10:30 to close. To me, the food is not the main attraction, although the food is good, it is far from great. We had ordered the Sushi Pizza, Korean Bibimbop, and Lobster Dynamite and it is an interesting twist on "staple" Japanese food. For me, I come to Shokudo for two things, the drinks and the honey toast. They have a good mixture of drinks ranging from beer to sake to "fruit infused Vodka soda" with flavors like Passion Fruit and Grape Calpico. While there we discovered there was a special, a 40 oz bottle of flavored Soju for only $28. There were multiple flavors to choose from such as Green Tea, Yogurt, and White Peach. We ordered Yuzu, and while it tasted delicious, it was noticeably sweet by the third shot, but well worth it for the price point and for the fun of having a huge bottle of Soju to take pictures with. However, the main reason to go to Shokudo is for the Honey Toast. Two thick loaves (I'm not even how to describe it, pieces? slabs? Take a look at the pics and let me know!) of toast with vanilla ice cream on top and drizzled with honey. There are additional toppings that can be ordered, but I stick with the original. Inside the outer crust of the toast lies square shaped cuts of bread that is drenched with butter and sugar. With each bite make sure to eat one piece of toast with some ice cream....just sublime. Would I go back? Yes. I would go back to grab a few drinks and then drool over the Honey Toast.
(3)
Michael M.
It's difficult to find an "easy" restaurant these days in town. Try walking into Morio's without a reservation. Try finding parking at Kohnotori's after 7. Try getting seated at Cheesecake Factory within 10 minutes of arriving. No dice. Wife and I came here for dinner at 5:30 and were seated instantly. Parking was bountiful because it's at Ala Moana. Our server was very mellow and actually put me in a better mood. I was a little salty that the hostess did not inform us that it was happy hour and we missed the last two spots at the bar. Our waiter reassured us that the Sake-tini's we ordered wouldn't have been on the happy hour menu anyway. Did I mention Sake-tinis? I first got turned on to this place at Yelp Uncaged when they were giving these gems away for FREE. At 8 bux a pop they are still worth it. I prefer the Lychee flavor. We did pupus for dinner. A shrimp tempura roll, crispy rice with spicy ahi, french fries with shiso salt, and yakisoba. My wife said the crispy rice spicy ahi was one of the best things she has eaten for a while. I said the shrimp tempura roll is one of the best thing I have eaten for a while. We are having some kinda culinary lovers spat. I love french fries done in Japanese restaurants. I'm not sure what they do to them that american restaurants can't do, but they always come out soft yet crispy. With shiso salt, they are tremendous here. Then....HONEY TOAST TIME!!!! I'm pretty sure they call it this because you have to share it with your honey. How come more foods are not served in a Jenga format? This thing is so huge and awkward, you just have to cowboy up and plunge in with your fork no matter how you look. If you don't have a honey they serve a "junior size." Dinner for two = 75 with 4 sake-tinis. This place gets packed fast. So if you want "easy" come "early."
(4)
Lora H.
Our waiter Paul was pretty awesome!! Nice guy, good service... and sometimes, well, who am I kidding... most of the time, service is what makes or breaks an experience! So he made our night pleasant! Now, for the food... love the food. My friend and I just had a bunch of appetizers family style. Mochi cheese gratin... wow! Hamachi Carpaccio... sooo good! Pork and Negi.... another wow! The only item we ordered that we would probably never order again is the foot long chicken katsu. Sure, it's a foot long... but you get a sliver of chicken under a butt-load of fried breading. Yuck. Okay, but other than that... great food! And the cool part Paul turned us on to... we ordered shochu. But he suggested that if we order the bottle, it comes out cheaper between the two of us, if we both had 2 drinks each, which we knew we would do! So the bottle it was... AND, they hold that bottle for you for two months so the next time we go, no cost for drinks. We just let them know that we have a bottle, which they even gave us a sharpie to mark up and personalize as our bottle, and we have drinks!! I mean really, what a GREAT idea! Convenient for us, and smart for the restaurant.... good way to get us to come back cause they know we're not going to just come and drink... we're going to order more food! Crowd was nice... an older crowd, but not too old. Nice mix of people, good people watching. Parking is free and easy. All in all a fun night out!!
(4)
MJ S.
The hosts, the servers, the restaurant itself are all very nice but the food is lacking. Lacking flavor, lacking creativity, lacking presentation. I think it's one of those places people go because everyone else goes, or to be seen maybe. They get a star for decor and nice service and another star for not giving me the evil eye when I brought my 2 year old in for dinner.
(2)
Stephanie D.
A really good place to go for happy hour! Cheap food and drinks, what more could you ask for?!
(5)
Juliene C.
I celebrated my birthday here a few days ago. Honestly, i just wanted to try the honey toast! I made reservations on a weekday around 2pm. Honestly, no need. The restaurant was not packed & we were seated right away. We parked at Ala Moana mall & walked. So, parking is not a big deal. The waitress was really sweet. Service was great. Another waiter checked in on us as well. That was cool. Very modern ambiance! On to the food! -tofu salad: sooo good! The dressing was tangy & sweet & i love the crispy wontons on top. I just wish there was more vegetables though. -teriyaki chicken quesadilla: it came with sour cream, diced tomatoes, & a cilantro dip. Very tasty. The teriyaki sauce is glazed on top. -sukiyaki bibambap: i've had better, but it isn't bad. Good flavor. -oxtail ramen: i didn't really fully enjoy this one. The broth was bland, but the oxtail was cooked to perfection. -toro sushi: fresh! I could eat more than 2 pieces, but it's $9 each! -melon float: looks good, but it was just whatever for me. I don't think i will be ordering this again. I should know better since i hate carbonated beverages. -honey toast: best thing i ever ate! It taste way better than the ones in California! So delicious! I could have ate it all to myself. It was lightly toasted & buttery. The honey was drizzled all over & there was 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream on top! OMG! We spent $80 with tip included. For all the food we got & the portions it came with, i would say the prices are reasonable. Most def coming here again!
(4)
Christine E.
I have not been to Shokudo in yearrrrsss. And in the last month, I've gone twice! the food is still pretty good, but the service, good grief! The two times I've gone here (one was late night, one was normal dinner time), 'service' was non-exsistent. Orders are taken fast, food even pretty quick to come out, but then you wait 10,000 years for follow up from your server. Or even water to be refilled. Multiple times my friends and I were like "lets just slowly walk out, see if they care then" (of course, we would never do that, but I think you get my point). So my advice, eat here when you got LOADS of time. Food. I looooove the mochi cheese thing. I loooooove the sushi pizza. I love unagi rice. and I love honey toast! That's pretty much the only things I think are worthwhile to get. The late night specials are pretty good too. And I like have a late night eating alternative that's not Zippys. :) Overall, food is pretty good, service not so much, definitely a good place to go with a bunch a friends for snacks and talk story time. But not really anywhere I'd seek out. Side note/random fact: We've noticed that on the playlist in this restaurant is always 1 good song, followed by 3 crappy ones.
(3)
Tim K.
My son, his wife and I had a most enjoyable experience, primarily because our waitress Robyn went out of her way to make us comfortable and meet our every need. The food, of course, was great, but the tipping point to making this a wonderful evening was the care and kindness shown by Robyn. There really should be more wait staff of her caliber.
(5)
Milly C.
There's already so many reviews on Shokudo; I'm not sure if I can add anything new... but I'll give t a try anyway! It was my first time ordering from the happy hour menu a few nights ago, and I'm happy to say I was pleasantly surprised. We ordered the lihing shooters and yogurt soju shooters ($2 each) and they were both really good! I think it was the best yogurt soju I've ever had. I'll definitely be going back for more! We also ordered spicy tuna roll, gyoza, fries, and the honey toast Jr. The food was alright, nothing stood out except the honey toast and the yogurt soju. The honey toast jr is better than the original honey toast. Not only is it cheaper, I think the proportion of ice cream to toast is better as well! I know, I know... you're all thinking that can't be right since the jr version is exactly half of the original... but it's true! My theory is that there's so much toast in the original that you gradually eat more and more ice cream to balance the dryness of the toast. However, because the jr honey toast is only half, you don't need to eat as much ice cream! Too bad it's only available during happy hour...
(4)
Rizelle Aira L.
Their udon is the best. Like this is the real udon that you can get in Japan! I mean other restaurants make their udon ok. But the best part about this restaurant is their dessert! Honey Toast. It's like bread with ice cream on top and caramel syrup. It sounds weird but it's really delicious. Haven't tried anything like this before. Favorite Japanese restaurant in Oahu (:
(4)
Paul H.
The main problem I had was the girl behind the counter when you first come in. I asked how long is the wait for 2. She said they are clearing tables right now and we will then be seated. I said, "oh, great!" The way she answered gave us the impression that we would be seated immediately. Over 30 minutes later we still weren't seated even though others were being seated. When i went back up there to ask how much longer, she said we will be seated very soon, but she had people with reservations that needed to be seated first. We would not have had a problem waiting if she had told us up front how long the wait was. But we felt that she intentionally would not tell us because she didn't want us to leave. It was very deceptive. Plus her attitude was really non caring. We didn't get a greeting, or a good bye. Get rid of this girl. 6/9/14, 8:00pm.
(1)
Jayson N.
Everytime I think of this place, "shokuDONT" comes to mind. Okay let's digress for a minute. The origin of shokuDONT comes from hanging out with my friends... Everytime we're drunk and we don't know where to go, it always ends up as a SHOKUDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.. And good decisions never follow. Anyways, friends from out of town wanted to eat dinner here so this review is solely based on dinner dining. For one, the menu isn't all that extensive. I mean you got some sushi rolls, some salads, and some ramen and udon. Very tapas and Izakaya like which I tend to like. I am all for getting a bunch of different stuff and sharing. I ordered the lobster dynamite roll.. And... for me it fell short. when you think dynamite, you think BAM.. IN THE FACEEEEEEEEEEEE... All I got from the roll was mehhh, mush. My friends spider roll was made with a small soft shell crab and a whole bunch of imitation crab.. BLEH... Definitely not my cup of tea...... Another friend ordered the Calamari Salad.. Okay this is my honest opinion on fried calamari.. If you know what the hell you're doing, you wouldn't place fried goodness on a bed of leaves with a crap dressing... That should be considered murder.. I mean it was a complete mess. The texture and flavors just did not work with my pallet. You can try it for yourself, but it just didn't work for me.. For dessert we had the HONEY TOAST or whatever people always rave about shokudo for.. I mean it was okay.. It didn't blow me away.. I much prefer the garlic pillow toast from kit-n-kitchen than this dessert toast.. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it.. The service was good, he was attentive without being pushy and the ambiance is quite nice.. I will say that people with uncontrollable children should not be allowed in nice places. I felt so bad for all those guys working hard on impressing their dates. Anyways, shokuDOOOOOOO for drinks.. shokuDONTTTTTTT for dinner.. trust me.
(2)
Yuriy B.
If you know and love sushi - this place is not for you. Ordered simple spicy tuna and it had no flavor. Then came our order of sashimi: - I've never seen sashimi cut like here, small and long . It looked like French fries not sashimi. - and it tasted the way it looked , horrible. We ended up eating none of that. Have to say a positive thing about our waiter. He went back and had "chef" re-cut our sashimi. And he didn't charge us for that as well. Overall - don't bother, find another place, there are plenty of good sushi around.
(1)
Jennifer L.
We arrived after 9pm on a Thursday and it was packed. We had a party of six but only had to wait 10 min. Lobster Dynamite roll - excellent! My favorite dish! It is very rich. It does mayo on it for those that might be adverse. Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice - nice and spicy. Spider Roll - typical spider roll Tempura Roll - I didn't try this. It was ok, nothing special. Red Eye Roll - good but not great. Spicy Scallop Roll - very good. This was the favorite of the table. Michi Cheese Gratin - like a french onion soup on top of Michi. It doesn't sound too good but we all really enjoyed it. Garlic Scallop fried rice - very good! I would recommend order this version or the shrimp version. Honey Toast - good. Extremely large portion. Very different and worth trying. Virgin Lava Flow - a little too sweet for me. Kirin frozen Ichiban Shibori - looks cool but is just Japanese Budweiser. The frozen head on top is supposed to keep the beer ice cold but that did not seem to be the case. I like the atmosphere of the restaurant. Service was great! The food came out at a good tempo. Great for groups. I would definitely come here again!
(4)
Mike A.
It's ooooook over rated for sure. fish wasn't fresh at all. I like my sashimi chilled not at room temp! friendly staff & the only thing that tasted ok was they're honey toast.
(2)
Jeannie L.
Food is always great. But the awesome service made it better. Thanks to our awesome waiter Grant!
(5)
Randall F.
My second visit in 3 yrs to Shokudo and this time for lunch was really good. We walked in around 1 pm on a Friday and not overly crowded. Our server was very friendly, almost 'professor like' and helpful with the menu. Taking time to digest the menu and using any super-vision to catch visual contact of food being served at other tables led to a very enjoyable meal. Oxtail Ramen? Not everywhere but was very good. Bibimbap in a hot stone cooking bowl, they call it Ishiyaki on their menu....oh, their presentation and use of colors is outstanding for a upper casual restaurant...see some of the pics posted. I could not get away from having the bento box, again the visual contact with my not so good super-vision saw a very neat and abundant meal that I had to have. Salmon Teri, Chicken Teri, Cali Rolls, Edamame, Soup, Salad...how can you miss? The table next to us (4 ladies) had the honey toast, but based on their comments and reaction (yes, super-nosey-hearing as well), the toaster or the honey had an off day. So, go try Shokudo for lunch or dinner if you haven't yet and try again if you thought it was just okay the first time around, we did and liked it.
(4)
James C.
Great food, Sushi pizza is a neat treat. I'd highly recommend trying the honey toast dessert!
(5)
Manda S.
Overall, I'd say the food at Shokudo is just okay...but its the convenience that makes it great! (+) I swear, this is the easiest place to bring big groups. They take reservations and I've even walked in with a party of 10 on a Saturday night and we were seated in about 15 minutes. (+) I think the food here is just okay, so we tend to come to Shokudo more to have drinks and appetizers more to eat dinner. There are a few things on the menu that stand out though! I think Shokudo is one of the only places that I've seen the fresh, homemade tofu in a restaurant (I only see it at Shirokiya sometimes, and once upon a time at a Tofu restaurant in Manoa that has closed down). And of course, honey toast? So bad for you but so good at the same time. My favorite is the cinnamon one. :) (-) They used to have this Mango Infused Sake drink. I bet it was just mango juice mixed with regular, cheap, sake but it was my favorite thing on the menu! They've axed the mango and now they've got li hing. I don't remember the li hing being half as good as the mango was. :(
(4)
Genelle S.
I really wanna love this place, but I can't. I really can't. It masquerades itself as a trendy upscale restaurant, but the food is not awesome nor is the service any different from CPK, for instance. The price is egregious for what you get and the food is just mediocre. Udon is $6.95 and coming from a Japanese restaurant, I expected it to be spectacular, but it tasted like instant noodles. I also had the famed lobster dynamite roll, which is good, but at $14.95 I could get a bigger and just as appetizing meal at genki or kuru kuru which actually specializes in good sushi, not this fake roll stuff. My friend ordered bi bim bop, which last time I checked was Korean not Japanese. And it's cool that it comes in that sizzling box that takes up half the table, but that's the thing. It takes up half the table. My other friend ordered teriyaki chicken quesadillas, which was basically bland chicken quesadilla drizzled with teriyaki sauce. Once again, eh, not amazing. Last but not least, the thing that bothers me the most is how this restaurant can get away with selling unsliced bread with ice cream and call it a specialty, and they charge what, $10-15? I could buy a loaf of bread and a tub of ice cream for that price. What a rip off. Filipinos have been eating bread and ice cream and selling them curbside on push carts for decades. All you did was slice it in fat pieces and put the ice cream on top, which if you ask me, is really lazy and cumbersome. Did you notice that by the end all you have is fat pieces of crust and no ice cream left? What a waste. Their web site says the food is meant for 'sharing' but with those portions there is no way it can be considered a 'family style' restaurant. It's certainly priced that way but the food is just not portioned that way. There's just nothing special about this place and it bothers me so much how so many can like it.
(2)
Chel T.
Definitely a fan of their drinks and desserts!! No doubt. I just wish their menu itself was a little cheaper or slightly bigger portions then it would be well worth it. A new 5 star experience awaits! :)
(4)
Darcie P.
Great for lunch and big groups! They can get you in and out in an hour or less. If not, let the servers know and they'll kick it up a notch. I love the bento boxes, cheapest box is $8.95. Great deals, good eats!
(4)
Troy M.
Went here for a drink and desert after a great dinner at Immana Tei. Monday night at 8:00 and the place was packed. If you have not been her the food is great and the decor is very modern and hip. Lots of younger people dine her. We had the usual desert the famed Honey Toast and a few drinks. 5 start for the honey toast but also 5 start for the staff. Since we were only in there for desert & we were not the biggest spenders but the staff (all of them) were great. I have to love when at least 4 people sincerly thank you while leaving. Highly reccomend this place for the great good, desert and staff.
(5)
Lindsay J.
The hubby and I met some friends here for some late night grub and drinks. It was our first time there, so we didn't hesitate to order different things. The portions are not too bad. It was enough to feed all 4 of us. We got a lot of food: unagi rice, "caterpillar roll" (unagi with avocado), sushi pizza (mix of salmon, scallops, crabmeat, baked sushi rice) ahi sashimi salad, ume cucumber salad, spicy tuna crispy rice, "foot long" chicken katsu, and a "red eye roll" (spicy tuna wrapped with tuna). They have lots of mixed drinks, but I only tried 2 vodka sodas which were mmmm.... yuzu citrus honey and passion fruit. Tasty and not overly pricey ($6.75). We still had room for dessert. So what did we order? HONEY TOAST: OMG. need I say more? As if 1 wasn't enough, with a tower of toast with little honey toast croutons hiding inside, covered with 2 huge scoops of vanilla ice cream. We HAD to order 2. I happily stuffed myself silly, enjoying every sweet morsel... YUM YUM YUM... Just make sure to call ahead for reservations in case they're busy.
(4)
Amber M.
Love this place! The food is consistently delicious, staff is professional, and the ambience is chic. Took my cousin here for the first time with our kids. She really liked everything we ate especially the honey toast (my favorite). Even when my son was whining I didn't feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. Thank you shokudo staff for making my cousin's first experience a great one!
(5)
Jeanne H.
FAVORITEST PLACE EVER! Not much seniors, just a lot of teenagers and/or adults Their happy hour is very very cheap and not to mention, DELICIOUS. Quality foods and very friendly staff. Food comes within minutes, and it's a great hang out place. Tends to get crowded, but you'll only need to wait 5-10 minutes for seating. Atmosphere is really cute, but the noise level is kind of high. Don't blame the people though, there's a bar right next to the restaurant. GET THEIR HONEY TOAST. It's the best dessert in the world. Or on happy hour, get the Jr. honey toast. It's smaller, but I recommend that because I could never finish the whole honey toast.
(5)
Kellie O.
Shokudo is one of the restaurants I could dine at almost everyday.Their yummy, fusion food, comfy ambiance and friendly employees are what makes you want to come back again and again! I recommend making reservations for large parties and being on time because there is a 2 hour dining limit. Don't fret about parking because you can either park in the structure behind the building or right across the street at Ala Moana Shopping Center. I've tried almost all of their items on their menu and loved them all! With each bite of the food, it excites my palate and satisfies my hunger. In addition to their good food, the sangria and honey toast dessert are a must try!! We NEEEEVER pass on honey toast. Somehow, we always have room for it. You won't regret trying it!
(4)
Lily B.
Been here once before with a bunch of friends after an event at the Convention Center... but my boyfriend looooves sushi... so after a Halloween Party at Aloha Tower I decided to bring him here. Ambiance is nice... tables on one side with booths... and then big white booths and tables on the other side... the bar is in the middle. It's really nice inside! Staff is always friendly and service tonight was exceptional... I think our server's name was Bobbi if I remember correctly... she was on it! We ordered the garlic shrimp rice (which I had last time)... and it was just as delicious as the first time I ordered it. TONS of garlic... and I loooove garlic! Jumbo shrimp not tough or overcooked even though the food continues to cook in the little skillet bowl they bring it in (I know there's a true name for the bowl it's brought in but I dunno what that is). My boyfriend ordered the spicy ahi roll... he said the ahi was "mushed" and he really didn't like it. :( I don't eat raw fish so I can't help out with that review... we also ordered the gyoza (which was pretty good!... the filling tasted... um... fancy?? for lack of a better word lol)... we liked it!... and the shrimp tempura was good also. Nothing fancy I'd say, but definitely yummy. My boyfriend also got the oxtail ramen, but it really didn't have much taste. He was super disappointed with his food. We also ordered the lobster dynamite but they were sold out. FAIL! Finally, for dessert, we ordered the oh so famous honey toast with butter, honey, and cinnamon. It's basically two HUGE pieces of toast... the middle is cut out and cut into squares, and then it's placed back into the crust with two big scoops of vanilla ice cream and the honey/butter drizzle. I have a super duper sweet tooth, seriously... and I must say... it LOOKS way better than it TASTES. Sad face. Needless to say... we came, we tried, we won't be back. :( Overpriced and over-hyped to me! Pricing... a little higher than average for sushi... but it's a higer upscale restaurant if you ask me...
(3)
Bradley H.
I've found this place is really hit or miss with some of the food. The Hits: Vodka Sodas...especially the grape calpico one. Yeah, i know grape calpico didn't sound so good when i heard it either, but from the ones i've had, this was the best. The Inari Fries...freshly made fries with nori flakes on them...if you like salty, this dish is for you. If not, you'll probably still like it. The Dessert Toast...Yes, a big waste of bread (you will know what i mean when you order this), but quite tasty...sweet bread topped with ice cream, honey, and another topping of your choice (cinnamon was very good). This is big enough to be shared with one other person. The Misses: The Vodka Sodas...went there twice and they didn't have the much anticipated blueberry vodka soda either time. The second time, they told us that the flavors were imported from japan and that they were out. I didn't know they only grew blueberries in japan. The Inari Fries...the second time we had these, the fries were totally overcooked...but we didn't complain because.... The Curry Fries...the first take, the curry served on them was cold...not a good start. Then we asked for the Inari Fries instead...after which they brought us another serving of the curry fries. Finally they brought us the serving of Inari Fries, but they were overcooked...so...see above... So yes...hit or miss...but a kind of trendy place that's active, but not too noisy that you can't have a good conversation... Happy Eating!
(3)
Ashlyn B.
Yelp 365 Challenge # 2/365 Me: "I wanna go out to eat tonight." Him: "I want Shokudo." Me: "I swear you can read my mind." Yes, "going out to eat" usually leads us to Shokudo for dinner. I love the Asian ambiance, the amazing customer service, and the Dynamite Lobster. I like to sip on a mojito while enjoying a Rainbow Roll. The food is awesome, and although I do enjoy the food here, I've had much better tasting sushi at other sushi joints. The sushi plates average nearly $10 for one plate. (Yikes!) I personally feel the service and presentation is involved with the price. I've read a lot of reviews about the Honey Toast. Definitely give it a try. I think it's a meal in itself and by the time I'm done with dinner, I'm too full to order dessert! But do try it if you haven't. Parking is in the back and usually free at night. Don't bring your lifted trucks or lowered cars, though!
(4)
Jonathan N.
Great place for a late night hang out and snack. Food is great here, just wish they had more variety of sushi....save room for their desert. if you come at a busy time the place could get a little noisy. The atmosphere is really nice in there.
(4)
Sereia C.
Friend calls me on phone: What are you doing later? Me: Not sure. Friend: What do you mean you're not sure? Did you forget what day it is? Me: Tuesday? Friend: Heeeelllllooooo?!?! Yes!!! IT'S HONEY TOAST TUESDAY!!! GET IN YOUR CAR IMMEDIATELY!!! This was what he called every Tuesday. He got super excited about honey toast Tuesday from the moment he woke up. Strange obsession. He's a bit of a freak, but I love him. I'm pretty sure there's no deal on the honey toast on Tuesdays, but that was the day he chose to drag us all there. It is pretty damn good. Description: 2 thick slices of bread, hollowed out, and filled with cubed pieces of bread, drizzled with honey, and topped with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream. Definitely try it. The menu: bonus points for having pictures of everything! Love that :) They have all the standard sushi rolls...but I like their unique sushi options...like spicy tuna crispy rice, sushi pizza, and lobster dynamite roll. Also good service, and free parking in the garage.
(4)
Elena H.
Trendy Japanese restaurant with a fun ambiance. Good drinks. The home-made tofu was not my favorite and the spicy tuna roll was kinda gross (not fresh at all). Everything else I ordered was pretty good. Would go again for the atmosphere, the creative seasonal drinks, and maybe an appetizer.
(3)
Brandon I.
Finally getting around to posting a review of one of my favorite go to places to eat. I'd say on my last 5-10 visits here, the service has always been really good and friendly plus most of the dishes on their menu I dig. On my last visit, we decided to try a few new items and most were good but one dish the Chicken Katsu Curry with Cheese came and the middle was cold. I informed our server and they were really good about it. Brought out a freshly made and piping hot one. I'd probably stick with my usual orders of the Mochi Cheese Gratin, Spicy Ahi Crispy Rice, Oxtail Ramen, and Sukiyaki Bi Bim Bap. Also try the happy hour menu, $3 and a variety of things to choose from.
(4)
Chelsey Y.
I work directly next door to Shokudo so we've done many lunches and pau hana's there. I've tried many things on the menu - the sushi is really fresh and yummy - the unagi rice bowl is SO tasty... but my favorite (and not very Japanese actually) is the teriyaki chicken quesadilla for some reason. One of the more surprising delights on their menu is the tofu salad (I know, doesn't sound very appetizing, but trust me - it is!) Also, you HAVE to try the dessert toast with ice cream and honey. So good! I've never had a bad meal here, and the price is pretty reasonable. It's a nice atmosphere, especially for happy hour where they have a pretty decent pupu menu. I would definitely recommend Shokudo for lunch, dinner, and happy hour with a big group of friends! It's a fun place!
(4)
Diana G.
I've eaten here about 3 years ago with my brother. I remember that they had great food and fantastic atmosphere. I finally had a chance to take my husband there a couple of nights ago. Our experience was much better than what I recall. The service was just outstanding. We were served by Tantra who was super. From the moment she greeted us, she was all smiles and happy and very attentive. Very detail oriented with our order. Thank you for a great experience.
(5)
Aubrey A.
The only thing holding me back from giving Shokudo 5 stars is the service. It is truly hit or miss, which seems crazy - I've seen their job postings on Craigslist saying that they get a large turnout of applicants for the server positions. Makes me think it would be very competitive to keep your job as a server there, but we have been ignored several times once we sat down so sometimes it seems they don't care. They just aren't very attentive. That being said, the thing that keeps us coming back (lots and lots of times!) is the FOOD. Which is amazing. Our two favorite food items hands-down are the Lobster Dynamite Roll and the Honey Toast, of course. During their 6th anniversary celebration, we were one of the first 600 to get the PB Choc. Honey Toast and become part of the Honey Toast club, which entitles us to two free extra scoops of ice cream on our honey toast for a year! So awesome. Why we never though to add two extra scoops of ice cream on it in the past is beyond me! More ice cream = better honey toast! We haven't tried all the flavors of honey toast yet because our favorite (cinnamon) is just too good to pass up.
(4)
Kate Y.
Food is good, tiny bit above average, but I think it's little too pricy, we ordered bimbibam, hamachi,spicy miso ramen nd green tea shake, it cost 54 include tips...it worth to try if someone treat you :p
(4)
Lisa C.
Sushi Pizza, lobster dynamite, salmon rice, delicious mojitos(lychee and yuzu were my fav), flavored saketinis, baked banana flambe, honey toast, and our great server, Tarik....all of which made our experience enjoyable here. He even surprised us with a comp dessert for a friend's birthday. The honey toast topped with vanilla ice cream was a brillant invention! Definitely save room for it. Come here if you're looking for a nicer place to do dinner. Great food and good drinks.
(5)
Catherine K.
Shokudo is a favorite restaurant of mine, I LOVE their food, drinks and desserts. Here's a couple of things I have experienced from my many times being here. PARKING: The Parking structure is tiny, and for anyone with a large vehicle, have fun getting in there because it is very tight. If you go before ala moana closes, I'd suggest to park there, up the ramp by macys. SERVICE: The service here isn't the best. Honestly they take forever to seat people and even longer for the food. The waiters and waitresses are very nice though and make you feel a little better about waiting for so long. THE PLACE: It's clean and has a lot of asian influenced furniture, and although it says casual, trust me I usually wear a dress or at least something a little dressy for dinner. Lunch is more casual. FOOD: Okay, my favorite part is the food. I've tried a LOT of this menu and these are my recommendations: Appetizers/Salad -Mochi Cheese Gratin melted cheese on top of soft mochi baked, how bad can that be ! -Calamari Tempura really light tempura batter makes this really yummy (w/ lemon) -Homemade Tofu Salad very filing, and flavorful ! seriously try this ! I don't like tofu or salad too much but I LOVE this salad. -Lobster Dynamite baked lobster dip with crunchy bread, delicious. Sashimi/Sushi -Ahi Tataki with Garlic Chips small portion but tastes fresh and good if you have a small appetite like me -Red Eye Roll this is basically spicy tuna with extra ahi slices on top. I love ahi so I almost always get this. btw it's pretty spicy and I'm korean so... -Spicy Tuna on Cripsy Rice suhi rice fried into a crispy square topped with spicy tuna and a jalapeno. It's not as spicy as you think it is but it's really tasty. -Sushi Pizza so weird, but it is really good. It's one of those "you just have to try it" dishes Ishiyaki -Salmon Rice If you like salty and fishy foods, this is definitely for you. -Garlic Shrimp RIce this is like a bowl of garlic mixed with rice and shrimp. if you're not a big garlic fan, ummm good luck ? -Unagi Rice a must if you like unagi Dessert -Honey Toast (Strawberry, Oreo Cookie&Cream, Original) what Shokudo is known for -Melon Shave Ice even though everyone always gets Honey Toast, my friend hates bread so we got this instead, it was sooo good. Drinks (just try them, especially the aiko=my fave) -Lychee Vodka Soda -Grape Calpico -Aiko Saketini -Melon Float -Grape Calpico Float -Green Tea Shake
(4)
Stephanie C.
I remember the first time I went to Shokudo was when I was on vacation here a few years ago. My friends and I were driving around in our rental car looking for a place to eat and the decor of this place caught our eye. Where I'm from, when you walk into a place like this you expect the prices to be kind of high, so we were delighted when we opened the menu and prices were.... cheap! The ambiance and decor of Shokudo is great, trendy but not intimidating. I've gone here plenty of times dressed shabbily after a long day at the beach and have never felt out of place. It's also a great place to go with friends before a night out on the town or even date night with the bf. Every time I get visitors from the mainland I bring them here and they always like it, some even ask to return. Every dish they make has a unique twist to it that's pleasantly unexpected. I always get the lobster roll, sushi pizza, and mochi cheese gratin. I've pretty much tried everything on the menu and have yet to dislike anything!
(5)
Crystal J.
This place is very friendly and enjoyable to be at with your friends or family. The atmosphere is very alluring and it feels as if you could just stay there all day. Though, the food is only sub-par. It really isn't anything special and is just maybe three levels up from a restaurant chain. Though, the variety of food and drinks they have make up for it. From chicken katsu to sushi, you can satisfy any local craving you have. The drinks are also quenching and unique, as they have things ranging from alcoholic sodas to green tea shakes and floats. Also, a signature dessert from Shokudo is the popular Honey Toast. The Honey Toast consists of two large pieces of bread that were removed of the center whites that were chopped up, toasted, then drizzled in honey. To top it off is some nice, delicious vanilla ice cream. You can also choose what toppings you'd like on the Honey Toast too. This place is very popular with young people and gets extremely busy at night, so if you want to eat comfortably, I'd recommend going at around noon.
(3)
Anela A.
There are a few yummy dishes, like the cheese mochi, dynamite lobster and the honey toast but as a whole, the menu was pretty limited and average. Our table oredered a whole bunch of different dishes and I found the quality, taste and creativity of the dishes to be pretty poor. The service was awful. For a Monday night when it wasn't too busy our server took so long to take our order and bring our food and our food all came out at different times. Then at the end when we are eating our dessert, the hostess had the nerve to come over and tell us we had to leave because our 2 hour time limit was up! How rude when they were so slow! Not worth the $60.
(1)
Evan C.
As a first time diner at Shokudo, I had gone there with high hopes. Alot of my friends and family have eaten there and told me all about the awesome food, and ambience, so i was pretty excited for my first time. We had to wait only about 20 minutes when the four of us were then seated. My two friends ordered sushi and beer (don't remember which ones) and me and my other half ordered the fried calamari salad, miso ramen, and the teriyaki chicken. The three dishes were very good, the teriyaki chicken came with wasabi mashed potatoes, which were soooooo good (probably my favorite part of the dish). The miso ramen was spicy, and the calamari salad was also very tasty. Desert we of course tried the honey toast (something I had heard alot about as well) and it was very tasty. Not only was the food good.. but our server, Michael was awesome. He was a very good server, and I will be returning asking to be served by him. He made us laugh, let us know how much longer our food would be, and overall made the experience that much more pleasant. 5 stars! good job Shokudo
(5)
Anjyl J.
A friend and I were here a few nights ago for the late night happy hour. It was sort of busy but we didn't have to wait very long to be seated. Our server was great, very polite, friendly and funny. We basically only came for the honey toast but we ended up getting a few other things from the menu, including drinks. I think the server was Steven. He never let our waters go empty and even halved our honey toast onto two separate plates since I was sick. You should definitely try to get him as your server, he'll take good care of you.
(5)
cindy q.
Ok,first time here so I read some reviews to see what to expect.Thank you everyone!! a reservation is a must for any group size because when we met up w/our friends there was a crowd waiting outside and it was crazy busy. The food was good,the service was great. Every review pretty much talked about the food,service and parking.but what made me like this place even more is the fact that they let kids use a IPad while dining in the restaurant. We had our 3 year old son with us we notice other diners w/kids have I pads on the table and asked if we could get one for our son they said sure but you would have to leave a credit card w/them and after our dinner drop it off to the front where you pick up your credit card. No charge at all. We loved that idea and there was a good amount of movies and games to entertain our son while we enjoy our dinner with friends.
(4)
Reuben R.
Yeesh... my what, third visit here??? What happened!? We were seated quickly and forgotten. I dunno, Im not sure its all worth eating here... maybe should just go here to drink and get honey toast. Its funny, because even after we finally got our meals, after we finished we were forgotten again! And it wasn't even that busy... c'mon! it shouldn't be a 3 hour visit just for two people!!! I pretty much wanted to just walk to the register and ask for our bill but my date didn't want me to make a scene -___-
(2)
Jessica Y.
We hit up Shokudo last night for our work "christmas" outing. Yeah, I know it's almost Valentine's day but the holiday season is pretty hectic for us. I had to adjust our reservation several times and the staff was very accommodating. We ended up with a party of 18, including several children and got seated on the rising side of the restaurant. I don't know if our waiter was overwhelmed by the amount of people we had in our party or what, but the entire meal was chaotic. We started with drinks and he took some people's food orders and didn't take others. After he had taken everyone's order, we realized that he had still forgotten some people and put in their order later. I would say about a quarter of our group got their food almost immediately, but another quarter of our group didn't get their food for another 45 minutes! One person in our party literally did not get her dinner until we were ordering dessert, about an hour after the first group got their food. Another person was served the wrong type of sushi roll and was told it would take an extra 30 minutes for them to correct the order! As far as the service went, they most definitely did not have their bleep together that night. As far as food goes, my boyfriend and I split the dynamite lobster sushi ($15), the sushi pizza (about $15 as well), the honey toast ($8), and some sort of nori french fries ($5). The lobster dynamite sushi was a 4/5. The lobster dynamite was great, big chunks of lobster in a spicy sauce. The thing that wasn't so great about the dish was the sushi, which was kind of soggy and fell apart when I picked it up with my chopsticks. You can also order the dynamite dip by itself with crackers, which I think would be better. The sushi pizza was also a 3.5/5. The concept was interesting, a layer of nori with sushi rice and a imitation crab/mayo mix baked on top. This had a little too much mayo and was also a little soggy. The nori fries were yummy, very freshly fried with just the right amount of seasoning. 5/5 As far as their famous honey toast went, I would rate it a 4/5. The toasted bread in the middle was super buttery and covered in honey and paired great with the ice cream. I was really looking forward to dinner at Shokudo because I had heard such good reviews about them. With the experience we had there last night, I might not ever return, ESPECIALLY not with a party of more than 4 people since the restaurant is clearly not capable of serving that many people at once. Food-wise if you're craving Japanese and are on the leeward side, hit up Kunio's in Waikele. That place is bomb! (FYI-if you're in a big group you can only split your check into 4 different bills so be prepared).
(2)
Ronnie S.
Great service, aesthetic and vibe in this large Honolulu restaurant. Must have's are the fried rice nigiri with spicy tuna on top, the tofu salad and of course the honey toast. Go, get some!
(4)
Michael Q.
Before I start...Honey Toast with Cinnamon. You owe it to yourself. This place is always crowded so make a reservation. Good for large gatherings. Spicy tuna crispy rice is a must. Along with the Ahi tataki and Balsamic beef tataki. Assorted sakes also to go along with the extensive menu. Did I mention the Honey Toast?
(5)
Gidget T.
Shodudos is absolutely delicious. If you haven't been there before, the only thing you need to taste to get hooked is their Honey Toast. It's one of the most delicious desserts I've ever had, and large enough that you could share it with two or three people. Sometimes, I go there for that alone. They do have some great dinner entrees, as well. I normally get the Teriyaki Chicken and my husband likes the Bimimbap. The Happy House specials are nice. I'm a fan of their Sangria as well as their Sake-tinis (which are NOT included in the Happy House special). Most 2 - 3 person seating is on the left in small tables and booths that are comfortable but a little tight on room. Larger groups normally sit to the right where they have large booths and are very comfortable and spacious. Not to mention elevated, so you get a nice view of the whole restaurant. The bar has lots of seating, has a television and serves full meals if you would rather not wait for a table to open up. The service is always fast and friendly when I've been there and the average wait (on weekends) seems to be around 20 - 30 minutes. They have a small waiting area inside, but on a crowded night you'll probably have to wait outside. Overall, the service and good are very good. The Honey Toast is excellent and worth the trip in itself. It's one of my favorite "date night" spots on the island. I take one star off only for some of the prices and the cramped seating you sometimes get stuck with when in a party of 2 (the angled tables in the center, under the lighting structure). Though, if you can get a small booth, it's very nice.
(4)
Rita L.
favorites: Crispy fried rice sushi, sushi pizza, yukari fries, and honey toast! I love the salmon rice too! portions are nicely sized! the ambiance is great here! heard they have great lunch here, alwasy was here for dinner! free parking and great service!
(4)
Raquel K.
best honey toast with molasses and adzuki beans...great service and chill atmosphere
(5)
Mitchell L.
I can't count the number of times I've been to Shokudo now, and don't plan on trying. Shokudo is an upbeat spot in a decent location with Asian Fusion on the menu. They have a special lunch bento menu, as well as an after dark bar pupu selection. Definitely get there "after dark" and try the dozen or more choices for $3/each; it will give you a taste of what the regular menus are all about. I dropped a bill or two with a friend one day trying everything that looked good on the menu. These are some of my favorites: Yukari French Fries - It's something about hot french fries that always wets the appetite. Mochi Cheese Gratin - This may not be texturally for everyone, but if you like cheese and mochi, you'll love this. Lobster Dynamite Roll - Think lobster in a densely rich cream sauce poured over a California roll and popped in the oven. Ya, that does sound good. Fried Calamari Salad - If you like freshly fried calamari, and a cilantro-packed salad this is for you. For the price, you can't beat it. Tokyo Shoyu Ramen - It's not the best there is, but it certainly hits the spot in a hurry. Unagi/Garlic Shrimp Rice - These are donburi's in a large hot pot that you can cook the rice to a crisp in. Very tasty stuff. Spicy Ahi Nachos (After Dark) - Need I say more? Honey Toast - I suppose this is probably what they're best known for. I've had it about half a dozen times now, and I tell you -- it doesn't get old. Think of a half loaf of bread, which innards are cut into cubes just for you, glazed over in honey and your choice of topping (cinnamon is best) and toppled with two scoops of vanilla ice cream. Heaven? No. Heavenly pillows of toast and ice cream? Yes. Om nom nom nom nom nom.
(4)
Jeremy L.
Stupid promotions. If you come for happy hour make sure everyone is over 21 or you cannot order off their happy hour menu. Our whole experience was horrible. Do not recommend and definitely will not be back
(1)
Kandice S.
super great lunch. we ate lunch family style, everything we ordered was delicious. loved my sushi pizza and lobster dynamite. you have to try the honey toast...
(4)
Craig P.
I personally like shokudo a lot! Especially the honey toast! and its many variations!!! Love it~ In my opinion: The Good: nice clean atmosphere. More upscaled so quality is expected and delivered. Absolutely love the honey toast and drinks! You've HAVE to try the Honey toast at the very least! That's what shokudo is known for! If you have a larger appetite I think the ishiyaki bowls will satisfy you...just eat the smaller expensive stuff off of your friends plates! :P The Meh: When dealing with mayo it'll always be some what of a hit or miss. Granted that it happening 1/3 times isn't much of a consistency issue it does affect your perceptions. Long wait to get a seat if you go during the dinner rush. If you have a larger party always call in a reservation. Saves you a looooot of time. Always a good place for dinner when you feel like splurging on sushi!
(4)
Panda G.
The decor was very nice but the the selection of sushi is really not there. A lot of the rolls have jalapeno in them and there is only a short list of rolls to choose from this is not your typical sushi restuarant. Its better for their other entrees. I had the honey toast and it was nothing to rave about. Sansei would be a better choice if you were looking for a sushi bar.
(2)
Walter A.
Rawr Honey toast after drinking in Chinatown is the perfect way to start your Waikiki drinking night. If you do not like hipster/trendy Asian scene, you might want to steer clear from this restaurant. The food is delicious but will leave you hungry (if you aren't used to Japanese-style portions). If I focus on the food and not each person taking a picture of their food, I'm okay eating here. The parking is okay and free. If you plan on going to the restaurant on a usual busy day and time, be prepared to wait.
(4)
Christine C.
This place is close to home and work, so I had to check it out. The food, service, and atmosphere is all good! We had the unagi & rice and albacore on crispy rice. It was good. I also enjoyed the leechee martinis- Yumm!
(4)
Brent K.
I must say, I thought this restaurant was better when it came to service. The food is great, but the service they have for this restaurant, ABSOLUTELY SUCKS!!! I called to make a birthday reservation for a friday in the private room for 7:30pm for 16 pax . The initial person I spoke to confirmed everything and I thought it was all set. Here is what happened: 1. Got called 3 days later and was told whoever took the reservation made an error in booking the private room and that they don't make reservations for 7:30pm....UM HELLO...why have someone answer the phone then!!!! 2. Was told my only options were either 6:00pm or 8:00pm and I only had a 2 hour window and that we would have to leave after 2 hours...WTH?!!! 3. Was then told that if my reservation dropped below 12 pax, I would be charged an additional $300 for the room...AGAIN, WTH??!!! 4. So I switched the reservation just to the dining area to avoid the charge 5. I called back a couple days before the date of the reservation to make sure all was set. I was told that I still had the private room. WHAT?!! Finally the day came and we got to the restaurant and MORE POOR SERVICE. 1. I told the manager I was here for my reservation, he looked at the res sheet and then looks up and says, "oh, my hostess will help you with the res since I can't find it?" WHAT KIND OF MANAGER ARE YOU!!! 2. As the dinner went on, the server came to our table as we were finishing desert and says, "the other party checked in and you have to leave." HOW DO YOU TELL PEOPLE WHO ARE CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY TO LEAVE!!! 3. Looking over the bill, they didn't even give us a free honey toast desert for the birthday person!! All in all, this place NEEDS A MAJOR CHANGE with their service. They are absolutely HORRIBLE. DO NOT PLAN ANY PARTIES HERE!!!
(1)
Maika Y.
Yesterday was my second time here. It was better yesterday because the first time i came it was on my birthday, almost 10 months ago. I never came back here until yesterday because on my birthday last year, I hated this place. 1st time: I was wearing really silly pink 'happy birthday' glasses so it was OBVIOUSLY my birthday. Our waitress was always mumbling and I htink she had a bad day that day. I didn't really let that bother me so I just ordered my food. the food was pretty good, i must say. their honey toast is the bomb! But our waitress dropped a glass plate right night to my foot. I didn't get hurt and I was going to let it go after she apologized because everyone makes mistakes. I've dropped 2 glass plates before. but she was STILL mumbling when she apologized. The look on her face when she dropped it right next to my foot was "oh, shoot, oh well, sigh." I also got food poisoning. I tipped the girl a penny, which i had NEVER done before and probably never will. It was my birthday so I was just expecting good service. 2nd time: It was my friends birthday so I went, hesitantly. I just had the oreo toast which was also really good, and it was a different server and he was pretty nice. The yakisoba I tried was pretty good, but being japanese - it tastes nothing like the REAL yakisoba. It was ok though.
(1)
Nicole M.
If you're looking for good sushi for decent price and in a nice setting, Shokudo is the place to go. The honey toast is also amazing. Hits the spot every time:)
(4)
Kelly T.
CROWDED & NOISY: That's my first impression of my first visit to Shokudo. Met up for dinner here with my girlfriends and when I arrived (a few minutes late), it was so noisy and crowded that I could barely get a word in to the hostess to ask where my party was seated. Maybe it just means that I'm getting old...but I felt like there were too many tables packed in there and the noise level made it almost impossible to have a conversation. SERVICE: Our server was attentive enough, at the beginning. But once our food was finally on the table, it's like he just disappeared ... for the rest of the night. FOOD: I ordered a spicey ahi sushi roll...which was decent enough and had a nice kick to it. I'm not sure if I'd get it again though as it wasn't any more impressive than a spicey ahi roll at a fast food sushi spot (eg. Ninja Sushi, Genki). I tasted my friend's Bi Bim Bap, which comes sizzling on your table and the server mixes it for you. It was fine, but again...could get something similar elsewhere. AGAIN: It was an okay experience, but I doubt I'd go out of my way to go back to Shokudo...not even for the honey toast. :0(
(3)
Stephie L.
Always a happy time at Shokudo :) whether it's a vodka soda, cinnamon honey toast or Hamachi Carpaccio. Just to name a few of my favorite things..
(5)
Stephanie H.
I have been here three times and every time I have enjoyed the food immensely. Just the thought of the lobster dynamite roll makes my mouth water, not to mention the infamous honey toast or "honey tooooooast!" as I lovingly refer to it. Today, though, I visited Shokudo during the lunch hour. I love it when restaurants have a great lunch menu, and Shokudo is one of them. Since my new health kick is still in full effect I zeroed in on the Healthy Bento. It comes with four pieces of sashimi (ahi and salmon), miso soup, homemade teryaki tofu, green salad, and California roll. Let's just say if I could eat like this everyday I would never have a problem with eating healthy. Everything tasted good especially the salad and the roll. Our server was really nice too, she was friendly but maybe just a little slow. This wasn't a problem since it was a Sunday afternoon and my friend and I were in no hurry at all. OK OK, so maybe I cheated a little a splurged on a flavored vodka soda, but I'm glad I did because it was worth every sip. I got the Lychee vodka soda and it was huge! It had just the right amount of vodka (not too strong and not too weak) and a nice lychee flavor; crisp and fresh. It's the weekend, if you can't splurge on the weekend when can you?
(4)
iFloyd P.
If I had one word to describe this place, it would be overpriced. Everything that I've tried (sushi pizza, fries, dragon roll) was good, but in my opinion, not worth your hard earned money. Also, a lot of people rave about the honey toast, but at that price tag, I believe there are better desserts around. They do have some things going for them such as the Lychee mojito and the ambiance is great, especially for big gatherings (I guess that's why I keep coming back).
(2)
Alvin P.
Okay Shokudo, what the heck happened to you? I remember this being the go-to restaurant for the hip and happenin' demographic and everyone raving about their food. That was then, and this is now. I couldn't help but notice that the quality of the food has gone WAY down. And I mean it: it's pretty bad. The last two times I've been here, I left with a bad taste in my mouth -- literally! My friends and I love sushi, and since Shokudo is open conveniently late on the weekends, we frequent here whenever we are in town. On our last visit, we ordered the usual popular dishes: spicy ahi roll, mochi cheese gratin, pork gyoza, and tempura udon. We were instantly disappointed with the quality of our food (and no, we weren't even talking about the pitiful portions). For starters, the spicy ahi roll came out extremely cold. Even the plate it came on was like an ice block -- as if they were keeping it in the freezer or something. The rice was extremely hard, the fish had a gross brown color to it, and it had no taste at all. For about $9 a roll, I rather eat air. Next, our pork gyoza was DRENCHED in oil. In fact, it practically looked like a gyoza soup since it was swimming in that stuff. I understand that gyoza is fried, but jeez, that's a little too much -- even for me. Our mochi cheese gratin was probably the only "passable" dish we ordered. Even so, it was definitely not up to our standards, and I feel like the only reason why we were semi-satisifed with it was because we were so disappointed with the dishes preceding it! The tempura udon was extremely bland and the noodles were overly soggy and broke apart too easily. Nothing really to say about that either. One thing I will say is that I've never had a problem with the service at Shokudo. Usually the servers are very polite and give cordial service. It's just the matter of food here that will deter me from future visits. And plus, isn't that what a restaurant is about anyway? Good service is essential at a restaurant, but good food is what will ultimately keep customers coming back. People say "I'm craving sushi!" not "Hmm...I'm craving some good service today!" Oh Shokudo, how the mighty have fallen.
(2)
Janel T.
Last nights visit with a group of seven was by far a good evening. Made reservations at 8, got in a little before 8., took our orders and received them within 20 mins., waiters was awesome and friendly., Food was great with a variety of sushis, rice platters, and appetizers. Their signature dessert was great honey toast original. It just melted in your mouth...
(4)
Diane L.
I'm also a fan of the mochi cheese gratin; I know it sounds weird, but try it! It's tasty! The fresh tofu salad is really good, as well as every variety of sushi I've tried. I also enjoyed their clam miso soup that last time I visited. I like their honey toast; the last time we got it we tried it with azuki bean. It's a bit big for two people though. The wait time seems strange and unintuitive; we were told that there would be a 30 minute wait for a table for two, but when we decided to sit at the bar instead we noticed several empty tables, which stayed empty throughout our dinner.
(4)
Sandy H.
I was very excited to try this place out for the first time after hearing such great reviews from family and friends. I looked at their menu online and found their prices to be comparable to that of other Japanese restaurants. It really didn't matter because I really hoped I just made it through dinner in one piece so that I could enjoy the Honey Toast. BF ordered the Lobster Dynamite and the Teri Chicken Quesadilla. While the latter makes me wonder what's so "Japanese" about it (the teriyaki?), I had a piece of the quesadilla and found it pretty decent. I ordered the seared beef sushi and my usual staple, chicken karaage. The chicken karaage was soft and flavorful. I wasn't a huge fan of the beef sushi and made note of it not to order it again for future visits. Thankfully we had enough room for the Honey Toast, and after devouring the ice cream had a few pieces left to take home and enjoy later. We went on a Monday night and was told that it was going to be a 30-40 minute wait for a table. Surprising for a Monday night. As luck would have it, we only waited 10 minutes for a table. Upon ordering our food, we were told that the kitchen was really busy so our food might take a bit longer to come out. They were off on their estimation because our food came out right away. Our overall experience was a pleasant one, but we probably won't be rushing over anytime soon...unless I have a hankering for Honey Toast, of course. Other than that, I'll just think of Shokudo as the Zippy's of Japanese Food.
(3)
Roberto L.
We went here last night and had a good time overall. I would make a reservation to be safe, we did not. Although we didn't make a reservation, we were told the wait would be 20-30, but it took maybe 10. These people are really fast at turning tables! The Drinks: Gin&Tonic ($8) - Was it worth 8 bucks? Probably not, but it was a Bombay and was fairly strong. I took the 8 dollar sticker as a friendly reminder that I live in Hawaii. Asahi Super Dry ($7) - This is more like it. Big bottle and less than the gin. Go with these. The Food: Chicken Curry ($13) - AWESOME! Best curry I have had since Japan. Really good stuff here. Garlic Shrimp Bowl ($12) - We get this every time we go, it is pretty dang good. I have had this several times and it has never disappointed. Tempura Roll ($11) - My wife at this and I just asked her what she thought of it, "it's my favorite thing on the menu, I'm never disappointed". She really likes this too because she is pregnant and cannot have a lot of fish. Honey Toast ($8) - Just get it!! BOTTOM LINE This place is awesome and great for couples or the whole family. Sometimes the service can be lacking and food will come out as it is made, not all at once. I would highly recommend this place to anyone visiting or local.
(4)
Marlon I.
Me and a few friends were at the mall, and nothing at the mall was cutting it for us, so then I remembered that the "hype japanese honey bread restaurant" was just a walk away, and so we all decided why not try it? We called to see if we needed to make reservations, or anything and they nonchalantly said "No, just come in." And was I surprised, cause all I see on facebook is like "Omg, waiting 30 minutes to be seated at Shokudo is so worth it!" LOL. When we got there we were promptly seated, and so I got the grilled teriyaki salmon steak, and a plantation ice tea. My friends got those hot stone rice meals, it was all good actually, and then dessert came, which is of course was the honey toast, and it was okay. I don't see what they hype about it was? I'm pretty sure I could just grab a loaf of bread, cut the inside into cubes and toast the thing, add a few scoops of ice cream and a drizzle of honey, and voila, Honey Toast at home. lol. Overall Shokudo a good restaurant, I've had better food actually. Too overrated if you asked me lol. I'd come back though, to try the hot stone rice meal.
(3)
Jay A.
Going to Shokudo "Suckdodo" have been the worst idea ever. To think that we were going to celebrate our 14 year anniversary there. We waited an hour and fifteen minutes for a table that's suppose to be available in 30-45 minutes. My wife, my son, and I was starving. I give the place a -5 stars! We left after being pushed back several times. If this is how they're going to treat customers, I don't want to be one!
(1)
Lauren C.
When you have friends or family visiting our little island you want to take them places you know they are going to enjoy. Having never been to Shokudo before, I was a little hesitant bringing a out-of-towner. I was rather surprised! We sat at the bar and ordered a few rounds of sake and a few rolls. Jess, our bartender/server made us feel instantly welcome. She made sure that our sake was filled, our conversation was flowing and our belly's were full. Now on to the food. Rainbow roll, red eye roll, spicy tuna roll and the lobster dynamite roll were all fresh and delish. I have to say I am partial to the rainbow roll but the lobster roll was out of bounds. Really really good. Having read all the reviews about the honey toast I was really looking forward to having some at the end of the meal, but alas, my eyes were bigger than my tummy and was just stuffed with sushi. I could not eat another bite! I didn't pay the bill but the one that did never looked shocked at the bill so I guess that's a good sign.
(4)
Renae B.
This is THEE place that got me loving Unagi. Their foods are exquisite and delicious. The first time i tried Shokudo, i feel in love. The servers are always nice, and the atmosphere is super chill. I've tried a great deal here, all being quite amazing, but the one thing that most people go for is the Honey Toast. Honey Toast is one of the most perfectly sweet desserts that I have ever tried. I only go for the honey flavored, nothing too fancy.
(5)
J L.
Okay, so I know there are so many reviews on this but I just decided to put my review out there as well. So I went here with me and 5 other friends and we decided to choose 4 dishes and split them family style. Honestly, I don't think this is a good idea. I actually don't recommend going here with more than 2 or 3 people unless you plan on spending quite a bit of money. The dishes are made for maybe 2 people maximum to share. Not for 6 people like we did. So there wasn't enough food for everyone to eat. Fortunately, 2 other of our friends ordered their own dishes so we had a little more to share. The food we tried was pretty tasty, except for the chicken katsu dish. It wasn't anything special. It tasted like something you could get at Zippy's. So I recommend skipping that dish. The garlic shrimp and rice dish and the teriaki chicken quesedillas were my faves. And of course for dessert we had the famous Honey Toast. In my opinion, it is OK. I don't think it's anything to rave about. I think it's more of how interesting it looks that make people want to try it. Most people only eat the middle of the bread and don't eat the outside bread because it's so dry. Well our group was determined to finish EVERYTHING so that's exactly what we did. Even if the bread was dry, we ate it because we don't like to waste! I think it looks cool, but other than that, it's something you can make at home. Just get some bread, drizzle some honey and put scoops of vanilla ice cream on it. Bam! Pretty much exactly like the one here. The atmosphere of the restaurant is nice, has a very modern look. Comfortable climate conditions. The wait is always usually long because it is such a popular restaurant. So I definitely recommend making reservations unless you're willing to wait about 45 minutes. Overall, I think if you make reservations, come here with only 2-3 people and maybe go somewhere else for dessert, then it would be better.
(3)
Kevin M.
Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar Ala Moana Pacific Ctr 1585 Kapiolani Blvd Honolulu, HI 96814 When we got there we were quickly seated, staff seemed pleasant, and friendly. We figured they would get slammed for the Halloween rush and service would be minimal to none "Wrong"... To me in Honolulu, the food choices are getting a bit blah for causal dining. So I wanted to go somewhere that the locals go to though, and don't really have to dress to impress you can fit right in with just food and drinks. Prices are really reasonable, service and food excellent for casual dining.
(4)
Matthew K.
The food was good. The service was great also. Our party was so huge because we had about 25-30 people. It was understandble that they couldnt help everyone all at once. I do think they did a good job though. I got all the drinks I ordered they food they served was great. I think the wedding party was happy also.
(5)
Rachel S.
Shokudo is meh. 12 bucks for meh bibimbap. 12 bucks for a piece of unagi on rice. I think we might be paying to heat up the stone bowl. Only things that are worth it: Lobster Dynamite ($14) & Honey Toast. ($8) And maybe some appetizers.
(3)
Masumi K.
Edit: (11/22/2010) Honey Toast flavors When this place first opened, I was in love with their mapo tofu dish. But they don't have it anymore! ;( they always change their menus which is a good thing. I think a lot of businesses should do this with their menus. It helps keep their restaurant fresh and on top with things. I love their garlic shrimp and rice dish here. Though, I honestly think that they should give a little more shrimp. I think there is more rice than shrimp! And rice is so filling as is. The best dessert here would have to be their famous honey toast. This thing is not meant for one person. It is either meant for two people for a whole group. Toast flavors to choose from are as followed:// Honey: Original. This one is really yummy Chocolate: This one is really good! Caramel: Too sweet Cinnamon: It's OK~ But it's just cinnamon. Big deal. Strawberry Puree: This is my favorite! Sweet Red Bean: Not my favorite ... Oreo Cookie & Cream: This one is good if you REALLY want to spoil yourself. It's an orgasm in your mouth DCS: This is a secret one that isn't on the menu. You can either order this by name or just say DCS (Dirty Cum Slut) This toast is drenched in condensed milk. ;) NOTE*** Not all waiters/waitresses know of this toast (So please do not expect to get this every time you go to Shokudo) I do recommend ordering it if you are with a large group. The shaved iced dessert is OK but I do not recommend that you order that. (Their shaved ice is big as Mt. Fugi!) Even if you are a fan of shaved iced. If you want good shaved iced then you should go to Matsumoto's. The ramen dishes are good here. I also like their tofu salad. Though ... I think it is a bit expensive for such an average sized dish of salad. When I saw the price of it, I kind of expected a bigger dish. I highly recommend that you try the ahi tataki w/garlic chips ($12.95) and Mochi cheese gratin ($7.45). :) I don't recommend that you order the garlic rib eye steak dish ($24.95) it wasn't that good. And I have had much better.
(4)
Johnny C.
Come for the happy hour from 4-6. The food for the most part is passable with the staples of fries, gyoza and various sushi. But the real outstanding dishes are the ramen salad and the poke nachos. They are Flavorful and refreshing with a diverse array of textures and Colors. At $3-$5 a plate for the happy hour menu, you can eat yourself silly without breaking the bank. My only gripe with this place is the wording in the menu and some of the items. The "teriyaki chicken fries" don't actually contain chicken. It's just fries with teriyaki sauce. The waiter was kind enough to warn me before hand, but you can imagine that they have received more than their fair share of complaints over this misunderstanding. There's also a "takoyaki russian roulette" dish on their happy hour menu. That's 4 pieces of mediocre takoyaki and one fried blob of wasabi. A surprise for sure. The menu warns of a "bomb" in the dish, but i have a hard time conceptualizing how this dish might be a good idea for anyone who comes in to the restaurant who isn't drunk with a group of rowdy friends. Seems like a kid thought it would be fun and they went through with it. Either way, steer clear of these two or in the case of the later, just ask them to omit the "bomb" and you'll be fine.
(4)
Elizabeth G.
Went to Shokudo today and was excited to try all my old time favorites such as the fresh tofu salad and the bibimbap! When the food came I was a bit disappointed that the portions were much smaller than what I was use to and the taste wasn't something to brag about anymore. The salad had too much dressing and the tofu seemed a little tough for fresh, the bibimbap was really wet and there were probably two pieces of meat in there...I dont even recall seeing an egg? Service was okay...I don't know if I wanna go back. I expected a beatiful renovation and a newly improved menu. Everything looked the same just a new sushi bar added in, and a room closed off. Not impressed because I used to love Shokudo so much before!
(2)
Katheryn H.
I've been to this restaurant several times before and have had really bad service. But this wasn't the case for our elementary school reunion. I had booked the private room for our elementary school reunion, and we had 10 guests, which was enough room for everyone. Although our reservations were at 8, we didn't get seated until 8:15-8:25 because they were still cleaning up from a bachelorette dinner party ahead of us. We were seated and handed menus. And within 10-15 minutes our waiter came in to greet us and ask if we would like to start off our orders. I was pretty surprised that we were greeted so early, since from my previous experiences we normally had to flag someone down to get our service started. But since we were a huge party, I guess customer service was a priority. We hadn't decided on what to order, but ordered drinks first. It took a while for our drinks to come and our waiter had also given us the wrong drinks, which was shortly corrected. Our waiter checked up on us every 5 minutes to see if we were ready to order, but we were still undecided. So while waiting, we decided to write down everything we wanted to order to make it easier and less confusing. It not only sped things up but it also made it easier for our waiter, because in no time, our food came out and ready to serve. The food was great. I can't remember what we had ordered, but I was sad that they had taken the curry off the menu and replaced it with a Loco Moco. The loco moco was delicious, but it didn't fix that curry crave. Aside from the great service, the only downfall we had was the late arrival of drinks and the little mix-ups. For the night I would've given it 4 stars, but because of really bad previous experiences, I'm giving it a 3.
(3)
Judy G.
This place is one of my favorite dining places- the wait is usually between 20-45 minutes on a regular weeknight and maybe a bit longer for weekends. I've been here countless times and the food has yet to disappoint me. Then again I usually order the same food all the time, which is the kimchee fried rice, the teriyaki chicken (I love this), and their ever so famous HONEY TOAST. Sometimes I come here at night just to get the honey toast because it's super yummy. The service is also excellent here, highly recommend coming here whether it's for a normal friends outing or for a date. I wouldn't say this place is too pricey, but it's definitely not too cheap, so be prepared to spend maybe... $35 for a good meal? It's worth it!
(4)
Avis E.
Gah, Shokudo! Why are your servers so rude and mean and kinda scary? Ha ha well not all of them but we had a terrible server when we went. I showed up to our party a little late so they were sat already. I joined them then waited 10 minutes for our server to come by and ask for my drink order... Actually, no she didn' even ask. I had to seriously flag her down violently to get her attention in order to GIVE her my drink order cause she apparently didn't realize that I was a new person in the group and did not yet have a drink. I really cannot understand how a place this busy has such shitty service! I've been a server off and on for about 3 years and I would never treat my guests this way, but then again I wanna make $$ and I'm not a biatch!!! Haha okay enough about their crappy servers. The food and drinks on the other hand are actually pretty good. The sushi and sashimi is fresh and the lychee vodka soda is amazing! They also carry Echigo beer but it's kinda expensive. I mean this place for what it is, is kinda overpriced in general. Idk... I wouldn't ever choose this place but if I had to go to a party for someone else I suppose I would tolerate it. BOO!
(2)
Nicole N.
I love Shokudo's happy hour. Today I took my friend to try it for her first time and our bill only came out to be $15 for both of us. $15 doesn't sound like it would get you a lot of food, but it does! Me and my friend were both really full after. My favorite things on their happy hour menu is their Spicy Ahi Nachos and Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla. Spicy ahi nachos may sound a little bit weird, but it was so good. I love their nacho chips and the sauce on it! Then to top it off you dip it in the Spicy ahi, and it is just perfect. As for the Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla, that was interesting but I loved it. In fact, I liked it so much I ate two orders of it. Also, if you are a dessert lover you got to try the honey toast! The best thing about it is that it's only $3 during happy hour! It is huge and super delicious if you like eating dessert. As for their service, I would give them a 3/5. I think our waitress/bartender could have done a better job in serving us. She was nice but I think she could have paid attention to us a bit more. Other than that, I think this place is great. I will definitely come back for sure!
(4)
Sarah C.
THE HONEYTOAST IS AMAZING! (Exactly like the dessert at Ichiza's in Las Vegas!) I've had almost everything on the menu due to being a regular customer. Though I haven't been at the bar yet. Their sushi is so good, their bibimbap's are served on those old school rock bowls. DELICIOUS!
(4)
Brian K.
Pros: Great food, open late, younger/fun crowd, great contemporary atmosphere, full bar, and free parking. Cons: No items stick out because of the overly extensive menu (the food is good, but if someone were to ask me what to get there I wouldn't know what to say). Prices are a little high. Parking lot sucks if you have a truck or a large vehicle.
(4)
Brent K.
I haven't come here for a long time. I remember the last two other times I came were just average.. Today I had the Lunch box. Food is ok, Service is good.
(3)
Erich D.
This is a very modern and trendy spot as evidenced by the decor, ambiance and even the food. They have a pretty fairly good-sized bar if you are just interested in grabbing a few signature tropical-Asian-fusion cocktails. Service, dish presentation and the food were all good. When choosing what to eat, the menu can be a little overwhelming at first because they have pages and pages of tasty looking food, all of which is delicious. When we came here we had a pretty decent sized party so I was able to try a lot of the food this restaurant had to offer. Some of the most notable dishes were the tuna tataki salad, sushi pizza, garlic ahi tuna, bi bim bap, and the french fries with chiso salt (What? Fries? Yeah, they were good!). You definitely want to save a little room for dessert when you come here as well as they have some very sweet desserts. What Shokudo is most well known for is their honey toast, which I definitely recommend. Green tea and lychee shave ice with a side of vanilla ice cream is also a great and lighter option for dessert.
(4)
Jennifer H.
I have been here a while ago and had several experiences with terrible service. With bad experiences I have neglected to come back. But I did return for my friend's party that I had planned here several days ago and to my surprise the food had come out quickly, our waiter was really nice to us (Desmond?). But the planning process was a bit tedious and would have hoped for an easier time to do the pre-set menu and reservation space. Otherwise to our waiter and the other staff that had helped us that night, thank you so much for helping us celebrate my friend's party and making it a great experience for us.
(4)
Tawn B.
I made Reservations here w/chris and he was super accommodating. It was my moms 60th bday and we had about 25 people, so it was a little bit more than they allowed for the private room, sp they gave us the two top tiers of the dining room. The place has a really nice ambiance, deco was pretty cool and chic. Matt was our sever for the night, and he deserved every penny of our tip to him...(and I tip big). I read some reviews regarding the two hour limit, but they didn't at all rush us. He even brought out the cake, and let us cut and eat it way after the 2 hrs. Now, to the food... We ordered family style so we could try all of it lol. Top hits: the tofu salad. Just omg! The fresh tofu...so silky and well, fresh. It literally melts in your mouth. The Mochi cheese gratin: IFLY! Bless the soul of whoever invented you. The fries: Step aside McDonalds. Spicy ahi crispy rice: I wish all rolls were like you. And finally but of course, save he bes for last. Honey Toast. We had the regular and with chocolate and by that time, I didn't know which won my heart. It was pretty equal with my tummy. Shokudo, you were def a win in my book! Not that bad in prices, but much expected in Waikiki.
(4)
Neya P.
My husband and I love coming here. Since the food items are mostly pupu-style (small bites or appetizers), its common to order multiple dishes. Almost everything on the menu is super tasty though so you'll want to order more than one thing anyway. Here's our normal choices and top picks: ~Char-Siu Pork: Thinly sliced pork cooked with Japanese scallions. This is a must-have for my husband. ~Mochi Cheese Gratin: Mochi with mozzarella in a light soy dashi broth. Definitely an unusual dish that I really enjoy. ***Garlic Shrimp Rice: Garlic shrimp and rice mixed together in a sizzling stone bowl. This is our favorite dish. It is so delicious! ~Yuzu Hamachi Capaccio: Yellowtail sashimi with yuzu vinaigrette. Another all time favorite of ours. The yuzu vinaigrette just puts it over the top. ~ Lobster Dynamite Roll: If you like lobster dynamite and sushi, then you'll love this. It's not too sweet or too spicy. ~ Honey Toast (Dessert): Like many people, it's hard not to get the honey toast when you go to Shokudo. Where else can you get a dessert like this? It's so simple (just bread, ice cream, and syrup), yet it's so yummy. We normally get the traditional honey, caramel, or strawberry. The only down side is that the restaurant can get really crowded so make sure you make reservations or you're in for a long wait. And because it's always crowded, the atmosphere is not very intimate. Location is great as it's easy to find. It's located right on Kapiolani Blvd near Ala Moana next to Angelo Pietro with a large sign so you can't miss it. The parking structure is located in the back and it's free. The ambiance is really nice. The decor feels modern, artsy, and upscale. The service is also good. We've never encountered any problems with long waits for our food. Considering how busy they are, that's impressive and it shows how organized the kitchen and servers are.
(5)
Lynn T.
BAD service! Our waiter failed to check up on us for over half an hour, never offered refill on water or drinks, didn't ask us if we wanted dessert or not. Even when he came to serve the table next to us, he did not acknowledge us. The food was delicious but the service was what ruined the experience.
(2)
Dawn G.
this is a good place to go to try lots of little bites of different things however the quality/consistency of the food is not as good as it was a couple years ago. garlic shrimp rice is a must agedashi tofu so yummy lobster dynamite - meh - sometimes has a burnt taste to it honey toast - delish I like the seasonally changing menu, that is what keeps me interested in going.
(3)
J A.
I really like this place. I feel the food is consistently good. Their menu changes on a regular basis with the exception of popular items being kept on the menu. I really love their salmon and rice, their different sushi rolls, spinach salad and many more. We normally order 3 or more items just to sample. Although their fries are simple, it is a well liked item by my daughter. I have tried all their vodka sodas and love all of them. My favorites are the grape calpico and lychee vodka drinks. And can't forget the honey toast!! The green tea shaved ice is pretty good too.
(4)
Scott H.
I would have given four stars if I only paid $18 for my meal...but I had a $75 gift card...so...I don't think my experience at $93 justified 4 stars. What we had: - Lobster Dynamite (appetizer) - Tempura Sampler - Spicy Scallops Roll - Lobster Dynamite Roll - Unagi Rice Bowl - Chicken Karage - Yakisoba - Honey toast The good: - Lobster dynamite and Lobster dynamite roll: SO GOOD! I did make the mistake of ordering both dishes, when I just should have got the rolls. The Lobster Dynamite rolls are a spicy/sweet mayonnaise lobster mix that is served on top of California rolls and broiled. The highlight of the meal. Just the right touch of spicy and sweet. Kinda heavy on the mayo, definitely local style. The appetizer version is the same mayo/lobster mix with the addition of cubed zucchini and bell peppers, broiled in a dish served with four slices of crusty toast. Very good, too...but I liked the rolls better. - Tempura sampler. The waiter said the "President" made this dish for us personally...but I'm sure Obama has better things to do. Comes with eggplant, zucchini, a single mushroom, carrot, and two pieces of shrimp. Was pretty good. Light, crunchy. Dipping broth was very good; the tempura was light enough to pick up the subtle tastes of the dipping broth. - Service. We went at around 4 pm. Very little patrons there, so we got good service. Waiter was attentive, and best of all allowed us to move from the tiny stupid booths they like squeezing couples into. - Unagi Bowl. Finished table side. rice and a piece of unagi served in a sizzling hot stone bowl (think bi bim bap). The server will mix the rice/unagi for you, and if you like (you will like) she can prepare it so that the rice is "crunchy" as it fries on the insides of the hot bowl. Kinda strong flavors, but good. Really good if you like unagi and the concept. - Spicy scallop rolls. They were good. Not great, but good. Not very spicy. Honey Toast. Their staple. It's good, but...it's just toasted thick slices of japanese bread, honey and a couple of scoops of vanilla ice cream. The Bad: - Yakisoba. It's HUGE, easily feed four people as a side. They brought it out last! So it was of little use to us. Worse, the shaved bonito flakes were old and had lost their flavor. - Chicken karage. This used to be one of my wife's favorites. This time not so much. They now serve with a homemade tartar sauce. The old dipping sauce was good. the new tartar sauce is...different. Looks like watery mayo mixed with tuna. Doesn't taste like that...in fact doesn't have much of any kind of taste. The chicken is best consumed with a splash from the lemon wedge. - Those stupid booths! Why must they insist on making couples sit at those uncomfortable and small booths! If anyone has been seated in them you know exactly what I'm talking about. If you are going to make reservations for this place, ask NOT to be seated in them. The last time I went it was PACKED, and the only openings were in the booths...sucks but I understand. This time, there was hardly anyone there...and the lady seated my wife and I in one of the stupid BOOTHS! and one right at the front entrance to the dining room area! Not only are they uncomfortable, but their small size makes it very hard to eat a place that is kind of a "plenty of small dishes" place! - Expensive. For the price, the quality just isn't there. If our meal cost $30 I would've been happy. But at almost $100...not so much. Come here for desert or pupus...or better yet, save you money and make a whole load of honey toast at home...impress your friends!
(3)
Tyler T.
Shokudo has been a pretty trendy restaraunt for at least the past couple years, and I've finally gotten around to going for the first time. 30 min wait for just me and my gf. Which actually isn't too bad. Ran into my neighbor there, his party of 5 had a 2 hour wait! AND HE WAITED. Pretty crazy ha. The servers were pretty nice though, and they were pretty on it. Our waiter knew a lot about the menu, and could even tell me interesting things about the house special vodka soda (WHICH SOUNDED DELICIOUS), but I settled for the green tea shake, I'm not much of a drinker. It was arguably better than jamba juice's matcha green tea blast. More creamy than icy. I ordered the sushi pizza. Oven baked (I presume) sushi on a nori sheet, with scallop, salmon, jalapeno, and onion. It was different from other things I've had before, and it made me full. It looked like something I could have made myself for $5 at home. But hey, it was pretty unique, and tasted great. My gf ordered the tokyo ramen. Delicious miso dashi, with the bonito flakes they put on tofu, onions, and bamboo shoots. Normally there is char siu, but we got it without it since I don't eat red meat. Hands down, the BEST ramen I've had in my whole life. Better than my dad, and grandpa, and hole-in-the-wall place's ramen. And for $10! Not too bad cost-wise, considering the more expensive things on the menu. Last but not least, I had to try the honey toast everyone has been raving about. Seriously, how good can toast, honey, and vanilla ice cream be? AMAZING. You may think people are exagerating when they say the honey toast is amazing, but we aren't. I have no clue how it turns out so damn delicious. I really don't understand. For $7.25 Whole meal for me and my gf came out to $44 including tip. Kinda pricey for 2 people, but you get what you pay for. Excellent, friendly service, and great contemporary unique quality food. Yeah, pretty pricey though. I suggest if on a date (and you both don't care about being a bit cheap), just get one entree, maybe a vodka soda, and honey toast. Honey toast will ALWAYS BE A REQUIREMENT. And its a lot of bread! Its pretty filling.
(4)
Jenny C.
Service is great. Cheese mochi is my fave.
(4)
Dennis M.
I was there 3 times when I was on vacation in May. Great food and Jess at the bar is the best. It is a must try. Credit Card Model
(5)
Natasha N.
Went for the happy hour with 4 of my friends around 11pm and was seated promptly. All I have to say is that the food was delish!!!! We went for steamed gyoza, Dynamite Fries, Teriyaki Fries, Spicy Tuna Nachos. For drinks we had Sangris and the Passion Fruit vodka soda :D and then for desert we had Honey Toast Jr and Honey toast w/ Oreo :D:D I would rate it 5 stars but the only thing that i didnt care for was our waiter... what a douche!!! He obviously need to learn how to place a fucken plate EXPECIALLY with the knife handle sticking out in front of someone AND NOT SHOVE IT IN MY FACE!! Like WTF i dont feel like getting poked in the eye! X( Other than that food was good
(3)
Miki L.
If you haven't taken the time to read previous reviewers, I'll tell you what's important: honey toast. There's other flavors, but the only one I've tried is the original honey toast and I have no reason to try any of the other flavors. I alwaysalwaysalways order spicy ahi crispy rice and the unagi rice. I guess all that means is I have a penchant for crispy rice, but it's so ono!! Regardless if you order the salmon, unagi, or other rice, make sure you ask for the dashi so you can make a little bowl of fish stock + crispy rice at end of your meal. Just pour the dashi into the bowl, let it soak in the rice and koge-goodness, and then scoop it all into your bowl and enjoy. It's best to go in groups, because portions are served family-style, but it's best to make a reservation, especially on the weekends.
(4)
John O.
I have been her twice now. First with some friends for late night snacks and drinks. Very inexpensive both for food and drinks. Yay for Happy Hour! :D The second time I came for lunch. I sat at the bar this time as I was solo. I order their Lunch Bento. Wow, I was impressed at the size. It was very filling and tasty. For around $6 it was a great buy! This is a great place to come with friends and talk story well sharing pupu's over drinks. Shokudo is a winner!
(4)
Angela A.
One Saturday, I dragged my boyfriend to the mall. After a few hours he'd had enough shopping and demanded that we stop shopping so we could eat. We considered eating at the [over-crowded] food court or any of the [uninteresting] restaurant chains inside the mall but nothing was floating our boat. That's when we remembered that Shokudo was right next to the mall! Our boat promptly floated right through the restaurant's front doors in a matter of minutes. The inside of the restaurant is so, so cool! There's stadium style, graduated tables at the far end of the restaurant, gigantic and modern artsy-type decor hanging down from the ceiling in the main dining room, and the coolest little booths. We had sushi and some type of saimin for lunch, which were both quite good, but that's not what I'm here to talk about... We'd watched several surrounding tables order and enjoy Honey Toast and we were giddy to finally ask our server for the dessert menu so we could see what options we had to chose from. We went for the Oreo Cookies and Cream. My guess, honey on toast, is technically right. It's so so so much better than that! It starts with two perfectly square slices of bread, more like loaves of bread. The bread is toasted and the inside is cut into cubes, and graced with honey and butter. Since we got Cookies and Cream, we also had sweetened condensed milk, or something like it, on ours, making it even more insanely decadent! The top is piled high with ice cream, cookies, and chocolate syrup. Honey Toast is massive! When it arrived, I said "there's no way we'll finish that"! But... we did! I've never really seen, or eaten, anything like it before. The best combination is getting the cold, smooth ice cream with the warm, buttery, toasty bread together for a delightful hot/cold and sweet/salty bite! Shokudo, we will be back for more Honey Toast! [This review is modified from my blog entry about Shokudo. Read the whole thing here: alohayinzmangia.blogspot… ]
(5)
Karen Jane M.
This is the best Japanese Restaurant experience I ever got. Well, best is an understatement. It was beyond my expectations. My brother went ahead and made reservations for my birthday, and believe me this place did not disappoint. We ordered almost everything off the menu, and you bet your ass it was DAMN GOOD! My recommendations: - Beef tataki Sushi - it was beef tataki placed on a bed of rice, drizzled with balsamic vinegar, and onion strings. Oh man, once having a bite of this...I ordered one more order. - Unagi Rice - I forgot what the name was specifically called, but it was a bowl of rice served in a hot pot. The waiters/waitresses mash the rice together and serve it to you. I love how it has salmon roe eggs in it, it compliments the rice and unagi. - Lobster Dynamite Roll - I think that's what it was called. Oh my, pure BUENO! The lobster is cooked to perfection and it most definitely melts in your mouth with that sauce. - Ice Green Tea Float - MMmmMm, thinking about it makes me happy. The green tea isn't too sweet, but the ice cream does help sweeten it out. The flavor of the green tea is there, I just wished I ordered one more before leaving. There were a bunch of other stuff on the list, but I can't remember. These were the ones that stood out. Just be careful when coming here, you'll tend to spend more than 3 bills. I know I did, LOL but it was well worth it.
(5)
Haunani L.
My over all experience is always great when i come here. AREA: swanky. CUSTOMER SERVICE: it was alright but i dont think our waiter came to check on us enough. we always we asking a random waiter for things. Food: good.. Dessert: HONEY TOAST IS THE BOMB no questions asked. only bad thing . they didnt have kid cups. my son didnt have a lid and ended up spilling it all over.. it might have been my fault cuz i knew he was going to empty it out BUT I LOVE THIS PLACE..
(4)
Rachel K.
The food was okay, I got the mochi pizza and my table split a honey toast. The service was terrible! It was a busy Thursday night but there are only so many times a waiter can apologize to a table before they need to step it up. Our waiter apologized to us every-time he came over which was not often. We were there for two and a half hours, by the end we were all sitting with our heads on the table praying for the check to come.
(2)
G G.
Not sure why this place is always busy the food is awful here. Fish items smelled fishy and not fresh and the serving plates are chipped.
(1)
Josh L.
Its always pretty good to eat there. The food isnt to die for or anything but for the price its work it. The sushi is a little expensive but its better than some other places that I have gone. The honey toast must make them so much money!! Its good but its just half a loaf of bread, honey and ice cream for $8!!! Im a fan and my girlfriend is a huge fan of it, im not complaining that it isnt good or worth it but I am sure that they are making good money from it. Their homemade tofu salad is really good and worth it! Its really soft and I just cant get enough of it. It is a place that I keep returning to because it is nice, the food is pretty decent, and its not too expensive.
(3)
J G.
What can I write that hasn't been written about Shokudo? What photo can I take that hasn't been shown? Count me in with all the rest as Shokudo fan's. Want somewhere to go after work for pupu's and drinks with happy hour prices? Shokudo. Looking for a nice dinner for two? Shokudo. Getting together with friends for a party? Shokudo's private room. Hungry for dessert after a movie. Shokudo's honey toast! Their menu items are served hot, taste fresh, and are not something you will find at every other restaurant. My favorites are the bi bim bap rice and the honey toast. Parking is sometimes a pain, and the wait for a table can be long at peak hours, that's my 4 stars. If you haven't tried it, you'll be glad you do.
(4)
Louise T.
This was my first time here with my family. My auntie took us here and the food was bar far the best ever that we had in Hawaii! OMG from the appetizers to the entrees to the dessert! Bat none hands down the best Japanese food and good service! You have to try it! We are visiting from California and this was the best dinner ever! The garlic shrimp fried rice was fantastic! The terriaki was cooked perfectly. The tempura was so flaky, crispy and had this fabulous flavor! Wow!
(5)
Wayne S.
Some how they changed my mind. I have had some really bad experiences and below average food at this joint but yesterday they had a good day. First of all our waitress left alot to be desired. She had NO personality and seems like she had a really bad day due to her attitude. Come on life is too short to be a bitch!!! Had the Hamachi roll and that was pretty good. Loved the textures and the incredible flavor of the shisho. that is one of my most favorite flavors ever! Having said that the shisho fries was just ok. if i were rating this on just the fries.........the fries were great! but its sold as shisho fries so i must say that it was very forgettable, just salty and not flavorful. we then had the foot long chicken katsu and that was good. i mean its just katsu and anyone can make chicken katsu but was did it was the sauce. they had a great katsu sauce and i do think i remember it saying that they make the sauce. the salmon stone pot rice was fantastic. raw pieces of "farmed" sake, suzuko and a leaf of shiso all mixed together and cooked in the stone pot. i must say, i love the rice when it gets slightly crispy and toasty on the stone pot. YUM! then of course the honey toast. my mom was a honey toast virgin so she got a taste and she loved it. all in all, the food was good, service wasnt so good.
(3)
Winnie L.
i'm not sure which came first, Shokudo or Tokyo Table in Beverly Hills yelp.com/biz/tokyo-table… , but a couple of people have referred me here. The menu is pretty much the same but the decor is different. i remembered at Tokyo Table that the sushi pizza and homemade tofu could be skipped, and so we had the following: -mango-infused sake - the mango isn't syrup for shave ice, there's really bits of mango! -beef takaki - supposed to be raw beef like sashimi but it was seared / cooked well. perhaps it is to comply with Hawaii state food laws -spicy ahi on crisped rice - i was hoping the rice would be crispier but it's just a block of rice browned in units for the spicy ahi to sit on -mochi cheese gratin. it's really cheese mozarella -honey toast with red bean: i've made this at home with my bread machine - you just cut two very thick slices of bread, hollow the bread by cutting cubes, leaving the frame intact. stack the frames and throw in the cubed bread. top with ice cream and topping of choice (e.g. red bean). voila. everything we ordered was tasty so i give this place a 4. the decor and ambiance are also very nice. see pics!
(4)
Mary G.
I have been here a few times with friends and the taste is still good but my friend and I both thought their portions have gotten smaller while price stayed the same. Happy hour's great though. Seems to always be busy. Need more hands on deck.
(3)
Chad M.
Was very prompt in service. I ordered shrimp tempura. It was crispy the way it should be. Happy hour is a must to get cheap deals on beer and pupu's.
(4)
Kerri I.
It has recently been brought to my attention that I have only been giving negative reviews on yelp. This probably makes me look like an ungrateful little brat, so I thought I'd share my thoughts on some of my favorite places. Shokudo is a trendy Japanese fusion restaurant in the Ala Moana Shopping Center. I've been here countless times and I've got to say, it's definitely one of my go-to places to eat in Hawaii. It's a popular venue for young people, so like most restaurants, getting a table on a friday night without reservations is nearly impossible. The food speaks for itself, and they are constantly changing the menu up to keep it interesting. My favorites are the mochi cheese gratin, freshly made tofu, lobster dynamite roll, and the teriyaki chicken quesadillas. I love to order a bunch of the appetizers as a main course. This is by far the best way to eat, cause I get closer and closer to trying everything on the menu. I'm sure the drink menu here is fabulous, unfortunately, I haven't reached the drinking age quite yet. Grape Calpico float is my favorite nonalcoholic drink, and it's almost a dessert in itself. But then there's the dessert at shokudo... Honey toast is one of the restaurant's signature dishes. Toast for dessert? Doesn't sound too appetizing. But when you see it, you'll understand. AND to make it even better, they give away free honey toast on your birthday! All in all, i recommend this place, but I'm going to refrain from giving this place five stars because of the loud environment. The service is also slightly slow, but I'm guessing it's because the place is always packed. Good things come with a price!
(4)
ashley p.
shokudo! what i seem to be always craving when i can't go cause i'm too busy living in kaneohe and all that jazz. but when i do go, it's gooood. being that shokudo is the hip place to go for dindin for youngins around my age, it can be nuts! thus, i usually stop by during the lunch/afternoon hours when it is much quieter, and seating is easier to come by. service is alright, they're always nice (occasionally some seem to be in a rush), but as a quick tip for you honey toast fans--get your order in right as you order your main course or else you might be left twiddling your thumbs for another good 10-15 minutes waiting for it to arrive. this happens to me even during the quiet times, but it's all well worth it in the end. truth be told, when it comes to restaurants, i'm more of your appetizer-go-to girl, so i make a pretty cheap date. but some of the meals i have tried were really good. my standard is pretty much the homemade tofu salad, which is served so that all can have a share, but i can usually clean out the whole platter by myself. i have tried the honey walnut shrimp with the mochi dish thing, which was actually quite tasty, but the portion was so big that my mother and i couldn't finish it! but what i really love about shokudo is their seasonal chef-recommended menu. i usually find myself ordering off that menu for that thrill of ordering something that could be gone in the next month is somewhat addicting. everything i have ordered off that menu have been winners in my book; from a steaming bowl of ramen just the right size, to a wonderful pizza with vegetables that complement each other wonderfully. parking is located behind the restaurant, albeit a tiny structure, there always seems to be a spot whenever we go. i wouldn't chance it in the evening hours though, it seems more reasonable to park in ala moana and walk on over, but then again that's just me. don't forget to get your parking ticket stamped after you eat! once i meet a decent guy to date, this place is definitely one of the the first places i'd love to go (although it seems a bit cliche for kids here these days).
(4)
J A.
Food is alright for the light eaters, but I want meat. I really like the unagi or salmon bowls. I just tried the tofu salad. I enjoyed it for the change of pace. The dessert honey toast is good I'll try the other versions next time. Good bar too.
(3)
Frances G.
Service here isn't the same. my first experience here was great, everyone was nice, we we're seated immediately and food came in without any long wait. I came here with cousins and my niece and nephew. We we're seated as soon as we got in, waitress was really nice. We got our waters and it was a good thing my niece saw that there were things floating in our water, a couple cups had some green thing, (according to the waitress it was from matcha green tea) still a big no no and it was seriously gross. We ordered a bunch of sushi and calamari. The sushi was great. The calamari on the other hand had and eyelash inside the bowl. After eating sushi we ordered cookies and cream toast and a chocolate toast. It seriously took 20 minutes to get our toast, it wasn't even busy. All in all LOVE the sushi. But yeah..
(2)
R R.
Only 5 stars!? I wish I could give it 10! I have only eaten here once, and I really, REALLY want to go back. The lobster dynamite roll was absolutely AMAZING. My friend ordered the Shrimp Tempura roll and we shared the two amongst ourselves. We also ordered their edamame, which is lightly salted. Great appetizer to share while you're waiting for your food. Another one of my friends ordered something with crispy rice, and I was not a fan of that. But I've heard other people loved it. Of course by the time dinner was over I had no room for dessert, so I didn't get to try their famous honey toast. I can't wait to go back and try that!
(5)
Phuong M.
There happy hour menu is the only thing I would recommend to go there for. Everything else was not worth the price for the quality of foods. The first time I went there was for happy hour and I got the spicy tuna nachos, which was tasty. The nachos were just wonton wrappers cut into triangles and fried. The spicy tuna was mashed up tuna with some spicy sauce and green onions mixed up. Great flavors combined in it. This was only $3! I also had this delicious soju yogurt shot! Only $2! I ended of the night with their delicious honey toast jr. which was only $3! I definitely recommend the honey toast over and over again if you have never had it. It is the most simple amazing thing ever! Its some kind of asian toast cut in 2" thick, toasted nicely and the insides cut out and cut into cubes and tossed back in the center and a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and drizzled with honey. So simple, yet so amazingly delicious!! It was so amazing that I had to come back for seconds before I left Oahu! ^_~
(3)
Alex G.
Overrated Japanese food considering you will wait anywhere from 30 - 1hr+ on the weekends. This place is ALWAYS packed. It definitely caters to the younger crowd, situated by ala moana. There's a bar inside but everyone knows people just go here for the honey toast. Yes the food is pretty good, but it's not authentic and some of the portions are on the smaller side. My favorite dish is the eel rice in a hot stone bowl. They crush it up for you and it mixes very well. When you are here with a group, I guess the norm is to get the honey toast for dessert. It is really the honey toast that keeps people coming. What an ingenious marketing idea! Overall, this place is good for groups, food is decent, but the lines are WAY to long. I would prolly recommend a friend to a Japanese place elsewhere, somewhere more authentic and more low key
(4)
Ericka M.
Whoop whoop! Uh huh the customer service here was thee bomb diggity. Our server was on top of things. Drinks were never empty. He was always checking on us. Gave us great suggestions (as we were Shokudo virgins) and was really down to earth. Really added to the already chic feel good atmosphere. I dont know if its the lighting or the decor but as crowded as it is it feels very relaxed in there. Like you could sit back with your honey toast and your hot date and just relax with a nice cold drink. We ordered a lot of food mostly because we didnt know better. Had the andage chicken, gyoza, and fried pumpkin which was pretty good. I didnt care too much for the fries and sad to say they ran out of chicken katsu but still a very enjoyable meal! But the ultimate cherry on top of it all has got to be the wonderful Honey Toast. Yes everyone it is really as good as everyone says. Better even. And I intend to go back after my diet to indulge in that wonderfulness very soon. I often find myself dreaming of it sometimes...Anyways its really that good and I look forward going back soon.
(4)
Camille D.
Shokudo is always poppin! Their food is all right! I like that their portions aren't too big too, less fat for mehhh. Haha. Their udon is good, same old udon. Their bi bim bap or whatever the hell it's called was very interesting! I love the bowl it comes in, so cute! Good too, but it needed a little more flavor. Sushi pizza was okay, kinda pricey and the definition of Americanized Japanese food. Honey toast is good!! What I want to know is why people don't eat the ends.... such a waste!!!! It's a little expensive for me though. Two pieces of buttery toasted bread with honey drizzled over it? And vanilla ice cream on top? Idk, i'm pretty sure I can make that at home. Overall, Shokudo is a fun place to go to with friends. Specially with their atmosphere.
(3)
Christopher C.
Visit: 6/5/09 - Dinner. Ate garlic shrimp rice, rainbow roll, adadshi tofu, fried flounder, steak roll, lobster dynamite. Garlic shrimp rice was okay. Not that great. Maybe if they mixed the rice first, it would taste better. Rainbow row was nothing special. adadashi tofu was good. fried flounder was terrible. The meat was all dried out and the fish was not fresh. Steak roll was not good. lobster dynamite was good. Very tasty butter sauce. Kinda oily, but thats what made it taste good. Service was terrible. The waitress didn't inform us that their are no free refills. The worst part was we paid $2 each for soda that had tons of ice in it. I thought I just bought a soda from the 50th state fair. They always give too much ice. The price here is terrible. Each dish cost like $12 each and wouldn't make my 3 year old nephew full. I will not come back here.
(1)
Reimy K.
I have always been a fan of Shokudo---good food, great ambiance, and especially enjoyed the honey toast! But unfortunately, after my experience tonight, I won't be going there anymore... I called on a Friday afternoon to see if I could get a reservation at 6 pm for my family, since my 2-year old loves Japanese food. I was told that they only take a certain number of reservations each night and they already maxed out their reservations, but that I could come because they always leave tables available for walk-ins. So I asked if I came at 6 could we get a table and she said "LIKE I SAID, we always have tables available for walk-ins". So, my family went there and got there at 5:50 pm and when we got there and I asked for a table for 5, I was told that they are very busy tonight and the next available table for 5 is at 10:30 PM!! I could not believe my ears and was so upset as they obviously knew that they were busy and I wish that I was just told that they could not take us when I called, instead of us making the drive to Shokudo and then being turned away. Plus, the restaurant was practically EMPTY when we were there! There are so many other japanese restaurants around---that have excellent customer service and good food that I won't really be missing much... hmm...maybe I just have to try to make my own honey toast!
(1)
Row I.
from the time we made the reservation we were told that we'll have the table two hours. I can see why, they are very crowded. I wasn't disappointed with the service. We didn't have to wait very long for the foods we ordered. I was rather surprised by the awesome taste of "mochi cheese gratin." Now I know that mochi, shoyu, mozzarella and nori would taste good together. On the other hand, "Agedashi tofu" as well as the "Honey Toast" that everyone was raving about were my disappointments. It was not as good as I thought it would be. Mexican with a Japanese twist, the "teriyaki chix quesadilla" was tasty in a unique way. We also ordered "calamari tempura" which I thought was bland, a bit chewy, and greasy. With a party of seven, you think all those food I mentioned were enough? In two hours we guzzled a total of 8 dishes, 2 desserts, and 4 drink floats.My fave for the evening were "spicy tuna crispy rice", "sushi pizza", and "green tea shake". I usually ask extra jalapeno when am at Subway, so for a moment I was confused when we got our sushi pizza topped with jalapenos. If I have known, I would have said, "extra on jalapeno please!" Jalapenos on Japanese dishes? very innovative. Hawaii indeed is a melting pot ^_^
(4)
Deanthony N.
Since this place can get quite busy, I don't go here to eat that often. Their food is Japanese, but with a more...general tone to it. If you want straight up authentic Japanese food, then this is not the place. But if you want something that's not too generic, then this place is fine. For me, I have tried their char siu ramen, the fries, the teishoku, and honey toast from what I can remember. Their char siu ramen was kinda meh. The noodles and soup were okay, but the meat wasn't as good as ramen places. The fries, the ones with little black specks on them are pretty good. They're more like skinny fries, not thick cut ones so if you like your fries thick, they may not be for you. The teishoku I got at lunch time because you can pick two different items. I got the teriyaki chicken and the karaage chicken. The teriyaki chicken was surprisingly good. I liked the kaarage chicken also, but I could do without the sauce that comes on top of it. For the honey toast, that has to be one of my favorite desserts ever. I really like the caramel and strawberry flavors. I just remembered I also tried the salmon plate. It was okay. I thought it was slightly dry and could use more flavor. As for service, I hear that it can be spotty, but fortunately I've always had really nice people. I feel that the dinner people are usually more nice and helpful than the lunch people, but then again I've had some awesome lunch servers so in the end it's quite mixed. Some are a bit eccentric, but fun and helpful (or not, hehe) nonetheless. It can get REALLY busy at certain times, especially on the weekends so either rsvp, or come at a less busy time. The ambiance is much nicer when it's not totally packed.
(3)
Forest F.
Shokudo is pretty good. Its super trendy with age 18-28 townie kids so if you don't reserve a table the wait could be kind of long. The Agedashi tofu is really good, the hot plate stuff isn't bad but I think for the portions its kind of over priced. We also had the hot stone rice, this was ok but you can get much better at more traditional asian restaurants. The food all came out really fast which tells me they are just making it and expecting the orders. We ordered the sizzling steak MR and it came out like 3 mins later and was cooked medium, very little pink left. They had to have had the steak cooking already for 5-8 mins in aticipation of the order. Also, it was super salty. The tofu came out super quick too, but it still tasted good. The ambiance of the place is nice, very modern and bright. Guys, if you are going on dates 1-5 this is a good spot, for some reason women LOVE this restaurant. If your looking for purely the culinary aspect there are a ton of better priced and tastier options out there.
(3)
Jennifer H.
So the best way I can describe this place is like a... american-fused japanese food. They make these special french fries with nori-goodness ontop and japanese nachos... It's not like other japanese places you'd typically eat at. I went here for the honey toast since my bff said it was amazing. It was ok. i always recommend it because it's better than most things but nonetheless you probably won't have most of these food items anywhere else. Definitely try this place if you want try something new and different than your typical stomping grounds
(3)
P S.
My experiences here have been so extremely bad that I signed up for a Yelp account JUST to review. The food is delicious. We all know that. I'd skip the spicy scallop roll, but pretty much everything else I've had here has been good. No, the problem is with the service. The last last time I was here, I went on a double date with my girlfriend from out of town. At one point in the night, our waitress disappeared without warning for literally over an hour. We were planning on asking for boxes so we could take our leftovers home, but after about 45 minutes of waiting we decided not to because out food was cold and dried out and not something we wanted to keep. She showed up again with no apology and then we had to wait an extra half hour for our honey toasts. At the end of the night, we politely asked if there were any comment cards so we could write a note to the manager. In response, the waitress asked (in a challenging sort of way) if we would like to speak with the manager directly instead. Yes, now that you offered, we do. As soon as we said yes, our waitress began to panic and rushed, "well just so you know I was in the back making honey toast." That was fine. The fact that she didn't hand her tables off to another waiter or give us warning or apology was not. So we ended up speaking to the manager and he said in an off-hand sort of way that he did pull the waitress to the kitchen, comped our honey toast, and gave 10% off of our meals. That was good enough compensation for me to come back again...only to be disappointed. Last night, we had a reservation and showed up about 5 minutes early to check in. The hostess replied that our table was paying out, and so it'd just be a bit. We waited outside for half an hour and watched about five other parties go in before us. Went inside to check with a new host and he said that the last hostess hadn't marked us as checked in. He apologized and said he'd seat us right away, and I appreciated his demeanor. The hostess who came to seat us, however, did not apologize, even though she was in the front when we had first gotten there. Our waitress was nice enough and she seemed like an honest worker. I ordered the salmon rice, and when it came, the server said they made the bowl a little hotter than usual. They definitely made it hotter than usual, because my food was BURNT. Not nice and crispy, or burnt along the edges of the bowl - there were consistently black bits in my bowl, so it must have burnt as the server mixed it for me. I had to scoop out all of my food into the regular bowls so that the stone bowl wouldn't burn anything more than it had. The entire dish tasted like charcoal. I have charcoal in my grill at home and I don't have to wait half an hour if I, for any reason, want to eat it. Which I don't. Waitress didn't stop by to ask how the food was so I had to wait another half hour before I could ask about the food. I wanted to be polite and ask if it was meant to be as burnt as it was (you could clearly see that my food was BLACK), rather than flat out tell her my food was inedible... to which she responded (in a slightly patronizing way), "Yes, that's the whole point of the bowl...". She did get us a new one, in a much cooler bowl, and we tipped her about 25% for the trouble, but I am pretty sure I'm never coming back.
(1)
kristen n.
I've come here a couple times and always just thought the food was ok, but a friend wanted to go here for drinks and pupus so figured why not. The service was alright but we ordered a bottle of Kurosawa and got otokoyama, wtf it says Kurosawa in ENGLISH! Unfortunately, my friend who was buzzing opened it up and started pouring it before I could stop him! Needless to say we were stuck with it. They didn't charge us for the otokoyama but its certainly not the sweet sake we wanted. Mistakes happen, but the real boo was the honey toast. I dunno but mine just tasted stale. The bread seemed like it was past it's prime even though it was toasted and covered in honey, I could taste that staleness. My friends ate it up like crazy but I guess I wasn't buzzing as hard as them! I can't say I'd recommend this place, but 4.50 for umeshu soda and great cocktails at least makes a decent place for drinks. Next time we'll just come at happy hour..
(3)
Alexis T.
I love Shokudo! It's got a great ambiance and it's a great place to go to when you're going with a group of people. All the appetizers (pupus) are great! I love the Yukari Fries, Gyoza, and especially Lobster Dynamite Roll (I also enjoy the Homemade Tofu and the Char-siu Pork). Whenever I have guests from out of town, I love to take them to dinner here. I always specify that even though we're going to eat a LOT, to save room for (Caramel) Honey Toast. It doesn't disappoint. I took out a star because the parking gets full sometimes late at night and some of the fixtures are a bit dusty.
(4)
Apollo Y.
Went there last nite for happy hour n had a bunch of stuff for a pretty decent price...there was 4 of us n we paid just under $50 which is not bad considering all the drinks n food we had but the must have if ur gonna have anything at all to it is the honey toast......one word CRAZY!!!!!! I will definitely come back but just for happy hour
(4)
Tyson J.
Bomb dot com.. Sushi pizza and honey toast end of story ..Havnt had a bad expiereince yEt So I keep coming back
(5)
Lauren K.
i remembered my first visit to shokudo as a wonderful experience. nice decor, "exotic" dishes ((ok, DISH--mochi cheese gratin. at that time it was different to me)), huge ass portions and delicious food. this was in 06 or 07... when i revisited the eatery over the summer, i realized my memory sucks! aside from the ambiance being the same, the food and drink wasnt as good as i expected it to be. i ordered salmon sashimi, mochi cheese gratin and the lobster dynamite roll. salmon sashimi was ok. no complaints. the mochi cheese gratin seemed bland to me. what i once thought was so fun and different certainly lacked in taste this time around. it wasnt as stringy, the cheese. that took some of the fun out of eating it. oh, lobster dynamite roll, how i wanted so much to love you.. i love love my lobster rolls and consider baked lobster rolls as a sushi staple in my life. so, of course i had to order it! it was a little more expensive than what id normally pay for that type of roll at around$14-$15, but i figured whats an extra $4 if its good?! ... i was not impressed. maybe im just a sushi snob but this roll PALED in comparison to what im used to. PALED. i read quite a few positive reviews here about this roll, and while it isnt BAD, its just not doin it for me. i ate less than half, boxed it up and gave it to my friend. oh yeah, and the honey toast. while "soooooo good" id probably only opt for it for special occasions. like a friends birthday. ((a friend who really likes honey toast, otherwise shokudo aint worth it)) i can make the same thing at home
(3)
Conrad M.
I LOVE this place! A nice place to have drinks (lychee martini the best), and great entrees and the BOMB HONEY TOAST! The staff is great and friendly! I recommend two items : Sushi pizza and of course, the HONEY TOAST.
(4)
C M.
Happy Hour everyday from 4-6!
(5)
Garrett O.
Really unique Japanese food; really friendly waiters/waitresses as well! Whenever my family and I visit Oahu, Shokudo is one of the restaurants to stop by. The sushi pizza and honey toast is bombbbbb.
(4)
APRIL R.
very very very delicious. An unexpected trip to this restaurant and so glad I did. I had the sushi pizza. It was good, a little salty for some reason but the lobster in dynamite sauce with the little biscuits wee gooood. The tempura was honestly some of the best I've ever had. I was hoping to try to the milk toast by the waitress recomendations but by the tim I finished the tempurs, my martini, edamami, sushi pizza and lobster was to full.. But next time! :)
(5)
Derrick S.
First time there and I was definitely impressed. Decor was really nice, our server (Brian) was super friendly. Drink prices were normal for a Happy Hour, pretty decent selection of pupu's, all of which are good -- yes we ordered damn near all of them. The Sushi Pizza & Lobster Dynamite aren't on the happy hour menu but they're definitely worth the price you pay. The saimin appears small but is very filling and the quesadilla's are great w/ the cilantro sauce or without. I'd definitely make the late night trip back again!
(4)
jesse g.
it was ok one word: "overrated" like the 2-star rating says, it was very meh. i was expecting alot from this place because of the hype that i've been hearing from "the crowd" some good things about this restaurant is that the interior of the restaurant is very clean and upscale. the service i received was very courteous and friendly. the food is good, but nothing that i'd rave about nor would i tell my friends how great it was on facebook. the presentation and the taste of the food is about your average sushi restaurant. prices are about what you'd expect from any normal sushi place. but the one thing i don't understand is all this "HYPE" about the honey toast. it's ok, but nothing you can't make at home for cheap. it's basically bread icecream and bottle honey. nothing to go crazy about. if you wanna know where to get BETTER honey toast, read the reviews for tairyo izakaya. try both, because the hype would die if everyone tried the honey toast from both places. overall this place is ok, i'm just saying that i wouldn't wait in line that long as if i was waiting on fine dining to experience food that is "just good" that's all. and for anyone who gave it a 5, y'all need to get out and eat more at different places
(2)
Li B.
I struggled with 3 v. 4 stars, I really did! I called ahead for reservations...on a week night..and we got there less than 5 mins early and we weren't seated for another 15. Our reserved table? It was in the corner next to the servers' station. We shouldn't be punished for making reservations, we should be rewarded. Let the walk-ins sit in the corner. Nobody puts Lili in the corner! That took one star away, since they started with 5. Then, our server was forgetful, and brought our food backwards (entree 1, appetizer, then entree 2, all about 10 mins apart). That was the reason another star was taken away. Overall, the food really was meh. Nothing to write home about, nothing special. The highlight, of course, was the HONEY TOAST. Can't go wrong here and they didn't, it was great. So, I recommend you go for cocktails and honey toast. In fact, skip the cocktails, I'm good with honey toast alone.
(3)
Ashley S.
Shokudo is good. Not great, just good. I've eaten here a handful of times and never leave dissatisfied. But at the same time, I don't get excited when people suggest we eat here. My friends and I usually order family style. Tonight we had: 1) Crispy calamari salad - Nothing special. I wouldn't order it again. For $10.45 I expected more, in terms of both taste and size. 2) Lobster dynamite - This is consistently good! They do not skimp on the lobster so you are definitely getting your money's worth. HOWEVER, the sauce is a bit sweet, so it might not be for everyone. I personally love it. 3) Agedashi tofu - Yum! Shokudo makes their own tofu, and you can really taste the difference. It has the perfect consistency, and they serve it with a tempura-style broth. 4) Shrimp tempura roll - This was good. Not life-changing but I would order it again. 5) Old fashioned yakisoba - Meh. I don't really know why we ordered this one. Tastes just like the yakisoba you can buy in any Japanese food stand in the food court, except more expensive. Would not recommend. 6) Chicken karaage - Again, meh. You do get a lot of chicken and their tartar sauce is pretty good, but the chicken itself was reminiscent of what you'd find in a marked-down Shirokiya bento box. Not impressed. All that split amongst four people came out to $16, including tax and tip. Not bad, considering I was stuffed and parking is free after 6pm! Drinks are expensive ($8 for a saketini?!) if it isn't happy hour, which starts at 10:30pm. The honey toast is great and definitely worth getting if you still have room for dessert. I would recommend splitting it with at least two other people, though. Overall, Shokudo is alright. The service is just OK, but at least it is consistently OK. Location is great, free parking is never a problem since it is right next to Ala Moana. I will continue to eat here, but am not crazy enough about this place to recommend it to friends.
(3)
John L.
Great place to hang out for small dishes like pupus, sushi/sashimi, noodles. Overall, food is worth 3 stars considering their prices. BUT, their famous Honey Toast dessert earns the place their fourth star. It's awesome! definitely worth a visit just for this unique dessert.
(4)
M A X.
** LUNCH TIME ** My wife & 10mo son and I went to Shokudo for lunch. It was nice not having to wait 30minutes for a table (as is the case during dinner time). The menu offered many kinds of lunch specials. The service was excellent (esp. since we had a squirmy little guy with us). Our food came promtly and we both felt that it was priced right, a good value. Basically at the same price as getting some Shirokiya bento's (+drinks), we can sit down in a relaxed atmoshpere and enjoy our meal. :o) AWESOME A++++
(5)
Christopher S.
Food is ok! They want you in and out in 2 hours if you have a big party! They charged me $24 for a alcholic beverage called "BEAUTIFUL"! They told me they charged me $12 for a shot of Grand Marnier and $12 for the Courvoisier shot! So I told the waiter it should be a double then because I paid for 2 shot! Since it wasn't a double I only paid $12! Still pretty pricey! This ain't Vegas! Bottom line is that my wife likes the toast!
(2)
Averi S.
SOOOO...... I wasn't gonna do anything for Valentines day, but I came across an fb post by Shokudo. They advertised a special Valentine night, with a romantic ambiance. They posted pictures, and I commented, and asked if I would still be able to make a reservation. They responded, and said yes. I called right away, to make my reservation. They called me back on Valentines day to confirm my reservation, and to take my credit card info. They said if I was a no show, they would charge $30 to my card. That was understandable, since it was a busy occasion. I had been to Shokudo many times before, but I was excited to see their special Valentines day decor. When I got there, they sat us in a side room. In my opinion, it looked like a side storage room. It was brightly lit, no candles, no rose on the table, no Valentine decorations at all. My point is, if you are going to advertise a special ambiance for a special day, and you need to seat people in a side room, let them know ahead of time. I wouldn't have gone there to sit in a side room. I would've had a much more romantic experience elsewhere. It's too bad they didn't know that I have 5,000 friends on fb, and I am a popular Yelper.... smh.
(1)
Chad K.
Shokudo, how this place gets so packed on the weekends is beyond me. Ive been here a handful of times and its simply ok, not the first place I'd pick, probably not even in the top ten but I can put up with it occasionally . To start my drink was on the weak side, so I ended up ordering a shot to go along with my drinks, together they were perfect. I ordered the basic rainbow roll and soft shell crab roll, both were decent but not memorable or anything I'd brag about, you'd think it would have been the best thing ever being that I was starved but eh.. I also ordered the chicken teriyaki casadias. my bad. this choice was strictly hunger induced and more of an impulse. My first instinct was to order it w/o teriyaki sauce, I should have followed my instincts. The teriyaki sauce was waaaay too sweet and over powering, it tasted like burnt caramel. Had the teriyaki sauce been absent, the casadia would still have been subpar. Ok so the honey toast which seems to be regarded as the pinnacle of culinary creation by many is in my opinion overrated. Perhaps my take is skewed because I'm not a dessert kind of guy but Ive had a bite of this before and it fails to leave me with anything other than a "is that it?" kind of feeling. Same thing happened this night. The service was so slow despite the fact that waiters and waitresses were scurrying about like workshop elves on Christmas Eve. Looking for our waitress I spotted her behind the bar making drinks, yes our waitress moonlighted as the bartender or did the bartender moonlight as our waitress? Either way that explains why she was never there. I walked over and ordered a drink and a shot, and she said it was on her. Making small talk I aksed her if she does both jobs on the weekends and she replied no but "Sean's the new bartender and needed my help" she then asked me how the earlier drinks were and I told her it was on the weak side, in which she replied with a laugh "that was Sean, he's still using the jigger". In my head I automatically thought ok 20% tip, Im such a sucker but so be it, yeah she was never there, and yeah she left me with one napkin to last my entire meal but the free drink and shot made up for it, call me easy. best waitress ever.
(3)
Wing L.
Price is a bit expensive for something small sometimes.... But I am a fan because I love their Banana Flambe and their Honey toast. So now days I only go for deserts and their drinks. Love lychee. I have their Honey Toast Club Card as well!! They finally made an official hard cover card. So for those of you that got the card and its still paper, go down to Shokudo now and they'll give you a more solid card. I miss the peanut butter chocolate honey toast though. That one is hella good. I like this one waiter. Dont know his name but hes very flamboyant and every time I go there, I always hope to have him as my server. Because he really puts a good mood on our table's atmosphere. All the time. Never fails.
(4)
Janel K.
I really enjoy going here. Good price for really good food. brought the boyfriend once and he got his first flambe! Totally fun.
(4)
Mark P.
With a decor and ambiance fit for an emperor, I expected Shokudo to bring out the better of Neo-Japanese cuisine. Realistically, I had stumbled down a cascade of lousy flavors even peasants would have refused on the famished of days. To bypass the wait, we sat at the bar and was placed with a bartender of asshole proportions. No smile, hasty, no humor, and no follow-up. Worst of all my yuzu cocktail was so abominable, if I'd pissed in it it wouldn't have made it worse. So here we are already off to a bad start. Maybe just maybe their food will be really good so they have the right to act like an ass crack. I took the liberty of ordering: Char-Siu pork, pupu platter which came with chicken karage, ume cucumber salad, yukari french fries, edamame, and fried cod, albacore tuna on crispy rice, rainbow roll, garlic tuna, unagi rice, assorted tempura, crispy calamari salad, and beef tataki on balsamic sushi. That was the order they arrived, not the way I ordered it. I kept waiting for something to taste decent but that moment never came. Char-Siu pork: pork belly, marinated mainly in sweetened soy sauce, not even crisp. Pupu platter:chicken karage had little to no salt, ume cucumber salad had zero ume flavor, yukari french fries were limp, edamame was edamame, and the fried cod could've been made by Gorton's. Albacore tuna on crispy rice: rice was mushy and the tuna itself was Todai fresh. Rainbow roll: looked like it was made by a Mr. Roboto, however the thin layer of sliced cucumber was refreshingly surprising. Garlic tuna: was I supposed to marvel over the hot stone? nice novelty, welcome to 10 years ago. It wasn't even necessary. Unagi rice: just because it's Nagoya-style doesn't mean the unagi itself is from Nagoya or even Japan for that matter. I guarantee it. Assorted tempura: biiiiiiiig fuckup. What would you rather have? Stale batter or bland batter? How about both?! Crispy calamari salad: why would I want to eat this near the end of my meal? Why is the fried calamari soaked in the dressing? Beef tataki on balsamic sushi: yay, I love to finish my meal on a heavy note of red meat, right after a mushy calamari salad. The beef? Select cut and chewy. I wonder if they forgot the balsamic on the sushi rice. This visit had crippled my spirit of looking for new and innovative eateries on the island. Quite funny... we were looking for Yanagi's but ended up here. Next time I'll stick to the plan.
(2)
Joo S.
i come here for two things that i can't get anywhere else: -mochi cheese gratin it sounds gross but if you like mozzarella cheese and mochi, they're a surprisingly delicious combination! it comes out all gooey and melty...and the dashi broth is good! -HONEY TOAST. nuff said. thanks to you shokudo gets an extra star. i've tried various other things on the menu over the years...nothing else really stood out. the shrimp tempura udon had a distinct shiitake mushroom taste, which i hated. their sushi is ok. spinach salad was decent (a long time ago) but i prefer petite garlic's spinach salad (r.i.p.). the thing i could do without: -service - slow and no common sense servers. and it was a slow early evening, probably 5 total parties in the place when we first got there. and if you know how big shokudo is, you know how empty that is. it was funny how one of my friends ordered tea, so our server brought the entire pot with just one cup, not asking if anyone else wanted any. we didn't see him for a while, so we ended up using our clean extra bowls for the tea. as my other friend was drinking tea out of her bowl, he came by and asked, "do you want a cup?" uh, kinda missed the boat on that one, buddy!
(4)
Justin H.
Happy Hour with Jess! Great service, great food, what more can you ask for?! Will do happy hour again!
(5)
Angry K.
I'm not big on Shokudo at all, because every time I've gone, the food is hit or miss. Drinks are pretty good. The decor is nice there too, although a little weird. Service is alright, but nothing outstanding. Food, meh. I do have to say that I like the mochi cheese gratin, and the stone pots are pretty good. But some of the other things I've had there were just bad, or weird. The worst? The "sweet potato fries" appetizer. They were sliced really thin, kinda like potato chip fries, but cold. And had sugar on them. Is that why they were SWEET potato fries? Har har har. The duck appetizer, I remember, was also not so great. The gyoza was nothing out of the ordinary. It's not a place I would frequent, yet somehow I always have a friend who has the brilliant idea to eat here, so I go. But there are many other eateries in Honolulu to spend your money on that are much, much better.
(2)
Jen C.
Love this place ! Food is Ono
(3)
Julie P.
My boyfriend and I had an awesome time here on New Year's Eve. Our waiter, Connor, was really friendly and knowledgable about the menu. At his recommendation, we started with the Mochi Cheese Gratin, which was absolutely delicious. We ordered a few sushi rolls next, which were also great, but we definitely over-ordered. The rolls are enormous, so four rolls between two people was way too much. As all the reviews note, the Honey Toast is amazing. I think literally every table in the whole restaurant was ordering it., and you should, too. For a pretty simple dessert, it's really incredible. One note for those coming from the Waikiki area: you have to pass by several strip clubs/adult stores in order to get to the restaurant. It feels a little seedy, but don't be deterred - Shokudo is worth the trip.
(5)
Kristel Y.
pro: HONEY TOAST with ice cream. con: every time I eat here, my clothes really reek after. My friends and I went the other night and our server remembered us (from the week before) and said, "9 shots of grey goose?!" We didn't want 9 shots of Grey Goose on this night, but it was nice to be remembered. The same woman was our server on this night too and she was excellent. She remembered from our previous time what our drink preferences were and she was always quick to refill our water/drinks/etc. She was knowledgeable about the menu, polite, and extremely attentive although it was busy. I wanted to write this review to say a good server can really change your experience at a restaurant. I've gone to Shokudo before and have had decent service, which probably made my excellent food seem just okay. But on nights when I have great service, I swear the food the seems better. On this night, the food was excellent.
(4)
Stella J.
came here while on vacation, it is defintley different from what im use to in san francisco. the pizza sushi was interesting and delicious, the honey toast was drool worthy. the unagi hot stone, spider roll, crispy calamari salad all were pretty good. =) i would love to come back here the next time im in honolulu. oh and the lychee and grape calpico vodka soda were pretty good mixed with grey goose!
(4)
Christine A.
The food here is amazing. Not one item I have gotten was sub-par. The sushi is amazing and the atmosphere is great too. There is almost always people here but the restaurant does a great job gettong you seated fast and food ordered fast as well. The parking is terrible because there isn't really any, but I go to this place every chance I get.
(4)
Gary A.
They have good food in a nice setting. It gets crowded at night so get there early. I've been here several times to try other items on the menu. Too many good food to list, but remember to top it off with their Honey Toast.
(4)
Yuree N.
I don't even know where to start with this place. Since I've been home this entire summer, I find myself gravitating over to Shokudo every week. I think I may have ordered almost everything there is on the menu... yes, it's that intense. First of all, for appetizers - the Agedashi or Fresh Homemade Tofu is BOMB. They make their own tofu (I think that's what they told me) so you know it's legit. I don't really waste my time on rolls here because you can get that at any other sushi restaurant. Shokudo has some unique items so don't miss out on them. For salads, I always, always get the Tuna Sashimi Salad. The dressing is yums and they give you fat slices of maguro sashimi with this awesome wasabi mayo sauce. Now this is what I'll have a mad craving for sometimes in the middle of the night (it gets pretty bad)... the Ishiyaki (Hot Stone Cooking). The Garlic Shrimp or Salmon with rice is soooo good. It comes in a stone pot that's already heated with steaming rice and whatever you pick on top. The waiter can then mix it up for you, pour some shoyu on top, and you're ready to grind! (Date Warning: the garlic shrimp with rice will give you or your date gnarly breath) Other notable menu items... garlic tuna, sushi pizza, spicy tuna on crispy rice, hamachi carpaccio. I've had the bentos but I don't think they standout at Shokudo among their other foods. I'd probably go to Sushi King or Yanagi Sushi for that. And of course... I don't think I need to further emphasize how amazing and addicting the Honey Toast is. I always stick with the Original, which is just toast a la mode with honey drizzled on top. But it's not just any toast, it's orgasmic toast. Seriously. I've heard so many great things about the drinks here, but I haven't gotten to them yet! I guess I just get so blindsighted by the food? Or honestly, sometimes the food bill just racks up pretty high here that I don't feel like spending more money on drinks. I wish they had some kind of happy hour special. Anyway, I'm getting ready to eat there right now! This inspired me to try a drink there, so I'll update on how that is later tonight. ____________________________ UPDATE: Tried the lychee mojito. It was SO GOOD. For $8, I was hoping it would be in a taller glass though. Oh well! I'll probably be getting this every time I go now. :)
(5)
Shawn B.
Spicy miso ramen:) it's the shizzle.
(5)
Forest S.
Superbuddy and I went here for happy hour. The rolls were unconventional but very well done. The fusion foods were tasty. Our Honey Toast, Jr. dessert was delicious. Our bartender/server was godlike.
(4)
Chevis H.
I'd say the only reason why I come here with my girlfriend or friends is cuhz of their Honey Toast. I love their Honey Toast, it never lets me down. I've sampled quite a bit of their entrees but I don't seem to have any interest in any of them, so I only go there for dessert, & thas fine with me.
(3)
Remee A.
I love late nights at Shokudo. They have an excellent late night menu special, we usually have the clams, gyoza (never really hot), spicy ahi nacho (favorite), and either califoria roll or spicy ahi roll.
(3)
Emiko T.
Shokudo sort of confuses you in many ways. You walk in (almost thinking it's an office building) and it looks like a night club and you look bashfully down at your sandals thinking you're way underdressed. Then as you get led to your table you begin to pass ladies in heels and club wear and you definitely begin to wonder if there's a dress code. The seating arrangements are strangely spread out with one half of the restaurant looking like a lecture hall and the other a sort of cozy yet swanky, modern restaurant. But I guess that huge chandelier piece in the middle of the room just throws you off. Anyway, if you get past the strange melange of dress-code and atmospheric confusion, you remember that this place is awesome because they're actually open past 9:30. Ordered the Red Eye Roll, which wasn't fantastic or fresh out of the sea, but it was filling (watch out, because the spicy tuna is no joke). Next the agedashi tofu was also mediocre but also enjoyable, as it was four HUGE slabs of tofu but the fried outside didn't have that necessary crunch and crispiness. Instead it had an odd, chewy texture that left me sort of perplexed. That's ok though, the size of the tofu made up for it. Finally the tastiest dish was the sukiyaki bibimbap, which is exactly what it sounds like. More bibimbap than sukiyaki, but the meat they used gave it the one Japanese flair. The rice itself was excellent and full of kimchi. Definitely a winner. I also have to recommend the cucumber mojito--this was surprisingly delicious. So refreshing and they don't skimp on the alky. And while I kept eyeing the gigantic bricks of honey toast passing my table the entire night, we didn't save room for one :( Of course this means I'll just have to make a special trip. This is an awesome late-night place and it seems like the dishes are kind of hit or miss, but I think it's definitely worth trying once.
(4)
Jaedyn C.
Meh, I finally went to see what the big hype us about this place. Went with a friend of mine on a Saturday night, and apparently Shokudo is where it's at with the college crowd. Ton of 18-20+ year old and there group of friends. I went and got the bibimbap, don't remember much about except that there was a little pool of oil on the bottom when I was almost done with it... Ehhhh, when I eat bibimbap I usually see a bunch of crispy rice on the bottom and not a small little pool of oil.... My friend wasn't impressed with the sushi either and feels like she could've gone to Genki if she wanted some rolls. With dinner done, we figured the Honey Toast would've made up for it. Mmmm, I wasn't too impressed with it. Just a big slab of bread you could probably buy at some Japanese bakery, toasted and cut up with some honey drizzled all over and 2 scoops of ice cream. Not worth the $8 in my opinion. I'd rather spend $8 on a nice slice of Red Velvet Cake ala moade at CPK than on Honey Toast which you could easily make at home if you wanted to. Maybe Shokudo was having an off night or something, but I'll only give it another shot if I'm not the one going to be paying for the meal. Other than that, this would probably be the first and last time I'll try this place out.
(2)
Cheech M.
Went here and had the teriyaki bento. A little pricey, and nothing too fantastic. Also had the honey toast, which was awesome. I recommend you share this with someone, as it's very filling. The overall theme of the restaurant is to share anyway, so. Would probably come back on a date or something of that nature, not if I'm starving though.
(3)
Jessie R.
Came in a group of 8+ so we made reservations ahead of time. We all got something different to split and share. We had the yakisoba, gyoza, teriyaki chicken obento, sushi pizza, red eye roll, unagi rice, lobster dynamite, mochi cheese gratin, and the bibimbap. We're pigs, we know. Is it me or have the dishes gotten a lot smaller? I liked the red eye roll and the lobster dynamite. The other dishes were just average. Honey toast for dessert! Delicious as usual. We also tried the pomegranate infused sake, Aiko, and the mango vodka I believe. Extremely disappointed with the sake and the aiko. The sake didn't have the airy crisp taste. It was just like watered down cough syrup. The aiko was super thick and bland. Our server took his sweet time coming around. He checked on us once the whole meal. We're guessing it's because gratuity is automatically added to parties of 6 or more and that he doesn't have to worry about us tipping him badly. The restaurant didn't seem too busy either.
(3)
Deanna B.
All I have to say is"AWESOME!!"
(5)
Natalie T.
A modern Japanese restaurant and bar that offers a unique modern twist to traditional Japanese cooking. The lighting and fixtures help create sophisticated yet relaxed ambiance The first thing you notice around the Bar, Tiered and Main Dining areas (the place is huge!) is the 18 to 30s age group that make up 80% of their customers. They're well-dressed and ready to party! (or just eat :) I enjoyed their California Roll, Spinach Salad, Tempura (the batter was light and tasty) and Unagi Bowl prepared Ishiyaki style (hot stone bowls and plate). For a unique dessert treat, try their Honey Toast, a house specialty of thick white bread toasted, cut and cubed, topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with honey. Sweet, crunchy and filling at the same time. The service we got was consistent, with the server anticipating our need for refills, soy dishes and water. A good place for drinks with office mates after work, to meet up with friends for dinner or to bring a date or group date. Just be prepared to speak louder and shell out a bit more that your usual dinner bill.
(4)
Angel P.
Great customer service! We had a big group of almost 20 and they seated us in the back private room. The server was more than nice and understanding. The sushi was delicious however they didn't have a big selection of sushi. The price was very reasonable (rainbow sushi for $15) They were a little incomplete...one table didn't have soy sauce the other table didn't have enough chopsticks, but it's very understandable because of the big group we had. The honey toast is so good! It did take them a little long to bring out because they waiting for everyone's order. I would go here just for the honey toast. overall my experience was great. The server was even nice enough to go outside and take a big group picture of us.
(4)
Dennis M.
First time to enjoy this restaurant, greeted well from hostess, given the choice of bar or sitdown, I chose bar, view of TV, pleasant bar attendant gave me time to look over menu, Menu was fusion Japanese, with some traditional items. I chose the Kaisen Sashimi Bowl, and order of half udon. Cool and pleasant environment at the bar, view of entire restaurant. Food came about 15 minutes later, udon hot and tasty soup base, udon texture good, Kaisen was good volume of rice and cut slices of varies sashimi. Good choices and well done. Price was 20,00 for both dishes, somewhat pricy. I enjoyed my time, good environment, service and food good. Will come again.
(3)
Mimi A.
We came as group of 8 people but the service was quick and great. Even though, the waiter forgot our drinks but came back with it quickly. The food was okay but it was a little too salty for me.
(4)
Chero-Lyn M.
I love this place. Great food, great mixed drinks, fun atmosphere beautiful interior. The only negative thing I would say is when I go with a big group of 10 or more, they can only make 4 checks at the most, && it gets complicating but other then that, I love love shokudo. Oh && I only see asian or white workers in the front of the house. RACIST Much?
(4)
Vicky K.
Came here for lunch and got the tofu salad, lunch bento box (~$8), ahi sashimi, and agedashi tofu. Yummmmmy! Sat in a booth for two that's pretty cool the two seat benches were next to eachother instead of facing eachother. Wasn't super crowded lunch time so we had a pretty chill meal. Didn't get the honey toast like last time. I gotta come with at least 4 people to finish it! awesome portions!
(4)
Melissa L.
i miss working here because now i cant afford my lobster dynamite roll and char sui and honey toast and garlic shrimp :( i have dreams about it.
(5)
Angela M.
We went here for dinner and were pleasantly surprised at the inside of the restaurant. It had a full bar but a nice restaurant seating as wells. We tried a few dishes to sample because everything looked so good. We Mochi Cheese Gratin was delicious...never had anything like it. The Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice was my favorite dish of the night. The Pumpkin tempura was pretty good. The Sushi Pizza was pretty amazing considering it was a interesting twist on sushi. And last but not least, the Honey Toast with Cinnamon was so freakin good. We were pretty stuffed from the rest of the food, but we had to try it. I'd like to think that I could try to make it at home but I'd be afraid to mess it up. Overall, it was a great meal and I would go back again to try more dishes and reorder the ones we had!
(4)
Howard L.
First visit i had the oxtail ramen. It sounded good at the time. The broth was bland and lacked the flavor that oxtail really provides. There was a load of fresh ginger in it. Ginger is good for getting rid of bad flavors or smells and also tastes like crap when there is too much. Horrible experience, just horrible. The happy hour stuff is ok though. The spicy tuna nachos my girlfriend seems to like. I wasn't a huge fan. It was fried wonton wrappers instead of chips but oh well , they're trying to be creative, it's different i'll give them that. The Honey Toast is very tasty...The first time i had it. The second time i had it there was butter on it, very salty butter. Butter, honey, and ice cream doesnt go well together. The rolls are also horrible. They made a mistake on one (spicy tuna crispy rice or something) and had it dipped in soy for us already, which by the time it reached us it was drenched in soy. I like salty foods, i really do, but this was too salty and even i couldnt eat it. tried to rinse it away with beer, couldnt. Finally i had them take it back and got the spicy scallops roll instead. Scallops didn't even taste like scallops. I assume they were the frozen baby bay scallops that arrive in bags. The ONLY reason i would come here, is for Honey Toast, and drinks.
(2)
moejoe r.
This was our 3rd visit and once again it was a full-filling experince!! Matt was ojr waiter and attended to our every need with a smile. We order the wrong item and it was quickly taken away with apologies and we quickly received the correct item. Thank you for an amazing night!!!
(5)
Glenn N.
Been here 6x. Skip the "happy hour" pupus and drinks. It seems that they skimp on the food, hence the lower prices. Go during regular hours and you can really enjoy the bountiful of variety of delicacy. My favorite is the "Lobster Dynamite Roll". Skip all the ramen noodles. If you want ramen then go to a place that specializes in noodles. Shokudo is more skilled at exotic sushi. Don't forget their signature dessert, Honey Ice Cream Toast!" You can make this at home in 4 minutes and eat it every night! SOOOO GOOOOOD!!!!
(3)
Christine S.
Great rice and noodle dishes and SPECTACULAR honey toast. Sushi is just alright: would suggest elsewhere if you're hungry for sushi.
(3)
Chantel G.
My husband and I really enjoyed our dining experience at this restaurant. The server was very attentive and recommended foods for us to try since it was our first time. The food was pretty good. We were dining with another couple so we ate all our food family style. We recommend their tofu salad, lobster dynamite rolls, and honey toast. The japanese beef was nothing special. I highly recommend that you make reservations especially if you go on the weekends. Overall, we enjoyed everything at the restaurant.
(5)
Hanna M.
This place is really good. There's always a wait which is the only reason I didn't give it five stars. I like that it's not routine Japanese food that you can get at any restaurant. They have interesting dishes, like sushi pizza, and their sashimi is really fresh. I have dreamt about that honey toast dessert that they have - it's just too big for one person (that's what she said!)
(4)
Dawne F.
I love this place!! Only bad thing is that it's always crowded. I went with 3 people lastnight and we got there at 10:00pm and I couldn't believe we had to wait 20 min. I didn't expect to wait thinking most people went for dinner already. But the food is just that good, people are constantly there! I always come back to order the Yukari French Fries ($4.45), Lobster Dynamite ($10.45), & Tofu Salad ($9.45). My 3 friends never tried the tofu salad but they helped me eat it up! Then one of them ordered another. I would never order tofu salad but once I tried it I had to have it everytime I come. The Lobster Dynamite is so delicious! It comes with slices of thin toasted bread and it's baked mayo over pieces of lobster, onions, broccoli, mushrooms, and red peppers. I noticed the servers always bringing them out to other tables so you know it's good! I also tried the Chicken Karaage ($9.95) and it comes with this spicy sauce. It's really good and the chicken is very crispy. If you don't care for spicy things then you might not like the sauce but you can eat it without because they serve it on the side. I also ordered the Gyoza ($6.95) and it was good. It comes with sauce and it gives it more taste. The overall food is very delicious and you will definitely come back if you like this type of foods! Oh and you cannot leave without ordering a Honey Toast!!!
(5)
Sid S.
Let me start by saying that a couple friends of mine have told me they've had spotty service. I've never had that happen to me I've come here for both lunch and dinner. This place is a little bit overpriced, but good food, ambiance and (for me) excellent service make it worth it. The lunch bentos are very reasonably priced and a good sized portion of food. The sushi rolls here are good, but not any better than what I can get cheaper at Sansei or Ninja Sushi. The reason I keep coming back to this place though is for their unagi rice bowl - awesome, my favorite dish, and something I can't get anywhere else. The honey toast is well done and good for what it is, but I'm not a fan of it. I prefer their oreo shake for desset, but that's just me.
(4)
Kenny K.
Great Japanese food and sushi! All their hot bowls and rolls are awesome. Always parking, great that they stay open late.
(4)
Kristina K.
I don't see why people love this place? Had the mochi and cheese...it was different but not as tasty as I thought it was. Also had pancake sushi again creative but not much taste. The most impressive things were honey toast which was delicious and their cocktails r good too.
(3)
Travis M.
Wow, such bad ratings for a place that is pretty packed for lunch and dinner. I've been here on a few occasions and even for just drinks, presentation is nice, taste is average, and a bit pricey. Overall this is an alright place to go if you want to change things up. Just don't know why its always pretty busy.
(3)
Michelle N.
I accidently wrote under myles k's yelp profile rather than mine. "HONEY TOAST!! Ok ok. We took pictures of it.... and they do not do justice for its humungo size! This place is great. I'm so glad one of the people in our groups knew of this restaurant. 1. The decor is beautiful. 2. Our waiter was awesome. He recommended us great dishes. 3. The food was yummy. 4. Dessert was even better. 5. The Lychee Vodka soda was good-- good enough, without a hard kick to it! I'd highly recommend it!" ADDING onto this... goodaamn yes, nothing else compares. They say they have another restaurant in LA, under a different name. Anyone know? umm... the thing about this place though, there were a lot of "the same japanese foods" but it all had a slight twist to it. either a korean twist, ie. the bibinbap, or... the cowpiss (calpis) drink mix. the tempura was normal like always. i am so craving for it right now.
(5)
Jocelyn L.
"Waffle honey dessert dealio is great. Hot pot rice is good too"
(3)
Justin W.
Upon walking into here last night I was thinking this place is pretty cool. There is free parking behind the restaurant when we went at 11:45pm. We were immediately seated and began looking through the menu. They have a wide variety of items on the menu and the place is very trendy. I actually like the climate there, it is a bar and restaurant and the music that is playing is pretty much top 40. Pretty good stuff. Our server was extremely helpful and recommended and even told us a couple items that were not worth it. That is awesome when a server will be honest and suggest something better! We ordered some sushi items which were good, and I also ordered the gyoza which was alright. The best thing was their honey toast dessert. First of all that thing was huge plus it comes with two scoops of ice cream. The prices are reasonable for the food quality. I am sure that we will be back here again if we are in the area.
(4)
Crystal N.
The decor at Shokudo is very contemporary asian. Very unique compared to most japanese restaurants. Prices are moderate. I recommend going with a group of friends and eat family style so you can try all their food. Quality of food is 3 out of 5. I ordered their ramen and it was a bit too salty. Their spicy yellowtail sushi roll was okay. The Lobster gratin was pretty good though! The happy hour menu is pretty cheap, everything being $3, but the choices are limited and random. Overall, the ambience and decor are nice! but food is okay. This restaurant seems to attract a younger crowd that aren't particular about quality.
(4)
Ryan C.
Ambience This place had a really good vibe on a Saturday night. A lot of people who seemed to be in their twenties. I really like the design of the restraunt- it felt trendy. However, the urinal in the men's bathroom overflowed... 1 star Service Our waitress was pretty accomidating and patient. Especially since we took a while deciding hot to split the bill. 1 star Price It was pretty reasonable... we paid family style with 10 ppl and it came out to a little over $20. This included 2 bottles of sake, 2 desserts, 4 entrees. 1 star Food Quality I thought it was pretty good. Nothing special, just good. 1/2 star rounded up = 1 star
(4)
Margie B.
My sister took our mainland visiting families to Shokudo for dessert, their famous honey toast, but we decided to eat there also and Im so glad we did. The quality of the food for the price is unbelievable. We ordered the homemade tofu salad and it was creamy tofu, crunchy won ton chips and delicious dressing. The popcorn fish was so tasty I made everyone taste it and they agreed. Everyone else around the table of 13 was wowing about the dishes they ordered. Then came the honey toasts-cinnamon, caramel, regular, chocolate-I think she ordered 5. Definitely a must taste experience. Toasted cubes of bread with the honey and flavors topped with ice cream. I think2 would have been enough but we managed to sample all of them and they were as good as people said. This is my favorite place to go back to the next time I come home.
(5)
Megan U.
They have changed their rules and now check your ID if you want to sit at the bar. I used to sit there if I just wanted something quick to eat but I was told to leave the other day since I wasn't over 21.
(3)
C S.
We had a fantastic waiter, Matt, who was very accommodating and patient, especially since for several of us in the party this was our first time at Shokudo. I had the garlic shrimp rice, and, as soon as I saw it coming to the table, nestled in a large box, I knew it was going to be good. It was very good, and everything that others at the table tasted good, too. It was a trendy place that we are looking forward to visiting again. Great, pleasant service, tasty food at reasonable prices...
(4)
Josh P.
They are open pretty late and serve some funky Japanese dishes that are not bad. Service can be kinda hit or miss sometimes but Kelly does an amazing job so search her out if you can. They have a pretty good selection of libations so you can't really go wrong drink wise. Great place to hang out with some friends and enjoy some shared plates.
(3)
n p.
I went here a while back with my family after walking by it several times on our way to Angelo Pietro. I can't say I was amazed or satisfied with anything. We all found the food to be mediocre and nothing special. I can't even remember what I ate, which to me is a sign of how lack luster is was. The decor is nice but that in itself isn't enough to make the food taste good. The best part of the meal was when the women seated at the table next to us started fighting over the bill.
(2)
John L.
Came here in the afternoon on Friday, the place is deserted which is good since this is our first time, it'll give us a chance to look and snoop around. Got lost in the mall coz we kept thinking that this place is 'IN'side the mall which is not. Came only for one reason only 'honey toast' as i read it in a food blog. Unfortunately we just ate or else we would've ordered more of the food menu items as well instead of just eating the honey toast which was excellent, it was simple and delicious. Markus was our wait staff, he's HAWTTT!!! LOL "sup smiley face!"
(4)
pirateninja a.
So one of the manager/staff contacted me offering me a compensation by asking me for a copy of a receipt. Unfortunately that was over a month ago, and my friend had taken the receipt. Being the nice friends that my friends are, they have probably had chucked the receipt. So I attempted to explain and sent an email. No reply. Yeah just because I don't have the receipt, it doesn't mean that I made this crap up. I put this review because I actually had a real CRAP experience. And the worse part is that we were charged for their crap service due to the gratitude party. Of course your staff doesn't give a shit they will get 20 percent no matter what. And the worse part is you charged everyone at the party TWENTY percent regardless if they were sitting on the table or not. Not even a plain ass sorry. Well arrogance will get you no where. I have always a bad taste in mouth every time I see shukudo. Crap service, crap food for super expensive prices.
(1)
Larson V.
Shokudo is a restaurant conveniently located on Kapiolani at an entrance to Ala Moana Shopping Center. Sat at the bar with friends and sampled some dishes and threw back some drinks, although getting a drink proved to be more difficult than it should have been. More on this later. Anyway, tried the mochi cheese gratin, lobster dynamite roll, and the teriyaki chicken quesadilla. All were excellent and would highly recommend. In addition to the to the good food, Shokudo has a nice vibe. Casual, although not overly so, somewhat hip look with out trying too hard, and it's open till 2AM - always a good thing. Food service was pretty good - dishes came out pretty quickly after they were ordered. The only negative aspect of my visit was the bar service. Took forever to order a drink even though the bar wasn't very busy. The bartender (think her name was Jacie) seemed distracted and wasn't particularly into helping customers. When my friends and I were able to get her attention, it took her forever and a day to fill the order. Is a bottle of beer really that tough to make? Too bad because the rest of the visit was really very good. Anyway, aside from the slow bar service I did enjoy my experience. May give it another shot.
(3)
Layla A.
Omg this is prob my favorite Japanese place on the Island. The food is just amazing. And I AM IN LOVE WITH THE DESSERT like u see on the pix. Sushi is also good.
(5)
Patsy U.
Awesome lychee mojito, choose shochu vs rum!! Was apprehensive about the mochi cheese gratin but glad I had a taste and was pleasantly surprised at the flavor and texture. Got to order the lobster sushi roll and chicken karaage Don't waste your time on the crunchy spicy hamachi roll--can't even taste hamachi nor was it crunchy. Creative sushi pizza--pretty good pick. Calamari salad was so so--they need to season the calamari and not count on the dressing on the greens.
(4)
Raul N.
Looking for a late dinner while staying in Honolulu for a conference, my friend and I decided to grab sushi at Shokudo. There was a little bit of a wait for a table for two, but oh man, it was well worth it! I don't know about you, but no sushi meal is complete without a cup of miso soup, so i started with that. It wasn't bad--a good mix of green onion and savory miso--but nothing special either. We ordered a couple rolls--a shrimp tempura roll and the lobster "dynamite" roll--to get our sushi fix. The shrimp tempura roll had a nice balance of shrimp and rice, a welcome change from so many other places that pack so much rice around the shrimp. I was a little surprised the roll literally only came with shrimp tempura--I'm used to sushi places back in California that tend to put avocado in every roll--but I have to say, I think it might actually have been better without the avocado. The lobster roll was only OK--it was slathered in sauce, which isn't one of my favorite sushi preparations. The flavors were nice, but a little rich for my tastes. Last, but not least, we ordered some pumpkin tempura. The batter had a sweet kick to it that added to the sweetness of the pumpkin perhaps just a tad too much? I also wish the pumpkin had been a little riper--some pieces were too crunchy, even after getting fried. But the dish was a nice twist on a classic sweet potato tempura and perfect for fall. But the real star of dinner was dessert. (And I'll be honest, it was the dessert reviews that sold me on trying Shokudo in the first place.) We ordered the honey toast, with cinnamon. The presentation alone impressed me--the sweet bread was lightly toasted and topped with cinnamon and ice cream in an elegant tower. The bread soaked up the honey drizzle and spicy cinnamon powder--one bite in and I was in heaven! This dessert is so simple, but still so sophisticated with the flavors and presentation. It's a huge beast of a dessert, and can easily be shared by two people, if not more. I'd say the honey toast alone is worth a trip to Shokudo--and I'm plotting how to make this dish myself back here in California. I've got to say, I was pretty impressed with the service at Shokudo. Even though it was crowded and it's clearly one of the trendy restaurants down in the Ala Moana area, the service was top-notch. Our server never missed a beat taking our order, bringing out food, refilling our waters, etc.--she clearly handled the pressure with grace. This was a welcome change from the trendy restaurants back here in California that all too often give you an extra side of attitude with your meal. And even though there were obviously diners waiting to get in, we never felt rushed during our meal. I doubt that I'll be back in Honolulu anytime soon, but I know if I am, I'll definitely be popping back into Shokudo.
(4)
Tammy M.
Been going here for years. Love their food! Favorites include: - agedashi tofu - oxtail ramen - fresh tofu - sashimi salad - bread w/ice cream desert - assorted sushi rolls
(4)
uilani c.
we went to shokudo to try the items offered on their lunch menu which we later found out is the same as their dinner menu. there are a lot of choices and there are some fancy "specialty" items that certainly caught my attention and so of course, they were ordered. we started with the mochi cheese gratin (redundant, but that is what they call it). the base of this is plain mochi (suffice to say it is a requirement to like mochi in order to even think you're going to enjoy this dish). it is covered with cheese and a shoyu & sweet sauce (like teriyaki but not so tangy) and baked until the cheese is just a wee bit crisp. mochi is one of my favorites so i enjoyed it. the flavor is all cheese and shoyu sweet sauce, of course, since plain mochi doesn't have much flavor. next up we had the sushi pizza. open faced california roll with chopped up bits of salmon and bay scallops, bits of chopped onion mixed in and baked until the nori underneath is crispy on the edges. nouveau. we liked it. oh yes, there is a tad bit of mayo mixed in with the seafood and onion topping. it's a fun dish and tasty, too. we also tried the hot stone bowl shrimp and garlic. WHOA! garlic and butter explosion! but what better to compliment shrimp?! this dish was buttery, savory, and oh so delicious! it looks like a small serving but once the ingredients are mixed together (your choice to have the server do it or do it yourself) it's really quite a heaping mound of food. the honey toast dessert is gargantuan! two slices of toast approximately 2.5" thick served with ice cream, honey, and whipped cream. off the charts awesome dessert, but it took four of us to eat it! the portions for the items we ordered were good sized and we left shokudo a lot fuller than we intended to be at the end our meal. the establishment is clean and the staff friendly and sharp...great service!
(4)
Herenui T.
Great because they open late and have happy hours. The food is good if you select the right dish. The garlic shrimp is good, the sashimi sampler as well but don't miss out on the honey toast. The place is nice and my husband and I like the service...for all the times that we've gone there, we always got good friendly service.
(4)
Mel E.
This place is packed and you also gotta find parking. The food though is TOTALLY worth it. Dear god, just eat everything!
(4)
Kirk W.
Had the pork chop tonight. It was very juicy and the outside was crispy. Also has the sashimi sampler which is yellowtail, tuna and salmon. The yellowtail pieces were huge but the salmon was very thin. When you come here you have to get the garlic shrimp rice which comes in a hot stone bowl. Crispy rice and garlic shrimp. Very yummy. For desert of course is the honey toast. Make sure to save room as this is the highlight of the dinner.
(4)
richard d.
Very modern and non traditional type of food at this restaurant. It is very trendy and innovative. I usually like going there for late night specials around the bar for food and drinks which are fairly reasonable. The food is ok and can sometimes be a little over the top with creativity. The atmosphere has a young more hip vibe. I guess it could make you feel younger and in the scene. There is also a variety of Japanese drinks anywhere from creative martinis' and mixed drinks to sake.
(4)
Chan K.
i ate here once and it was a pleasant experience. great bibimbab, which was actually korean lol. and california rolls! thats always a plus! and they have this dessert thing...i forgot what it was called. but its like waffles with ice cream inside or something. that was bomb!
(4)
Slyn C.
all i can say is HAPPPY HHHOOOUURR!
(4)
Dana S.
This restaurant deserves more than the ratings previous reviewers have given it. Perhaps it's because I'm from SF, or it's because I appreciate a Japanese restaurant that doesn't serve just sushi and teriyaki, or maybe it's because we don't have restaurants like this in the bay area. The food was unique and quite tasty! If you had a trendy restaurant like Shokudo that serves yummy dishes in the Bay Area, people would be flocking to it, lining up and waiting for hours to get a seat there. Mouth-watering foods, creative dishes, yummy sweet drinks/cocktails, trendy decor, reasonable prices (cheap if you were in SF), friendly staff--come on people! 2 stars? 3 stars? Puh-lease! They deserve more than that. But what do I know? I'm only from SF...
(5)
Jenna B.
Bimbimbap, sashimi, chicken teriyaki, sushi, ramen, beef steak sushi, and the honey toast were all delicious. Our server was very nice and patient with our group in explaining a lot of the dishes (my colleagues don't know much about asian cuisines so it was quite tedious trying to determine what to order). Our food was made fairly quickly, piping hot and fresh from the kitchen. I'd definitely go back!
(4)
Happy M.
Good service, but the food was hit or miss. I really like their sushi, fresh tofu, mochi cheese gratin, and honey toast.
(4)
Mizuho M.
Okay , so the atmosphere is cute, chic, modern...and the service? Not bad. But the food...it's not that great for the price you pay. In fact, the food is not memorable at all...the only dish I really like there is the tofu. It's fun to come here with friends because of the atmosphere, I think, but if you want quality food, this is NOT the place you want to go to. It's definitely NOT on my 'favorites' list.
(2)
Alana R.
I love the interior design. Seating is comfy. Mochi gratin is my fave! Service is always friendly. I thought it was funny that the last time I went, all the cooks were wearing birthday hats on top their cook hats! lol
(4)
E H.
I used to love this place!! Prices have sky-rocketed!!! Too bad.. I used to go a few times a month.. Not anymore!
(2)
Angel L.
This place is alright but it's not the best! Other places I've tried is better than this one for sure!
(3)
Kiko Y.
Ok fusion restaurant. Get the brick toast!!!!!!!! I got the spicy tuna pizza and it was alright. Parking sucks.
(4)
stevo k.
yawn. the food. the service. the decor. the ambience. after hearing about this place from many people, i finally went. it was a saturday night for a group dinner, party of 8. we had reservations so there was only a 5 minute wait. they were busy, bar was semi full, all the tables were occupied, alot of background noise, aging modern minimalist design, semi open kitchen, and the ac apparently doesn't work that well with a full house (read other reviews on here). FOOD - i ordered the bibimbap. it was good, nothing great. served in a giant hot stone bowl in a giant box (poor waitstaff), it is mixed at the table for you. we ordered gyoza - good enough, a little greasy, not much of a crust, nothing great. everyone more or less ordered for themselves. SERVICE - our waitress was very nice. one member of our party had ordered miso salmon, which came to the table less than 5 minutes after our order had been taken. then all of the other dishes trickled to the table at different times. 2 members of our party had ordered the mixed appetizer plate (which was GIANT) which came when most all of us had already finished our meal. good enough service, nothing great. DECOR - modern, sleek, minimalist...aging. it was probably really cool a few years ago. i must say, the chairs are really comfortable. they have the kitchen somewhat open - you can see the chefs through a short window. it kind of looked like they were in a giant hot smoking fish tank. AMBIENCE - mix of locals and tourists. young and old. dressed up. dressed down. dates. birthdays. families. the background noise gets a little loud, hard to converse in groups. i'm not someone who walks into every restaurant expecting immaculate service, and fancy decor, etc. - just a good meal and a good experience. just like what i like to eat, where i like to eat is eclectic too. hole in the walls. fancy places. locally owned. franchises. whatever. i must say though, "meh. i've experienced better." food - ok. service - ok. decor - ok. ambience - ok. value - ok. yawn.
(2)
Leanne M.
We met my uncle, cousin, and cousin's mom here for dinner on March 28th. It was my first time here and I was suprisingly impressed. We ordered the spicy tuna with crispy rice, lobster dynamite roll, tofu salad, garlic shrimp bowl, mochi cheese gratin, oxetail ramen, honey toast, and lychee shaved ice. I really enjoyed the spicy tuna with crispy rice, mochi cheese gratin, and the lychee shaved ice.
(5)
Javier C.
Allright place with Allright food... There are many better and cheaper places...
(2)
Kat C.
My beloved MamaSans found this ala moana gem. Garlic Marlin Seared on Hot Plate Freshly Made Tofu Tofu Salad Tuna Sashimi Albacore on Crispy Rice Mochi Cheese Gratin Honey Toast
(5)
LooLicious L.
Pretty fun place to go, food is very good but the portions are on the smaller side for the price they charge. It's a good place to take out of town guests. If you're starving, go somewhere else.
(3)
Shirley M.
I was excited to try out this place and I wasn't disappointed. We came here at the end of our vacation. I wish we showed up sooner so we can experience more than once. I was extremely happy with the service and the food quality. The homemade tofu was wonderful, my daughter couldn't stop eating it. We order then hot stone bowl with unagi ..yum... I wish I could have just gone around table to table to taste every dish on the menu (with a clean spoon each time..without saying) My stomach didn't have room to try the sweet bread w/ice cream dessert but it look so good. Would recommend it to anyone. Hey they even had a Oreo milkshake...oh they call it an Oreo smoothie...guess it sounds more healthily!
(5)
Christina K.
Trendy, young demographic. It's pretty good, fake Japanese food. I still don't understand why unagi is priced so high when it has such a low market price. Sigh. Anyway, cool maki sushi selection, good salads, interesting drinks. Service is great, and atmosphere is very modern.
(3)
Chris L.
Shokudo has a hip and modern atmosphere with a young crowd on weekends. It can get pretty noisy at times. The menu features various Asian dishes (though mostly Japanese) with a tweak to it. For instance, you can order spicy tuna sushi served on grilled rice; or be bim bap in a hot stone bowl. Most everything we've tried has been tasty and it is a fun place to hang out with friends. The only dish which has let us down so far has been the shave ice; it's too coarse, like a snow cone.
(4)
Sarah F.
Cute place, nice layout. Really good vodka soda drinks. Food here is very reasonably prices, so it's fun to come here with large groups. You can rent out a private room for parties, too. Anyhow, what I love here is the mochi-cheese dish. Yummers. Also, I love the green tea ice cream dessert as well as the french toast bread dessert. Both are oh-so-good. To me this place is a fun place to come with friends, and have a little drink and eats before hitting the club!
(3)
Stephanie L.
The waitress was very friendly until she asked to see my ID. I whipped out my California ID and the smile dropped and turned into a smirk. WTF?
(3)
Tyrus L.
I'm not much for sushi, so I usually get the foot long katsu (which they burn 90% of the time).... the other day I tried the sukiyaki udon that was okay......
(3)
Yen P.
this review is long overdue. i've been to shokudo a handful of times now and it's pretty consistent each time. the food is good, atmosphere is nice, good for groups with ample seating, location is great (next to the mall where there's plenty of parking), prices are fair, the only downfall is the service. the few times i was there, it's always a long wait for drinks at the bar, food to be delivered, and getting the waitstaff to get the bill. it's still a good place to go to grab good food in town, esp for their $3 late night happy hours. order the honey toast! i never thought sweet toast was this good til i tried shokudo's signature dessert.
(4)
storm o.
I've been here when they first opened and I decided after that great dinner experience and delicious menu, I'd better go there again on my next trip to Honolulu. However, I was sadly disappointed on my recent trip there for lunch with my girlfriends. The menu changed and what I ordered long ago was no longer available. The service sucked. I think our server was new to the whole food service business. My meal came out first from the 6 of us who ordered a meal. Our appetizers also came out after our meals. My one girlfriend never ever got her miso soup. I will never suggest place to anyone again. Maybe I'll have to wait a couple of years before I can get myself to go there again.
(1)
Al C.
It seems like a pretty hip place. The booths are small so we decided to sit at the bar. We started with the unagi rice in a stone pot. It come out hot and you are supposed to stir the rice so that it gets crispy from the hot stone pot. It was just okay. Then there was the hamachi in yuzu sauce. Excellent! The best part of the meal was their fresh made tofu. You get this bowl full of fresh made tofu and then they give you some sauce, sea salt, chives, and seaweed on the side. You add whatever you want to the tofu. We also had the baked mochi cheese. Nothing special there. All in all, the meal was a bit pricey. Its more of a date place. The food is okay. OH, almost forgot. One of my pet peeves about restaurants is running out of food. I think that if you are open you better have your full menu. I originally ordered a bowl of udon but was told that they were completely out of udon. How is that possible for a Japanese restaurant?
(3)
Christine D.
This is a restaurant that my cousin and I primarily go to for desert more so than the regular entrees, you cannot beat their honey toast! We DO eat the regular food there, like the ramen choices and the sushi, but it's pretty standard compared to other Japanese eateries. It's a good place to go with friends and have a couple of good drinks- the pink lemonade vodka soda is the BEST!
(4)
Mike U.
Really nice decor, nice lines all over the place. The food reminded me a little bit of Cheesecake factory:nice to look at, from a range of cuisines, but has a little bit of a upscale chain feel to it, and it was a little too sweet. Still, it was the only place I'd ever had beef tataki or tako kimchi. And they have plenty of super girly drinks for the ladies.
(4)
Thomas L.
Cant believe I forgot to write this review, and its been about a year since I first visited Shokudo and Hawaii. You can take the review as it is w/ some fuzzy memories involved. Contrary to the other reviews we received good service. Waters were refilled, food brought out in a timely manner. One dish that stuck out was the spicy tuna roll. They also have an excellent dinner combination selection. Didnt get a chance to try their vodka sodas, but had Sapporos instead. Definitely excellent interior design. Overall I had an awesome visit.
(4)
Jeff A.
Right now, I'm craving the unagi bowl, garlic marlin and tofu salad. It was my second visit to Shokudo for lunch and once again the food was great! It seems like their rice plates are all very good. This time, in addition to a few other plates, we shared the brown rice with fish and seaweed (seasonal dish) and we enjoyed that as well. (I like to let the rice cook a bit longer in the bowl for more flavor and texture) I think I really like this place because of the menu's simplicity (ramen shop style) that delivers unique and memorable flavors that has me craving for more. In addition, there is a nice emphasis on presentation and decor, which helps to make the experience that much more enjoyable. Time to share some plates!
(5)
Dave C.
some good stuff. unagi don, selection of sake, and the honey toast i heard so much about. feels sort of chain-y but a hip, fun atmosphere.
(3)
Daron C.
I went here with my wife, infant son, parents, sister, and brother-in-law and absolutely LOVED the creativity of the food, the decor, and the waitresses were absolutely wonderful as well. Definitely a "hip" place that I would go back to again. What I loved about this place was that it was family style and we got to share everything from the Sushi Pizza to the Garlic Ahi to the stone bowls. A great experience!
(5)
Rob C.
Not your typical Japanese menu. Some fusion elements from other cuisines, but I wasn't impressed. I did like the decor. Overall, seems more of a trendy place to take people out. Reasonably priced for the location/ambience.
Very nice ambience, decorated fancy, almost has a lounge like feel to it, especially in the tiered seating in the back. Their food is alright, definitely overpriced for what you get. Gyoza, sashimi, chicken karaage, honey toast--they're alright; enjoed their bibimbap though my friend ordered the same and they overcooked/burnt the rice. They stay open late, always eye candy, and clean, nice place to hang out. Get the grape calpico float if you like fruity type of cocktail drink.
(3)
Melissa B.
This place is over-rated. The ambience is really cool, great interior design, awesome service. But the food could be better. The portions are so small, and not so great, and you will leave this place still hungry. Ultimately, it's a cool hangout, but don't go here if you expect great Japanese food.
(2)
Fanny W.
came for lunch for the 1st time. ordered the deluxe lunch plate @18.95 and it was good, but I expected more sashimi though.
(4)
Cindy J.
A "must do" on Oahu. The menu is so unique. Nothing that I've found in the Bay Area. We (group of 6) ate so much that it hurt. Can't wait to go back and try the other half of the menu.
(5)
Alton Y.
This place is really friggin' good! We were on Oahu just for 4 days or so and went to this place twice for dinner! Well, one of the reasons for this is because we knew that after leaving, we wouldn't be able to revisit it very easily. Of the two times we were there, we usually started with the premium Sake...don't remember the exact name of it - it was one of the Junmais - the premium is the sweeter one though they're both good. We've had the Sushi Pizza, which was pretty original and not bad. I'd prefer crispy seaweed, but it was still good. Unagi and Rice - the hot plate was very good - should wait until the rice gets harder before serving - rice from the bottom of the bowl is excellent. Yukari French Fries - taste like regular fries, but they've got a little twist - a little different taste that makes it just a little value add over some of the other places. The Rock Shrimp - it was good, but I didn't find it was that good; better than most fried shrimps as the quality of the shrimp wasn't too bad - you know how you can get fried shrimp from some places and they give you mostly batter - not this place. The Gyoza - awesome quality! Not too big, tasted good. Albacore Tuna Carpaccio - it was seared and was a little weird for me since I'm used to having it raw, but it was definitely good. Chicken Karaage with Spicy Tartar Sauce - the chicken was good; I didn't need the tartar sauce. :) It's optional. Stir-Fried Omelet Noodle - eh ... friends thought it was really good. I thought it was okay - not something that I would have again because the tangy taste was a little weird for me. Albacore Tuna on Crispy Rice - definitely original, definitely good - must try. Beef Tataki with Balsamic Sushi - I liked the Tuna better, but this wasn't bad - another original. For dessert, we tried the Chocolate and Cinnamon Honey Toasts and the baked banana. The honey toast is something that everyone gets. The baked banana was alright; tastes like your typical pan fried banana you can get at other places. Overall, A++ - I'll definitely go back when I visit Hawaii again!
(5)
calivanilla c.
i liked the interior design & the service was very friendly. delicious & filling mochi cheese, karaage chicken, rainbow roll, and bread dessert. great place for late night eats.
(4)
Teresa W.
Holy cow ....all I have to say is, save room for dessert....the HONEY TOAST with ice cream is the BOMB!!!!! It's such a simple idea, yet it tastes soooo good!
(4)
Jennifer L.
We were recommended by a friend but didn't think it was very special. It's basically a well designed restaurant w/ a good vibe but the food was bleh. We ordered the shoyu ramen and garlic tuna. They bring out a plate w/ 6 or so pieces of tuna sashimi w/ a thinly sliced piece of garlic on top on a bed of diced onion. They also bring a small hot stone plate on which you're supposed to sear your own tuna. The problem was that the plate isn't really hot enough to sear, but it just kinda cooks the tuna. They serve that w/ a ponzu dipping sauce. Okay... it was alright, but it wasn't that great. The ramen was kind of small and really oily. We weren't full so we ordered the spicy tuna on crispy rice, which was also mediocre. While the tuna was spicy, the crispy rice wasn't very crispy. It was kind of oily and soft/mushy on the inside. Eh. Service was also slow so we had big gaps in between eating each item so we decided to also get dessert (I know, we're pigs!). So we got the original honey toast, which it seemed that everyone and their momma was ordering! It's basically two HUGE slices of bread that they cut up and stuff in the middle. They top that w/ 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream and drizzle all that w/ some honey. That was pretty good. Less sweet than the Taiwanese style. Overall, the meal was less than mediocre and the prices weren't worth it. Bleh.
(2)
warren k.
really clean chic modern decor but the food is ok~ its a modern fun version of japanese food~ we had the sushi pizza, green tea shaved ice & spicy tuna~ they were all pretty decent but nothing to die for~! a good place to have tried once & take friends/family but not a place i would go back to...
(3)
Waynele Y.
Oh my goodness. This place is seriously over-rated. It's like the PF Chang's for Japanese food. While the food is good, it's nothing spectacular considering what they charge for it. You're really paying for ambiance here, not the quality of food. If you want to go somewhere nice, but don't care about eating great food, then come here. If you're looking for amazing Japanese food, go somewhere else.
(3)
John W.
Went last year in the fall while vacationing in Hawaii at the recommendation of the GF's friend. Glad that I took her recommendation and went on two different occasions for dinner. Really enjoyed the layout and atmosphere. Went twice and sat at the booth on the first visit and at the bar on the second visit. Enjoyed the kimchi and beef cold noodle soup, the grape and passion fruit calpico, and the honey toast dessert. Also ordered the salad and some rolls which were ok. Nice collection of drinks, desserts, and food. The food is not pricey and I recommend ordering different types of food and sharing with your friends. It's a young and lively crowd with friendly waiters, waitresses and bartenders, so flirt, drink up, and be merry. Highly recommend going with a group of friends although you can have a good time with just two people. I was glad to know that they had another restaurant in Los Angeles called Tokyo Table. If I return to Honolulu I will definitely be frequenting Shokudo again.
(4)
Marcy M.
I've passed by this place so many times and thought to myself, "Hmm, looks interesting." So, for my grandma's birthday, my uncle made reservations (which you totally don't need when you go at 5pm on a Tuesday!). He'd been there several times and said it would be child-friendly (read "noisy enough to camouflage yelling toddlers" which it was). I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. It is a good place to go with a large-ish group of people, because most of the dishes are made to share (and you get to try more things that way-- think upscale izakaya, although the food isn't authentic Japanese, but that's not what I think they're going for anyway...). Because of the crowd I went with, we didn't order any nabes, which looked super ono. (Most of the other tables of people there at the time had them...) Also, the tofu machine was broken that day, so no fresh tofu-- boo! That said, I would go back to try these items. Of the items that we did order, I'd go back for were the albacore on crispy rice, and the garlic marlin. (It comes like a 'do it yourself' tataki, so you can make it as rare as you like.) No, the fish isn't amazing quality, but for the amount you get and the price, it's about what you'd expect. The bibimbop and unagi rice were ok, too. (I'm a fan of rice dishes that come in cast iron bowls, though, so I'm biased...but the unagi rice was a little rich for me.) I thought the champon broth was too salty, but I've never had champon outside of Japan, and that was a while back. Maybe my tastebuds have changed. The calamari salad was fine, and everybody enjoyed the agedashidofu. Ditto for edamame (but it's hard to mess up edamame). The tataki kyuri (lightly pickled cucumber) had some big fans at our table; I thought it was ok. We shared two desserts-- honey toast and the uji kintoki kakigori (green tea shave ice). I would never have ordered the honey toast on my own, but I tell you, days later, I'm thinking about how I can make it at home... It's two 3" slices of Japanese bread (like the kind at St. Germain's in Honolulu or Nijiya on the mainland), grilled and drizzled with honey. Totally simple and brilliant. No, you can't eat a whole lot at one sitting; in fact our waiter told us to order one for the whole table, not two like we were going to-- he was so right-- we still had leftovers. The service was great-- efficient, cheerful and prompt. (But again, we went at an offpeak time...) Extensive drink menu (hiyazake, and lots of nonalcoholic options, too-- something for everyone). Nice ambiance-- vaulted ceilings, light wood and spacious. Family friendly (at least if you go before your toddler's bedtime!) and more American-sized portions. At the end, they even gave us a bunch of free drink coupons for our next visit! Free parking and lots of it out in the parking structure in the back. (Note: it is not stroller/wheelchair friendly, so drop off folks with wheels on the side before you park!)
(4)
Stan S.
went there for lunch. it was ok. for 4 people the lunch bill was about $60 not including tips. This was for their lunch specials. the food wasn't outstanding but it was a fun atmosphere. would like to try the late night specials.
(3)
Ruth D.
Ok, so I had a horrible craving for their tofu salad so I went with my precious angel, bfren, and his mom. My bfren's mom ordered some California roll since she arrived there first. Ummm.... when the hell did California rolls start having lettuce in them? I thought it was avocado, crab, cucumber, rice, nori, and tobiko? WTF? Yeah then in my salad there was barely any freakin greens? My bfren ordered gyoza and it tasted kinda funny..... Oh and the ramen is a joke. The thing that they call char siu is not char siu. It is some weird fat substance. What happened!?!?! Ever since they changed their menus the food sucks! That's too bad..... ------First Review--------------------------------------------Â---------------------------- I love love love their TOFU!!! It's freshly made there and the best way to go is by its self all warm or the tofu salad. It's definitely a must when I go there. I'm sad to say they changed up the menu for a healthier way to go and changed the teriyaki chicken it's grilled now... :( And the sauce is different.... That was like one of the very few things my bfren would eat....Ah and the toast with honey and ice cream.yummy..... i prefer the one with cinnamon and sugar. I used to have this treat when I would eat a afternoon snack at a cafe in Japan. sigh.....
(1)
Clara K.
this is a hip, cool place to meet friends for drinks or enjoy modern japanese cuisine. we were all impressed by the decor, and we really enjoyed the service from both the bartenders and our server. the food was less impressive but still solid, especially the agedashi tofu and the albacore on crispy rice. i'd say skip the bibimbap in the stone bowl -- you can get a better version for cheaper at a korean restaurant. we also got a sashimi plate and thought it was very fresh. but the showstopper here is the honey toast dessert. i ordered the cinnamon version and it was AMAZING. it consists of two huge, thick slices of white bread, with the innards cut into cubes. the whole thing is toasted with butter, then drizzled with honey and topped with generous amounts of cinnamon sugar. it was heavenly. i took it home because i couldn't finish it, and it was still delicious reheated the next day. this is a MUST try when you go to shokudo!
(4)
M V.
don't remember the food... walked by the place many times, finally went in one night, and I'm giving 3 stars for the decor... I guess, this time, it's style over substance.
(3)
Aaron I.
fresh tofu, mmmmmmmmm!
(4)
H T.
we came here for lunch on my last trip to hawaii. this place has a HUGE variety of great dishes and drinks. all of the vodka soda drinks are delicious and made w/ tropical fruit juices. the daikon salad and buttered corn are so good. i had seared tuna on sushi rice for my entree, which i think was a special of the day, and it was really good.
(5)
holly b.
one star for a pretty/chic interior. the second star for the honeytoast. everything else is mediocre
I've been to this place for many birthday celebrations, and I always have fun. I don't know whether its the great company, sushi, drink specials or fun decor. They have amazing happy hour as well! Going early is a great plus because you can beat the rush, wait and get great deals on good food and drinks. They are known for their HoneyToast dessert! YOU MUST TRY THIS! It is amaaazzziiiing! They have different ice cream to throw on top, but we always stick to the classic vanilla. Parking right next door up the ramp of Ala Moana. Otherwise, park at Ala Moana bottom level and walk right over.
(4)
Cassie B.
I have been frequenting this restaurant for a while, and I can't believe that I haven't written a review as of yet. Sorry Yelp community! Here it goes... F O O D: I think the food is pretty good. It isn't the best Japanese fusion I've ever had, but it's good enough to be enjoyable for a night out with the girls, with the boys, with your lover, or with your family. I think some of the dishes are incredibly delicious, but I think some of the others are only mediocre or overrated. -Sushi Recommendations: Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice and Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi These two sushi dishes are INCREDIBLE. The spicy tuna crispy rice is addicting! The rice and the tuna components compliment each other amazingly well! Good amount of heat without being too overpowering. If you don't like spicy, I don't recommend getting this though; also, take of the jalapeno piece if you like spicy but not "too much." The balsamic beef sushi is also great. Although not as addicting as the spicy tuna crispy rice (IMO), the dish is such a creative twist on sushi and the flavors are incredible. - Pupu /Salad/Entree Recommendations: Yukari French Fries, Fresh Homemade Tofu (pupu), "Foot-long" Chicken Katsu, Homemade Tofu Salad, and Garlic Rib Eye Steak The fresh-made tofu here is PHENOMENAL. I actually think this is my favorite place to get tofu! You get so much, both in the pupu version and in the salad. The tofu is so soft and silky and creamy and OMG. GET THE TOFU. It's a dream to eat. The french fries and the chicken katsu are typical but delicious. If you want consistent, good-ole' pupus, get them! Lastly, the garlic rib eye steak is delicious. I always feel that it's cooked to my specifications, and it is FULL OF FLAVOR. - Noodle/Ishiyaki/Rice Recommendations: Sukiyaki Bi Bim Bap The Sukiyaki Bi Bim Bap is incredible! It is so full of flavor! I love it. GET IT. The rice gets lightly crisp in the hot pot and the robust mix of flavors is like a party in your mouth! - Dessert: Honey Toast. I am a little torn about this dish. I LOVE it, but I also know I could recreate it at home for a much lower price. It's ice cream, thick cut bread, and honey. That's it. In fact, at home, I could customize it to my taste a little bit more. Oh well. I still pay for it because it's so tastttyyyyy and it's fun to eat with friends. Still...I feel cheated out of my money when I eat this sometimes. A M B I A N C E: The ambiance is what gives this place a 4-star rating, at least in my book. The decor is beautiful! The lighting is dim (and flattering), almost candlelight-ish. I also love the lighting fixtures and seating arrangements, because they are unconventional and also beautiful to look at. It's great for date night because the lighting can give this place a romantic atmosphere! I also think the decor gives this place a very classy touch. S E R V I C E: Nothing spectacular but good! The receptionists always great us when we walk in, and the servers seem generally happy to be there! :) O V E R A L L: I like this place, esp during lunch hours (cheaper!). I think it can be a little overpriced for what you get, but I am in LOVE with some of the dishes so I keep coming back! I suggest you try it and see for yourself!
(4)
Tabatha P.
I love the sushi here! Nice place to relax and have a pitcher and raw fish. The ingredients taste really fresh, even my son enjoys the sushi here. I wish they had more deals and specials. The environment is clean and decorative, very classy. The location is convenient. The crunchy shrimp roll and Sakura blossom are delicious, so full of flavor. They should have more sushi options like these!
(4)
Lofa L.
So what happens when your friends from LA want to eat late night but don't want to go to Zippy's and your other friend that moved to LA from HI tells you to take them to Shokudo? You go to Shokudo right? We did. And I regret doing so. So not knowing better I thought there was late night discounts after 10:30 but they don't do that on a Saturday night-understandable. Saturday is busiest nights.......USUALLY. However we show up at 11:00P and its empty. I sat an entire party of 10 people instantly. Things are going ok and I'm waiting to eat honey toast so I had high hopes, too bad they get smashed. First I ordered french fries as an appetizer. The waiter left and returns to take our real orders and says your fries are just coming out of the fryer. Cool. We order. Fries eventually arrive, but after one of the entrees hits the table first. And I ordered the fries before we were even handed a menu. Then the fries were cold and soggy. I told the waiter and he took back the fries and they brought hot crispy fries that were really good. Then our orders start to arrive......except for everyone who ordered ramen. Now I assume the broth is already ready if its simmering all day and the noodles take but a few minutes to cook but how does it take 45 minutes for a bowl of ramen? It did. My friends didn't enjoy the large strips of fat that were suppose to be char siu and they overcooked the noodles and were extremely soft. Then midway through eating my quesadilla (yeah I ordered it I like it here) I realize its missing the dipping sauce (this isn't a big issue but when the kitchen drops the ball so many times it just adds up to ruining the experience). Most of my friends decided it wasn't worth the effort to finish eating their Tokyo ramen and just ate the honey toast that shortly arrived after or just went outside to smoke instead of eating. I've never heard people say they rather smoke than eat crappy ramen. AND IT HAPPENED! Now the waiter was super nice and I felt really bad for him but the kitchen sucked balls this night. I have never been so embarrassed about talking about the good food and the restaurant not delivering. My local homies all said Shokudo was overrated before we even arrived but it made me sad. Honey toast is still dope here and I think I might even come back just for that, but next time I'll come by myself without guests.
(2)
Cheryl S.
Honey toast honey toast honey toast!! Ok you must save room for the grand finale! The tofu salad is good, chicken katsu is yummers, the tempura kabocha was surprisingly good, sushi pizza is a must, gyoza was ok... The service was nice but the food took a while to come out not sure why ours was so slow since we had preordered for our party. But it was slow and I would have preferred everything to be coming out without too much of a break in between. The best part is always eating honey toast. So don't forget that!!!
(4)
Mona G.
Had a horrible experience. Waited over an hour for all of our food. Wanted to order the famous honey toast but didn't want to risk waiting another hour. We left still hungry, so we decided to grab something at another place.
(1)
T K.
Went there on 12/20 and the service was AWFUL! I've had reservations about coming back ... and I shouldn't have. When you have to wait over 90 minutes to get your food ... its UNACCEPTABLE! I LITTERALLY LOST MY APPETITE waiting for my hubby's order to FINALLY arrive. People came after us and left several times over before everyone in my party got their food. Not so bad if the waiter asked me if everyone got their food ... I gave him the "are you seriously asking me this" look. People in our party were DONE before all the food came ... mind you, we had PRE-ORDERED our food prior. They seriously need to train their servers better and learn how to push out their orders in a more timely fashion. What is the purpose of having pupus if everything gets DUMPED on the table at the same time?? Speaking of dumping ... it's the first Japanese restaurant where they just dump the food on the plates and serve it in that manner. Is there no sense of pride in workmanship? Talked to the Asst. Manager and that was a joke ... talking to the Manager was a bigger joke! NEVER GOING BACK THERE AGAIN!
YUMMMY! Ive gone here atleast 5 times now. I love their sushi pizza, chicken katsu, and the mochi cheese! I love their seating and decorations. Its definitely a great place to go for all occasions! Their service is fabulous. I have yet to have a bad waiter. They are well known for their honey toast but i suggest bring atleast 4 people to finish it! And dont forget to make a reservation! They get pretty busy sometimes!
(4)
Jen M.
This restaurant could use some updating, but it was clean and, while the seats had cracks in the vinyl, the ambience was nice. It was kind of loud in the dining area. The waitstaff here is quite professional and personable! Genuine smiles and very prompt service. Our gyoza was delivered within 5-7 minutes of ordering. The gyoza was greasier than I would have liked, the sauce was too spicy to enjoy, and it seemed as if it was not freshly made. The lobster dynamite was our next dinner item. It came out a few minutes after the gyoza (quick), was piping hot, and tasted predominantly of balsamic and onion (less than appealing for me as this was a cream-based dish and I was anticipating a heartier flavor instead of the sweet). Our final menu item was the new Mermaid sushi roll. The presentation was nice, but I was not impressed with the quality of the shrimp.
(2)
Alex T.
I've been dining here regularly for about 4 years now, and while I love sitting at the bar, it was my most recent dine in being served by REO that prompted this review. Everything my girlfriend and I ordered tasted great and didn't take long. Especially love their newer sushi rolls like the MERMAID roll and VOLCANO roll. Waaaayyy bigger than the sushi rolls at Doraku or any competitor at the same price. Reo kept our waters full and was talkative and friendly the whole night. Even when other busboys would drop our food off, they were always smiling and friendly; another reason I love coming back here. PROS: -GREAT WAIT STAFF -FOOD IS DELICIOUS AND REASONABLY PRICED -A LOT OF SPECIALTY DRINKS TO CHOOSE FROM -HONEY TOAST -THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PARKING AREA AND VALIDATE CONS: -WAIT TIMES CAN GET LONG ESPECIALLY ON WEEKENDS (we always try to make reservations)
(5)
Chelsy P.
Food is delicious, service is cool. I always come here and love it, but I came here about a week ago with my boyfriend and it was so far so good. Sat at our table and got our waters but there was something black inside, resembling mildew. It was a simple problem so we asked for different waters and they kindly got us new waters. But when we got them it had the same problem. We told them again and for the third time there was still something in our waters. (We drink a lot of water) also the servers started coming to our tables less often (I guess they were getting annoyed). We had no waters throughout our whole meal and they didn't even question that our waters were not touched. But 3 stats for the food, just next time we'll bring our own water.
(3)
Alan W.
Terrible host Sean. Takes 5 minutes to seat us on a half empty restaurant. Still unsure of where to seat us when arrive at the table. Didn't even acknowledge that it was still very dirty. Terrible! Waitress keep forgetting our order and asked us to repeat twice after she walked away. Where is the order pad? Don't expect much. Service totally gone downhill.
(1)
Lianne S.
Okay, I went to Shokudo not long ago and it redeemed itself from my original review! HONEY TOAST FOR THE WIN!!! Mochi cheese used to be my favorite but they are either making it different now or my taste buds have changed because I don't like it anymore.That's okay because there were several other yummy options. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in Hawaii.
(4)
Lisa K.
On my most recent visit, the GM Alden took an otherwise great visit and made it absolutely fantastic, with his glowing personality and accommodating sense of hospitality. Kudos to him and a well-trained staff who are attentive, friendly and service-oriented. I've never had a bad experience at Shokudo, and what makes each dining experience so positive is in large part to the food. It's not your standard Japanese fare exactly, and the creativity makes it stand apart. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the sushi or noodle dishes, and the sticky, chewy, gooey mochi cheese gratin is the stuff of dreams, if not the stuff of good digestion. Don't forget the honey toast. When in my life I ever would have considered "toast" something for dessert, I don't know, but this stuff is legendary. I abandoned my usual fallbacks for cookies 'n cream on my last visit, and boy was I glad I did. It's not too sweet; it's perfect. The only thing *not* perfect about Shokudo can be the wait times. But now that they have their awesome outdoor seating (woo hoo! I love eating outside!), hopefully that should help.
(5)
Capp S.
I want to give Thanks first and foremost to the Waiter named Davis for the awesome experience my wife and I had on 1/27/15. This guy is a Leader by example and hope the manager gave the recognition he's well deserved..!! I cannot speak for the other waiters here, but if you plan on visiting this restaurant in the near future, I'd ask management specifically to have Davis wait on your table. This is the second time I've visited this restaurant and again had a great experience. Happy we visited in the off season this time, it can be a long wait during summer. I'm big fan of their sashimi selection and cannot beat the price for the quality they offer. I'm from San Francisco and I pay twice the price for maguro that doesn't meet the quality they offer. As for the reviews that give 3 stars, finding decent customer service these days is almost nonexistent. (9 times of 10) I recieve shitty service around the globe. Thank God for the waiter Davis and few waiters I can think of that save restaurants from poor reviews. Thanks to management for hiring the New sushi chef and changing the menu. Looking forward to visiting again soon..
(5)
Danah A.
The wait time here is like in the doctors office... long and agonizing. To be honest, this place is one of those restaurants that you dread to go too but you still find yourself going back. Maybe I'll call for a reservation next time... Our server was quick and attentive, but we got our honey toast before our sushi did, so we had dessert first. It was nice for our server to apologize about the wait time though! They also have happy hour which has $3, $4, and $5 menu. Piece of advice, order your honey toast early when dining, those ones take awhile to come out. I guess we ordered it too early because we got our dessert before our main dish!!
(4)
Dyan K.
I know...Shokudo has been open since 2005 and this was my first time here. I've seen the countless facebook/instagram posts of honey toast so many times that I get tired of looking at it. Also, I don't normally desire to eat at a restaurant with a Japanese name because I don't eat Japanese food (with the exception of sushi.) However, I was pleasantly surprised at their selection of food. For some reason, I was under the impression that this place only served native Japanese food. Boy, was I wrong. I ordered a teriyaki chicken quesadilla, a spicy ahi roll, ahi sashimi and hamachi, and this lobster dip that came with crusty bread. All very good! Their menu is pretty extensive and from what I heard, most of it is very tasty and satisfying. And of course for dessert, I had to try the infamous honey toast. I got it with strawberry puree on top. Maybe because every single person on this island over hypes the honey toast, I wasn't that impressed by it. I mean, it is good...but really it's just bread with honey and ice cream. Nothing too spectacular or complicated. But nonetheless, satisfyingly sweet and very filling for a dessert. Reservations are a must, especially if you have a group of people. I always see large crowds hanging outside on weekend nights. I came with a group of 10 and we were seated on time with our reservation. The service was good (for a crowded restaurant) and our waiter was very friendly and easy to talk to. They even had a live singer performing in the outdoor area. Parking was easy, as they have a parking structure which is located next to Nordstrom Ala Moana. You could even park at Ala Moana and walk to Shokudo. The decor of the restaurant is fairly modern and clean, and surprisingly festive! We ate here in February, so everything was red with hearts for Valentine's Day. Overall, Shokudo was a good experience for me and I would eat here again.
(4)
Jen K.
Been here a few times. Sometimes service isn't the greatest, but the most recent time has been good.
(4)
Sam F.
I love this place despite it's reputation for bad service I had a really good waitress name BJ. A refreshing smile and good recommendation made our time here worth it. The melon soda float was delicious and so was the bibimbap! You have to try it before you can truly judge it.
(5)
Mo G.
Quick stop for honey toast before calling it a night. When we arrived we were seated right away. The waitress was really friendly (high energy). We ordered a honey toast and an oreo milkshake. The food came out pretty fast after we ordered and they separated the toast (for two) like I had requested. The toast was good with the perfect amount of honey. Had I not been so full from eating dinner I probably would have eaten the whole thing.. including the outer cube. Brotha Aaron had the shake. It must've been good.. He drank it up :) Only issue I had was it took a bit for the check to arrive.
(4)
Arnold A.
Tonight's visit to Shokudo was a small get together with some friends. This leads me to my first compliment, which is that the restaurant has a nice ambiance to it that is great for friends to just kick back and enjoy each other's company. Although there were other tables around us, it didn't seem so because we could not hear their conversations and vice-versa. One con I noticed was on the light fixtures, I noticed a lot of dust, and when I hit it while trying to stand up, I could see some dust that fell onto our table. Luckily our food wasn't there yet so it didn't really bother me. Our waitress was really awesome. I don't normally mention names but she was good enough to get a shoutout. Kylie was really friendly and welcoming during our visit. She was on it with getting what we needed, refilling our waters before we had to ask, and just making it an enjoyable visit. She talked story with us, which is one thing I always look for when critiquing waitresses. For my meal, I had simple snack food, as I wasn't as hungry as my friends. I got the fries and edamame. The fries were good, I love the sprinkling of what looks like nori or something as it added a more subtle saltiness to the fries compared to regular salt. Of course the edamame was a simply yet delicious snack food to get full from. Steamed edamame is the best. For dessert, my three friends and I shared a cinnamon honey toast. Luckily we did because we got full from it pretty fast! After a few pics for Instagram, we dug in and the bread helped to take away from the sweetness of the honey and ice cream, which I favored because I don't like it being too sweet. Overall, I enjoyed the experience, as is most of my visits to Shokudo!
(4)
R T.
I highly recommend coming here! Excellent service, everyone was very attentive. Alex was our server, and had great recommendations. Specials were awesome & decent priced. All dishes we had were very flavorful & appetizing! Pictures to follow :P You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Liza M.
Seriously, this restaurant is not that great. Many people come here for the famous honey toast dish, which is a towering two piece thick toasts of yummy goodness. When I came with my friends and bf two years ago, we all shared the honey toast because it was a lot for just two people. I had the bimbimbap, which costed over 12 dollars. There was nothing special about the dish. I tasted better korean food than this. You are better off going somewhere to eat for dinner. This restaurant is too much of a fad. There are so other restaurants to pick from in town. It's super loud in here too.
(2)
Lucia K.
Shokudo has always been one of my favorite restaurants to eat at. I recently reserved one of their rooms for my best friend's birthday party and everything was perfect! It was a really nice setting, the food was delicious as always. Although i've eaten at Shokudo many times, I was inspired to write this post because we experienced outstanding customer service that evening. Mark was our server and he provided us with excellent customer service and was really good at checking up on us even though we were a rather big party. Thanks so much Mark you definitely made it a pleasant birthday dinner and we all remember you by name! I highly recommend Shokudo for any occasion.
(5)
Joan Michelle P.
I love this place, seriously. I always come here when my parents ask "where do you guys wanna eat dinner at?" (Sorry dad & mom, their food is a little pricey but I want it.. But I don't wanna pay, lol) Their wait is ALWAYS long, so I suggest to call for reservations, unless you're fine waiting for 30++ minutes. Interior is nice, very modern-ish. I mean, hey, I'm no interior designer & I mean, what do I know about that fancy stuff. Bottom line is, it's not dirty, ample seating & I personally just like their interior. It does get busy / hectic / loud during peak hours. Service is good. I mean, even when it's very busy, servers always checked on us. Their male waiters aren't too bad either, I think they're attractive as well, which is a plus, lol. They know their stuff, they're always showing how they just wanna serve you. good job. However, their hostess, depending on who it is, are just sorta dead sometimes. It's like, they don't wanna be there. Food: pricey but delicious. I love their sushi pizza! Always recommend the honey toast, personal fave: cinnamon. On birthdays, they give a tempura bread pudding instead of their single serving of honey toast. Their sushi is really yummy, the fish isn't old or gross or anything. Udon bowls aren't too salty and they're flavorful. My sisters love their teriyaki chicken, just not the wasabi mash potato so they get rice instead. Also, I love their lobster dynamite! I just wish there were more lobster pieces in there.
(4)
Kaiulani K.
Went again, begrudgingly. Why begrudgingly? Well, partially because it was such a trendy spot for a while- not sure if it still is, it's hard to keep up with the kids these days, and the other reason is because my last experience wasn't great. I should mention that my last experience was 4 years ago... what can I say? I'm a scorpio, I know how to hold a grudge. Anyway, SO GLAD I went back. The Happy Hour specials were great. Food wasn't the best thing I've ever had, but was really yummy and I got hooked on the Dynamite Fries. Honey Toast was still amazing, no surprises there. Drinks were well priced. Bah Dun Cha. Get it? WELL priced = WELL drinks? No? Okay, nevermind. The cocktails were tasty if you like sweet, fruity, flowery things. I don't, but the beer was just as good as any other bar. In fact my Happy Hour experience was so good I dragged my friend for lunch so she could try the Dynamite Fries. Turns out it's a HH only item! That ended up working out great for us because we ordered some sort of oxtail ramen off the lunch menu and it was SOOOO good. I forget what it was exactly but it was like a mix of oxtail soup, okinawan soba, and ramen. It had the spicy pink ginger, a rich flavorful broth, and some bomb noodles. Obviously, no trip to Shokudo is complete without Honey Toast, which I need to remark is so amazingly priced. SHOKUDO- I'm sorry I misjudged you! Or maybe I'm not because your game was upped and I'd like to think my previous bitchy 2-star review was the sole reason you have evolved into a beautiful butterfly.
(4)
Bella F.
Everything at Shokudo is lacking of quality. Their honey toast is the only thing I would come back for. As for their sushi, while the plates are fun (they have quesadillas, and a cool looking sushi pizza) they don't taste as great as they look. In addition, the wait to get seated can get extremely long on the weekends. I once went on a Saturday and had to wait an hour and a half for a table for 3. Regarding the wait, Shokudo does not have buzzers either so parties are forced to wait outside the restaurant until they are called. I will try Shokudo one last time because I have a $10 off coupon, but if it's still an overcrowded mess of a restaurant, I probably won't be returning.
(2)
Victoria F.
I forgive the servers for the mediocre service because your gorgeous face allows me to. We went in as as group of 7 and ordered just about everything from the menu. Although, the dishes were very attractive to the eye, taste-wise not a lot of them were memorable. Here are two things that I really enjoyed: 1. Honey box- I've had my fair share of honey boxes but they do a really good job putting it together without compromising the taste. Bravo. 2. Big Eye Tuna Roll- I'm a big salmon fan but this roll changed the dinner game for me. Overall, the food and service is mediocre but the eye candy in the wait staff, the spacious place and the honey box are something to drop by for.
(3)
Veronika O.
Cheap happy hour drinks, gotta love that, and also happy hour menu. I had two spicy tuna rolls, delicious giant bowl of Garlic edemame, Cucumber salad, and two Kirins for $21. Perfect, not bad for late happy hour.
(3)
Krystal S.
Shokudo is one of my few "go to places" on the island. This is the place I celebrate big occasions and always bring new people to, because I love it! I'm not going to lie, it can get a bit pricey; however, if your review is complaining about the places food prices, maybe you should have eaten somewhere like McDonald's... I highly recommend calling to make a reservation, especially if you have more than 4 people or plan to come during high volume times (nights and weekends). The food is always awesome! Even my 3 year old likes the food (and he's really picky). A few days ago, I tried the strawberry and cream saketini. I personally didn't like it, but I also don't really like sake. I love the honey toast, but I was actually so full from dinner that I only ate 3 bites. I have never had bad service here. I read one review from a few weeks ago, questioning if the host was racist, because they were seating Asian people who arrived after them (apparently her bf was white). Well, I'm white and I've never had an issue. I've been here probably 15 times this year, including Father's Day, my birthday, my celebration dinner for my job promotion, and when 2 different family members came to town to visit. They have never disappointed me! Then again, I always make a reservation, so I'm not waiting for hours. :-)
(5)
Danielle J.
I don't enjoy coming to Shokudo as much as when I first started eating there. The dish I like to order still tastes good. It's just the service. My step daughter ordered Teriyaki Chicken...I didn't bother to read the details cus I figured it would be okay for her. After she got her dish we found out that it came with WASABI mashed potatoes. I complained to the waitress, she said ITS ON THE MENU. I was like that's not the point, she's a young girl, why didn't you mention or ask if she's okay with WASABI mashed potatoes??? She told me I can order rice next time. Honestly idk when the next time is. Tip was already included in our bills...cus we were a large group n had split bills. But why isn't there an option to write your OWN tip amount???
(2)
Paul Axel C.
Shokudo how could you do me so wrong? Your taking advantage of me and I am not going to put up with it any more. Sure your hip allure and trendy decor is eye pleasing. Yeah, your food is orgasmic in my mouth. Your hours are great for my late night rendezvous. But what's up with service? I've been forgotten, received appetizers right before dessert, spoken empty promises to, and charged for items that I never received. Is it worth it? 1st mishap, I looked the other way. 2nd mishap, I put on a sad face. 3rd mishap, Shokudu your now on my plan F (Yeah, your food is orgasmic.) The main reason I keep coming back of course is because of the food and happy hour. * Lobster dynamite roll * Mochi cheese gratin * Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Shokudo is known for their Honey Toast. I can pass on it. I only eat it if someone else orders it. Shokudo I hope you stop acting like a privileged hoochie mama chick and get off your high horse. Your loosing customers with that attitude. Sure you got good food but I can only take so much.
(2)
Frankie R.
I am glad to have the happy hour specials. This was a great experience for me because I wanted to eat something after attending a function and it was amazing! I am going to admit that I am liking the Teri fries and the teriyaki chicken quesadillas, which was fabulousness as well as the honey toast with ice cream as well as the cinnamon. The waiter was really good and he took care of us in checking in with our orders to make sure it was correct and getting it promptly and fast as they could. I recommend checking out the happy hour prices which is a lot cheaper and affordable so you're not going to be running out of funds. I am happy to say they have longer hours on Fridays and Saturdays which is very good so that if people are looking for something to satisfy their hunger after a night out of the town and having fun, then this place is a number place to go if you are hungry and want something that is good. Hope to be back again soon
(5)
Angela Y.
If this place was a little bit more cheaper I would come here more often, however it's kind of pricy. So we basically co.e here just for when we are in the mood for honey toast. Notthing can be at the honey toast here. It's so ono. It also comes in different kinds of ice cream. I still prefer it plan and simple. However I must say if you come during happy hour you are getting a good deal. Every time I go here there is always a wait. It can range from 10 -45 min wait depending when you go. However if you ask to sit at the bar you don't have to wait. This place is near the ala moana area and they have their own parking lot. I believe there is a guard but if you go late evening the guard is gone by then.
(3)
Trevor N.
I love coming here because the server Alex always takes care of me, making sure I'm enjoying myself! The bar is good there's a regular and late night happy hour for good cheap eats and there's some specialty drinks and cheap sake and beer! The food is good. I always get the dynamite fries, kim chee fried rice, chicken quesadilla, sukiyaki kim chee pizza, and steamed gyoza (the sauce is awesome!) Oh and of course the honey toast is good to share! :)
(5)
Jessica W.
Based solely on the food I am very unimpressed. My hopes were high as the place was packed and the wait was an hour. Great upscale 1970 feel and coziness I guess, but the food was cheap and tasted generic. And the honey bread tower? What the heck, it was so sweet it tasted like a kid invented it or something. So bad for you too! We ordered almost everything on the menu as in the pictures it looked delicious! But wow, bummer it didn't taste nearly as good as it looked. I've had better katsu at genki ramen and better quesadillas at chilis
(1)
Gayle S.
The food was WONDERFUL! The service, meh... My visit was late on a Saturday afternoon, and the entire restaurant was reserved for a private party. Only outdoor seating was available, and I ended up sitting at the long tall table (after requesting not to sit on a couch) next to some 10-year-olds whose entire conversation revolved around making their own cosmetics and videotaping themselves using it (to post on youtube). On my left was a cute father/daughter couple who explained to me some of their menu choices, and gave me some ideas to try on my next visit. I remember the food being remarkably good... and I remember the service as being markedly unremarkable... maybe next time it will be better.
(3)
Biny C.
When I rate a restaurant, I tend to look at two very basics first: Taste of the food and Cleanness. This place failed both ways. Food here is not fresh. Also, it always taste like if it's missing something. And price compare to the quality of the food? Over priced. Now, the cleanness: I don't know if anyone else had realized, but the lights on the right side of the restaurant as you walk in is full of dirty dust. And your food will be served right under these lights. The only reason I gave it a two star is because they have a full bar and a good service at least.
(2)
Tiffany M.
Really good service and the honey toast is the best! :) so many choices to choose and everything that I ever ate there was really good!
(5)
Denise W.
I came here with a friend for lunch in Sunday so it was easy to get a seat. We sat down and saw the lunch special. Bento box for a very good price. There were a few items I wanted to try but decided to stick with my usual chirashi and my friend went with the tempura set. I am sad that I did not take a picture but it was a beautiful bowl of chirashi. Most of the places I have only 2 of each fish and only 4 varieties. This one I had 7 different fishes even though only one of each. The biggest surprise is the uni. I have never had uni in my chirashi. The rice was a perfect amount. I must come back to try something new. Limited review as I was catching up with my friend so did not pay much attention to her food as much.
(4)
Ahula D.
10:45 on a Friday evening. Looking for food, drinks and a quiet place to talk. One block from Shokudo so figured, "why not?" Friend visiting from Japan had heard lots of rumours but had never had the pleasure of dining there so with parking being free and no reservation needed we walked in. Okay. So two out of three is not bad. The food was great. $10.45/ Lobster Dynamite = gooey, cheesy, creamy seafood goodness piled on toasted baguette ovals. $14.45/ Sushi Pizza = crispy nori layered with sushi rice and seafood topped off with a spicy jalapeno slice! Crispy, creamy, SPICY and perfect to wash down with an icy, cold Kirin on tap. $7.45/ Agedashi Tofu = large blocks of beautiful, smooth, soft, tofu battered then deep fried to a golden brown. Topped with green onion, katsuobushi and warm dashi broth. As a non-drinker, I can't comment on the quality of the beer but my associate threw a few back with our midnight snacks so I'm assuming they were good. I chose the Plantation Iced Tea and was pleasantly surprised to find it was a blend of lilikoi/pineapple juice and tea. Slightly sweetened by the fruit juices it was brisk, refreshing and a nice treat for the designated driver - one can only drink so many sodas so finding an establishment that has a wide variety of non-alcoholic beverages is always a bonus! You will find full color photos that are accurate depictions of the items served here by clicking this link: shokudojapanese.com/menu So. At the beginning of this review I said "two out of three is not bad". The third thing was the noise level. I was looking for a place where we could sit and quietly have a chat - that can't happen here. Tables are fairly close together and people are definitely partying. We had a conversation that I could hear clearly and I know our neighbors could NOT hear so although I THOUGHT I was looking for a quiet place Shokudo was what i REALLY wanted. We had a very attentive waitperson who checked on us at appropriate intervals making sure our glasses were never empty and ensuring we were well informed regarding menu items and last call times without being overbearing or "working us" for a good tip. Good job, Garrett - we had a great time and we'll be heading back here more often and with more friends! In the end I left a happy-chappy and can highly recommend a visit to Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar to anyone who'd like to try something new.
(4)
Maria D.
Happy Hour Great hip place to hang out with the girls. Mon - Sun: 4:00pm-6:00pm Mon - Thu, Sun: 10:00pm-12:00am Happy hour food ranges from $3-$5 My favorites food: $3: Edamame, Dynamite Fries, Honey Toast Jr. (good portion if no one wants to share), Spicy Tuna Nachos, and California Roll. $4: Char-Sui Ramen Jr. $5: Kimchee Fried Rice Drinks: Lychee Mojito & Kirin Draft Other items I like to order off of the Happy Hour Menu: Spicy Tuna Roll & Tempura Roll
(4)
Emily D.
Love this place. I usually get the spicy miso ramen (DELISH!!!) and split a sushi roll with my husband. For dessert, the honey toast is a must try. Honestly, it is just white toast cut into bite size cubes with ice cream and honey, but oh boy is it good!!! Very convenient as well. They validate for the parking structure.
(4)
Maria Shea A.
I'm very sad that I became injured and could not make it to our lunch planned/reserved for Mother's Day at 12:30 p.m. today however, I'm frustrated and here's the reason. First of all, I spent nearly half an hour calling them on the telephone, letting it ring so much that I receive a recording: "you have reached a non-working number..." you know the recording you get after you let it ring about 25 times? When I'd finally gotten through, during my 9th (or so) phone call, they took my credit card number in order to hold the reservation and they let me know they will impose a $30 fee if I do not cancel within 48 hours. Okay, I agree to that however, I did become injured and I knew that we wouldn't make it to lunch as of late yesterday. I figured that if I tried to call them then and explain the circumstances there's a possibility they would forgo the $30 charge. I called yesterday and spent about 20 minutes on the line listening to a ringing phone, being disconnected, hanging up and calling back. Because I couldn't stay on the phone for hours at that time, I started to call AGAIN this morning beginning at 9:00am then at 11:25am (they open at 11:30). I'm sad that I'm bedridden on Mother's Day but even more frustrated at the fact that I have tried to call and cancel and have literally spent almost an hour (just today) ringing the phone. It is now 12 :18 p.m. and I still haven't gotten anyone to answer and I still subject to that $30 charge without even having the opportunity to explain to them. I'll bet that if they had answer the phone yesterday they could have booked that space. I have been to this place before and did like the food. Unfortunately I cannot understand how they did not have the professionalism either have someone (or multiple people available) to answer the telephone or at least provide some type of recording, idk....stating that they are not accepting any more reservations? SOMETHING! They'll probably get their 30. However, how will I be compensated for MY time?
(1)
Joelle P.
Best Happy Hour! Only from 4-6pm everyday and 10-midnight on Thursdays thru Sundays. You DO NOT get what you pay for (that's a great thing). It's a steal. Kimchee Pizza! Quesadilla! Ramen Jr! Are my favorites. But you can order anything and you will be satisfied. Don't forget to top it off with a Honey Toast Jr.
(5)
Kristelle B.
Just remembering last night... The Get together was fun! BUT service at shokudo was crap. My friend reserved and wewaited for more than an hour and when we checked in to see what's up, we found out our group wasn't written on the list!!!!! AND when I ordered sushi, by the time it was ready, it came to the table when already had our dessert.
(1)
Trish N.
Mixed reviews because some of the food was good (Raging Tiger roll, yum!!) and some not so good (oxtail ramen, not much flavor, soggy noodles). And while the servers did a decent job of making sure our water glasses were always filled, some other requests (e.g. someone asked 2 times for a bottle of ketchup, then gave up & got it himself) went by the wayside. Also, their kitchen system is clearly not set up to accommodate large parties (this was actually confirmed by the manager), so keep that in mind too. Granted, we had a very large party of 20...but it was almost an hour between the time the first & last people in our group got served.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Doris D.
The food isn't bad, it's like the Applebee's of Japanese food. But why go here when you have such a vast array of excellent Japanese restaurants at your disposal everywhere?
(1)Sandy N.
I don't know if it was because I was way too full and couldn't eat anymore, but I thought the food here was just okay. We ordered the spicy tuna on crispy rice, spinach salad, gyoza, and karaage along with sake, beer, and my drink (moscato with strawberries). My friends were going to order their dessert toast which is their specialty, but I was going to explode so they cancelled the ordered. I ate way too much on this trip. The waiter said that they have this restaurant in California but it's called Tokyo Table.
(2)Kawai L.
This place is by far the best Japanese food Ive ever tried!! I recommend this place for a bday or a nice lunch or dinner date. I love this place. Lots of unique drinks and great food. Although the food seems pricey its totally worth it. Portions are large so you will be full and satisfied before u leave!
(5)Elizabeth J.
You HAVE to make reservations. Our waitress Alyssa was awesome, and the best is the fried crispy rice spicy sushi and home made tofu salad. Great for lunch too. I love being able to schedule my reservation on line on YELP!
(5)Reggie A.
Honey Toast and Orion Beer is Awesome! Food was really good!
(4)Y M.
Went back tonight to celebrate my sister's birthday. Even on a Tuesday night they were packed! Good thing we had reservations. Five of us shared a Tofu Salad (my favorite, their tofu is soooo good), Hamachi Carpaccio, Karaage, Spider Roll, Unagi Rice, Chicken Teriyaki Quesadilla, and Shoyu and Spicy Miso Ramen. Everything was very good, including the drinks (they have a good selection of cocktails, sake, shochu and wines too). Only if we had enough space in our tummies to make it to the desert, we were just so so full! The one thing I noticed today though is, that the restaurant is a little dusty. I think they need to do a good cleaning of those wooden pieces hanging by the window. They look really cool but kinda gross when they're coated in dust. (I couldn't help but to notice because we were sitting right under them tonight) Other than that, the staff is nice and the food is always very good.
(4)lani h.
$3 for appetizers during happy hour is a pretty good deal. Food is okay, nothing spectacular. However, the low number of stars is due to poor service. We were neglected by our server. We had to wave her down several times to order and to have our water filled. Some staff can benefit from training on professionalism. I go to a restaurant to enjoy food and company...I really don't want to listen to a group of service staff talk about their lives. That's what the break room is for. As for the Honeytoast (which was the only reason I came here), it is nothing compare to the one @ Ichiza's. The toast is not hot enough and needs more honey.
(2)Haiya S.
OH MY GOSHHHH! ITS SO DELICIOUS!! I LOVED THEIR SALMON BENTO SO MUCH! IT WAS COOKED SO NICE N MOIST N JUST RIGHT!!!! and the fresh tofu is so unique and good! and it's real cool lookin inside! it's just gr8!! :D
(5)Keane L.
I'm going to make you drool in your office (or alone, naked in your apartment). Sashimi - The best I've ever had. Perfect texture and chilled over a bed of ice. Unagi and Rice - Sizzling iron bowl with huge pieces of unagi, served with unagi broth. Sushi Pizza - Baked, unrolled sushi topped with crab and jalapenos. Honey Toast - Two giant slices of pan bread buttered, grilled, cut, and drenched in delicious honey, served with smooth vanilla ice cream. Just tell your boss you were looking at porn (or tell your roommate you were thinking of him). How deliciously awkward... That's Asian fusion.
(5)Brian R.
Update 10-23: This is the only place that we ate at twice this trip because of our first experience. Winners were the cucumber salad, miso clam soup, agedashi tofu and honey toast. The reason for the update and revision to my rating was because of the angus rib-eye steak that I ordered this evening. Steak was ordered medium rare and came out well done. After making several attempts to get the waiters attention, I ate my $22.00 piece of shoe leather... yum. I am docking this establishment one star for crimes committed against angus. 10/21 Cool vibe, great atmosphere, tasty food. Service was terrific, they even brought out dessert first for my silly girlfriend.
(3)Vernon Y.
The homemade tofu salad was good, as was the sushi pizza. The mapo tofu was not so good. Had to ask 3 times before we got our hot teas. The place was not busy, yet the waiter seemed like he was in a rush to get us out. He even took away my sake glass before I was done (and I really liked the nanbubijin sake)! Rookie? I hope the honey toast lives up to it's billing and salvages the experience. Sorry, average is the best rating I am comfortable giving.
(3)Adrian T.
My girlfriend loves this place so much and I can see why. The environment here is pretty lax. This place is located in Ala Moana. The parking here is free after 6 PM even if you received a ticket for parking. It isn't that hard to find parking. However, I had a friend get his car broken into and get many boxes of things stolen. I'm not sure if that was his fault for having them in there or if someone knew he had expensive items but it's just a precaution. The place is well lit and pretty fancy for what it is. Expect a 45 minute wait. I am not sure if you can reserve by phone. I've done it once out of our many visits here but other times they said they can't hold reservations which is pretty lame especially when you're hungry with 15 other people. The service here is cool and I have to say, the servers are pretty looking people guys and girls. They all mostly likely have some type of personality they bring with them we have noticed. They are well dressed too. They do split checks so tip them well if they do that. I like them and they constantly fill your water up. I personally drink like 7 cups of water. Their men's bathroom is okay I mean it is a public bathroom but for what it is it's nicer than others. Let's get to the food, they have a pretty good selection. The garlic shrimp rice and the garlic scallops taste similar and they are really cooked to perfection with the same consistency every time. It was definitely hard recreating this recipe especially since they are served in piping hot stone bowls. The servers will ask or usually go forward in mixing your rice and letting it sit so that the rice gets crispy. Just be sure to not touch the bowl because I've burned myself a few times. The pork chops are good and the watercress was awesome with the sauce that comes on it. There is a lot so I usually have to bring the rest home so they do have containers for you to "balon." The sushi is great and the server told us that there are specific seasons for certain fish. The hamachi runs out fast so I went during lunch and I have to say it's like butter. They have a selection of sushi and it says where it came from. The fish is definitely fresh and caught from the same day. However I don't know if it's like Japan where they go to the markets and bid for the best tuna and check how well it cuts etc. I am not going to say here because I want to keep this information to myself but if you happen to find out after I've let part of this secret out then more power to you. Their other menu is great but I didn't really enjoy their loco moco mixed when they did do the mixing. The honey toast is free on your birthday. They used to serve it with three honey toast but now it's two with a candle. The drinks... They have a few on tap. I'm not sure if they have a happy hour. The selection is major though. They have wines, shots and different imports. The pricing is okay for what it is. Just make sure to have money if you want to drink and eat here. However if you care about your portions and care about your money to portion size, big braddahs cannot expect to be well fed here. That's the only reason why I have four stars but I love this place nonetheless.
(4)Luis T.
I wish i could give a 0-zero star. Kitchen was filthy, table was gross, floor dirty, i think i need a shower now. The food was not as bad, it just sucked.
(1)TaraMarie P.
This is honestly an amazing restaurant in my book. I've been coming here for years and I can't come here enough. The last time I was here, I came on my own. It was a "selfie" night as in.... by my selfie. I sat at the bar for the very first time and splurged on myself about $40 worth of food. I am *not* over exaggerating. Needless to say, I was overly satisfied. I had a few drinks, got an entire pork entree to myself with a side of rice, got one of the sushi dishes and some edamame. I ate like there was no tomorrow--I think because I knew at the time I wouldn't be going back out for a long long while. The bartender was very friendly and congenial, easy to make conversation with. My food was amazing as always. My mojito? Abso-friggin-lutely heavenly. I've never tasted a mojito made so well. One thing I miss is the mid-day menu with smaller portions of some chef-made special. We used to be able to get poke and there were even drink concoctions. Everyone loves this place for the honey toast but I honestly love the food, the atmosphere, and even the prices. While it's pricier than typical plate lunch places, it doesn't break the bank. For the quality, taste and presentation of the food, I'd say its an amazing deal. Five stars based on my satisfaction, one that spans perhaps four years of eating here.
(5)Andrea T.
A local from our zipline tour recommended Shokudo for sushi, saying it was absolutely delicious here so since we haven't tried sushi on the island yet, me and my bf decided to come here. Parking was quite a hassle, circled around about two times because we couldn't make a left turn for the longest on any street and finally parked in the garage right next to it. Came around 10pm on a Saturday night, pretty busy, and it was about a 10 minute wait. The interior decor was really nice and it had a very pleasant ambiance. We were seated in a booth and since we've been doing our researching on Yelp on what we wanted to eat, we ordered right away. We got the spider roll, lobster dynamite roll, amaebi, and got sucked into dessert at the end and ordered the tempura bread pudding. I noticed the different flavors of vodka soda and floats, something different and don't normally see served before so I got the lychee vodka soda. It was pretty good, just like soda with a hint of vodka and lychee flavor, the vodka soda already came in a can, not a mixed drink they concocted so they just poured it over ice and plopped two big lychees on top. The lobster dynamite roll was good but the spider roll was a huge disappointment! I've had many spider rolls before, and this was not one of the best. I was immediately thrown off when I saw carrots in the middle, as if I was eating sushi bought from a grocery store. Pretty low quality, I was expecting it to be like Mikuni in Sacramento but nope, not comparable at all. Not even to Arigato's! It was my first time trying amaebi so I guess it was good, it just took quite awhile to bring the shrimp heads out because they brought the nigiri out first. They said because they prepared both in two different kitchens but I think they should bring it out at the same time. We got sucked into dessert and got the bread pudding, which I thought was okay, it was good and different but maybe I was just so stuffed, I wasn't really able to enjoy it. Our server was outstanding and so was her service, food came out quick too, except for the shrimp heads. I think this place is more hyped about over the honey toast but then again locals love the sushi here. I think California has set my sushi standards to a point but I wouldn't mind coming here for happy hour if I was to ever return!
(3)Traci A.
My sister and I went for lunch mostly because we were craving honey toast. We ordered the lobster dynamite for appetizer and we both ordered the lunch box bento combination tempura & kaarage chicken. The bento box was disappointing, the tempura & chicken had no taste. If only it was on the same level as the Lobster Dynamite & Honey Toast, those dishes are so undeniably delicious! It's that honey toast that keeps us coming back. The service is pretty good except that it wasn't busy but our food still took long to come out. Overall I would recommend this place but mainly for the honey toast.
(3)Mandy A.
one of my friends who lives on the island introduced me to shokudo for their famous honey toast. the first few times i came here was just for the honey toast, which is pretty dang amazing. i recommend the classic or the oreo cookie. this last time i was in oahu, i came here for dinner. the sushi was impressive. the fish was fresh and everything we ordered was up to par. my favorite was their unagi donburi. i've never had such fresh and high quality unagi. definitely worth a visit when in oahu. it's more of a locals spot, so it's nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of hotel row to come here. prices are much more affordable than the strip as well.
(5)Kelli S.
I always look forward to visiting Shokudo whenever I'm visiting Hawaii but my most recent visit was somewhat of a letdown. Don't get me wrong, the food still tasted fresh and delicious, but some of our dishes' portion sizes were NOTICEABLY smaller. Shokudo isn't a cheap place to dine at -- come on, folks; customers deserve their money's worth on every single dish. I'm talking about the ice cream on the "Honey Toast" and the "Mochi Cheese Gratin," specifically, which definitely look smaller than they did last year. My family brought one of my cousins on our most recent visit to the popular eatery since he's never been to Shokudo, and we made reservations for an early Saturday dinner at 5 p.m. TIP: Definitely make a reservation at this place unless you're going for an early lunch during the weekday, as it can fill up quickly! Since we had reservations, we were seated promptly and our server was pleasant, quick and very helpful. The food tasted exactly as I had remembered, but I was still underwhelmed by the presentation and smaller portions. For the price we paid for our dinner, I guess our visits to Shokudo will be even less frequent than before -- we only go 2-3 times a year; now, it will only be for special occasions. But here's what we got: "Mochi Cheese Gratin": We decided to order this app to share so my cousin could experience the revolutionary dish. However, the mochi cheese dish featured a smaller portion than I remembered it to (but then again, the last time I had it, I was only with one other person). This famous appetizer features mochi cubes blanketed with fresh mozzarella that's baked and topped off with light soy dashi broth, green onions and nori. Those who like soy will definitely enjoy this dish because the mochi cheese is swimming in the broth. Because there were four of us, we got two little squares of the mochi cheese each. I picked the green onions off of mine, and even though the portion seemed smaller, I still enjoyed the chewy, signature texture of the gratin, which is enhanced by the gooey, melted mozzarella. "Homemade Tofu Salad": Shokudo is known for their homemade tofu, and my family usually gets this salad to share. We also got this on our most recent visit so my cousin could have a taste of that super soft, fresh tofu. I have to admit, Shokudo tofu is one of the best I've ever tasted because it's so soft -- it almost seems to melt in your mouth. This salad features the signature tofu drizzled with creamy sesame dressing and served with crispy wontons, nori and mixed greens. I often don't even touch the mixed greens and just get a part of the tofu covered with crispy wontons and sesame dressing when we do order this dish. I love the crunchy consistency of the wonton crisps and the slightly salty taste from the nori. I'd definitely recommend getting this as an appetizer to share for anyone new to Shokudo. "Footlong Chicken Katsu": My dad ordered this dish once and ever since, it's been his go-to entrée ... and we all benefit because we get a piece of delicious, succulent katsu. This entrée claims to be the "biggest chicken katsu in town," and though I'm not sure if that's true, it's definitely one of the more expensive entrees on the Shokudo menu. However, the taste of this katsu has always been consistent. It features breaded, deep-fried katsu that's served with homemade katsu sauce. The katsu's size is pretty consistent as well (of course, we can't measure if it's really a foot long, but they don't skimp on portion when it comes to this dish). I love the taste of the moist, tender chicken and revel in every bite of the breaded, crunchy exterior. No katsu sauce for me ... I enjoy each piece just as it is. "Oreo Cookie & Cream Honey Toast": My family always orders this cookies & cream version of the house specialty for dessert, but on our most recent visit, it was super apparent to all of us that the restaurant is cutting back. The two scoops of cookies & cream ice cream used to be pretty decent sized, but on our latest visit, the ice cream scoops were so manini! One person could EASILY devour one of the scoops in three or so bites. Because four of us were sharing the honey toast, we split the two scoops of ice cream into four halves so everyone got a little bit. The toast itself sported the same delicious taste that I'm used to--the thick, Japanese white toast was cut and cubed evenly and drizzled slightly with honey--but even at that, the honey taste was super slight and the toast was not drenched in sweetness. When we got to the second layer of toast, you could hardly even see the remnants of the honey -- I like the cubes even more moist from the soaked-in honey. While I still very much enjoyed the taste and sweetness by this dessert, I was disappointed by the skimpy portions. The food still tasted delicious, but the quantity and presentation has definitely gone downhill from just a year ago when I was last there.
(3)Lucy G.
Great service, our server was really nice and helpful and always giving us attention while handling at least 2 other tables. The atmosphere and layout of the restaurant is really nice too :) I really liked my unagi rice and the lychee cocktail is really sweet and yummy too!
(5)William W.
This place is overrated. I really don't understand how people rave over the honey toast. The food was ok. Service was mediocre. Servers again people with a big party not necessarily mean big tip. I despise when servers neglect a smaller parties. We had to wait for 5 min to order another round of food while watching our server who went to check everyone else twice except us. I don't think i'll come back.
(1)Chelsea J.
Came in Saturday night a little after 8:30... Was told that the wait for my boyfriend and I would be about an hour which is what I expected... But the hostess recommended the bar top which I'm glad she did because I would've asked about it anyway lol... So we sat at the bar and Matt was our bartender. Nice guy. Great service. Noticed we were sitting next to one of what seemed like a regular customer... Had a few laughs... Food was delicious. Will definitely be back again.
(5)Michael L.
Service was prompt, and the food was good. Especially the Honey Toast. You have to try their honey toast which is a dessert composed of two thick slices of Japanese white bread with the middles of each slice of bread cut out into little squares and then placed back in the middle of the cutout slices. It's topped with Two scoops of vanilla ice cream and honey, and chocolate is drizzled over all this. Great dessert night cap!!
(4)Brigitte S.
I haven't been to Shokudo in a while but for the month of March they had an anniversary maple bacon honey toast that came with a prize envelope and 10 chances to win $1,000 so I knew I had to go in for a visit. We were a party of 5 coming in at 9:30 at night but were luckily seated right away. We saw that you had to order food to buy the special honey toast [sigh, if we have to] so we started browsing too see what has changed. Something I appreciate is that no matter how long it's been, they stay pretty consistent. We ordered an array of drinks from beers, mojitos, plum wine & sake. They had a nice selection. Food wise we ordered our favorite, the spicy tuna crispy rice. I legit forgot how good it was and devoured it. Note to self: go back sooner! We also ordered the mochi cheese gratin, pork chop bites & of course the special bacon honey toast. Everything was good but that crispy rice. YUM! I was stuffed when the bacon honey toast came but melting ice cream convinced me to dig into three layers of bread and at least 4 scoops of ice cream with cut up bread all mixed around. The salty bacon was perfect for me but I'm a cheese and fruit plate girl. I like savory with my sweet. We could not finish it all but we ate all the ice cream & took home the honey toast crusts. [***i later used this for leftover french toast bites at home - do it***] We didn't win, sad face but the bill was reasonable and service excellent. Note gratuity is added to parties five or more. No big deal though, I left extra actually. We had a great experience and made me wonder why it's been so long since I have visited. I'll def be back soon, especially to check out the happy hour I hear everyone rave about!
(5)Carolyn E.
My offices just moved into the building upstairs, and I have been to Shokudo a couple of times in the past few weeks. Terrific food and great service. Look for Wade in the bar area and James in the restaurant. Their GM, Leatrice introduced herself and has been wonderful. Happy Hour is a bargain and I am ready to come back and try Omakase menu.
(5)Natasha F.
Last night Me and my friend went for dinner around midnight . I was happy they were open , most resturants were closed . We ordered the volcano roll sushi and the beef balsamic tataki sushi . It was so yummy and filling ! Definitly would get both again ! Then we had to finish with the oreo honey toast that was perfect!!! Pros : Open late Good food Good service Friendly staff Good price Cons: Hard to get a table if its a busy night !
(5)Tina H.
I have always loved coming here and it just keeps getting better and better. The food is always good and the service is good. Matt at the bar always take care of me and I always leave happy. I have been coming here for years and I won't stop anytime soon. Shokudo is good for late night dinner or munchies on the weekends and they offer a good happy hour both during the day and late night. (Sunday-Wednesday) Don't forget to try the dessert! The honey toast is to die for!
(5)Kahea C.
My first time here and it was a great experience!! Customer service is THE best thus far! Our waitress, Robyn, was AWESOME!! She was friendly, attentive and very helpful. Overall, all the workers were very attentive too! I've gone to other establishments and the waiters and waitresses only took care of their own tables. But here, other than taking care of the initial order and bill, every waiter and waitress took care of everyone's needs. Two thumbs up!! For appetizers we had Spicy Tuna roll and the Ahi Takaki with garlic chips. They both tasted awesome!! I tasted the Spicy Tuna and loved it! We also had the Agedeshi Tofu which was also delish: tofu just melted in our mouth. The Ribeye and the Garlic Shrimp rice was also delish!! We had other appetizers and food that were good. For dessert we had their infamous Honey Toast with chocolate and strawberry purée. The family thought it was really good. I, on the other hand, thought it was okay. The only part I thought was bad is the lighting: we had reservations @ 6:15 and the BF and I had a difficult time reading the menu. I did make a reservation and was seated immediately so don't forget to call. The parking is good since its in the same building as the restaurant.
(4)Brandy W.
I finally made it here woohoo! Another month, and my last meals on heels on the island. Parking was very easy to find around the corner of the restaurant. Since it was raining, it was nice to walk through the building to get to the restaurant instead of crossing the street. Shokudo on a Friday night was CROWDED. I'm so glad we made our reservations, albeit they were very early for being made a week before. The splitting checks thing was confusing. At first we were told we could only split it 4 times, but then we were told that we could itemize each entry on a separate credit card. So basically no problem. Service was spotty. One of our ladies received her sangria much later than the rest of us. Another lady didn't receive the correct sashimi order. The food was absolutely delicious. We ordered the mochi gratin, which is basically the Japanese version of queso dip. For my entree, I ordered the Lobster Dynamite Roll. It was super filling. I couldn't finish it! The entire roll did taste a little heavy on the mayo for me, but I still enjoyed it. We saved room for that famous honey toast. I would have never come up with an idea of serving toast drizzled with honey as a dessert. It was light but satisfying. In the end, the size of Shokudo got the best of it, but I enjoyed myself.
(4)Nicole F.
honey toast for dessert is always a must. I think only once out of my 10+ visits here I didn't get the ever so popular honey toast. anyways I was also craving chicken karaage so I got that. it wasn't the best I've had but it was satisfying enough.
(5)Coreen L.
Who doesn't love Shokudo? I mean, plan for honey toast and work backwards from there -- sushi, fresh house made tofu, noodles, seafood and an array of delicious cocktails too. Some of my favorites include: Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice, Yuzu Hamachi, Tofu (remember, fresh made on site), Ume Cucumber Salad, Yaki Soba, Chicken Karaage and of course, HONEY TOAST! Parking is free behind the building or in the Nordstrom parking lot (use the stairs to get to street level); and always festive and fun with their awesome crew.
(4)Michelle H.
I went here Friday with two other people and it was the worst food service I've had at Shokudo over the years. Our waitress was really nice and tried to be as attentive as possible for a busy Friday night. We started off with edamame. It came out fairly quick but it was so salty, it was nearly inedible. We suffered through most of the bowl before giving up. Our waitress wasn't really around for us to flag her down and it was already so late, we were starving. Next came the vegetable tempura, which took a really long time because we ordered it right in the beginning. It must have been sitting that whole time, because it was incredibly soggy. When I bit into the pumpkin, it was so raw and hard, I couldn't stick my chopstick through it. At that point, I was really upset because everything was taking so long and the quality was terrible. We were able to flag down our waitress and explained that the tempura was soggy and some parts were not cooked. She put in an order for a new one. Eventually, the new one came out. Mind you, these were meant as appetizers, but it was taking so long, my friends ordered something else, which came out faster than the tempura. When we finally got the tempura, it was hot and crispy and all seemed well. Well, it wasn't. It was very very oily and I found a hair in one of the pieces. I handed it to my friend who then accidentally dropped it. And that's when I just stopped eating and so did the two others I was with. The wait for any dish plus the quality that was being served made me lose my appetite. We got the check, and we were charged for two tempura and had it corrected. But, because our waitress was not around much throughout the entire meal, it took a while. When we got the corrected check, we paid $51 for edamame, tempura, one plate of sushi, and teriyaki chicken plus sodas. Doesn't sound bad, but then I remember I only ate poor quality edamame and tempura. I would like to note that when we got the second tempura, the manager for the night came by and asked how it was (pre hair) and explained that they had a very new cook. That explains the edamame too... But I think with such a busy restaurant on a Friday night, they should know by now to keep a closer eye on new cooks. It's disappointing to go to a restaurant that's a little on the pricey side for the portions that you get, and be served like that. I wish we had gone to shirokiya instead and gotten discount bentos. They would have tasted much better and we wouldn't have had to wait. Shokudo has been in the game for a long time, Friday nights like these should not happen.
(2)Will L.
Shokudo is clean, spacious, has reasonable prices, and the food is put together nicely. I had the salmon sashimi with ikura bowl on their lunch menu, and it came out really pretty looking with sliced nori on top of sushi rice. My coworkers had the tempura bowl, and it looked like about 7 pieces of tempura shoved onto the outer perimeter of the bowl. We all wanted to have their famous honey toast, but we were too full today. Next time.
(4)Samantha B.
What is all the hype on this place? Please, someone inform me because I'm at a lost here. I've been here a few times within the past several years. First was to try their "famous" honey toast. Something I've came to the conclusion was just another over hyped thing on Instagram, like most food is. The next few visits I had got their sushi and other items like gyoza. Honestly, it's just okay. Nothing special. Nothing to put a hype on. Not even memorable. Just okay. I rather go over to the mall and get some genki, it's better and cheaper! Now for the real review, their customer service. Where is it?! Nowhere. There is no customer service. ZERO. I've had two separate incidents where I had to wait a ridiculously long time for my food. Not to mention it was slow. There weren't very many people there. Honestly, it doesn't take 25 plus minutes to bring out a bowl of udon. Let's be real now. On top of starving me to death before getting my food, trying to flag down a waiter is impossible. The last time I went my server kept disappearing. Causing me and my boyfriend to wait a very long time to get the check then actually paying for the food took even longer. I probably didn't see her for a good 20 minutes while waiting to give her the check back. I couldn't get where she was going, IT WASNT BUSY. Last time I go there. Maybe if the service was better I'd go back to get some okay sushi. But as for now, shokudo you have lost a customers and I'll be letting everyone know about my horrible experiences.
(1)Celina Q.
Shokudo USED to be the go-to spot for date night, after practice get-togethers and family dinners. Recently its just-meh. Dined here by request of an out of town relative who was craving the famous Honey Toast. Our group of 6 got seated in about 20 minutes (on a Monday night 7pm), waters and drink orders came quickly but we waited quite a bit to have our orders taken. Between the 6 of us, we ordered 15 items- which obviously would not fit on our table. So a few dishes (Spider Roll, Tempura Roll, Chicken Karaage) came out luke warm- assuming they sat out for a while. Food is good, I wouldn't call it authentic Japanese food, but still yummy. Shokudo used to be better about serving larger parties, not sure if policies have changed? Or servers now aren't used to it. Favorites: -Unagi Bowl- coming sizzling in a stone bowl -Tofu Salad- great combination of veggie, tofu and crunchy-ness -Lobster Dynamite Roll- perfect for sharing, not fishy at all. -Honey Toast- fluffy bread, vanilla ice cream drizzled with honey, delish but I've made it at home for 1/3 of the price All in all, not a bad restaurant if you have the time and patience to spend.
(3)Cowie K.
Paul and Sam are the best servers ever. The employees here were so polite! They made a bomb honey toast. The food was amazing and the experience was fantastic.
(5)Alex K.
Good variety of sushi and sashimi. Reasonable prices. Large restaurant and can accommodate large groups with a minimal wait, even without a reservation. Food seems to come out at different times, depending on what is ordered, so the rest of your party might not get their food at the same time you do. Overall, I think they could use more servers as they seem to be covering a few too many tables at the same time.
(4)Tiffany Y.
Yelp 365 Challenge x 2 #271/365 Yelp 100 Review Challenge #15/100 Another tweet-up with the gang! And the last time we did that was about a year ago at Yogurstory (yikes). However, we were finally able to schedule a time for all of us to meet up for dinner and this time, it was at Shokudo's. For the past few years, I've been reading and reading and READING about Shokudo and the infamous honey toast as well as knowing that this restaurant is constantly busy. It's been bookmarked and it's only this year that I finally had the chance to experience Shokudo. When we arrived, I noticed that they now have outside seating and it's very stylish. As we entered the restaurant, I swear...I felt like I was entering a Kill Bill scene and that I would see O-Ren Ishii and the Crazy 88 sitting and eating because the ambiance/decor of the restaurant just brought me to that scene without the live Japanese rock band. Anyhow, we were seated quickly (thanks to Ed reserving ahead) AND we were seated at the long table that was on the platform level and we were able to view the entire restaurant from where we were seated. Now, THAT made me feel like O-Ren Ishii (without her sword, course). Now, onto the food because this is what my husband and I ordered: Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi ($13.45): Beef slices that are seared and place on top of sushi rice flavored with balsamic vinaigrette Ahi from the Sashimi Bar ($10.95) Edamame ($3.95) *can't go wrong with this order unless you boil it too long but they didn't! Pork Gyoza ($6.95) Chicken Karaage ($9.95) that was served with their spicy tartar sauce Char-Siu Pork & Japanese Scallions ($7.95) Honey Toast with Chocolate ($7.45 + 1.00 for the chocolate) Yes, we mostly ordered appetizers and sushi because we wanted to sample plus we were hungry to where we ordered too much and we took some of these items home but not the honey toast...we finished that right then and there. Some of the other items that were ordered by the group: Lobster Dynamite ($10.45) Sushi Pizza ($14.45) that is baked sushi rice with jalapeños, crab meat, salmon and scallops Calamari Tempura ($8.45) Garlic Shrimp Rice Ishiyaki ($12.45) Sukiyaki Bibimbap Ishiyaki ($11.45) *wish I ordered this one! When I watched the waiter bring out the Sukiyaki Bibimbap and how it was served in a stone bowl that was sizzling hot, I wished that I ordered this instead of all those items I ordered especially since it smelled soooo good. Our waiter took care of us and made sure that we were satisfied with our order and also checked up on us often. He was also gracious enough to take our picture on the platform where our table was located because if you are friends with me on Facebook, it almost looks like we were re-enacting the Last Supper, which I doubt because there will be more tweet-ups and dinners that will be at Shokudo and other restaurants on the island for the twitter gang! Overall Experience: Ambiance/Decor: Relaxing, warm colors with a very Kill Bill O-Ren Ishii style Price: Reasonable Food: Prepared well, presented beautifully and tasted delicious Service: Courteous, friendly and very accomodating Recommend: Definitely (reservations is advised)
(4)Joe G.
I'm not a sushi snob, but honestly the fish was sub-par. The hamatchi was tough and tasted odd, and the ebi (raw shrimp) was warmer than room temperature. (I work at a sushi restaurant and assume it was from attempting to defrost them in hot water). They deep fry the heads for you and those normally take a few minutes and that's normally expected, however ours arrived at the table before the sushi. They weren't very hot and completely soggy in oil. Almost positive they were eather not cooked fresh to order, or they were refried. Our server was very courteous, but didn't understand "wasabi on side for all sushi" as there was wasabi inside of each peace, which was okay, mistakes happen, but she laughed it off and tried to convince me that because they put some on the side too it was okay, and then tried to impress me with how many years she had worked there. It wasn't anything big though, she brought the fish back and they fixed it. Finally we ordered the honey toast. It came out very fast and that was great considering it's their most popular dish and takes a few minutes. Before the server brought it out, she apologized and told us they were washing forks so she brought spoons and knives. I was kind of dissapointed with that but was hopeful that we'd get our forks soon enough. About fifteen minutes after being told we'd get forks, we'd already (awkwardly) finished the desert and we're ready to leave. Unfortunate to say I feel over all it was an underwhelming experience (my third time dining here) and I can say that it's a nice restaurant but the quality and service could be improved.
(2)Jonelle B.
A very modern style place with the right side of the restaurant that seemed to be ascending seating. The bar in the middle also was a great seating area with TVs to watch the games. The left side was normal seating- but the place itself was packed. Fun shoju drinks with exotic fruits. We ordered a bunch of things- - homemade tofu (freaking amazing) MUST ORDER - Tofu salad ( great too ) - rainbow roll (not a fan of cucumber in the cali-roll) - teriyaki salmon ( it was yummy- but a smaller portion than expected) - cucumber salad ( liked the salad, but I was expecting thin slices cucumber with vinegar but it was spears of cucumber- with a vinegarette and flakes of fish- which were interesting ) - tempura ( very light tempura batter which was scrumptious and didn't seem heavy and greasy) -lobster roll-ish thing- was just like a lion king... Yummy but slightly heavy with cream. Our waiter was super knowledgeable on the menu and very attentive. Overall great experience!!!
(5)Tif-funny T.
Finally got to try this place out. Enjoyed their sushi very much. I tried their crunchy shrimp roll, lobster dynamite roll, yakisoba noodles, and their honey toast. The service from grant was great. He never rushed us and gave us time to decide what we wanted. Very approachable and friendly employee. Shokudo is lucky they have him as a server. He even walked me and my family out. If you haven't tried this place out yet go and have some good sushi.
(5)Deanna P.
I must have ordered the wrong things or just been in a bad mood 3 years ago because this place rocks. The rolls are amazing
(5)Alexander G.
This place is yet another I've walked by countless times and never bothered to check out. My first experience there was great, so I went back a few more in the last few weeks. My rating here and review are based on all the visits combined, which I'm sorry to say, has suffered after multiple visits. The decor is lovely. I love the high ceilings, spartan walls, and wood decorations. The main dining room has cute little booths for couples and the stepped opposite side gives all tables a view of the restaurant. The bar is awkwardly in the center, making the entry way and routes to the restrooms difficult. The wait staff has been mixed. My first visit was excellent, the second two were less attentive. My most recent visit was slightly argumentative when the incorrect food arrived and needed to be sent back. The food itself has been mostly fantastic. I've tried the Dragon, Spider, Fried Rice Ahi, and countless other rolls. The freshness is great. The most recent visit, everything was slightly off however, a bit on the soft side. I recommend staying away from all the non-sushi dishes. I thought the chicken katsu was mediocre and the pork was just bad (although its sauce was delicious). The yuzu sweet toast was meh; lots of sugar and not much substance. It can be a great place to go, but I will go back to just walking by from now on.
(3)David C.
Hey! What's with the bad service lately? One night the hostess can't seat a party of five at the high tops because they're "being used as the staging area for a large party", ten minutes later after haggling while the restaurant is empty we get seated there anyway. (Never saw any staging). Another night we're overcharged and our waiter says "You got the menu with the wrong prices" and refuses to change it. Now I get seated and in the five minutes I'm there with menu down and looking around not a single server brings water or asks for my order. Done with you. Doraku is down the street and waaaay better in service. Their extensive sake menu doesn't hurt either.
(1)Rhemielyn U.
I've been eating here for years now. It holds a sentimental value since this is where my husband brought me on our first date. I love coming here for happy hours. This time we came here for my birthday. The staffs are always friendly and food is always good. My favorite is their sushi pizza, lobster dynamite, bi bim bap and garlic shrimp fried rice. Food came right away and the waiters always ask if we needed anything. They have a private room for more intimate dining. Don't leave without having their honey toast
(4)Jessica K.
This place is awesome. It can be pricey but its Hawaii everything is pricey. Plus I don't mind paying for delicious food and excellent service which is what I always get here! Thanks guys!
(5)Fefe J.
Shokudo. Mainly known for their honey toast. Yes, it is super good. I admit I always gotta grab it when I'm here. But their sushis are pretty good, too. I think they have a really good happy hour menu. This place gets pretty noisy after 8 PM, and the usual crowd are of the younger generation. Service has always been the same, which I can't really complain about.
(4)Michelle I.
During undergrad, my friends and I used to eat here once in a while. I like the fact that it's in town right next to Ala Moana. It doesn't have the best parking garage, but when I went on a week night it was free parking. Anyway, I just dined here with a friend to celebrate her birthday. It was a last minute thing so I ordered a drink and dessert. She ordered dinner since she finished work late in the evening. I never tried the vodka sodas so I asked the waiter for his recommendation. He suggested the blueberry vodka soda, so I ordered it. The blueberry soda looked good and it looked like there were blueberries in the picture. My friend got the Li hing sake, kimchee fried rice, spicy tuna nachos, and dynamite fries. I was disappointed when I received my blueberry vodka soda. I had no blueberries. I sampled the Li hing sake and I actually liked it. I should have ordered that instead of the soda. The kim chee fried rice was okay at best, same for the dynamite fries. When dessert time rolled around, I got excited for the honey toast. I know it's only honey toast but it's been a few years since I last had it. I ordered the strawberry puree and my friend ordered the cookies and cream honey toast. Again, I was disappointed because the strawberry honey toast hardly any strawberry chunks. Even towards the bottom of it there weren't many strawberries. My friend's oreo honey toast on the other hand, had nice chunks of oreos and it looked so much more appetizing. I should have ordered the half size because maybe then I wouldn't have felt so bad about paying $9.45 for 5 small chunks of strawberries lol. In all, I'm glad I got to celebrate my friend's birthday here because it is a nice restaurant, but unfortunately didn't have a good experience with the drink and dessert. If I have to come back here, I pretty much know what to order if it's another late night get together.
(2)Raymond S.
This place has excellent customer service a pleasant atmosphere and I loved it here and I'm glad I came and prices are worth it all
(5)Heather S.
Not gonna lie, food is pretty good here and prices are reasonable. As simple as the honey toast may seem, I haven't encountered anywhere else that taste as good as theirs. So, the reason for the 3 stars... the service. Some servers I will say, are just awesome. They go above and beyond, BUT... majority of them, are not up to par in my standards. And my standards... they're not too high. I don't expect my water to be filled or to get extra napkins without me asking. But, if you say you will do something, do it. My friends and I are pretty much the same... we're not picky and particular about certain things and we don't have so many requests. If a waiter is perhaps being rude, we will hold our tongues for a while. We're one of those who won't say anything until enough is enough. There has been close calls to asking for the manager, but we've let it sly time and time again. Coming here, I always just hope for good service to go with their good food, but lately, that hasn't been the case.
(3)Michael W.
"A place to eat", indeed. There's no lack of family-type traditionalJapanese teishoku restaurants around town, but where Shokudo stands out is their ability to evolve and develop their menu. Seems that each time I return, there's a new menu item, or some new aspect of the restaurant. In the beginning, there was curry rice ishiyaki. Then, sushi pizza. Followed by a full line of draft beers, a sushi bar, and constant evolution of their drink menu. Shokudo seems to keep their staying power by changing with their customers, keeping it fresh and new. In particular, the sushi bar Shokudo boasts has a wide array of fresh fish available, and it's good stuff. Had a couple pieces of maguro nigiri, and it was amazing. On the other hand, there are just some things that should stay the same. Enter Honey Toast. If you haven't had it, HAVE SOME. Amazingly simple - toasted white bread, drizzled with honey, topped with vanilla ice cream. For this fan of simple desserts, I'm sold. On their appetizer side, the homemade tofu is a must for tofu fans - very silky, smooth and creamy, it will change your mind about tofu. More often than not, my visits to Shokudo are during the lunch hour, where their dinner portions are a little too kanak-attack inducing. Instead, the lunch combinations make for a reasonable lunch portion, almost like a mini teishoku. Seriously, it'd be great if they had the combos available at dinner time. Finally, you can't talk about Shokudo without talking "happy hour". Shokudo does it right with really, *really* reasonable portions of their menu for great prices. Like what? Like Honey Toast Jr. (half size) for $3. And a carafe of sake for $5. Only drawback is that if not for the happy hour, Shokudo will make your wallet lighter real quick, but it's a good stop for Japanese fusion and comfort foods. Ikimashou!
(4)W Q.
Excellent happy hour, 4-6pm The items are a few dollars each, $3-$5 If you sit outside, they will not serve ramen, it is for indoor seating only. Good food, great service, and excellent value. Located on Kaiolani close to Ala Moana mall, plenty of parking at Ala Moana mall. This is not a fancy place, it is cheap good eats, great for large groups. It's a pretty fun spot to be.
(4)Emma C.
I am waiting to be seated in the happy hour area even though it's empty!!! It's insane! I haven't tried the food yet but right now I already have a negative feeling on this restaurant. I asked how I can't be seated but the waitress said I have to wait! To me.... A great restaurant should have good customer service besides good food. Don't offer If don't to want people to come for happy hour special but don't let your customer wait for no reason.
(1)Keala L.
Came with a friend during a Sunday night for a little appetizer & dessert. We ended up getting thee famous Honey Toast. It was good but a little salty, so we sent it back. They comped the honey toast & apologized. The service that they provided was EXCELLENT! 10 stars to Kylie our server. She was so sweet & very accommodating to everything. I will definitely be returning again :)
(5)Brian B.
I've been here a couple of times and always sit at the bar. The place is always busy so getting a table takes some time. The bar is nice. Wade, the bar tender, is very attentive and funny. Its always a pleasure sitting at the bar and talking to Wade. The food is good and tasty. If you go in the evenings, plan on a wait for a table.
(4)Rhea B.
3 stars because the food was awesome as always. It would have been given a 5 if the service wasn't so bad. They're usually great with service especially when they're busy but for a not so busy Wednesday night their service was horrible. First off the hostess didn't even bother to greet me. She just stared at me waiting for me to tell her how much people was on my party. I clearly said 3 adults and 2 kids, and the hostess was like "SO 5!?" What a rude way to come off. Then she goes on saying "our tables are meant for parties of 4, do you mind squeezing one persons chair?" I don't mind I guess. Then she also says "Also you might have to wait a while because we need to pull two tables together which is not available right now." I peek in and see so many tables open. Waited for about 20 minutes which is usual wait time but it wasn't busy at all. I came in around 8:45 PM. They call us in to sit and I guess they thought it was appropriate to put us on a high top table with 2 kids. My cousins couldn't even reach the table. And they said they had to pull 2 tables? That high top counter table in the front was empty and no one was sitting there. So we had to wait another 5 minutes for them to set up another table that w open the whole time we were waiting. Lastly the waiter service was horrible as well. The servers who gave our orders always had to apologize for giving our food to the wrong table. DTThey also felt it was right to give our rice bowls that was a wrong order for the other table to us. The waiter was like "we gave it to the wrong table but they didn't touch it." Dont they have order numbers for the tables? Idk what was up with their service last night but it sucked and it wasn't even that busy. I've come to Shokudo many times but this was the first time that I've had bad service from them.
(3)Emerald S.
After so long not coming here, it felt kinda weird. Idk what is but at first it was going well. However, it ended up downhill. Of course food was the same but the sauce for the karaage was kinda watery but it was whatever. Then the server was not really checking up on us. Kinda waited for awhile for a few things. But overall it was okay I guesssssssss.... We just came here for alcohol lol.
(2)Justin F.
The garlic Scallops where amazing definitely and the service was really good a definite 5 stars
(5)Rachel S.
This was my first time here and I was really excited to come since there's a big hype about it. I ordered a shrimp tempura udon which wasn't all that great. And I also ordered the spicy tuna crispy rice which wasn't amazing either. Their honey toast wasn't as special as everyone had said it would be. Also the thing that I didn't like was the fact that they won't split bills. We had a party of 14 and they would only split it into 4 bills. It was really inconvenient. I wouldn't come here again.
(2)Savannah P.
Bummer. I felt so sick after eating here and had the worst stomach ache which I had to put up with the entire work day. :( With regards to the food, I was not impressed. The hostess that seated us to our table was off-putting. I didn't receive a kind welcome from her or anything. When she seated us to our table, I asked her if they had another open seat for 2 and her response was, "These seats are actually meant for 2 people unless you want to wait for longer. (blank stare, no facial expression)." Her response just felt like I was being an inconvience to them. I should have just left at this point but I have been wanting to try their food. Well in that case, I'll just sit here in this strange small booth, order and get out of your way as soon as I'm done eating. Tried the sushi pizza ($14.95). It's so awkward to eat, either with your chopsticks or even an asked for fork. You just gotta grab it with your hands and stuff it into your face. Anywho, the toppings were falling off all over the place and I felt like there was a lot more rice than needed be. Some parts of the rice were burnt and wasn't pleasent to eat. The jalapeño on top was more than enough to add an extra kick, but if you eat the whole thing all you really taste is straight heat and nothing else. This dish alone was SO filling. Opted for the Yakisoba noodles with beef ($9.95) Wayyyy too much soy sauce and the cabbage was left in huge chunks in some parts. Overall our bill came to $27.94 (with tax) (also ordered one soda $2.00) just for 1 small sushi pizza and a small yakisoba plate. The value of both dishes and qualtity did not justify this price. Overall, the food alone for its value, quality and taste for me and not to have felt good the rest of the day, wasn't good enough to be wowed to come back again.
(1)Angel H.
My roommate and I go pretty often and normally sit at the bar. It's not very busy on off nights but on busy nights it definitley gets hectic for Matt and the other bartenders such as Caroline and Wade but service is still great. They all manage to find the time they need to check on every one at the bar top and talk some story while getting their orders out. I order a few things from the menu that I personally enjoy such as the mermaid roll, yoghurt shochu, and the kimchee pizza. But everything I've tried so far from their menu has been fantastic. Overall it's a great atmosphere with good food and great service. It's nice coming in and having waiters and waitresses come up and say 'Hey, welcome back'. The waiters and waitresses are all pretty upbeat and fun to talk with, especially Chelsea!
(5)Nadine J.
This is my favorite Japanese restaurant to eat on the island by far. I love their sushi but the other dishes are good as well. Tonight I had some of my favorites the beef tataki, gyoza, seafood dynamite, hamachi, shrimp tempura, and drank the lychee saketini. Soooo yummy.
(5)Mikayla M.
This is hands down, one of my absolute favorite restaurants! I've gone here numerous times and I'm always impressed. I love their food and of course, their famous honey toast! You can't go there without getting that! The wait time is pretty long depending on what you get but I believe it's well worth it. I love going here and recommend for those who haven't been here to go!
(5)Brian B.
Oh Shokudo how you disappointed me on the day I decided to celebrate my birthday with friends... Ok, so I will grant them the concession that I didn't have a reservation for the group of 10 people I had but it was disappointing that it took a lot of questioning before they decided it was worth their while to seat our party. Seriously, one whole side of the restaurant that was reserved strictly for reservations was completely empty when we were there at 4pm. The worst part is when we asked why we couldn't be seated when there were so many empty spaces, we were told it's because those tables were reserved... Ok, fine but then when we sat at the bar for 10 minutes and we saw nobody being seated in the supposedly booked up area, we were told that the tables would start being filled by the reservations starting at 6pm!! Are you kidding me?? Soooo, your first group of reserved tables won't be filled until 6pm & it's ~4pm-ish and we are here looking for a table and you can't seat us?? Again, this would be fine & dandy if any of the tables were taken but they weren't.... When we finally got seated and ordered from the Happy Hour menu, our orders were extremely delayed or we had to ask several times to check on them. Utensils & plates that were asked for never came for a long time, and even when we asked for them again it still took a long time before it was finally brought to us. Mind you, the area we were seated in was empty except for our party... When the food came though, it was good. We had a few sushi handrolls which were definitely tasted great and had fresh cuts of fish on them. We also tried the steamed gyoza which was nice and soft and came with a tasty sauce which wasn't too strong or salty. A few other things we ordered were the spicy tuna nachos, teriyaki chicken quesadilla and charsiu ramne jr. which were all good. For drinks I had the japanese beer Echigo, yogurt shochu & a shot of Crown Royal which were all great as expected. For dessert we ordered Honey Toast with Oreo ice cream which was a delight! As mentioned earlier, I will give this place a little bit of a pass because we didn't have reservations but it's hard to give much of a good review being that there wasn't a reasonable explanation why we couldn't have been seated. I've eaten here previously and never really had the same type of terrible service as I did on this occasion either, so I will grant them that as well. Will I come back again? Sure, as long as getting a table with a more normal-ish sized party isn't as painful as extracting wisdom teeth. Hopefully what we experienced this past Saturday(9/28) was just an anomaly regarding service too otherwise I will definitely pass up this place despite the great food it has... I'm pretty sure that won't be the case next time I'm here, but we'll see.
(3)Xia V.
This place does have a bit of everything for everyone. It's a fusion of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, so make your pick. If you can't find anything else that you know where to, it is convenient, variety of choices and you will not be disappointed. I've have tried almost everything in this place, an exception to rolls, they're too filling. It is fast and prompt and the wait staffs are really nice. Drinks are of good selection too. I say don't be afraid and try something. The raving dessert, it is alright. I'm not into soo sugaring, sweet stuff like bread and ice cream, but we did tried. I wouldn't order it again.
(4)Candice A.
Everything we get here is amazing. Only thing is I think they do some pre-made stuff like box mash potatoes. I love how different some of their sushi is. Staff is great!
(4)Florence K.
I used to LOVE Shokudo. But now...it's just mehhhh to me. Comparing Shokudo recently to its previous many years ago, it leaves a lot to be desired. Let's begin with the food. Many many years ago, I saw mochi cheese gratin on the menu and fell in love with the dish. Mochi? LOVE. Cheese? LOVE! Mochi AND Cheese?!! YESSSSS!! The two mixed with a perfectly balanced mixture of sweet and salty sauce was like heaven in my mouth. It would be the one dish I'd always order during every visit to Shokudo. Recently, I've noticed the flavors in this dish aren't as...perfect. But not only was my beloved mochi cheese gratin not as good. Every other dish I've had recently lacked flavor...and was bland. I really wanted to add salt or shoyu to pretty much every dish I had which is saying a lot because I never say a dish is too bland. The worst part was the honey toast. Now, I usually DON'T order honey toast, because I have this big rant about how it's just bread, ice cream and honey. I could EASILY make that myself at home, so I really don't want to pay for anything that will take me less than a minute to assemble. BUT, on my last visit, since all my friends wanted it, I decided why not? I'll order one for myself. The honey toast had way more flavor than any of the dishes I've had recently. And NOT in a good way. The honey toast was SOO salty, I could barely swallow it down. I had to grab a huge scoop of ice cream to counteract the saltiness of the toast. After a couple bites, I really couldn't stomach any more down, so I just left it on the table. The honey toast seriously tasted like it had more salt than probably all the other dishes I had that night COMBINED. It was just so hard to eat. I still have a bad taste in my mouth whenever I think of Shokudo's honey toast. Shokudo WAS a really good restaurant, but it's been slowly going downhill. They seriously need to up their game to get their food quality to what it once was.
(2)Lynn R.
Used to love going here when it first opened. But quality in their sushi has really diminished. Tuna was not fresh at all and had a dark tint to it, which I was surprised that chefs still served since a roll cost about $14. Their homemade tofu is still the best I've had but noticed they've really gotten cheap on the greens making the salad more like tofu on a garnish of greens. Waiter and other workers were very attentative and brought more greens, so they made up for some disappointments. I'll keep going for their hot foods and their tofu salad, along with their honey toast. I just don't recommend eating sushi there. For $14 I could've gotten over a pound of spicy Ahi at Foodland.
(3)Lei D.
I ate here for the first time last night and it was underwhelming. The food was great, and the staff were friendly, but the atmoshphere was just ok as it was very noisy and the booths are cramped. We were moved to a table which was much better, but our server was a bit slow. I have to say the food tasted great and the quality was there too, which somewhat justified the prices. I recommend the red eye roll, which has spicy ahi and cucumber with ahi sashimi on top. Very good flavor! I would rate 3.5 stars if given the option. I may try them again, perhaps at a different time to see if it is any better, but at $75 for 2 people, it may not be right away...
(3)Micah A.
Shokudo shokudo, I really don't know how the management it is right now but this place is going downhill as some of the helpers had mentioned. why? Because of these: 1. Customer service: I liked the happy hour idea, but I do not like how these servers are taking their sweet ass time to bring out our food as well as taking their time to come out to us to take our orders. This act made it felt like they're doing this on purpose so that the customers can't take advantage of the happy hour offers. What a mess. What worse is that when me and my friend went to a midnight happy hour, March 19, 2015 at 10:45pm to be exactly. We got seated and guess what? Him and I waited 20 mins just for a god damn server to take our orders! Is this a joke? Let alone that hardly anyone is there meaning that ihis stupid restaurant is half empty at this hour. And that server had to be rude of responding to me that 'so I guess I will ring ur order'. Whoever you are, watch your manners because without customers, your ass won't get paid! 2. As many ppl mentioned, food is also starting not to be worth it, even the happy hour. When I got my garlic clams, some of the broken shells are still there which I almost got hurt while chewing the actual meat. Also, I remember the other time too, they served me a honey toast with a dirty plate. What is this? Shame on you shoyu, serving customers dirty good. Do you guys still have dignity? I guess not since even customer service is going down hill. I think I'm not gonna eat here for a while and I DO NOT recommend midnight happy hour. Workers over there are a joke! Thanks for such bad experience! Im switching to Doraku sushi, I just went there and they have better service as well as better choices! Bye shokudo!
(2)Dream N.
I really want to give it 2 stars and a half . I'm from Utah and we get better sushi at takashi's . I had their chu toro because I ordered their Ootoro (fattiest toro) but the chef did not recommend it that day . I also had their hamachi cappacio appetizer. It was good and maybe I'm thinking beef cappacio but capers would go really well with it. I tried uni and discovered it's not for me but I don't think it has to do with shokudo. Uni is a delicacy that I've always wanted to try. Their desserts like the honey toast and tempura bread pudding are plain. I think the reason people over look their plainess is because they want to like it since it "looks" yummy. It's pretty plain though. But the stars I gave are for service. They may be busy and slow but my waiter was attentive
(3)Kim Y.
This is always a good "go-to" place when in the mood for some casual japanese food and sake. We tried a new roll called "kusai kudasai"...so yummy!!! I always order the tofu salad and the yuzu hamachi, which never disappoints. They're having a 10-year anniversary special on their honey toast...with BACON, it's $19.95, but you're guaranteed a $10 off coupon for your next visit. You also have a chance to win $1000! Of course we tried it, but didn't win. Our waiter, James was so much fun! He made our dining experience extra special!
(5)Michael C.
My most recent visit was with the Yelp Book Club for its August meeting. I would highly recommend making reservations if lunching on the weekend as we did. LUNCH: The lunch menu, apparently, has some great finds/options for those seeking individual portions, and/or vareity of items in smaller portions. Bento boxes, with choices of different entrees (including chicken and salmon), as well as noodle bowls can be found on the menu. There are also $3 glasses of wine and sangria available. DESSERT: FYI for those dessert fiends.... The honey toast toppings/flavors can be combined!! Who knew?! Not I says Michael C.! Apparently Maka K. did. We ordered 2 stacks of honey toast for our large group. Strawberry + Chocolate: Interesting yet satisfying. Cinnamon + Caramel: Loved this combination. I always order the plain honey toast with no add ons, but after discovering this mix/combination option, I think I will make it a point to be more adventurous with my dessert choices on future visits. SERVICE: Very satisfactory. Our server Bob, though an older gentlemen, was very friendly, polite, and very patient with our large group. He was kind enough to split the check amongst our group so we would have an easier time adding up our respective totals. BOTTOM LINE: Great finds and options on the lunch menu. Save room for dessert!!
(4)Carol B.
One of the worst experience ever! The manager Matt was very rude and seem like he wasn't kid friendly. The one waitress We had was more concerned about rushing us to leave instead of accommodating us, and seemed races towards me and my family. I have eaten here before when there was under another manager and never felt like this..... We still tipped well regardless of the terrible service
(1)Eileen W.
First time I was here with my friend who's a local, I had great service. Come here again with my boyfriend a year later? There were some hiccups but the waitress and manager took care of us and comped our honey toast. How sweet of them!!!
(4)J. B.
First time at Shokudo, in years. Went with my sisters and mom, who is very picky about her japanese food. I made a reservation for 1 p.m., got there about 20 minutes early. We got seated right away. We all got some vodka sodas to start, which was perfect. We all had different flavors, but I liked the Yuzu best. Everyone wanted something different, so we all decided to just go for it. We got- Spicy ahi and crispy rice roll ** Tempura roll **** Shrimp tempura **** Agadashi tofu ***** Home made tofu *** Hamachi carpaccio ***** Mochi cheese gratin *** Unagi and rice bowl *** Lobster dynamite ***** While the spicy ahi and crispy rice, was the least liked, it was still good. It was an interesting twist on a spicy ahi roll. Best, was the Agadashi Tofu...words cannot explain how good it was! My sister was practically licking the bowl. Also, the Hamachi Carpaccio, was like butter. So, so fresh, and delish! Everything was pretty spot on, our server, Matt (I think) was also very attentive. I have a feeling, this will be our new go to family spot from now on!
(5)Cullen K.
I went here yesterday to celebrate my friends birthday and had an awesome experience. Our server, Cheyenne was very polite and friendly. Couldn't have asked for better customer service! I looooooove Shokudo food. There isn't anything i tried that i didnt like. My top 3 are definitely: 1. Garlic scallop bibimbap 2. Yuzu hamachi carpaccio 3. HONEY TOAST!!! I also really like the agedashi tofu and ume cucumber salad, though they changed the dressing on the cucumber since i last had it. I asked the host, Sean, to let Cheyenne know to switch out the ice cream on our honey toast with one that i brought that is nondairy. And to put candles on it. I was so happy when she came out with it exactly how i ordered cuz so often these things tend not to. They also gave us complimentary bread pudding for his birthday, though it was waaaaaaaay too much with everything we ordered- we still ate it. Lol All around good experience and can't wait for my next visit :))
(5)Dylan D.
Pretty good and the Mochi Gratin was flavored. Sometimes there are lots of people, so there are reservations available. Sometimes it takes time for the food to arrive, and that can be a little disappointing but mostly it was good
(4)Jessica H.
We went for a small group dinner last night. Our first order came out great which was the hamachi carpaccio with dressing on the side and garlic rice. Both were very good. We also ordered the hamachi Kama which is a special and that was pretty good, a little oily; however the size was very descent especially for the price. Service was pretty good til this point; however, our waitress began to forget about us. She rarely filled our water and we had to ask her to do so a couple times. One of the sauces got knocked over on our table and spilt all over in which she finally brought extra napkins over but didn't offer any towel to clean the table or ground. Our orders then began to come out really slow and when we ordered dessert it took longer than normal. When the honey toast finally came out, the plate was dirty and looked like it hadn't been cleaned. We split the check on 3 different cards and when we got our cards back they weren't our cards. She had given us the tables next to us and had given the next table our credit cards. Luckily we were sitting right next to each other and exchanged credit cards. Food here usually is pretty good and service has never been this bad before so I don't know if last night was just an "off" night.
(2)Caitie A.
I like it here, I've been several times. Weird though, upon making reservations, the hostess on the phone,Chelsea, said they had some kind of two hour rule..: that if I dine at 8:30, I would be expected to leave at 10:30. I don't think I've ever heard that before, at a restaurant like this. Isn't that what reservations are for? I take it to be kind unwelcoming.
(1)Fred B.
I'm not into all those Japanese infused dishes and fancy rolls. When I go to a sushi place, I always eat the plain and simple fish on rice dish. This place I have to say is pretty good! I hear the that the wait can be long at peak hours, but haven't experienced that yet. This place over doraku anyday!
(4)Crystal B.
I finally got to try Shokudo this past Friday after years of drooling over friend's pics of the legendary honey toast. We arrived early, but it was already packed so we had our choice of sitting at the bar or outside...since we've had some cool, blustery weather lately we opted for the bar. The bartender was incredible quick and friendly and while we waited we got to watch the sushi sensei whip up rolls and carefully crafted sashimi plates from his station. We ordered the lobster roll, chicken karage and gyoza as well as the 10 year anniversary edition maple bacon honey toast. Our orders came quickly (except for the honey toast which took a little extra time but this thing is a MONSTER :) ) and everything was on point with the similarly fashioned Izakaya dishes I enjoyed in japan. The restaurant was a little crowded and chaotic and the doors near us were constantly opening and closing allowing a cold breeze to come in which was a little irritating. Overall a great experience and cheaper pricing than my other recent Japanese fusion/sushi crush, Doraku. I won a $10 off coupon with my 10th anniversary honey toast order so I'm excited to go back and try more of the sushi and sashimi. Park at Ala Moana on the first floor, near the Ala Moana hotel and just walk over to Shokudo. Arrive early or get reservations if you can and try to get a table inside for more privacy.
(4)Lauren C.
My husband and I stumbled upon this place and we loved it!! Very modern decor, close to Wakiki and full bar. We ordered the gyoza, sushi pizza and spicy miso ramen. All three were great but it was the ramen that I still can't stop thinking about! Service was attentive and prices were reasonable.
(5)Vanessa B.
Good food. There tends to be a wait. There is a parking garage and the mall is right behind it so you can park there as well. I've been here a few times and the food and the drinks never disappoint. I like the place.
(4)Jenna V.
This place can get very busy on the weekends and occasionally during the week. Good thing is they're one of the only locations that stay open late so there's no rush. They now have outdoor seating as well so the wait may not be as long. As far as the food goes, their extensive menu Is full of variety and just about everything we've ever ordered was a hit. Their sukiyaki bibimbap is my favorite. Their appetizers are always a must have when dining. You could just order a few and have a pretty awesome spread. The mood is like any Asian restaurant with a contemporary feel. Don't forget to order their honey toast for dessert. You might as well get the ice cream as well.
(5)Rise D.
My friend and I decided to go to Shokudo for happy hour. We were seated outside, which was fine until a lizard dropped onto our table and ran across three plates of food. We told the waitress and she apologized and took away our food, and did not replace it. We told the manager and he gave us only 10% off a $70 bill. Also, the drinks tasted fine, but definitely not strong at all. The other weird thing was that the waitress would not let us order soup. Probably not returning to Shokudo for happy hour ever again.
(1)Meli E.
I have never been to a restaurant where a waiter stops taking orders midway, and walks away. Regardless of how big the party is, we only had 7, that is what a pen and paper is for (which he had one!) If it's one thing Shokudo has always lacked, it is customer service. When it was last call for food and drinks, our waiter, Matt, only stopped by the table to inform us at the very last minute, but did not bother to stay to see if we even wanted to order anything for LAST CALL. Which, btw MATT did not return with a drink we ordered. Really? And the only time he returns is with our check. Rude. Whatever happened to this place? They forgot the importance of customer service and how it is to keep a restaurant's reputation.
(1)Bradley P.
This was the first time i went there and had a verry good experience. Got a bunch of things that are totally dilish and the pork chops that was way to tuff to eat was comped, and they apologize for the way it was. Hunny toast was really good and will be going back for it again.
(5)Stas A.
5 stars because the food was great and the customer service was great! I had Kylie as my server and I've been there twice for my birthday, coincidentally I've had her both times! Very happy with our customer service. Thank you so much Kylie!
(5)Jenifer H.
When shokudo first opened, I loved to come here all the time. It was cheap, decent quality, and had fun options (in comparison to traditional asian food). Now... you need reservations or else you'll be standing in line for hours for a table. A few things have gone different. Prices have gone up, service is slipping, portions are getting smaller. However, it still doesn't detract my friends and I from coming here when we are all home from college! What draws me in is the Honey Toast... every time. But note you can buy the thick cut bread at saint germain and make the honey toast on your own! We've tried, and it's delicious. I must say my favorite dish is the Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice. Probably a mix of the crispy and the smooth fish and the warm and cold making it taste so good. If only it didn't disappear in one bite! I also love their Tofu Salad. That is one thing that I think has remained the same! The tofu is homemade, so always smooth and silken, with a nice light dressing, and a decent portion size as well. I also had the chance to go for a fathers day buffet there thinking that it would be most of the things on the menu... which it was, kind of. They had some staple dishes, but none of it was the quality that they normally serve their dishes at. I was kind of dissapoointed. But nonetheless we did leave full and content. I love crab legs and I remember they had a huge selection of those! Despite things slightly declining in quality there, I still try to go at least once when I am home.
(3)Jayleen C.
All I can say is, my first time here and it was the best. Nothing went wrong and everything went smoothly. My friends and I went on a Thursday night and it was pretty busy. We waited for no more than 25 minutes to be seated. We got seated and right away got greeted by our server, Victor. He was really nice and asked us if it was our first time. And of course my friends went ahead and told them that it was my first time here. I already asked my friends what were the good things here and they told me. Victor started us off with drinks and we got the virgin lava flow. I can honestly say, it was so good. After we ordered our drinks, we ordered our food right away as well. My friend got udon (I forgot which one), and the tempura roll. My other friend and I got the garlic shrimp rice bowl and shrimp tempura. I got a bite of everything except for the udon, and I felt like I was in heaven. The tempura roll was so light and delicious. I wanted to order more but I had other food coming haha. The shrimp tempura was nice and lightly battered. Don't know if the price was worth it. But I was satisfied with it anyways. And the garlic shrimp rice bowl, OMG. I was literally burning my mouth with it because I wanted to keep eating it. After that my friends and I were having a small chit chat before dessert. The 3 of us shared the honey toast with an extra scoop of ice cream and with caramel drizzle. I am not gonna lie this stuff was sooo good. My friends told me that everyone just eats the inside of the honey toast, but nope, I ate the crust as well. Only because I am a fan of crusts so that's why. As soon as we were done, Victor asked us if we wanted our checks and got our checks right away. Forgot to mention that Victor did a good job on serving us and checking up on us. Overall, my first time experience here was AWESOME. Can't wait to be back for more food.
(5)Jay P.
Hi, Yelp. I guess I'm back... *This is a combination of more than one occasion where I've dined at Shokudo.* The oxtail ramen is extremely small and does not taste like it was braised for six hours (as it claims to have been on the menu). In fact, the broth basically reminded me of the instant ramen soup package. I don't recommend this at all unless you want to be disappointed. The spicy tuna roll is smaller than I expected but still packed a generous amount of flavor. However, the size of the roll makes me question whether I'd order it again. The foot long chicken katsu is great for sharing with two people or more. I had this with a friend and it filled both of us up (if you also include our beers in the equation). The honey toast is simply overhyped. A great "group dessert" nonetheless if you're aiming for something along that line. Another thing I might add is that service isn't the same on every table (or from what I experienced). On one particular night, our server neglected us and helped the table right next to us more. And by neglect I mean he only filled up their waters when we also had empty water glasses. On another night, our server was nice enough to keep checking up on us and made sure our experience was a pleasant one overall. tldr; Portions are small and service can either be good or bad depending on the day, but most of it is tolerable if you share it with good company.
(3)Treanna R.
Last night was my second time at Shokudo... The service was nice we had a place setting for 12 of us celebrating a birthday... It is a nice setting and kid friendly... Although we ordered... Everything came out EXCEPT the kids 12 inch chicken Katsu... My daughter ate rice and French fries waiting for her chicken... We canceled the order... Because my daughter fell asleep and then it came right before we had our dessert... I don't know how many times the waiter jimmy came to ask my husband how was everything... And bring us drinks but never catered to our kids... We bought the most expensive bottle of Sake, spent over $650 on the grossest milkiest oysters, nasty uni which felt like it was scraped off the shell and not layered onto the rice, I got sick from their oysters... So we carried out our children, which seemed to be a waste because they did not eat, I got my clothes covered in soy sauce because the training waiter spilled it all over my neck and clothes... To top the night off with sleepy kids, money spent, nasty oyster taste, the hostess who sat us, had taken a picture of us outside and cut off half my family... If you would like a overly concerned waiter about drinks, (no food) covered with food when they clear the table, never bring out food for your kids, and a horrible picture to top the night off with over priced check! This is the place to be at shokudo... I am a business owner, and I would never recommend this service to anyone, this was an epic fail hands down... And when you tell them their oysters were warm on the inside... They look at you and tell you... I'll let the chef know... And come back and bring the bill!!! Our waiter was jimmy and the training waiter who spilled every soy sauce on my white blouse... I don't remember his name... But we had a 8:30 reservation for 12 on July 16,2015... From business owner to business owner I would be relieved to know they care about the comments and persons who come here... My niece who celebrated her birthday here likes this place... But myself and my money will never come back... Especially when you complain about the food being WARM! when it's oysters on a half shell on ice... And they come back and bring your check for the table... It was insane
(1)Andy G.
Let's just start off by saying that this is by far my favorite restaurant of all time! I love it here, the atmosphere is great and service is always nice. When its busy, there is usually a 30 minute wait if you don't make reservations which is always fine with me. The garlic shrimp fried rice and honey toast are the bomb and a must have every time!
(5)Jalene H.
I've came here a few times and the service and food was great. Tonight, for the first time, the service was horrible. We waited almost two hours to finish getting our food. Between the mix up with our orders and another table along with the time we had to wait for our food, it was just unacceptable. Just for a shake, it took them almost 30 minutes. We got here around 9:40 and are only leaving at 11:40. Ridiculous.
(1)Rekshitup D.
There food & Service is awesomeness, I eat there at least once a month. By far my favorite place to eat. I always start with the Lobster Dynamite (Hella Yummerz) Then End with of course the famous Honey Toast with extra Honey. YeahBah! But everything on the menu is great also.
(5)Jamie M.
I came here on Saturday for lunch, and it was busy. There were a ton of people waiting outside, but luckily, my party of two was able to squeeze in before the large parties. The host was very enthusiastic and accommodating. I ordered the assorted tempura bento, which came with salad, edamame, tempura, rice, and miso soup. It was only $10.95, which I think is a great value. It also helps that it was delicious! My boyfriend ordered the teriyaki quesadilla, and I would highly recommend it. The meat was super tender, and it tasted great. My only gripe was that we also ordered the mochi cheese gratin, and our server forgot! I recall being a little concerned that our server was not writing down our order at all when he first arrived, and I was thinking to myself..."dang I knew that was going to happen." And up to that point, I was also thinking the service was good but not stellar. Anyhow, it's like the server read my mind. He offered us a complimentary half order of the honey toast for dessert, which despite my bulging belly, I accepted. It was, of course, great, and it was a very nice "I'm sorry" gesture. I totally appreciated it, and it brought my experience back up to five stars. Now, back to the mochi cheese gratin...I thought that it was interesting, but I didn't love it like some of the other reviewers. I love mochi, and I love cheese gratin, but together, I don't love it. I'm glad I tried it, but I don't think I will be ordering it again. The consistency of the concoction made it difficult to eat. And it's just not my cup of tea. Overall, I had a great experience. I will be back!
(5)Chelsey N.
Everytime I come here I have to order the classics: unagi rice, steak tataki sushi, hamachi carpaccio, and homemade tofu. They have a host of other wonderful dishes, including sushi pizza, bi bim bap rice, a full sushi bar, and the winner of them all, honey toast! The service is on average pretty good. The wait can be a little out of hand even with reservations, but lunch time isn't too terrible. Shokudo is that place that you are always down to eat at, but can only sometimes afford. Which translates to: I'm dying to go back!
(4)Michelle T.
The last time I was in Oahu, my cousin and cousin-in-law took us here for dinner. We had a bunch of dishes but what really stood out to me was the sushi pizza and the honey bread dessert. Honestly, if you don't eat anything else, come here for the honey bread! It's one of the best ones that I have ever had and nothing in NYC even compares to it. Seriously, order one less dish during dinner and save room for dessert!
(4)Cencia C.
We keep going back for the pork chops -- tasty! Great service as always.
(4)Ynah Patricia E.
I'm usually a regular but tonight's service was horrible. Our waiter, Chris, didn't offer us satisfactory service. Our honey toast order took about 25 minutes to arrive on our table. I had a friend who ordered a shake and it took another 15 minutes. I must say that I'm very disappointed with tonight's service. Shokudo, you've lost a loyal customer. If yelp allowed for 0 or negative stars, that's definitely what I would've rated them. HORRIBLE!
(1)Leah P.
Ever since I moved to Oahu, Shokudo was on my to go list. I've seen all the pictures of sushi and honey toast and lychee mojitos. I figured it was pricey and something to go to for fancy occasions. So I steered away til the time was right. Tonight was my boyfriends 25th birthday. We got tired of frequenting yakiniku places (which has been my thing since we've moved here) and he wanted sushi so it seemed like the perfect time to try out shokudo. And boy are we glad. We got in at about 630 on a Tuesday night. We were told it was going to be a 45 minute wait but got seated quicker. The booths for two were nice because you werent exactly across each other or next to each other and it was private enough you didn't hear your neighbors. We were greeted by our server Tremaine. He showed us the drink menu off the bat. My boyfriend got a Stella and I got an iced tea. Those were pretty basic although the Stella was $6. Kinda pricey. Tremaine never let my glass empty. He always came out with a new one before I could even ask! We had the edamame, cucumber/ume salad and the assorted tempura to start. Edamame was basic, a little too salty. The cucumber salad though, that was amazing. It came with fish flakes on top for a nice hint of texture. The assorted tempura was also basic. My boyfriend thought the sauce tasted funny but I liked it. Then we had the tiger roll, spicy ahi roll, garlic shrimp rice and chicken karage. Everything was excellent but by the time I got to the karage I was already pretty stuffed. The stand out was the garlic rice. For dessert my boyfriend got a complimentary honey toast for his birthday and I got the bread pudding. I preferred the bread pudding but the honey toast did live up to its hype. Overall, My experience at Shokudo was a great one. At the end, Tremaine also gave us one of his "unofficial" business cards and told us we could always request for his section whenever were in. His service was amazing from start to finish. And whatever the cooks and sushi chefs are doing back there, keep doing what you doing! We'll definitely be back.
(5)David A.
Sashimi sampler is expensive and does not come with rice, soup or salad. Not worth it. Service was slow. I'll try this place again - maybe I hit it on a off day - but I was disappointed. Now I have to go and pick up lunch at another place because I'm starving.
(2)Lori F.
When I hear "Shokudo" the only thing I think of is their Honey toast. So simple, yet tastes so amazing & 2-3 people can share one!
(4)Dana M.
Simply amazing great service, super friendly staff. Cheese mochi, foot long chicken katsu, dragon roll and honey toast---WOW
(5)Lani K.
We went to Shokudo for our son's 18th birthday and we had such a wonderful time. There was 13 of us and didn't realize that we were going to be seated in the party room. That was awesome way to begin our night. We had James T. as our waiter and he was awesome and knew his stuff. The food was great as well as the atmosphere.
(5)Hoku T.
4 stars because out of the 3 times we've been there. We had to sit at the bar not by choice tho, it was super busy. Bartender was super friendly. Nice restaurant, awesome food, awesome prices,
(4)Makana J.
My wife and I went to shokudo this past Saturday and we was blown way. We came here before but it was just alright it did stand out for me for what I can remember. So we decided to give it another shot. From the time we got there to the time we left was just awesome. We had reservation @ 6:00pm and we arrived pretty earlier knowing its Saturday it can get crowded. We checked to see if we could check in early and it was no problem and it was pretty busy. The hostess sat us in the booth. It's pretty neat how they have the booths for two set up. Are waiter grant who was super helpful. He Came and took our drink order. My wife had the lychee mojito and I had a plantation iced tea. Both of our drinks was really good. I wanted to try different plates so we order the Mochi cheese gratin which was awesome. Next was the spicy tuna crispy rice. It was so delicious and that marinaded Jalapeño gave it a real good taste. We also had the volcano roll which it was to die for the best by far. We also order the assorted tempura. which was really good. The char Siu pork with Japanese scallions was awesome. We also ordered the lobster dynamite. It was so creamy and delicious. And for desert we got the famous honey toast which was awesome. Our waiter grant was terrific he gave us the low down on all the plates we ordered. He checked on us to make sure if we needed anything and it was pretty busy. He made our shokudo dinner experience even better. My wife and I was totally impressed on the food and the service we got from shokudo staff. I gave it a five star!! We're definitely coming back and referring this place to people family and friends.
(5)Lani W.
Food is good. Happy Hour specials are good. Beware if you have children if you end up with the waitress named Chelsea. She seems to have a real attitude problem when it comes to children. Instead of talking to me about my child, she seems to think my toddler understands an entire lecture about climbing as I'm sitting right there. And not to mention that face she made as my 11 year old sat at the wrong table. She just cost this review an entire star...good job! You don't like kids...go work at a club or a bar where children aren't allowed.
(3)Jun Z.
Great sushi and honey toast. The ambiance was nice and the service was quick. I'd suggest this place to my friends.
(4)Mengying L.
Like the atmosphere there. Delicious food and nice services. I love sushi pizza and their honey toast!
(4)Corinne E.
I haven't been to Shokudo in awhile but I really enjoyed the flavors on my last visit! Everything was just mmmm...mmmm good! Even liked my lychee martini! I was going to pass on the dessert but my friends all wanted to try the Honey Toast and ... wow... taste the inner squares and prepare to say "yummy!" Nice atmosphere, spacious, and was lucky enough to catch Brian Yang from Hawaii 5-0 at a nice enough distance while I ate my meal. So it was a good evening! Great to share food family style and enjoy more dishes. Service was excellent! Oh... and make reservations... we were going on a Friday and I remember it being a large place, I didn't think it was necessary if we went early enough but I called the day prior and lucky thing I did!
(5)Aline T.
I just couldn't stay away from that sake sampler. I came back just for that and brought a friend who also enjoys kubota manjyu. We enjoyed it so much, we ordered the tokkuri. That's where things got tricky. Nooooo, I didn't get wasted (although I set a new high record of 5 shots). The tokkuri sake wasn't smooth at all. Long story shorter, the manager Kepe gave us two free shots. However, I had to ask to take the tokkuri off the bill. Waitress was great, never made it feel like we were at fault. Kepe was respectful, friendly and handled the situation as expected. I'm very happy that they listened, responded and supported the customer. Did I mention we came during happy hour? Cheap, good eats! We got the Takoyaki Russian Roulette for fun. It comes with 5 pieces. When we realized there was only one piece left, I looked at the takoyaki, looked at my friend, looked at the takoyaki. Me: Hey...did you get the hot one yet? LF: ...no...did you? Me: ...*looks at the last piece* ... no. *Change of subject* blah blah *Back to subject* Me: Sooo....do you want it? LF: .... Me: What if they're just messing with us and there isn't even a hot one and it's all in your mind? LF: Still don't want it. Me: FINE! (Curses, it didn't work.) Did I get the hot one? No!! There was none! Unless it wasn't hot on my radar, in which case, I still win! Level up to 5 stars for good eats, great service, the best sake and a fantastic time! Kepe mentioned he was going to bring in sparkling peach sake! A good, new product he came across last October. I look forward to returning many times for more sake and grinds!
(5)Laura O.
EXCELLENT food and service. We had two kids under the age of 5 with us, and they were very accommodating. The menu was interesting and appealing. The desert we got was simply delicious. We liked it so much we went twice in one week. Definitely a must go for the Japanese food enthusiast. The twists are worthwhile.
(4)Jorge H.
Honey toast. Enough said.... (drops mic) No, seriously... The food is good as well. We ordered the Tokyo Shoyu Ramen which had great flavor but not a lot of kick to it. I'm used to some garlic/spicy ramen and the only solution they had was Tabasco sauce. In addition, we ordered the spicy tuna crispy rice which had great flavor and the crispiness of the rice added a nice touch. (Although at the end of the night, it was a little stale.) The Mochi Cheese Gratin is a MUST. Oh my was this delicious and the cheese was stretchy like a fresh out the oven slice of pizza. And the tofu salad which had a good kick to it and very flavorful, especially for a guy like me who doesnt really "get" tofu. But my oh my... their bread and butter (no pun) is the Honey Toast. If there was every anything remotely close to a taste bud orgasm, I'd say I had a multiple. This is seriously the best dessert I ever had. So good that we went back for seconds two days later, even after scarfing down a cheeseburger 20 mins before. If you aren't hungry, but want dessert, there is no better choice out here than this $8 delight. And it's worth every penny. Shoot, I'd pay $20 for this. (just don't tell the owners)
(4)Cara K.
This is one of my favorite places! I always start with a lychee mojito and the mochi cheese gratin. Their lobster dynamite roll is to die for. The tempura was crisp and over battered. Of course you have to finish your meal with some honey toast!!
(5)Randoll C.
When in Hawaii, eat Japanese! That's what my cousin, a fellow Yelper did for dinner on my last night back home in Hawaii. Unless you're walking from somewhere, parking is in the structure and I was told that it is security monitored so be sure to park in the designated spots for Shokudo. On Sunday's, it's FREE! The entrance to the restaurant on the street level, on the street. I don't know if they accept reservations but if you get there early, like we did, we were seated immediately. When we left, there looked to be a good wait outside. Not a very big waiting area inside. The service was awesome. Everyone was attentive, courteous and friendly. Everyone from the bus persons, to the manager. I forger her name but she did stop at our table and we chatted a bit. As for the food, I liked the food. But not to the point that I could say I loved it. Pretty big portions and pretty big prices. But that's to be expected because of the location. Decent variation of dishes and I liked everything my cousin and I shared, but we both didn't love it all. We even tried the honey toast they I've heard so much about. Again, I enjoyed it but if by chance I were there again, if I didn't have it, I wouldn't lose sleep. I feel a little bad about a three star rating, however, I had a good time with my cousin and we enjoyed our dinner. It just didn't "WOW" us like we were told would happen by others who had been there.
(3)Julie O.
Happy Hour specials are the best! 4 to 6pm great service, food options, and japanese eats. Live eating the ahi nachos, tempura, cucumber salad, and honey toast. #winnas!
(5)Ashley N.
Returned here once again since honestly, I can't even remember the last time I ate at Shokudo. I wasn't really in the mood for anything special, and my boyfriend isn't picky, so I decided to come back and dine here since it used to be one of my top 5 places to eat at. We arrived around ~8:10PM on Friday night, and it was packed! However, this is the usual for Shokudo on a Friday/Saturday night. Definitely recommend making a reservation if you don't want to wait. When we entered, we weren't greeted (I stated this in my last review, as well) - my boyfriend and I actually had to start the conversation with "Dinner for two." and the host simply looked up and replied "Any reservations?", in which we replied no. The wait time was around 30-40 minutes, so we put our name down and went outside to wait. The highlight of this night was that it was actually only a 15-20 minute wait, so we were seated at around ~8:30PM. It was filled to the brim inside of Shokudo, which meant it was even louder than usual. It wasn't exactly a romantic dinner night since we practically had to use our "outside voices", indoors. I didn't mention this before, but some of the seating is a bit odd. There are these "booth" seatings, that doesn't allow you to face who you're eating with, instead you're sitting next to them... So I hope you don't mind sharing a menu, because that's exactly what you'll have to do in these mini booths! Anyways, we were seated at these exact booths, and the hostess that sat us, didn't even explain the menu, nor did she give us the sushi menu either. She literally put the menu on the table, and walked away before we even sat down. We were greeted by our server who brought us waters. I believe he's either new, or I never saw him before, because I used to come to Shokudo all the time, but I never met him until tonight. He was honestly a little bit awkward to talk too. Not very personable, nor was he very chatty. But he did his job and was attentive to filling our waters, and correctly getting our order. Anyways, my boyfriend ordered a Shirley temple ($2.00) to drink, and I just stuck with water. When he returned with my boyfriends drink, we began to order. My boyfriend got the Spicy Tuna Crispy rice ($12.45), and the Garlic shrimp rice ($12.45). I ordered the chicken Karaage ($9.95) and a side of brown rice ($2.25). We waited around 10 minutes before my boyfriend got his Garlic shrimp rice delivered first. The server mixed it for my boyfriend, and left us to enjoy our mea-... Oh wait! They delivered the food inconsistently so now it was either we let the food sit until we got all of our food, or let my boyfriend eat while I watched. My boyfriend is a gentleman, so he waited for me to get my food, which took another 10-15 minutes to bring all of it out at the same time. This has always been an inconsistency that I noticed in my previous visits at Shokudo. They aren't very good at timing the meals so that all the people in the party can eat and enjoy at the same time. Instead, they have to pick with either watching others eat, or watching the food go cold. However, when all the food DID get to the table, it tasted good (as it usually does!), which was a plus. The chicken Karaage was still as I remembered from months ago, my boyfriends garlic shrimp rice was hot and full of yummy garlic flavor, and the spicy tuna crispy rice, was exactly as it's named! Overall: PROS: -Food tasted good. -Service was satisfactory. CONS: -Hosting stand is STILL subpar. -Food is delivered inconsistently. Shokudo used to be one of my top 5 places to eat, however I see that it has slowly, but it surely dropped from it's rank because of the service (hosting), and the inconsistencies I've noticed over my visits. Which is why I decided to give it 3 stars instead of 4 like in my review 3 months ago. However, It's still a reliable place for a "go-to" dinner if I'm not sure what to eat. Will I be back? Probably, but I won't expect anything spectacular.
(3)Mike P.
My first time here..slow lunch, friendly staff. Started with vegetable tempura, very yummy. On to the mermaid roll, again very yummy and nicely presented. Then onto the sashimi sampler, oops , do you guys usually serve the salmon frozen? Our server Bri, was apologetic and quickly returns the dish to the kitchen and the manager returns with apologies and an offer to make something different. Problem fixed and overall a great lunch.
(3)Joseph H.
The atmosphere was not what I thought it would be. Only hearing about the good food from friends, I was expecting a nice Japanese restaurant where me and the family could enjoy a meal. When we got there It was noisy with people talking loudly and the sounds of dishes clanging. I honestly felt as if I was in a regular diner. With that being said the food was delicious!! We ordered a variety of foods from salmon to ahi salad and even sushi. We topped off the meal with the honey toast which is ok, definitely did not live up to the hype I heard about. It tastes similar to the toast topped with honey that I make at home. So if your looking for an outstanding Japanese meal and don't mind the diner type setting, Shokudo is the place to go.
(4)Taryn L.
While my friends are huge fans of this place, I feel like I am that black sheep of the group that disagrees with the group consensus because, given the choice, this would not be my first pick. The ambiance of the place is like a happy hour restaurant, with a bar smack-dab in the middle of it, but decorated like the typical Japanese restaurant. It can get super busy with a wait of at least an hour for a party of 4 during the extremely busy times. And, they don't take reservations from 6 pm to 8 pm...so if you want to eat dinner during the normal dinner time, you'll have to take your chances with wait (you may end up eating later than 8 anyway). The food is okay. My usual order is the bi bim bap - I cannot resist that scorching, steaming hot stone pot that crisps the rice, cooks the egg, and makes the dish nuclear hot. They also give a small dish of hot sauce to add to the pot so that you can determine how spicy you want your bi bim bap. The item that this restaurant is known for is the honey toast. It is good, but definitely not my go-to dessert. To me, it is just thick, sweet bread drizzled with honey and served ala mode. I always get this dessert when I come to Shokudo, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get it. Service overall is usually pretty good, even when they are busy. I never had to wait extremely long to order food, receive it, and get the check. If anything, the biggest wait is always to get a seat.
(3)Jessica-Nicole U.
I can't believe it took so long to review this place.. let alone go. Went for my friend's birthday. It's a nice atmosphere. It even has an outside seating area. The bar is right in the middle which I thought was pretty interesting... gives the places two sections and I always sat on the right side when you walk in. The honey toast is really yummy, but not THAT yummy to have a million people raving about it. Customer service was okay. I feel they are understaffed with the amount of customers they get. Reasonable prices, location, parking, and overall... fan-made
(4)Alyssa M.
thought i would update my review since i returned to Shokudo just this evening. My family wanted to go to Shokudo for drinks after my grandmas burial -- i admit, i was not too fond of the idea of going back since my last visit a year ago. stepped in, requested for seating for 10 people -- was told it would be about 15 mins while they set up for dinner. while waiting at the bar...saw a familiar face! it was our server from a year ago, Tremaine! like an amazing worker, he of course remembered me. & as he promised me, if i ever did choose to return to Shokudo, he'd take care of me; & he did! my review this time around wont be on the restaurant itself, but more on the service. Tremaine has made our visit for myself & my family a great one! I'd return for only 2 reasons -- Honey Toast & Tremaine. No Tremaine? Well then no honey toast for me.
(4)Pabs G.
Nice place for lunch or dinner with coworkers, friends, and family. Food is great. Favorite is the mochi au gratin. The honey toast is a treat to be enjoyed with others. Price is moderate, but presentation of the food cost too, right? Parking is in the structure, but be careful because I managed to get stuck on one of the higher levels requiring security to open the gate. Who knew!
(4)Maka K.
I LOOOOOOOoooooVE Shokudo!! Or I guess I should say that what I really love is the Honey Toast (more on that in a min). I've been coming to this restaurant since they opened 8yrs. ago when I was still in high school (damn...I wish I hadn't thought about that part), and I love the restaurant more now than I did then...because now I can drink, hahaha. Parking: Free in the parking garage in the back half of the building (behind the restaurant) with validation. Happy Hour: HELLO! I'm so there! The BeforeDark HH is 4-6pm and confined to whoever can fit at the bar (about 8-10 seats or so). The AfterDark HH is from 10p-12a and takes up a much larger area of the restaurant. All the food items on the HH menu range from $3-$5, how can you beat that?! Items offered range from edamame, to sushi, to kimchee pizza, to honey toast jr, to takoyaki and a bunch of other tasty stuff. Obviously, there are drinks on this menu as well, though other than the $4 house wines, I can't remember what they are off the top of my head. But I think it includes discounted bomb shots, sangria, and beers. Food: I've never had anything from Shokudo that I didn't like, seriously, not joking. I don't like unagi (eel), but I think the unagi rice is delicious! I don't really like shrimp, but the shrimp tempura is really light and crispy. And who comes up with stuff like Sushi Pizza?! Sushi rice on a nori "crust" and topped with california roll crab mix and jalepeno slices~~~delicious! The handmade tofu is soft and tastes nothing like any other kind of tofu I've ever had. That's only to name a few! I swear that the rest of the menu is delicious! For the health conscious out there, they have lots of great healthy options, so I never feel like I'm walking into temptation...except with the honey toast.... If you can make it for lunch, definitely do so! They offer great lunch specials, like my favorite "Healthy Bento Box" that comes with 4pcs of sashimi, 4pcs sushi, handmade tofu, and a small salad. They also have a few drink specials during lunch, like a $3 sangria! HONEY TOAST!!! Yes, this dessert gets a section all to itself. If you don't go to Shokudo for anything else, YOU MUST GET THE HONEY TOAST!! Also known as "brick toast" by some, it's a small tower made with two THICK (about 3" thick) slices of Japanese bread. The centers are cut out, cubed and toasted, the crusts are stacked, and the cubes are tossed back in. Then the tower is topped with two scoops of vanilla ice cream and drizzled all over with honey!! I don't care if it doesn't SOUND amazing because IT IS amazing!! Original version is made with just honey, but you can pay extra dollars to have them add other toppings on it like strawberry puree, chocolate sauce, azuki bean, etc. You want to do it! You want to get it! You want to eat it! Period. Service: I've had slow service, I've had new trainees, and the lot, but I have always had smiley and patient service! I don't know who does the hiring, but good job! Your employees are awesome! Conclusion: I've been going there for 8 years already and I'm not about to stop anytime soon!
(5)Kanya G.
Goodness, I've been here countless times! For birthdays, get-togethers, or when friends just want honey toast. Sad to say that I feel that this place has become kinda overrated. I wouldn't go here for authentic Japanese cuisine or amazing sushi. The following description kind of reminds me of the phrase, "jack of all trades, master of none." They do have interesting kinds of sushi rolls and main dishes/sides, like the sushi pizza and cheese mochi, a variety of lunch specials and fufu drinks, but there's nothing that sets them aside from other places other than their honey toast. Now, I think, well... I can make it at home. Maybe it's the increasing frugality in me lol. Atmosphere is nice. The restaurant is more open now. Service varies-- sometimes employees are very hospitable, other times they don't seem too happy.
(3)Deena I.
A hotel concierge recommended this place for a quick eat and for the famous honey toast. We decided to have dinner there right before our flight back to L.A. We went in around 5:30pm and there was no wait - in fact, the place was pretty empty! I'm Japanese and just loved the menu. It reminded me of home and the creativity of the menu was awesome. We ordered the Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla, The Mochi Gratin, French Fries & the limited edition Yuzu Honey Toast. They were all so delicious! French fries sound underwhelming but it was still so good. Our waitress was Chelsea and she was great! So friendly and attentive. The other servers were always more than willing to help too, which was my favorite part. It didn't matter who's table we were, they all were happy to assist. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Jamie G.
Went there for happy hour (from 4:00-6:00) and with a short wait, our party of 5 was seated at a nice table near the window. Service was AWESOME! Our server hadn't started his shift yet, so another waiter came by to get us started. Happy hour menu had the regular beer, sake, and wine. I ordered a huge $8 Lychee mojito. I'd post a pic but it disappeared before I had a chance to snap. Sorry! Everything we ordered was beyond yummy. The sauce on the Gyoza was fantastic, Dynamite Fries was...well, Dynamite! The spicy tuna nachos were fantastic, sushi rolls were fresh and tasty. I normally wouldn't rave about a Tofu SALAD, but OMG! I'm going to have to go back and force my caveman hubby to try it. Of course, we had to try the Honey Toast. The presentation itself was beautiful. It was a good dessert... comfort food at best. I really wanted to try this sizzling dessert that the table next to us ordered. Oh well, there's always next time... Tip: Go early! We arrived a little before 5:00 and had to wait a little to be seated but by the time we left at 6:30 there was a line of people waiting to get in.
(5)Alex C.
First of all the hostess (Chelsea) told us we would be seated in 30-45 mins or less and we had to wait over an hour and 15 mins and she kept giving us crap excuses. She didn't want to double seat the server's section so we had to wait extra time, also her stand off ish attitude didn't help. Then we got seated and the food came out pretty fast, but they kept spilling food or placing the wrong food on our table. Eventually the manager gave us some free fries because he noticed our angry our group was for the bad service. The only reason to come is the honey toast. The food was good, but the service was just beyond terrible.
(2)Sam M.
I recently went here for a small graduation party my really good friend was having. He absolutely loves Shokudo, and from hearing many goods things about the place, I was very excited to try the food there. Now, perhaps I went in there with the wrong mindset thinking that I was so ready to eat some good Japanese food. Because, I do LOVE my Japanese food. Since it was a party, everything was pre-ordered and brought to us as things were ready. My boyfriend and I were extremely surprised when we got the food because it was all sorts of Japanese food... but with a twist. The best I can describe it is... Asian-American Fusion. Maybe we just tried the wrong things... I wasn't very satisfied with our meal And then the ever so famous HONEY TOAST CAME I was excited. But then I realized this is something I could probably make at home. Driving home that night my boyfriend jokingly said "So... I've figured out why we don't really like Shokudo... We're just too Asian" (We're both over 75% Japanese) We laughed. But unfortunately I don't think we'll be coming back. We both enjoy Gyotaku much more than Shokudo
(2)Goldie L.
Shokudo is a semi-modern, lively restaurant/bar. Pretty spacious. Our bartender/server was so attentive +++++2 stars I had the garlic shrimp over rice served in a stone pot. It was so buttery. It was pretty good but I felt like I gained a couple pounds after eating it :/ Drinks are cheap. My lava flow was ~$5. Can't wait to try their happy hour next!
(4)Samm N.
Disappointing from all the hype... All the food came out at different times...dramatically different. Everyone had finished eating and one of my friends didnt even get theor food yet. One guy gkt his food before all of us but since he had to wait for us to get out food he ended up ordering $40 worth of sushi because of the time they sent out all the food. The udon took forever to come out compared to the sushi and an unagi rice. We had emty water cups and they djdnt come to fill it up. So we drank each others. We asked for seperate checks and the waiter bundled up 4 of us together. So we had to split the check up when we onl uhh had large bills. Also the gratuity was already put in which is understandable yet too high for their poor service. Udon was cold and the sushi was falling apart. Also the waiter knocked my pins on the ground and under the booth seat as well at rice and food from the plates on my jeans.
(2)Joyce M.
I love the food, but I feel like the service could be a bit better. Our waiter was kind and funny, but the problem was with the girl at the front table. We came in all happy to be there bc it was my friend's first time, but there was no smile on her face whatsoever. She didn't even say to follow her to our table.. Just. Nothing.. Hence the -1 star. That kinda killed our mood but the lovely service of our waiter along with the other staff made up for the unpleasant welcome. Oh, and can't leave the food out! Everything was delicious!
(4)Mayanne K.
I ate at Shokudo this year two times so far, and I'm already thinking of going back and getting the Mermaid Roll... The first time was lunch with a party of 6 on a Saturday. We initially had a reservation of 5, but we just asked our server if it was possible to add on another table or chair. He was very accommodating and explained to us that once the party next to us leaves he will push the table over for us. The service really blew my mind. I have never noticed the food or service as much before until that day. Our server (I wish I got his name!!!) was quick and smooth when bring us our food and taking empty dishes away. We ordered many dishes to taste the different dishes and to share with each other. I don't think you can go too wrong when you order any dish at Shokudo. Even their french fries have a unique touch! Or many I just really like french fries. The second time I ate at Shokudo (was actually the weekend after the first) I went for dinner with my boyfriend. We got in and were seated around 6:30pm. It was Sunday and there were other tables available around the time we went. However, it did get busier as the night went on. Once again the service was quick. We were seated, greeted by our server, offered drinks, the whole routine. After we ordered our food came out in a timely manner, about 15 minutes? I ordered the spinach salad and the mermaid roll, and my boyfriend ordered the chicken katsu. The chicken katsu was crispy and the sauce had a different, yummy flavor about it. I ate the entire mermaid roll.... it was perfect with the tempura and spicy tuna on the top. Past crunchy rolls I've had at other restaurants only have the tempura with chili sauce, so I was in love when Shokudo put the tempura and tuna together! Short version: If you haven't been to Shokudo in a while, like me, go check it out. They seem to be adding new items to the menu and even bringing certain items back by popular demand. You'll keep coming back for the consistent food and service!
(4)Elizabeth G.
I "discovered" Shokudo about six years ago. Since then, it's been a staple restaurant for me and any friends who come to visit me on the island. Although the menu has evolved quite a bit, they have kept all my old favorites: agedashi tofu, lobster dynamite, and unagi rice. There have been times that the servers have questioned if we will be able to eat all the dishes we order, but we always do! Of course, no matter how full we are, we have to save room for that Honey Toast! The original is still an old favorite, but the cookies and cream one has quickly taken a close second for me. Service is usually spot-on. Every once in a while, I'll get a server who seems to be really slow or confused, but this definitely isn't the norm. I do recommend reservations, but usually if I just show up and my party isn't too big, I'll be seated within 10-20 minutes.
(5)Shannon M.
This place is great! I always get the garlic shrimp rice bowl. Recently had the mochi cheese. It is delicious!! Recommend reservations unless you don't mind waiting. Honey toast is big enough to share... They only do the jr size during happy hour.
(5)Nikki S.
The last time I ate here the guy who was serving me named Reo he was fantastic the most accommodating I have had in a long time. The food was a bit over priced I expected more.
(4)Paul R.
Honey toast, please :) My last Shokudo visit was not so great to bad. We were celebrating my girlfriend's birthday and they lost my reservation, had to wait and extra 30 minutes to get seated, found a fly in my drink, and service was slow!!! But my overall experiences have been very good. BUT the wait is always long. This place is really popular so be sure to make a reservation, but pray they don't lose it :p.. Drinks: We started out with the cucumber and the lychee mojito. I ordered mine with shochu and it was so much better that the lychee that was in rum. The waitress was happy to have the drink remade with shochu. Grinds: We ordered the lobster dynamite. Creamy sauce with lobster chunks on top of sushi rolls. Its very good. And some mayo based japanese sauces can be a little too rich, but this has a good balance. We also had an order of salmon sashimi. Around $8 and comes with five pieces. nice cuts. Thicker than most places, and really fresh. Good pick. Last we had the chicken karage.. Not very good at all. Very plain. The same as many places, not as good, as most places. Wouldn't try it again.. DESSERT:!!! This last time we got their honey toast and its good, but definitely try the cinnamon honey toast. That little bit extra makes it so much better!! I could eat it every day!!! All in all a great place. Everyone should try at least once!
(4)Tracy U.
Couple of weeks ago my Sister in Law and I went to Shokudo for Happy Hour. Sat at the bar at 5:57 pm and the bartender said Happy Hour was over. Happy Hour ends at 6:00pm, not 5:57pm. The host are rude too. They asked if we had reservations , I said I tried to calling but no one answers the phone. Tried there again last night for late night Happy Hour. The Happy Hour Pal App said Fri and Sat HH 930pm to 12pm. So we got there at 11pm, the host are stuck up and rude. Asked for Happy Hour and they said they no longer have HH on Friday and Saturday nights. For a party of 2, the wait was 15-20 minutes. The place wasn't full, so we left.
(1)Skye W.
I have eaten at Shokudo's twice. The first time I was introduced to this place was with friends. We sat at the bar and took advantage of the happy hour menu. Everything we ordered was well-prepared, and came out promptly. As we began sampling more of the mojito flavors, we did begin to get loud and giggly. The person helping us seemed entertained and let us enjoy ourselves. It was an overall fun time. The second visit was a little more special. My husband and I, along with our daughter celebrated our ninth anniversary here. The waiter helping us recommended all of his favorites, from pupus to drinks. He let us look over the menu, brought us everything with perfect timing and made our anniversary memorable. Besides the honey toast, I recommend the tofu. It's divine!
(5)Jordan S.
I went here for my birthday dinner with my boyfriend and it was great! Service was fantastic, the food was amazing, and they gave me a free dessert for my birthday! There prices are fair but I'm a college student so I'm definitely going back for my next special occasion!
(5)Kristin I.
I normally am ok with Shokudo and would give them 4 stars, but this last visit didn't make me too happy so thats why this is a 3 star review. To start, the hostess was nice, she told us the wait for 5 people was a 40-50 minute wait, but if we wanted to, we could eat outside and get served right away. So we decided to dine outside. Our waitress was great, friendly, kept refilling our waters. We ordered maybe 10 minutes after we sat down. Our drinks took about 5 minutes to come out. A party next to us came after we ordered our food, and some how got their food and drinks immediately. Which i didn't really understand, they got beer, we ordered beer, they ordered sushi, we ordered sushi. They ordered warm appetizers, we ordered warm appetizers. So why were they getting everything before us? It took our food about 30 minutes to come out. I ordered the hikari fries, when they came out, they were luke warm. No one likes luke warm food. And my friends Garlic Shrimp rice was swimming in oil. It was just a buzz kill that we had to wait so long for our food, and when the food came out is was so-so or not hot. I think I'll have to try eating here again, maybe i can update my review next time.
(3)Brandon M.
Had a trainee named Miguel. Very attentive to our tables needs. Asked how my sushi pizza was and made sure our water glasses are kept full. He'll become a very good waiter and server
(5)Angela H.
Went in on a Wednesday night for some dessert. The wait was horrendous, so we decided to sit at the bar. I got the honey toast, and ordered some extra caramel (for $1)--I got a tiny dime sized drizzle. The dessert came out dry (and I have a major sweet tooth), so I asked for some extra honey on the side. The toast was very sweet and tasty--something I would definitely order again. My only gripe with Shokudo was the "too good for you" service--the hostesses were snooty and standoff'-ish, and the waitstaff seemed distracted. Overall, tasty dessert, but snooty, distracted staff. Worth it? You decide.
(3)Dave F.
Shokudo is a Japanese restaurant with a diverse menu and a nice atmosphere. But Shokudo is not the restaurant you go to if you want traditional Japanese fare. It's more of an Asian fusion type of place with fancy sounding names for sushi. If you want real sushi, go to a sushi bar that doesn't have California rolls and caterpillar rolls, etc. on their menu. If you want the fancy sounding names and the unusual combinations, come here. We ordered some standard sushi such as unagi, maguro, etc. They were average. We also had the tempura assortment which was good and the cheese gratin mochi, which I didn't eat and my dining companion happily devoured. It's just a thing I have with cheese on mochi... She thoroughly enjoyed it! The shrimp tempura and assorted vegetable tempura was light and crispy. We made sure we saved room for dessert so we could enjoy their signature honey toast! Now this dessert may be copied, but cannot be duplicated. The secret is the bread. As we all know, there are all kinds of bread... Different textures, doughy, all kinds. This dessert uses two extra thick slices of bread that is hollowed out, then cubed and toasted. The cubes are placed in the hollowed out centers, drizzled with honey and topped with vanilla ice cream ! Heavenly! I would come here just for this dessert! If you haven't tried this yet, please do. Then you'll know what I'm trying to say!!! Yum!
(3)Rain Greg J.
This place rocks!! The service was spot on!! The food was perfect. The menu is great, a bit of a twist on the standard Japanese favorites. Prices are excellent considering the ambience, quality, and location. It's a casual classy hip establishment. They have the best happy hour specials I've found. The gyoza comes with sauce so good we were dipping our sushi in it, we had to get another order! We had to try the sushi pizza also, it's so unique. It was very good a little hard to eat, but worth it. (We drizzled some of the gyoza sauce over the top.) Some gentlemen next to us ordered the tempura and it was beautiful light crispy, I could tell the oil is fresh, the batter is light they don't crowd it in the oil and it's not overcooked, which doesn't take long. We got there about 4:30 and it began to fill up quickly. I like the sushi bar being in the middle of the restaurant. We enjoyed watching them at their art. This place has it going on, give it a try, you will not be disappointed.
(5)Jovie R.
When it boils down to Japanese food (my fave), the more authentic it is, the better. The food here is ok but not the best. Ambience and seating is good, noise level above average. The food prep wait time was ok. The one thing that earned my high remarks was the customer service. Tonight we had the lobster dynamite, pork chops and strawberry honey toast. The lobster dynamite was a little too sweet for my taste, the pork chops (with katsup dipping sauce) tasted like home cooking. The smell of the food was great but the taste wasn't there. The honey toast and drinks were good.
(3)Jay M.
This is one of my favorite places to go for Japanese. Style lunch and dinner. This place is AWESOME!
(4)Melissa M.
Chad & Calvin are very courteous and give great customer service! Even though they know my boyfriend, they were still very helpful and I could see how well they do with other customers!
(5)Katiana N.
Love the Yukari french fries! Oh and ask for Reo, the waiter...thank you for the great customer service! !
(5)Brianna D.
I would love to give this place a 5 star but my server was horrible, took forever to give us a water refill and only checked on us twice. But all in all food was amazing as always definitely coming back hopefully with better service.
(4)K A.
People here are nice; excellent service; waitress tend to our needs; on point with the menu; food was bomb; too full to even have dessert; if it's your first time here, honey toast is a must have; lobster dynamite dip best appetizer ever it's another must have
(5)Denise L.
Yuzu mojito and fresh tofu the best ever. Friendly service. Go late lunch really early dinner there is no wait.
(5)Jill N.
Came here on a Sunday evening for happy hour with my boyfriend. We sat outside and I'm glad we did because it was so hot inside the restaurant. We had good service from the waitress who didn't mind us ordering practically everything on the happy hour menu and even reminded us to order the honey toastright before happy hour ended so we could get the cheaper deal! I wouldn't order the dynamite fries or ahi nachos again... all of the mayo sauce makes the fries/wonton chips mushy. The garlic shrimp fried rice is kinda pricey for the serving size but is definitely worth it :) overall, it was an enjoyable dining experience if you're looking to just kick back and grind some pupus!
(4)Rebecka A.
Honey Toast!!! Love love! Traditional is sublime; no need to worry about fancy additives like cinnamon. Ice cream + honey + buttered Texas toast = yay! I had a delightful cocktail here too. It looked like an aquarium with a Swedish fish, rock candy at the bottom of the blue drink. :D They have delicious milkshakes as well. When my friend and I were splitting an Oreo shake, they even brought it to us in two glasses. They have fabulous sushi rolls (Try the volcano roll! tempura-covered California roll topped with poke! Delish!) and the lobster dynamite appetizer ($10) is delicious-- very creamy, zesty sauce. It doesn't come with enough bread pieces, but you can get 7 more pieces for $2 or so. I think their outdoor seating area is new but haven't been there yet when it's open for dinner.
(4)Kelly M.
When I first came here I didnt see what the big deal was, but now Ive grown to love Shokudo. I always get the Garlic Shrimp Rice. Its the only thing I eat here but I hate when I have to freaking share! I see everyone sharing their food n shit n my cousin likes to do that when we come here but why?! I always feel like I need to order another Garlic shrimp rice everytime someone wants some of mine. I need one for sharing and one all for myself. Things that I do share are the Mermaid sushi roll and the Honey Toast. I never saw what the big deal about the Honey Toast was until recently when I realized you could order chocolate syrup with it. So now i just drench my Honey Toast with chocolate syrup and were good to go!
(5)Guy H.
Amazing every time! Volcano roll is a must! Come for the food, stay for the hot servers!
(5)Brandi-Nicole D.
The hubby and I have been here a bunch of times for date nights. Two of our favorites are the balsamic beef sushi and the lobster dynamite roll. We try to order something different each time we go. On our last visit, we ordered the chicken karaage, it came out within a few minutes and after we each took a bite, I found that the chicken was still pink(don't want to risk getting sick). It took 10 minutes to get our server to come back because she was busy with a bigger party. She exchanged our chicken for a fresh one, but no apology. As much as we love certain items here, our last experience will sadly keep us from returning.
(2)Jonalyn P.
I came here to celebrate my nieces birthday. Right when we got there it was packed. We had to wait a period of time because we had a party and we didn't make reservations. We didn't make reservations because we picked the restaurant last minute. Which was out fault. After I put our party down on the list, the hostess just seemed lost. She was sweet but she seemed pretty overwhelmed. For a fast past job like this I think you should always be on top of your tasks. When my table was ready the hostess told me to bring my party in... When I brought them in we were still waiting and a server asked us if we were on the list and what not. I answered the same questions that the hostess asked me to the server. There was no communication happening whatsoever. When we got seated we got a different server. She was extremely nice and tentative. She had a smile on and made us feel welcomed. We ordered several appetizers.. Such as the crispy calamari which was alright I had better and the chicken karagge which was tasty. The entrees we got were sashimi sampler which tasted off. It was tough and the fishy taste lingered in your mouth which to me seemed like they didn't clean it that well. We got salmon teriyaki which was very salty, and the chicken teriyaki which tasted better than the salmon but it wasn't to die for. Overall this place gets three stars because the food to me was kinda disappointing and pretty expensive for what it was worth but our server was extremely nice. It was cool to try this restaurant out but I don't see myself coming back anytime soon.
(3)Maxine C.
Yummy! I love shokudo! The food is delicious and goths prices are great! I have been here countless times and each experience has been nothing short of superb. My most recent visit is what prompt me to write a review. The food was to die for and the service was perfection. A particular gentlemen named keelan was helping us that evening. He was very nice and made our experience at Shokudo the best one yet. Can't wait for the next opportunity (or excuse) to get some honey toast :)
(5)Julie D.
I've been here many times. Recently been going here for their happy hour from 4PM- 6PM with friends. The happy hour menu ranges between $3-$5. We practically order everything on the menu. Under the $3 section my faves are the steamed gyoza, spicy tuna nachos, dynamite fries, garlic clams, agedashi eggplant, and honey toast. Under the $4 section my faves are the teriyaki chicken quesadilla and the ramen salad. Under the $5 section they have really good kim chee fried rice. The bombs and yogurt soju are super yummy as well. These alcoholic beverages are all under $4 too. Can't go wrong with that. DON'T LEAVE THIS PLACE WITHOUT TRYING THEIR HONEY TOAST. The last time we came here, they tell us happy hour is now outdoors. It's a good concept but it would help if there was some kind of shade. As we were eating, it started drizzling and it was getting into our food. Luckily it was drizzling instead of pouring or we'd be soaked and probably end up running out of this place without paying the bill. They have a private parking structure so parking won't be a problem.
(4)Jaq. M.
Look Yelpers, Shokudo is a staple in Honolulu. You can always get a table, and the food is clean and fresh. But disappointments are bound to happen as we are all only human. To mitigate the issues caused by human imperfection, I suggest you go to Shokudo with a list of menu items that are amazing. If you do this, you may find yourself jumping up for joy and running to your computer to write a review similar to this one. This review is inspired by my latest visit to Shokudo. It was nothing short of fantastic - my gastronomical mind was blown. It was really, really, great. See first paragraph. Here's how to have a fantastic experience: 1. Sit at the bar. 2. Ask for Carolyn to be your waitress 3. Order a mojito - any one. 4. Order the following things: - Lobster Dynamite Roll - Ume Cucumber Salad - Yuzu hamachi carpaccio - Kusai Kudusai Roll (A MUSTTTTTT if you love garlic!!!!) - Spicy Tuna Roll 5. Order a second mojito, if the food is delayed. No sweat off your back, because you're enjoying the cool A/C and conversation. 6. When your orders come out, close your eyes and taste the flavor combinations. 7. Enjoy!! Stay hungry, my friends.
(5)Jenna S.
The Hamachi Carpaccio and Spicy Char Siu with Scallions is super good! Those are actually the only reason I ever come back here. During happy hour be sure to try the Kimchi Fried Rice, it's the bomb. It's really savory and has shredded chicken inside. Those are really the only things I eat here, I don't like their rolls, and the other food is meh. The garlic ribeye and watercress salad is also good, just make sure to get it with rice and skip the wasabi mash. The honey toast is WAY overrated, yes it's huge, but really? It's not that good. If you want real honey toast go down the road to Izikaya Taiyro. I suggest getting the Tempura Bread Pudding instead!
(5)Jennifer N.
So yummy! I absolutely love the hamachi carpaccio and the ume cucumber salad. It gets a little loud if you sit on the left side of the restaurant. I enjoyed sitting on the right side more. You have to have the honey toast, which is very simple, but tasty. The tempura is light and crunchy and tastes of fresh oil, not stale old fryer oil.
(5)Sheylei B.
Sat at the bar while waiting for our table. Matt gave awesome service great bartender. Moved to our table server Chad was great as well, but our food took a while to come out. One of our friends got his honey toast before his sashimi, which was odd. There are a few things that I like there but the taste isn't as consistent.
(3)T N.
If you are looking for a quiet elegant Japanese restaurant, you are going to the wrong place. Shokudo is vibrant, young, hip and LOUD. Staff is efficient and friendly. Food is good and service is fast. They take reservations and it would be wise to make one unless you enjoy sitting outside for awhile.
(4)Rachel S.
The food was good, but the service was great! Our waiter bob, was excellent. We never went thirsty, he made sure our food came out as soon possible and he was quick to help us when we weren't sure about our selection. He also made us feel very special for being on our honeymoon. Thanks for the service!
(5)Rebecca R.
There were three of us who went here to eat for the first time. We ordered pop and beer to start off. After I drank less than a quarter of my pop, I noticed some type of black spot on the inside of my glass. Nasty!!! It wasn't pop. I don't even want to think about what it was since I had already drank pop to the point where my pop was emptied out below the crud. I said something to the waiter and he apologized and brought me out another pop, but it did take a bit longer than it should have for it to be replaced, all things considered. The waiter warned us ahead of time that food came out at all different times, however it was still odd to get our main entrees first and then our appetizer. And the appetizer took a very long time to come out. The waiter also never came back to refill our drinks. He was busy, but still could have checked on us more often. Service was very slow. The food was a hit for all of us. We had the special of the night - which was filet mignon chunks wrapped in bacon, with a side salad and some ginger soy sauce for dipping. The salad had an Asian dressing. The filet was some of the best I've ever had, it practically melted in your mouth. We also ordered the char-pork, which we didn't really like. It was too fatty and bland. We also had the tempura calamari and lobster roll sushi. Those were very good. The calamari was well cooked and had a good sauce on the side which wasn't overpowering. The lobster was fresh. We skipped dessert as we were all full. The dishes are a Japanese fusion style. The decor inside is art deco chic, with staged seating on one side and they also had outdoor seating. A bar separated two different eating areas. The noise level did get a bit loud as the restaurant filled in, but not overpowering so you couldn't have a conversation. The whole bill was $85 with tip. We have talked about eating here again, but unfortunately they will not have the bacon wrapped filet as it was a one night special.
(4)Emi H.
I had a Twilight moment. No, not vampires and man boys who turn into giant puppies, but a Yelp flavored, Alfred Hitchcock style flashback. You have now entered.... the Yelp Zone! (Enter Yelp style dream state) I'm in Shokudo, but I'm not in Shokudo? It looks like Shokudo but now there's a sushi bar and they serve omakase. We sit down for the whole nine yards and to our surprise here are actual Japanese sushi chefs who are delighted to serve us. And I'm not talking Japanese from Pearl City, I'm talking real deal from Japan. Awww damn. No way can this possibly be real. We do twelve courses of amazing nigiri which dance in our mouths. I clap my hands together throughout our meal and wish I spoke Japanese so I could tell our chef how happy his food makes me. We order the $15 sake sampler and down three different shots of rice wine which make me even more giddy with delight. But then I tell myself, wake up, this cannot be real. We have never cared for anything at Shokudo except for the honey toast. I pinch myself and yup, it's real. I poke the Japanese sushi chef in the forehead and he's really there. WTF? (I waive away the Yelp style dream state which is just from a fog machine because I like the production of my reviews to feel as real as possible) It's the real deal and I have finally found where I belong in Shokudo... at the sushi bar.
(5)Angel R.
This is one of my favorite Japanese fusion restaurant! First off the customer service is great. They treat you very nicely and always up to answer questions or give recommendations. My favorite things to order are Salmon/Unagi bowl, sushi pizza, and honey toast. Can't remember what else but these apparently are the ones that stick with me. The Unagi/Salmon bowl comes with rice in hot stone bowl topped with the fish. There's a dashi set (wasabi, chopped nori, and dashi) that is recommended with the bowl. You can ask then to put it in for you which is tastier than without it. The sushi pizza is awesome. Nori on the bottom (like a pizza crust), a layer of rice, and then pieces of jalapeños on pieces that you can take apart (like pizza sort of). The honey toast is what Shokudo is pretty much known for. There are different flavors, cinnamon, regular honey, chocolate, or strawberry. If I recall correctly, there's caramel too. I recommend the regular because it is not as sweet as the other flavors. Occasionally they have cookies n cream flavor. Anyways it's two huge slices of toasted Japanese type bread where the inside is cut out and chopped. The crusts house the chopped pieces inside while topped with two scoops of ice cream. Then it's drizzled with honey (or whatever flavor you ordered). I recommend shokudo to everybody! I also recommend calling for a reservation because this place gets really busy during dinner time.
(5)Allissa C.
LOVE this place! Food is wonderful and atmosphere is lovely. My only problem is that it's a bit warm... Every time we get a booth seat, I end up getting really hot. I definitely recommend the lychee martini! SERIOUSLY delicious! Sushi is yum, mochi cheese gratin is delicious. If you're after something creamy, anything "lobster dynamite" will hit the spot! Also, the home-made tofu is delicious! I believe they make it every 20 minutes! And of course, don't forget the honey toast! YUM!
(4)Kumi M.
Lunch specials are resonablly priced and tastes like authentic Japanese. Our server, Gabriel, was excellent. Greeted us, made suggestions, was attentive, left a little note on our receipt, and even went out of his way to open the door for us as we were leaving.
(4)Eddie A.
Decide to eat here on a weekday, eatting with a dear friend Lyna and the homie Joseph joel. Got seated in the corner of the dining room for a party of 3, hostess was the coolest to recommend drink that she drinks. Decor is still the same through the years that shokudo, wish they could renovate to make it more modern. Food quality is still up to par, which is good on taste and quality. Still got room to order honey toast, to end the night.
(4)Paige J.
BJ is the best waitress I've had in a while! Her personality was so welcoming and she recommended amazing entrees such as the amazing garlic rice! She got me in love with Shokudo. I'm definitely coming back because of her.
(5)Hayley K.
I haven't been here in a while and it was my best friends birthday so since she wanted to come here so I was all for it. I usually have a good experience here. The service isn't always the greatest, but the food never disappoints me. Well let me rephrase that... The service sucks when you have a large party, but when it's just two people the service is great! :) We ordered the bibimbap, chicken karaage, lobster dynamite roll, red eye roll, grape calpico, Orion, and some other beer. The bibimbap is awesome and I think I'll order that the next time also. Lobster dynamite roll and the red eye roll are the two sushi dishes we always get. She ordered the chicken so I don't know how it tasted, but she ate it all so it must've been good. I admit I will never order the grape calpico again. I usually love grape, but this drink didn't do it for me, I think I'll stick to my usual lava flow. I do remember they used to have this orange creamsicle type of drink, which was my favorite, but I'm not sure if they still have it. Then we had honey toast for dessert and this time I was not impressed. I usually love their honey toast, but not tonight. It was bland and not to mention it took FOREVER for them to bring it. I think they forgot about it because the whole night we had amazing service.... Just up until dessert time. Boo. Our bill came out to about $150. I think next time I would like to treat her to somewhere else. Oh well.
(3)Vivian L.
Me and my boyfriend loooove this place. But it can be a hit or miss when we go.. I usually get the tofu salad and eat that all to myself haha and share the dishes with bf. He usually gets the spicy tuna crispy rice and one of the stone bowls. -spicy tuna crispy rice is pretty unique but sometimes the rice is either really really over fried or just weird.. spicy tuna can differ depending on who's making it i guess because sometimes its just not spicy at all and other times it can make you cry. -garlic shrimp stone bowl is a bit oily but still good. -never have room for honey toast when its just me and him but when i go with a group the honey toast recently has been different.. doesn't seem like they put an effort into it now. ice cream ratio isn't enough. but still good. the service is also a hit or miss. sometimes its good (best server we ever got there was a guy named BUHBUH however you spell it haha). other than that most of the times check will come 20 mins later which is irritating. I'm pretty sure the hype made it extremely show over the years. other than that i think we'd still go but i see this places quality and service going downhill soon.
(3)Jenna L.
Hubby and I went here last night because we were out late and it was open! We ordered the spicy tuna nachos off of the late night $3 menu (they were tasty!) and then we had the sushi pizza, the mermaid roll, and kusai kudasai roll- with the honey toast jr for dessert. The sushi pizza wasn't bad, but wasn't really our taste. The rolls, however, were completely awesome! The mermaid was my favorite, but the kusai was pretty amazing. And my husband downed the honey toast- I barely got any for myself! All in all, we'll definitely be back!
(5)Amy Y.
My friend wanted to try the honey toast here. She's been craving it for a whole year. So we came here for dinner. There were four of us, and we wanted to share the food. We ordered three dishes (red eye sushi roll, mochi cheese gratin, and dynamite lobster). I guess those were the well known dishes mentioned on yelp. I really love the dynamite lobster. It had a mixed taste of sweet and salty. Delicious! The mochi cheese gratin was pretty good. Something new I never thought I would try. The red eye roll was not that special. It's like a regular spicy tuna roll. Finally, it's time for the honey toast...*drum roll*..I like the ice cream, the toast was just meh. Nothing special about it. My friend loved it. Our bill came out to around $40. I don't think we were full after that. The portions were kinda small for one dish that cost around $10 each.
(3)G N.
I selected Shokudo for convenience, my friend came in from Portland for work. She stayed at the Ala Moana Hotel and I work nearby. We had a lot to catch up on since it was 4 years since we last saw each other! We had a 4-hour dinner, the first 1-1/2 hours was spent talking. Our waiter was extremely accommodating and gave us all the time we needed to get reacquainted. Once our appetites got the better of us, we ordered the lobster dynamite, sashimi sampler, tofu, and the teriyaki chicken quesadilla - all excellent choices and all recommended! Dinner was very relaxing and enjoyable. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Leigh N.
First time visit to Shokudo this weekend to celebrate my BF's graduation from UH. We had a party of 10 and were seated in the private room at the back of the restaurant. Everyone was super comfortable with plenty of room to move around, mingle, laugh loudly, relax and enjoy each other's company. Menu choices are abundant and prices seem to be on par with other local Japanese restaurants. Hubby and I shared the "foot long" chicken katsu (average) , spicy tuna crispy rice (not very spicy and the crispy rice was similar in texture to a tater tot which was interesting) and Yukari fries (very salty). If not for being in the company of such wonderful people, I probably wouldn't have liked my dining experience here. Service wasn't horrible and the food wasn't terrible but nothing was outstanding. Don't hate me but that includes the honey toast as well. I wouldn't avoid going back to Shokudo in the future but I won't be rushing back either.
(3)Brittney K.
The food was alright for the price. Sashimi was chewy & sort of terrible- I wouldn't order it again. Service was ok- seemed unorganized (2 people tried to take our order). We had an entire bowl of ramen untouched & the server said she would pack it up for us, then that someone threw it out so they were making a new one to go- when we got home we realized it was the smallest serving of ramen- like two bites! Way to over-promise & under-deliver. Honey toast was nothing special & quite dry. We spent around $120 for 3 people and wished we had gone somewhere else.
(2)Greg S.
We had an amazing dinner here at the suggestion of friends who live on island. The hamachi carpaccio with yuzu lime is a must if you like sashimi. This dish just works, it's depth of flavor belying the simplicity of the ingredients and preparation. I had a gigantic breaded pork chop which was crunchy yet moist inside. My wife and I shared a couple of sushi rolls which were a little "fusion-y" but very well put together and delicious. And of course, the honey toast for dessert...think small shoebox sized loaf of sweet cinnamony pastry with ice cream. Service was truly great. We went in late on a Sunday night when the restaurant was absolutely packed, with no reservations, and only waited 5 minutes for a great booth in the middle of the restaurant. Our server Wade was perfectly attentive and friendly without being annoying. He was able to answer all our questions and offer awesome suggestions for our meal. It seems that they have a very professional and well trained waitstaff all around.
(5)Matt G.
This is the 2nd time I've been here. We had the Sushi pizza, spicy scallop roll, & vongole Udon. The rolls didn't have much flavor, but that's fine. The portions were pretty solid, but we came very hungry so we ordered the shoyu ramen at the end. Everything was delicious overall. Service was solid & food came fairly quick. We topped it all off with the renowned Honey Toast for desert. So good. Definitely recommend this place as a must-experience.
(4)Vince B.
2013 Update: We keep going back to Shokudo so I guess we really like it still. My daughter has introduced some of her high school friends to Shokudo recently. Now there is a new generation of fans getting indoctrinated. Ambience: Decor is still the same but it seems to be holding up well. I like the tables in the area that rises upwards. This is a simple but unique restaurant that makes the best use of its space. Food: We stick with the things that we like. Fresh tofu salad, pumpkin tempura, teriyaki salmon, garlic rice and sushi rolls. They still offer a special birthday version of honey toast if it is your birthday. Green tea iced tea was also great. Unsweetened and just the way I like it. These were all five star items on our recent visit. Quality, presentation and taste were excellent. Service: Friendly hostess seated us quickly. We had a reservation. Our waiter "Bu Bu" deserves the "Waiter of the Year " Award. Funny name but he was great. Friendly and helpful with lots of effort to ensure that everything was as nice as possible. I'm sure all the wait staff are not as good as Bu Bu. But, they are all excellent based on our past visits. When we left the hostesses and managers sincerely thanked us for coming. Service rant: We also had excellent service at the Kaneohe IHOP recently. I really wish the management at Roy's Waikiki and Sarentos Top of the I would send their wait staff to IHOP and Shokudo for inspiration and re-training. I'm getting tired of paying big prices and getting uninspired lack luster service. Sometimes it seems that the waiters have quit trying ...don't get me started!!!! Five Stars: Shokudo deserves it! Five Stars from me! We're coming back.
(5)Russell I.
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Hawaii. The salmon rice and the bibimbap are my favorites; I like how the stone bowl cooks the rice at the bottom, so it gets nice and crispy. And if you go here be sure to get the honey toast! The prices are a little high, but well worth it. Plus I enjoy the atmosphere.
(5)Kyle P.
My first experience here was great... Food was great, service was spot on. When I brought my girlfriend here we were told it would be a ten minute wait. Not even 5 passed by before we were seated, then graciously given water nearly immediately afterwards. During that first time I would have said it would have been a 5 star experience. Food was amazing, service was courteous and fast. Importantly the food came out in the order one would have expected. Appetizers first, then the main course, then dinner. This past time? not so much. The wait was still 10 minutes, although looking at the area I was confused as to why. The hostess said they had to clear some tables and then we could go in. Which was fine. Except that I saw that three of the tables were cleared already. So I don't understand why there was a wait? Especially for the two couples in front of us. In anycase we were seated within 10 minutes, but it took another 10 minutes for our water and then we ordered. I wasn't hungry so I ordered a tempura udon. Something small. My girlfriend ordered the Sakura roll and Ootoro, to which I added the fresh tofu which I thought to share with her. We were told there was no ootoro which was greatly disappointing to us since that was the whole reason she wanted to come to Shokudo in the first place... but we can make sacrifices for the food right? My udon came out fairly fast. Maybe 10 minutes after I ordered. The odd thing was that we weren't informed that there was no fresh tofu until another 10 minutes after my udon came out, and my girlfriend's sushi still hadn't come out. Regardless we chose another tofu selection and we continued to wait. Impatient and hungry my girlfriend picked off my udon, but noted that the noodles were kind of hard still (which is weird considering it was sitting in the broth for 20 minutes). So I tried some myself. I'm not going to pretend that I'm a noodle expert... but I can taste the difference between uncooked noodle and aldente (I cook all my noodles aldente at home) and this time it was clearly uncooked. Also the batter for the tempura was thick and uncooked in some parts as well. Anyway another 15 minutes passes by and finally the tofu comes out. Which my girlfriend devours immediately due to the long wait. Another 10 minutes passes and her sushi comes out. Now this is strange... because I figured that something like sushi would not take this long. 20minutes? ok. 45? That's a bit excessive. The only thing that was fast that night would have been getting our check and receipt. No apologies. No explainations of why it took 45minutes to get one roll of sushi. Just heres your check, hope you enjoyed your meal. Then left. We had planned on getting desert, but we didn't feel another possible 30 minute wait would be justified for what may or may not be what we expected from our previous visits (Which by the way the one before this they forgot to put in her order entirely). After this past experience I'm not sure that we'll be back. We used to have great memories of this place but it's gone downhill over the past couple years....
(2)Kody R.
Yesterday was our first time here, i was quite pleased with our expirience. There were four of us for lunch, kaleo, our server was excelent. He was attentive and very pleasent. We ordered way too much food but everything that we tried was great. Upon leaving we got a "thank you and goodbye from nearly everyone. Will def be returning here
(4)Eric L.
Sherri was very helpful. She recommended me the charsiu pork and the gyoza, passion vodka soda and the cucumber mojito. Loved it all! Thanks for a good dinner
(5)Jenny F.
After a bad experience here, I decided I needed to give my honey toast addiction a break. I tried to stay away, oh yes I did. I told myself, shokudo had broken my heart one too many times. But I just. Couldn't. Stay. Away. I came with an out of town visitor, and every single one of my complaints from last time was fixed. I don't know if it was just my server, but it seemed like the change came down from above (hallelujah!). My waiter was ridiculously attentive, and from the get go he explained that menu items will arrive at different times, and that they were running low on hot stone bowls so it would take about thirty minutes for one of those entrees. Saying all of that upfront would have saved them a from a less than stellar review from my last visit. He also unwrapped our chopsticks for us, cleared our plates as soon as we were finished with a dish, and always made sure we were satisfied. if that's not crazy good service, I dunno what is. I also think it helps if you're doing family style, so no one has to wait for their entree to come out. We got the dynamite lobster (which was seriously the bomb-badumching!), mochi gratin, and the tofu salad. I highly recommend the lobster and the tofu salad...their home made tofu is so silky! The mochi gratin was interesting...chewy texture, blend of Japanese and cheese flavors. The only reason I'd order it again is because it's so freaking intriguing. And of course, no night at shokudo would be complete without some of that honey crack toast. Yes please. Mmhmm.
(4)Phalen H.
Very nice dining experience. Our server was Bri and she was very attentive. Our food arrived in a timely manner and it was very good. The highlight of our meal was the cookies and cream toast dessert! Very good. We will return!
(5)Jenn C.
I came here during my stay in Hawaii with my stepmom, who is Japanese. She's a pretty harsh critic when it comes to Japanese food because well, that's where she's from and also because she's a fantastic cook herself. Needless to say, she was impressed with Shokudo's amazing food which is a testament to how delicious it is, and how amazing the service was as well. We ordered a lobster dynamite roll, the fresh tofu, and the dish with crispy rice topped with spicy tuna. We were so freaking full, but we kept on eating because it tasted so good. If you have kids and you're worried about them being rowdy, they have ipads so you can play a movie while theyre eating to keep their attention within the table. Kepe, the operations manager, did an amazing job of taking care of us that night and even spoke to my stepmom in Japanese because she doesn't speak English too well. Talk about amazing service! Same conversation in 2 different languages to accomodate both of us! I can't say enough good things about this place.
(5)Carly H.
9.1.13. A fav for girlfriend reunions, Shokudo has been a long time favorite of mine & my friends. This restaurant has been around for quite a while...so the dust in the restaurant is kind of thick--just don't look at those wooden hanging "curtain" things. Aside from that non-hygenic quality, everything else about Shokudo is fab! Parking: located behind the front of the restaurant; after you come here once, you won't forget. Stalls are marked for Shokudo customers. If you come at night just make sure you don't park past the marked level with the chainlink sliding fence or you might get locked in. Food: AMAZE!! Favs include Sukiyaki Bibimbap, Tofu Salad (tofu is homemade & SO delish), & of course the Honey Toast!! Service: always pretty attentive & friendly. Price: I would say it's moderate, but at the end of the night your wallet will say yikes. Atmosphere: honestly, I always feel like I need to be a little more dressed up to dine here. Still pretty casual with a modern feel. There are bathrooms that stay pretty clean. Mirrors are prime for girlfraaan pics haha. I love coming here for special occasions (e.g., Mother's/Father's Day, etc.) They will usually have a set buffet for those particular days & the food items will vary depending on the occasion. Make sure you call early for these special days; they'll give you a reservation time & you'll only get two hours. If you come here on normal days, I would also suggest making a reservation. I don't think there's a time limit during the lunch hour, as we weren't kicked out the last time...but I think they enforce one during the dinner hours--boo. Meh, you can weigh the tradeoffs for yourself. I know I will still be coming here :) Yelp 365 Challenge: #243/365
(4)Gray G.
One of my favorites! It was all the rage when it first opened a few years ago. Everyone had to get their honey toast. Still do! That's their signature. I think that's the main reason people go here. Of course for their food, but honey toast is just in the name. If they didn't have that they'd just be another Japanese restaurant. It's such a simple dessert that you can make at home but it's much better when they make it. Don't get me wrong, they have delicious food too! Hence the 5 Star rating. Go there and get the mochi cheese, or the tofu salad, and the garlic shrimp hot dish! Making me hungry just thinking about it.
(5)Amy F.
Shokudo...always a great choice! Had a yummy Valentine celebration with my sweetheart. Every thing is delicious! Oh, and need I mention the Honey Toast? A must have, even if you are stuffed! Yum!
(5)Yelp J.
We come here all the time with our kids, they offer IPADS for children to borrow, while parents enjoy their dinner..You just have to leave your credit card with them . [No charges tho] hmm..... Oh you MUST TRY the Lobster Dynamite. ONO!!! Honey toast too of course. and if you get there for Happy hour, Ahi poke nachos is the bomb!
(5)Kenneth M.
I was just there last week and the food was great. My wife threw my Yakudoshi party here and the service was great as well as the food! I would recommend this establishment to anyone looking to have some great food at affordable prices!
(5)Ariana M.
OVERALL: I like to eat at Shokudo with friends. It also makes a great place for a casual dinner date. I kind of feel this restaurant is a bit noisy. I noticed everyone's voices kind of echo's in here and can be a bit frustrating when you're trying to have a conversation. SERVICE: Service is usually good as well sometimes if its busy it can be a bit slow, but it's honestly not the servers fault when it's packed. THE GRUB: Lobster Dynamite: Lobster baked in rich creamy dynamite sauce (MY FAVORITE) Assorted Sashimi: Ahi, Salmon, Hamachi, Ika and Scallop Karaage Chicken: Honestly just like anywhere else lol Sushi Pizza: Backed sushi rice with salmon, scallops, crabmeat, and onions, cut into bite-sized pickled jalapenos Sukiyaki Bibimbap: Mixed rice with sukiyaki beef, kimchee, bean sprouts, chives and hint of chef's secret served in a sizzling hot stone bowl. Honey Toast: bread cut up into pieces and served with honey and ice cream
(4)George S.
Lunch review only. Sat at the bar and ordered the Shrimp Tempura Udon and hot tea. The broth had a balanced but complex taste. No need for sea salt or pepper. Noodles were thick and tasty. Shrimp was good as well. I will mark place for a future dinner.
(4)Stacey L.
Came here for some late night drinks so we didn't get a chance to try the actual food. From my understanding, the food isn't super authentic. The honey toast was delicious and the best honey toast I've had. It's also really cheap during happy hour (I think around $3 something). They also have some fun drinks to choose from! There's shooters for $3, and saketinis for $5 if I'm not mistaken. I really liked the Lychee Saketini. Overall a super fun environment for drinks+snacks.
(4)Col Y.
The two choice lunch Teshoku was yummy! As always, lunch prices are reasonable and was worth it! I'm stuffed
(4)Derrick H.
We like this restaurant. We had ordered 3 of the hotpots, the unagi, garlic shrimp and the bibimbop. All were very good. One person ordered the tofu salad and really liked it saying that the tofu was very soft and light. another person had the oxtail ramen which as usual, was very good. Our server was very nice and had come by several times to ensure that we were enjoying the food and re-filling our drinks. Again, the honey toast was a great way to end the meal.
(4)T S.
Customer Service was awesome, food was outstanding! Salmon was perfect, wasabi mashed potatoes were yummy.... But... Dessert was out of this world!!!
(4)Livé M.
So I wanted to give this place 3 1/2 stars but I can't select half a star so .... Well, anyway, you catch my drift. Not too busy tonight so our wait was only ONE hour instead of the usual TWO hour wait we're usually told every time we try to get a reservation for this place. So, it's our first time and I'll probably not come again. Not because I think it sucks because it doesn't but because It didn't really do much for me. The food was delicious, but it better be because how hard is it to make tempura or chicken katsu or California sushi or pretty much anything u haven't already tried at ur local sushi place or Plate lunch joint. I loved the lobster dynamite dip but soon realized after running out of the 4 little pieces of toast that comes with it, because some how they figured out that it was ok to have an off bread to dip ratio, where was I? Oh yes, the dip was too sweet! My lychee mojito was love at first sip! But then, fell out of love by 3rd sip. Again, too sweet! Which seemed to be the theme of all our food we ordered tonight which left me feeling like I needed an insulin shot or something. "The must try item is the honey toast" they said. So, because I knew I wasn't ever coming here ever again, I decided to try it even though I felt as though I would slip into a diabetic coma at any moment, and I thought it was ehh. It's exactly what it says it is, honey on toast with vanilla ice cream. Oh but the best part was...wait for it....u only eat the middle! Yes, the entire outter portion of this big beautiful concoction is unedible, yes I just made that word up, unedible if u will. So anyway, to make a long story longer, after wanting and longing to try this place for sooooooo long I finally did and it was just alright for me. The waiters were aca-amazing though. Service with a smile at its finest. Except for the the hostess,who apparently fell asleep during the service with a smile portion of orientation, she was unfortunately, serving attitude. In all, my experience at Shokudo was fairly pleasant. Domo arigato Shokudo but sayonara forever! Unless someone wants to come back, their treat.
(3)Al D.
I used to come here a lot but stopped a while ago. I visited again recently and sat in the patio area for the first time. The patio area is a good addition. However, the outdoor seating and tables appear a little dirty. The good thing about the outdoor area is that happy hour is served there, which is terrific because before it was only served at their tiny bar. Their happy hour is an excellent deal. I recommend the kimchi pizza, spicy ahi nachos, and dynamite fries. Skip the agedashi eggplant and the California roll. The honey toast is good too.
(4)Malia V.
Love this place! Always enjoy the food & decor. Love the honey toast (extra honey). Must try the udon, Teri queso, garlic shrimp rice, & the mermaid roll. Yummmmm!!!
(5)Camille B.
My first time here and the food was amazing! The prices aren't bad either! For the quality of the food you get, I don't mind paying. We ordered the spicy Ahi roll, spinach Salad, Udon, shrimp Tempura, chicken Katsu, and cookies and cream honey toast. Everything was delicious and came really fast because we caught them at a good time! Our waitress, Malia, was awesome and we were really impressed. I put 4 stars because the hostess didn't acknowledge me at all when I walked in to put our name for a seat, even when I came up to her. I had to say "hi" to her loudly before she even looked at me. I understand how being busy feels, but in customer service acknowledging your customers is a big deal.
(4)Gabie L.
It doesn't look like a "traditional Japanese sushi bar" but you never get disappointed. They have two different happy hour time (after lunch time & late night time) and happy hour price is quite reasonable (mostly, $3-5 menu). I expected food shouldn't be that good as cheap price but food was actually great! I ordered spicy tuna roll, kimchi pizza, and ramen salad and all menu was successful (especially ramen salad!!). It seems there are several individual tourists who go on trip by oneself so here is a good place to have meal for such tourists. At the same time, this restaurant is huge so it seems to accommodate many groups.
(5)Taylor W.
Chelsea was da BOMB!!!!!very attentive waitresses a chef this is my favorite spot to relax and unwind
(5)Daniel B.
I have not been in a while, but the food was the same. Tempura was ok, but I had the bento box which offered enough variety to keep me happy.
(3)Nakai96786 ..
Food is good but management is poor ate their once and will never go again the manager Sean is a douche. We had reservations at 8:00 we arrived early like 7:15 and my mom talked to the host justin and he said that he will let us know when our table is ready, let me remind you now this particular day was very windy amd very cold and 8:00 comes up and we notice that inside is packed there are no tables so me, my dad, and brother go into ask about our tables and theres a line and we see a family of 4 that just came in through the door and they IMMEDIATELY get seated and we're like WTF! And finally we talk to the host and we ask him what happend he tells us our reservation was at 830 and my mom tells us that this was the same host that told her 8:00 so we are there telling him that he was wrong and then he blames someone else tellin us that someone screwed up but yet he was the one who scheduled us. So then they get the manager Sean and he comes walking with his chest out all punchy and points at us asking one of the workers THEM? THEM? So we talked to him and he also makes some bullshit story about how someone else screwed up and we eventually just gave up and left becuz there was no way to get through them and he didnt offer us nothing like a free honey toast nothing and this was for my dada bday we almost got into a big beef with the manager sean was a prick and the host justin almost got lit up too. We will never go back there again
(1)Andrew I.
The lobster here is delicious. The honeytoast dessert is to die for. I would actually come here just to order honeytoast for takeout lol Thsts how good it is. The prices are really expensive though. So be prepared to break your wallet. It's like they say; You get whst you pay for.
(4)Faith C.
Our wait was about an hour. The service was AMAZING and the food was good yet too exotic. The SWEETNESS was too real. I really enjoyed the Virgin Lava flow which was delicious. The honey toast was very delicious and edible on the inside but the outside was not the best part to eat. But overall i love the style of the restaurant and the service, but the over SWEETNESS of the food made me feel like i was eating dinner and dessert at the same time. The Honey toast was a must order though because that what was recommended but like i said the inside way down is where the gold is and the only good part.
(3)Jordan S.
Alright, lets just get this out of the way: The Honey Toast is AWESOME. After you eat, order it and love it. It is big enough to share. Hell, the Honey Toast Jr. during happy hour is big enough to share, and in my opinion WAY better as it has a better Ice Cream/Honey to bread ratio. Now that we have confirmed the Honey Toast awesomeness, let talk about some other stuff. I've eaten here several times, it is one of our normal late night places. I have never been disappointed by food. Tonight I had the pork chop bites, and they were great. I have also had their foot long Katsu, also awesome, numerous kinds of sushi, and various other dishes; all good. I wouldn't come here just for drinks as their beer selection is limited, and really the drinks are nothing special. But for late night food, it is a great place to go.
(4)F G.
Was very disappointed with service. Our server was nice and polite however our food came out very fragmented and too far apart. We even got our honey toast and then wanted to cancel a sushi roll that never came out. Our server said no we can't cancel it was already being plated. That was not true because it still took 10 min to get it. Such a waste and just made the whole experience crappy. Food actually was good but the honey toast was not plated well - inside was cold and it looked messy. Overall the word disappointed comes to mind.
(3)Casey H.
Great for family style dining
(5)Johanna M.
A trendy spot with good food. They have a good sake selection and an interesting menu. The food is meant for sharing, so that makes it a fun experience. My favorite dishes here are the tofu salad and the agedashi tofu. They make fresh tofu in-house and it is really good. I never realized what a difference fresh tofu makes until I ate here. The unagi rice is also really yummy. They have a lot of other dishes that are pretty tasty. The service has always been pretty good too, which is nice because so many restaurants around town don't emphasize the importance of good service. I think it goes without saying that the honey toast is delicious and we always have to order it when we come here. It's a fun place to eat and we will definitely be back.
(3)William E.
This is pretty much an izakaya restaurant, and it's not #1 in my book, but it's great because it's open very late, it has a bar with some uniquely Japanese flavors (e.g. Yuzu), and..... Honey Toast! I've been here several times and never been unhappy. I'd say it's my #3 or #4 choice, which isn't bad at all considering how many izakayas are around. Almost everything on the menu is delicious, and I've tried almost everything on the menu. Food flavor and quality has been consistent and the service is generally spectacular. You'll often be waiting to sit, though, because it gets busy (and consider its location). Some of my favorite dishes include the lobster dynamite (dish), sushi pizza, anything hamachi, and just about any of their maki rolls. Parking can be found around back between Shokudo and Ala Moana, but there's some street parking around as well.
(4)Tyler T.
Nothing special, mainly just a young hip spot that's super hyped. Scenery is awesome tho, cool place to take a date, don't suggest the honey toast though, just buy bread, toast it, drizzle honey, and put some ice cream and pau.
(3)Larlar S.
This place is seriously overrated, especially on Facebook. Everyone has a picture at this joint, but there is nothing outstanding about it. I rate this restaurant three stars because everything is aesthetically pleasing, yet there is no umph to it. The honey toast is the most memorable dish because the presentation is beautiful. A tower of thick toast, drizzled in honey, and topped with a mound of rich ice cream. I always say, "WOOOW!" when I see it, even if it's going to someone else's table. I really enjoyed this dessert when I first had it. But after the second time, it suddenly became too sweet and kind of tiring. I recommend a GREEN TEA ICE CREAM HONEY TOAST. That would be amazingggg. The other dishes are alright. I am not a big fan of tofu, but their homemade tofu definitely stands out. Its creamy and soft consistency compliments their salads perfectly. The sushi pizza looks cheap, tastes cheap, and should be cheap. However, like everything else on the menu, it's overpriced. Bottom line: Shokudo is a place to be fancy and for this reason, a great place to hang out. This is one of the few places where you can dress casually or formally due to its fun and trendy ambiance. Also since the food is mediocre, you won't feel the need to stuff your face and talk with your mouth full.
(3)Yary C.
Love this restaurant. Our orders came separately wich it su@!!s cuz my boys where super hungry and it took a long time it was kinda slow. But food was great my kids love it!!
(4)M K.
I love this place!!! Flavored vodka sodas (lychee, yuzu, grape Calpico, blueberry just to name a few) to start with for the ladies. Favorite sushi rolls are kusai kudasai and lobster dynamite. Garlic shrimp rice in the Korean style hot bowl is a must. Don't forget the honey toast for dessert.
(5)Kelly U.
Their menu has so many different and creative food items to choose from! The mochi au gratin sounds so weird but is absolutely amazing. The only downside is there's always a wait and you have to make a reservation ahead of time and the service is just okay.
(4)Fern C.
First time at Shokudo last night due to the fact that I was tired walking around on where to dine. So instead of going to the Ward, it just happened Shokudo was right infront of us. Okay, let's try this Japanese place. So far, I'm liking their 3 layer/steps of seating arrangement already with a contemporary style design. Ordered the sushi pizza with jalapeno and long chicken katsu with Virgin Lava Flow. Ummm their selection of entree was only 4. First, I don't want to order the Pork Chop since I ate pork too much this week. Second and Third, the Salmon and Grilled Chicken Teriyaki doesn't entice me at all that night and Garlic Rib Eye Steak which I plan to eat steak at this particular place next week so pass for now. The only food I can eat that will fill me up would be Long Chicken Katsu. Nom! Nom! Nom! Errrrkkkk Wait!!!!! Why did I ordered Chicken Katsu when this is a local food that you can get everywhere??? Done!!! Let's go home. Let's come back here next time and concentrate on what's really good ordering at Shokodu. I have to read some of the yelpers and photo on what was really good here.
(3)Derek S.
Went to shokudo the other night after watching Theresa Caputo and it was awesome. Its nice to know that a good nice restaurant is still open at late hours. This time when we came it was a little busy so they offered us to sit at the bar and now i think we might sit there all the time. The Bartender provided amazing service and really catered to use which was really nice and always made sure we were ok. The Food is excellent. We got there during happy hours so we kinda ordered a lot for 2. but the one thing we must order every time we come in the Lobster Dynamite it's the bomb.com , the Steam gyoza was really good and the dynamite fries. we also ordered the Garlic Shrimp which was supper cool because the serve it in a stone bowl to keep it hot. If you haven't been here i highly suggest you give it a try, Lastly dont forget to order the Honey Toast. Sadly the ran out the night we went which has never happened to use. I think they were a little shocked on how busy it was. But its also a must order for dessert.
(4)Richard P.
My time at shokudo was fckin AWESOME!!!!!!! My server Sherri had the best customer service. And my food was great!!!! Besides the food I would give Sherri a 10 out 10 at this restaurant!!!!!! Because of her great service. I'm awesome!!!!!!
(5)Tasha N.
I LOVE their honey toast. Their sushi pizza is so so good too.
(4)Kuanoni K.
Popped in for a quick late night dinner. We were greeted by the hosts who showed us to our seats at the bar, where Wade served us. Wade was probably the best part of our experience, since his service was prompt, genuine and his company enjoyable. The food was equally satisfying. We ordered the Gratin which was rich and flavorful, and the charsiu which was marinated to perfection. All in all, we enjoyed the company, food and service and look forward to returning soon!
(5)Tammy R.
Great sushi. Nice outside seating and good drinks! BEST BANANA DESSERT EVER! OMG! Great drinks too!! Strawberry mojito!
(4)Gabrielle P.
Last night was the third time I came to this place. My first two experiences were spectacular, however last night was just TERRIBLE. I went with my friends and made a reservation for 5 people. They told us the wait would be around an hour, and so to pass the time we decided to walk to Taste Tea to grab a drink. When we came back to Shokudo, it was about 15 minutes before the expected time we would be called in. We waited and waited, and it already has been more than half an hour. Eventually the lady called my name to bring us in, but then told us we had to wait a bit because our table was "being cleared out". LIES- after another half hour, the lady comes out again but calls for another party to be seated. The party was for 9 people. 9 PEOPLE?!?! We were waiting for nearly 2 hours, and they just skipped us?! The lady told me that the people sitting at our table decided to stay longer. Maybe instead of assigning my group to an occupied table, why didn't you just put us at the table that you assigned to a group that arrived after us??? Also you shouldn't have told us that our table was "being cleared out", instead you should've just seated us at that other table you were going to give to the group after us!!! ----------------- We finally sat down after a bunch of people left. At that point, I already lost my appetite, but I still ordered sushi. In addition to the poor customer service, the waiter brought out only one plate for my friend. It was weird because she was the only one on the table who had food. We waited a while for the rest of the food to come out. This female waitress did a poor job of distributing my other friends' food ; two friends ordered shrimp tempura, but instead the waitress gave both plates to one friend thinking that my friend ordered two. Instead of assuming she should've asked if anyone else ordered for the other plate. I was the last to receive my food, and after I finished it I was not in the mood to stay for dessert. In conclusion, I feel that the food was mediocre and that the customer service did not surpass my previous experiences coming to this restaurant. THIS WAS NOT WORTH THE 2-HOUR WAIT.
(1)Tian Q.
Reuniting my tastebuds with honey toast box, one of my fave asian desserts, was a key mission in Hawaii. These things are supposedly easy to make, yet somehow hard to find in north america. I ordered the cinnamon and the oreo honey toast boxes because I couldn't decide. And the waiter just gasped and said good luck when I told him they were all for me : / I would've destroyed both of these forts of carbs if the oreo didn't taste like playdo. -Service, good -Lobster dynamite, great -Cinnamon honey toast box, loved
(4)Chanyle N.
I've been to Shokudo a handful of times ... And tonight me and my better half and my son brought my mother for the first time . It was a really bad experience today our wait was about 30somethinh minutes and our food took long and to top it off the food wasn't all that great. Service and atmosphere is great tho... Maybe it was just one of those days. Out of the 6 plates we shared we only liked one this time.
(2)Ray A.
Shokudo...known for the dessert "honey toast"and meets the standard of sushi to feed a barakuda...the ambiance is wonderful for the youth of the generation but sophisticated enough for a dinner date for the older scene...the menu is unique and the good is enough to enjoy...aloha until we meet again \m/
(3)Nicole S.
I haven't been to Shokudo in about 3 years and I seriously LOVED this place. It was sort of a ritual with my friends, we always had to go there for some honey toast! Mmm love that stuff. And after hearing people rave about the renovation I knew I had to go. So here's my run down of what we experienced. There is always a wait on the weekends, especially late at night. No surprise, and no problem. What really irritated me was the service. Maybe it's because I worked in the restaurant for about 4 years and well my standards may have gone up, but no matter the reason I felt service was slacking. The time between ordering anything and receiving was longer than I would have liked. Food came out sloppy and our lobster dynamite roll had way too much mayo (extremely overwhelming). Then we had questioned this seafood dish that we thought would be more of the custard type, server told us "yep that's exactly it" and placed the order. It took a ridiculous amount of time before we actually got the dish and to our surprise it was a SOUP. The look was hot water with steamed muscles placed to look nice. It was only finished because we don't like to waste. Whatever at this point, all I wanted was my HONEY TOAST. Eh, my disappointment for Shokudo is so much that I will not go back unless forced, or someone is treating me. Even then, I'll be kicking and screaming all the way to the door. I miss the shokudo that I went to 3 years ago.
(2)Santos D.
The food was great, as always, but the service was very much improved. Please keep it up.
(4)Melvin S.
I like this place--something different to eat outside on their patio area--good food, drinks, and ambiance.
(5)Linda H.
Really liked the variety of the menu. The crispy rice w/ spicy tuna is excellent. The honey toast was a nice treat to top the night off. Japanese toast with cookies n cream ice cream topped w/ heavenly chocolate. Our server Wade was very nice and accomodating. The 30 minute wait was worth it. Woot Woot Would definitely come here again. Would like to try their other dishes.
(4)Connie H.
Loved happy hour! Would def return. Parking is validated :)
(4)Laurie L.
We had dinner to celebrate my son being home from school. There was my son, daughter, her boyfriend, my husband and myself. We started with a sashimi platter and mermaid roll. Yummy and fresh! We also ordered a tofu salad, scallop bowl, miso ramen, and sukiyaki bi bim bap. Everything was excellent. For dessert we ordered the tempura bread pudding and the cinnamon honey toast. I wasn't too impressed with the bread pudding but the honey toast was good as usual. We had the best server that I've seen in a long time, her name is Robyn! As a disclaimer I would like to say that the sashimi platter and mermaid roll was on the house because they were making up for a previous negative experience that we had at the restaurant. It was handled very professionally and the general manager even apologized to us. That more than made up for the previous misunderstanding of our reservations. Even if we had paid for the appetizers the review would have still been the same. Excellent work Shokudo, we will be back!
(5)Mark M.
I can't even count the number of times I've been to Shokudo. I honestly stopped coming here a long time ago because I felt that the food and the service were slowly venturing downhill since they opened. However, I'm happy to report that after tonights amazing experience, I'm going to return with more money so I can afford to buy more sushi. We sat at the sushi counter tonight, and thanks to restaurant manager Justin, we experienced some of the most amazing sushi in recent memory. After a bit of small talk, he asked if we tried anything from the new sushi menu, and when I told him that we didn't, he mentioned that a lot of the fish came in fresh from Tsukiji. Maybe he read my mind, maybe I just look like someone who enjoys food, who knows. But when someone mentions fresh fish to me, I'm all ears. I ordered the hamachi nigiri and shima aji for us to share. I was blown away by the both the presentation, and more importantly, the flavor. Each two piece set was about $7, and that's an amount that I would gladly pay for again. After we finished the sushi, Justin came around again to let us know that the scallops were also fresh from Hokkaido. It was at this point that I knew he was psychic since I absolutely LOVE scallops. I put in an order thanks to his recommendation, and when we received the scallop sushi I realized it was so delicious I ordered another set as soon as possible. Those scallops were hands down the best I've ever tasted. Even better than the ones I prepare for myself. In addition to the sushi we also ordered the yukari fries, the footlong chicken katsu, and the balsamic beef tataki. Everything was great and it seems like Shokudo has once again found their stride. Our water was filled pretty frequently, and a lot of attention was paid our way to ensure that we were taken care of in every way possible. Many thanks to Justin and the rest of the Shokudo restaurant team for a meal to remember.
(5)Lina T.
For the short version: - Very busy place so make reservations two hours before your desired time or come after 10:30pm for Happy Hour - Must tries are Garlic Shrimp Rice and Home made tofu. - If you have room for dessert, try the honey toast! - Parking in a spacious lot behind the Restaurant For those who would like to read: I've been to Shokudo for a number of times. It's great since its open until late hours and serves great food. The downside of it is that Shokudo is very very very busy during dinner time. Sometimes waiting can get up to 1-2 hours so make reservations (I think they take it two hours before the time you want to reserve for). Or head there later in the evening, around 10:30pm which is just in time for Happy Hour! My favorite here is the garlic shrimp rice. Every time I come here, I order it and I never get sick of it. The shrimp, along with the garlic, chili flakes, maybe onions get cooked in a stone pot. They then put the rice and will mix it all up in front of you. It's also served in the same pot so If you let the rice sit, it gets nice and crunchy (but don't let it sit too long or else it'll burn). If you're a fan of the garlic rice at the shrimp shacks, this is a good alternative for you to try! A second favorite is the homemade tofu. It's soft and silky but not extremely soft that it'll break when you spoon it up. Along with it, they have two choices of flavorings. One is regular sea salt, and the other is kind of like a light, almost like a watered down soy sauce with nori. Both ways are very enjoyable. Some other dishes worth mentioning are the the Scallop Roll, Volcano roll (which is on the specials sheet), and the Sashimi Sampler. Everyone raves about the Honey Toast, but I don't find it that special. Its good but I don't go crazy for it.
(4)Pualena P.
It's a crime to live in Hawaii all your life and never eat at Shokudo until you're 25. So I won't admit that that was me. All I ever hear about this place is Honey Toast, Honey Toast, Honey Toast. So, naturally, I HAD to try it! Folks, the rumors are true...Shokudo's Honey Toast is to DIEEE for. Who would've thought?! Something so simple as a little bit of honey drizzled on two pieces of sliced pillow toast topped with vanilla ice cream...so simple, so delicious! But I have to say, I loved every part of the rest of my meal that came before the Honey Toast! I tried the Sushi Pizza, which was so clever and so yummy! Oven-baked sushi with rice, crab, and jalepenos on a nori crust. How innovative is that!? I've never seen sushi pizza anywhere else, and it was awesome! I think it's Shokudo's creative twist on Japanese fusion cuisine that really sets them apart from other restaurants in Honolulu. I also had their cucumber mojito, which was so refreshing! It didn't really taste like cucumber (for those of you who think that drink sounds strange) it just tasted cool, light, and refreshing. Mmm! :) The ambiance at Shokudo was really homey. I thought it would feel more "restaurant-y" but I enjoyed the comfy feel! Maybe it was because we were seated in a cozy little L-shaped booth, but I'll take it! The place was packed, but, to my surprise, the noise level was just fine and I didn't feel like I was having dinner with the strangers at the table next to us. I don't know where everyone else parks when they eat at Shokudo, but we parked at Ala Moana and walked over. It was about a minute and a half walk...and after all that Honey Toast, I was glad to have a little walk back to the car! :)
(4)Angela A.
One of my favorite places to go to here! I always have to get the garlic shrimp rice in the stone dish! super good! And of course the honey toast for desert. I've tried the cookies and cream honey toast and the original. Personally I enjoy the original more.
(5)Laurie T.
Held a birthday party for my daughter's16th birthday for her friends in the small room in the back of the restaurant. Our waitress Bri was awesome. She offered suggestions on the menu choices and was pleasant and efficient. The guests had a great time! We will definitely choose Shokudo again. Thank you Bri for a memorable experience!
(5)Matthew O.
Sherri was awesome! she was very attentive and made sure everything came out on time and correctly. she even left me the pitcher of water because I drink so much water in one sitting. she was friendly and made for a great atmosphere. if you ever come to Shokudo, you should definitely ask to be seated in her section. the food was great as usual but it's always the service that puts a smile on my face when leaving a restaurant. keep up the great work Sherri!
(5)Chris W.
Took my gram for her first time & we loved it! James provided excellent service & great suggestion on the volcano sushi! We also had the pork chop, Delish calamari salad & of course honey toast! The food was hot & great!
(5)Romel Y.
Setting: Didn't make a reservation. Went in on Sunday, 11/23 around 6:45 PM. Parking: There was plenty of parking in the back structure at this time so A+ for that :) Host/ Hostess: Went in the restaurant, there was a woman and a man standing in the front booth. Man was busy over the phone making some kind of reservation. Woman on the other hand was just standing there, smiled and greeted me. I stood there for a five minutes before any interaction started. Man hung off the phone and proceeded to help me. I told him it was dinner for two and we had no reservations. He was about to say it would be a 45 minute wait, but then found something and told me that it would take a few minutes to clean up the table, and we would be seated :) Waiter/ Service: This is where all the stars come in! Our server's name was Karlo, got a good positive vibe from him and I knew we were in good hands. I told him that we would start with a beer and pupus and don't worry too much about coming by frequently (I told him we were the mellow table:)) Karlo was awesome and super on it! He kindly addressed us with mam and sir which I thought was a nice touch. He also came by from time to time to see if our beer glasses were empty, and refilled our beers for us!!! He also explained and kept us up to date with the food, which I greatly appreciated! Food: Food was okay, pupus were edamame and fries. Fries were hot off the fryer which went well with the beer :) PROTIP: if you're on a date, be very careful with the fries, you might have some black stuff in your teeth lol. Unagi rice was good, I was surprise that they didn't include the sauce to make it soggy :( PROTIP: if your unagi rice sit in the cast iron bowl for too long, good luck chewing it! Sakura sushi was good! nuff said. Honey toast was honey toast. SUGGESTION: I find myself only eating the inside. Is there a way to just display the inside of the honey toast on the plate? I think it gets straight to the point and ice cream and syrup ratio could be controlled much easier. (at least make it available upon request). Overall: Expect to wait if you have a party of 4 or more during peak dinner hours. Take your time looking through the menu because some times they add new items to their menus. Last but not least, ask if Karlo is working! I promise you he is the best server in their. Great customer awareness as well as a very positive attitude!
(4)Beverly N.
I like going to shokudo. First time I went was to try to honey toast. Then all the times after that, I thought the food was ok. The sushi is good and fresh. My friend introduced me to the happy hour menu which I love, but what really grinds my gears is that you have to be 21+ to order happy hour.. which I dont understand? I have to be legal to order cheap food from shokudo?
(3)Jo Y.
My daughter, visiting from Maui, always has an agenda when she comes to Oahu. One of the things on her must-do agenda was Shokudo Restaurant, one of her favorite Japanese restaurants. Three of us had a light lunch there, knowing that we were going to have a heavy dinner elsewhere. It had been awhile since I had last been there, as I remembered how I wasn't impressed with the restaurant at that time. I was pleasantly surprised how much the menu had changed and how I enjoyed it more now. We went on a Saturday when it opened at 11:30 am. I was surprised that in a matter of minutes, the large dining room was completely filled. It looked like a swarm of vultures swooping down to get the tables that they wanted. I figured the restaurant must be good if it fills out this fast. Okay. A light lunch. Here's what we ordered: - Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi - seared prime rib beef slices w/ sautéed onions on top of balsamic vinaigrette-flavored sushi rice. The beef was sooo tender that it just melted in your mouth; the subtle teri sauce and seasonings made this dish a winner. yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… - Homemade Tofu Salad - homemade tofu drizzled w/ creamy sesame dressing & served w/ crispy won ton pi, nori, & mixed veggies. The tofu was soooo creamy & silky, the sesame dressing complemented the salad superbly, and we cleaned the plate so well that you could see it shine. This is one of my favorites. yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… - Mochi Cheese Gratin - mochi squares topped w/ mozzarella cheese & light soy dashi broth; baked & topped w/ green onions & nori. My daughter noted that quite a few Yelpers mentioned this dish in their reviews. It was different, and I liked it; however, the portion size of the mochi squares in the actual dish was less than the picture in the menu. Now that I know how it tastes, I'll pass on this the next time and try something different. yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… - Honey Toast - thick Japanese white toast cutout & cubed, drizzled w/ honey, sprinkled w/ cinnamon, & topped with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream. Shokudo was always known for this, as I remembered having this a long time ago. We ordered it again so that I could remember why I liked it. It's unique, and it tasted good, but it's an overload of carbs w/ so much bread. It's a dish I could make on my own - just get the Japanese loaf bread, toast it, cut out the inside, top w/ 2 scoops ice cream, & drizzle w/ any sweet sauces. I'll pass on this the next time and try something different. yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… I wished we could have tried some of the heavier dishes, which will have to wait the next time. Other diners were ordering heavier dishes that looked very appealing: lunch special teishokus, yakisoba noodles, and ramen/udon dishes. The lunch specials were very reasonable in price. The large open dining area was bright and cheery. We sat in the middle of the dining area, with a huge impressive glass panel partition that offered some privacy. The Japanese words "Shokudo" (which translates to "dining room") were printed in white with red background on the glass. yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… Eye-catching blinds were used against the huge glass windows of the restaurant facing the street. They looked like small board planks from kamaboko fishcake dangling in rows and columns against the glass panels. Of course, we had to ask - were those boards actually from the 6 oz. kamaboko that you buy in the markets? We were told that although they did look like the kamaboko boards, they were not; and that they wished they were because it would make a good conversation piece. So much for our appreciation of art. yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… Wait service was very attentive, probably because we were there when the restaurant just opened. I can imagine how hectic it could get during the prime times, knowing that people have waited up to an hour or more for a table. Will certainly go back to try other items on the menu. Great place for lunch, dinner, or happy hour. Another favorite restaurant for Maui visitors.
(4)Amanda Joy C.
I'm a regular at this place, and I didn't think I could love it anymore than I already do. My sister and I were finishing work at twelve in the morning and wanted a quick meal before heading home. We didn't know it was open till 2am on Saturdays! How awesome? Not to mention our more than friendly server Grant. He was so polite and attentive. Made the experience that much more enjoyable. Awesome job!
(5)Lisa T.
Ah Shokudo..it seems you either love it or you hate it. Me? I'm leaning more towards never eating there again. The food is okay which is why I gave it an extra star. But for service alone, it would get 1/2 a star if possible, but we'll give it 1.. A few of my coworkers love Shokudo, so we often go as an office to celebrate events and have lunch together. We make our reservations in advance, but it seems every time the day of the event, something goes wrong with their management. I think we are fairly organized despite having quite a few of us, which includes getting our order faxed in to assist the restaurant; however apparently it messes up their kitchen. Sorry for trying to be helpful... The food is okay...I liked their stone pot bibimbap which is mixed in front of you. The bento boxes are also a good portion of food. And of course everyone orders the honey toast which I find expensive considering it's large pieces of toast drizzled in honey and filled with ice cream. It's good...it's a nice ending to a meal, but wish it didn't cost so much. The waitstaff was okay although after our meals were served, they seemed to disappear...had to wait a bit before I was able to receive a water refill...and it took about 30 minutes for our honey toast to arrive after half our party left... Ah Shokudo, your restaurant is nice, but the service needs some fixing. Will I be coming back anytime soon? Not likely...but if they manage to improve their service, I think I'd be willing to give them another try.
(2)Destiny F.
Dined here spontaneously on a friday night with my Bestfriend and sat at the sushi bar. I have to say for as busy as it was Desmond our server was always on it! I definitely reccomend the mermaid roll & the spicy ahi roll both were amazing!
(4)Kelli O.
As a regular customer to Shokudo, there is high praise to be shared for the impeccable service by Matt the bartender. He is always very friendly and easy to talk to, even when he's busy manning both the bar and tables. I return time and time again, to enjoy both the welcoming atmosphere and the delightful agedashi eggplant and garlic edamame. Not to mention the delicious drinks Matt makes - lychee mojitos anyone? :) In addition, the other waiters and waitresses are just as friendly as Matt... special shout out to Chelsea who always makes my friends and I feel like her favorite customers whenever we come in (even if she isn't our waitress, she'll stop by to say hello to us at the bar!).
(5)Lisa D.
My boyfriend and i had dinner there a couple of nights ago. Super delicious food! We had miso butterfish, marlin poke, seared boat scallops, fried eggplant - in which we had to order a couple bowls of rice, o-toro sashimi and ikura nigiri. SUPERB!!! We also had Lichee martini's and a glass of red wine. The only reason I'm giving it a 4 star and not 5 is because our waiters personality was pretty flat.
(4)Tracy M.
I've been coming to shokudo for at least 5 or 6 years now, and I've loved the staff and food. However, we went on Sunday, January 12, 2014 and EVERYTHING was wrong. Started off before we even got there. Tried to call nights in advance to reserve a table for a party of 8. No one answered...for any of our multiple calls. So we chanced it and went anyway. Thanks to the new patio seating outside, we scored a table outside. But the host sat someone else at the table we were saving because our entire party wasn't here AND took us off the wait list since we were already seated outside. So our 40 min wait turned into an hour and a half wait. Once inside, we were STARVING. We let our server know from the start that we needed separate checks. I ordered spicy tuna with crispy rice with extra jalapenos and a garlic steak medium. Our water took about 20 minutes to reach our table even though SEAN DAVIS (our server) kept proclaiming how "awesome" he was while taking our order. When my steak finally came out, it was well done, tough and horrible. I didn't send it back because I was too hungry. Our server did not really check on us, so we had to flag down other servers to order dessert. When we got our check, it was one big check and our server asked us to mark what we ordered ourselves. Whyyy? We asked for separate checks from the start! Then I noticed a $1 for extra jalapenos (there was 6 slivers and I was being charged a $1?!) No big deal, but throughout the years, I had never been charged, and my "awesome" server neglected to mention that there was a charge. Spoke to the manager about server's inventiveness, surprise dollar charge, and other annoyances of the evening. My dollar was taken off and we weren't forced to tip. When the server brought back our checks, he had the nerve to tell me "We took off the dollar for you, I mean, it was only a dollar. Wasn't really a big deal." Wooooowwwwww. Worst service ever at Shokudo. Topped off with horrible, overcooked steak. VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE.
(2)Mele R.
May 11, 2014 Mother's Day dinner buffet..worst customer service from the GM and a male manager (who did not have a name tag). Seating took long even though we reserved early and arrived early (we weren't even aware of the seating arrangements they had even reserving as early as beginning April); buffet ran out of food and was not refilled in a timely manner. After speaking with a male manager about the issues, his option to us was to leave without charging us for the food we had already eaten (which was nothing because they ran out). What kind of service is that to a mother on Mother's day?! And due to auto-grat, the tip could not reflect the poor service, that was the final insult to our night.
(1)Grendo G.
Busy as hell! Always fast. Food is amaze. I know it's odd but for me I don't care for the toast. I do love the house tofu salad and the sushi. The bar makes good martinis. This setting is loud and young crowd mostly. If you need quiet and calm this ain't the place for you.
(5)Ikaika K.
I like the family style dining, a bit more pricey for our entire family but occasional visits are ok. The food is good, but I wouldn't say great. I wouldn't go here and wait to eat. It's not that great. But during lunch when its a bit slower, I'll drop in for a lunch meeting.
(4)Jennie C.
It was my 2nd time eating here. Not disappointed with both experience. Tonight's experience was really good. My cup was always full of water. Customer service from the waitress was really good. She took time to explain the menu and didn't rush us to order. She made me feel comfortable. The food was really delicious. My friend and I ordered the sushi pizza and the lobster dynamite. They were so good. The piece of chili pepper on each piece of the sushi pizza surprisingly wasn't hot. It was just right. The lobster dynamite was true to its name...it was dynamite. My main meal was the bibimbap. It was served in a hot pot and it stayed hot the whole time I was eating it. It was a lot too...couldn't finish it all. I had to save room for dessert. Dessert...the best part about any meal. My friend and I were actually planning to get their signature dessert, the honey toast. But when our waitress told us about a dessert not on their menu, we were more attracted to it...the tempura bread pudding. That sounded really good. We both ordered it and we weren't disappointed. It wasn't sweet, and the sauce was a little tangy but blended so well with the bread pudding and vanilla ice cream. This one is highly recommended. Overall, my experience was really good.
(4)Lexi L.
Hinone Mizunone was my Shrimp Tempura go to place until I found Shokudo. Right across from my doctors I kept saying I need to go one day but never did. Boy have I missed out. Finally went to try the tempura and a glass of wine - out of this world. Have been back multiple times, and finally venturing out - have had the most humongous Chicken Katsu - delish, the Calamari Salad - equally delish, and most recently the Spider Roll Soft Shell Crab Sushi and Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi. I usually go alone and sit at the bar and make new friends. Had the California Tornado come in one night - a bunch of guys from California with an Expense Account - they ordered up tons of Sake. Shared my Chicken Katsu with them. Do you think they shared their Sake? Hell no. No good deed goes unpunished. But okay since there was so much Katsu no way could I eat it all. Better for my waistline too. It can be hit or miss there with the staff - I've been miffed as they don't like to sit one person at a table, and always pass me off to the bar, but heck, the bartenders are great and they get my huge tips instead of the table wait staff.
(4)Mark P.
Came in yesterday for lunch pretty much right when it opened. We got greeted promptly by our waitress (Bri) who also sat us at our table. The food was great and so was the service. Bri quickly offered us a new table after realizing we eat like pigs and couldnt fit all our food on the table. Lol. But we managed on that table. The food came out very quickly. I dont know if its becausr you just opened for the day but the service was outstanding not only by our waitress but also the other one too...i didnt get her name. Very attentive.
(5)Charue P.
Just order! Everything is good. My only disappointment is that my stomach isn't big enough to order everything on the menu in one sitting.
(5)Diane K.
Be sure to make a reservation during peak dining hours or you and your party will be waiting for quite a while. Everyone raves about the Mochi Cheese Gratin, but I wasn't impressed. However, I thought the following were GREAT pupu-style picks: - Ahi Tataki with Garlic Chips - Yuzu Hamachi Carpacchio and my absolutely favorite Shokudo dish: - Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice For dessert, their Honey Toast is indeed a great choice. You'll be surrounded by tables with these thick slices of toast. I'm always amused by the remaining toast crusts. There's always a small chunk missing, most likely left behind someone wishing to savor its honey goodness only to be met with bland, honey-less disappointment.
(4)Jenny A.
The ambience in Shokudo was very nice, along with the decor. The food was good - I ordered the Lobster Dynamite Roll and my boyfriend got the Udon with Sukiyaki and Steamed Gyoza. Our waiter was really nice, he helped me decide between the Lobster Dynamite Roll and Volcano Roll. The LDR (lobster dynamite roll) is basically a California roll, with the lobster chunks and lobster sauce on top. The roll seemed cold, but the lobster sauce was fresh. If you don't like the mayonnaise-y taste too much I wouldn't recommend this dish. It was too much of one taste for me. Or you can get it, and just share and get different things because I wasn't fond of the same mayonnaise-y taste over and over again. the steamed gyoza was okay, just use tons of sauce for flavor. Without sauce - not much flavor. The udon was chewy, and very filling. The honey toast was good. I liked eating the bread chunks with the ice cream and honey, but I didn't really eat the crust.. I wish they offered the mini during dinner not only happy hour. I also didn't like how we got seated all the way in the back next to a loud teenage party, because we made a reservation... so shouldn't we get nicer seats that aren't all the way in the back? That's just my opinion. Other than that, I liked the food.. A little pricey... but it's okay. I'm actually gonna try their happy hour dishes, so expect to see a review on that later!
(3)Tiffany O.
First time ever eating here but it was amazing! Went with friends and my best friends family for dinner on a Friday night. We got their back room and had amazing service the whole night. It was quite busy when we arrived but as we had reservations we got right in. We had the back room for our large group and was told we would only have 2 hours to be there but I think we were there longer. The service was fabulous considering how super busy the place was. We had kids in our group which was not a deterrent to the busy staff who treated them really we. Everything we ordered from the char-su pork, mochi cheese gratin, ribs, fresh mochi, shrimp fried rice, etc was so good. We ordered a lot of plate for everyone to try which worked out fabulous. The mixed drinks were great as was the japanese beer. If you haven't tried it you have to get their dessert honey toast. Something totally different and quite tasty. Recommend making reservations when you go as we passed by a few other times and they always seemed to be really busy. Great for dinner but also happy hour.
(5)Joseph M.
The most recent addition that I love about Shokudo is their happy hour on Monday through Thursday 10 pm to midnight with $3, $4 and $5 selection of clams, sushi, jr ramen, jr honeytoast and a lot of other selections with their menu items. Always a great place to eat, talk stories with friends in a great environment in Honolulu
(5)Kristine C.
I was very excited in going here for my very first time. But I have also been told that this place was not good. I am quite stubborn and thought to give it a try anyway. My girlfriend and I wanted to come here for happy hour. So we went to the bar and the chef at the bar stated the half side of the bar is only if we are ordering sushi, so STRIKE ONE. My friend and I decided we would sit at the seating area next to the bar with a high couch because there were no seats left at the bar where you can actually have happy hour. So we sat down and we were are suppose to be meeting two more people and we wanted to take the high stools from the bar that were not being used. But the host stated we are not allowed to "steal" (he actually said this) bar stools to be used on the high tables. He stated "technically" the high tables were only used as a waiting area and is not a dining area. (STRIKE TWO). Plus we are not allowed to have happy hour in their regular dining area (STRIKE THREE). To me, that was too many rules for someone to break that's visiting there for the very first time. So we've decided not to give them business. The only good part is they validated my parking, (they get one star for that. YAY!) Otherwise I am so happy not to have dropped a penny on this place. NEXT!..
(1)Taylor K.
I'm never disappointed whenever I come here. The most recent visit our server was Sam. He was so kind and accommodating. We didn't have to wait for our food for too long because he brought each plate in a timely planner. There wasn't a single moment where I wondered when our food would arrive because he made sure that we were happy and eating. As for the food I do recommend their Lobster Dynamite Roll, Raging Tiger, Ishiyaki Loco Moco, Sushi Pizza, and of course, their Honey Toast! I also love getting their Virgin Lava Flow or Green Tea shake now and then. You get more than what you pay for here.
(5)Tiffany O.
I don't know how many times I have been here, but for some reason, even though the food is overpriced and overrated, I always seem to come back. First of all, the wait is a big NO-NO. If you have to wait for Shokudo, not worth it. Always make a reservation. Parking is right behind the building, very convenient. I feel like I've tried almost everything on the menu. But after their renovation, they added a sushi bar, and a small separate sushi menu. I like their Mermaid and KusaiKudasai Roll! Very flavorful and overwhelming. Before, I used to go just for the Honey Toast, but after a while only on special occasions, when my stomach can handle it, we get the Cookies n Creme one! I think that's what it was called... I always wanted to try the Cinnamon one though... (I think).... As for their drinks. I just tried their Yuzu Vodka with Honey and it was a big NO-NO again. Their Lychee one is good too! As well as their Mojitos! Also, their Lava Flow is delicious too~ :-) They now have an outdoor seating, but I've never seen anyone out there, except when waiting for indoor seating. Other than that, the interior is lovely, which is why I seem to always come back!
(3)Kari G.
Carolyn was fabulous! We sat at the bar for my birthday dinner and had so much fun! She was quick at our orders and remembered everyone's name. I loved that:) Wonderful food and service! I highly recommend her and Shokudo!
(5)Andrew K.
Make sure the host/hostess get you on the wait list if you're a walk-in. My sister and I checked in with the host tonight and were told to expect 45-60 minutes but the wait could be shorter. Gave them our name then headed back outside. We then waited and watched as all the guests there before us and then nearly all the guests who had come after us were seated. We figured it was a combination of guests with reservations and lack of two-person tables. We had been waiting 50 minutes at this point and found it suspicious that everyone but us had been called in. I went in to ask the host how soon we'd be called in and turned out he forgot to put our name in. We got a 'sorry' and were promptly seated right next to the server station. No comp on anything, I guess because we didn't wait longer than the prescribed time. But still to know that my party was lost in the shuffle and forced to wait maybe 20 minutes longer than we should have wasn't a good way to start the meal. At least our server Aaron was attentive and personable. Even though the spicy ahi was lacking in the spicy ahi roll, agedashi tofu and house tofu salad were delicious finds. But not even the honey toast was worth the Disneyland-esque wait.
(2)R M.
My husband and I were looking for some place to eat on Christmas Day, everything near us on the Leeward side was closed. The closest thing to decent dining was Zippys but we wanted to try something different. SHOKUDO WAS OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY! we were happy that a good restaurant was open. We ate there for lunch. Very busy on Christmas Day 2013, I suspect because it was only one of the few restaurants that were open. Great food. Had a custom order of 2 cooked Salmon for $6.00, a Salad, and a few items from the Happy Hour lunch menu. Reasonable prices and fountain drinks came with refills. Very nice ambience and they seated us in a good booth so that our Son's stroller would not get in the way of customers.
(4)Kristy A.
Tonight was my first time at Shokudo. After a long day at work I was rushing to make it on time for our reservation. I was a few minutes late and although they were booked up they graciously sat me even though our whole group hadn't arrived yet. I apologized to our waitress Chelsea and she was very pleasant and did not make me feel bad at all. She was accommodating and when we asked for recommendations she was quick to give us her suggestions and favorites! I appreciate great customer service being in the retail industry! Shokudo is very fortunate to have Chelsea on their staff!! Also, not to mention the food was delish and the honey toast was just as I was told....amazing! I only wish I could have are more, but I was stuffed!
(5)Bobby l.
Love this place when I visited. The thick toast is the right texture and they put butter and honey on the toast. Add ice cream and toppings, you've got perfection! They have happy hour and birthday specials
(5)Brittney N.
I come here a lot and the service has always been good, but last night was just not what I expected. I came at around 10:30pm on 6/25/14 with a couple of friends wanting to the do the late night happy hour. We were seated promptly at the right side of the restaurant next to window on the bottom level next to a party of four. (I will be detailed as possible because I don't know what the waiters name was. Tall asian guy.) He came to take our order and I asked about the happy hour. He simply said that it's on the other side of the restaurant. I've heard so many good things about this happy hour and it was my first time trying it out, so I was asking him if he knows about any tables that are open. He basically said that he doesn't do tables and we can wait for either the bar to open up or for a table. Then he proceeded to say that if we're not at the table we were seated at, then he will assume that we went to the other side of the restaurant for happy hour. He told us to think about it and left. He didn't offer us any water or anything. It felt as if he didn't even want to deal with us and didn't even try to help us out with another table. I get it, it's late and you want to go home and not deal with any customers. But you were with us for like 5 minutes and you didn't even try to help us out. His attitude just prompted us to walk out and leave. It's okay though, we can spend our money elsewhere.
(2)Dylan P.
I usually come here with friends or family and service is great, but tonight was terrible. Our Waiter, Davis, took a while to refill drinks and didn't read back our order so while my party all received their food and finished, I waited a little over an hour for my food to come. I had to flag a waiter to speak to a manager. My meal was on the house which was the right thing for the manager to do, but tonight's service was ridiculous. If I didn't flag down that waiter who knows how long I'd be waiting. When receiving the check, for my entire party of 5, they still failed to take out my "on the house meal" on the check. I've never had to complain about this place before.
(3)Graham H.
The food and drinks were good, the service and atmosphere weren't the greatest though. Service was a little slow and the semi-dated pop music they played definitely deteriorated from the mood. The banana flambé stood out and the pork chops, gyoza and shrimp tempura were decent but nothing special. Do yourself a favor and get the lychee mojito. Trust me. Just do it. Eight bucks well spent. The house sake was overpriced and definitely not worth the $5 for the tokkuri. I've had better Japanese for sure but the drinks were what made it worth it. I'd go again just for the drinks.
(4)Dean L.
Really good place to eat if you have some money on hand! Friends and I got here at around 9:20pm and the wait for a table was only 10 minutes! It might have been because everyone else was at Punahou Carnival or something, but the wait isn't bad at night if it's always like this! The Char Siu is a must for people who like salty pork! Sushi pizza is always good too. Just like what everyone else is saying: THE HONEY TOAST IS A MUST HAVE. My friends and I all got one to ourselves and it's literally the best dessert ever. If you want to see my vlog about it, check it out here! (The Shokudo part starts at around 5:39) youtube.com/watch?v=TLzJ…
(4)Natalie P.
This place has been on my visit list for a while now and it finally happened. We decided to do the HAPPY HOUR from 4-6, on a Sunday night! When we arrived, they told us that in order to do happy hour we had to sit at the bar so we said sure why not. We got to the BAR AREA and the seating was actually really comfortable...except having to occasionally glance at the person across from you. When we sat down we were greeted by Heidi, who throughout the night was supper nice and helpful. We looked at the happy hour menu and proceeded to ordering: FOOD FROM MOST FAVORITE TO LEAST FAVORITE: *Steamed Gyoza ($3) - the sauce makes this dish supper delicious *Spicy tuna nachos ($3) - these nachos are truly tasty *Cali Roll ($3) - supper good *Spicy Tuna Roll ($3) - ok *Chicken Quesadillas ($4) - ok, but could do w/out this dish When it was time for DESSERT we asked about the Honey Toast Jr. ($3) and she said it was was big enough for one person so we each ordered one, when they brought them out I was surprised at how big it was, we could have definitely shared one. The honey toast was good, but it wasn't great, I guess I was expecting french toast so when I bit into the bread and realized it was dry it hit me that it was toast! The overall experience was awesome, great service, food and prices! I love happy hour!
(5)Andrea L.
Came in with two of my friends around 10:30 at night. Came in and was nicely greeted. Our server was really nice. It was one of my friend's first time there so he asked our server the well known items and he knew what exactly what they were and how good they are. Food came in pretty fast and our server always checked up on us, so that's a plus. And love the music they play as well. LOL.
(5)Christopher T.
I love their food! Especially their Honey Toast! Parking is easy to find! The only downside is the amount of you might have to wait for coming in when it's busy, but that's your fault for coming when it's busy anyway. The service is good, but the foods better with an amazing price. I'm always confused what to wear, because it seems formal but people come in pretty casual, so I'd say just put shoes on and a nice shirt and you won't feel weird.
(5)Jasmine N.
Went for lunch today to celebrate our birthdays and was disappointed. The chair was wet, the server totally forgot about us and didn't even offer us anything for our birthday. Even though I've seen people with honey toast birthday cakes. Just meh. The only saving quality is their mochi cheese gratin.
(2)Kris S.
Mediocre Japanese restaurant that my daughter loves because of the honey toast dessert.
(2)Sara N.
Yes, please. Closest thing I've came to that is actually sushi. The menu is extensive with so many things to choose and priced very well for the lavish decor and upbeat setting. We were seated immediately thanks to bar service. If you plan to keep it less casual, MAKE RESERVATIONS. The wait was around 1.5 hours if we chose to sit in the dining area. One more thing- lychee martini. That was the tipping point that had me rating 5 stars. I WILL be back.
(5)Erni M.
Tuna was some of the best I have had anywhere. They have a very full menu that would please a lot of styles. Pretty good selection of Sake as well. Red Eye Roll I would highly recommend.
(4)Mar M.
It was a 5 restaurant until dessert. It wasn't that it was bad, but they were running a special which was 3 layers of honey toast instead of 2 for twice the price. Our server, while sweet and very helpful otherwise neglected to inform us of the difference in price and size. We ate the garlic scallops and rice, omg it was so frickin' awesome! The miso something salmon, it's on the new menu, was amazeballs! It was perfectly cooked and a great compliment to the rice. The rainbow roll we, I emphasize the we, because if I'd eaten all of this myself I would have popped like Mr. Creosote! Anyway, the rainbow roll while excellent paled in comparison to the other dishes. Finally, thank God, we ate the house special, the honey toast. It was good, but not 15 dollars good. It consistes of essentially a loaf of thick cut Japanese bread toasted, cubed, and mixed with scoops of ice cream. Sounds crazy, but nice. A classy place resorting to nickle and diming customers seems out of character. Otherwise great food, great service and nice atmosphere. Will definitely go back but will double check the specials before ordering.
(4)Annie L.
I'll admit, I was never a huge fan of Shokudo- unless there was a party there, I wouldn't go out of my way to frequent this restaurant. Surprisingly though, Shokudo has surprised me in the past few months, and is now a place I quite enjoy.... For those of you who don't know, Shokudo now has a sushi bar. Although there are only a few seats, the sushi is actually pretty good- EXPENSIVE, but yummy. I'm actually waiting for their patio to open up. Shokudo is expanding their waiting area outside into a HAPPY HOUR patio. I've seen their benches and green walls up for some time now, and the hostess told me that they'll probably be opening that up within another month. Shokudo's HH and late night is a really good deal, but due to the limited seating at the bar, it's a bit tight to get a seat currently. Hopefully after the patio opens, it will allow for more people to enjoy HH. After all, they have a LOT of beers on tap, and with discounted food items, you know you'll see me there!
(4)Ezra G.
I am definitely a fan of their Honey Toast. & I love that they now have seating outdoors. The vibe there is always great. Customer Service is always great. Although they've gotten my orders mixed up or took long with it, I am not an impatient person. Especially when I have my daughter, I am quite patient. They are always courteous. Parking structure is quite small. DO NOT BRING YOUR TRUCKS TO PARK IN THEIR STRUCTURE. FIND STREET PARKING. Their food is good. Not so great BUT for their price it is good. Their HONEY TOAST is what I ALWAYS get. Yes, I did get to the Honey Toast part. Shokudo is famously known for their honey toast so I do recommend that you do not miss a chance to get that at Shokudo.
(4)Gabriel T.
Dining at Shokudo is always da bomb of a good time, well at least for when I go there. I went here a few times with friend, co-workers, and colleagues and stuff. It's conveniently located right near the Ala Moana area on Kapiolani Blvd. on the intersection of where First Hawaiian Bank is and Mahukona St. It's a great place for dining for a special occasion or just pay hana kine dining. The staff and customer service is good. The prices are decent. We dined here a couple times with my dance crew and the accommodations where good all around. I believe if you have 14 people or less your group is eligible to go in that back private room area. If you have more than 14 then you get accommodated more in the back and they just combine and tables and stuff. I always like dining in the back room though more than the outside. As far as the food goes my favorites are the any of the udon noodle bowls and soups. The pupus, I like the edamame, french fries, chicken karaage, mochi cheese gratin, and gyoza. Their sukiyaki bibimbap aka loco moco is pretty unique. For any of the rice bowls, they mix if right in front of you which is pretty cool. For the sushi, spicy tuna roll, sushi pizza, lobster dynamite, and spider roll are winnahs. The dessert favorite is always the infamous HONEY TOAST. You can order it with various flavors (chocolate, caramel, cinnamon, etc.) I like to get it the original with just ice cream and good 'ole honey. In regards to the Honey Toast, I just want to say that it is very unfortunate that there is the common practice of people always just eating the inside of the Honey Toast and leaving the outside out. I mean that is completely understandable since you know, people are full from their entree meal and what not. It is also understandable that the crust is too hard to chew and stuff and it takes an extra effort to just eat it. With those two things said, out of respect to the Honey Toast, at least try to attempt to eat it. It is almost like eating bread or a sandwich and leaving the crust out. To solve this honey toast problem and somewhat unjustful practice of eating the honey toast, here is one solution. When you get the honey toast, order an additional side of honey on the side, and get at least an total of 3 scoops of ice cream on top of the honey toast. If you are worried about spending that extra money, don't worry you won't regret it when you eat the honey toast, trust me. The way I see it, when people eat the honey toast, the ice cream and honey to accumulated and ingested into the middle of the honey toast which contains the bread balls and rolls which is pretty much the meat of the honey toast. That's the part where everyone eats. As people are eating the honey toast, little do they know they end up wasting all the ice cream and honey on the meat, failing to properly distribute the ice cream and honey to the crust as well! The ice cream and honey is what make and aids the honey toast. When it is gone, all that there is left is just crust and breading and pulls all the fun out of the honey toast. So that my friends is the reason why you must order ADDITIONAL HONEY AND AT LEAST 3 SCOOP ICE CREAM. and I'm done.
(4)Tracey O.
This used to be one of my favorite restaurants but it has gone down hill! The food was disappointing and uninspired. Even the mochi cheese gratin, which was my favorite dish there, didn't taste as good. With so many great japanese restaurant, I would not recommend this place anymore.
(1)Justina B.
Very unique spin on sushi rolls. I thought the taste of the meal was okay but will make a point to try different dishes next time.
(3)Jason W.
First of all, the menu is quite pretty indeed. The ambiance is also pretty awesome! The food fares well and the prices are decent for what you get but... Shokudo didn't really stand out to me. It reminds me of one of those solid athletes who has the right stuff in different areas but has not yet put it all together to take it to the next level. I hear the Happy Hour is the bomb-diggity so I'll check that out before say 'Shootsdenkbe' to this guy but for now, it's a bit of a'ight. Didn't live up to the hype but they got the main things right.
(3)Crystal S.
I love coming to Shokudo because of our server Sherri! She was so outgoing and knowledgable about the food and drinks she serves! She is now my new best friend! The food here is great and the drinks are delicious! I highly recommend coming to Shokudo and asking for Sherri!
(5)Terry K.
Yelp Challenge 365 # 91/365 Other than sushi, Shokudo dishes are stable up through their Honey Toast. You will not be disappointed with any of their dishes. A definite no fail in my humble opinion is their luncheon teishoku. The main course will vary by the day but it is served with a nice salad, miso soup, rice, some niimono and their main course. For the price,it can't be beat and the best? Flavor and preparation of the food always consistently good. If you plan to visit in the evenings go early. Their happy hour has $5 appetizers and great beer specials. They are busy! It gets even more crowded as the evening wears on.So if you are unable to stop in early, be sure you have a reservation. Shokudo is one of the handful of restaurants that have opened, remains open and remains consistently good. By the way, you can park in the building and if you're after hours, you can park at the First Hawaiian Bank Parking lot across the street. There's always Ala Moana Center for parking as well. Parking is my biggest gripe and concern whereever I go and on this note, Shokudo gets a thumbs up
(4)Mari M.
One of my favorite restaurants. The decor is nice, but they're so DUSTY! Don't want no dust bunnies in my dynamite lobster roll, which I order every time I go there. I also get the cinnamon honey toast if I'm not too full. I gave 4 stars because of the cleanliness and the place feels so crowded. Not so much that the place is packed with people, but the tables and booths are so close together that I feel like I might accidentally poke my boyfriend's eye out with my chopsticks. There's always a wait time when we go, so get there early before the rush. Service has been great so far, can't say we've ever had bad service.
(4)Kay M.
Called ahead to make a reservation since I had a fairly large group and I know they can get pretty busy here. When we arrived I was surprised to see that they had a private room waiting for us! Which I thought was very kind. The food was great like always and our server Matt was AWESOME!! Yes their food is a little pricy, but it's well worth it considering the high quality taste, great service and nice atmosphere. Highly recommend!
(5)Lehua K.
We loved everything we tried. From appetizers, dinner and deserts. You have to try the HONEY TOAST, my nephews loved it...
(5)Vikéndios N.
Got a chance to go back and eat at one of our favorite Japanese restaurants in Oahu. Made advanced reservations and was impressed that they re-confirm with you the day prior. I guess it's needed because it was super busy even at 9pm. While the service was still excelent, the newer items we tried weren't that great. Not sure if prices went up but damn, it's pretty pricey! We got seated in the bigger part of the restaurant in the "comma-shaped" booth this time, not on the tiered side which is where we first experienced this place. It was definitely louder but was fun to people watch. FOOD: Menchi Katsu - Saw this listed on the chef-recommended menu. Its ground pork, beef & egg mixed together and breaded with panko, then deep fried. Comes with wasabi-infused mashed potatoes and a small watercress salad. Pretty much tasted like a meatloaf katsu. Not being a fan of wasabi at all, I was concerened about the mash. Waiter said you can hardly taste it. It was the total opposite. It was pretty green! Not recommended. Lobster Dynamite - A California roll topped with the lobster dynamite mixture. It was okay but not great. The topping didn't taste as rich and sinful as a dynamite sauce should taste. It was a little dry and a bit bland. Red Eye Roll - Spicy tuna roll with a sliced tuna on top. It was good but not the best spicy sauce we've tasted. Loss of 1 star due to the 3 new foods we tried that were subpar and high(er) prices on certain dishes. Our favorite dish still remains the sukiyaki bi bim bap, which we had again.
(4)T P.
It really makes me sad to write this but this place has gone down. I was reading through the reviews and I was also there on the 7th of December and I had the same rude encounter with the hostess. Unfortunately she is that way all the time . It's almost like the people that come there to eat are a bother to her. Anyway, this used to be my favorite place but the lack of quality in the service has ruined it for me. They have a really good happy hour but when it takes forever for your food to come out and when it does come, it's cold (which usually means that the server left it on the line too long) it ruins the experience. Now on to the infamous honey toast. It's a wonderful creation but the last couple of times that I ordered it the ice cream was melted and the toast was cold. Maybe if this place replaced the staff members that are substandard they could make a come back!
(2)Julie N.
Oh wow I didn't review this place yet? I've been coming here for years.. it seems as though a lot of the young crowd come here now. Maybe I'm just getting old.. ha. Love the honey toast.. what a genius invention! The sushi rolls are not bad. I enjoy the soft homemade tofu and the unagi hot rice bowl. I love how they mix it up at your table too! During lunch, there are lunch boxes, which are awesome! I actually like coming here for lunch better.
(4)Alice C.
Eversince they've reopened on Black Friday, I swear I've been here 4 times within the past 2 weeks. Does that say anything to you? I've been strictly trying the different sushi on their new sushi menu. I've had the: Tiger roll yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… Kusai Kudasai roll yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… Volcano Roll yelp.com/user_local_phot… Amaebi - I love love love amaebi. It is sweet shrimp (Try drinking beer after taking a bite of the sushi, it enhances the shrimp taste) yelp.com/user_local_phot… The deep fried head that comes after is completely edible yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… The rolls come in 8 pieces. For me, one roll is pretty filling. Don't get me wrong, I still love their original menu but I've just been so excited for their new items. I also enjoy their very friendly staff. I've had many different servers within the past visits and each and everyone of them are so friendly. They even come by often to refill drinks. All to make the visit more enjoyable. This is my new late night spot. :)
(5)Janelle D.
The food, the drinks, the wait staff- everything is excellent! They get very busy, especially for dinner, so reservations are highly recommended. I am addicted to the lychee mojito with shochu- I went back twice in a couple of weeks just for that drink! The food is delicious- mochi gratin, crispy spicy ahi sushi, and lobster dynamite are my favorite! The honey toast is a must have! The wait staff are attentive and friendly. Our waiter, Bob, is the best ever! He gave us suggestions, off the menu specials, and told us about the half order honey toast (which I never knew existed). He was so personable and nice! We love shokudo and try to go there as often as we can! Parking is convenient and free with validation.
(5)Hope Y.
I would've loved to rated higher, but the hubs and I went to lunch during the week, and service was slow and disappointing. It was his first time there, so I was excited for him, but after getting our mochi cheese gratin and fries, we waited...and waited....and waited...for our tempura and lunch box. The manager came by and said he would check on it, but i'd say we waited 20 minutes for the tempura box set, and the side order of tempura didn't come, so we cancelled it. As always, the tofu was amazing, and the box set was big enough to serve us both. If it were on food alone, they'd get the 4-5 stars, but add in service, and they were just A-ok.
(3)Amanda A.
Well I've only gone here because my sister and boyfriend love their sushi but I've gotten full off their food anyway. I'd say this isn't exactly a Japanese restaurant, more of a restaurant that serves Japanese-ish food. They have their special sushi rolls but they also serve things like chicken karaage, chicken katsu, tempura, gyoza, fries, etc. I do like their hot rice bowls but they can get a bit too oily. They heat these bowls up and then throw in either shrimp or salmon and then let it cook then they throw in some rice and mix it all up for you. The ambiance and overall vibe of the restaurant is nice, which is probably why the wait is always like 45 min to an hour. If you have a party of 6+ then I suggest putting in a reservation. And what they're really known for is their honey toast which is toasted Japanese sweet bread that has honey drizzled over it served with a scoop of Vanilla ice cream. I hate seeing people waste this because they think they can eat the whole thing by themselves. To me, one honey toast can feed up to 4 people. The prices here are also on the higher end so this is a once in a while type of restaurant.
(3)June K.
Love it here! We tend to pick Shokudo for it's excellent happy hour menu. And when you come during happy hour, there is no wait! My favorites from the happy hour menu are: ramen salad, ahi nachos, and honey toast! Of course I need an ice cold glass of Kirin to wash it all down. The regular menu is quite awesome too. We always get cheese mochi gratin, sushi pizza, tofu salad, unagi bowl, and honey toast. The service is always great and timely. Getting into the parking lot is difficult. I drive a truck and the entrance is a tight squeeze. If you come at dinner time, don't bother looking for parking. You'll have better luck at the mall. The ambiance hasn't changed much since the restaurant first opened, but it's modern and not bad on the eye. More recently, an outdoor section was added, so we'll check it out next time when the weather isn't bad.
(4)Marifer S.
4 stars instead of 5 because of the small portions in addition to a pricey menu. Good place to go to for occasions. They also have happy hour but the menu is very limiter. They're sojus are delicious!! And Honey toast crunch for dessert is a must!!
(4)Stephanie T.
Make a reservation if you plan to go for dinner because otherwise the wait can be up to an hour. Luckily I had made reservations earlier that day and was quickly seated when I arrived. They were pretty slammed the night I went for dinner, but as usual it was worth it. Our waiter was very kind and made sure to check on us and apologetic when it took him longer than expected to get to us, but still provided great service to us. We ordered beer, Kirin and Echigo, both which are very smooth and tasty. For food we had the clamari tempura as a starter, the spicy ahi crispy rice, ahi sashimi, and bi bim bap hot stone bowl. The bi bim bap came out very late after we had finished all the other food so we were stuffed by the time it came and only had enough room in our stomachs to fit in a couple bites. We boxed it up and took it home though. I wish I had room for some honey toast because that is one of my favorites, but it just wasnt happening this time.
(4)Wendy S.
All food here is yummy! Just make sure you save room for the dessert. You HAVE to eat the honey toast! If you just ate, you can probably share it between 2-3 people. They no longer have the shave ice, but hopefully one day they bring it back :-) Speaking of shave ice. The service here is sooooooo excellent! I brought my kids in to have dessert and when my 3 year-old son found out that there was no shave ice, Wade (our server) made him an icy drink in the flavor that he wanted! OMG! Give this guy employee of the year for going above and beyond! 10 stars for making this potential meltdown dining experience into an experience that will make my son keep wanting to come back!
(5)Nicole M.
I think the best time to go here is late at night - no wait and no need for reservations. All I need is the honey toast and fries!
(5)Jennifer Y.
Went with friends last Wednesday, and although we had to wait forever for our table even though we had reservations (hence the four stars), we were otherwise happy. Since it was the night before Valentine's Day the place was decorated with cut out hearts, which was cute. Our waiter, JT, was great and so funny! He really made the experience a great one. He guided my friend and her boyfriend as to how the restaurant worked because it was their first time there, and was a really nice guy. He checked up on us throughout our meal and when one of our dishes didn't arrive, he apologized and got on it right away. Speaking of dishes...we ordered pork gyoza (two plates), lobster dynamite roll, spider roll, spicy tuna roll, teriyaki chicken quesadilla, and noodles (a friend of mine ordered that for herself). I LOVED the lobster dynamite roll, pork gyoza, and quesidilla. Another friend was being a hog and didn't share her spider roll even though we were doing family style haha! JT told us that there was a special honey toast fondue dessert that was only available until...Saturday I believe. So we ordered one of those, and an original honey toast. Both were SO GOOD!!! For the fondue there was chocolate fudge in a little pan, heated with a candle, with some other chocolate sauce in a saucer. The food to dunk were mini marshmallows, cube rice krispies, bananas, honey toast (of course), and gummy bears. On both desserts was a big helping of vanilla ice cream. Again, SO GOOD!!! Overall I enjoyed my night out. The highlights were everything that happened after our long wait outside in the crisp air. I'd like to go back again and just order the lobster dynamite roll. Good stuff.
(4)John N.
Shokudo is one of those restaurants that feel really old school but has caught up with the times. Not only their food has been progressively updated, they are insightful enough to keep their best food on the menu. Loves: Honey toast - If there is only one food I can eat at Shokudo, I'd skip everything and go straight to dessert. Honey toast is HEAVENLY! Unagi Rice Bowl - Served in a hot stone pot and is very addictive. Rich flavors of the unagi and stone rice combine into some kind of superhero of foods. Salmon Rice Bowl - If the unagi bowl is too flavorful for you, check this dish out. It is much lighter than the unagi bowl and still taste just as good. Service - Attentive, fast, and friendly. All you ask for really! Not so love: Sushi Pizza - Not sure why but not my cup of tea. I know many who love it though. The wait in line - The place gets really busy so it isn't so uncommon to wait 30 minutes at least to beat seated. Parking - The parking structure is very tight and doesn't have enough stalls on a busy day. Overall, with the new renovations and menu, Shokudo is poised to become an even better restaurant. Hopefully they evolve more and also keep their favorites like they have been doing. 100 Reviews, 1 Day 16/100 January 12, 2013
(4)Mitzi D.
This review is only for the brick toast. The combo was yummy my only wish was for the bread to be a little lighter and less dense. The restaurant itself could use a good scrubbing. Looking around there was a dirty floor and a layer of dust that was pretty yucky to look at.
(2)Kim S.
Honey toast still a hit! Inspired others to order it despite being stuffed from dinner. =)
(4)Jennifer L.
I have been to Shokudo twice now, both times with larger parties. Last night we were there with a group of 12 and the restaurant was very busy (obviously on a Saturday night). My thoughts on the food: the menu is insanely long. Like, if you are an indecisive individual, you will need a xanax before you order. Way too much stuff. That being said, the items that I have tried have been pretty good. Fish is fresh, lobster dishes are well cooked, and the honey toast will make you feel like a mythical beast. So good. Our waiter last night was named Matthew and HE was a treat. Very attentive and handled our large, loud group like a champ. The world needs more Matthews. Overall a good experience. Comfortable with a nice atmosphere. Except for the paper lamps that hang way to low and seem to have it out for tall people.
(4)Lei N.
I can no longer say, " I've never been to Shokudo", cause after today (January 10th) I've already eaten lunch here! I was going to take the bus here but I caught a ride with a friend instead. There was traffic!!! Next time we've got to leave more than half an hour early. Getting to Ala Moana area we parked around the back in the Ala Moana Pacific Center. For the longest time I thought this building was ATTACHED to Ala Moana Shopping Center itself... yeah I was wrong. Parking area are for the restaurants and whatever other business they have in this building. I had made a reservation the day before for five people at 11:30 a.m. and since we were late and our reservation was under my name, we had the other person in our party to grab our reservation/table. We had a table towards the front. The interior of the restaurant didn't seem fancy, the ones towards the back were. Some pieces of furniture looked cool that I wanted to look at them a bit more closely. There's a bar area as you enter through the doors. I liked the booths (which lined the walls away from the front entrance); though it does look like it's meant for two. Ha-ha. Our waters, chopsticks, napkins and menus were already waiting at the table. Since I hadn't been here before our waitress, Molly gave me a run through of their popular dishes and what she recommends us doing by sharing amongst ourselves, etc. etc. She even asked what we wanted to have out first which was the sushi and work to the individual ones. What I got to sample: Homemade Tofu Salad - Gail ordered this one. I am not a salad person! But we had plates and she started mixing the salad up and distributing to all of us so I had to eat. I liked whatever made it crunchy. A lot of tofu, gross. It was all mushy especially after she mixed it all up. The shoyu added flavor to it. I don't know what it was but I liked it. Maybe if there was less mushy tofu. Learned from Gail that Shokudo makes their own tofu. Mermaid Roll - It was listed under "New Sushi" and caught my attention as we looked throughout the menu on what we wanted to order. This is one of the only times I would eat shrimp. Nothing special though, just sushi. It was like a combination of Crunchy Maki from Ninja sushi with spicy tuna. Miso Soup - This came with Gail's bento but she didn't want it or didn't like the taste of it so she passed it on to me THOUGH I was trying to save room for some honey toast. It tasted different from other miso soups I've tried before. Tokyo Shoyu Ramen - By the time this came out I was starting to get full! The first part I took a bite out of was the hard-boiled egg that was cut in half. At first I thought it was only a slice but lifting I saw it was half. I really liked this dish, maybe a bit more if I hadn't already been getting full from the sushi and miso soup. The meat didn't have much flavor. It took a while for all of us to finish our individual dishes before we ordered dessert. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… ) Honey Toast - And FINALLY dessert! We decided to only order one and share it together and have the original one though there are other flavors / toppings. OMG!!! No wonder people come back. It is SO delicious and so sweet. Maybe a bit too sweet. I thought everyone was just over exaggerating but... I just want to go back and have some more! Ugh. Maybe I should have gotten a separate one... NAH, I couldn't finish that even if I tried! This alone makes up for the other dishes that I've tasted. Of course at first I wasn't sure how to start into the honey toast. I thought you cut into the outside crust then stopped and just dug in front the top with my fork. There were soft pieces and others were harder. I really enjoyed the honey and ice cream. Yummy. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… ) As we finished up our dessert we talked story. Of course they told me as I made a reservation that we had two hours and I think we went a bit over. Our waitress came by and gave us tea as we were waiting for our full tummys to settle before heading into the office. Also don't forget to get your parking ticket validated! Overall, I would only come back for the honey toast.
(3)Annie U.
Had the best time celebrating a 16th birthday party. Our waitress Bri was efficient, helpful and fun. I was unsure if this was the location for a party but would do it again and again. The food was fab, but the service was even better. Thank you Bri and Shokudo!
(5)Jill k.
it's always great to re-unite with old friends. on this trip to hawaii, i was able to do just that. shokudo seemed an appropriate place to reunite, as shokudo itself, did a great job of uniting flavors from japanese, hawaiian, and american cuisines. this is what we ordered: * albacore tuna on crispy rice * agedashi tofu * mochi cheese gratin * seafood dynamite * chicken kara age i am pleased to say that all of these things were yummy! even the mochi cheese gratin was surprisingly flavorful (i admit i cringed a bit at the thought), but the albacore tuna on crispy rice was my favorite. i can't wait to come back and try more!
(5)Jane L.
I LOVE SHOKUDO!!!!!!!!! I've eaten here a few times in the past few years it has always been a delightful and wonderful experience. The food is always good it has never changed well they added items to the menu but they are delicious. It just sucks the past few times that I have come here I never have enough room to eat honey toast.
(5)Jay Y.
Shokudo Japanese Restaurant is Tokyo Table back in the mainland, except the ambiance here is better and the waitstaff are more attentive. If I have never been to Tokyo Table, I would have probably thought this would be the best place to ever go to for drinks, desserts, and people watching here on the island. We ordered the following: Chicken Katsu: just OK. Udon: Marukame Udon tastes 100x better than this Ox Tail Ramen: Didn't like this at all. Our friends ordered a bunch of other dishes, but I wasn't able to recall since we came later. Advice: Come here with a group of friends and order their drinks, light appetizers, and their honey toast! Reservations are strongly recommended during their busy hours. 5 Stars for great service, ambiance, pricing, and company!
(5)Jenny S.
I came here often and i usually come for the late night happy hour! Their three dollar menu is just simply...A-MA-ZINGGG! From spicy tuna nachos to chicken quesadilla! Although the portion is smaller than the regular menu it's stil a lot of food for JUST $3!! Besides the amazing deals, the people here are always so nice! I think their customer service is one of the best! I went to shokudo today for my friend's birthday dinner and our server was more than accommodating! Our water stayed filled and he was very patient with us while we were deciding what to eat! For my friend's birthday he even let us choose the ice cream for the happy birthday honey toast with NO EXTRA CHARGE!! For regular dinner hour, I got the mongolian beef ishiyaki and i absolutely LOVE it! It's better than their bibimbop and I"M KOREAN!! The beef just melted in my mouth and the flavors just excited my taste buds! It was simply delicious!! I also ordered their mojitos and usually a lot of restaurants don't make their mojitos minty enough and too leafy but not here! It was perfect!!! Overall, whenever I visit I always leave wanting to come back and with a smile on my face! I know my friends and I absolutely coming here, it won't be long till we visit again!!! BTW for someone who's never been here before no matter what you order (it will be good!!) you MUST MUST MUST get the honey toast! You'll absolutely LOOOVVEEE it! I guarantee it!!
(4)Rhi M.
Love, Love, Love this place. I am a KCC culinary student and lots of my classmates work here. (I don't like this place, just because of that). The drinks are really good here. I love lychee so I order the lychee vodka soda. There are still more I need to try. If you love sushi, this is the right place for you. I usually order the sashimi and tempura, and a spicy tuna roll. The atmosphere is great! It can be for a casual dinner out with friends and family or somewhere fancy to go out on a date. Either way this place is great. I want a chance to eat at the bar one day.
(5)C D.
James C. is the man to see for the best experience ever! He gets orders in & brings the food out quick! He knows his menu and recommended a special cinnamon honey toast ;-) See him- you'll love Shokudo even more than you already do!
(5)Raina A.
I love this place so, so much. I just took off a star because of the wait. We waited for about an hour, twice. But the food...oh man, the food. So delicious. The sushi and the katsu is pretty good. The shrimp fried rice is AMAZING. It's just a little spicy (enough to give flavor, but not take away the rest of the tastes), and the amount of shrimp they give is pretty good, compared to other places. The honey toast is amazing, as well- we can't ever leave without having that. The service is always good, but nothing out of the ordinary.
(4)Jared W.
Shokudo! Great Honey Toast! Asian Style with some "local-ness". It doesn't have authentic Japanese food and I guess that is why they call themselves Shokudo which pretty much translates to "cafeteria" or "dining hall"! During Dinner time it can get busy so expect to wait for awhile. ~ Food ~ I posted below pictures and some info on the food! Balsamic beef tataki sushi ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) Taste is not bad! It is not anything amazing. Garlic shrimp rice!" ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) I don't know if i would order this again. Just as plain as it sounds. Rice and garlic and some shrimp. I wonder if just anyone can make it with those 3 ingredients. Cheese Mochi gratin ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) This is interesting, but not for my taste buds. "Spicy ahi crunch" ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) One of their better appetizer- crunchy and GOOD!! Chicken Katsu" ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) This was pretty good. I had better chicken katsu, but I also had worse! "Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio" ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) Order this because it was GOOD! Yuzu Citrus Vodka Soda"( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) i always get this when I come here. Lobster Dynamite" ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) This is one of their better dishes. ~ Honey Toast ~ If you never been to Shokudo, leave some room for this! The Original Honey Toast ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) Delicious! Nobody really eats the outsides of the Toast. Chocolate honey toast ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) This was pretty tasty! Cinnamon Honey Toast ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) The food there is not amazing, it tends too look different or have interesting names but nothing spectacular. I wish they would really change it up and add some flavorful things to their menu.
(3)Jon H.
I don't really go to Shokudo to eat dinner...instead, it's one of my favorite places to go after dinner to have dessert. Why? Two words: HONEY TOAST!!! It's magical stuff. I usually get the plain honey toast, but cinnamon is oh so lovely, too! ...the only real drawback to Shokudo is the smell that lingers on your clothes when you leave -_-
(3)Lisiti T.
EXCELLENT PLACE! Our host, our waiter and the food! If you go there let MATTHEW know he was an awesome waiter. Everything he recommended was very tasteful. The lobster dynamite, loco moco twist , and the spinach salad. There were a lot more we order but these were the best. Aside from the food and service, it is a small and crowded place. This is not a place you want to bring kids, too many things to break. When seating make sure your table will be big enough to hold your group orders. Even though there was only four of us, we ordered 6 meals. It seemed we had to eat our food as fast as possible because every time they bought out the next meal, there was no place for it on our table. Overall, the atmosphere of Shokudo was very uplifting, although the wait was 45 min. it goes by fast if you have a great group of friends who know how to entertain. It doesn't seem crazy busy (at least the time we went) and it wasn't too loud or too dull. Definitely would go back.
(4)Thuy L.
To be honest, the sashimi here was very good. I order the sashimi sampler & it was great! The sashimi was so fresh that it melt right when it was in my mouth. The prices were reasonable, the waiter was horrible. It was my first time here & our waiter was name Matt & he looked like he didn't even enjoy working there. I believe he only checked up on us like once then he never returned, lucky the table sitting next to us was also his table so when he checked on their table that was the only way we could catch him. Then when we asked if we could have our billed separately, he simply just said I don't remember who order what so I can't do the bill for you, his attitude was horrible, so at this point I just wanted to get out of this restaurant so we told him that's fine, just give us the bill however then. 15 mins later, still no bill. Then AFTER serving a new table next to us, he finally comes over & says oh I'm going to get your bill now. WTH?! Out of all honesty, I would give this place a 4 star but because of this waiter horrible service & attitude I knocked it down a star. I would come back here to eat again but I will request for a different waiter with a friendlier approach to customers. However, I did notice a waiter name bubu? He was more catering & friendlier to us. I WOULD HAVE WISH HE WAS OUR WAITER INSTEAD OF MATT. Btw, I'm still in the restaurant as I am writing this review, that's how upset I am with the service.
(3)Stacia S.
First time here and love. Manager James is amazing. He has this hypnotic power, he tells you to look into his eyes and makes you order awesome food. Carolyn is equally amazing and helped block James's rays, she was just honey toast blocking him because we had other dessert plans. Loved the lobster dynamite roll!! This gap girl had a great time!
(5)Ashley S.
Ok, what's not to love about this place? Cool and hip, great food, great drinks and great dessert! I know everyone (even those under a rock) has heard about their honey toast but do you know about their bread pudding?!?!?! WINNER!! You have to try it. We sat at the sushi bar because they didn't have any tables available but if you can sit there you can pretty much order anything from the menu.
(5)Nina U.
There are a million an done reviews on here so it doesn't take a genius to know this place has to be somewhat decent. Make reservations and park in the garage in the back (same road like you're going to Side Street Inn). Then you can walk through to Kapiolani to get inside. The best part is waiting for your table to be ready because then you can get one of their tasty drinks from the bar. And please don't order chicken teriyaki. I know it's safe but try something new. There are a million and one other things on the menu. But be sure to save room for their dessert toast. Just get the plain honey one and ask for an extra scoop of ice cream if you're like me and want one bit of ice cream for every bite of toast.
(4)Jessica S.
Hubby and I really enjoyed this restaurant. It is right by Ala Moana Shopping Center which makes parking super easy and convenient. Which, for someone who gets cranky over parking - this is a huge perk! We had EXCELLENT service! Our waiter was Matt, and he was awesome. He was very kind, chatted with us, helpful, fun and attentive. He was really an all around great server. This made our experience here just that much better! The honey toast still confuses me, because it seems so simple. It seems as if it is something I could simply make. Though, I bet if I did make it, it somehow wouldn't be so delicious. It just seems odd something so simple could be that tasty! Food: Food was pretty darn tasty too. We got a sushi pizza, chicken teriyaki quesadilla and the goyza. All of them were very good. I loved the sauce that the quesdilla came with. My husband has a theory, "You can make anything good with tortillas" - and Shokudo proved his theory right. The goyza was good, though nothing too special. The sushi pizza was unique and very tasty. All around, pretty good. Not the most amazing food EVER, but it was still good. Fun environment, good food, good service, they served me my favorite drink, good dessert, good company - really, what else could you ask for?
(4)Casey D.
One of my very favorite restaurants on Oahu. Absolutely delicious menu, and very consistent god service. The only down side is the wait times, but that is to be expected of a restaurant this good. Try the Lobster Dynamite Roll or the Volcano Roll. As an aside, I was waited on by a server named Robyn who was all around awesome. Haven't seen her there before, and I'm bummed I haven't soooner!
(4)Linda D.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! The food is amazing and the service is friendly. My friend and I were in an unagi mood and ordered the caterpillar roll and the unagi rice. It was GLORIOUS. After that, we ordered the famous honey toast..... whoever created that was a genius. Overall, GREAT food, ATTRACTIVE wait staff, and FRIENDLY service. Can't wait to visit this place again on my next trip!
(5)Joyce F.
Seriously, if all they served was the lobster roll and honey toast, I would still frequent this place. But i've had quite a few of the other dishes, and every dish I have had is AWESOME! I love the vibe of this place, all the servers are handsome and beautiful, and the food is great.
(5)Angela M.
*One serving sake, Karaage chicken, rice set, mochi cheese gratin, melon float, plain udon, teri chicken quesadilla, yakitomi fries, azuki pillow toast w/extra ice cream scoop, forced gratuity = $80* Dear Shokudo, Remember when we first got together you had fabulous foods for reasonable prices and we saw each other often? Then you chucked some of my favorites off the menu and raised the prices of everything else, but I forgave you and we continued our friendship? Then you let the quality of the food begin to fall and gave us ripped and creased menus and bits of dust would drift down from the chains above the bar, but I continued to give you chances mostly because of your mochi cheese gratin and agedashi tofu? I'm sorry, but I can't do this anymore. Even though your giant laminated menus are very nice. It is simply illogical to pay $80 (inc tip) for a meal that is mediocre at best with sub-par service and leave with not a single leftover crumb. Your rice set has devolved into a bowl of not-so-fluffy white rice, miso soup that tastes as though it were from a packet, and a few strips of pickle because you've run out of takuan. The karaage chicken is good, but very ordinary. Everything for the most part was decent but ordinary, and the pillow toast is definitely no longer worth $11 with it's whole one tablespoon of azuki beans and almost invisible drizzle of molasses. I could create much more amazing concoctions armed with a loaf of day old St. Germaine bread, an ice cream scoop, a honey bear, and my wits. Your server was nice, but very forgetful and did not deserve the generous gratuity that was so graciously added onto our bill. I'm not sure why gratuity was added onto the bill, is it because we had a party of 6 (above food total only accounts for 2 plus 2 little people)? I didn't realize my 2 and 4 year olds counted towards such things, but I suppose here they do. Upon arriving at 5pm we were informed we would have to vacate our seats by 7pm. 2 hours? Easy peasy. That is, unless you account for the fact that everything, including beverages, takes an excruciatingly long time to arrive. So long that you begin to think the kitchen has forgotten you, and just when you're on the verge of giving up hope that edible morsels will ever arrive, one dish shows up. I will not be seeing you anymore. When I think of all the hot pot, all the Indian food, all of the containers of mochi ice cream I could buy for $80, it causes me physical pain. I could have even bought a dress. Goodbye, Angela
(2)Gin N Juic E.
Shokudo is great for everything from groups to first dates in that its a neutral choice where everybody can appreciate the atmosphere, the food, and great service. Once inside you have no problems hearing your company while able to enjoy the ambience. For food the lobster dynamite is comparable to nothing I have tried before whereas the honey toast is basically edible crack. You can't go wrong here and every time I have gone it has be an overall tremendous experience complimented by great service.
(5)Justin S.
I had my birthday dinner there this past Friday night. Our waitress gave excellent service. The food recommendations were excellent. The food was really good too. Overall experience was top notch! I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Tina S.
I've been here a few times with different people. They don't have many vegetarian options, and since I *try* not to rewrite menus to my liking, I settled on the vegetarian roll sushi plate. The last time I ordered this, the plate came with salad and sushi for about $11. This time, it was just the sushi (one roll cut into 8-10 slices) and no salad for the same price. I was disappointed when my order arrived sans salad, especially since our server told me the salad was included when I ordered. I also had to ask for chopsticks, since we were not provided with utensils. One of my friends ordered the chicken quesadilla with no sour cream and extra tomatoes. It arrived with sour cream and no extra tomatoes. Our server was apologetic and fixed the order right away. My friend ate it happily, so it must have tasted good! My other friend ordered udon (enjoyed it) and fries to share (which I enjoyed:)). Of course the honey toast with cinnamon was delicious! Multiple oversights aside, our server handled my drunkie friend with dignity and tried to accommodate our various requests. He offered us tea and more water when we overstayed our meal, and allowed us to take our time chatting it up without pressure to leave.
(3)Co Y.
Love this place as always! I recommend making a reservation for large parties or busy days. Love the food...all of it. I haven't had a dish that has disappointed me yet! Prices are average for a sushi place and not crazy outrageously expensive. Love Shokudo!
(5)Tyra K.
I'm sorry but I don't really get why people are so crazy about this place?! Its really nothing special, except for the honey toast I must admit that is delicious, but what else does this place offer then the honey toast.. ?? Over all quality of this place went down Big Time, and it seems like its not getting any better.. There is so many other places in Honolulu I'd rather go to. Maybe if it was cheaper I'd even consider for a quick meal something casual, but since there is always a wait (really do not understand why) I would just skip this place entirely and go to a much more desirable place... Ok maybe I'm a little spoiled when it comes to yummy Japanese food, but at least I'd pay more to get the quality.. What doesn't go thru my head is the fact that the food here is junk and yet still pricy.. Hm ok I just don't get it.. Two stars is to SOME of your staff.. I guess you never know if you will get a good or bad server here at least you get the good ones occasionally so that's why I'm actually being nice and giving u guys a 2 star... Its sad that you've been in business so long and no improvements only a downfall I do hope that possibly you improve in the quality of food an if even necessay charge a little more I'm sure that would be a bit more satisfying... Good luck!
(2)Jen N.
We always have a great time when we go to Shokudo! Kepe is super funny and always takes care of us. He and the staff were very attentive to our needs and provided great recommendations for new dishes to try. We made a reservation a week ahead of time so that we could avoid a long wait. Will definitely go back again!
(5)Kanani K.
Slow service...got our order mixed up...waited for over 45mins for sushi
(2)Marnie W.
This is the abso-f**king-lutely best place to have a low-key birthday dinner for two on a weekday. Reasons: 1. An extra $20 allows you to reserve a table (the restaurant's choice) with a flower arrangement (your own) waiting for the birthday person. Imagine my delight and surprise to find calla lillies (my favorite!) sitting in a corner booth when we arrived. yelp.com/biz_photos/qTx-… 2. The $25 birthday discount with the "Dream Diner" card. Our final tab ended up being just $5.60. yelp.com/biz_photos/qTx-… 3. The free, adequately sized Honey Toast (with candle, of course!). We could barely finish it. yelp.com/biz_photos/qTx-… 4. Staff are very accommodating and friendly. How could anyone in the service industry (with a conscience) be standoffish or impolite to a restaurant patron on their birthday, anyway? ;-) 5. Customer parking is free in the Ala Moana Pacific Center and, since it wasn't the weekend, very ample. We had no problems finding a space. Five stars for Shokudo. Thank you for making a big part of my 32nd birthday a very memorable one =-D
(5)Kevin O.
our server grant was awesome! so friendly and helpful! the lobster dynamiteroll is my favorite thing on the menu but twice now i have received it with it basically falling apart. the rice wasnt rolled hard enough or something. the honey toast was amazing as always. this time we tried it with the strawberry puree and it wassooo delicious. $2 more but pretty worth it
(5)Jason L.
This could have been an awesome experience but our server misunderstood and never put our appetizer in. Waited for about 20 minutes while others were served and never received it. We asked what the delay was and she thought we didn't want it. We decided to leave and cut our losses and eat elsewhere. The Li Hing sake wasn't too bad.
(1)Theresa T.
Came here for happy hour, and I just gotta say... the Dynamite Roll is amazing. All topped off with a bed of lobster... who can go wrong with that?! Mm... the roll is incredibly rich though, so unless you have a big appetite, this is a roll that needs to be shared! The honey toast was delicious too! I think the only problem we had was the strawberry milkshake... which looked milky and tasted like Ensure. A trendy lookin' place with a good happy hour menu. Service was prompt and attentive.
(4)Arthur S.
HMMM... from my first visit here, id have to say that shokudo is a decent place to eat. In my opinion its defiantly more american-westernized. Its not real authentic japanese style cooking. If your into imitation crab and westernized sushi rolls, then this place isnt bad to go. Also if you like to come here with a large group of people. A few memorable dishes i tried: 1. Sushi pizza- it was good, but just that. Basically a giant california roll laid out flat. cut into squares. more crunchy. Possibly good for small groups 2. Mochi cheese gratin- A unique dish. probably the tastiest of the two. Im not sure if this is served anywhere else in hawaii. Its cheezy, chewey goodness soaked in tasty sauce made it an excellent dish, except I found the portion size to be more of an appetizer. Definitely worth a try. 3. Lobster Roll- ehhhh... had the lobster roll, but it seemed too similar to other westernized rolls that ive tried at other chain resturaunts. - 2 stars: shortly after finding out the accept take out, i called ahead and ordered take out. I arrived and the receptionist at the front desk told me to have a seat. As i sat there patiently waiting for my TAKE-OUT after a hard days work, a lady came around and told me the bartender had it behind the counter. After the bartender arrived i still had to wait for my order. guess where it was the entire time? Already prepared behind the counter, getting cold! All the while i was waiting i couldn't help but notice a few of the restaurant staff conversing with angry expressions on their faces about some small insignificant incident that happened in the restaurant that day which made it seem like a restaurant soap drama. if your gonna be pissed off because you got horrible tip then find another palce to work! but before you go, at least hand me over my food before hell freezes over!
(3)Brittany L.
First impression was very good, the place is very stylish and I really liked the booths for two. Service was excellant, we had a waiter named Conner, although he was very quiet he provided good service, all the food came to our table at a reasonable time and he was very polite. We came here for the sushi, which was SO good! We got a sashimi plate, the red eye roll and the lobster dynamite. So so so good. The only thing I have to be picky about is whats the deal with the honey toast? We ordered it and it just wasn't as good as previous reviews state. That was the only disappointment for this trip.
(4)Erwin G.
Good food. The Honey Toast is a must try! Service here is Outstanding!
(4)LeaDan Y.
Makes me feel like I am in a posh club whenever I walk in. I love the food and the atmosphere. I'm never disappointed by their food or drinks. Recently however the wait staff have become a little too "in your face" which I really don't appreciate.
(3)David H.
Had a fantastic business lunch here! Server, Nikki, was terrific at making recommendations and prompt service! Highlights include the char siu pork, and lobster dynamite roll. I highly recommend you check it out!
(5)Dustin W.
Oh Shokudo...why are you rolling downhill. The first time I went here it was a fantastic experience with great sized portions and friendly service, and the food was just delicious. The honey toast was moist on the inside and crunchy on the outside. It was bliss (probably would have gotten a 4 1/2 stars) Now that I'm yelping and have been here 2 other times since, in which the service was meh, and the portions shrank to go along with rising prices ( great combo ) I'm forced to give only 2 stars. Why? 2nd time was still pretty good the service took forever, probably spent 2 hours in there. The portions were smaller than I remembered them and the quality started lacking. I mean if you're going to spend that long preparing my food, at least have it come out right. 3rd time went with a bunch of friends shared a bunch of stuff, and portions were practically bite size, felt like I was ordering Otoro for the price. I also did a special they were having, order a 3 piece honey toast and get a prize at the bottom, first piece was real dry, even with the ice cream. 2nd piece found a pube in my bread. Went to the 3rd piece and was already kinda meh. Was cool that I got the toast comped and kept the prize of $5 off the bill, but quality, price and service has been lacking from this place since that first visit.
(2)Nick W.
OVERRATED. Came primarily for the honeytoast, but since we were already there ordered some tempura and some asian chicken quesadilla things. Portions were so small it was more of a snack than a meal. Finally the honeytoast came out. It was huge and was a struggle to finish, so I guess it was worth the money in that aspect. However our toast was super dry and had to be smothered in melted ice cream to make it even edible. Buy some texas toast from Safeway and make this yourself, you can probably do it better.
(2)Amanda D.
I walked in with an almost empty Jamba Juice and I was told I had to finish it before being seated at the restaurant. No problem, I'll take my smoothie and my business elsewhere!
(1)Freida G.
love this place! love the food especially honey toast and lobster dynamite. i can eat here everyday! the only downfall is that it's too busy and long wait.
(5)Joe W.
The one time I actually ate at this restaurant and I couldn't stop eating! Food was AMAZING! Service was courteous .. I highly recommend it!
(5)Tracy T.
Service awesome, Bob our waiter was very attentive. We had the combination lunch platter and it was very, very good!! Dessert of half order Honey toast was perfect for the 3 of us. Beer was ice cold.
(5)Jonathan P.
So the other day I got the munchies pretty early..so I decided to try Shokudo's early happy hour (4:00-6:00pm daily). I've never been to the early happy hour, just the late night happy hour (sun-mon 10:30pm-12:00am). Long story short...I wasn't too thrilled. The service was pretty slow and seemed to take longer than usual to get our food. So out of all the dishes we ordered, I would say the top two were probably be the all-in-one roll yelp.com/user_local_phot… and the yuzu hamachi carpaccio yelp.com/user_local_phot… . The all-in-one roll is one of the current "chef's specials" and it is pretty much everything in one roll (ahi, salmon, hamachi, tobiko, avacado, and shrimp tempura) Unfortunately this wasn't a happy hour dish..and we ordered it 3X but it was good! As for the yuzu hamachi carpaccio...well...it's HAMACHI! What's not to like? It's rich with a very smooth and buttery taste and by far my favorite fish! What I wouldn't get EVER order again would be the happy hour spicy ahi roll for $3. yelp.com/user_local_phot… . Come on, just look at it! Nothing impressive and had a lackluster appeal. And it's in 4 pieces...I thought Japanese places never serve things in four because of their superstition...hmm. Each time I return, Shokudo seems to get a little worse. I was going to rate it 2 stars but the Honey Toast Boosts it up 1 star in my book. The only good thing about happy hour is the honey toast jr for $3 yelp.com/user_local_phot… . It's perfect if you don't like sharing food or just want to indulge a bit..without feeling like too much of a fatty from eating a regular one. Oh and if you order 2 Honey Toasts Jrs it's the equivalent of a regular honey toast but cheaper!
(3)Michelle Y.
Came here for honey toast got here at midnight and they already closed kitchen. If your open till 1 am ur last call shouldn't b an hour before u close.
(1)Rylan C.
Everything on the menu to me is overpriced and the food is over rated. The desserts is probably the only thing that keeps people coming back for more. Also the service is way better than the food sad to say. Better to make a reservation than go on waitlist cuz wait times can be a long time especially on the weekends
(3)Chantelle T.
Updating because enjoyed their late-night happy hour menu. Seriously, it's a total steal considering how much food you get for the price. We got the spicy ahi nachos which was yummy. I would definitely recommend getting this. We also got the honey toast jr (one piece of toast) which was also a steal at $3. For drinks, I'd recommend the lychee mojito w/ shochu. So delicious! I was definitely a happy camper at the end of the night.
(4)Grant S.
First time ever at Shokudo! I have been hearing of this place for quite a long time but am never in the area to try it out. We went to celebrate a co-workers birthday graciously coordinated by yelper Alice C. We had a party of around 15 and got seated at the top tier of the dining room. The decor is quite nice and the restaurant looks very clean. The servers have a pretty nice classy uniform. The menu is interesting to say the least. For actually having a meal here I would have a hard time deciding what I would get. Not really many entrees and more of it is apps, sushi, and ramen. I wish there were more "real food" options. We tried the pork chop, chicken katsu, mochi cheese gratin, spicy tuna roll, garlic shrimp rice, agedashi tofu, and honey toast. The pork chop was pretty good, served with ketchup and watercress- a good pupu style serving. The foot long chicken katsu was well breaded with a generic tonkatsu sauce. Not bad. The mochi cheese gratin (thanks to yelp recommendations) was surprisingly good. As you would expect gratin-ized mochi would taste like, the dish was a very nice surprise in flavor. The neat chewy texture of the mochi with the creaminess of the cheese is very nice. The spicy tuna roll had a nice kick to it, but at the end of the day, it is a spicy tuna roll. Garlic shrimp rice was a very nice surprise. Served in a stone bowl and mixed in front of you, this dish is exploding with garlic flavor. The simple, yet tasty dish seemed to be a staple of those in our party. Agedashi tofu- nice soft tofu with a nice dashi. Decent. Honey toast- I've had remnants of honey toast from friends before but never in the restaurant. The honey toast was very good. I would most likely order it when I go back, but I do think it is a tad too sweet. My overall opinion of this place is that the food is good but pricey. Seems to be targeting the post club crowd. I must say that the music they play is very good. I know it doesn't really make a difference but the (XM? satellite radio?) station they had it tuned to was rockin. It was a nice alternative rock blend with hits from the last 10 years.
(4)Ar S.
I got the foot long chicken katsu and it wasn't good. I enjoyed the saki though. The dessert is good but the coffee is shitty. so come for the dessert and the drink! ;)
(3)Jenn T.
Some new found loves here... The lobster dynamite roll is pretty amazing. It comes with a california roll topped with baked lobster all over! When I tried it I had no idea what it was. I just picked up a piece and popped it in my mouth. I had to do a double take since my taste buds were like "OMG DELICIOUS!". The mochi cheese baked thing...not sure exactly what it's called, but MAN ALIVE, that was yummy!! It's this warm baked mochi topped with cheese, nori and comes in a nice dashi sauce...seriously delicious. I love all things mochi and that was pretty tasty! The agedashi tofu here is also really good. It comes hot, crispy and the sauce is sweet but salty. It's topped with bonito flakes and the tofu just melts in your mouth! And of course, the HONEY TOAST, which is literally the only reason you need to stop by here. The ice cream on top makes it that much better!! I used to think, man why is this place so crowded. It's generic japanese food, with a restaurant that looks like a bar/lounge and is kinda expensive. However, after eating here a couple times, I am totally on board with Shokudo!
(4)Kristy K.
Shokudo, a place I use to HATE...is now A-OK. I guess it just depends what you eat. So what changed my mind? Here's what we ate. -Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi -Sushi pizza -Chicken Mochi Pizza -Salmon Rice (I didn't care for it) The other 3 things were awesome!!! The beef sushi could of used a few more pieces for the price. The sushi pizza was really good and that jalapeno was super duper hot. The chicken mochi pizza was different but a good different. I think it was the mustard that they put on the pizza that made it work. Weird huh. The only bad thing I have to say is that it's kind of pricey. Anyway, I'm glad I finally found something that I like to eat. Also, if you're celebrating a birthday they give you a free honey toast. YAY!!!
(3)Rza Marie R.
Every time I've come here the food was okay, there loco moco which to my understanding is seasonal was probably one of the best I've tasted at the restaurant aside from their honey toast! I recommended the honey toast!
(3)Emma W.
Since it was so popular and want to try at least once, went there today for lunch! But this place is over rate and over price! The Raman was nothing close to be good! And so small too! I don't think I will visit there again!
(1)Kristen N.
We were at Morimoto's having a Terrible dinner (we left before the entree it was that bad!) and I went to Yelp and Shokudo popped up.. read the reviews and decided this is where we would go for lunch the next day.. Needless to say we ended up here three days in a row twice one day... The sushi chef's are darling.. but the food was delicious.. we tried all the "regular" stuff.. but then said ok you make what you want and wow! WAY BETTER! The scallops, the cheek, uni (had three orders it was that good!) , tofu was off the charts...the maguro was so beautiful.. and salmon, hamachi.. should I go on...? just all around delicious! the mochi gratin was interesting... will certainly go back! Even tried the honey toast but not my favorite as I would rather eat more fish than sweets. But will be back!
(5)Marichu Joy S.
I love coming here especially during the late night happy hour. They have $3 specials which my bf and I love to take advantage of. OH and you get a free honey toast if you go there for your birthday! :-) Things I love to order: $3 Menu: Garlic Clams Gyoza Teriyaki Chicken Quesadellas Spicy Tuna Rolls California Rolls HONEY TOAST Regular Menu: Fresh Homemade Tofu Homemade Tofu Salad Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Lobster Dynamite Roll Lobster Dynamite HONEY TOAST
(5)Kaitlyn M.
Make sure you get there an hour before they close. They do last call an hour before they close which is ridiculous. I could understand a half hour or fifteen minutes before but an hour is ridiculous. Not impressed.
(1)Lyraleli K.
I love their honey toast. Went here to celebrate with my baby and my husband. The place is nice, I like the design or layout. The food are good and definitely the service is great. The reasons why I really don't gave them 5 stars are because of these two: 1) their fries calamari looks like frozen and lots of breading, 2) the plates that they set up on our table were still dirty on the bottom. We found out that the plate was dirty when we are trying to give our baby a plate for her to play with her chopstix while we're waiting for our foods to arrive. When my husband lift it up and handed the plate to my baby I saw that it is sooo dirty still on the bottom, although the top part looks like super clean. We called the girl who assists us and discretely handed her the plates and she apologized to us and changes our plates with clean ones (top and bottom). Yet, over all i will still recommend this place to all of my friends.
(4)Chelsea G.
Went here last night for a random happy hour get together. Happy hour is from 4-6pm. Upon arriving, I was disappointed to here that happy hour was only at the bar. OKAY fine, I can live with that. Happy hour actually had a variety of items that sounded pretty good! I ordered myself a sangaria ($), spinach salad ($9) and dynamite fries ($3). I must admit for the price of these items, they were very filling! Customer service was pretty decent this time around and I was pleasantly surprised by this! I docked off stars from Shokudo, because there customer service is either a hit and miss. The past two times that I came here, the customer service was poor. I don't care how busy it is, I believe each customer should be greeted warmly upon ordering food. I did not get this the last time I came. Waters took forever to get, and it took 45 minutes just to get something as simple as yukari fries and hot udon noodles. I ended up getting my main entree before having my fries and noodles!!! This place would have a better reputation if they were able to retain their customers. Shokudo has potential to be a place of good eats and great times, but because of the customer service, I doesn't seem like much people would want to give this place a try after having one bad experience!
(3)Jennifer C.
I recently came back to Shokudo for a birthday dinner of a friend. Everything was going okay, food was still mediocore, nothing really stood out for me. Again, I rather have sushi across the street at Genki Sushi. It was going well until we ordered dessert, many people ordered the famous honey toast... but it took half an hour to come. And while we were waiting, the host told us that we had 5 minutes left and we needed to leave. I thought that was extremely rude, here we all are waiting for our dessert that's been taking forever (we reminded the waitress a couple of times) and we still haven't gotten it and you still ask us to leave? Excuse yourself, I don't think so! Don't have any intention of going back to Shokudo ever again.
(1)Stephanie K.
Had a great time tonight! Got seated asap, server and server in training were super nice and attentive to our table. Good was great, even the new rolls they offer. You have to try the tiger one, sooooo ono! And of course, sucker for honey toast, especially when I rarely have room for dessert. I suggest family style when dining here.
(5)David H.
We were visiting Oahu for the day and met my wife's BFF here for lunch. We got there a few minutes before opening so there was no wait once they opened. A bunch of employees greeted us as we walked through the door which was nice. We were seated promptly and after perusing the menu we ordered the tofu salad, which was delicious and refreshing, the lobster dynamite roll, which my wife and her BFF couldn't stop eating, the shrimp tempura roll, which was crunchy and just the right amount of sauce, the gyoza, which was cooked perfectly and crunchy on the outside - just the way I like it. I also ordered the teri salmon steak entree, which was cooked perfectly as well. Unfortunately, we didn't have room to eat the honey toast. My wife had tried it on a previous visit and said it was not-to-be-missed but we couldn't pack another bit into our stomachs! If you don't want to wait for a while to get in, try getting there before lunch opening. Service was great and didn't feel rushed. We probably would have come here on previous trips, but our favorite restaurant in the area, Angelo Pietro, is right next door!
(4)Tanya T.
Went here for a late night dinner and ordered the Ox-Tail Ramen. This was okay, the broth was good but the ginger strips that they put all over the top were a little too much I had to pick them all out. I did however get a taste of the Honey Toast, and that was SOOO GOOD. Although I only had that one bite, I wish I got that after :(. I'm still craving it after days. The place closes at 1 on weekdays and 2 on weekends, and that's pretty cool.
(3)Jonathan C.
Shokudo, from the outside seemed like a large fancy diner. My brother and I only went inside because there was a decent sized group standing around outside. I'm glad we went in!!! The food on the regular menu is good. Some VERY good, others are decent. I didn't taste anything that I didn't like. There is a nice mix of traditional Japanese flavors and exciting fusion items. The Mochi with melted mozzarella was an excellent example of the fusion. I was afraid it might be too greasy because of the "cheese", but I forgot that mozzarella isn't typically greasy. The cheese blended very well with the mochi. Everyone talks about the sweet toast. It is fantastic. There are many excellent dishes on the menu, but the main reason I went back a second time is because of the excellent service I got there. One person is chiefly responsible for that. The bartender Jess made me feel genuinely as though I belonged there, even though I was only in Hawaii on vacation. She was friendly, despite running around like a crazy woman and pumping out a LOT of drinks, and when I returned the second time, I felt like we were old friends. The rest of the staff were also great. Everyone had smiles on their faces and made me feel welcomed. This restaurant is a definite "must visit" for anyone in Waikiki for any reason or length of time. Tell Jess that the hapa-haoli brothers from San Diego say "Howzit!" :)
(4)Laura S.
I got a lot of recommendations from friends to come and check this place out because it was amazing. It was a Thursday night when me and my boyfriend decided to give this place a try. We did a walk in and got sat right away, which is a plus, considering the restaurant looked pretty full. Upon walking in, I noticed the decor, it was beautiful. The bar in the middle had these thin gold chains hanging on the top and it had the illusion that the bar was being held by these strands of gold chains. The chandeleur in the middle had the same concept with the gold strands as well and the shades made of small wooden panels gave this place a very modern deco look. It was very appealing to the eyes to look at. The decor is definitely 5 star worthy, but the reason I gave them three stars is the food was not as extraordinary as I was led to believe. We ordered the sushi pizza and the mochi au gratin for the appetizer as it was recommended by the waiter. The sushi pizza was pretty good, but definitely not worth paying $15 for. As for the mochi, I had never experienced it topped with cheese before, it was always a desert for me, so it was interesting, it would most definitely be something I would eat again. As for our entrees, we ordered the tokyo shoyu ramen and the shrimp udon. The udon noodles were cooked to perfection, but the broth lacked in flavor. The ramen was very flavorable, but reminded me of the ramen you can buy in the packages at the store, so I was not impressed by either noodle soup. The portions of this place is kind of small for the price as well, but it is town, so it is somewhat understandable. As for their customer service, it was definitely above par. The waiter always kept coming back to see if we were okay. Overall, it seems like a solid 3 star rating type of place. I will have to try it out during happy hour when my fingers aren't pinching the penny so hard. But I will definitely be back to try their signature dessert. :)
(3)raechelle v.
Shokudo, I must give it to you. You really did a great job for Mother's Day. Thank you for making my mom and I's Mother Day a great experience. For starters, I had no clue they had a special Mother's Day buffet going. Thank goodness I stopped by the Shokudo tent at the Yelp Uncaged event at the zoo. Got a flier from the tent when I picked up my Saketini and called right away for reservations. On Mother's Day, we rolled in to Shokudo for our reservations. We were seated right away for our 6:30 reservations. We were greeted right away by our server. I should have gotten his name. He was excellent. He was a young Filipino guy who always had a smile on his face. He greeted us with a smile and got us started right away on drinks. We headed straight for the buffet. All of my favorite items were there. Excellent sushi spread with my favorites of Hamachi, Salmon, Ahi, and the Lobster Dynamite Roll (my all time favorite at Shokudo). They even had tiny slices of the Sushi Pizza. Then over to the main entrees. Shrimp tempura, Mochi Cheese Gratin, Chicken Karaage, Grilled Teriyaki Salmon Steak, Prime Rib, and so much more that I can't even remember. There was also udon noodles and Garlic Shrimp Rice. And the real highlight of the buffet and just sent me to food heaven....ALASKAN KING CRAB LEGS! Oh brother, no Snow Crab here, but the real deal King Crab Legs. It was good that we got early reservations because when I went up to take my share, there were so many good pieces. The only thing I didn't like was the vinegar they used for the crab legs. I think they used sweet sushi vinegar and they kept running out of butter. But, what I did like was that they didn't over salt the King Crab legs. Oh, and another highlight....HONEY TOAST that you could customize! You could add strawberries, Oreo cookies, chocolate syrup, and get as much scoops of ice cream. It came with every buffet dinner that was ordered. My husband wanted to share with me but I was like why? Go get your own! He couldn't believe that each buffet order came with Honey Toast. I ate mine up all my by myself. And again, our server was excellent! He really went out of his way to make our dining experience special. Our cups were always filled with water and he was nice enough to ask if we wanted tea at the end of the dinner. Our plates were always cleared when we were done. And I liked how the Manager came around and gave all the mothers a magenta carnation stem flower. That was a nice touch. As we left, our server took the time to walk us to the stairs leading down to the main eating area. He wished us a Happy Mother's Day and shook my husband's hand. It is rare to find that kind of respect given at an establishment. I was really impressed. I haven't been treated like that even at various fine dining places. I looked all over to research for a buffet dinner perfect for my mom. And nowhere out there that I could find, offered Alaskan King Crab legs, not even the top rated buffets on the island. And for $39.95, you can't go wrong. Shokudo, keep the Mother's Day Buffet coming. It was a winner. I'm just hoping prices don't go up and quality doesn't go down next year. This buffet just might become an annual Mother's Day Buffet for us.
(5)Ha N.
I was beginning to warm up to this place so I visited it three times the other week. The first week was 4 stars. The girl who helped us was really sweet. It was nearing the end of happy hour (4-6pm) but she didn't rush us. Even though it was 6:00, she said, "Go ahead and take a look at the menu. I'll put your orders in. :)" During happy hour, we spent around $60 including tip. Crazy. Alcohol plus spicy tuna nachos (2), garlic edamame, calamari, and two entrees off the normal menu. I love the edamame because I love garlic so much... The spicy tuna nachos are decent but a little too rich for two orders. For the entrees, the spicy udon pasta was a-ok. I had to ask for a side of sriracha. The BF had the salmon dish which was too sweet. Calamari was ok. ------ The next time we came, I found myself craving the udon pasta again. Weird. It doesn't hit the spot but it's a light form of creamy pasta if you're ever craving any. With udon noodles. We got the guy to ask the kitchen to make the edamame but it wasn't quite the same. Because of that, I knew I had to come back during happy hour. ------ The third time is the last time I'll ever step foot in Shokudo. I can't stand inconsistent service. We came in at 5:50PM and a girl said we couldn't order from the happy hour menu because they did last calls already. BULLSHIT missy. I was shocked beyond words and had enough energy only to walk out of that f*cked up establishment. I don't see how one girl can get the kitchen to make our food 15 minutes after happy hour closed but another girl can't get our orders in 10 minutes before. All for their garlic edamame. Pfft.
(2)Ka'imi L.
I never thought the day would come when I'd be unimpressed with my dining experience at Shokudo. Shokudo has always been a great place for me and a few of my friends to eat delicious contemporary Japanese cuisine before heading out for a night on the town. This time though, I think their standards may have deteriorated. I'll skip to the pros and cons, since I think everyone in Hawaii is well aware of what Shokudo provides for its customers. -----------------------------------------PROS-----Â------------------------------------ - The table was ready for us the minute we arrived for our reservation. - The waitstaff was very friendly and knowledgable. The manager has always been kind and courteous to me and from what I observe, other customers as well. - The sushi rolls we ordered were very tasty! - They're open until 2AM on weekend nights! -----------------------------------------CONS-----Â------------------------------------ - I'm not usually picky but I was annoyed that the Shochu I ordered had way too much ice and only a smidgen of liquor. - The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting. From all the business this place gets you'd think they'd at least have a proper cleaning crew to keep the bathrooms neat and tidy. The dryers and the paper towel dispensers weren't working, and the ground was littered with trash. - The Edamame was horrific. How hard is it to screw up Edamame? There was no salt, and the sprouts were soggy. I asked the waiter for salt, and the table salt didn't help at all. We ended up discarding the entire plate because it was so bad. -----------------------------RECOMMENDATIONS------Â-------------------------- - Order the Lobster King Roll. It's soooo good. - Save room for dessert and order the Sweet Honey Toast. It's a hit at this place. Unless you can't live without the Sweet Honey Toast Dessert, I say that at the rate this place is going, Gyukaku puts Shokudo to shame.
(2)Sang Wa O.
Went two nights ago and both my co-worker and I got food poisoning - up at 5 AM, stomach bubbling, butt gurgling, wondering if I can make it through the day at work kind of food poisoning. Called the restaurant as soon as I thought someone would be there to answer, and actually spoke to the manager directly. He was very blase about the whole affair and even suggested that it wasn't actually food poisoning (oh, are you a medical practitioner on the side as well?) and while he did ask for my name and number, nothing came of it and as far as I can tell he doesn't care enough about his patrons or reputation to follow up. So, for the brave (or foolish) who still decide to throw caution and money to the wind and eat/drink here, this is what we got that night: (alcoholic drinks) 4 different martinis made with sake: a Momoko, Kikuka, Aiko, and Konatsu plus (food) yukari garlic french fries, mochi cheese gratin, lobster dynamite, calamari tempura, negi char siu pork and (dessert) the honey toast. We were warned that the Aiko was very sweet and often gets sent back, but it was actually pretty decent. The drinks were tasty, not very strong but went down easy. Now for the dreaded food - the lobster bake was creamy and lacking any real descernible pieces of lobster. Nothing special and not very memorable. The garlic french fries were really very tasty (and I don't even like fries usually) and the calamari + wasabi mayo dip were also good. The mochi cheese gratin was such a bad mix of two things that I usually love, I was quite disappointed. Not enough cheese and the warm texture of the mochi was just off. The pork was charred just right and was paired with some onions and was also a plus. The honey toast is overrated and just a block of bread, lightly toasted with an afterthought of honey and two globs of ice cream. If you have $8 to burn swing by my place and I can make you the same thing for 1/2 the price. It's really too bad that we got so sick that we were out of commission for the entire next day. Some of the items on the menu tasted good, but who really wants an extra surprise following you around after you leave in the form of a stomach bug? Whether it was funky fish or unclean hands handling our meal, something wasn't right and that's never appetizing. Avoid at all costs! Oh yes, we waited about 20 minutes to sit at the bar, and if it weren't for the *fabulous* bartender named Heidi (give her a raise!), we wouldn't even have been able to sit down because we literally had to fight 2 rude, sketchy old men that showed up after us for our spot. The rest of the staff made no effort to monitor who had been waiting and for how long. I think people just see long lines at this place and guess that there's a reason for the crowds - not in this case. Our other bartender Paul wasn't the friendliest, but perhaps he was having a rough night (or maybe he also got something from eating the food there).
(1)Jorie H.
Always a favorite place to eat. We always start our meal with the honey toast, yum yum. And now they have added a sushi bar with a full selection of fresh fishes (including Oh-toro, my fave!)
(4)Dawn Y.
Service was VERY POOR. Had to practically beg for water refill. Others got service faster and friendlier then what we received. I expected more out of one of my favorite restaurants. The only reason for 2 stars is food was good.
(2)Destinee K.
My experience? Let's start with parking in meters near the mall and having to step in liquid on the sidewalk that smells like hot garbage compliments of Shokudo's kitchen. When I entered the restaurant, I got a smile with no words from the hostess. I'm wondering if she was thinking of something to say to me. Whatever it was she didn't say it fast enough, I went to meet my party. I had the plum wine (good if you like fruity) and Creme Sake for drinks. The lobster dynamite roll and chicken katsu was good and earned the restaurant a star. My waitress was forgettable but what i couldn't forget was the waiter for the table next to mine who acussed me of throwing a take-out box at him when he bumped into our table, making our take-out boxes fall on the ground. He picked them up and tried to give it back to us to use. No thanks! Overall, I thought the ambiance was nice (and loud), the prices were overrated and the service was not worth us spending $200. The food is the only thing that was good but the price is making it foggy for me to remmeber how good it was. I don't think I will be back soon.
(1)Sheena C.
Okay, so I visited Shokudo bc of a dinner outing with the SO's family. the quality of the food has improved a little (menu has changed since the last time I've been), BUT the sushi pizza is a big NO unless you enjoy hard, crunchy rice. Also, the udon broth lacked a full flavor and the noodles were a little too firm for my liking. Cocktails were yum, as always, but I still probably won't be back on a regular basis.
(3)Sam G.
New to Shokudo. Slow service. DO NOT order Unagi Rice My two friends and I ventured to Ala Moana and found nothing we liked to eat. We walked across the parking lot because one of them recommended Shokudo. The wait was estimated 30-45 min; I think we would have been seated, ordered, and finished eating faster at the adjacent Italian restaurant. I'm surprised we actually finally got called and seated by the window and ordered within 35 minutes. Our server was Codey, and he seemed genuine up front. When talking to us, he squatted, which was a form of respect to the customer (he is at a lower level when talking face-to-face). We all ordered alcohol except my other friend who doesn't drink alcohol. He also ordered Unagi Rice. Time slowly passed as we waited for our drinks and meal. I joked to my friend that we would get our alcoholic drinks before he got his water... and I was right! We saw Codey take orders and give water to customers sitting next to us and my friend was just baffled. It seemed like a personal insult. We got our food next; my friend still did not get his water or Unagi Rice. I finally spoke up for him so Codey could get his water. What a shame. After we finished both our meals and the unagi rice finally came after 30 minutes of sitting down. This means my other friend had waited an hour to eat. And believe me we were all hungry, and willing to eat anything. (We're good friends so we shared our food as he waited). Not surprisingly, a lady who I assume was the manager came by and apologized for the long wait. Seriously, it was just rice that was stuck to a melting polt with unagi topped on it. I joked that they reason for the delay was they had to run to Don Quijote to get the ingredients. I also told my friend it's up to him whether he wants to tip. But because we are all good Christian believers, we tipped accordingly. You'll never see us there again!
(2)Jarrett H.
I'm writing this strictly for the honey toast. Oddly, with all of the people raving about the honey toast, I never tried it until recently. I was quiet impress with it. It reminded me of the garlic pillow toast from Kit n Kitchen but a lot better and more. Kit and Kitchen was more savory while the honey toast was sweet with ice cream. I was quite impressed with the amount they gave. It was like an entire loaf of bread. Yes, this may not be the best thing for a low carb diet as my date constantly reminded me as we both scarfed it down. Oh well, diet tomorrow. It was a fun adventure trying to find the right combination of ice cream and honey toast. I hope I can come back and try different things on the menu the next time. The waiter was very helpful and friendly. I felt no rush considering I stayed there for over two hours with just honey toast. Also, considering how busy it was we got a table pretty quickly. I recommend this place.
(4)Eric F.
My friends and I came here as one of my last stops before leaving Hawaii and what a great meal! Everything's meant to be shared, so the dining is Izakaya style. We had: Sashimi Sampler Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi Sushi Pizza Yukari French Fries Mochi Cheese Gratin Char-Siu Pork & Japanese Scallions Chicken Wings HONEY TOAST Though some dishes like the sushi pizza weren't nearly as good, the food overall was consistently exceptional from dish to dish and I especially loved the honey toast =D I'd never seen such huge pieces of toast in my life and it was pretty neat to see the insides hollowed out and cubed up before being drizzled with honey. A big thumbs-up for the bottomless Kona coffee as well! Very smooth and thoroughly enjoyable black - a surefire sign of quality coffee. Highly recommended for a relaxed meal especially with a group!
(4)Terrance Y.
After coming here a couple of times for lunch I like the decor and a different ambiance than I expect but I've always so far had the pleasure of helpful and cheerful wait help the service is decent although depending on what you order it could take a bit to come to you. The food is decent for the price which is about average for a Japanese restaurant I've seen but never got the toast :-( mostly because I'm too full to get the dessert of low on funds to splurge on it (or maybe I'm Cheap?, nah it's the having kids part that makes me feel poor) As far as the food goes there are decent portions and about average taste for the price (like I said earlier) but then of course I haven't had the chance to try more items and look forward to doing so soon! Parking is pretty good you can get parking in the building or cheat and park at Ala Moana and walk over. I've never experience the place being extremely crowded during lunch so it seems not a problem getting seats. I look forward to coming here again.
(3)Jeanette L.
We were in Waikiki for 7 days and ate at Shokudo twice! So good! Here's what we LOVED: Lychee Saketini (SO GOOD) Mochi Cheese Gratin (holy.crap) Tofu Salad (fresh tofu!) Lobster Dynamite Roll (amazingggg) Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi (yum) Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio Stuff that was only OK: Sushi Pizza Agedashi Tofu (though, some people in my group really liked) Def recommend (and would recommend making reservations!)
(5)Ursula C.
Finally got to try this place. We were about 20 minutes away when we decided to eat there. Because I had read that it gets packed, I made my reservations through the Yelp app. And thank goodness we did, it was after 12 and there were at least 6 different families waiting outside. I went in to let them know I had made reservations but because we were early we would wait outside. I didn't like that when I gave my name and said I made reservations, the 2 hosts looked at me and looked at each other and nodded with raised eyebrows. Yeah, so I'll be going ahead of people waiting outside. You take reservations, it's not my fault that those people decided to just show up and wait for available tables rather reserve them. Ugh! Ok, enough on that topic. We were waited on by Matt, who was pretty cool. I had to ask him several times to bring some forks. And although we were ready to order, he would come by our table, mumble "take your time" and run away. Thank goodness they had others refilling the drinks. We also waited awhile for our checks. We all ended up laying our head's back and we must looked like we were going to sleep because the GM (who was awesome) came by to see if we were okay. Once we told him we had been waiting awhile, our check finally came. As for the food, I can't say that it was anything special. My kids scarfed the fries and rice but only had few pieces of their chicken katsu and karrage (which they normally love). My husband enjoyed the Lobster Dynamite and the sushi that he ordered off of their new item menu. I ate up their tempura and all I can say about is that I'm happy it was big. Unfortunately, I didn't have dessert because I got full trying to finish my kids leftovers. I'll go back because my husband liked it and wants to go. Hopefully my next experience is better.
(3)Jacob L.
Hum...I find this place just okay. I can't really say i like it to give it a 4 star (Of course can't say i love it) The food wasn't so bad. I don't know what people find in this place...It was very busy. Maybe a great hangout spot...don't understand.
(3)Kelly V.
Wasn't all that impressed with the honey toast however; the food was great and service was excellent.
(5)Nina N.
It's what's inside that counts....... I thought that it was just crust with ice cream, and little did I know hidden underneath the delicious creamy vanilla was toasted buttery insides of the toast!! heck yes! yummy yummy in my tummy!!! :) I love milk toast, and I was so glad that they had it in hawaii!!!!!! yeah for milk toast. I swear the chinese invented milk toast with ice cream, but whichever, yeah for the asians hahaha
(4)Jerry F.
Foot long chicken katsu is as described. Couldn't even finish it. But so tasty. Also had the Sukiyaki Bibimbap which was very fulfilling. The only thing I regretted not getting is the Honey Toast for desert. By that time, I was so full!
(5)Gavin P.
Drove from mililani to have a last minute dinner with my girlfriend, we get there right at happy hour (11:30). This being my second time here, expecting it to be very good cause I heard good things about the food. Ordered our food with some appetizers with our server HECTOR. We waited for 30min and recieved no waters. Our appetizers finally arrive and still no water!? We literally had to ask him for our water. Another 30min go by and still no food, mind you it is not croweded at all. Another 15min still nothing, by this point its kinda of obvious that HECTOR didnt place our order, I had to ask him about our food now!? He made a excuse that the kitchen "LOST" our order. At this point im pretty irritated, so we decide to leave. Before our way out I ask to speak to a manager. I told the manager what had happened, and he seemed like he didn't care at all!? He didnt say one word to us and walked away!? Didnt catch the managers name but very unprofessional and disappointed in their service and the way they handled everything about the situation. VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!
(1)Jennifer A.
Okay Lets Just Start With I LOVE SHOKUDO. For Happy Hour This Is Definitely The Place You Want To Be. Good Food, Good Ambiance & Just A Great Look A+ To Their Interior Decorator. Now The Reason For The 3 Stars Me & My Boyfriend Have Been Regulars Here For Our Entire Relationship We Love It There! For Some Reason Last Night I Was Just Disappointed With The Attentiveness Of Everyone We Came Into Contact With Last Night. First Of All Our Food Took Forever Which I Could Not Think Of Any Reason Why It Would We've Gone On The Weekends When Its Super Packed & Still Got Our Food In A Timely Manner But It Felt Like 20 Minutes In Between Dishes Where I Was Literally Played Games On My Phone To Pass The Time. It Was Also Very Disappointing That We Tried Ordering More Food & Yet Its Like They Don't Pay Attention To What You're Saying They Mess Up Our Entire Order Which Messed Up Both Of Our Checks. Not To Mention I Asked For A Simple Refill On My Soda & I Got It After I Asked The Manager For It & He Had To Personally Get It. Its Like I Order Food Write It Down, We Ask For Something & My Waiter Just Walks Away While My BF Is In Mid Sentence. Ugh Overall Terrible Service Last Night But Luckily The Food Is Just Delicious So I Thought 3 Stars Was Reasonable
(3)Rose M.
We come to eat here whenever we're in town.. My fav is the LOBSTER DYNAMITE! and of course you can't forget the HONEY TOAST! Every time we come here we always have great service. Nothing to complain about... We recently found out you can ask to borrow their IPADS!! Lol... AHHH! if i knew that we could have asked for it every time! Its always hard to keep our children still when trying to enjoy lunch/ dinner! Well , know we know .
(5)M T.
Our waiter was horrible. Professional manner of serving was not provided evenly between other tables and ours. Most of time at this restaurant was simply waiting. Quality of good was not bad. We enjoyed homemade tofu & ishiyaki dinner. Wish to have better service to complete nice dinner.
(1)Gavin S.
I've always been a fan. I don't go to this place all of the time. Tonight I had the Sukiyaki Udon and their gyoza. My friends ordered a bunch of the other things. This isn't about the food. The food was good. Don't get me it wasn't. It's atmosphere is great for getting together with friends. Tonight we got together for one of our classmates who came in for the holidays with her family. It was a good time for all. What I'd like to focus on that impressed me was the service. Our classmates kid falls off the chair near the glass window when we first get there, the staff come running to check on us. The kid was given an iPad was ok by mom. But the staff still came to check. Then they tell our party of 15 that they can only split the bill 4 ways. So we all figure out how we are going to do our bills by table. At the end of the evening, oh and our waiter was Tremaine. Very impressed with him. Between him and our assistant came back to check on us often. He ends up splitting the bill for convenience by couples or singles which came out more than 4 ways. I gotta give it props to them. Thats what you call service. He didn't have to do that but did. The man has got it. In the restaurant industry the food counts but what speaks volumes in my book is service. I was impressed with the service for going the extra mile. I normally won't come home to throw up a review. I had to for this. I love to get good service. That will get me to go back to a restaurant. It really shows that they care for their clients. Thank you again Tremaine!! Keep up the good work man!!
(4)Travis L.
Always a favorite. Highly recommend any of the stone bowl dishes and the honey toast. However, it is pretty busy and food can take awhile to come out so timing your orders becomes a skill.
(5)Lisa Y.
Though the food is good, it took several tries to get someone on the phone to make a reservation. Then we were told several times that there's a 2 hour limit...just in case they were busy and needed the table...I think they can use some customer service tips...
(3)Phillip S.
Jeasus crimany this place is friggin amazing. Had a server "BuBu" that was amazing. Lobster dynamite or Lobster dynamite rolls are this shit. Get a bunch of friends, make reservations, and everyone order something different. Even if you're not sure you like it, try it! Try to save room for the dessert but that's hard to do since the food is amazing. Lived here for 3 years and this is the place I go if I want to make an impression of Hawaii to visiting friends. Pricing can get steep fast but if your taking it easy then you're fine. Parking at rear in a cramped garage so don't bring a huge truck.
(5)Lianne R.
I'd say I'm kind of a regular at Shokudo and I always sit at the bar when I go. It's not just because I love the drinks they serve up. The bartenders there are great! Last week was especially awesome. Yooey and Jacie were attentive and quick to come by when they saw our glasses getting empty. They also made the time to have a little bit of quirky conversation with us, which I appreciate in bartenders... shows they care about their customers. Drinks of choice: House sangria, umeshu and soda, and the new yogurt soju carafe... delicious!
(5)Julia O.
We all know what everyone comes here for...HONEY TOAST. I love honey toast and that's why I go to Shokudo too but honestly after eating it so much, I've finally realized, hm this really isn't that special. I dunno this last time just wasn't the same fun honey toast experience I'm used to...I know they get their bread specially made from a local bakery but what's stopping everyone from making it themselves?? I would say it's so worth it if it weren't so EXPENSIVE. $7.50 for bread, ice cream, and honey...really? Well, I find that everything on their menu is pretty steep but I am a fan of their food. My favorite is the beef tataki on balsamic rice, SO GOOD but again so expensive for the amount you get. Also they used to have this curry that was super good but unfortunately they discontinued it :(. They have a sister restaurant in Irvine, CA called Tokyo Table which I've been to and to my surprise, they have it! But sadly I can't hop on a plane and fly to California every time I want that curry. We usually get good service there but I gotta say our most recent server, B-Lo was really good! I think I've had him before but he's always super friendly and attentive. All in all, this place is good but too expensive for what you're getting. The ambience is really nice but it can get pretty loud and the L-shaped booths are awkward...we're always stepping on each other's feet or hitting each other's legs, they didn't plan that one out too well. But I still keep going back because I usually have a pretty good experience every time I go. The wait time is usually long so make reservations. They use Open Table so that's a plus!
(3)Michiko H.
Shokudo is that place you go with your girlfriends for some cocktails & pupu's during happy hour. Other than that during regular hours they are pricey! Also theirs a weird rule if you go for Happy hour be sure to be seated on the righthand side of restaurant, the other side doesn't get happy hour. Weird, I know. Ordered the: Unagi Rice: $10 Mabo Tofu:$8 Ahi sush rolli: $9 spicy ramen:$8 (delicious!!!) Also all the Hype for Honey Toast is B.S. Nothing special that you can't make at home. If your lazy to make it than get it at shokudos. Overall I'm pleased with the food, all very tasty even for the price. Customer service: Its a hit or miss with who ever you have. The waiter we had last time for my friends birthday was like a ghost, only appeared rarely. Ran out of water several times and he totally butchered the checks when we asked for separates. My hubby & I would rather go to Gyukaku, but thats just us =]
(3)Shanisse I.
since they close at 1-2 in the morning its a good place to go late night with friends..they have a good happy hour menu and that's the only time I would go ..their regular menu is ok and you can tell that its more of a pupu place to go but the food tasted good..their tofu salad however was kind of watered down :/ Staff was ok...we ended up waiting half an hour after our reservation just to sit down.. Personally I'm not in love with the honey toast like everyone else but ill still eat it if I'm sharing with people.. All in all this place is ok but I'd rather go to gyukaku if they were opened till one or two in the morning.
(3)Osvaldo M.
Being a beaner in Hawaii is tough. Being a person who doesn't like seafood, let alone raw fish and sushi, it's tough to find a way around eating it but this place turned out to be ok. As soon as you walk in you look at the decor and layout and it is a very elegant and sleek looking restaurant, so as far as first impressions go this place makes a good one. I have tried a few things at this place and some were good, but others that I don't think will be that memorable. One of the things I had was the salmon. The only reason why I got the salmon was because I wanted to try the wasabi mashed potatoes that came with it. I love spicy food and potatoes so I figured they would be great, and they were. Sadly though I thought that was the best part of the dish. The teriyaki salmon was good but I think that if you are going to cook it with the skin then the skin should be crispy and not flaccid like the one on my salmon, the dish was missing a different layer of texture, plus flaccid fish skin is not all that appetizing. I like edamame and pork gyoza but I really don't think the ones here were all that great, they were good did not stand out to me. Two things that I was surprised I enjoyed were the the rainbow roll and sushi pizza. I was really skeptical, especially about the sushi pizza but it was really good. What I loved about it was that they cut it into square pieces and put jalapeños over every slice, that helped keep the fish taste I still don't like that much down. But be warned, the service here is not the best you'll encounter. First time I came a friend never received her rice and I got a dirty fork when I asked for one. The waiter would have known if he checked up on us a little more often. The second time the waiter checked in on us after we got the food and not again until he brought the check over. The food is good and not overpriced, this place is ok, not A-OK.
(3)Layna F.
Like their vodka soda drinks and the stone pot dishes. Everything else I can live my whole life without eating again.
(3)Carol H.
Omakase by Hero at the sushi bar is simply the best! Always fresh, creative and delicious. The entire team is super friendly, attentive and make us feel at home. Sit back and enjoy. This is our favorite sushi bar in Honolulu and we've been to quite a few!
(5)Michael E.
Tried the sushi pizza OMG so so good.
(5)Joanne M.
The good: - Anything in the stone pot: bibimbap, shrimp, unagii. All of it. So delicious. - Honey Toast: Every time Shokudo is mentioned, someone is going to talk about honey toast and everyone is going to go crazy about it because we all know it's the best dessert to end your night here. - Drinks: Actually I just like the virgin drinks -- Lava Flows, Green Tea Float/Shake. I'm a big fan of green tea, and either version is awesome. - Happy Hour: Their happy hour food is a must. I love the Spicy Tuna Nachos and Chicken Quesadilla. Two drinks I recommend are In the Doghouse and the Yogurt Soju shooter, of course. Probably one of the best places I've gone to so far with good a good HH selection. - The workers: very nice and attentive. The bad: The portions for regular seating in the restaurant are supposedly family size, but they're not that big really. You need to know this, especially if you are planning to share with friends. Plan and observe sizes well and the prices.
(4)Gordon H.
I would say it has it's goods and bads. I called to make a reservation, but no one answers the phone. So I left a message and told them to call back to confirm. I had a feeling they probably won't call back so I called maybe two hours later just to confirm. They finally picked up and I told them about my reservation and the girl Melissa told me they are all booked for the night. I asked her if my reservation is confirmed and she said no and never got the message! I was a bit upset when they don't pick up the phone and said they don't have my message. An hour later, they called back (another girl) and said they receieved my message and will reserve my table. That was all weird. So we get there and got seated after 10 min of waiting. After we get seated, we got greeted by our waiter (Ryan) but never asked about our drinks until the second time he came back. The food was good, we had mochi cheese gratin, marine salad, fresh tofu, and garlic shrimp rice. All of it was delicious, the mochi cheese sauce was very flavorful along with the cheese was stringy and good. Marine salad had strips of squid on top, Fresh tofu was fresh and refreshing. Garlic shrimp was aromatic and garlicy good. But the most popular and yummy was the Honey Toast! We had an original which was butter and honey. The ice cream with honey and toast bits was very good. They have other flavors that can be topped. I'd recommend it if you go there.
(4)Anna K.
This place is for yuppies that dont know good food if it walked up to them and smacked them in the face. The food is decent but sooooo over rated.I'll give it to them for being innovative with the sushi but as for taste they dont rank high with me. Ninja Sushi smashes this place just on taste alone. The decor is nice ,booths are awkward,service is so-so and the wait time can kick rocks.The real reason I venture here is for the Honey toast :) It's different and yummy in all aspects. What kind of Idiot goes to a Japanese restaurant for dessert ? Myself along with hundreds of fellow Honey toast fans. Simple dessert nothing extravagant but it's great. If your gonna dine here be sure to try it ,It'll keep you coming back for more :))
(3)Mellanie S.
Came here for a company party recently. When we made the reservations we requested for the private room weeks in advance. When we called the day before to verify that we had the private room, we were told that someone else had already booked it. Strange, because we reserved it the day after they opened from renovations. But oh well cant do anything about it (minus 1 star). Our company arrived at our scheduled reservation time at 12:30pm. Waited about 10 minutes to just get our drinks, another 10 minutes for the waiter to take our order. Serivce here was so sloooow. For a group of 14 I really think they should've have us 2 waiters. By the time my bimbap came, like an hour after, I was already too full from sushi and eating my coworkers food. (Minus 2 stars for slow service). Desert. It was also one of our co workers birthday so the day before we called the restaurant and requested to have 3 honey toasts. 1 chocolate, 1 strawberry, and 1 cookies and cream. We also requested to have them write "Happy Birthday L****" and to bring it out together so we could song to her. First off they brought 1 regular honey toast when we asked where were the others our waiter said they're still working on it. Told the waiter we wanted all together so we could sing. Was told he brought it so we could eat something while we wait. In my head, I was thinking how hard is it to write happy birthday on a damn plate?! Already irritated, we just wanted to sing to our coworker and leave. 10 minutes later, our waiter brings 2 PLAIN honey toast, still no happy birthday cookies and cream or strawberry -___-. Puts a candle on it and so we start to sing since we were already there for almost 3 hours. The supervisor comes to inform us a few minutes later that they had messed up on the cookies and cream and had to redo it. We told her never mind we just want the check. (Minus 1 star) I used to love this place, but now its just a total fail.
(1)Tessa t.
i'm giving this place four stars because of (1) their awesome happy hour and (2) their good service.... they have $3 happy hour special (late night)! their quality of food is more 2-3 stars...however! i am a bit on the cheap side...so i gotta LOVE this place! i suggest their $3 ramen, kim chee tofu, spicy tuna nachos, garlic clams, and teriyaki chicken quesidilla!! plus their $4 kirin draft beer or wine :D
(4)Hats A.
You cant really go wrong with this place ... I thought it was very good ... i wish I can get to eat their more often ... Luv it , I just give 4 star i dont think name fits the price, name sounds like caferteria food so you imagine to be very cheap ...
(4)L K.
Mmm, yummy. Went there with some friends and we decided to order to bunch of things and share. Everything was pretty good. The homemade tofu is yummy. And the sushi is all fresh and tasty. For Mother's Day today they had a buffet. It was good. Just crowded. A little pricey at $29.95/person for brunch. They did have their famous Honey Toast for the buffet, but in a smaller portion. Still just as yummy though, and you can go back for more and more. One small negative thing, they were running really low on toilet paper and one of the waitresses said to use napkins. Err...clogging much? Hopefully someone ran out to get some. Anyway, if you haven't tried their gigantic Honey Toast dessert, go there to get some. At $7.50, the price isn't bad for the humongous portion you get. Mmmmm.
(4)Ben D.
I've been to Shokudo three times now and I can't get enough. Between their Honey Toast and Fresh Homemade Tofu (also comes in a salad form), there is a great variety in food to be offered here. On my list of things to try, that come recommended by my friend that works here, are the Chicken Mochi Pizza (without the chicken) and the Mochi Cheese Gratin. There are many dishes for the adventurous in addition to these, including their Sushi Pizza, Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla, and the Banana Flambe (which is delicious!) if you're looking for a sweeter find. Yesterday, my best mate also made a trip to their bar during happy hour (which is really late! 10:30pm to midnight) and sampled some of their drinks. Definitely recommend the Yogurt Soju shots - they come carbonated, which makes it better than any of the many other yogurt sojus I have sampled before. I also recommend their bombs, which are made with Pinnacle, a whipped cream flavored vodka, paired with their juices. I had the Yuzu Ball-and-Chain, which tasted great with very, very subtle hints that there was even any alcohol in it to begin with. The Li Hing Shots, on the other hand, while sounding epic, were diluted and underwhelming. There's a good variety of drinks to experiment with at very cheap prices: shots for $2; beer, wine, bombs, and sangria for $4; high roller vodka selection for $5. The interior of the restaurant awes a lot of people as it is a high-ceilinged, trendy take on minimal, Asiatic design. It's inviting, definitely, and the bar shelves are suspended above your head on ropes - not sure how safe that is, but it's fun to stare at. They really should clean their air ducts though, there is a lot of visible dust from the main dining area. Prices are moderate to high, but again, you pay for the ambience. I haven't experienced poor service at Shokudo, unlike many of my fellow Yelpers, so I can't say anything but positive things about it. And I've never had to wait more than 15 minutes to be seated. As far as dress is concerned, it lies somewhere between "just got back from Pearlridge" and "going to dinner with the family at a nice beachfront restaurant up on North Shore." You pick, no one will really care. Bring some foodie friends and die as you indecisively peruse the menu trying to narrow down what tantalizing dish you want to order. Cheers!
(4)Rita B.
Love their Plum Wine. Honey Toast is a must and their Melona Floats!! Service is great!!! Spicy Tuna Roll is YUM! I ate so much there, and everything I had was great! I wish I wrote this review right after I came back!
(5)Teri Y.
Awesome service. Ordered volcano sushi, tempura, sashimi, tofu salad - all incredible. Then had the honey bread - a lot of fun. Going to go back and will take friends with us.
(5)Ro M.
Honey toast = Heavenly bliss. Don't leave here without trying the Honey Toast:)
(4)Missy S.
Went here tonight with my family to celebrate my college graduation and gotta thank you fellow yelpers for the food advice! Tonight judging what some people said were good we tried some of the recommendations and fell in love with every dish we tried. We had reservations for 5:30 and the timing was good. We were seated towards the back and our waitress was very attentive and did a great job. She took our orders and we didn't have to wait forever for food, we actually got food immediately, it was awesome! So this is what we ordered tonight: 2 orders sushi pizza Lobster dynamite dip Lobster dynamite sushi Ahi on crispy rice sushi Mochi cheese gratin Tofu salad Sukiyaki bibimbap Yukari french fries 2 orders honey toast with vanilla icecream Each dish had a very unique asian fusion flavor. My recommendations are definately the lobster dynamite sushi, ahi on crispy rice, mochi cheese gratin, honey toast. All were cooked and prepared well. Also these food portions LOOK small, but do not underestimate! You get full quickly, especially when eating ricey foods. But good thing we were a party of 7 so boy did we finish those dishes with full bellies!
(5)Sara S.
Ok Shokudo is pretty much a "go-to" place for my friends and I. Or should I say WAS. The past few times I've been have been disappointing. Sure their food is good- I recommend their LOBSTER DYNAMITE, TOFU SALAD, BI BIM BAP (you can get better at legit krn place tho), MOCHI CHEESE GRATIN, their bento dinners and of course, their HONEY TOAST. Also make sure to hit up their happy hour and cocktails! But as far as their service goes, it is HIT OR MISS!! Last time I went, they FORGOT one of our orders and then instead of apologizing the waitress kept saying "Sorry, it's coming right out." Everyone else's food had come and we didn't know whether to start or not since she said it would be "right out" 15 min later... "Sorry, it's almost ready." Everyone starts eating. Another 10 min later, "Sorry, something happened with the order, so I just put it in 'again' and it'll be out shortly." LIKE WTF. Obviously you forgot our order the first time. It finally comes out but by then most ppl were getting full. What a waste. It especially irks me to have a dish come later than the rest... The time before that, the waitress forgot one of our rolls (the ahi jalepeno with crispy rice) but we didn't care cause we were just like ok we just don't want to get charged. THEN when we were basically done with our meal we decided to warn our waitress that we for sure didn't want the crispy rice since we were done. She responded "Sorry, I forgot about it but I already put the order in." We were just like uhh we don't want it any more...... but it literally did come out right as we were talking to her so we were basically STUCK with it. FAIL. We got revenge though by using a lot of change to pay part of the bill/her tip. Don't piss us off! I don't know if the food is enough to make up for thiis bad service. I do enjoy the dishes I mentioned previously, but I am NO longer a frequent customer, maybe just for large parties.
(3)Sheila S.
I'm super picky but this place was ok...lots of spicy foods (not a fan). The Calamari had no flavor unless you use the mustard sauce dip thingy and I wasn't a fan of that. Also a little upset that the rice was WASABI it felt like everything was WASABI but it was ok. No impressed with the taste of the Honey Toast just the size! I honestly think this place is a bit over rated! The service was excellent though I give that 5 stars!
(2)Lehua K.
I've been here before with friends for pupus and beer...last night I went with a friend who's never been and was blown away by the food and service. We sat at the bar and ordered some of the faves.... The lobster dynamite was ridiculous good and I loved e hamachi carpaccio. The manager on duty Justin suggested we try the fresh scallops sushi... And WOW! That was unreal. Justin also suggested the anago sushi ...again another winner. He and our server working the bar Crystal were awesome... Justin also gave us an order of honeytoastmehich I love but was almost too stuffed to eat. But i soldiered on since it was my friends first time trying it. Lol. Anyway the whole evening was great and we are coming back again to try some of other thousands of items they have on the menu.
(5)Scott H.
Ate here a few times, its pretty good.
(4)Aivy C.
Honey Toast! That's exactly what I came for. I wasn't disappointed. We also shared a spicy scallop roll - just okay, kind of expensive - and a Teriyaki Chicken quesadilla. I normally do not like Teriyaki Chicken anything but they had an interesting dill dipping sauce and part of the filling included KEWPIE MAYONNAISE! Very generous portion for the price. I'd come back but just for dessert and drinks. If you're a vodka soda person, you'll have a lot of fun perusing the drink menu!
(4)Blake M.
Moneyball: decent food at a decent price. Makes: easy location by ala moana / pietros. Easy free parking in the back of the building...on a Friday night @ 9:30 they weren't even giving out tickets any more. Gotta love plentiful and free parking...just watch that turn exiting the parking structure....ouch. Food is pretty good, drinks average price. Prices seem fair, $20 gets you really full. Misses: we had to wait a bit for our table, but no biggy, we ordered drinks and food (pupus only at the bar), and most of our party including me came 30 mins late. Service at the bar was great BUT service after we were seated at our table was bad. They messed up our order and looked at us like we did something wrong. We ordered two things and they managed to screw up one order and burn the other...Our waiter vanished after we asked for our check: 20 mins later we ask some other waitress. 10 mins after that I just walk up to the bar where those workers actually care and finally got our check 30 minutes later. Food tried: tempura udon was like any other tempura udon, chicken karaage and cheesy Mochi are MUST orders, pizza was burnt but the manager cooked up another one himself, awesome guy.
(3)Christina M.
I absolutely love their food. They use fresh ingredients and unique but simple recipes that create delicious dishes. The service by the way is outstanding and courteous (even though I was blowing my nose on everything in sight not once did the waitress or hostess succumb to the gross out face I would not have been able to hide if I saw someone in the same position). The dishes we ordered were Teriyaki chicken quesodilla, some sort of beef udon, and the balsamic beef sushi. Okay so I'm a weenie when it comes to texture and I can't handle uncooked meat (I'm working on it promise) but I can tell that it tastes delicious. So as soon as I stuck the balsamic meat sushi in my mouth I had two thoughts: "OMG this tastes like heaven" and "If I chew this anymore I'm going to vomit from the texture" (again this is my own idiosyncrasy and is no reflection on the texture of the food). Turns out it's only lightly seared on both sides, so I got it cooked to more of a medium and was good to go (oh and no snarky glances from the waitress for wanting the meal a different way than it was meant to be prepared!). It was gone in about a minute. The entire dish tasted amazing, with delicious fresh beef taste, fresh sticky rice, strong balsamic taste with fried onlion crumbles on top. My friend go the teriyaki quesodilla which I was iffy about trying because normally mexican + asian means absolutely disgusting to me but this is the first time that a restaurant managed to pull off the c-c-c-combo. The udon my other friend got (another dish I've never been too impressed with) was like eating comfort food. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the broth was amazing. I normally like pho over udon for this reason because I've found the broth to be tastier but I could have chugged the udon broth. Dessert! We got honey toast because it was my friends' first time and we all agreed it's not special. I do not understand the obsession with it. It tastes exactly like it sounds. Sweet bread toast with honey. However, it is fun to share and is an amazing presentation. Now we also got my personal favorite: the banana flambe. I could eat my weight in this dessert. Tastes like fried bananas and the caramel on it kind of crystallizes and ceates an amazing texture. Only reason I give this place one less star is my annoyance with the promotion of honey toast when it's not their best item at all. We're going back next saturday after New Years in China town!!!!
(4)Cara G.
The Bibimbap is always excellent, as well as the Chicken Teriyaki Quesadilla. The Tempura Roll (the deep fried one) is also a favorite, along with the gyoza and the Garlic Shrimp Rice. While the Honey Toast is the main attraction, give the Banana Flambe a try, as it comes with caramel/chocolate drizzled ice cream. The service is decent and the prices aren't so bad, but it's a really great place to come to eat and catch up.
(5)Tim B.
I went here a couple of months ago with a Japanese fellow I was dating at the time. The Mochi Cheese Gratin was absolutely to die for. I hate that phrase, but what else can I say? Trust me. Stop in for happy hour. Have a couple beers, a couple orders of Mochi Cheese Gratin and finish it off by splitting an order of Honey Toast. It's absolute heaven! Nice ambiance and VERY friendly [and cute] service staff.
(5)Jody S.
Every time I have eaten at Shokudo I look forward with anticipation to the end of lunch when I can enjoy the dessert, honey toast with vanilla ice cream. Yummy! The place has a really cool vibe with oversized Asian lamps and funky modern design elements. Today I had a chance to dine there with a few business associates and we decided to dine "family" style so we could share a bunch of items rather than eat our own individual lunches. We started with the Sushi pizza, which was a bit spicy today but definitely onolicious! We all enjoyed a few bite size pieces and cleaned the plate in under 10 minutes flat! Thereafter we shared a California Roll, Spider Roll and a Mixed Tempura plate. Overall each of the selections were tasty, light and enough for all of us to share and leave feeling full!
(4)V C.
"I would punch a baby for it." The makings of a Bruno Mars song -- and a line that brought me to Shokudo, in search of its fabled honey toast. That review came from a recent Honolulu transplant hailing from Chicago, and lest you think Chicago people are mobster types who wouldn't blink at punching newborns for dessert -- okay, well, we'll leave that stereotype alone. Suffice to say, I dragooned The Husband to Shokudo after dinner at a nearby Thai restaurant (where we had met a friend). Shokudo was packed on a damp Wednesday night, but we could sit at the bar immediately. The waiter who seated us told of an anniversary special of a $15 three-layer version which involved finding prizes or at least a $5 coupon for the next visit. Considering the massive two stacked layers are the size of karate-breaking bricks (if the bricks were perfectly square but just as thick), we decided not to try our chances for golf clubs or a flat-screen TV. (Yeah, we are terrible gamblers.) So, would a line of babies standing guard before Shokudo feel their all-too-brief lives endangered? Nah. The honey toast ($7.45) is certainly a novelty, but aside from its sheer towering mass, at its core it is merely two slices of soft fluffy toast (its insides cubed and also toasted), drizzled with honey and top-loaded with vanilla ice cream. (We abstained from any extra toppings, but the likes of chocolate or azuki beans are available). True, the honey toast as a whole is stronger than its individual component parts -- which makes it a nice corporate analogy for team-building, but the quality is reminiscent of -- although better than -- a chain restaurant (like Claim Jumpers in Northern California) substituting sheer size over subtle quality. If the ice cream were a touch more gourmand perhaps... However, that said, I do believe the honey toast offers an infinite possibility of varieties. A spin-off breakfast joint, in which the honey toast would come with island fresh fruit or a bitter espresso syrup. A flaming honey toast, kind of like a marshmallow-over-a-flame experience, but with the excitement of spontaneous combustion. Different types of artisan honey. And, of course, franchising honey-toast at carnival, in which you have to play the Punch-a-Baby to earn your slices.
(3)Armida Y.
This place is so gross! I've heard so much about this place and all about their honey toast--- went here a month ago, I must say the cookies and cream honey toast was awesome until we found hair in it! Not only did we tell our server, he told us that was the second hair a customer has found that night! Ewwwww!!!! I shall never go here again, unless their staff starts wearing hair nets... Isn't that a mandatory uniform in a restaurant? Just sayin'
(1)Trish P.
still one of my favorite places to eat. remember to speak up when talking to your server or even your friends b/c its un-naturally loud in there for some reason... and its not even from the music, which btw is a cracked mixture - on my last visit i heard The Jackson 5, Beyonce, and Fall Out Boy in that order.... strange. they have a new late night menu, but its only on certain days - Sun - Wed.... my last visit consisted of the beef tataki balsamic sushi, tempura roll, karaage chicken, and fresh tofu.... all were good... except this time around the tofu wasnt as good as before. my last bite of it tastely strangely "cheesey". the beef tataki was really good, but i think could use a couple more pieces on the plate....
(4)Randall P.
The food was great, but the experience left a lot to be desired. We sat in an area where the overhead light bulbs needed to be changed, leaving us eating in a very dim atmosphere. When trying to order our dinner, they were out of their most popular items making it more difficult to decide again what to consider. After 10 minutes of waiting for the waiter to take our order again, she was very helpful in helping us decide. The highlights of the meal included the Lobster Dynamite Roll, Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi, Spicy Miso Ramen, and the Awesome Finale of Honey Toast dessert. Normally I would have to take off a few stars if the experience was not up to par with my expectations, but the food was so good.....they got bonus points for making my tummy happy. Thanks Shokudo :)
(4)Jessica S.
Seems a little Americanized to be, but menu still contains pretty standard Japanese fare. Ordered agedashi tofu, Mongolian Beef ishiyaki, and udon. Portions were a little small in proportion to price, but I didn't find anything wrong with the food. Tasty, arrived in a reasonable time. I just wanted extra white onions for my udon, and they charged $1.50 for it which was pricey to me. Next time, I'll cut my own up and bring them! Honey toast was probably the main attraction of the night--nothing exciting, but it's different. Would come here again.
(4)Shari Y.
Shokudo has been one of my favorite restaurants since they opened. Every time I went I've had great service and the food is a little expensive but worth every penny. I would recommend the mochi cheese gratin, honey toast, fresh tofu, lobster dynamite, and chicken karaage. They have great drinks too, can get a little pricey but to me it's worth it. The only reason I do not give them 5 stars is their happy hour is not up to par. They have too many rules associated with it and to be quite honest you go to happy hour to be HAPPY not GRUMPY because of all the damned restrictions! All in all Shokudo is great to go with friends or family.
(4)Melanie S.
I've been to this restaurant before with my Filipina mother and grandmother and we had no problems with seating. However, this time I came with my white boyfriend and we watched THREE couples get seated before us even though that had arrived a significant time after us. All the couples were Asian. I'm not saying this restaurant is "racist" but I could tell by the way the hostess looked at us she thought we didn't belong. Finally after they seated a couple who arrived TWENTY minutes after us my boyfriend went up and inquired as to why we were still waiting after arriving before the other couples. She looked annoyed and sat as immediately. Other than this hostess, the food was AMAZING and our waiter was great. I love this place but I was totally offended by this hostess and her complete disregard for us. I'm not sure if it was a race thing or if she's an idiot, but it just looked bad on her end. Anyways... I totally recommend the food and it's a great place to go!!
(2)Marck N.
The food here is very different and unique from your everyday Japanese and Asian Fusion restaurant. My friend and I shared the sushi pizza, char siu pork, grilled teriyaki salmon plate, and pumpkin tempura (we needed a vegetable dish). The sushi pizza is way out there and quite enjoyable. Sushi rice served crisp in a pie shape with salmon, onion, and crab meat (a mayo mix). A nori base is the crust underneath. To compare the taste, I would say it is like eating a seafood salad served on crisp sushi rice. Didn't really care for the char siu pork as it tasted like something I could get anywhere. The grilled salmon is served with teriyaki sauce and a watercress. The salmon was crisp in texture & sweet and oily in taste. The watercress was really great (only because I haven't had it in years). Refreshing as it is served with a miso dressing. The pumpkin tempura was like eating a potato chip. The pumpkin is sliced very thin, then deep fried. It was very crispy and surprisingly good. Anything fried is good, but this was unexpectantly good. I would say this is a great place for friends to hang out. Not really a place for special family dinners, as there appears to be more small (2 seater) booths in the restaurant.
(4)SugarPlum F.
I don't write reviews unless I've been royally screwed over OR I'm greatly surprised so thankfullly its the later. Took my dad to the Fathers Day Buffet which was so great. Great food. Excellent service delivered by Ryan. So impressed we tipped out twice (my mom has a thing about handing out $2 bills for luck...i think he got a few. And I tipped out again for the overall bill. Thanks Shokudo for an awesome buffet experience!
(5)Alexis O.
So far my experience with Shokudo has been very good! I am a fan of their Unagi Rice and the Mochi Cheese Gratin, and most importantly the HONEY TOAST! Honey Toast is really good, but I wish you could add fruit in it as well, I think that would make it even better. Food quality is very fresh and tasty, and it comes out very quickly. The atmosphere in Shokudo is very good, although a bit noisy, service is also pretty good too. Went here with a group of friends (about 15 of us), reservation process and everything went smoothly. The only thing about Shokudo is that its pretty pricey, and portions are kind of small. And to finish my review off, like i was asked to do, chris the manager is awesome! hahahh :D
(4)Cintamani A.
One of the more reputable looking places on Kapiolani that is open late. Even for a late Tuesday night the place was packed which shows how popular it is. On the surface it seems quite hip and somewhat sophisticated but it's just anything you would get in Waikiki with some gimmicky dishes. I won't deny at the time I had fun eating the various appetizers and entrees and shake but I look back on and just think it was pretty average and over-priced for certain items. The Takoyaki Russian roulette appetizer was such a pathetic letdown. My exact words when I was the lucky one to consume the piece with the supposed intense amount of wasabi was, "Does each one contain a little wasabi in it?".
(3)T W.
I actually wanted to put 3.5 stars. Service was attentive n friendly. Food tasted good (lobster dynamite n mochi cheese gratin). Problem was everything we ordered took VERY long time to come out!
(3)Hanna N.
The food and pupus are pretty good. BUT the HONEY TOAST is something you will NEVER forget. mmmmmmm
(5)Alysha K.
Shokudo has a really good happy hour from 4-6pm that includes discounted pupus and drink specials. Goose is only $5. Even though the other foods I've tried were just meeh, I really enjoy eating the homemade tofu (salad) there. I've recently gotten into homemade tofu and Shokudo has one of the best. It's so silky and they serve it with a really good, creamy miso dressing. I've even ordered it as take out before. In fact, I am craving that salad right as I speak!
(4)Joann H.
AAAHHHH. The only thing from the menu that I have ever favored most was the spicy ramen. But a bowl for $14 or so? I could make better at home. I've been to this place several times with different sets of friends; their company and the atmosphere was usually the best experience I got to trips there. I'm pretty adventurous with cuisine, so when I saw (crispy rice sushi?) on the menu, I felt compelled to make that my order. Half an hour later, I was served deep-fried rice with raw fish, -_-* dun, dun duunnn! I certainly do not comprehend why people are so hypnotized by the honey toast here. The flavors don't complement one another; rather, they are rich add-ons. Simplicity is the way to go for dessert since the menu attempts to overload its customers with confusing main entree copulations of who knows what from who knows where. I'd only recommend the mixed drinks with vodka. Opt for that in your martinis instead of gin. You can't fail with beer, it's beer. If you don't drink alcohol, just order a soda. The water is rich tertiary treatment (as with all other eateries serving water from the tap).
(2)Annie W.
I wanted to save my 100th review for an awesome restaurant, BUT I haven't yelped any review in days!! I have to yelp... It was like midnight and this place was still packed with all types of people. We were starving, so we needed food and we needed it 2 hours ago. We were told that they had late night specials, but apparently it did not apply to Friday nights (that was not cool) The prices are okay to high for Hawaii. I ordered a unagi w/ stone rice for nearly $15 and their sushi is just o-k. Skip the sushi pizza, it's just appeared to be baked California rolls, but flat (rip off). Can't go wrong with edamame, because that was delicious and warm. We had really nice company so that made it pleasant while enjoying a late night din din. The ambiance is a chill place to hang out though. Since it was super packed, service was pretty slow, and we asked for ketchup during 5 different times from 4 different people before it finally showed up.
(3)Shay F.
I used to go to this place once every week....I don't go as often anymore, but I still think that the food is good. Today I had the cobb salad, which was better than I thought it was going to be, the mochi-cheese gratin, and the rainbow roll. They were all good. I even had the sangria drink. It was my first time having that so that caught me by surprise. I guess the only thing that I don't like about shokudo is that you smell like shokudo when you leave. But I guess you can't really help that...
(4)Nicole R.
I will definitely return! The food is really delicious and the menu is different enough from most Japanese restaurants to make it fun to pick things out. I need to go back a few more times for sure, because there are still a bunch of cool items on the menu that we didn't get to try this visit! Here's what we ordered and shared family style: spicy tuna on crispy rice, calamari salad, pork ramen and a volcano roll. Everything we ordered was fantastic - the spicy tuna had great kick to it and was really fantastic served on the crispy rice. It was so good that we ordered a second plate! The calamari salad was a surprise to me - I wouldn't have typically ordered that, but it was really delicious. The salad's cilantro dressing was absolutely out of this world! The volcano roll is incredible - honestly, perfect. My least favorite dish of the evening was the ramen - it wasn't bad, but the pork flavor was a bit overwhelming for my personal taste. Others at the table loved it. To drink, we had passion fruit vodka sodas which were really yummy and Japanese beer. The service was good - friendly and efficient and when we asked for suggestions on what and how much to order, we were given excellent guidance.
(4)Sierrah I.
Everything was "okay" here, food and service wise. Came here for the Happy Hour (4-6p.m.), which has various $3 & $4 dollar items and drink specials. Steamed Gyoza Garlic Edamame Tako Karaage Chicken Quesadilla Kimchee Pizza Eggplant Mini Shoyu Ramen Kimchee Fried Rice were some of the items on the Happy Hour menu. Best thing about Shokudo? Honey Toast was $4.00 on Happy Hour. I'd come back, for just that Honey Toast. Did you know you can add Cinnamon to your Honey Toast? $1.00 more, but totally worth it.
(3)Vincent Q.
A spur of the moment lunch led me to Shokudo once more. Sitting by the wood curtains, remembering my friend's comment, "It looks like wooden kamaboko things!" Homemade Tofu- 4-stars- Simple, squishy, and falls apart so easily. The look of the dish has a certain elegance, entirely Asian. The tofu even sits in its own watery juices, and a small dish with green onions, nori, and sea salt is placed nearby. You also get a bowl of dipping sauce to go with it. Altogether, they actually work with the subtle flavors of tofu. This is definitely a surprise waiting to happen. Pumpkin Tempura- 4 1/2-stars- Oh, kabocha, how I seem to love you. I have even transformed my guests views of this Japanese pumpkin, actually a winter squash--thus you understand the flavor a bit more. Deep fried and battered to perfection. The pieces are firm, moist, and oh so sweet. I will now order this every time, and fight people for every slice. It comes with the same bonito-styled dipping sauce as the tofu. Yukari French Fries- 3 1/2-stars- These fries look pretty darn good; crispy, firm, and not too oily. They taste a little better than average, perhaps because of the ingredients, or the fact they can be dipped into any of the sauces Shokudo has available. The simple sprinkling of sea salt and nori helps add both subtle flavor and artistic flair. "Foot Long" Chicken Katsu- 3-stars- The one, most average choice we had is the chicken katsu. Overall, it was flavored normally, and had a brown, fried crust, which was oddly darker on one side than the other--length-wise. I could tell a lot of chicken was put together to make this dish, but the thickness of the pieces was disappointing. I think a half-foot, twice-as-thick katsu would have been preferable. The weird yellow spots in the katsu, I think, is the batter, or that's what I told myself and my guest. Ambiance- Well, it seems they play some oldies and other calming, laid-back music I didn't realize the first time. During the day, I quite enjoy the large open windows. I don't think this place really gets any direct sunlight, which is also a good thing. Even in the daytime, the red-colored ceiling and decor still reflects off surfaces inside. There is always a more casual, slower pace eating here, which I enjoy. Service- Good, frequent service. I do enjoy service that doesn't bother you too often when you're eating, talking and enjoying yourself. Yet, they can still be available in case you need them. The open spacing here helps, and the tables are definitely separated between the servers here. So you never feel too cluttered, even if the place is packed, since seating is quite generous. Conclusion- Day or night, this is a good place to relax and enjoy some interesting dishes, either more traditional, or twists on the usual fare you get everywhere. Actually, this is some of the better vegetarian dishes I've had, since I've been trying them along with my usual eats. I will note, I had the iced green tea, and unless you totally love green tea, having it iced it an odd surprise! I gotta stick with my traditional hot cups of tea. Iced was really weird for me, even if the flavor was spot-on, rich and green. We always need a nice place to relax and eat, so keep this place in mind.
(4)Holland M.
I go here with friends, family, cousins....strangers doesn't really matter XD I really like the atmosphere. There's something about the chandelier and the Japanese lanterns that make the experience really dazzling. Maybe because I really like red, orange, and yellow, iunno XD I do like the Shokudo center piece they have under the chandelier. I couldn't stop taking pictures it was so nice. XD Music: wow, I love the music choice. Modern Alternative, songs from 2003 and later. Brings back great memories with high school friends. Now, on to food. I look at the menu every time I go, a lot of it looks really good, but I'm mainly there for the signature dessert, Honey Toast! The first time I went they were having a special, peanut butter and chocolate, and I was lucky enough to snag 1 of their 600 cards for 2 scoops of ice cream for a year. Also, the proceeds for every purchase of honey toast is given to aiding Japan. So, I've been going back constantly to get my ice cream on and get in a little karma! But, Dessert without a drink? Unheard of! I really like their saketini choices. But I have to say my favorite (the one I always get!) is the Kikuka, a tropical lychee saketini. I've always been a fan of lychee and lo-and-behold an alcoholic drink, life is indeed wonderful ;D Overall, Shokudo has won me over with great atmosphere, dessert, and drinks.
(4)M. T.
My husband and I went on a Friday early evening (~6pm). We usually see this place with a long line of people but apparently we got there before the traffic. We ordered: lobster dynamite ($14), salmon steak ($14), and beef udon ($10), no drinks, no dessert. We couldn't decide which one we enjoyed more: the lobster or the salmon. The prices are reasonable and the portions are large. It wasn't too loud. Our waitress was pretty nice. A person who seemed to be the manager also came by to ask if we were doing well. The only complaint I have was that the booth were they made us sit was cramped for two people. We are fairly tall (~6 ft) and it was uncomfortable for the both of us to sit in that spot. Overall, I enjoyed the food and the service. We will go again.
(4)Shan S.
I love this place... the service is freaking awesome! Our waiter was so helpful, upbeat and right on point! The ambience is classy but hip at the same time... menu is not confusing. Me and 2 of my girlfriends got a bunch of sushi rolls and the honey toast, some drinks... lychee kine alcoholic drink.. idk what it was called but was good haha... Honey toast was bomb of course, I wish i wasn't so shame i'd order another one lol. jkjk. I would come back, parking is kinda bummers but oh well, i'm still sold on this place.
(4)Kristen S.
Honey toast!! :) amazingly scrumptious dessert...DO IT. Also good are the drinks (lychee saketini..mMm), the gyoza, and the ramen! I had the spicy miso ramen, which was salty but delicious. The perfect amount of "heat" - not blazing hot but enough to make my lips tingle at the end..perfect! We didn't have any sushi here, but only because we've had our fill of sushi and sashimi here in Hawaii the past week or so. But for sure, it looked fresh and we'll have to try it next time. Kudos, Shokudo!
(4)Jason C.
I've always wanted to try Shokudo so I was glad when I got the invite. Really interesting setup, especially the tiered stadium tables on the one side of the restaurant. I went with the Unagi Rice Ishiyaki, thinly sliced Nagoya-style unagi filet served in a sizzling hot stone bowl. It was brought to the table very quickly, maybe too quickly, like I got someone elses order. You could feel the heat radiating from the bowl and hear the rice sizzling. Visually it was pretty ordinary, just unagi on rice, I know that's what the description said but it would have nice to at least get some assorted tsukemono too. The unagi itself was excellent, it was a thick and tender with a very good kabayaki sauce. My friend had the Garlic Shrimp Ishiyaki. Since my dish came out so quickly we had to wait awhile for hers. The description said "plump shrimp", however they were anemic and small (26-30 size). It was garlicy and I liked the addition of thinly slice chili peppers which added some nice zip and color. Because my friend really wanted her rice crispy, they transferred her food into another extra hot stone bowl to insure it would get crispy. She was happy and I was impressed with the extra service. Overall, I feel like there's too much focus on the "flash" and not enough on the food. I would go back but it's not the first place I would think of if I'm craving Japanese food.
(3)Bill T.
Honey Toast! A delecious ending to an OK meal and something I'll go back for again. Many of the items we ordered were on the spicy side, which my son and I like, but the rest of the party was a little taken back. The restaurant decor has some nice touches with hanging window chains and a big circle thing in the middle of the dining room. But there was still a "cafeteria" feel about the place, partially due to the lighting being turned up in the evening. Parking is accessed from the street behind the building and though the lot is tight, we found plenty of parking.
(3)Malachi M.
Second time here while on vacation. It's a must stop for great Japanese food. Look it up when you're in Oahu by Ala Moana. Ask for Lauran.
(4)Dominique Y.
After a long and tiring day, my bf and I wanted dinner somewhere close to our hotel. After perusing my Yelp bookmarks, we decided on Shokudo and were very pleasantly surprised when we discovered it was just across the street ! We were told we had a 30 or so minute wait, which was no big deal. Walked to Don Quixote real quick and were seated immediately upon our return. The interior of the restaurant is nice, but.. loud. Yardhouse-like. Probably better suited for young people in big groups who are going to be drinking. That wasn`t really what we had in mind [like I said, we were really worn out], but oh well. I ended up ordering the unagi rice ishiyaki and my bf ordered the grilled teriyaki salmon steak. Oh yeah, and the ahi tataki with garlic chips appetizer. AND, per just about EVERYONE`s recommendations on Yelp, we also ordered the strawberry honey toast [!!]. The ahi tataki was aiight. We`re pretty picky about tataki and weren`t blown away. Also, the garlic chips were kind of a strange touch. My unagi rice bowl came out in one of those sizzling hot stone pots, and my server mixed it all up for me, like a little mini show. Nice surprise ! Pretty tasty too, although one too many bones.. My bf liked his dish as well. Salmon was well-cooked and his salad was quite tasty. Now.. onto the best part. We boxed the honey toast because by that point, we were getting too tired to even be in public. My boyfriend kept claiming he didn`t want any, but the second we opened it up in our room, he started gobbling away like there was no tomorrow. LISTEN TO THE HYPE, people ! It was GOOOOD !! Ah.. fond memories just thinking of it. And although it`s $10 [for the strawberry one, at least], you get two "slices" [which was too much for me, even.. and I`m a dessert fiend !]. Although the food was good, and the dessert was GOOD, it was a bit too pricey for what it was. I`m hovering between 3 and 4 stars, but really.. $60 for this meal ? My cheap side is coming out and pushing me down to 3 stars.
(3)Shelley C.
This is a decent restaurant. I was not wowed but it was fine. Good drink menu. The sushi was good - they even made a sushi combo for me that was not on their menu. Our service was great - saw alot of reviews to the contrary. The waitress did get my drink order incorrect but it was no big deal. We were seated right away - came at 430 on a week night. We had the garlic rib eye - excellent. The lobster dynamite - have to say I was expecting more - it was good but again, no wow factor. Enjoyed the spicy tuna with the crunchy rice and jalapeño but the tuna could have used more spice. Great fries. We did get that honey toast dessert - really? It looks very impressive - excellent presentation. The bread for me was very tough. We had the original version. So all in all decent. The bar area looked very inviting too. If I go back it maybe for cocktails and small kine sushi like for happy hour.
(2)Grand Master J.
Very crowded (mostly young people) but the food was trendy. Not a place to go for a quite meal, room was very big and felt like I was eating in a bank lobby. food was good.
(3)Dustin N.
Honey Toast w/ chocolate sauce...AMAY- ZA - ZING! Never had a bad experience cause i keep coming back especially with the "after dark" menu, you cant beat $3 ramen(well $4 if you get char siu)! Overall one of my favorites!
(5)Daniel R.
Will definitely recommend for people not to go here. The last (seriously LAST, and never again) we've caught hair in our food. The first it was in the honey toast, deep inside the honey toast, and I swear to God it was a pube! I'm not trying to make harsh assumptions but what else are we going to think it was?! It was so disgusting, the second time, it was in the sukiyaki bibimbap! UGHHH. The very last time I went there our server's name was MATT, tall Japanese dude; HE SUCKED! What a f*cken disappointment, I'm not 21, Shokudo changed their happy hour "policy" and only people 21 can do happy hour, even for food! 11:00 at night, no where's really open, so me and my friends decide to stay. AND we're stuck with the crappiest waiter ever! OMG. I don't see why people keep returning back! THIS PLACE IS A MESS! Why can't you guys be up to par with your sister restaurants in California, TOKYO TABLE. Serving the same food, but quality is 100x better, and WAAAY cheaper! Shokudo is a rip off! I remember when unagi rice was only $10, and had more. UGHHH.
(1)Ashley C.
Interesting set up! You can dine on the main floor (street level) or on their tiered dining area. This place can get pretty packed so getting their early is best otherwise it's hit or miss for timing on beating the dinner rush. You can get pretty any sushi you want and they do offer bento meals too. We did try a sort of sushi pizza and in all honesty it wasn't bad! It's basically an open faced sushi served like sliced pizza. I like chicken karaage so I had to try their version. It was actually very flavorful and piping hot upon serving it to us. The service was great and the pricing was a bit more but at least the food is good. Don't mind paying a little more so long as it's good. Ended with the pillow toast desserts. I could do with or without the toast, I liked the ice cream more than the toast. Would definitely come back!
(4)Russell T.
I give them 10 stars! Amazing service, prices, presentation and OMG, ahi tuna on crispy rice and kal bi on balsamic vinegar rice! Who wants to diet after that! The tofu salad is so wonderful as they prep it fresh daily. The shrimp tempura is lightly battered and you get shrimp in your mouth the first bite! No heavy greasy batter taste. And can't forget about their late night social specials from $3, $4 & $5 must haves! Like their signature teriyaki chicken quesadilla for $4! My next visit I will try their ISHIYAKI - hot stone cooking! Maybe I'll see you there. From awesome management to employees, no wonder the food is fabulous! Russell Tanoue my-rt.com
(5)Shantel V.
Oh Shokudo, if only there were kid-friendly items.... Despite the fact that my 8 yr old had a pout on his face the entire time we were here because he didn't "like" what he ordered and in turn it put a damper on my mood, the food was still good, and so was the service. So, everytime we come here I'm so tempted to order the Honey Toast as my appetizer, just to make sure that I don't leave here without it. The main dishes that I order everytime is the Sushi Pizza, Tempura California Roll, Gyo-za, and the Chicken Quesadillas... The sushi pizza is perfecto! just enough seafood, sauce and not too much rice! I would hate to be full off of just rice. Tempura sushi exactly what it says.. A California Roll that's tempura'd, Ok, I don't order the gyo-za everytime but it is on my mind everytime we come here... Depends on how hungry I am... and then the Chicken Quesadillas. I can't even begin to describe how delicious the quesadillas are. It's served with this yummy goodness of homemade cilantro vinegarette that is just superb with the quesadillas. (hold on while I wipe this drool....) Even with all of that being ordered, I still manage to find some room in my bottomless pit of a stomach for the Honey Toast. I have yet to try the drinks here...
(4)Martin C.
LOBSTER DYNAMITE! The lobster dynamite was amazing. My friends and I were scouring the plate for any bits of veggies in the sauce afterwards: it was that good. The Unagi Rice was good as well, and the staff was very attentive and friendly. The honey toast wasn't all THAT amazing, but all in all, great place to eat!
(5)Green D.
Good rolls, variety of sake and import beers. The menu has a good variety of options with decent prices.
(4)Kimi A.
very disappointing as far as management!!! this rude dude who is suppose to be an example is in need of some customer service classes. Your grouchy face is right in the front and its the first and last thing i have to see. I understand it is busy and we had a large party and we did add more people but that doesn't mean you need to be a douche. things can always change but you don't need to roll your eyes or sigh super loud or talk like a freaking prick. yes we had a baby but we didn't hear you say to flip the high chair over to accommodate the car seat OK. we were too busy trying to get out of the way and sit. you don't need to yell and say it again with a damn attitude!!! we didn't hear you!!!! If we ask for another chair just bring it and don't take it away after your coworker just gave it to us. like WTF!!! who does that??? and when we leave would it kill you to say thank you and bye, only you did not say anything. to this person, you know who you are. Get some help for your anger issues and if you don't like working with people i suggest you quit, immediately!!! on another note, i would like to thank Ryan. He was patient, kind, quick and did everything with a smile. He even cleaned all the plates and crumbs leftover on the table before our honey toast came. I know we were demanding and upset. (you can thank the prick for that) i really appreciated all your hard work and efficiency!!!! Jeremy was great too...very helpful and instead of yelling at us he would kindly SUGGEST other options...hint hint to the rude person.
(2)Skye W.
Recommended by BF to come here. I think his recommendations must have been outdated because this place was definitely not as great as he claimed. Decided to dine here before our evening flights back to the mainland. Sucked majorly that we ate at Romy's three hours before Shoduku, so none of us were starving. I got two rolls, the scallop one and the red eye, as well as the ume cucumber salad. I took most of my dinner to go, thinking I would eat it on the plane. I threw the rest out. The rolls had too much sticky rice and were just really boring. The cucumber salad was pretty good. My friends got rolls as well and they were just boring and fat with rice too. There must be better places on Oahu to eat Japanese food. Blah. On the bright side, the lychee martini is Awesome and our server was the sweetest thing. Leilani!
(2)Naseem K.
This has been in my drafts for review for quite some time and I never remembered to post it! Mind you, this is from a year ago, but I'm sure it all still applies!! --I went here while on a trip to Hawaii with some friends and a local suggested we try it out for dinner. Being a sushi lover since I was around age 6. I can safely say that this was one of the best sushi places I have ever eaten at. first off the sushi was beyond fresh, the portions were perfect, and most of all the service was amazing. They open the doors for you when you come and go and I've never met a server who actually took the time to talk to us about the best places to visit in Hawaii, the best places to eat at, and by the end of the night we even ended up making plans with him to meet up and have him show us around. It was amazing! Oh and of course the honey toast is pretty much a whole different level!! Ask for Brian Lo. I will definitely be going again. This was one of the best dining experiences. Ps- this was our second night in a row going and one of the other servers from the night before ever remembered us!! So friendly!! They really live out true meaning of ohana.
(5)Judy L.
They have a "Before/After Dark" special where a bunch of pupu's are $3. Not bad, given their reputation to be quite expensive for a small plate of food. About 5 minutes after we were shown to a table, we had to change tables because the After Dark special was only on one side of the restaurant. I tried 11 out of the 18 pupus. Plus: - Sweet Spud Fries. Always yummy. - Ume Cucumber Salad. Tasty. - Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla. I think this was the best out of all the plates. - Kimchee Tofu. The tofu was nice and dense and the kimchee topping was yum! - Spicy Tuna Roll. I contemplated on putting this on the cons part, since it was so spicy that I had to swallow instantly to get the burning out of my mouth, but I can't resist spicy tuna. - Honey Toast Jr. You can't mess this one up. It's a classic. Minus: - Crunchy Yukari Mochi. Tastes like a salty chewy thing.. eck. No depth of flavor. -Spicy Tuna Nachos. I didn't really care for it. -Agedashi Eggplant. It was still a bit hard... I like my eggplants softer.. -Russian Roulette Croquette. They're just balls of mashed potatoes, fried. One of them had a spicy wasabi surprise, and the rest was bland.. Good concept, but food was not good. - Casanova Ahi in a hot tub. There were 2 pieces of ahi on the top of a large bowl of rice. The waiter doused the ahi with a broth to semi cook it. Dish had a very clean and healthy flavor. Rice was a definite minus. The proportion of the rice to the ahi was absurd. It also was not sushi grade... I just ate the ahi, drank all the broth, and left 90% of the rice. All in all, I think people love the decor of Shokudo, but the food is overpriced and its quality is questionable. The atmosphere is almost like you're in a nightclub since you have to shout to your friends if you want to have a decent conversation.
(2)Emma C.
My husband and I come here fairly often, and have never had bad service. In fact, today we had particularly excellent service from a fab server named Nina. She's not new; I just haven't reviewed before (shame on me). Anyway, we ordered the Red Eye Roll and the Spicy Tuna Roll, and they were delicious, as usual. The fish is always fresh and melt in your mouth. Shokudo's just brought in a master sushi shef from Japan. They're now flying some types of sashimi grade fish out from Japan's Tsukiji Fish Market. I tried the sangria for the first time. $3 special! Can't beat that! They do put a lot of ice in the glass, so when I ordered a second one, I specified that I would like less ice. Nina smiled understandingly, and made it happen. I don't normally like red wine-based sangria as much as white wine sangria, so I told Nina I wasn't sure I wanted to order it. She said that if I ended up not liking it, they'd take it back and get me a different drink for no additional price. Now that's service. :) I ended up liking it a lot (hence the second one). We ordered the honey toast, as always, and as always, it was spectacular. Five stars for a reason! Definitely go here!
(5)Tina H.
If you're a protagonist in a martial arts movie and you're trying to find a restaurant to kill your villainous arch nemesis in, rest assured that Shokudo is the perfect setting for your final, violent showdown. Located on the corner of Kapiolani Blvd. and Kaheka Street, Shokudo is not only known for it's delicious, one-of-a-kind sushi, but it's also gained status for it's hip and friendly atmosphere. When you do your first dramatic walk in after surviving the shark cage trap your nemesis laid out for you, you'll not only notice the panic and fear in your enemy's eyes, but the modern, Asian furniture and artwork that makes this place so upbeat. Before you stab your rival multiple times for the trouble he's created in your life, try out Shokudo's very unique menu first. I recommend the basalmic beef tataki sushi, the mochi cheese gratin, and one of their sizzling rice bowls. I've never been dissatisfied with these choices and find the meals to be flavorful and very different. Dishes are served family style, so you'll probably want to share some of them with your arch nemesis before you kill them. The service at Shokudo is pretty on par, though there might be a bit of a wait for your meal if it's a busy night. From experience, I can say that the wait is worth the fantastic food, and you could probably use that time to do a dramatic monologue. I find that notifying my enemies on their forthcoming deaths is so much more effective over sashimi and sake. The restaurant closes pretty late (up to 1 am and 2 am on their respective days) so take your time with your battle. If you're worried about how you'll clean up after your murderous, bloody rampage, don't be. Shokudo has relatively clean restrooms in the back though it's starting to look used up as time goes on. All in all, this is a great restaurant to kill your enemy in. And before I forget -- Try the honey toast!
(4)Helia H.
The Cinnamon Honey Toast is a must! Navigate downtown Honolulu traffic and parking to try this dessert. It's delicious!
(4)Patrick D.
Nut'n Honey I have had Shokudo on my shortlist for over a year, due to the ravings of friends and neighbors. Finally, after a lengthy waiting period and a confluence of events, I got to go (yay?). The wifey and I ordered the following: 1. Mochi cheese gratin - I love mochi. I love cheese. After having this dish, I really L-O-V-E mochi and cheese together. How could this dish be better? Teach me how to make it myself so I can eat it every day. 2. Agedashi tofu - Not bad. Best thing is that it doesn't have a thick batter. Other than that, it was just tofu. 3. Sushi pizza - Baked sushi with stuff on it. Just average and a little bland. I could have saved stomach space without this. 4. Sukiyaki bibimbap - This was a passable imitation, one that I could have done without. 5. Honey Toast - Who woulda thunk bread, butter and honey with some ice cream would be so damn good? For $8, I feel like I could make this myself at home. Nonetheless, other than the Mochi Cheese Gratin, this was probably the best dish of the night. Was it worth the wait? Kinda. Hey, they have free parking, so that's a definite plus. What would I order next time? Nut'n honey.
(3)Jennifer D.
Love love this place! Take my parents every time they visit. It's a must for my mom. You haven't lived until you've had the honey toast :) only downside is its very loud.
(4)Jen F.
I went there during "happy hour" on a Thursday (2-5pm I think). To get the happy hour prices, you gotta be seated at the bar, or the tables in the bar section. No problem, I've gone there before and had a great experience. The hosts and waiters have always been friendly. This time however, the bartender (a younger asian guy) was a huge a-hole! He was unfriendly from the get-go, demanded to see ID's with no greeting or semblance of a smile, then refused to serve us because my ID was expired. Its not like I'm suddenly someone else or my age changes because the card is past due?! Is it really such a huge deal? I wasn't even planning on getting any alcohol, so I dont see why it was a problem? While its true that I shouldn't have neglected to renew it because I've been extremely busy, I did not deserve to be treated like that, and guess what- I have used it dozens of times in other places and NEVER had a problem (ordering drinks at THIS very location, or even to verify identity at the bank!) So why oh why am I being denied service now? Lets be honest here, he could've just checked my date of birth (I am well over the legal drinking age), served us, gotten tipped, and everyone would've gone home happy. Instead, he felt the need to make a problem out of a irrelevant issue. But thats not even the problem. He was extremely short and rude about it! It wouldn't have been a big deal if he was nice and took the time to explain that it was policy or something. But no, he wasn't apologetic, he was condescending and dismissive. I was surprised and asked "really?" and he gave a smart-assed answer and walked away. My boyfriend and I just stared at each other astonished. I've never been to a restaurant that treated their customers so carelessly. We left feeling completely unwanted and rightfully upset. :( I am a huge fan of their honey toast and get cravings for it regularly, but I will avoid this place like the plague in hopes of never encountering that jerk again. [UPDATE] A couple of people have informed me that the bartender could have been fined for serving me with an expired ID if a liquor commissioner had showed up (even if I had no alcohol wouldn't have mattered, I guess?). That is certainly an reasonable plight. Like I said originally, had he taken a minute to explain that to us, we would have understood no problem, and probably returned to enjoy Shokudo on a later date when I had my things in order. I reiterate, the real problem lies with the bartender who was unnecessarily rude to us for no reason! He is in the service industry after all? If that kind of attitude is acceptable at Shokudo, they obviously do not value my business / their customers.
(1)Artemis A.
All aspects of my experience were great. ****Service- expedient/friendly/helpful Restaurant was clean, and next important thing, bathroom was clean! My favorite dish: Housemade Tofu on greens and shrimp tempura! OMgggg!!!! The only self induced con of my visit was that I did the honey toast on take out (BADDD IDEA). Poor thing lost its vigor for life by the time I got home, it was soggy, wilted and more less tasted like lifeless bread. I"m pretty sure an Eggo waffle would have been tastier at this point. Next time, Im makin room for the toast after dinner!
(4)Shirley H.
I love the modern Japanese decor of this restaurant. plus, at least in my experience, the girls who eat here dress well - my kind of place =) As for food, we tried the garlic tuna and eel rice, both of which were delicious. 4 stars for a classy dinner date spot.
(4)Mel L.
My family and I had an excellent dinner tonight. One of my favorite places to dine. Thank you Matt for your generous hospitality, I ready appreciate it. Thank you to our waitress Robyn, you are the best!
(5)Loryn G.
This is my absolute favorite pau hana destination! I LOVE IT! The Kakaako location never gets too busy and the valet parking makes it easy to get in and out (though I think the parking fee is like $3 without tip- still worth it IMHO). The fish is always fresh, the uni nigiri is AMAZING and the happy hour menu is great for food and low prices. The house sake for $5 is tasty as well! I usually sit at the bar, but there are some really cool tables / booths that are ideal for romantic dates. The staff are always friendly and knowledgeable and I will probably be going here at least once a month! :)
(5)Chris K.
Shokudo is unequivocally the best Japanese experience I have ever had. The lobster dynamite roll is butter. My service from the wait staff, the sushi chefs, and even management was absolutely perfect. Kepe came and introduced himself, and even put the napkin in our laps. He looked busy but he was still meeting all of the patrons and ensuring all of our food and service was outstanding - and it really was unmatched. I will definitely be returning on my next vacation!
(5)Rob C.
It was crowded tonight so service was a little slow. We had the Ume Cucumber Salad, Lobster Dynamite, Assorted Tempura, and Tempura Shrimp Rolls. Overall good food and good service. We didn't have room for dessert so next time we'll try the Honey Bread. I would recommend this place for a casual night out.
(4)Kim M.
I've boycotted this place for years. I never thought I'd return, but I'm glad I decided to give this revamped restaurant another try. Shokudo has definitely turned around -- the menu looks appetizing as ever. I've also noticed the constant line/ crowd outside Shokudo (for happy hour, I presume). Could it really be that good? I think so. Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio ($13.95) The yuzu pepper vinaigrette and bits of pickled wasabi were both delicious complements to the buttery hamachi. I liked this dish a lot. Ahi Tataki with Garlic Chips ($12.95) I never met an ahi tataki that I didn't like. The homemade ponzu is good, but nothing outstandingly memorable. The garlic chips were a nice addition. I'd have this again. Agedashi Tofu ($7.45) A safe and delicious dish. Not outstanding, but it's good. Honey Toast The honey toast is a must at Shokudo. It's a simple concept -- honey, toast and ice cream -- which is almost too delicious to share. It's been a Shokudo trademark for quite some time now, and I'm glad they've kept it going. Even though the menu has changed a bit, the honey toast still remains. Honey Toast Jr ($3) This is the HH miniature version! BeforeDark happy hour runs daily from 4PM-6PM (only at the bar). AfterDark happy hour runs Sunday through Wednesday from 10:30PM-12AM (only at the bar). Check out the stellar $3, $4, $5 pupu menu!!! Overall, my 2012 experiences here have been great! What a turnaround from its darker days, years ago. Check out the regular and late night happy hours for some awesome-sauce deals! 31 Yelps Review Challenge - #20/31
(4)Leslie P.
This is a modern Japanese restaurant and a little fusion. Their menu had sushi pizza and teriyaki quesadilla.... Anyways, two of us met up with our other friend who works across the street. We ordered the lobster dynamite roll, spicy tuna crispy roll, mochi cheese gratin and an udon. The lobster dynamite roll was basically baked lobster atop California roll pieces. The other roll was crispy rice swuares topped with spicy tuna and a slice of jalapeno. Both of these was good, but nothing too special. The mochi cheese gratin was yummy! We also ordered three specialty martinis at $9 each. I had the drunken gummy bear cocktail. It was good, but was too sweet halfway through. There were three gummy bears sitting at the bottom of my martini glass. To finish our meal, we ordered a honey toast with caramel and cinnamon. This was two 2" slices of sweet toast hollowed out and re-filled with toast cubes, drizzled with honey & caramel and dusted with cinnamon. Then it is topped with two scoops of vanilla. It was amazing! This definitely made up for the just okay meal.
(4)Katrina Y.
One of thee best happy hours!!! Love love love this place. Prices are pretty reasonable, service is excellent & the food just completes everything!! What more could you ask for? Check this place out for yourself. Make sure you make reservations though cuz this place gets packed!!!!!!!
(5)Marlaina R.
It was my first time in Hawaii and one of my friends who I was visiting suggested this place for an early dinner. He knew the menu inside and out and he made ordering simple for us... I wish I remembered exactly what we ordered but all I remember is the sushi pizza and that everything we ordered we liked. The honey toast dessert was incredible! It was the first time having a toast-style dessert like that and since then I have been trying to find one that compares. I have not been successful. I wish they could mail me some of that stuff! One thing we did not like was the sticky table and the fact that I had to take a napkin to wipe the crumbs off my seat. Also, the service was sub-par. The place was bustling and busy... because they were understaffed! Apparently, that seems to be the norm. The food gets 4 stars... the service and cleanliness gets 2 stars... so, this place gets a solid 3 stars.
(3)Ramon V.
We were visiting Honolulu and our friend recommended we eat at shokudo. I had the Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio, it was delicious. Their menu had such an amazing sushi selection, I had a hard time deciding. Our waiter Grant was very helpful and he knew the menu very well! He knew the menu up and down, 5 stars for the service alone!!
(5)Jaymie T.
Food was good. The mochi cheese gratin was awesome! The service from B-Lo and Chris was pretty awesome! Those are some cool dudes! Friendly and lots of fun!
(5)Annie C.
My friends and I have visited Shokudo every time we've visited Oahu, primarily for their yummy honey toast, and haven't been disappointed yet! The food here is pretty good, well, the Homemade Tofu Salad is at least. I've had the dynamite roll before, but found that to be a bit too heavy for my taste. The homemade tofu is really soft and delicious, and goes very well with the dressing and crispy wonton strips. I highly recommend it! We split two honey toasts between nine of us. The honey toast comes with two pieces of toast and two ice cream flavors, so if you just ask the server to split the toast, they'll do it for you! I always go for the cookies & cream with my friends! The atmosphere is very modern, a bit noisy, but fun to go with friends and split dessert! The wait and reservations are a bit of a hassle, as half of the restaurant is for reservations and half is for walk-ins. The weekend we went was graduation weekend so it was really difficult to get a reservation for nine, but we managed to get a reservation at an odd time on a Sunday evening. Yay!
(4)Cassie T.
Shokudo, Shokudo, Shokudo. Worth the wait. Tasty eats. Yep, that sums it up! When we first arrived at Shokudo and were told that there was a 45 minute wait we were a little shocked. But, we scored two seats at the bar which offers the full dinner menu. Can I just add that above the bar is a floating rack and its awesome? Okay thanks. I absolutely loved the Aiko (Beloved) cocktail which is probably one of the tastiest drinks I have ever had. Was there Thai walls? OMG. It's a Strawberry and Cream Saketini and only $8 bucks. Hubby got the Original Mojito. He stated that it was strong. I couldn't believe that he said that since he is a drinker. It's a good thing, also $8 dollars! yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… Let's see, how do I get started with the food? Appetizers! We ordered the Ahi Tataki with Garlic Chips. I loved the ponzu sauce. At only 12.95 this was a great way to get started at Shokudo! yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… Next, we split the Lobster Dynamite Roll which was proclaimed by the Bartender to be one of the most popular items. Heaven in my mouth. I loved this roll and was secretly wishing I didn't have to share with my hubby. This is a California roll topped with a creamy lobster dynamite sauce. There are chunks of lobster on top of the roll. This will be my standard option when I'm here. How much will it set you back? Only 14.45. You have to try this! yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… Finally, we ordered one of the Ishiyaki items...the bartender made another spot on suggestion, the Garlic Shrimp Rice. This dish comes out steaming in a stone bowl. It was mixed up table side and the smell was to die for. It was only surpassed by the fantastic taste. I love garlic and this was right on point. LOVE. I have heard many fish tales about this place and the magical Honey Toast. I have to admit I didn't try it. But, never fear I WILL BE BACK!
(5)Chad Y.
Oh Shokudo, what happened to you? Let's be honest, you are like any bad relationship. You started off stellar and still have some high moments, but you take advantage of our relationship and abuse me with bad service and an occasional bad item. However, I keep coming back for more simply because you offer me your oh so delicious Honey Toast. If you don't have a reservation, you are bound to be in for a wait. if you are somehow able to actually make a reservation, then your wait might be just a tad shorter. Making a reservation is an ordeal in itself with the number going to a an answering machine that the staff may get around to checking. Or they may actually pick up on the rare occasion where you can somehow find out if a table may be available. So plan to spend a good chunk of your night here is what I'm basically saying. The menu is quite good and a good majority of the items on it are truly stellar. The mochi cheese gratin is certainly a unique and interesting dish you have to try out once to experience it for yourself. The lobster dynamite is sheer heaven for lobster lovers with well sized lobster pieces served in a rich and creamy white sauce that is well done and perfectly seasoned. The teriyaki chicken quesaldilla may sound simple and plain, however its cilantro dip that it is served with take it to another level. The bi-bim-bap is quite good and the service is quite impressive. Inevitably you will order the pork chops, the sushi rolls, tempura, gyoza, and more only to find that the flavors are decent, but nothing that is truly wow-ing. Service is definitely hit or miss. The hosts sometimes have a good understanding of the wait times and other times are truly way off. I personally prefer to be told a longer wait (that's realistic) than to be told of a shorter wait and be tragically disappointed. The wait staff are also hit or miss with some being incredibly pleasant and knowledgeable and other times where you are a chore to their occupation and just have no understanding of their menu. The ambiance is certainly clean and contemporary. While you may sometimes seem like you are sitting with the people at the next table, I have yet to really feel intruded or being overheard. Parking is available in the building with the entrance off Kona street, on the makai side. The seating is comfortable for that romantic date or for group dining. Lest I forget, you really come here for the honey toast. Who would have thought that cubed bread served with honey, a fruit topping, and vanilla ice cream would be a culinary marvel, but it definitely is. The high quality ingredients blend together in a great orchestration of flavors. Oh Shokudo...well, we may love/hate each other in our relationship, but in the end of the day i'm satisfied. I didn't say happy...but I did say satisfied. Like I said...we have a bad relationship where we might one day either fall magically in love or end with a bad breakup.
(3)Brittany D.
Oour server was Bubu and he did an amazing job. Absolutely the best anniversary dinner we had. Amazing 3 round apps double entrée and another round of apps followed by honey toast. Affordable Awesome
(5)Kalei N.
Came in on a Saturday - 945pm, no reservation. Service: Said wait would be 20-30min for 2 people. We noticed 3 large parties who came after us seated before us. Asked hostess what is going on, she said she is waiting for a few checks. Told her about the large parties and she said they had large parties leave so just filled the space. We got seated 45min after we got there. Asked for a manager who just apologized and said they won't seat a 2 party on a large table. We just asked for communication and didn't get it. We were seated with "Grant" - the saving grace for the evening! He was personable, professionable, and knowledgeable. We appreciated it after the run around from the hostess and manager. Food - we used to frequent Shokudo regularly, and have noticed the food quality has gone down...but honey toast is always great.
(2)Jeremy L.
Food was fantastic. Two items on the menu that stood out were the Lobster Dynamite Roll and the Honey Toast.
(4)Susan W.
I thought I had reviewed Shokudo in the past, but guess not. So everytime me and my friends go out to eat, we either can't finish all the food or some of us (like me) aren't full at all.... which was what happened that night. I was still hungry so I ended up filling my stomach with a whole lotta water. I remember getting a sushi roll that was nothing special and friends ordered some of the popular dishes mentioned here i.e. the lobster dynamite. Note the self, if I ever come back here... I think I'll be ordering my own dish and no sharing lol. Cause we shared everything and that wasn't enough to keep me full especially when I didn't eat anything since lunch....Shokudo has some tasty food but their dishes are def. for only ONE person. The servings are so small. They are a bit on the expensive side as well, not sure if it's worth the price. I don't see the hype for the honey toast. It was my second time getting it, and yep...I still think it tastes the same. No wow factor. The presentation of it looks amazing, but the toast... man I hate it lol. Dry, hard, and stale... I like the ice cream on top if anything. But apparently some people (like my friend) LOVELOVELOVE it.
(3)Kawehionalani M.
Went here last night, they have a new menu that came out and well pretty interesting things on there. Not to expensive on the new menu but still its all about that sushi rolls, nigiri, and other stuffs. :) For a friday night it wasn't that crowded only waited 20 min. so that is a good thing, compared to other nights when its super packed. I would say the yakisoba and the Lobster with the bread was awesome! Totally worth your money. The assorted tempura & the sushi pizza, is also bomb so your choices are really unlimited! Enjoy your eating!
(4)Elle V.
The stars are primarily based on the decor, happy hour menu items, unique-ness of dishes (not necessarily quality or quantity), and free parking. Of course it's too good to be true right? Right. The service bites! Especially during late night happy hour. But let me get back to that. Lobster Dynamite Roll / Fries (happy hour): So bomb!! But the catch, sometimes it is made with way too much mayo. It is just disgusting to eat if I don't scrape some off. Honey Toast: You can't go to Shokudo without people bugging you if you had some honey toast. I have to say the variations with oreo, green tea, strawberry is way better than the regular honey toast. Hot Pots: I always order the Unagi but I've tried the Bi Bim Bap and Garlic Shrimp. Both are lacking in the amount of ingredients besides the rice. Sushi Rolls: Usually I just stick to ordering 3 dishes and honestly never order a sushi roll. I've tried the spicy tuna roll and another one with unagi in it from picking off of friends and it is not great at all, Ninja sushi serves better rolls than Shokudo! Now... the service! Okay this just happened to my friends and I last week Monday. The server who starts with a J and ends with a B makes his first mistake.. my two guy friends order a pitcher and one of them orders a crown & coke. Waiter pours a glass for my first friend and then fills a second glass for my second friend then hands him the crown & coke and says "you can't have two drinks at one time you'll have to tank that." WHY WOULD YOU POUR HIM A GLASS OF BEER IF THAT WAS THE CASE? Idiot. He never came to refill our waters or check on us after the food was given to us. Oh yah and $17 Kirin pitcher? What a rip. Basically, if you need some place to eat late at night or if you have company that's never been here before.. then GO! But don't expect 5-star service or 5-star food.
(3)Dusten U.
Came to shokudo and was told by the host Chelsea our wait would be 30-40 mins. We waited for an hour and a half to be seated! One of are guests really wanted to try the honey toast but had to leave because of the long wait! It was not that busy and numerous parties that arrived after us got seated before us! Service was okay but wouldn't recommend coming to this place! The host ruined are whole dinner!
(1)Leila M.
So far I've loved everything I've tasted! EXCEPT for the banana dessert!! DO NOT GET IT!! It is horrible!! They probably use the bad bad bananas they have left. The bananas tastes so awful that I spit it out! Other than that, the sushi pizza was pretty good, the sushi is good, and the HONEY TOAST IS AWESOME! Cinnamon is yummy!
(4)Lo K.
Tofu Salad was amazing. The tofu is made in house. The mochi cheese gratin was also interesting and savory. Like the ambiance and the wait staff was decent.
(5)Cyn C.
This used to be one of my favorite restaurants, yes past tense. Will not go here if possible. The customer service is poor and has consistently declined over the years. The hostess did not inform us when we sat at our table at 4:25pm that there was another reservation at 6:00pm. The waiter, did not know either. It was ridiculous that it was on him to tell us when he delivered the dessert at 6:00pm. The manager should've explained the situation and apologized. The manager even saw us discussing this issue with our waiter but did not stop by our table to offer any apologies or to help diffuse the awkward situation for his waiter. As our food took longer to come out, it was unfortunate that we had to gulp down our food and couldn't even enjoy it. We even offered to move to another table so our waiter wouldn't be burdened with the next party but they said no. Ended up emailing mgmt to inform them of our concerns and to better train their hostesses. The reply that we rec'd from Matthew Iannaccio, General Manager, was a copy and paste general reply... at first it almost sounds sincere but then a friend mentioned she got the same exact email before. During this visit, my friend ordered the ramen and didn't finish it. It was uncooked and in a big ball. She didn't say anything b/c she rather just pay for it than have them do something horrible to her food if she sent it back. In the past, also had another incident where they tried to kick us out, stating a 2 hour rule. Then we told them what time they seated us, then they realized they were wrong. No apology either. The worse was the time, we were waiting for a table and the host kept picking at his teeth with his fingers and a toothpick. He would then grab menus and seat people and go back to his picking. I even videotapped him. Shokudo is probably one of those places that would spit in your food if you said anything so we waiting until after the meal to show the video to the manager so he could properly train his staff. On the other hand, food is good for big groups to share. My faves were mochi cheese gratin, bibimbap, sushi pizza, and of course the honey toast. Food quality seems to have declined over the years too. If it weren't for the food, would only give them one star.
(2)Liz G.
The Mochi cheese gratin, sushi pizza, yuzu hamachi carpaccio all have very distinct flavors! The mochi cheese gratin was so cheesey and chewy. Very yummy! Sushi pizza was good too with a spicy kick. Only downside was that it was hard to pick up with chopsticks because it kept falling apart. I liked the yuzu hamachi the best. It was so tangy with the lemon. I'm salivating just thinking about it. All the dishes we tried were small to medium portions, but that makes sense because the flavors are so distinct. The honey toast topped it all off. We added a chocolate drizzle. It's warm and soft, and not as hard as Guppy's brick toast. So between the two, honey toast wins! Our server was very nice too. The place has a modern vibe and ambience. I did notice though that the window decor with linked wooden slates is visibly gathering dust bunnies. Set my allergies off. Not bad for the only gripe I had.
(4)Dennis Y.
Called in reservations for six about 1 1/2 weeks ago for Fathers Day luncheon ($34.95). Don't park upstairs in AMC parking lot, as all entry ways into the Ala Moana Pacific Bldg itself is blocked off,...ALL OF THEM.. so I had to get back into my car and park downstairs in the building's own structure...which I guess on Sunday is free, as there was no parking attendant. We knew going in that their famous dessert was not listed, but that they were offering instead 'homestyle bread pudding'... Lunch was hectic at our 12 noon seating...we were seated about 12:10pm (as I had to wait for my entire party to come, so really only about a 5" wait) the baby back ribs, shoyu pork, and Kali bi were very tasty and fall off the bone..prime rib was good, though they mainly had medium rare portions which I didn't like, but it too was tasty with thyme and sage herbs on the exterior. After my second plate of food, it was time for dessert..well, my son and nephew went first and came back with the honey toast dessert the are famous for!!! I was like, YES!!, they decided to offer that, since I didn't see their home made bread pudding..they provided you with the honey drenched bread, and one could put their choice of toppings: strawberry sauce, crumbled oreo cookies, chocolate, caramel syrups , condensed milk and of course the obligatory vanilla ice cream... I guess this is their junior version (1piece of bread instead of the 2 pieces), as I've seen my son bring home leftovers of the regular sized portion...believe me, even for a man with a hearty appetite, the junior portion of the honey toast dessert is more than enough...they said there was a two hour time limit, but by 1:50 pm when we were pau, it looked like the crowd of patrons were winding down...we never felt rushed by the staff. Attentiveness by the staff was there, not like what I see on some reviews here on Yelp.. We'd go back to Shokudo without hesitation!
(4)Nicole C.
I love Shokudo. I don't think they serve a single bad thing here. I've been here many times, and I haven't had a single bad experience. What I recommend: Spicy ahi crispy rice - SO delicious!! I could probably just eat the crispy rice. Beef tataki - beef in a vinegar sauce with crispy things on top Rainbow roll - tasty, although this one is hard to screw up Yuzu hamachi carpaccio - I already loved hamachi, but it's the yuzu sauce that made it wonderful! Sushi pizza - so the picture in the menu doesn't look that great, but I assure you it's quite tasty. I've also had some of their ramens and udons, but they weren't super special. It's hard to screw up ramen and udon, and their ramen and udon were fine. Additionally, I found that the honey toast is yummy but could use one or two more scoops of ice cream. It's just too dry as is.
(4)Cameron B.
I liked their sushi pizza. I still need to try their honey toast but it's hard getting desert after stuffing your face with all this food. Maybe I'll just get drinks & dessert next time. Good place to get drinks and chat with friends. Takes reservations and food comes out fast even when the place is busy.
(4)Courtney O.
I LOVE shokudo!! Shokudo is great for date nights, girls night out, or parties. I know because I've had all of them there! I've always had great service at Shokudo. However, there is often not an opening if you try to make a reservation on short notice so do plan ahead. The menu is very extensive and will have something for everybody. For lunch they have lunch bento sets which are very good. For dinner, there is a wide array of everything ranging from sushi pizza to bi bim bap! Choices galore! I suggest getting a bunch of different items and sharing them with your group. Whatever you do, SAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT!! My favorite was the cinnamon honey toast but recently they came out with oreo cookies & creme honey toast! TO DIE FOR yelpers!! I also LOVE the drinks at shokudo. They have these vodka soda's that are so delicious. My favorite is the passion fruit. They also had infused sakes (pom and mango flavors) but I'm not sure if they have it anymore. There is a parking lot in back and they validate your ticket but most of the time the gate is up and you don't need a ticket. You could also park at Ala Moana right across the way.
(4)Emma P.
I end up giving Shokudo the benefit of the doubt despite going against several of my dining pet peeves (as others have pointed out: uneven service and pricing proportionate to trendiness). I don't know, honestly, I think it's the honey toast. I really do. At the end of the meal, it melts all sour feelings and wraps me into a glorious food coma of sugar, dairy, and carbs. How can I not credit them that? The food is consistently good. I don't crave anything on the menu (other than the crack -- I mean, honey toast), but it's solid fare (I do like their spicy ramen best). I've heard the happy hour is worth trying, especially for the smaller dessert portions. I'm not sure I can convince my boyfriend to accompany me again since he has a strange immunity to honey toast and an even stranger knack for getting the stink eye from waitresses here. At least our meal was paid courtesy of the gift card he won from the GAR Expo! Talent comes in many forms, I suppose.
(4)Corbin L.
Justin the manager will take care of you. Great service, not too expensive, good food and lots of it. You HAVE to get honey toast for dessert! Shoots
(5)Tiffany N.
Emi H told me this is kind of like a Denny's in Honolulu, but she also told me we had to try the honey toast here. And when Emi says I have to have something I trust her so we swung by Shokundo after dinner to pick up a dessert. Holy heavens this honey toast thing is delicious! They take a giant piece of bread, hollow it out, toast it, drizzle it with honey, and stuff it with ice cream. Sounds good doesn't it? I preferred the insides of the bread to the crust, but I have to say it's up there on the list of things I would like to take with me to a deserted island. We also ordered a shave ice here and enjoyed that, too. I could see that the restaurant was kind of generic in the menu department, and the customers did seem to skew a little young so the Denny's comparison is understandable. But, I've never eaten anything as good as the dessert thing at any Denny's so I would easily go back and eat it again.
(3)Kaileen Y.
I have two words for ya...HONEY freaking TOAST! Ok so, technically that's three words. But, you get the point. Last night, my friends & I had another one of our infamous "Girls Nights Out". Our initial plan was to go to Shokudo for happy hour, but it totally slipped our minds that all but ONE of us were 21and over. So, we had to scratch that plan. What a bummer! Last night was my first time ever eating there. And, I've been hearing such great things about this particular dessert called the "honey toast". So, you can just imagine I was more excited to try that than to eat some actual food! Considering that only 2 out of the 6 of us had eaten there before, we decided to order a whole bunch of stuff to share. We got gyoza, chicken katsu, spicy tuna crispy rice, sushi pizza, calamari, and the rainbow roll. It was all great...I especially enjoyed the sushi pizza and the rainbow roll. However, the spicy tuna crispy rice was a little disappointing in my opinion. For dessert, OBVIOUSLY we got two orders of honey toast & shared it among the 6 of us. Like many have already said before, this is the one thing that would keep me coming back to Shokudo. It's like heaven on a plate!!!!!! Regardless of how full you are from dinner, this dessert is worth trying. It is bound to make you forget about how full you really are!! The vibe in this place is great. Great place for a date or even a small party. The waiters were nice too. Oh, one last thing....HONEY TOAST! yep...don't ever forget it. :)
(4)Mike K.
ordered recommended dish and i wasn't impressed .
(2)Arynn I.
I've only been here one other time but I remembered the Honey Toast... I think this is what everyone talks about and it is DEFINITELY my must have. No matter what you get, SAVE SPACE FOR THIS!!! There were 3 of us and we actually ordered quite a bit of food...at least I thought it was a lot. I got Tempura sushi (california roll fried in tempura batter) which was super ono. My friends ordered everything else and we just picked off everything. We got Hamachi roll (from the menu insert), Spicy tuna, Ahi Tataki with Garlic Chips, Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio, Pork chops, and salmon rice bowl. When everything was on the table I didn't realize that we had got so much food! The average dish here is around $10.00 give or take, depending what order with the entree's around 12-14 except the steak (24.95). What we had ordered was more than enough. I actually started to feel quite full from just my sushi! I also ordered a drink- Yuzu Citrus Honey - it's a "soda drink" and it was fabulous! And I'm lightweight so one was enough... but I think that I was a little tipsy because I ate all my friend's lychee from her lychee saketini. I loved the variety of beverages (even though I just had one). It makes me wanna come back to try others! And for dessert we had a half order of honey toast, ice cream on the side. The sweet and sugary pieces of bread with the vanilla ice cream is such a great way to end a good meal! Love the menu choices, easy location to get to (for town-driving challenged person like me anyway), nice ambiance (although some of the music was meh) and great eating/drinking! Cannot wait to go back! #Yelp 365 Challenge - 055/365
(5)Dung N.
This is a must-go-to-stop if you're in the area! This is by far, one of my favorite Japanese restaurants. The decor is stunning. This venue is absolutely a couple of notches above any other Japanese restaurants I've been to. I love their whole entire set-up. I'm gushing all over this place and we haven't even gotten to the food yet! To start, we ordered the 'Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio(thinly sliced yellowtail sashimi with yuzu pepper vinaigratte).' The sauce wasn't overwhelming and it had a nice, light taste, which was delightful. For sushi, we decided on the 'Lobster Dynamite Roll', which didn't blow me away but it was still good. The 'Sushi Pizza' was a definite hit! It's so uniquely prepared and it also helps that it was yummy! I can't handle jalapenos but even after peeling it off the top, it still left a small kick...which wasn't bad. Now, here comes my favorite part of the meal. Dessert! We saw so many tables around us order the 'Honey Toast', which is to my knowledge, their signature dessert. It's the specialty of the house---thick Japanese white toast cut-out and cubed, drizzled with honey and topped with vanilla ice cream. One bite and my mouth was in complete bliss. There is nothing like it and nothing comes close. Who would of thought of bread being so damn goooood?!?! I can't even find the right words to describe it. YOU HAVE TO TRY IT!!! Love love love love it. After all said and done...you best believe I'm coming back! Until we meet again....
(5)Elaine P.
I've been going to Shokudo for a few years now but the quality and service is really starting to decline. Sadly I had to give 2 stars when my friends decided to take me out to Shokudo for my birthday dinner. We ordered the Mochi Cheese Gratin - half cooked, sauce was watery, almost no taste Garlic Pork Riblets - nothing special Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio - portions were smaller than before but tasted great Red Eye Roll - pretty good Calamari Tempura - tasted like it was fried in really old oil, color didn't look right Ahi Tataki with Garlic Chips - nothing special Spicy Tuna Roll - okay Bibimbap - my friend seemed to enjoy it I ordered a Lychee Mojito, which was nice. This could just be the waiter we had. However, the plates our waiter gave us were visibly dirty when the restaurant was fairly empty that night. The service was meh.
(2)Reiko S.
We went for my bf's mom's 86th bday celebration. The service and food was excellent. I would suggest not to eat too much, the dessert of Honey Toast is not to be missed. They have added a new sushi bar.
(5)Esther Y.
HAPPY HOUR 4-6 PM AND HONEY TOAST!!!!!!!!!!!! When I'm living in a new city temporarily, I like to explore and not go back to the same place more than once (to make time for other new places). But Shokudo...has been one of the rare places I've been to twice. I've only been to the happy hour at the bar (self-seating) and had some yummy pupus, and the highlight of each visit is definitely the honey toast with ice cream. adi342%$#JASLKDJ this is something I might actually crave! The second time was when I took my parents here. They're hard to please, but even they enjoyed the simple ramen, kimchi tofu, and especially the honey toast. You really can't go wrong with the honey toast! And that's like the 4th time I've mentioned honey toast in this review. ;)
(4)Troy T.
You can't go wrong with Shokudo..... Well, let me back up a bit... For their famous honey toast and mochi cheese, this place is hard to beat on those late night cravings. Always packed, (granted I only come here after 11pm time), Shokudo has a great ambiance to it. Casual to hip, there is usually a short wait to get a table for a group or if you're just coming in for happy hour. Granted the past reviews didn't really speak too highly of it, and if I was on Yelp last month, I'd probably wouldn't talk so highly about the service either. That being said, we recently went back to cure our sweet tooth, and I could definitely tell their service kicked up big time!!! Everyone greeted you with a smile, they were hustling around, working on overdrive. Something's they missed, like clearing our table after we finished some drinks and plates of food. But again, ask me a month ago, I couldn't get water!!!! I'd recommend this place to outside visitors and friends. I rarely come here, but I'll be back ordering more than likely the same order I always get.
(4)Ellie J.
Why didn't I try this place earlier? I came here for the honey toast but was pleasantly surprised at the drinks and food. The in-house made tofu was YUM-OH-SO-GOOD. My mouth is salivating just thinking about it. The establishment is in the back of Ala Moana mall, making it a bit hard to find. You can park at the Nordstrom parking lot and walk down to the restaurant. Check out their happy hour!
(5)Kimo A.
A party of 20 is always a challenge. And, I give credit to restaurants that have an organized staff that they can manuever this with as little drama as possible. Shokudo is such a restaurant. We decided to eat here after one of my friends had his White Coat ceremony. He entered the UH John Burns School of Medicine MD program and we wanted to go someplace special. I have been to Shokudo over 10 times. Usually we go for the late night Happy Hour when we are able to get more of a variety of smaller portions. I used to enjoy the $3 Salmon Chazuke, however they took it off the menu a few months ago. The food is delicious and it is consistent. I really enjoy the slab of tonkatsu and the garlic rice with shrimp. My favorite dish is the homemade tofu. Seriously, I had to think a while on whether or not I wanted to write that on this review because sometimes they run out. The homemade tofu is creamy and is served with a condiment of broth, sea salt, seaweed, and green onions (about $8). I always tell people to order their own. Our party of 20 people enjoyed rounds of sushi, ramen, bibim bap, garlic steak, tempura, and tofu. We finished our meals by ordering 5 orders of honey toast. The service was excellent and we were glad that we chose Shokudo for such a life-celebration.
(5)Jennifer T.
Happy Happy Happy Hour:) 4-6 every day. $3.00 plates of food, and when I say food I'm not saying it in a $3.00 kinda way, this is AWESOME! $4.00 house sake Spicy tuna wontons, spicy tuna rolls, garlic clams, edamame, eggplant with bacon OH MY! I will dream about going back for inexpensive yummy food.....so I guess I will be having some very sweet dreams! Oh....I tried the honey toast. Not my favorite thing. How about that, I am definitely odd (wo)man out there.
(5)Steve N.
After watching the Robert Irvine-esque reconstruction and revamping of Shokudo, I was hoping for a much better experience than during a visit about a year or two ago. Unfortunately, they really haven't changed much. And by changed that much, I mean their menu is exactly the same with the exception of a handful of new offerings that are presented on a crinkled up piece of computer paper that had been laminated after the crinkling. Makes me wonder why they would spend the time and money to close the restaurant for several weeks, but not bother to order new menus. Fortunately, they made sure to train the waitstaff. Our servers were awesome and did a great job. On to the food . . . Calarmari Tempura with wasabi aioli - one of the highlights, but some of the pieces were clumped together. I was a line/fry cook in college and it takes all of about five seconds to properly shake and separate the calamari so that it fries properly. Portion size was small, but the picture on the menu was small as well. Ahi Sashimi - have had better quality ahi at Sushi Man. Salmon Sashimi - decent - about on par with Genki. Hotate (Scallop) Sashimi - not very exciting, but this was a first for me. My wife liked it. Red Eye Roll - was so so - about on par with Sushi Man. Chicken Karaage - good - pretty hard to mess up fried chicken. On par with Genki. Lobster Dynamite - another highlight - stole a bite from our friend's plate and was a pleasant surprise. Honey Toast - I don't eat dessert, but this was a definite hit with the rest of the table. Probably won't be back as I can find much better ways to spend $100 bucks.
(2)Rebecca C.
not quite sure what all the hype is about this place... came here for a baby shower and we were placed in a cozy private room. it'll comfortably fit about 18 people. tofu salad - had better elsewhere calamari salad red sushi roll - wasn't all that great oxtail ramen - delish but need more oxtail... sushi pizza - interesting but yum to jalapenos mochi cheese all in all i had a good experience. i still have not tried the famous toast dessert here but the ones we were served didn't look all that great. it was lacking butter and honey syrup which left the bread dry... i did however try the same dessert at tairyo and boy was it delish... one day i'll head back here to try theirs...
(4)Laura D.
Good service, good food. Great, fun atmosphere. The Ishiyaki rice bowls are really tasty as is the tofu salad. The sushi is a-okay.
(3)Lyman W.
love there happy hour 3-6 p.m. prices are $3, $4, and $5 food is good and drinks are reasonable. I recommend the cheese gratin spicy ahi tuna.
(4)Sharlene D.
10:30 - Midnight Happy Hour...? $3 for Honey Toast Jr. - aka the perfect size for one person to tackle the great dessert. $2 Ling Hing Mui Sake Shooters ... Can I say, yes? :)
(5)Yi F.
We had garlic clam, honey toast jr, unagi rice, lobster dynamite, uni sushi. Everything is perfect and we got the happy hour deal. It's absolutely worthy trying.
(5)Desiree V.
My first honey toast and I loved it.
(4)Tamra P.
I am newly obsessed with their tofu salad. Apparantly they make their own fresh tofu and it is divine. I always feel guilty because I order that and don't really share like you're supposed to. So if others like it too we usually get two. We also had a few sushi dishes, and chicken karaage which everyone enjoyed. Went with family after the Nutcracker knowing we could get food late and it wasn't a club or bar (hello, mother in tow!). It was also the night before my bday so I enjoyed the complimentary bday honey toast! Whoo hoo, this was my cheat night of the week. Carbs never tasted so divine. I told my husband that I was dreaming of eating a loaf of bread for my birthday and wow, the dream came true. It's a half portion of honey toast but even the two of us couldn't finish the scrumptious delight. My sister, her bf, and my mom devoured most of their honey toast. Never in my life have I seen my mom eat so much dessert....this must be a winner!
(4)Sheila G.
Dirty dishes, bad service and mediocre food... I was really excited to try this restaurant out as friends have posted going here on facebook. Unfortunately, Shokudo didn't sway my bf and I the right way. While ordering our food, we asked if we could split the check (there were 8 of us) and she said that she could only split the check up to only four, which was possible. Then she lied to us saying that all our orders were mixed and that splitting the check would be difficult. She first asked my bf's two friends (they brought their girlfriends), then myself and my bf and then his two other friends, in that order. I don't think that was too difficult to split up. The only check that was split was the first couple because "they were sitting on another table". The second thing that I disliked was the food. My bf and I ordered carpaccio ($14), sushi pizza ($14) and miso ramen ($9). The only thing that we enjoyed was the carpaccio and that in itself was a disappointment as the portion was so small. The sushi pizza was below average. Do they cook it first over foil because my teeth started hurting as if foil was in my teeth? The ramen was also overcooked. It felt mushy. And as for their famous honey toast ($8)... are you kidding me? That bread was dry. That's what I would feed a bird if I was at the park. And what honey? We barely had any. I also felt bad for my bf's friend because he ordered oxtail soup ramen and he had to wait a while, while watching everyone else eat. Tsk tsk. Beer selection was good though. I normally would not complain like a baby about a restaurant but this restaurant had to be the dirtiest one that I've gone too. I wanted to eat where everyone was but since our party was big, we were sent to the back. I felt like a reject customer because the back was ugly compared to the front part of the restaurant. We were given plates and boy did that ruin the night for me. A couple of the "clean" plates had crumbs stuck on the plates and they were just washed. That is fricking nasty! A couple of the forks also had something stuck on it. Again they were just washed because they came out wet. And majority of the small plates were chipped. I'm sorry but if business is going good for a restaurant, they should be able to afford new plates.
(1)Kathleen G.
I like the interior, but never got to see how their lights were, since my friend and I went there, late afternoon, but the sun was still high. They serve the food family style. So for someone as petite as me, I find the servings big. Since my friend is petite like me, we shared whatever we ordered except the drinks [of course] hehe. We got lobster dynamite, calamari, the salmon thing, and the garlic shrimp rice. They were all yummy. If only my stomach expands, I would eat them and actually finish them all, but sadly no. They give 1 floor of honey toast, if you're celebrating your bday there. If not It usually comes in 2 floors. haha! The server who was assigned to our table was awesome. His name is Troy. He's so nice. We asked him to help us remove the case on my friend's iphone because we couldn't take it off. Pun aside, the experience was great! :)
(4)Arturo G.
Went here a few times for Happy Hour which is great. Good food, good drinks, and good prices. But when i went here during regular hours it is not so great. I ordered Mongolian beef and it wasn't so good even though it was supposed to be the chef special. There was barely any meat and the meat I had, had lots of fat. I give props for the presentation of serving it on a super hot bowl so when you eat, it stays hot. The honey toast is good but I am not a big fan of it because I have been eating ice cream bread ever since I could walk. But if you're wondering what that is it, it is 2 huge pieces of toast with the center cut out in cubes and toasted and honey drizzled on the cubes. It is served with i think 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream. I think you can now add different flavors for an additional $1. I would only come back for Happy Hour.
(3)Casey C.
Been here twice now, first time was with a few friends visiting from the mainland. We had the chicken katsu, sushi roll, yakisoba and they were just ok. Second time was about a dozen of us friends and family, seated in the nook behind the bar. We got a lot of different stuff and it was so much better. The unagi rice bowl, special vongole pasta, udon, tempura, and tofu salad, were highlights. Got honey toast both times. If you aren't expecting anything other than japanese-style bread toasted, drizzled with honey, and topped with a few scoops of ice cream, then you are in for a treat. If you expect more than that, you'll be disappointed. Service was good both times. Ambiance was nice; modern decor, kinda noisy. We had to wait almost an hour on a friday night the first time, so the second time I made reservations several days in advance. Now they're doing renovations so I'm not sure what it will be like next. Parked at Nordstrom lot both times for free.
(4)Denise L.
This place is way too overrated. I went here for my 18th birthday because I had recently moved to Hawaii for school and honestly, the food was not that great. Granted, the lobster dynamite (appetizer) was really dynamite, but the main entree was just awful. I had some weird Garlic shrimp bimbimbap type of thing and it was gross and flavorless. The second time I went, I ordered udon, and that was pretty bland. Most people go for the Honey toast, but hey, if toast is what brings you to a restaurant--cheers!
(2)Annie W.
Sorry, but after tonight I think giving them a 2 star rating is a gift. I usually go for happy hour with my girlfriends after work. We would lock up the office early just so we can make it to Shokudo happy hr before the crowd gets there...that was the extent of how much we liked the place. But tonight hell broke loose and I suppose our happy relationship with Shokudo imploded. Tonight I went with the guys and one of them didn't bring their ID. But i thought since we weren't ordering alcohol they would still be cool allowing us to dine at the happy hr side of the restaurant. The host didn't know so he went to grab the manager and the manager said in the most condescending tone that ID is absolutely required for happy hr. I was so bothered by this that i told my party that I rather go some where else, so we left and right before we exited I told the manager that he just lost 7 customers over 1 tiny reason and all he could say was "sorry its policy". Dude, I get it, I worked in the service industry before! But man, I thought being a loyal customer to them was enough to get genuinely good customer service. Well thanks for letting me rant. Let's move on to the critique of the food, service, parking etc. FOOD + PRICE: As you guys can tell, I like to go for their happy hr just because I like the variety and the prices. All the pupu's are between $3 - $5. My recommendation is to get the ramen and honey toast since those are the two items that they haven't really messed up yet..... and yes I am saying "yet" for a reason. I think they changed chefs or something because the food tastes different since the beginning of the year. To be honest, the last time I ate at Shokudo (which was last weekend) I was ready to put Shokudo on my "drop off" list ( the list of restaurants that I will give one last chance to make up for their bad food) because they messed up 5/6 of our dishes... the cucumber salad's dressing was done wrong, they gave us old fries for our teriyaki fries, our melon soda floats had too much syrup and not enough carbonation, and many many more mistakes....yes I go there too often to know how things are suppose to taste like! And unfortunately I can tell something went amiss... well moving on... PARKING: Luckily Shokudo is located right in front of Ala Moana so for you early bird happy hour people, you can park at Ala and walk over. If you are the late night happy hour type, then you can park at their designated parking lot located in the same building complex. That parking is free after 8pm or so as the booth attendants are no longer available after hours! Free parking is always a plus ;) AMBIANCE: The restaurant is nicely decorated. During the day there is plenty of natural light shining through the windows and during the night the place is somewhat dimly lit. It creates a nice atmosphere for group outings or girls night out. SERVICE: I see an attempt to ensure good service but it doesn't feel right. I get my food, I get the smile, I get my drinks etc, but for some reason the service lacks the heart --- it's not genuine. Despite that I kept going back for the cheap food lol... but don't get me wrong! If it wasn't for the cheap deals I wouldnt even bother going back. An establishment with the lack of heart for their customers will start slipping sooner or later. OVERALL: If you're cheap like me and don't care much for the service, then go for it! Fill your tummies and leave lol.. but if you're a stickler for service, a nice dining experience, and carefully handcrafted dishes then I don't recommend this place. Like Jason W. (below) said " [it] has not yet put it all together to take it to the next level".
(2)Anita C.
I was a Shokudo and Honey Toast virgin (until this weekend), yes I know, sadness... I am from the mainland, please forgive me. We had a party of 9, arrived around 5:15pm and we had to wait 45 mins. The decor is modern, trendy and not over the top - I liked the simpleness of it all. For some reason I was craving udon, so I got the hot udon soup, the lobster dynamite roll and the grape vodka soda. The whole table shared a honey toast since we were super full. The udon is a typical udon, nothing special. Now the roll... ummm ummm goodness! Big pieces of lobster and the california roll made perfectly. The grape vodka soda was delish as well! It was pretty cheap too, under $7. We were hoping to catch happy hour but our server told us that happy hour is only for the bar, oh shucks, next time! The honey toast... oh my, where have I been all this time on island?? It was soo good that we even ate the crust! I am coming back very soon! I wanna try the sushi pizza and the cookies and creme honey toast !
(4)Kama A.
Been here a few times and have never been disappointed. Not much of a sushi/fish kinda guy but this place is the exception. The past few times I have been here was for dinner and every time i left i remembered thinking "that was worth it". Awesome laid-back decor and not noisy or too congested. Even the smaller (2) person seats were high enough you could not see the tables next to you. Gave it a private and personal atmosphere so I could hear HOT date next to me!! Ordered a la carte style which included: (1) Cheesy Mochi Gratin - This is exactly as it is labled. Imagine a "Cheesy"+"Mochi" colab with a hint of buttery furikake goodness. Never tasted anything like it before in my life but it is GOOD!! (2) Lobster dynamite dip-Choke lobster and creamy consistency seemed like it would be great as a main dish or even dip/chips. (3)Teriyaki Cicken-This was also on point and tasted like the chicken you get in Shirokiya bentos. Definitely Japanese style served with some ono wasabi mashed potatos and watercress. Grinded the whole thing and left some damage in no time. The wifey got some elaborate looking sushi roll that she scarfed and said was the best sushi ever(like I said I don;t eat sushi so you gonna have to take my word for it). Service was top-notch and although I was with the finest female in the house(wifey) it didn't seem like the emplyees were perving or overdoing themselves to "kiss ass". I like that. We were so stuffed on our last trip we didn't get to eat the hONEY TOAST. But I know ya already know all about that... In my opinion relative to the quality of food the prices are underpriced but I'm totally OK with that. Guarantee panty-dropper concluding a romantic date night....trust me! *SWAG*SWAG*SWAG*
(5)John K.
Pricing on food was expensive, and I felt bloated after the meal. The assorted tempura was done correctly, real crispy batter. The Cali rolls were also delish. Quality of food was excellent overall, was not expecting it to be as filling as it was.
(3)Darcy K.
Employees are really rude over the phone. They dont have much personality here in person either, unless you are at the bar. I called to make a reservation for my auntys birthday dinner. The girl on the phone said she could take a last minute reservation and put me down for 6. When she asked for my last name, I started to spell it out for her since it is a bit long. I started, "K-a-u" and she cuts me off saying, "Thats it?" I honestly dont care how fast you can follow someone spelling their name out. You dont have to be rude about it. I called on the day of the dinner because I wanted to cancel. We decided to go to OJIYA (a much better choice!) but no one was answering the phone. I literally called for an hour, every five minutes. When 6pm comes around, they call me and leave me this message, "We are calling about your reservation for 6pm. If you dont show up within 15 minutes we will give away your table. Oops looks like we cancelled it." Seriously could you be any more rude? I dont know where these rude know-it-alls were at when I was calling for a whole hour during lunch time, but this is yet another reason why I do not like this restaurant.
(2)Ryan T.
I've always wanted to visit Shokudo, but did not do so until last night with some friends. Contrary to other reviews, the service from our waitress while not excellent was satisfactory. As far as the food goes, I thought that it was overpriced and okay at best. The best thing we had there was the hamachi carpaccio. Some of the fusion dishes really did not work for me. The wasabi mashed potatoes that came with our teri salmon were a complete miss. I don't know who came up with this dish, but it was completely dry and had very little taste. Instead of wasabi, they would have been better just putting on furikake on top and calling it a fusion dish. Other than being a cool swank place to hang out, I really do not know how this place is so popular. The only way I would come back here is if the gf wants to come here on a night out or if I am craving a girly mixed fruit drink which they have a wide selection of.
(2)Donald A.
Other than the reservation thing, the food and atmosphere are awesome. Short story, drove thru the North shore and passed Fumi's and Romy's Kahuku Shrimp stands. Big-time craving for garlic shrimp from the sweet smells we encountered driving pass Kahuku and Shokudo satisfied it for me! Thus, I recommend the Garlic Shrimp in the stone pot and wash it down with your favorite beer or beverage. If you can handle it, finish off with a honey toast dessert and it's time for a "kanak attack." Mahalo to our servers, Brian and Tremaine for a great eating experience. Also to Kaeo, who cleaned up after us so quickly. Don't come into town much but this place is worth the drive! @aweau
(4)Nikki T.
This has been one of my favorite spots to go to for dinner and just for the drinks. I mean I am a huge fan of tokyo table in Irvine, but being the original and Hawaii I feel like this is my, you know, ONE. I love the atmosphere, and contrary to popular belief, I have never received bad service here. I mean hawaiian people are friendly, right? Now what to get... Lobster dynamite, Chicken Karaage, Agadeshi Tofu, Tuna Sashimi Salad, Bluberry Vodka Drink, and of course (drum roll please)..... HONEY TOAST. There you go.
(4)Jeremiah B.
Debated between three and four stars, but went with three since it is the mild sense of disappointment that stands out more than any feelings of approval that I might feel. Actually, it was really the lovely company of my date that made eating here enjoyable. Otherwise, it was hot, perhaps because we were seated next to the kitchen, a bit noisy, and the food, while good, was not great. We ordered the tofu salad, which was the best dish of the four we ordered. The soft tofu went well with the crispy shoestring potatoes. The bibimbap bowl was just so-so. Not very flavorful, and the waiter who mixed it wasn't very careful. We finished with the cinnamon toast, which was very tasty, but I can't help but think that Shokudo could do more with this dessert. Our main waiter was really great, though. Very attentive, professional, and friendly. If you go on the weekend, get there early as it gets busy fast. At least there is parking at Ala Moana.
(3)Millie H.
Okay, last night was our 2nd trip back to the restaurant and this time I brought my best friend with me and my husband. At first when we arrived, there was a huge crowd of young people outside the restaurant. We thought ohhh my gosh this is gonna be a long wait. We went inside hoping maybe they have open bar seats and sure enough they did, Hoorraayyy! The service we had last night was amazing our waitress came quickly over served our waters and took our drink orders! Then we placed our food order in as she dropped off our drinks, mind you the wait was not that long maybe a few minutes. Probably within 20 minutes of waiting our food prefer started coming in one at a time but, efficient enough to keep up. The food was soooo tasty that I want to go back again soon. Our first visit there was horrible and we had terrible service but, last night was top notch and awesome. I even like the part where our waitress asked for our ID's that was supppper nice to hear! Lol We had lobster dynamite roll (couldn't get a picture because everyone devoured it in seconds), beef tataki sushi (ohhh my gosh sooo Ono), spinach salad (yummyyy), home made tofu (ohhhhh to die for) & chicken karage (nice and juicy) ohhhh and I can't forget their famous honey toasted dessert (it was a one time thing but, good).. We'll back as I am already drooling as I am writing this. Mahalo for a great Friday night
(5)Chanel M.
Yay! I finally got to eat since like idk 2 years ago i think was the last time. We had excellent service. My waitress's name is robyn. She was so nice. Im surprised how patient she was because my party was huge and our reservations was at 10:45 and the restraunt closes at 12 on sundays. They have excellent food here. Of course i had to get honey toast! I had the oreo one. So damn good. I love their oreo shakes too. I recommend anyone to go here. Good food and service.
(4)Mindy J.
Got the garlic fried rice- it was ok. the hamachi appetizer was amazing though. wouldn't go back
(3)Grace L.
I realize I have a bagillion review updates for shokudo and I have been a die hard fan over the past few years. I love my chicken quesadilla and agedashi tofu. And who doesn't love their signature honey toast? I haven't been here in a while, mostly because I'm an indecisive person and I rarely make reservations for restaurants (shokudo's wait time is always too long without one). My bf and I finally decided on a day and we actively made plans to dine here. Everything was fairly normal despite it having been pretty busy. I did feel rushed since our check was delivered while we were still finishing up our meal. However, I was a little confused regarding my bill. Our bill came out to $35.71 so I paid $101.01 so that I would receive $65.30 in change. When I got my change back, I got a flat $65. On the bill it indicated that our server punched in that I gave him $100.01. So in his mind and according to his calculations, he gave me an extra $0.70 because he gave me back $65 instead of $64.30. To me, he short changed me $0.30 since I actually gave him $101.01. I get that $0.30 is not really a big deal but dude, that's still my change. And servers should be attentive enough to count the bills before punching it in. I waited to point it out but he didn't return and I don't know where he went. I deducted a dollar from the tip and left. I'm not upset about my change but rather the carelessness that went into the transaction. I'm a die hard shokudo fan and have been over the years. I've always had good service here without any problems. It could've just been a bad night I guess but still, I expect more, especially since we used to come so often! It was alright and not worth throwing a fuss over but still, this was disappointing... :(
(3)Angel H.
I haven't been here in a while, so we had lunch here the other day. The restaurant was packed. To my surprise, they had their Lunch Bento Box, which is their lunch specials. I'm not sure how long they've had it but it was a good deal. The hubby got the teri chicken and chicken karaage combo box. It came with edamame, salad, rice and miso soup. I didn't try anything in his box. I ordered the assorted tempura box that came with the same sides. The miso soup wasn't too salty and had bits of tofu in it. The salad had corn in it and had some kind of vinegary dressing on it. I'm guessing it's their house dressing. My bento box came with 4 assorted tempuras; shrimp, purple sweet potato, eggplant and zucchini. The tempuras were done right. It was crunchy with just the right amount of batter. Most importantly, it wasn't greasy and soggy. The real reason we came here was for the honey toast. Their honey toast is the best and I don't like bread. I can never get enough. It's two huge slices stacked on top of each other and served warm. It's cut into cubes and toasted crispy on the outside. Inside is soft and chewy. We usually get it with cinnamon. Once, we ordered it with caramel and it was just too sweet because they already put honey on it. They also put 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream on it to finish it off. This dessert is amazeballs! I took off a star because I like to get the melon float but they were out. It's melon syrup, with Sprite, and topped off with vanilla ice cream. The drink is so good. If you're going to order off the regular menu, it's on the pricier side. That wouldn't be a problem except that the amount of food on the plate is minuscule, so you're going to have to order a plethora of plates.
(4)Joanne A.
I've been to Shokudo sporadically through the years for birthday celebrations, girls' night outs, and dates, and for the most part, I've had good experiences. The menu includes an assortment of tempura, sashimi, sushi, and noodle choices as well as other pupus, salads, and entrees. I love the lobster dynamite roll! I also often order the grilled teriyaki chicken, which comes with wasabi mashed potatoes. I'm not particularly fond of wasabi but I do enjoy their twist to mashed potatoes. Shokudo also offers ishiyaki (hot stone cooking); my boyfriend loves the sukiyaki bibimbap and I like the garlic shrimp rice. And I can't forget to mention their honey toast! It's a simple dessert with vanilla ice cream that's full of flavor and definitely worth a try, especially the Oreo cookie & cream one. Shokudo has a good happy hour from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm daily, and a late night happy hour from 10:30 pm to midnight on Sunday-Wednesday. The happy hour menu includes $3-5 pupus. As for drinks, I often order their lychee vodka soda, kikuka (lychee saketini), or lychee mojito. Yes, I love lychee, and lychee drinks make me happy! :) There's a parking structure in the same building but it can get full. Also, the ceilings seem a little low so I'd recommend those with bigger vehicles to park at Ala Moana/Nordstrom and walk over.
(4)Melody C.
To all the aunties, uncles, twenty-somethings, popos, gung-gungs, etc. Please consider boycotting Shokudo. Tonight I experienced one of the most brazen and vicious examples of money pilfering in the restaurant industry. I know because I'm a kid of two servers at major hotel chains in Waikiki. They've been working the industry for over 20 years as servers. My parents have told me all kinds of stories where co-workers have gotten caught or fired from tricking the system and pocketing money. I never thought I would be a victim of it. That all changed today at Shokudo. We had a party of 15. The server, Kaleo, informed us the check can only be split into four tables, so groups of 4, 4, 4, and 3 respectively, and cannot be split individually. I believe that this is a scheme. They want it to be difficult for everyone so that you end up stuck in a situation that gives them a prime opporutnity to conduct this scam. I ended up in a group of 4. Our bill total was $67.13 ($57.28 food and tax + 9.85 automatic gratuity). Fine, I understand, we had a large party that's alright, automatic gratuity is expected. So, I handed him $43 in cash and my card with the instructions: "Here's cash and charge the rest on card." $67.13 - $43.00 = $24.13 $24.13 should have been the only charge on my card. What I got back was $24.28 + $9.85 = $34.13 (This was already charged to my card). He punched in gratuity TWICE. Notice how the totals are similar? $67.13 was our grand total, and $34.13 was the total after he punched in the tip TWICE. This already tells me he purposely calculated $24.28 with the $9.85 tip so that it would equal $34.13. He probably hoped I wouldn't notice since the cents were the same (both 0.13). Sorry, I'm not that easy to trick!! There is no way my subtotal without tip can be $24.28, we only gave you bills, no change! He intentionally made up this number so that the numbers would look correct on the grand total. ~ Because I was in a large group and in a rush to leave, I signed the receipt and didn't look carefully until I got home. Once I saw what I explained above, I called them. Only after calling and waiting for them to call me back, they told me they had no evidence of the previous $67.13, only the $34.13 total. Excuse me? How does this happen? I was there just half an hour ago. How do you not have record of this? So, armed with both reciepts, I had to end up driving back to Shokudo tonight to get my money back--to prove to them that they charged me twice for gratuity, since they 'LOST' the reciept with $67.13 on it. Once there the manager, Leatrice went back and forth, consulting with Kaleo, then coming back with him. She never actually apologized to me once, which I found odd. Then Kaleo explained that he only received $33 in cash. Whoa whoa, don't even try buddy! We gave you 2 tens, 2 fives, and 13 ones. I don't think that adds up to $33, more like $43. Secondly, let's say we did give him $33 cash, the total owed from $67.13 would be $34.13 FLAT, not a combination of $24.28 + $9.85 gratuity. See what he was trying to do there? Because $67.13 - $34.13 = $33 Nope that doesn't make sense!! Because the SUBTOTAL (without gratuity) should equal $XX.13, NOT the total after adding $9.85 gratuity. In this case, the subtotal ($24.28) with $9.85 gratuity equaled $XX.13. Now ask yourself why is it so important that $9.85 gratuity is added in addition to this calculated number of $24.28? And why is it that the $67.13 receipt went missing? I wasn't able to piece it out at Shokudo, I was too flustered and annoyed about the double-dipping scheme. But turns out its much bigger than this. When I went home that's when it hit me. They pocketed the cash. There was no record of $67.13 in the system because the transaction was NEVER processed, JUST PRINTED. This way they pocket the $43 cash and charge me $9.85 in tips as well. They "double dipped" and cheated the business. That is why the only record was the $34.13. Once I realized this I was a bit stunned I'm not going to lie. On the phone I accused the server, Kaleo of hiding the $67.13 receipt, I told this to Leatrice, the manager. She told me that it was impossible gave me a laundry list of reasons why they could't do this. I found it odd that she wouldn't be perplexed that a group that dined there only a while ago had no record of ever spending $67.13. Then it hit me, the manager, Leatrice is involved as well. This explains her behavior. Not only did she not apologize once to me but she didn't say that she would retrain the server or make sure that it won't happen ever again. She even backed away when I began to scold Kaleo for his deceit. This raised red flags for me. I'm almost certain this is a tag-team duo arrangement. Together, as a team they pocket money, stealing from both owner and guest. The owner of Shokudo needs to do an audit, NOW. I wouldn't be surprised to find that thousands of dollars in money is missing. Disgusting.
(1)Mae S.
Delicious delicious! Hands down the best. A bit pricy but worth it. Honey toast is a MUST
(5)Henry M.
I walked in right as it turned 10pm I'm by myself. The hosts graciously rushes me to the bar but I say no I want a table in the corner presumably by myself. She adamantly puts me in the perfect booth. I've already read the happy hour menus etc online on the yelp app so I know what to expect. Half ass cuisines at low rates. But holy hell am I stunned at the late night menu. Great drink specials and great servings of all of the main items but during late night. Shokudo Japanese you've made me a fan and I graciously thank you for your service. The drinks weren't watered down and I'm low key drunk in the booth by myself. IG: hen3rah I will be back...
(5)Shu Jin S.
Our server was wonderful, really patient and friendly. All the servers are top notch here. You can expect to get catered to and for them to hand mix your hot pots (should you get one). I got the bibimbap hot pot and it was good - it could have been spicier, even with mixing in the entire bowl of Korean hot sauce. Good though. The homemade tofu is a must-order. It's unfortunately I could only have a scoop or two due to my allergies. But it was so worth the stuffed nose! Excellent meal, my only regret was skipping the dessert. It looked so good.
(4)Paul C.
SHOKUDO (noun) definition in Japanese: canteen; mess hall; cafeteria, small dining room. I recall receiving a postcard sent to my home before Shokudo opened their doors for business back in 2006. I vividly remember seeing that red postcard. It had small plates of food, just like how food is served in Japan. The deep-fried chicken wings really got my attention and this place seemed very promising. But sad to report after many, many visits here I find this place more of a social gathering in a convenient location but don't get your hopes high on food here. To be frank I really don't see what all the hype is all about for this place. Yes, the Happy Hour Menu is very reasonable but the quality is horrible. I've tried many things here, especially when they first opened with some colleagues from work only to walk out confused. Ideas may be great but the food is not executed well. Needs help with quality control. The ever so popular Honey Toast. Nothing special in my opinion. Toasted white bread, ice cream, whipped cream and sauces/syrup dressed all over........what a waste of space in your stomach. I'd rather drive to Bubbie's and eat one of their ice cream cakes as Bubbie's dessert is much better in quality and satisfies my sweet tooth. I cringe when friends want to come here. Service is spotty. Very inconsistent. The hostess at the front could use a course on greeting people with a smile and needs personality. Sometimes I feel like being sarcastic but I remind myself it's not worth my energy so I refrain from comments and repeat to myself I've come to Shokudo to spend time with friends. I feel bad for writing this review. The food here does live up to the literal Japanese meaning of cafeteria where one can expect marginal food. This is definitely NOT a place of my choice to eat at. I'd rather stay home and eat instant noodles than dine here.
(2)Mimi N.
To be honest, I really came here just for the honey toast....but given how there are some pretty unique dishes on the menu, couldn't resist trying some of them out. Overall, Shokudo is a pretty cute and laid back restaurant. The interior was nice and neat (with the designs) and thankfully, didn't have to wait long for a table. Ordered a few dishes for lunch: Sushi Pizza, Lobster Dynamite, Crispy Rice roll, and the honey toast. In summary, most of the dishes were ok. I love the sushi pizza concept, however, the sushi itself felt a bit too dry and lacked any strong flavors. For the dynamite dish, the sauce was awesome. Like, I have no idea what's in it, but it was so good. The creaminess and slightly salty and sweet taste of the sauce were well balanced. The only thing that I was a bit let down about the lobster dynamite dish was - where was the lobster taste? I saw tiny pieces of lobster floating around but didn't even taste a hint of lobster in it. Perhaps the sauce was too overwhelming? Next up was the crispy rice roll. After seeing so many reviews and pictures about this dish, I was pumped to try it out. Sadly, I was a bit disappointed with the rolls. Awesome idea for a roll, with crispy rice on the outside for the extra crunch that's different from a tempura roll. However, the rice was a bit too burnt and dried out, the roll itself wasn't too savory and overall, it was a bland dish. Finally, the honey toast. Honey toast here is worth the visit. The bread was perfectly toasted, and overall, this was quite a refreshing snack. Kept it simple with the original, and keep in mind, this is a pretty large dish. So if you don't feel like eating too much of this yummy dessert, there is an option to order a mini version of it. I would recommend stopping this place if you're in the mood to try a new dessert like honey toast.
(3)Sungjin S.
We had an excellent waitress, BJ. She was so friendly and helpful. She had made suggestions and they were perfect. Excellent experience overall. Atmosphere: We didn't have a reservation so we waited a few minutes but when we were seated the restaurant was very spacious with high ceilings. Service: BJ our waitress was so kind and helpful. Excellent service, felt like I was dining at a Michelin 3 star restaurant just by her high quality service. Food: We followed BJ's suggestions and tried the fresh tofu salad (tofu made fresh every 20 minutes), mochi cheese, garlic scallops in a hot bowl, and the famous honey toast with vanilla ice cream. The tofu salad was so fresh, light, clean and full of flavor. The mochi with melted cheese on top was very unique and worth trying, never have I had that combination before. The dish was like a mash up of italian and japanese flavors. The honey toast was absolutely wonderful. Intangibles: Don't come here for the sushi. You must try the unique dishes here to include all the above and more.
(4)Jeana P.
After a night at the opera on April 22, 2015 Wednesday night was the first time I stepped foot into Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar. Wow...what a big difference of decor since Angelo Pietro. I was in a group of 5 and we were seated at a table. 3 of us on one side and I got to sit next to the window. **My review is based on my experience at the restaurant. The waiter hands us the menu plus the late night happy hour menu. I glanced through the big menu and seen the photo of Sashimi Sampler....ok I want that. I looked over the happy hour menu and seen Garlic Clams...ok I want that too. Once my two dishes arrived I noticed that the Sashimi Sampler which consisted of 3 small thick slices of Ahi, Salmon, and Hamachi did not have the vegetables like the picture showed. Very disappointed. The Garlic Clams was overloaded on the garlic and very salty plus the clams was on the smaller side. I was still kind of hungry and I looked over the happy hour menu again. Char Siu Ramen Jr. caught my eye. When James the waiter came around to our table and asked if we needed anything I put in an order for my ramen bowl. When the ramen bowl came out...now I know why they call it Char Siu Ramen Jr.. The dish was served in a small bowl and only one char siu on top of the ramen noodles. The broth for the ramen was on the salty side too. Normally I would always finish the ramen broth especially if it's delicious. Excellent customer service from James our waiter for the evening. The food wise could use a little improvement. Cut down on the salt for the garlic clams and for the ramen broth. Please add the vegetables to the Sashimi Sampler (cost $17.95)...I wanted to eat some cucumbers and carrots with my sashimi. If there's just going to be just the sashimi slices then at least cut down on the price by $5.00. I'll give the restaurant a try another time when I'm in the Honolulu area. Hopefully my next experience would be a better one.
(3)Elle B.
Mainly came here for the honey toast my friend hyped about so much. I can see why, it was derrricious for being such a simple dessert! However, the lunch bento was just so-so. I also found a piece of hair under my teriyaki chicken so it couldn't have been mine. I didn't want to tell our waitress because, for once, I kinda felt bad. I'm the annoying type who looks at every inch of what I eat after finding so many pieces of hair and what not in restaurants.. So I let this one slide. But service was friendly. We went during the week around 11, and were seated right away. Only a few other guests we there. Then as soon as it hit noon, it was more busy. Overall, I'd say I would only come here if I was craving the honey toast.
(3)Kathy A.
Another fabulously fun event presented by our wonderful Yelp leaders. Where else can you drink alcohol while you prick you fingers making ribbons for the Honolulu Aids Walk? The ribbons were red so the bleeding didn't show for those of us who are repeat stabbers. By the time we got our ribbon rhythm rolling we ran out of little gold pins! Ah shucks, now all we can do is enjoy the company of other yelpers and have more cocktail! Thank you Arynn for sharing the Honey Toast! Thank you Terry K for fun conversation and bringing your +1! Thank you Emi for your kind words! Nice to meet and talk to so many people but especially Rod, Michael and Darren. Too much fun for so little that we gave.
(5)Joanne E.
Favorites here include the yuzu hamachi carpaccio, mochi gratin, lobster dynamite, steak tataki nigiri, and rib eye steak. Everything was prepared well. The rib eye steak came with watercress on a sizzling platter, making it even more mouth-watering. It was juicy, fatty, with a perfect amount of seasoning. So ono! We also splurged on the green tea shakes, which were good but didn't have quite enough green tea flavor and too many calories for me. The kiddos (and the adults, too) enjoyed the foot-long chicken katsu and chicken karaage. The katsu was very crispy yet juicy, one of the best yet. The servers were super attentive, friendly and helpful. Can't ask for much more. I just read about their omakase in Emi's review, so we went back for the 2nd time in 3 days to try it! The one we ordered was a platter with 3 thick slices of each of 6 different types of fish: salmon, snapper, tuna, hamachi, ikura, and one more white fish, plus uni. This was not a bad price for the quantity and quality of fish, plus it came with a bottle of hot sake, bonus! I'm not sure if it's different if you order at the sushi bar vs a table. So glad that this place has added the sushi bar, making the menu much more diverse than it used to be. Of course we had to end the meal with honey toast, with cinnamon. How does something so simple taste so good? Special thanks to Shokudo and our waiter, who brought us some extra goodies for our anniversary; tempura bread pudding ala mode! The great service on top of delicious food ensured that we'll be back soon!
(5)Kristyn K.
Went to Shokudo with quite a large party (10) and was pleasantly surprised we were given the party room without requesting it! This meant we didn't need to meet the minimum requirement of $300, which is a price tag when reserving the room. Our server, Gabriel, was very attentive and the crew took really good care of us, down to making sure we had ample time to prep and record my grandma's free birthday dessert and singing. We ordered semi family style, semi individual. On the menu for dinner were: unagi rice, sukiyaki bibimbap, lobster dynamite roll, negi chashu x2, mochi cheese gratin x2, spicy ahi roll, teri chicken quesadilla, foot long chicken katsu, tempura roll, misoyaki salmon with a rice set, assorted tempura x3, gyoza, and their hamachi kama. For dessert, we had an original honey toast, cookies and creme honey toast, and a birthday tempura bread pudding. All and all, everyone was more than satisfied. We even had a bit of leftovers and brought the honey toast crust home for breakfast the next day! Cost wise, my grandma kept raving that it's cheaper than other restaurants we go to, and it included tip and dessert. She ain't lying. We will definitely be back, as this was not my first time here. :D
(5)Philip T.
Went here in a group and it was actually great to share everything. Meals coming off a hot pot like loco mock was sizzling and very tasty fried rice too! . Popular toasted loaf of bread with ice cream was good. I would go there to entertain and share entrées.
(4)Preeda K.
Went here for my wife's birthday. Always walked by and seen the lines so thought it must good. Reading the yelp reviews decided to try it out. Not bad for the price thought it would be pricy but it really wasent. The sushi was good and it came out really quick maybe it was because we went on a Monday. We only ate the sushi and bannanas flambe next time I'll try the other menu items. The service was very good Garret our server was very professional and knew the menu. He was also nice enough to offer my wife a birthday cake. I've been to a few sushi bars and Shokudo ranks higly as one of my favourites which I will deffently come back to. It is also convently located near my apartment LOL so I can walk right over. If you like sushi at reasonable this is the place to go. They also have happy hour from 4-6 and late night from 11-12.
(4)Joyce L.
Sadly I can only give 2 stars for good food and online reservation. Our server was good however I found out that our server and another server aren't getting along so therefore I ended up waiting 20 minutes getting change back from paying my bill. How shameful that I have to be in the middle of the drama. Shokudo used to be a vibrant and fun place to eat. Fortunately food is still good. They also have tables outside now.
(2)Lai T.
Dear Shokudo, I really want to like you more because your happy hour deals sound fantastic. But I just can't accept the mediocre food, small portions, and blah service when Home Bar is so close by. Please try to step it up. To be fair-I've had really delicious food from you in the past, but I've never left feeling like the server really cared if I had an enjoyable dining experience.
(2)Joann Y.
I have had an on and off relationship with Shokudo over the years. There are times where I LOVE it, and there are times where it's not that great. So it's definitely a hit or miss for me in terms of food, ambiance, and service. I would actually rate it a 3.5 since I feel Shokudo is a bit better than ok, but yelp doesn't give you that option. Shokudo is well-known for their Honey Toast, which is the dessert I look forward to every time. However, I don't feel like it improves each time. The toast used to come lightly toasted, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. This was perfect because you could enjoy their soft, delicious bread. Sadly, there have been times where I have received slightly more burnt toast comparable to a sweet crouton, which was so disappointing. The ice cream made it better! Shokudo's other dishes such as the ishikayi (stone pot rice) dishes, sushi rolls, or homemade tofu items are always delicious. What's better than watching them bring over a hot stone-pot filled with delicious goodies and mixing it up right in front of you?! Well, maybe the honey toast. I wouldn't recommend coming here for noodles or the char-siu pupu. There are wayyy better places to go to for noodles, and the char-siu was not that good nor was it visually pleasing. The best thing about Shokudo is that it is great for groups. Large reservations? No problem. Need a small room? No problem. It's a very accommodating place. Not only that, the prices aren't too much of a dent in your wallet. So I would definitely recommend Shokudo for groups!
(4)Mandy G.
Delicious, gratifying, and open late! I wish that I'm still on vacation so I can have more of their food. My friends took my here for dinner. We all had such a great time. Its a fun hang out place. It would be a great for dates also. Everything we ordered was so tasty. I am craving for their yuzu hamachi carpaccio right now. The honey toast became my favorite dessert of all time. You have to try this joint especially if you visiting Honolulu. I wish they had a location in Cali.
(5)Brian K.
My girlfriend and I came here for lunch last week, and I'm disappointed to say that the overall experience was ruined mostly in part to very low quality sashimi. We both ordered the lunch Bento Delux, and after about a 30 minute wait, or food had arrived. To the untrained eye the sashimi looked quite delicious, but my girlfriend is a fisherman, and informed me that the near had been "burned" which occurs when a fish is not cooled down fast enough after being caught. Apparently this doesn't really impact the taste, but rather the mouth feel, so I didn't really care too much. What did bother me was that the tuna used tasted like skipjack tuna. The flavor was just awful, I can't believe the sushi chef used this meat for sashimi... This foul up nearly made us return my dish, but my girlfriend's embarrassment wouldn't allow me to do so. Overall everything else that came with the bento was great, but I would highly encourage you to stay away from the ahi sashimi. Aside from the sashimi, this place was probably three stars, but being such an essential piece of a sushi restaurant I'm compelled to give shokudo only 1 star. Cheers
(1)Roxanne Lynn T.
It's been over a year since I've visited Shokudo. Years ago, this used to be one of our spots to go to when we would have gatherings with freinds. We always used to wait because this place always got busy. Over the years we started to just drift away from this place and would choose another sushi place because a new one opened in town. It was a friday a night that my boyfriend and I had randomly planned to have dinner here. And to our surprise, it was around 830pm and there was no line at all and we were seated quickly. I was shocked that it wasn't too busy as how I remembered it or just thought maybe we got there right timing and had beat the rush or something. Well I wasn't complaining though, I love the fact that we were seated right away. We had a trainee server who was serving us that night and he was doing a pretty good job greeting us and making sure our experience there was pleasant. Which was another plus to us enjoying our dinner night there. We had as for a recommendation regarding a sweet sake and the server delivered our requests. It was a delicious choice to start off the night. For our dinner we ordered our usuals: Beef Tataki, Sushi Sampler, and Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice. All were fresh and tasty just like I remembered it to be. Our stomachs were left happy and fulfilled our sushi cravings. And for dessert, HONEY TOAST IS A MUST! It's always been my favorite. They give you a free honey toast dessert within 5 days of your birthday so it was tradition that I always used to come around my birthday to get my honey toast birthday dessert as they put a candle on to celebrate the occasion. We had the chocolate one and it was sooo good. Actually I like the original regular honey toast though the best. Food prices are a little pricey but you pay for what you get for. I think what go us on our high bill was the drinks. Japanese drinks tend to be more expensive than your regular drinks. Other than that, the service was great and our experience that night gave us a reason to want to come back again some time.
(4)Mona I.
We spent almost 2 hours here-not by choice. Their service on a Monday night was ridiculously slow. After an hour wait to even get in, we sat down, expecting greatness for the wait, but instead, this place is just a popular hangout, with over glorified sushi rolls. The rainbow roll, tempura shrimp roll, spicy lobster dynamite, and California roll were all sub par. Nothing special or memorable. The worst part was when we waited a ridiculous amount of time for a waiter to come to take our order, for a waiter to come and bring the check, and once they had our credit card, we thought they went on a shopping spree because we waited at least a half an hour for them to bring it back. We made the most of it by playing games but that restaurant is not my idea of good Japanese food, nor good service, nor a good time. To end this on a positive note though, I was digging the decor. :-)
(2)Amanda L.
So I've never actually eaten a full dinner here - the 5 star rating I'm leaving is strictly for the honey toast because it is THAT good. For those of you who don't know what honey toast is, it's (let's be honest) like half a loaf of bread with the middle cut out and cubed and toasted to perfection and drizzled with honey. It comes with vanilla ice cream and everything together is one of my favorite desserts ever. So simple, but reaaaaally delicious. A must-have when in town!
(5)Traci T.
Another place I like to celebrate my birthday every year. Mainly because I have one of those Shokudo Dream Diners cards that they gave out years ago. This card is awesome! In the month of your birthday, they give you $25 to use towards your bill. The bestie and I went for happy hour so our bill virtually came out to nothing. We got the char siu ramen, jr., yogurt shochu, sukiyaki kimchee pizza, spicy tuna nachos, dynamite fries, and a honey toast, jr. Happy Hour is great because prices are between $3 - $5. We usually check out the 4 - 6 pm happy hour, but there is a late night one from 10:00 - 12:00. Boo...Shokudo no longer gives you a free honey toast for your birthday. Instead, they give a free Sakura bread pudding with vanilla ice cream. I gotta say I'm not a fan. It's a fried bread pudding...kinda weird. Think it would've been better if it was just bread pudding. Would've enjoyed the honey toast way more! Our server Wade was awesome! My bestie goes way more than I do and she said he's always superb. He remembers your name just from one meeting. He's very courteous and checks on you to make sure you're okay all the time. He works the bar, but he made sure to check on us even though we were sitting on the cocktail table a little away from the bar. Thank you Shokudo for making me feel so special for my birthday!
(4)Melina P.
I absolutely LOVE love love LOOOVE this place. The food is always good & the employees are super nice. I probably come here at least once a month. My favorite dishes include: Tempura sushi roll, karaage chicken, soy beans, yukari fries & sushi pizza. I tried the soft-shell crab roll at my most recent visit & even though it tasted amazing, I didn't care for the "crunch" of the crab shell. & of courseeeee if you're here, you MUST order the honey toast!!! My favorite is probably the Oreo cookie but I also enjoy the strawberries & original. HIGHLY recommend this place!!!
(5)Anthony N.
It was our first night in Hawaii and wanted some fresh sashimi. After doing a quick Yelp search, we found this place. It was close to our hotel and the pics look good. My girlfriend and I decided to get the sashimi sampler, sushi pizza and a few drinks. The decor inside was pretty modern and was super busy. Luckily, we didn't have to wait long before we were seated (less than 10 minutes wait on a Tuesday night). Our server was very nice and attentive. Even with how busy the place was, he checked on use every so often and took his time answering questions. 5 stars for the service! Food was good. Eat cut of sashimi tasted fresh and of good quality. The sushi pizza had 16 pieces and was flavorful. Nothing stood out too much, besides the service. Overall, I'd recommend the place to others. It's good, decently priced and close to a lot of hotels.
(4)Hikari K.
5 stars because our server Karlo was awesome!! He made sure our experience here was memorable. Didn't miss a beat when it came to what aiden liked or disliked. As long as karlo is working, we will def.. Come back.
(5)Pam M.
I dined here for a friend's birthday dinner this past weekend since the birthday girl suggested this place. We were really hungry & went a little overboard ordering (eyes bigger than stomach). We had: - Lobster dynamite roll (3.5/5) - one of my favorite items that I had - Hamachi with ponzu sauce (4.5/5) - classic dish, enjoyed by all - Ahi tartare salad (3/5) - was ok - Agedashi tofu (3/5) - was ok - Spicy tuna crispy rice (2/5) - a bit too much rice ended up being overly chewy so I wasn't a fan - Unagi bowl (3/5) - this comes in a very hot cast iron pot where they mix the items in the bowl & scoop it into smaller bowls for serving. The hot pot makes the rice crispy. The eel was ok. - Salmon & ikura bowl (4.5/5) - This dish also comes in a hot cast iron pot where they mix the items in the bowl & scoop it into smaller bowls for serving. I liked the salmon & ikura more than the unagi bowl - Oxtail ramen (3.5/5) - the birthday girl wanted ramen & I don't like overly spicy food, so we settled on oxtail ramen which had a great flavor & the oxtail was nice & tender. - Tempura bread pudding (3.5/5) - the birthday dessert that is complementary on the restaurant. They used to give a half order of the honey toast with ice cream, but they've replaced it with with this dish -Honey toast (3.5/5) - can't go wrong with a dessert that they're famous for. Big slices of toasted Japanese bread with the middle cut into small squares, served with honey & vanilla ice cream - YUM! Drinks are good (saketinis, soju cocktails, mojitos) but on the sweeter side. Service is quick & friendly.
(3)Celia Z.
"OMG, honey toast" That was my reaction when I first yelped this place. After dinner at 678 Korean BBQ nearby, we stopped here for dessert and drinks - chocolate and red bean honey toast with sake. The honey toast was good and original, but it was nothing out of the ordinary in terms of taste. Just some crunchy and chewy cubed toast soaked in really good honey with two scoops of ice-cream on top. I can make this at home for less and perhaps even better. Oh, and for the red bean, instead of giving us two scoops of ice-cream, red bean replaced one of the ice-cream scoops. Not cool. I was also disappointed by the amount of missing items on the menu. We ordered the bread pudding tempura (or something like that), but they were out. This is the same with the first bottle of sake that we ordered. They also forgot my friend's tea until he asked again. But hey, at least this place is great for groups.
(3)Odille C.
Who doesn't love honey toast? A crazy person, that's who. This trendy Japanese restaurant is comfortably residing across the street from First Hawaiian Bank on Kapiolani. I love the decor, service, and of course the food. It's almost always full every time I eat here. The Salmon Rice is heaven on Earth and if I could order it again and again without getting fat I would. I come here as often as my wallet will allow me. The wait may or may not be long, call ahead to see how long it is, but on most days you can walk in and get a seat. There is parking in the building so you don't have to make a long trek to get your Honey Toast craving fulfilled.
(5)Kelly L.
* Price: nothing more than $15; 4+ Star. * Ambiance: casual, modern. 3+ star. * Location: next to Ala moana shopping, nearby garage parking off Kapiolani blvd. Or at the mall then walk over. 3 star. * Meals: excellent; tapas style... many choices. 4 + star * Service : friendly, pleasant, fast, 4 + star. This is averaged to about 4 star. Since it opens for late night dinning until 1 AM and the food and service is consistently great, I add 1 extra star to the overall rating. We were looking for a late night dinning and decided to come here. We had been here before and do like the place. It is tapas or pupus style... so their menu is large. - spicy tuna rolls $3. Fresh. - cucumber salad $3. Cucumber cubes with shallots... very refreshing. - cold ramen salad $4. It served with udon noodles, assorted vegetables, imitated crab meats, eggs, shoyu. Pretty good - lobster dynamite rolls $15. It is tasty minus the creamy sauce. - spider rolls $12 as expected, fresh. - garlic clams $3. Garlic wine sauce is so tasty. Clams are big and juicy. I can drink a whole bowl! - honey toast $3.50. Their signature dish. Very rich... must have! Definitely come back!
(5)Angela Y.
I'm sorry to say that contrary to my previous review, my eyes have changed about Shokudo. I used to enjoy coming here often, but it seems like the workers have completely downgraded, as well as service and quality. Upon entrance, the Asian hostess, who worked on the 7th of December around 3PM was rather rude and sighed loudly before asking in a sassy tone, "....for 2? Or.." very rude. Our waitress, Sherrie, was rather polite, and Sunnie, the manager, was extremely friendly. However, I did not expect to receive the ugliest looking honey toast on the dirtiest plate I ever did see. That plate should have been thrown out. I would expect Sherrie to say something about it because the condition of the plate was unacceptable. Pictures are uploaded but in person, looks much dirtier. I am quite disappointed in what Shokudo has now been offering because it really killed the vibe for me. Keep in mind that it was lunch time and was not busy or even half full, yet our food took forever. The 2 stars are for Sunnie's politeness and the other is for the kind parking attendant.
(2)Percito D.
I have been here twice, and both time I was not disappointed. While the decor isn't the greatest, the food more than makes up for it. The honey toast is to die for, and I can see why everybody on the island hypes it so much. The service was great both times, and I definitely see myself coming here again in the future.
(5)Sheryl G.
what: a japanese restaurant and bar where tradition takes a step forward in casual dining :) something good: shokudo, still one of my go-to places! i definitely have my favorites here but whenever i come here with someone i love to try their favorites too! so that is why my list of favorites keeps growing here : ) !! i like coming here for lunch because it's a little less crazy, but i also really love coming here for dinner and sitting at either the bar or in the restaurant~ that's what makes this place so diverse : ) !! something not so good: really, nothing! something to try: honey toast (7) and tempura roll (11)
(5)Steven U.
I think in the Japanese language Shodudo means dining hall. But in English, Shokudo means yummy! I have been fortunate to eat here for lunch, happy hour, and dinner....and it's good times! It has pretty cool architecture looking in from the street, and the interior is nice looking as well. There is bar seating inside, as well as table seating on both sides of the bar. I believe they have private rooms in the back as well. The outside dining area looks like it gets lots of use, when it's not too hot out. The service has been pretty good here every time I have been. The servers seem on top of things and the food usually comes out fairly quick. During lunch, I liked the bento that comes with homemade tofu. It was so soft and silky....I wanted seconds. The bento wasn't huge, but it was enough for lunch. Definitely a healthier lunch....if you are into that sort of thing. For happy hour, the gyoza was amazing. If you get one item off of the happy hour menu...that would be it. At the risk of sounding like a sake snob...I try not to drink Sho Chiku Bai sake anymore....why? Well, the world of sake is so wonderful and there is so much to try... However, there is a happy hour cold sake called Li Hing sake. Just get it. Forget that it is made with 'average' sake and enjoy....repeatedly. The clams were also very good during happy hour. As well as the quesadilla, spicy tuna roll, and the tuna nachos. During dinner I have tried a bunch of things, but my two 'must haves' are the agedashi tofu and honey toast. The tofu has an awesome crispy-fried texture on the outside and is super soft on the inside. I can eat a whole order of this by myself....quickly. The honey toast is a great dessert made up of a half loaf of bread....yes, bread. It is toasted, hollowed out, and filled with ice cream and drizzled with honey. Amazingly addictive and just what the doctor ordered (not really)! I will definitely be back here....it's a fun place to hang with friends!
(4)Ash C.
I love this place! this is seriously one of my go-to places for sushi and honey toast! the service is always exceptional here and the staff is always friendly. my last experience here, I tried to call in a reservation on a Friday night for a party of 3 around 7p but they were booked so they suggested to walk-in instead. wasn't sure how long the wait would be since it was a weekend plus it was prime time dinner time. so we got there around 7p and put down our name. was told the wait was about 20-30mins. after 10 or maybe 15mins went by, they called our name to be sat. they have a great selection on their menu and I love that they have pictures too haha. I love their unagi rice, lobster dynamite roll and spicy tuna on crunchy rice. and you can't forget about their honey toast! I've tried both their original and cookies and cream flavor. both are good but you can never beat their original flavor. I have a honey toast vip card that gets me 2 extra scoops of vanilla ice cream which I won off one of their contests last year. that's another thing I love about this place. they always keep it interesting with winning stuff. be sure to follow their Instagram to find out all about their current contests @shokudojapanese shokudo is also a great place for big parties as I had a couple birthday parties here. #4 out of 100 Yelp Reviews in 2015
(5)Nikki H.
I'll just try to make this short a sweet on why I loved this place. 1. Parking was SUPER easy. You just find a spot in Ala Moana and walk the short distance to the restaurant. 2. It's easy to find. I mean, it's RIGHT in front of the mall. 3. Our server was super attentive, quick with drinks and brought our food out fairly speedy. 4. I asked for their spicier rolls and he gave me two suggestions, so I decided to try both and they were delicious. 5. There is TONS of space. We had a pretty large group, and there was one next to us, and the restaurant still seemed open. 6. My martini was amazing. The lychee with soju, aka, DANGEROUS. ;-) I could go on, but I feel like anything more than 5 positives is just redundant. You shouldn't be weiging if you should come here or not, you just should. You're welcome.
(5)Kate K.
My husband and I visited Shokudo twice during our most recent Oahu trip. The first time, we enjoyed the Spicy Ahi on Crispy Rice, the shrimp tempura, and the agedashi tofu. Everything was delicious, and perfectly cooked. Our server was attentive and friendly, and for what you get, I feel like the prices are very good. The next visit (two nights later), we ate light with just a bowl of edamame and a tempura roll. We followed it up, of course, with honey toast. For something that is basically just ice cream and bread, it is so incredibly good I can't believe it. Even if everything else in your life goes wrong, honey toast at Shokudo will still be there for you. Go get it.
(5)Izumi K.
I go there to eat honey toast sometimes. Omg it's so good! There are not so many places that make good bread in Hawaii but their bread is excellent with vanilla ice cream. Other food is good too but average.
(4)Krizia Faith M.
This is my go-to spot whenever me, my friends, or cousins can't decide on where to eat. This has been my all time favorite place to dine in. I'm pretty much familiar with the menu because I'm definitely a regular here. Most of time, I'm only here just for honey toast :) The waiters here are always so wonderful! They give us more than a second of their time and are always making sure that we will walk out with a pleasant experience. I've never had any type of bad customer service here....lucky me! My cup is always filled and my meals are always delicious. This place never fails! I love Shokudo
(5)Ming C.
Shokudo is a bit overhyped for me. Personally I don't like most of the menu items although several of my friends enjoy the place. I do like the honey toast and the happy hour items (like the takoyaki roulette). I don't actually like "eating" at Shokudo as a restaurant. However, more recently I've been getting into the "bar top" scene at Shokudo. Some of the regulars invited me out and I enjoy the fun atmosphere and overall vibe. Service is pretty awesome and the bartender Matt (tall Japanese guy) makes good recommendations and takes care of the folks at the bar top. We drink, talk story, go nuts with the happy hour items, do dares with the takoyaki (one is a wasabi bomb). Good times. Good parking, plenty of seats, great happy hour menu, fun bar top, good bartenders. 3/5 for the $$ rating.
(3)Darin O.
Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar First off- how many food porn selfies are there for this place? 10 pages of photos and counting?!?!?! I know it is well deserved and some of it is really good to see photos of before ordering- but some really - if it is soybeans - I think I know what that would look like. I am glad though that the waiters when the main dishes were brought out- made a joke when the cameras came out for food porn photos. They waited patiently and explained the dishes which I was happily surprised that they said this is the ____ and it's this or that. And gave a minute or two of time- So now- I will give them more of a 'give' as in general - things take time here at the restaurant and in general things are not timely - but when they are at 'my' table they take all the time I need them. So - it is understandable now that there is some wait time - because they are spending time with guests when they are at other guests tables. Good thing or bad thing? I don't know or have an answer is that in general things in American Culture are changing - some especially with food... so just making a comment- these waiters are on their A game and make things fun for their guests in general. Good and Bad; Location, location, location. It is in front of Ala Moana- so if you don't want mall food or want to avoid too much touristyness it is just a walk up a block from the parking lot. But that makes it crowded too- long waits or crowded lines. If something special is going on- calling ahead may be the best idea. Inside- it may seem that things take long- the wait staff seems super competent and well trained and spot on in service. But they may either be overwhelmed, understaffed, or something just might be going on that guests don't know about- cause sometimes things take FOREVER..... The waiters though are spot on- WIT. They are so attentive. I asked one guy if he is trying to be like Ed Debevics - a famous restaurant in Chicago that gives 1 does of great comfort food with 2 doses of snarky wit. Either the one guy is tired of broken English and just rearing for witty banter or is just that quick to comment appropriately with groups that are obviously out for a great time. Food- as if there are not enough photos for you to look at in general on this page.... Caramel Honey Toast- I thought it sounded , well too over the top and not as appetizing as they thought but ohhh my goodness it is really decadent and great tasting so well done. Foot Long Chicken Katsu- it is chicken but better prepared than what I can do at home and even better than KFC, the Japanese/ Korean style of frying is way better. Pork Gyoza- I just like them. Shrimp Tempura- Again the Japanese/ Korean style of frying is way better with the lighter breading- the taste is just better. Assorted Tempura- here is my one odd comment you might think- McD adds salt to the fries before they are shipped, the oil they are fried in has salt in it because they only change the frying oil is changed weekly and then it is sloshed in salt- so when you have McD fries there is a ton of flavor in the salt. So back to the tempura here- there is less taste than if the vegs were just steamed and seasoned lightly so basically I think they are light and tastey but they have less flavor as in on the boring side. Soybeans- I know people like the soybeans with the shell on but I am used to eating whole soybeans so I know others don't like to see me do that- so I'll stick to only doing that at home. PorkChop with Pineapple-Onion Saute- again ohhh really good and so much better than I can make at home.... Well worth it. Salmon Rice- not as fresh as at the best local Alaskan restaurants but still good. Unagi Rice- steaming hot and smells wonderful, I can see why it seems to be a local favorite. Great location for a great night out to enjoy some great food.
(5)Liza I.
Yay! Friday night is date night!! We had originally planned to have dinner somewhere else but, we started our evening late so the search for places that are open late was on! After we narrowed our finds to two places, we decided on here! Parking was a breeze so we took that as a great sign! The very polite guy at the front said the wait would be 30 minutes but, it was half the time. Anyway, on to the main reason for this review! We ordered for pupus, the lobster dynamite, chicken karaage & assorted tempura! (we were hungry-lol) Mmmm..yummy! We loved everything! Good portions as well. For our main entrees, my honey decided on the rib eye steak w/rice and I opted for the teriyaki Salmon w/the Wasabi mashed potatoes. Perfect, perfect and perfect! The steak was tender and prepared superbly! And my Salmon? Let's just say there was not a morsel left! (did I mention that we were hungry? - we had lots to take home tho) We ended the night with the ever so popular honey toast! We had it with vanilla ice cream and it was soooo awesome!! Next time though, I'm trying the bread pudding! :) So, to conclude, we made a great choice! They're open til 1am and the staffs are very polite and efficient! Will we be back? Why yes we are!!! Oh, did I mention that their prices are very, very reasonable? Give them a try! You won't regret it!
(5)Asia G.
I heard about Shokudos happy hour and decided to give it a try. I called before driving into town to double check if they have happy hour during the weekend and they did so I drove all the way from Makakilo to town. Once we were seated they asked to see our IDs because I guess you need to be 21 to get the happy hour menu even if you aren't ordering drinks. They did not tell me over the phone that I needed to be 21 when I called to confirm and yet they would not let us order from the happy hour menu even though 3 of us were over 21 and only one person in the group was 18. They have terrible customer service and should clearly advertise that you need to be 21 to enjoy their happy hour even if you are going there for food. The only reason why I'm even giving them a star is because the venue was nice. Besides that Shokudo was a total waste of time.
(1)Samantha A.
The bad: Do NOT try the Kusai Kudasai sushi roll. I have never eaten something and thought, "I regret consuming those calories." It sounded great on the menu, but the execution was...confusing. "Spicy tuna roll topped with albacore tataki and finished with garlic butter, garlic chips, and a balsamic vinaigrette." When they brought it out, I almost thought there was supposed to be beef in there and served hot. Garlic game was WAY too strong (garlic chips were really overpowering), and doesn't leave room for other flavors. The good: Service. Grant was very pleasant and attentive. Mermaid sushi roll (good), assorted tempura (can't go wrong with tempura), and homemade tofu salad (I could've gone with a lighter dressing).
(4)Jennifer L.
This is one of those places where I frequent often enough but I'm not technically a huge fan of. When it first opened, my mother, aunt, and cousin were all enamored by this place. They liked honey toast to death! They also mentioned that the salads were good. On the other hand, I didn't care as much for the honey toast - it's good but not to-die-for good in my opinion. Fast forward years later and I'm working in the same building as Shokudo. Therefore my colleagues and I order from here...often enough. Maybe once a month or once every other month. My boss LOVES the tofu salad here and she's gotten me hooked as well. Even my colleague who hates salads and never eats them loves it. I also like their homemade tofu alone, though my boyfriend says he's had better. Other things I like: -spicy tuna roll -crispy spicy tuna sushi -mochi cheese gratin (THIS IS THE BEST) Most of the time, their food is all right. However, the one and only time I convinced my boyfriend to eat here, his teriyaki chicken was raw. It wasn't even just "pinkish" - it was RAW and not cooked. A little concerning. :/ Service leaves much to desire. It's not so bad if you eat here but the process of getting seated and/or calling in for takeout is stressful. They need to organize their host station a bit better. Sometimes it takes me 3 or 4 calls (ringing and ringing) in order to get someone to even pick up. This becomes a real issue when I'm ordering food for the boss and her clients (and half the meeting is over before someone even picks up to take my order).
(3)Lori L.
Shokudo Japanese Restaurant and Bar is pricy and service gets spotty when they're slammed, but it's still a go to place for birthday gatherings, work pau hana, and first dates. Make a reservation or come early to avoid a long wait. Their menu is a mix of modern fusion and traditional items, perfect for sharing; and take advantage of Happy Hour to try their full bar including specialty mixed drinks and sake. Tofu Salad, Mochi Cheese Gratin, and Bi Bim Bap Stone Pot Rice are regular orders. The Tempura and Sashimi/Nigiri/Rolls are also safe choices and crowd pleasers. For dessert, skip the Honey Toast and go for the Tempura Bread Pudding with Ice Cream. Whether you just want drinks and pupus or a full meal, Shokudo is a popular option for your next gathering. Pics are from Restaurant Week 2014 Pre-Fix Menu.
(3)Rafal S.
Great place if you want to get sushi any time, but especially past midnight. A proximate location to the Honolulu's finest strip clubs ensures a steady stream of late night customers who are tired of just looking at clams and want to actually get some delicious seafood in them. I loved the raised floor restaurant and the cabinets hanging off the ceiling.
(5)Rob S.
I just wanted to praise one of the servers working there. Grant is seriously grade A quality service. I would come back here just for the service alone. This guy made our night awesome. If your reading this Grant, thank you!!
(5)Jessica B.
I have now lived near this restaurant for 2 months and finally went tonight on the way home from the mall. The menu online looked great...a bit over priced but great. So I ordered a spicy scallop roll to go and gyoza. I had a sake while I waited. The bartender was great. The sake was a bit overpriced at $16 and change for a small bottle but it was fine. I was sitting at the bar/sushi bar so I saw them making my roll. The fish all looked fresh so I was excited. For me the best test of a sushi bar (I know others may not agree) is a spicy scallop roll. What size of scallop matters and if it is more spicy than scallop matters. Anyway I brought my food home and played it. Unfortunately the gyoza tasted like dumpling more than pork. And the sauce was a bit too salty for me. And sadly, the scallop roll didn't taste like anything, just rice. I am really bummed out at the sushi was not cheap but am willing to try them another time and get sashimi. We will see. But FYI their restaurant next door called bread and butter is FANTASTIC!
(3)Jodi T.
I'm a regular at this place. I love shokudo. The Li Hing Sake is THE BOMB!!! Honey toast is always on point as well. I mostly go for the happy hour after work. Ryan is my normal server and he's awesome!! Always has a smile on his face and gets us our food and drinks quickly.
(5)Susan M.
Living in Hawaii most of my life, I had never gone to this restaurant. On my recent vacation home, my sister took me there for dinner. I must say I was very pleased. We had tofu salad, red eye roll, pork chop bites, salmon and of course the honey toast. Everything was delicious. I usually don't eat tofu but their dressing made it Oh so good. The honey toast, Which everyone has raved about was good but ours could stand for more honey. I would definitely come back to this restaurant. Good food and great service.
(4)Ina T.
Food here was awesome! I finally made my way after years of wanting to try then out. Everything was just as good as I heard it was going to be. Our waiter gave us great suggestions and we ordered all of them. A few of my favs were the lobster dynamite, mochi cheese, teriyaki salmon and honey toast duh!!! I have more to try on the list....I'll be back for sure!!!!!
(5)Cristine P.
First off, I come to shokudo about 2-3 times a month. Normally when I come to shokudo there is no problems, sign in at the host stand wait (if there is any). But tonight.... Tonight my boyfriend and I came here to have a late dinner, when we checked in at the host (shelley) we asked if there was a wait. She said that there was no wait, she had to seat ONE party before us and she'll call us from outside. While we were waiting outside we had seen 2 other parties show up check in and waited. The hotess seated that one party then called the other 2 parties ahead of us. She then walked out to the patio and started talking to her coworkers about whatever's. She then finally comes back outside to us and asks if we were wanting a table or if we had eaten. Seriously??? Like we JUST checked in 10-15 mins prior. She didn't appologize or anything. Very upset at this visit and I don't want to low tip our server because it wasn't his fault.
(2)Heather O.
Shokudo is a wonderful place where you can have the option to do family style or you can have a dish all for your self. Depending on who I go with will depend what I get. The two items that I always get when I go to Shokudo is the French fries, yes they are just fries but they are amazing with black seasoning and it's cheap and they give you a basket of fries, taste amazing with a sweet drink or beer. I also always get the tofu salad, if you love to eat tofu, then you would love this salad. They have the freshest tofu on the island! I have new to Japan and the tofu is very close to that of Japan. It comes with a light dressing and greens, they also put won ton strips on top. Until the 31st of March they are having their honey toast special! It's a three level honey toast with maple and bacon! My boyfriend said its be best honey toast they have! They won't be selling it after the 31 so go soon! Because it's their anniversary you get a special ticket and it comes with rewards, we got $10 off for next month. Shokudo is a great place to celebrate birthday or graduations or just to go with a group of friends!
(5)Ray N.
Ive never been to shokudo before but ill definetly be back especially on friday and saturdays when djjem makes her appearance! Mellow dance music to get you going while you dine on some of the best sushi around. The service was great too a young woman by the name of BJ tended to my every need. Cant wait to come by again
(5)Allysa C.
Went to Shokudo for a lunch date with the girls, and what an excellent choice it was! We ordered Garlic Shrimp Rice and Sukiyaki Bibimbap for our main dishes. Then, we also ordered a plate of Pork Gyoza and California Roll. Extremely delicious!!! If you like mildly spicy Korean food, then Sukiyaki Bibimbap is for you. The Garlic Shrimp Rice cooks right in front of you inside the hot stone bowl, but warning, make sure you pack some gum because your breath will smell haha For desert, we had 2 orders of honey toast (1 for me, obviously; while my 2 other friends shared another one). I had the original while my friends had the cookies n' cream. The bread cubes from the inside are so sweet because of the honey, but the vanilla ice cream kinda leveled it out. Warning: DO NOT order your own honey toast, unless you are completely sure you can finish it off! I thought I could handle it, but in the end the honey toast won lol
(5)Beth K.
I have loved Shokudo since the first time I've eaten here. Both of my children (ages 4 and 12) love it here. It's significantly less busy for lunch than it is for dinner, so we always try to come in then. The honey toast is awesome, as is the mochi gratin. All of their floats are yummy, and you can't go wrong with any of the food!
(5)Joseph Joel B.
Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar is on Kapiolani Boulevard located behind Ala Moana Shopping Center. The entrance to the parking garage is along Kona Street, and parking is available starting on the 2nd Floor. They always seem to have a good crowded atmosphere here, especially on the weekends, but for good reason... Their food is delicious!! They advertise themselves as a Japanese Restaurant & Bar, but I would describe their food as Japanese/Asian fusion... But even that's not fully correct because they have Chinese, Korean, French & Italian influences in their dishes. I always come to Shokudo with the intentions of wanting to try all the different items on the menu, but I always seem to gravitate towards my favorite, the Lobster Dynamite Roll. But since I haven't eaten all day since breakfast, I also decided to order something new, the Shrimp Tempura Udon Noodle. Now, imagine a California roll topped with a delicious creamy zesty sauce with chunks of lobster meat and baked in the oven for a couple minutes... That's pretty much the Lobster Dynamite Roll!! The Shrimp Tempura Udon Noodle was good too... I liked that they separated the shrimp tempura from the soup, so it wouldn't get soggy. Even though we were all completely full, we can't leave here without having any of their Honey Toast!! So we decided to share the Oreo Cookie & Cream, which is my personal favorite flavor of Honey Toast. If you haven't been here before (shame on you), their Honey Toast is enormous, and is meant to be shared. Just imagine an entire loaf of bread cut in half, and the insides of the bread cut into cubes with drizzled honey and chocolate syrup goodness, with Oreo cookie crumbles, and topped with two scoops of Cookies and Cream ice cream. It's a sight to behold, and even more delicious to eat!! Our waitress Chelsea was still in training, but she did a wonderful job nonetheless. She was friendly, polite, very attentive, and she even gave her opinion on what her favorite cocktails on the menu were, so my friend could decide what she wanted to drink. If I could rate individuals on here, she would definitely get 5 stars!! Overall, a good night with good friends and good food!!
(4)Kobe O.
Exceptional customer service and great food. Robyn went out of her way to make our dining experience awesome. Constantly checking on us, filling our water, smiling.......I wish every dining experience was like this! Food was fresh and tasty as usual. Will be back and hope we have ROBYN helping us!!!!!
(5)Trisha G.
I used to love going to this place, but the service hasn't really been that great the last couple times that I went. Happy hour is decent, and the outside seating has alleviated some of the wait time. The food is still decent. When I visit, I order the GARLIC SHRIMP RICE ishiyaki style - meaning it's served in a hot stone bowl which allows the rice to get nice & crispy. The AGEDASHI TOFU is decent also. But everyone knows what you go here for - HONEY TOAST dessert. Thick slices of japanese sweet bread - hallowed out and cube, drizzled in honey and topped with vanilla ice cream. Add additional toppings or eat as is.
(3)Ericka B.
It had been such a long time since I've last eaten here! I'm glad I had the opportunity to try out their late night happy hour menu. (10pm- midnight) Everything was under $5 so we got to try alot of new things for such an amazing price. We were seated immediately upon arrival which was totally rare at Shokudo. (Reservations are recommended). We were pretty excited considering they didn't offer most of these happy hour goodies on their regular menu. Our server was amazing and on his toes the entire time. Water glasses were filled in a timely manner which was good because boy, was I thirsty that night. We ordered Spicy Tuna nachos, Dynamite fries, Sukiyaki Kimchee Pizza, Takoyaki Roulette, and chicken Katsu (not on happy hour menu). I hadn't eaten much that day and I was pretty hungry. But was completely satisfied by the end of our meals. I pretty much loved everything but let's go into details. -Spicy Tuna nachos: mmkay mmmkay, I've had these before at different places but this one was particularly good! We all agreed the spicy sauce served was super tasty! You get such a good amount of ahi considering the dish only cost $3. -Dynamite Fries: A dish so nice we had to order it twice! Loved this combo, never thought of having dynamite mixture on french fries complete with melted cheese and jalapenos! ouuuuuuuuuu kill em'! Fries were cooked perfectly, crunchy on the outside, yet soft on the inside. Very tasty! One of the faves of the night. $3 -Sukiyaki Kimchee Pizza: I was surprised by the portion, it's much bigger than a personal pan pizza from pizzahut. I'm not sure what type of bread was used but it wasn't a traditional pizza crust. It was thin and crispy but went really well with the dish. Again, nothing like I've ever tried before! Thinly sliced sukiyaki beef, cheese, and kimchee??? A definite yummy combo, but I just wish the kimchee was a bit spicer. Or maybe the cheese had overpowered the kimchee but still, a very unique and tasty dish. I would totally recommend this. $5 -Takoyaki Roulette: Roulette?! What what! I love takoyaki but was a bit hesitant because there was a surprise in one of them. Takoyaki was so good, reminiscent of the takoyaki from Shirokiya. Not to 'mushy' and good pieces of tako inside. I was lucky enough not to experience the "surprise". It was wasabi filled, and totally cleared my friends air holes! LOL. But very fun and tasty. $5 -Chicken Katsu: Nice and perfect breading on the outside and awesome amount of meat on the inside. It wasn't too "bready" and we loved it. We had to finish with Jr. Honey Toasts!!! $3!!! Overall, experience from service to food was amazing. Pretty excited to try the other dishes on their happy hour menu :)
(5)Amber G.
Love this place. I normally come here very mothers and Father's Day for the buffet but the last two have ruined me. I was not impressed with the food and on top of the $45+ meal the charges gratuity. If the restaurant is going to do that for two or four people than just be up front and add it to the total on the flyer. I believe in tipping but I should get a choice unless otherwise stated at the reservation. Plus the food was just ok, not great like years past. I went Mother's Day and thought the sub par food was a fluke so I went back at Father's Day. It was better but still not worth the price. The regular food is great but the experience has made me not want to return. :(
(2)Megan Y.
Friend recommended Shokudo, and it was great! Portions were satisfying, and our server was fast and friendly. Have to try the honey toast!
(5)Emily W.
I've been to Shokudo before but I haven't been there in a while. I went back today and was a little disappointed with my experience there. I went in with a party of two and waited 10 minutes to be seated. When we were seated, there was only one waitress serving us and the 5 surrounding tables. The service was really slow but maybe because it was New Years' Day. We ordered 1 Spicy Scallop Roll and 1 Honey Toast with Azuki. The Spicy Scallop Roll was pretty good but was not as spicy as I thought it would be. The pieces were a bit on the smaller side but the scallops in the roll were big!!! The sauce tasted more like mayo than it did spicy. I would rate the spiciness 6/10. The honey toast used to be my favorite dessert but today, I didn't even want to finish it. There was not any honey on the bread whatsoever and there wasn't a lot of those small pieces that are usually the best pieces. The Azuki was a little bit too sweet for me and I usually love sweet stuff. A suggestion would be for them to have 2 ice cream scoops instead of 1 with the Azuki because we had half a loaf of bread left with no honey, ice cream, or Azuki to eat it with :(
(2)Jimmy C.
I came here with my family a couple of weeks ago. Parking is easy since you can park at Ala Moana Shopping Center and take the ramp or elevator down to the restaurant. We had a large party of 18 people which included 6 children. Obviously with a party of this size, we expected a wait....it was within reason. We were conveniently seated in the front left corner area which provided plenty of room for everyone get in out. Our waiter (thin Asian cat with a shaved head and tatted sleeves) was great!!! He was super nice, patient, flexible and informative....especially considering we had tables full of hungry kids and picky Divas. Drinks and food came out in a reasonable time. Collectively we thought the food was good. The Sukiyaki Bibimbap, Sushi Pizza, Scallop Roll, etc were all tasty and we cleaned our plates thoroughly. Unfortunately we didn't have enough belly space for the Honey Toast. Next time....
(5)Christey C.
It's been a few years since dining here. I don't know why it took so long to return. I had a gift card to use, so why not! Food was just okay. Nothing I would need to go back for. Garlic shrimp rice was alright, needed more shrimp, less rice. sashimi omakase took a long time to come out, and it was beautiful, but some pieces of fish were still a little frozen. The biggest disappointment was the garlic streak. We asked for it to be cooked rare, because it on a sizzling plate, and cut pupu style. What we got was a wholeI rare steak on a non sizzling plate. Sent it back, and it came back how we asked, and with really dry mashed potatoes. Their only saving grace was dessert.... the famous honey toast. Their beverages are a waste of money. Small pours of alcohol with lots of ice. Overall, it was not worth the money. Maybe we went on an off night?
(2)Ada L.
//Atmosphere\\ The decor is pretty nice. It has a modern vibe, nice lighting, and a spacious interior that makes it feel slightly classier than it actually is. The actual service and clientele are that of a very relaxed, casual restaurant or diner. It can get very busy during dinner time. //Food\\ We ordered tempura, udon, and sushi rolls. No complaints on taste. //Service\\ Staff is so-so. They seem to have too many people at the hostess desk at the front, but even with five people up there it might take a while before they greet you. Our waitress made an effort to come across like she cared, but I found it lacking. However, I did notice some servers at other tables seemed very helpful. So maybe it's a hit or a miss. We were told unapologetically when we ordered that our orders would arrive as they were done. She didn't attempt an explanation and just stated it as if it is how it is. So those of us who ordered sushi did get ours first, and the remaining three orders arrived individually as well. At one point everyone was eating except for one. But if we had waited for all the orders to arrive in order to eat together, then most of the food would've gone cold. //Brick Toast\\ This place is famous for its Honey Brick Toast, which was the main reason we went, but that was the one order that we didn't like. I couldn't taste the bread over the honey. If you have a strong sweet tooth, you'll probably like it, because the family table next to us ordered a brick toast PER person. To them, it was that good that they couldn't share. But at our table, we couldn't even finish one between 5 people. Although it looks huge, the inside of the two stacks of toast are already pre-cut into little cubes, drenched in honey, topped with a scoop of ice cream, then drizzled with honey again. So if you don't like things that are too sweet, or this is your first time trying it, I suggest asking that they put the honey on the side for you just to be safe. Overall, I guess it's okay. Not something I would want to experience again, but the try was okay. Admittledly I teetered between 2 and 3 stars before settling on the positive side.
(3)Tyler Y.
Awesome service with very fresh fish! I ordered the Sashimi combo, all items had great texture and quality all really fresh. The drink menu had a lot of hip Japanese themed drinks. Pricing was reasonable and fair for the quality, customer service was exceptional as our waitress was attentive and made great recommendations as to the menu and drinks. I would highly recommend this restaurant to all who enjoy good Japanese food!
(5)Michael P.
Their Honey toast is NOT that great. But i guess since this is one of a very few places on island that has it, i can see why a lot like it. As for the food... Nothing spectacular at all. Their "sushi" are generic americanized rolls. The korean influenced sukiyaki/Bibimbap kimchi fried rice however was pretty good. That is actually what made me give them a 3 rather than a 1 or 2 star. Everyone hypes this place up only to find that is is among the not so great anything. It is a nice modern place for night lounging and drinking but that is about it. I would only recommend this place for those that just turned 21 and want to ease into the night life. Other than that, there are also other places that are better but, they're trying. Good luck!
(3)Joanne V.
I've eaten at Shokudo many times & most of my visits have been positive ones, which is why I've rated this establishment 4 stars. I ALWAYS order the spicy tuna on crispy rice.. So simple & yum! Other favorites of mine include the bi bim bap, garlic shrimp, & lobster dynamite. If I haven't eaten myself into a food coma, I def get the famous original honey toast (You get a free half toast on your birthday! Or at least that's what they used to promote). My servers have been very exceptional. The wait to get seated & for food to arrive is sometimes quite long, but that's expected when dining with large groups without a reservation. Also, if you're unsure of what to order, ask for recommendations! My servers have always been very helpful. Good food, service, & atmosphere (sometimes a little too dim for my liking lol)!
(4)Elysse P.
This place is fucking BAAAAAAAAD. And I mean bad in a negative way for those who are confused with the term. Bad bitch = positive. Bad restaurant = negative. Shokudo you suck. Service sucked. They paid 0 attention to us. Our drinks came to us after maybe 3 tables that came after us already got their food. That pissed me off... ROYALLY. Anyone from SoCal will not appreciate this place. Think of it as a ghetto Tokyo Table with old school dim sum décor and low quality fusion food. Do yourself a favor and go to Ono's or Side Street or idk anything else. This place wouldn't last 1 minute in California.
(1)Bill S.
Great meal here at Shokudo! Our party ordered up specialty sushi rolls, sukiyaki udon, other apps, and the honey toast for dessert! Give this place a try, it won't disappoint.
(4)Sherrie L.
As I read through some of these reviews I find myself really amused. Majority of the terrible ratings are from people that frequent at shokudo who ended up having one.... I REPEAT ONE.... ISOLATED.... bad experience. Because of that ONE experience they feel the need to come on yelp, complain and rate the restaurant poorly. Like get a clue people, if you're expecting perfection you will NOT get it. Let's be reasonable in some of your expectations. As for my experience at Shokudo, if any of you want great customer service ask for TREMAINE. He will give you just that. I've eaten there several times now, the wait was never more than 10 minutes, the food has been good and the employees are extremely friendly. I specifically paid attention to how everyone works together to take care of each others customers. It was very subtle but definitely noticeably pleasant. I'm an easy customer, not needy like most of these people on yelp complaining. Have some patience, enjoy your food, and go on about your way. If you wanted fast food, fast service go to a drive thru :-) From what I see, shokudo is doing an overall great job. If you're a customer, especially one who frequents and normally has awesome service, think about that too when you come on here complaining. Half of you sound rediculous. People actually read these reviews! The company you are rating actually reads the reviews.
(5)Doug M.
I enjoy everytime I eat there but I never knew about the happy hour menu after 10pm. had a great time.
(4)Riana S.
Last night I went with my man friend because he was a Honey Toast virgin. I never really though Shokudo was that great but that was ONLY because I was eating the wrong things (with the exception of Honey Toast). We went crazy ordered the Sukiyaki Bibimbap, Chef's Special Tiger Roll, and the Lobster Dynamite (the one with the bread) and of course...honey toast. We first got the tiger roll and the lobster dynamite and lemme say....it was amazing. The tiger roll didn't have that stupid chili lumpia sauce that Genki keeps putting on the sushi, the spicy ahi was HELLA spicy but the shrimp tempura and the unagi sauce really balanced it out. It tasted fresh and the tempura was crispy and I all I was thinking while I was eating it was, "damn this was an amazing choice." My man friend was already going at the lobster dynamite. He was telling me I wouldn't like it and that he would eat it all because I wouldn't like it. SNEAKY MUCH!? I tried it and it was so DELICIOUS. Lobster dynamite has vegetables, lobster and some sort of mysterious "dynamite sauce". The sauce is sweet and really creamy. You need the bread to neutralize the richness of this dish. We stopped eating it after the bread was gone because it tasted too sweet without it. Here comes my favorite...Sukiyaki Bibimbap!! Cooked right in front of you in a hot stone bowl thing, you get to choose whether you want mild or hot. Here's some advice..if you actually wanna taste the ingredients go for mild because it's already hot. I think going super hot will just kill your taste buds. The bibimbap has bean sprouts, rice, beef, green onion and yummy spicy kimchee in it. I can't stop eating this!!!! Very very yummy. Last but not least, why the hell would you even go to Shokudo if you won't eat their famous Honey Toast? My man friend saw someone else's honey toast and freaked out every time because it looked super tall. He didn't get that the actually bread dough was cut into square pieces inside the bread crusts for easy access. "Oh my gosh, I just ate a really good piece. I bit into it and honey just shot into my mouth," Bronson said. But anyway, get the original, I honestly think it's the best because if there was like chocolate or caramel on it...that'd be too much already. 2-3 people can eat one honey toast, one of my problem with the honey toast is that they're so damn stingy with their ice cream!!!! Maybe try asking for another scoop because it comes with 2 but half of it is already melted. It's amazing, I don't know how something so simple such as honey, vanilla ice cream and butter soaked bread tastes so damn GOOD. You'll catch people closing their eyes while they eat this. I never eat the crust I don't know why..just personal preference. Our waiter was really nice, Bronson kept wanting to sing Miss Murder by AFI to him because he looked like the guy. If you come here, make sure you come here with money because it does cost a pretty penny but it was worth it. After all the things we ordered including two sodas and miso soup, the bill came out to $50. Not bad because we were expecting worst. You must try it!
(5)Ashlyn C.
I'm gonna be completely honest. I have never been a big shokudo fan. I think their regular food & fancy sushi rolls are mediocre. Plus they're on the pricey side. I know a lot of their food is meant to be shared pupu style, but a lot of the time, I don't really wanna eat what everyone else wants because, like I said, I think their food is mediocre at best. That is until I ate there tonight (04-16-13... I probably won't post this right away) for my friend, Kelli's birthday. I haven't been to shokudo in a while. Probably not since like October or November 2012. Apparently, they have a new added menu. Now on this new added menu, you'll find nigiri sushi (which seemed kinda pricey to me... It was around $7-$8. Idk how much nigiris they give you per order, but if its only 2 then that's a rip because kona Kai charges $6 for 2 nigiris & I doubt shokudo has better quality fish than kona Kai), a few more sushi rolls & entree like items. Under these entree like items, you will find ishiyaki loco moco. When we got seated, we were only given the regular menus. I had decided I was going to get the Teri chicken with wasabi mash & an agedashi tofu appetizer. Our waiter greeted us, then asked if we knew about their new menu. When we replied no, he started telling us about a few of the items on this new menu one of which was the ishiyaki loco moco. He also told us about the rainbow roll, which we did get, but I seriously thought the rainbow roll was just ok. Anyway, when he was describing the loco moco (loco moco with cheese... Think was mozzarella, sliced mushrooms & diced tomatoes in that hot stone pot, hence ishiyaki), my other friend Kelly (not the bday girl) tells me, "Ashlyn, I think you're about to start drooling..." That did it. Nevermind about the Teri chicken, imma get that loco moco! Plus I've been on this weird hamburger steak kick lately... My friend, Jodi & I shared the ishiyaki loco moco, tofu salad (she said she'd rather have tofu salad than agedashi booooooo!), & rainbow roll. Like I said, rainbow roll was ok... Probably not gonna get it again. Tofu salad is good, but kinda small & very little lettuce for a $7.50 salad. Then there was the ishiyaki loco moco. It was damn good! One of the best hamburger steak dishes I ever ate! (the other one happens to be at south shore grill on Monserrat ave. oh & FYI, I took a pic of the loco moco &, while doing so, caught Jodi's chopsticks trying to dig in!) We also had honey toast (the bday one) & we also bought a cinnamon honey toast, YUM. That's one thing I have always liked at shokudo... Cinnamon honey toast. Who would've thought toasted bread, cinnamon, honey & ice cream would taste so damn good. My poor bf was so jealous that I ate shokudo because he's actually always really liked it. He tells me, "sucks cuz I've been craving shokudo & you don't like it." I had to tell him that I change my mind & that we could eat there together soon. Anyway, our waiter was awesome. I forget his name, but he was very attentive. Kept refilling our water & teapot (he had to fill our teapot at least 4 times), he was very patient. So yeah, basically that loco moco turned me from being meh about shokudo to wanting to come back soon. Till next time...
(4)Victoria A.
Here's my update... Let's start with 5 stars, shall we? Phone etiquette: I call to make a reservation for 10 people at 10pm because other Yelpers have mentioned a 10:30 happy hour. I ask the girl on the phone if my party arrives at 10, could we still enjoy happy hour at 10:30, and she says yes. My next phone call was to inquire about separate checks. A different girl answers the phone. Her response, "I'm pretty sure"... I then request the private room and she says, "It's not a guarantee. And just a reminder, your reserved table is up to 2 hours and just because you come in during the Happy Hour, you folks cannot participate in it. Happy Hour is for the bar and tier section only." This shocked me. That was the reason why we agreed upon a late dinner. I ask, "Why can't we participate in Happy Hour? When I made my reservation and asked about the happy hour, the girl failed to mention the 'bar & tier section' part" So, whatever. Minus a star. Now, we are at 4/5 stars. Service: My water glass was NEVER refilled. My lychee-vodka soda wasn't removed from the table until the ice was all melted. No one checked on our table to see how we were doing or if we wished to order anything else. Okay, I get it... we had a late reservation at 10:00, but the restaurant's hours of operations states that it is open until 1:00. But why the inattentiveness? Why lack of service? Thus, minus a star... which brings us to 3/5 stars. Food: I ordered the Sushi Pizza and Spicy Ahi & Crispy Rice. Both, not of the traditional Japanese cuisine, however, I enjoyed the colorful flavors and creative presentation. The Honey Toast was good... but not "Whoa". Overall, my food rating concludes my review... leaving it at 3/5 stars. I would love to enjoy the happy hour that everyone raves about. But until then... Shokudo, I give you 3 stars.
(3)Robert C.
Rating: 4.25/5 Date(s) Visited: 10/6/10 Food: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Price: 4/5 I've been to Shokudo numerous times over the years and it has never failed to impress me. Their food is original and fresh and served in a trendy, modern atmosphere by experienced staff who are always more than willing to help - and all for very reasonable prices. Food: On this particular trip I had a couple of gripes about the food, although, overall, it was of the quality I have come to expect from Shokudo. We started with their Yukari Fries which were curiously heavy. I've ordered their fries numerous times before and they've come out hot, crispy and almost airy. This time, however, they came out tasting alarmingly soggy. My friend and I couldn't quite put our finger on what was wrong. It's almost as if they had cooked it in oil that was just a little too cool for fries. Other than that, they tasted as they should: lightly salted, hot with generous amounts of yukari (what seems to be a type of noriesque product). We next got their Spicy Tuna Roll which was properly done. A light coating of sesame seeds atop a roll of spicy tuna and cucumber. The heat you get from this dish is gradual and long-lasting, smoldering embers rather than an intense, but short-lived, explosion. We ordered their Shrimp Tempura Roll next and were sadly disappointed by the size of the product we received. It was one roll with two pieces of shrimp stuck in it. The rice was rather dry and the shrimp not terribly flavorful. The plate was missing wasabi, which would've made it much more interesting. Their "Char Siu Pork and Japanese Scallions" was our next dish. Having been a fan of it when I first ordered it on a visit for lunch months ago, I was thoroughly disappointed with what we received. The strips of pork were rubbery from their abnormally large fat content and were a sad, floppy excuse for what I had ordered on numerous occasions before. We sent it back to be cooked to a light crisp (how it's supposed to be done) and got back a reasonably better dish. Still, however, there was far too much fat, though one could make a meal out of just the spicy scallions. The final dish was their tofu salad, with mixed greens in a light sesame dressing, crispy wonton strips, homemade tofu and nori. This is one of the best salads I've had, with the mixed greens providing a flavorful contrast to the sublime tofu, and with the tofu providing a delightful texture contrast to the wonton strips. For dessert we didn't get their famous Honey Toast and I'm going to tell you to not get it if you've had it before. Why not change things up a bit and order something else for dessert? Yes, their Honey Toast is good, but it's not the only thing they have! Their Green Tea Shaved Ice is, in my opinion, much better than their Honey Toast. Rather than assault your stomach with something heavy, soothe it with saved ice made with a slightly sweet and distinctly subtle green tea syrup. It pairs excellently with their vanilla ice cream and azuki beans. If you want something smaller, get their vanilla ice cream with strawberry topping. Although it's store bought and not homemade (as I had thought), the ice cream has a glassy-like smoothness. Service: Service at Shokudo is amazing, as always. Our server, Yuko, was attentive, but not intrusive. She refilled water and our tea without creating a disruption to our conversation and she was more than willing to answer questions we had about the food (i.e. the ice cream). When we sent back the char siu dish, she was more than understanding and sympathetic to our request to have it cooked a bit more. Well worth the 22% tip. Atmosphere: Sitting under their giant chandelier made from concentric circles is always a pleasure and the chains of wooden planks they have on all the windows is eternally interesting. It can get a bit loud, especially during peak hours, but never so loud that you can't have a normal conversation. Shokudo attracts all manner of people, locals sitting in shorts and t-shirts, businessmen with slacks and dress shirts and tourists wearing offensively loud aloha prints. You'll fit in no matter who you are. Price: The dinner, which left two buffet-quantity eaters stuffed, cost only $60 (including a very generous tip). I was thoroughly surprised, as I had expected to spend at least $100 here. Pretty reasonable prices for what you order, although the quality of some of the food this time around was a bit underwhelming.
(4)Jaimie M.
The food was alright.. but what really stuck out to me was their Honey Toast!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEST DESSERT I HAVE EVER HAD. it was huge and bigger than my head.. even the 3 of us couldn't finish it. It had huge slices of toast with syrup and vanilla ice cream. mmmm thinking about it makes me crave one.
(4)Kevin T.
This place bleeds pretension. The food is alright for what it is. However, what turns me off to this place are the hoards of douches, fake people, rich kids, and drunk club people that make their "weekly pilgrimage" to this establishment. This could possibly be a review of Shokudo's patrons to be honest. That off my chest, I can say that they do have good sushi and good drinks. It is what it is. enjoy
(3)Kelly M.
Came for happy hour. Food was good. But nothing knocked my socks off. Not even the honey toast. It was good, but not the religious experience I was expecting based on the number of reviews. Prices were good at happy hour, but are a bit expensive for what you get at regular prices. It;s that old value cost ratio. Just a little too much cost for value given. So 3 stars at happy hour. 2 stars outside happy hour.
(3)Megan R.
I LOVE SHOKUDO! But I'll admit, I am guilty of ordering the same thing every single time. ;] So that is what my rating system is based off of, PLUS THEIR STAFF is FANTABULOUS! Awesome customer service! As soon as you enter the door is opened for you, and you're immediately greeted by a welcoming host... what an entrance! My friend brought me here for a late b-day dindin, we were seated and scored a great section... we had the best server. He was extremely helpful, going over the specials and recommending some of his favorite dishes. We started with the A L C O H O L! I tried the peach sake! Sweet and fruity, just how I love my drinks. My friend ordered Kirin - they have a good assortment of alcoholic beverages available. Soooooo, as I mentioned earlier I order the same thing every single time! & Luckily Dylan was down to go halfsies. We got the Homemade TOFU salad: It's actually pretty weird I enjoy this salad, cause I don't normally do so much tofu - especially as the main part of the dish. But the salad greens + sesame dressing + crispy wontons! So good. Great starter. Spicy tuna crispy rice: I need SPICE in my life, so I take every opportunity to get spicy food when I can. The spicy ahi is delicioso! But when you combine it with the crispy rice! ahhhhhh THEN the jalapeño on top! YUMMMMMMMM!!!! That just about does the trick. This is my FAV for real, aside from the honey toast ;) Sukiyaki bibimbap: Here we go again with that spicy food! Bibimbap is always good! The secret red sauce they mix in makes it! If you ask for more they'll give it to you ;) HOTHOT please! Perfect amount of kimchi - yummy and spicy. I always leave the rice in the bowl extra long so it can crisp. Since it was my BDAY - we got free honey toast! Such a simple concept for desert, but so SCRUMPTIOUS. Simple can be good, especially in this case. Toasted bread + honey + ice cream. I'm in love. Only critique is you run out of ice cream, but luckily we got extra. I just ate all of this and yelping about it is making me want to eat it again!
(5)Jordan C.
Food is pretty good. We went during happy hour and the teriyaki fries were addictively good. It's a pretty busy restaurant but the servers are quite attentive. Nothing really blew me away... especially not the honey toast. While I enjoyed that the center was all cubed and easy to eat, it was just standard brick toast to me... and that, I can get anywhere over here in LA.
(3)Kel P.
A Big Shaka Brah to Shokudo .. Just went there for my cousin's birthday/Lady's night in November .. everything was above & beyond our wildest dreams ;) .. Chef Ken & his crew need to keep doing what they're doing .. Can't wait to go back. Here's a 'lil flavah for your ear .. we sat in the private room next to the kitchen .. when we sang Happy Birthday w/ harmony like a church choir on Sunday .. we we're given props by the kitchen .. no shame in our game ok! Tip's: *Make your reservations in advance *Come hungraaaay *Save room for honey toast, hunny! *Parking lot can be a little stressful .. but all worth it =)
(5)Vanessa T.
Loved everything about Shokudo! Staff was great, from when I entered the restaurant, I was made to feel welcomed. Alot of times traveling I'm a party of "one", I felt the aloha immediately. My waiter "James" was da best, very akamai of the menu. Ordered everything he recommended, was too full to finish all ono drinks & food. Mahalo nui loa for making my last day at home was memorable.
(5)Darren N.
Getting there: Plenty of parking in Ala Moana Nordstrom parking and a quick walk to the restaurant. Ambiance: Very clean and modern. Comfortable seating and tables. Service: In this family outing, our server was enthusiastic and helpful with many suggestions especially for newcomers. Food: The teriyaki chicken "sushi" is a great option for those who do not like raw fish but find themselves in a japanese restaurant. Personally I enjoyed the spicy tuna on crispy rice. Takes a bit more effort to chew but worth the texture it brings to the dish. Definitely a unique, recommended, and positive experience for me. The ox tail ramen bowl warms the stomach as well, though don't expect a huge west coast style bowl but the proportion is filling while the broth is not heavy. Their famous honey toast dessert comes with two huge and thick pieces of honeyed toast topped with two scoops (more scoops available as well as toppings) of vanilla ice cream. Another unique dish, this one is way too filling by the end of the meal but in a good way. Who to bring: Any sized party works. They have bar seating and tables that can fit huge parties. How much to bring: Depending on how many dishes you order/share, expect to spend around 8-9 a plate. Verdict: Four stars for the unique selection of food and overall experience. Based on that experience, if the occasion arises, a revisit would be a possibility. Final notes: If you're searching for an easy to find, unique japanese style dishes, and a place big enough to share an audible conversation, this place does it well.
(4)Mike C.
Dining here during lunch and dinner hours, I recently found out about their Happy Hour specials, 4 to 6 pm and 10:30 pm to 12 am every day! There are around twelve or more selections to choose from at $3.00 per order, but here is what we tried on a few visits: a) Teriyaki Chicken quesadilla - With an Asian spin on this dish, the chicken was coated in a teriyaki sauce and accompanied with a spicy aioli sauce; nice mix of sweet and spicy. b) Tuna Nachos - One small scoop of spicy tuna surrounded by crispy tortilla chips with a light cheese sauce. c) Cold Ramen Salad - This was probably my favorite dish; think of Ja Jiang mein with egg slices and no sauce. d) Agedashi eggplant - Grilled or fried (no batter) eggplant in a nice sweet soy sauce topped with bonito flakes. e) Build your own Ramen add $1.50 for Char Siu - Medium sized bowl of ramen noodles topped with fried onion strings; added four slices of lean pork. Not as interesting as the Cold Ramen Salad. f) Cucumber salad - Nothing memorable. g) Sweet Spud Fries - Deep fried sweet potato fries cooked perfectly. They were still hot and there was no greasy flavor nor oil remnants on my fingers. h) Garlic Edamame - Just okay as Roy's marinated Edamame sets the bar. Washing this down with my $2.00 ice tea, the meals here were certainly a bargain and would qualify as cheap eats in my book. Hey, now I can afford to head out to Roy's, Le Bistro, or Alan Wong's!
(4)Michelle L.
I'm still not a fan and still cringe at the thought of coming here leisurely. Six of us came here for a birthday dinner and we spent about 3 hours there, mostly waiting for our food. Shokudo updated their menu so there are some new appetizers, rolls, and entrees. I ordered a longtime item, the mochi gratin, and it was delicious. Chewy, cheesy, melty, and savory. mMmm. For my entree, I tried their spicy scallop roll. It was just meh. The only spicy part about it was the roll was drizzled with their spicy mayo sauce...not very inspiring. Their lychee saketini was pretty good. Not strong at all but yummy. As usual, their honey toast is addicting but essentially, you're eating bread for dessert.
(3)Tiana L.
Love this place. I always have great service and great food. The decor is perfect. We went there for dessert (of course the honey toast) one night and it was really full. They did their best to seat us right away but apologize that it was right next to a pillar. We didn't care since we didn't have a reservation. But I thought it was nice of them to be accomodating and friendly. Their drinks are good and we love the tofu, cheese gratin, and eel.
(5)Zar A.
I used to frequent this restaurant when it first opened about 5 or so years ago (2005 or 2006?). I remember when the menu was cheap ($5-$6 per item) and the food was good and the line was nonexistent. Well, times have changed and this place remains to serve cafeteria food ("Shokudo" in Japanese means "Cafeteria") but without the cafeteria prices (meaning, cheap). Oh, I forgot, AND with the cafeteria lunch time line! You remember when getting lunch in the school cafeteria took up half your lunch time? WHAT THE HECK?? Now, I go about once a year (due to friends who drag me here). The worse item on the menu, from my experience so far, is their udon! Toppings are side items and are in addition to the cost of the udon. My udon added up to about $10/$12 and was NOT very good. I've had cheaper and better at Aloha Sushi!! (This is a joke, Aloha Sushi udon isn't very good at all)
(1)Obichang O.
The service here used to suck, but now every experience is as exquisite as the food. The bibimbap is my favorite, but I also order the spider roll and the spinach salad often. Of course the honey toast is an unparalleled dessert choice.
(5)Julia H.
Lovelovelove shokudo! Here are my favorites: Tofu Salad (housemade tofu) Spicy Ahi on Crispy Rice Honey Toast Lunch boxes Lobster Dynamite BiBimBap and all their drinks of course. ..their floats are really good.
(5)Summer B.
I am very skeptical about asian fushion restaurants just because I have a sensitive appetite. But I have been here 2x and I absolutely love it!! The food is great, the creativity is amazing, and the atmosphere is so much fun! This is one restaurant where I loved every single dish they served in its own right. The house made tofu amazing! mochi pizza amazing! spicey sushi amazing! EVERYTHING HERE IS AMAZING!!! Its a good place for a date and its a great place for a group of friends to go and order a bunch of various dishes and pass it around. Its the modern asian family style way I think. YOU ARE CRAZY NOT TO TRY THIS PLACE OUT!
(5)Caryn W.
Went to Shokudo last night to get together with some old friends from grad school. I hadn't gone to Shokudo before, so I turned to Yelp to see what people thought of the place. There seemed to be a lot of positive reviews, so I went in expecting something good. Fortunately, I had a good experience, with a minor setback. Setback: When I initially called to make a reservation, no one answered the phone and I left a message on Tuesday afternoon expecting someone to call me back that same day. No one called me back that evening and when I tried calling again on Wednesday (at a different time) the machine came on again. I didn't leave another message, but when I called again later, someone answered and said that there weren't any spaces available for the time I wanted (6:00) since it was UH graduation and lots of people would be coming in. So I informed my friends of the problems I had regarding the reservation, another one of my friends called the following day and was able to get a reservation for the time I wanted. I didn't understand how that happened unless someone had cancelled the day after I called or something.... On with the rest of the review...the menu had a quite a bit of a variety of stuff. We ended up ordering a lot of stuff to share among the 6 of us. One of the standout items was actually the quesadilla. I know, I know; who the heck would order a quesadilla at a Japanese restaurant? I was a little hesitant at first, but I'm glad we ended up ordering it. It was really tasty even without the sauce that it came with. We also got an order of the toast, which was really good as well. I would definitely come back again.
(4)Scott S.
Some friends suggested this restaurant. It started off well, we were seated promptly, and our server, Sean, was friendly and attentive. The noise is a bit much, so be prepared to speak loudly if you want your dining companions to hear you. Sean described the food as "Japanese fusion". Eh? Perhaps it was the dishes we ordered like the unagi bowl, spicy miso ramen, oxtail ramen, and sukiyaki udon noodle, but nothing seemed particularly unique to me. The kitchen really needs to work on their timing. We ordered pupu's which arrived almost at the same time as our entrees except for mine. While my fellow diners ate, my unagi bowl arrived 15 minutes later. Sean kept telling me, "Your dish is coming out soon." When it did arrive, looking good, he promptly smashed it all together before I could say "Stop! I want to take a picture or smash it up myself!" Next time I'm visiting, Shokudo won't be on the "must eat at" list.
(2)Nicole R.
i LOVE this place, because the food is always excellent! If you come in on a slow hour, which is very rare, the service is awesome. Anyone of their hot stone bowl dishes are delicious, you really can't go wrong with anyone of them. If you've never been to Shokudo before, I suggest calling in for a reservation if your planning to eat after ... 6pm. Also, if you have no idea what to order, get the lobster dynamite roll, sushi pizza, or like I said one of the hot stone bowls entrees. For dessert, HONEY TOAST! ... that is all. If you're a beginner, go for the original, then when you come back (and I know you will) go ahead and try the other flavors. Occasionally, Shokudo has a buffet event, which costs $30 per person for an all you care to eat of their signature dishes. Endless lobster dynamite rolls, a variety of tempura, and HONEY TOAST. I went on Father's Day and it was purely amazing.
(4)Vina C.
I went to Shokudo for the first time, upon hearing the fact that they have the best honey toast EVER (and it didn't disappoint)! But let me get to the whole review... Ambience: I didn't mind the noise level, even though at some times it was a little loud. The restaurant gave off this contemporary Japanese feel. The furniture looked pretty fancy (nice touch on those wooden curtains and sparkling chandeliers!) Service: There was this one guy who was working there for a while and recommended some of his personal favorites: Lobster Dynamite, Garlic Shrimp Rice, Teri Chicken Mochi Pizza, and the Shrimp Tempura. He says that if two people are dining in, they should get three meals to share in order to make room for the Honey Toast. When it came down to ACTUALLY serving our food, the service toned down a little. It does tend to get busy in there, so I don't actually blame the service for being slow. Overall, it's pretty good. The employees are generally friendly and always willing to help. Food: As mentioned earlier, here were my picks for our dinner -- Lobster Dynamite - They had pieces of lobster dipped in this delightful creamy dynamite sauce (though I'm not sure why they call it dynamite. Maybe the spice?) and you could also use the sauce for the small pieces of bread that came with the meal. Teriyaki Chicken Mochi Pizza - I'm not a huge fan of mochi, but the pizza tastes the same as any other pizza, except chewier. So think of how chewy mochi is. That's how chewy the pizza is. The pizza is a mozzarella cheese pizza, with pieces of teriyaki chicken sprinkled onto it. There's also some cheesy sauce sprayed onto each pizza slice for more flavor. Shrimp Tempura - If you've ever tried this before, Shokudo makes it SUPER crunchy. It's that good. And the portions are big. Garlic Shrimp Rice - The server actually comes to mix the rice and garlic shrimp. It's actually really good but the only thing that throws me off is the smell of garlic. I would still highly recommend this dish. Overall: It was truly a great dining experience. You don't need to play dress-up to come to this fancy venue. I've seen college kids who were comfortable to walk in with shorts and a t-shirt/top. It is perfect for a dinner date, especially at nightime. You can even see the outside of the restaurant light up. Best dinner I've had in a while!
(4)Jonathan W.
I've eaten here several times off and on over the years and am a HUGE fan of the food. Some items in particular I love: Sushi Pizza. Basically a cali roll with the stuffing on a baked bed of rice instead of in a roll Mochi Cheese Gratin: Nice, sticky, gooey and cheesy. Great stuff! Yukari Fries: Fries topped with furikake, just brilliant :) HONEY TOAST: Their signature dish off the dessert menu. A tower of bread hallowed out into cubes, drizzled in honey and topped with ice cream and other sauces of your choice. If nothing else, come here for this! Other items on the entree menu are somewhat standard fare for Japanese restaurants with various sushi rolls, chicken katsu and several seafood entrees. Great restaurant to hit up with your friends for a night out on the town.
(4)Jasmine M.
Just had a wonderful Christmas dinner with my family! EVERYTHING was delicious and the service by James was exceptional! Thank you Shokudo and staff for a wonderful Christmas dinner!
(5)Don D.
Shokudo is a great place if you love Japanese food. It is casual dining. Looks: The place is awesome. Check out their home page and you can see pictures of the place. Everything about the place says "clean"! The hanging tiles in the front was a great idea. The tiered seating for dining at a table always reminds me of the seating in college. The bar area seems really "claustrophobic" cause it seems like its a low ceiling but the entire dining area has exrtremely high ceiling. Food: Normally, I dont order food but everything I have tried so far bursts with flavor. I uploaded a picture of the Lobster Dynamite Roll, which is probably my favorite dish on the menu. Service: Service is always great for me because I visit regularly. Jess is awesome! Would I go back? YES....I always do. Great place to hang out with friends and dine in. Most places tend to give you the impression that they want you to leave after eating, but this place makes you want to stay.
(4)Kay B.
I've been meaning to try this place for about 2 years now but I never got around to it until today. It was a Tuesday and only about 15 minutes after they opened so there was no wait whatsoever. That was nice. Our server Tremaine was really friendly...briefly went over the menu with us since it was our first time there and was willing to make some suggestions if we needed it. My sister and I shared the mochi cheese, terriyaki chicken quesadilla, and some sort of bento box with rice, veggies, miso soup, and karaage chicken. The mochi cheese was awesome! I was initially a little worried that this would be a weird combination but I have heard people raving about it so I just had to try for myself. I love the texture! The quesadilla was delicious too! I am not a terriyaki fan and was happy to find that the quesadilla did not have an overly terriyaki flavoring. Bento box was delicious too. The spicy tartar sauce it came with was delicious...not spicy at all really...just a little kick. The miso soup was your standard miso soup. Finally, we had the obligatory honey toast. It was good but honestly, they way everyone hypes it up, I was expecting it to be better. I mean, I would eat it again and all but I dunno...I guess I had hyped it up to be better in my head. The inner bread cubes were the really good part but the outer crust area was just...eh. Like eating plain regular white bread. Not enough drizzle soaked into it I guess. All in all I enjoyed it and would definitely go back again...probably around the same time frame...early on a weekday. I like the lack of crowd. Ooh, one last thing I really liked is how frequently they filled my water! I am notorious for mindlessly drinking lots and lots of water while waiting for my meal. My cup never made it past half full.
(4)Calvin John B.
So many people go here for the happy hour and that Honey-toasted thingy with the ice-cream. Everyone likes to jump on the bandwagon, and everybody absolutely is in love with the place. For me, it's just alright. Okay, I know that was a little harsh. But, the main reason why I don't like it so much is that there's not a lot of choices for someone who's into more than just rice. When I hear dinner, I think meat on top of meat. I get it, it's Japanese cuisine, but my goodness, there's starch for days! On the up side, I'll give the them props for really utilizing the space, because from the outside it doesn't look like much. Highlight: Green Tea Shake.
(3)Isa R.
I really enjoy coming to Shokudo, especially with friends. The food is excellent here. I always order the lobster dynamite roll and the original honey toast. I have tried other things on their menu and have liked them all. Honey toast is DEFINITELY a must. I was seriously disappointed one night at around 10 PM when they had run out of bread and (obviously) couldn't make the honey toast!!! That's like Ruth's Chris running out of steak in my book.. Thankfully, that's only happened once. I gave only four stars instead of five because sometime service can be a little slow because they're so busy. I used to a be a server so I'm understanding of the inability of servers to be everywhere and do everything... HOWEVER, sometimes the wait can be really ridiculous to get a refill. Also, they seem to have a problem with firing dishes and getting them all rolled out at the same time. For instance, once I ate with two friends. I, along with one of my friends, got our main dishes. It took another 15 minutes for my third friend to get her food. This is an unacceptable situation. It's so awkward to have one person not have their food for TEN MINUTES, and I find it impolite to eat when one person hasn't gotten his/her food--so we have to let our food go cold to be polite. Food should always be brought out at the same time. Different trips to deliver food is okay, we only have two arms, but a ten minute wait for my friend's simple salad when I ordered a lobster dynamite roll? Something's not right with that. Regardless of the sometimes iffy service, I'll still be a longtime customer of Shokudo simply because of the food. I've made honey toast at home and it is REALLY easy to make, but I still prefer just having it made for me.
(4)Melissa N.
Delicious! I think yes. My first time here I was not impressed and thought it was just another fancy japanese restaurant. I was wrong! I just ordered the wrong things. I came back the other night for dessert and I was blown away. We ordered cookies & cream honey toast. It was amazing! Two scoops of cookies n cream icecream with.chocolate drizzle and condensed milk poured over two pieces of honey toast surrounded by cookie crumbs. I was all smiles after one bite. Service was impeccable we almost had two servers that is how on it they were. I really enjoyed this place my second time around. I wish they had honey toast in Seattle!
(4)Kelly H.
shokudo has fallen on my list of favorite restaurants. I definitely used to LOVE shokudo about 5 years ago...since then their portions have decreased and their prices have increased. I used to love their tofu salad and now it is just ehhh, ok (gyu-kaku's tofu salad is bomb compared to shokudo). I usually get the unagi bowl...I recently went with my friend because I won a bet, HECK YES!! And I decided to collect on our bet at shokudo to see if it was as good as I remember. I was definitely disappointed, but I guess it wasn't my money so I wasn't too disappointed. He got the salmon bowl and karaage chicken. Both dishes were 6/10 i would say. The unagi bowl is definitely more nom the the salmon bowl. The other dish that is pretty good aside from the unagi bowl is the cheese tofu dish, that is surprisingly really interesting and really good. Overall, I would just walk down the street to gyu-kaku...it hurts me to say this because shokudo used to be so bomb. It's definitely not horrible by any means, just not the first place i would pick to eat.
(3)Kelly M.
I went home last month for the first time in a year and (other than friends and family) what's the first thing that's missed? FOOD!!! So of course I had my entire trip planned out around all the places I wanted to eat at while I was there. And one of the tops on my list was Shokudo. Shokudo is one of those rare chic yet friendly places. After just a few visits the hosts and servers know who you are and welcome you back, which I find amazing, as the place is almost always full to the gills and buzzing with people of all types and ages. Party animal? Sit at the huge bar. Family or business party? Check out the large room in the back. Want to people watch? Sit in the tiered area and watch all the pretty people come and go while you eat. Want to be seen? Sit in the lower area and enjoy your meal. And enjoy your meal you will. My absolute favorites are the spicy miso ramen and the sukiyaki bibimbap. Of course being a vegetarian I ask for both dishes without meat and with extra vegetables and fresh tofu (which they make inhouse daily) and they never bat an eye. As a matter of fact my favorite server, Carolyn, even remembered my entire special order even though I hadn't seen her in a year. That's exceptional service! They also have very popular sashimi and noodle dishes, as well as interesting things like "sushi pizza" which seem to be a huge hit with other diners. If you want a dining experience, go to Shokudo. Great food, awesome service, and just minutes from Waikiki. Or you can always take the party there as it's a good time.
(5)Cheryl K.
Hmm! It has been a while since I have been here. I always remember it as being expensive for some reason. Anyway, me and the hubs always used to stop here for late night desserts and the other night we went back for old times sake (as well as being hungry late at night because we had tons of food truck goodness earlier in the day). We got there about 10:30 pm on a Saturday and they sat us right away. I already knew I was going to get a drink and a snack. I ordered a shrimp tempura udon and a grape calpis vodka drink. My husband ordered a spicy tuna roll and a sangria. My drink was really tasty and my udon was, meh, udon. You can't really spruce up or mess up on shrimp tempura udon and you shouldn't at $10. We shared a green tea shave ice. I had a good time there. Loved the music although the crowd made me feel old as it seemed they were college students. Nice place for conversation and drinks. Love the trendy decor with them surfboards hanging up. Price is decent and if I'm looking for a late night place to chill again, I'd probably hit it, oops I mean go here. Hah.
(4)Nainoa T.
Best place to come for dessert... Nufff said
(5)Karen T.
I only come here for happy hour, it's the most fun when you go after work with your co-workers. I recently tried the frozen foam Kirin and in my personally opinion, not worth it. Try the vodka sodas though they are the BOMB! The food is delicious here and do I have to mention the honey toast? It's only $4 and it's the perfect size! Love that the happy hour is now 21+ so it's a nice environment when dining. Service was awesome and our food came out quickly. Drinks could've came out faster.
(4)Joser M.
2nd time here. Came with a party of 10, we got the private room in the back but not a good idea. We were forgotten in the back. Our primary server was terrible. Drinks were constantly empty, having to ask for refills. Food was alright. Nothing that left me wanting more. Maybe better service for less people.
(1)Derrick V.
Swanky decor sets high expectations at this place. The menu is a bit ambitious, with a wide variety of Japanese selections, a few Korean and American items. We had a seared tuna salad, garlic tuna on hot stone, spicy tuna on crispy ball of rice. The first two were decent, and I liked the daikon garnish with the garlic tuna. I liked the spicy tuna the best, nice contrast with the crispy rice. We also had the fries and rainbow roll. The fries were excellent, very thin, seasoned with shoyu salt, tasted like McD's fries really. The rainbow roll was subpar, the fish tasted unfresh, or maybe not thawed out properly. We ended with the Curry Rice in a hot stone bowl. It came with ground chicken, an egg yolk, broccoli, and corn over rice. The curry sauce came in a separate saucer. This dish was pretty good but I wished the stone bowl was hotter so the rice would have more crispy bits. The menu says the hot plates and stone bowls are heated to 500 degrees, but it didn't seem the case to me. They had a couple Japanese microbrews which were ok, not great.
(3)Jessyca M.
I love this place! Of course, you HAVE to get the Honey Toast for dessert, but I also recommend (among other things) the Mochi Cheese Gratin, French Fries, and the Rice dishes served in stone pots!! YUMM! Prices are a bit high, but the decor is adorable and service is pretty good.
(4)Tara M.
Delicious! We are a meat and potato type of family, so eating in Hawaii is hard. However, this place is delicious and we keep coming back. You can park for free at the Ala Moana Shopping Center and walk; or park in the Bank building parking - they will validate or if after 6 pm or on a Sunday it is free parking there too. The entrees are large, where two folks can share one meal. (We are big people and can eat a lot, but we share our dishes here.) They are known for their Honey Toast! It is so big - one order will feed 4 people. It is just tasted white bread with honey and ice cream drizzled on top, but it is good and fun to try. Prices are about $10 - $15 per person. There is no children's menu. As a family of four, we spent $80 and that included two beers, wine, soda, food, and the cinnamon honey toast. We had the lobster dynamite (with extra bread that costs $2), crispy calamari salad, garlic shrimp rice = I recommend all. They do not have discounts (no military or kam discount).
(5)Kanoe P.
Worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. The only positive thing I can say is that the hostess was friendly. Our server was horrible, and 2 of the 5 items we ordered had a hair in them. Yes, HAIR! There was a hair in our spider roll, and at first we weren't going to say anything, since we had ordered some other items and figured we'd eat those instead. BUT, when the tempura bowl arrived there was ANOTHER HAIR in one of the tempura!! Disgusting. We told our server who was not apologetic, and the manager did not take both items off our bill!!! At least comp the items that had HAIR in them!! And be a little apologetic, we didn't make a big deal out of it, and I think we were more embarrassed having to point it out than they were to take the items back!! Will never come here again, and I'm bummed because I wanted to try the honey toast. Oh well.
(1)mf l.
Honey toast was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! If you're with a big group, try the flavored sojus (esp white peach), but careful--they creep up on you! minus one star for overpriced, so-so rolls
(4)Jade N.
I'm definitely a fan for the damn garlic shrimp. I love how they ask to mix it in front of you .... I wonder what they would do if you said "No, I'll mix it." LOL. Besides the point... I've tried the spicy tuna roll, cucumber salad, sushi pizza, tofu, calamari salad, garlic fries...just to name a few. Loved um all. I did not enjoy the cold udon that they served me...in which they took back to make hotter....by the time I got it back my appetite was turned off. and the Honey Toast dessert that EVERYONE is talking about... not for me. it was ok but I didn't fall in love with it :/. sorry. the decor is pretty cool and trendy...staff is ok...although my last visit on Thursday, 5/26/2011....he did not fill the water and prolly checked on us once. actually not prolly....for real. that sucked...
(3)Clifford L.
Shokudo? Isn't it that numbers puzzle that locks the brain? 2. What R those photos below? They're all 3 very UN appetizing; nothing personal. [Well, OK, mako da shark gavit 4-stars.] F NE thing, I would order the oxtail ramen. =something transitional. We'll C.
(2)Claudia M.
Came here and looking at this place, it was very nicely decorated. I thought the ambiance was incredible. The food was delicious here and their dessert was sooooooooo yummy and sweet. I will definitely come again (:
(4)Darci N.
Love it here. Its our second time here and it keeps getting better. The vast menu makes you spend some $$$ since you want to try everything. Tonight we dined on panko crusted spare ribs, lobster dynamite, pork chops, garlic/shrimp rice bowl, teriyaki salmon, foot long chicken katsu, and of course honey toast. Our server was great and the food kept coming.
(5)Chelsey C.
I reaaaally wish I could say that I love this place because the decor is so cool, modern, and has a lot of potential to be excellent....but alas, I can't get myself to do it! My lasting memory of their dishes isn't significant enough to set that craving to go back unless my friends suggest it and I'm apathetic about where to eat. Last night, a couple of my girlfriends and I had drinks and shared several dishes. I was confused at first because the server just kinda crept up on us once we got seated and timidly asked if we wanted something to drink. I wasn't sure if he was a food runner or waiter until he took our actual order :-\ But we got the li hing mui sake and I also ordered a lychee vodka soda that the waiter recommended. The li hing mui sake (served cold) was toooo salty. My friend said it's usually a little sweeter so we might have gotten a shoddy serving. The lychee vodka soda virtually tasted like flavored Perrier water - sans vodka - for $6.75. I wouldn't order either of the two again. I think the next time I go to Shokudo, I might just get a beer or straight up shots with nothing fancy in it so I get more bang for the buck ;p I will express how delicious the mochi gratin, tofu salad, and seasoned fries are - perfect serving, consistency, and presentation. I would love get those again the next time I roll through. The service, though, is certainly mediocre and the price for drinks doesn't match its quality. So to conclude, I will probably be back sometime in the future but it wouldn't be my #1 choice. Sorry, Shokudo :(
(3)Kristen K.
Everytime my friends and i go out to eat we eat here. I always get the unagi rice (its a must if you like unagi) and my friends usually get the foot long chicken katsu and other sushi's. but when its time for dessert you must order the honey toast! there is nothing else like it! i rave to everyone i know about this honey toast! i suggest ordering the toast 10 min in advance because it takes that long and it sucks waiting for it when you know how delicious it is! i also suggest coming at happy hour, everything is way cheaper because it can be a tad expensive. Great for large groups or even dates!
(4)Stiss S.
I heard and read so many good reviews about the honey toast so when i went to Hawaii for a vacay the first place i went to eat at was Shokudo of course! Oh my goodness they were right! Honey toast was soooo good and just melts in your mouth. Also the caterpillar roll was the best sushi i had in my life or i was just starving lol but i also tried the sushi pizza and lobster dynamite since i heard they were delicious but i was so disappointed! It was not that good as i thought.
(4)Jason R.
Shokudo has great customer service! Very clean and a peaceful environment. Not to mention, the food is terrific!!! I love the variety of sushi and it seems like their vodka soda's brings out the taste even more...if thats possible???
(4)Linh L.
The honey Oreo brick toast was fab. However the food was just alright. The shrimp tempura roll was weak. But their ribeye steak was good. Then again it's quite hard to mess up steak.
(3)Scott P.
Some dishes are 5 stars, some dishes are 3... maybe 2. I'm giving this place 4 stars for two reasons. One, I've had some fantastic dishes here - such as the mochi cheese, and others have frequently raved about their dishes as well (sushi's with lobster or other things on top). The other reason, is I recently heard a rumor that if you have a child (under 12?) they'll fill up an ipad with games, and let your kid play with it during the meal. I haven't confirmed that rumor, but still, pretty cool. If you're going, get mochi cheese, sushi, sushi pizza, bi bim bap bowls, and honey toast. My most recent trip here, I had the yakisoba noodles - they were a 2. Presentation was great, flavor was not very good, all parties agreed. Most of the sushi I've had here was pretty decent for a non-sushi restaurant. I've heard lots of people rave about the honey toast dessert (or something similar), and see many reviewers raving about it too, so check that out. Service has always been good for me. Prices tend to be a little high. If you're a foodie, or just looking for somewhere new to try, I'd definitely recommend this place. Shokudo's rating on yelp is about 3.5 stars, and I think that's dead on. Get the 5 star dishes and you'll walk out a happy camper. Validated parking on the opposite side of the building.
(4)Jenny L.
Food is good but the atmosphere can get a bit loud. I also found it ODD that when requesting that my dish have no hot peppers on it, the response was "it can't be removed because the dishes are pre-made." What??? So while the food is good, I sat there removing every piece of hot pepper from each spoonful of food.
(3)Nathan N.
It's good. That's all I can really say about Shokudo. Other than the honey toast, it's just like any other Izakaya fusion bar/restaurant. I can't really say that service is outstanding, because it's not. Parking can be found in the garage behind the restaurant or on the surrounding streets. When Shokudo first opened, they had some dishes I really liked: minced chicken served in bamboo and fried flounder. Now I look at the menu and say to myself, "I can get this anywhere." After you go there a few times, the menu gets really boring. I think people really love Shokudo because of the bar. The drinks are "evil donkey." (I hope you got that.) Great place to hang out, drink up and just much on some pupus. Suggestions: Honey Toast Sukiyaki Bibimbap Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi
(3)Annie Kim H.
Everything is good, but what I can't get enough of is the rice in the hot stone bowl. The bowl is heated up really hot, placed in front of you, and you (or your waiter if you're too chicken to do this) dump your steamed rice and stuff in the hot bowl and stir fry it yourself. after i mix my stuff to where i think it's cooked, i like to let it sit there so the rice that is stuck to the bowl gets real crisp. I pretty much love all of the different bowls of rice, but my favorite is the garlic shrimp rice. It's super-garlicky, lots of sliced chili peppers--so simple and oh so good! if you have room, check out the honey toast dessert--it's 2 super thick slices of bread toasted, cubed, drizzled with honey and scoops of vanilla ice cream thrown on top. simple...but yes, people do swoon over it :)
(4)Bryson W.
I went to go eat at Shokudo tonight, and I wasn't that impressed. They have a two hour limit on tables and as we were getting close to our limit, they let us know that we had to leave in 30 minutes. We had ordered some Chicken Karaage about 15-20 minutes prior to this happening, we informed the lady that we were still waiting for a dish. I am guessing she went to go check on the order, but it still took about 6-7 minutes for the food to come. I ended up taking the Karaage chicken home in fear of the lady coming back and telling us we must leave. What would they actually do? Kick us out? If they did, I would happily walk out thanking them for the free meal. To me, the price for the food is overpriced, and portions aren't that big. The food isn't great as people have raved, either. The Garlic shrimp is okay, they give 8 super fresh shrimp on rice that is friend in oil, garlic, and peppers. It was good, but the shrimp was kind of small for 12.75? + tax. The Char Siu is mediocre The chicken katsu isn't "the best in town" as they claim. L&L serves up better chicken katsu for half the price. The ambiance of Shokudo is great, the service can be slow at times, but the waiters are moving around constantly but at times a little on the "I don't know what I am doing" side of moving. Our waiter was nice, but he was a little slow moving in getting the check, and a box for my Chicken Karaage. I enjoyed the food, and I give these ratings of "mediocre" and "okay" only because of the price of this food. Upon going into the restaurant, I knew that Shokudo was on the more expensive side, but the food isn't worth the money you pay.
(3)Jimmy T.
Great environment but can get very noisy. Not a great place for a romantic dinner. The original HONEY TOAST is something I highly recommend!! A simple dish but very tasty!
(4)Jescelyn L.
The food here is great. Perhaps outstanding. But tonight was the worst night I've had at this restaurant. I had to wait 45 minutes for my table. That's fine its a very busy restaurant. However its not understandable to have to wait an hour for our main course, me and my bf only had 3 small appraisers while other tables were sat after me are got their food before me and left before me. I canceled our main course order because it was taking too long, 30 minutes had passed I received nothing. My server took her time to get back to me about our order and took her sweet time to get my check. When I was about to leave, finally my food came out. I was pretty agitated when I saw the clueless waiter with my food . Instead of trying to save from us starvation and leaving pissed. My server "Nina" simply said, to the waiter who brought the food. "Oh they canceled it take it back." I got into the restaurant at 8 and left at 10. I was there for 2 hours. Pardon me for being pissed and hungry. The only reason why there are 2 stars and not 1 or even 0 is because I was refunded. I don't mean to sound unreasonable or brash, but I was also offered a free honey toast dessert. But honestly I don't care, you personally fucked up my date with my boyfriend
(2)'Ululani L.
Favorite Japanese Restaurant by far with great service & friendly staff...Oh yes! Make you wanna keep coming back. Yessah!!
(5)RO F.
It's like I died and went to heaven.... The tofu salad is off the charts. There is nothing anywhere that rivals homemade tofu and fresh greens with Oriental dressing. The piece de resistance was the Ahi Belly Katsu. Are you kidding me? So ono! The Japanese tartar sauce with bonito in it was a nice twist. Fried moi that was so edible we ate the crispy bones. Good thing I live far away... this could become an addiction!
(5)Natasha G.
My Boyfriend, Son and I came here for the first time on Halloween night after trick or treating, it seemed all the employees participated and their costumes were good. The waitress that served us was simply wonderful, she introduced herself and her costume and was just the right amount attentive. We ordered the rice set, loco moco and foot long katsu. The loco moco was mixed for us and I'm glad they did because we had no clue what they were talking about when they asked if we wanted them to mix it for us - dammit the loco moco is frickin good!!! Katsu was delicious as well with the homemade katsu sauce and the miso soup with the rice set was so yummy. We were very full but read all over yelp to try the honey French toast so we just had too! We got it with chocolate drizzle on top and though we were really full - we finished it 'cause it was too good to stop! I see there's long lines a lot but when we came there wasn't. The restaurant is a bit cramped but the way they do it, you won't mind.
(5)Tori M.
I really REALLY REAAAALLLLY wish I could give this place five stars because I've had nothing but great experiences here. Matt and Kylie have been my servers there the last few times I've gone and they were nothing short of amazing but my last visit was absolutely horrible. I went there at lunch for my friends birthday, we were seated and put in our order, the guy that took our order was great when he was actually there but the girl that brought our food was a different story. I remember it as if it were yesterday, Sherri (the girl that brought our food) came to the table with two shrimp tempura rolls and yukari fries. I hadn't eaten all day because it's shokudo, I'm gonna treat myself to a grand meal. She brought it to the table and said "I'm guessing one roll per person?" I said no and she scoffed saying "wait. What? Really?" UM yes really. Is there a problem? I should've said but I was overcome with shame and shock. I then told her the fries were mine too and she laughed, saying "what? WOW" with a face of disgust. I wanted to walk out right then and there had it not been for matt and Kylie's great service before reassuring me that this is not what shokudo is usually like. Our original server disappeared into thin air and Sherri helped every table next and near us except us then graced us with her presence *sarcasm ofcourse* to say that our server is lazy and would rather sit down than serve us so she "HAD" to serve us the dessert portion but we just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. We had little to no attention but when a group of muscular guys walked in, their table had not one, not two but THREE waitresses and Sherri OFCOURSE waiting on them hand and foot. My friend and I left immediately as we obviously could feel unwanted... In a restaurant. Needless to say, I will walk right out if I ever see Sherri working and return when matt or Kylie or just absolutely anyone else is worrying. Sorry shokudo, this experience was definitely memorable in the wrong way.
(1)Nat N.
This place gets crazy busy in the evenings, which translates to slow service, but the food is always amazingly good and satisfying. We went on a Friday night at 6:45 pm with no reservations, and had already planned on dining at the bar because we knew we wouldn't get a table. The bartender was really nice, however, the food was very slow to come out. I give the bartender props for noticing that we hadn't gotten our food in a timely manner, and once she went to the kitchen to check on our food, the food started coming out. The agedashi tofu is a must. You get three large chunks of tofu and they give a good amount of dashi. The chicken karaage is what you would normally expect it to be. Fried chicken. It's not one of their better menu items but the hubby has to order fried chicken whenever it's on the menu. The spider roll (soft shell crab sushi) was amazing! I snatched the end pieces as soon as the plate landed in front of us. The end pieces are the best because they have the most meat (the crab claws). We had to top off the dinner with what drew me to Shokudo in the first place - the honey toast with cinnamon. It never disappoints!
(4)Krysten I.
Make reservations, but don't expect anything when they ask if it is a special occasion.... I've been here a few times with my friends, and there has always been a long wait in the past, so I decided to make reservations beforehand. The guy I spoke to asked if we were celebrating and I informed him that we were celebrating a birthday. It was a day after my friends actual birthday, so it wasn't really important that we got to embarrass her, but I thought that since I had mentioned it, they would at least tell her happy birthday or something...... Nothing. Whatevs, the waitress was all over the place anyways. We had to ask her to refill our waters a couple times and our entrees did not come out together. We had the cheese mochi, calamari and beef tataki for appetizers. The cheese mochi is pretty good if you eat it as soon as it comes out, if it sits for awhile, the cheese gets hard and its not very good. The calamari is decent and comes with very mild wasabi mayo. The beef tataki was surprisingly good, but a weird temp, kind of cold? I don't know if it was supposed to be served like that. We each got a stone rice bowl (~$12 each). The bowl is hot and cooks the rice. The other times I have come, the rice got crispy, but this last time, the rice didnt get crispy at all. My food was just hot and a little harder to eat because it was so hot. The garlic shrimp and garlic scallop bowls are decent. Super garlicy and a little spicy. I've had the bi bim bap once and it was nothing memorable. The honey toast is good, but I can def make it at home.
(3)Rhi S.
I've only eaten here twice but absolutely loved it both times. Recently my boyfriend and I came here for our two year anniversary. There was no wait at all even though half the restaurant had a party. The staff were all very nice and friendly. We ordered the rice w/ miso soup (2), gyoza, chicken karaage, and the shrimp tempura maki. We only had to wait about 10 minutes until our food started coming out. It was really good ~ I think that's the best shrimp tempura I've had so far! For dessert I had a strawberry shake and we ordered the honey toast too. The shake was soooo delicious! It reminded me of the shake they used to have at Thirst Aid at Ala Moana (if anyone remembers that far back). The honey toast was AMAZING as usual. I definitely recommend coming here and trying that! All together it was only $60 w/ tip for all that food we ordered, so it's not too bad. I feel you really get a lot for what you pay ~ food is delicious, and the service is great!
(5)Heidi C.
heaven. i love this place so much i could come here with my boyfriend every weekend for a date night. hate it when its busy and when we have to wait but we'd wait because we LOVE this place so much.
(5)Joy T.
Had lunch here on Friday and because we got there early it wasn't crowded.
(4)Daniel D.
Whether with a sizable group or just one friend, Sokudo is a good value -- food is good, there are some creative items that are unique and tasty. I've found the service to be generally good, and today it was really good - the hostess sat me at one of the very cozy booths (good for 1.5 big people), which really isn't so good for a busienss lunch like the one I had today (great with a significant other though!). The waitress was happy to move me, saying the "customer is always right" (I like that) and our new waitress Chelsea was terrific and very personal as well. I commented to the original waitress that she lost us as we moved service area and her response "it doesn't matter, we work as a team". With service like this they deserve 4 stars!
(4)Sheryll Y.
My friends and I ate there for the first time and we loved it! We sat at the bar where we received the attention of two bartenders: Jessi and Paul. They were the best in the suggestions for drinks and food. We also had the best service despite the busy hour we came at. Thank you Jessi and Paul for your awesome service and our first time at Shokudo Japanese! :)
(5)Mari R.
Shokudo has quickly become one of my favorite go to spots. But remember to MAKE A RESERVATION or you could easily wait up to 1.5/2 hours for even a small table, especially on weekends. Even on weekdays, friends have said that they got in okay, but don't chance it. This place has excellent food but you could get extremely hangry waiting for it! Let's just say that we were willing to wait 2 hours for shokudo rather than to give up our name on the waiting list to go to Pietros instead. That's how good the food is! Our faves include the tofu salad (their tofu is to-die-for), lobster dynamite (be sure to order extra toast), ishiyaki garlic scallop and tomato rice, the chicken katsu, the steak and mashed potatoes, and of course the infamous honey toast, choco style. Who knew toast could be so delicious? We also went once to eat at happy hour and were very pleased with the prices and delicous food (4-6 daily). Also this restaurant is extremely loud, if you are looking for a romantic, quiet dinner, this is not the place to go. Be prepared to shout over your meal and to eventually just chow down and give up talking period.
(4)Talia C.
After the renovations, I think I like Shokudo more! Not much of the interior changed, but the menu added more beer selections, and the sushi quality improved!! The ikura nigiri was sooo yummy :) Mochi cheese gratin and sushi pizza are a couple of my favorites from here! As for drinks, the yuzu citrus honey and lychee vodka sodas are a must! Sometimes depending on who makes the drinks though, they can be a bit on the strong side. The only thing that always gets me is the wait. Which is why I think it's better to always make a reservation or call in advance to ask how long the wait is. Other than that, great place to eat or even have a couple drinks!
(4)Kris O.
Shokudo Date with Aly Since 2011 started, I felt like I joined the circus, since I've juggled the following commitments: 3 jobs, being a full-time student, my boyfriend (aka my blog) + I recently started a Marketing & PR internship. Also I'm currently in the process of planning a Japan benefit concert. However, in the past few weeks my life has slowed down & because of this down-time I was able to have a lunch date with another busy bee Aly Ishikuni, vocalist of ALT/AIR . I mentally counted down the days until my lunch date with Aly since I've been craving Shokudo's Chicken Karage Bento which is only serves during the day. But the main reason I looked forward to my lunch date is because it's been forever since I connected with a friend & didn't feel rushed. Which is why I felt giddy as a schoolgirl when Aly & I discovered that neither of us had immediate plans for the remainder of the afternoon. I love that I'm always able to depend on this Japanese restaurant to deliver exceptional customer service & delicious food. Shokudo is the perfect atmosphere to reconnect with friends over lunch, go on a romantic date with someone special or enjoy something sweet (Honey Toast) to celebrate any occasion.
(5)Garrett Y.
Excellent customer service, gave great detailed information about the food and drinks we ordered. Victor was an amazing server for us. I recommend this place to anyone thay wants an amazing dinner here. It's a bit pricey but well worth your money. I recommend trying the blueberry soda vodka and homemade sangria.
(5)Jenet Y.
Always a great place to dine! Love a number of dishes including their tofu salad and mochin gratin, marinated pork belly and their hamachi dish! Yum! Also awesome wait staff!!
(5)Reimi D.
I'm writing this review a bit late--we stopped by about a month ago. We arrived here around 5 pm on a Saturday. We did not have reservations but the hostess offered seating at the bar. Since we just wanted a quick meal of pupus, we agreed. The service was prompt and the food was yummy. We ordered the chicken katsu, the lobster dynamite, crispy sushi, and gyoza. The food was great...nothing really special about the gyoza though. It was good, but not great. The bartender was really nice and kept the drinks coming. All in all, we had a great experience and the food was yummy.
(4)Kelly K.
The best Garlic fried rice I had so far! Service was terrific! Definitely need to try the Honey toast with ice cream and caramel!
(4)Lehua S.
This place is pretty good. Their menu isnt that expansive(great pictures!) but they have a lot of signature dishes!! We loved the lobster dynamite roll, that had big chunks of lobster! The garlic shrimp rice was another favourite! Tofu salad is a must. Instead of getting the infamous honey toast, their shave ices are huge! and delicious! The honey toast can be a bit dry.. but very fast service and cool atmosphere! Very good for family style.
(4)Teresa L.
Parking - they have a garage underneath but i usually just park at the mall and walk over. Wait time - this place can get really crowded so expect a wait time if you are going at dinner hours Food - mehhh. the food's alright not extraordinary, but not terrible at the same time. I like to come for the atmosphere. I've enjoyed their crunchy rice spicy tuna, bibimbap, shrimp rice, udon, honey toast, spicy tuna nachos. The spicy tuna nachos are pretty interesting because its an unusual pairing but it works very well. The only downside is the spicy ahi isnt very spicy and doesnt taste very fresh. I'm a pretty picky sashimi eater so I have high standards. Service - if I'm at the bar, the service is great. Bartenders tend to be very attentive and easy to flag down. When I'm in the dining room and it's really busy, the service is alright. Happy Hour - they have happy hour from 4-6 daily and 10:30 to 12 on mon - wed & sunday. They have a select menus of pupus for $3 - $5. Also they have a honey toast jr too! Perfect serving size for one.
(4)Janae F.
i LOVED our waiter, He was attentive, friendly, and recommended some great items. The ambience was perfect. The Hamachi Kama was superb, the edamame was the BEST I EVER HAD, and oooohh the HOney Toast, Oh man oh man. Waikiki is not complete without a stop at Shokudo.
(5)Austin B.
When you walk in, the tiered seating is nice to look at. Overall though, despite the above average prices, most of the food here is average and the service is average. Likes: The interior looks nice and it's a nice place to eat at with friends. Also, they have some interesting fusion type dishes. I like the rice bowl dishes because the hot bowl gives the rice some nice crunchy bits that add some texture. Dislikes: I think a good portion of the menu is overpriced, considering the quality you get, especially for the sushi dishes. Also, some of the upholstery in the tiered seating area needs to be replaced because it's cracking and it's sharp. It's not pleasant when you're wearing shorts. Favorites: Despite the negatives, I'd come here just for the honey toast (which I have done). Yeah yeah I can make it myself, but it's so much more satisfying when it's served to me. You can change it up with the different flavors, but original is the best. If i have to order food, I'd get the bibimbap. I don't normally like tofu, surprisingly for me, their tofu salad is pretty good. This is a nice place to eat out with friends because the interior is nice (aside from the cracked seats). When it's time for dessert, get the honey toast (good enough for 3-4 people).
(3)Wendy C.
Shokudo sells a lot of americanized fusion style japanese food. It's a nice and big restaurant that is great for big parties, but don't come in expecting anything authentic. I was well aware of this and enjoyed the food, in particular their shrimp roll!
(4)Shigemi W.
Went there last minute & really happy they were not busy yet. Our orders came out slowly, but it was hot this time. Waiter very alert, we didn't have to keep looking for him. Very efficient to notice if we needed any refills & if our food is what we expected. He seemed to have a lot of tables to take care of. But he kept a cool head & always has a smile. Thank you for a very relaxing evening.
(4)Regina F.
Wednesday, 05/22/13, 08:30p I called early in the afternoon to make a reservation for a party of seven. The gentleman was in the process of getting my information and I made the mistake of mentioning that we were coming for dessert. Suddenly, there were no more reservations available for the time slot I requested. I was advised to just walk-in and that I shouldn't have any problems. Of course, this wasn't the case when we arrived and of course, I was told that no one answering the phone would have told me that. We took our party elsewhere. I'm sure we'll be back; we love the honey toast. However, we will NOT mention that we're ordering dessert only, we'll be more cautious when recommending Shokudo to others, and we'll pray that another restaurant offers this dessert so we can patronize them.
(1)Kevin C.
Definitely a good choice when you want good food, but I've seen Shokudo during much better times. It used to be cheaper and the portions were bigger. I do enjoy their happy hour though! Before Dark is from 4-6pm daily and After Dark is from 10:30-closing. The After Dark is especially popular. They begin seating for it at 10:15, so if you want to guarantee a table arrive a little early! The last time I went, our waiter was nice enough to take our happy hour order before 10:30 so he could order it right away when the time came. The menu has changed. NOT everything is $3 anymore. BOOOOO! :( Things come in the $3, 4, 5 tier now. Don't worry, the Honey Toast Jr. is still $3. REJOICEEEE! As for regular food, I like the Tofu Salad and Bibimbap. Definitely good go-to's when you want some good and safe.
(3)Ka'awaloa K.
Shokudo's was pleasant, quiet, and I really loved the intimate lighting. Our waiter and other staff were very attentive, professional, and delightful. The food was wonderful. We had a great time :) Mahalo for a wonderful experience!
(4)Jas T.
Great food, good vibes, and our waitress Caroline was awesome. She was friendly, recommended great food and drinks. (No regrets on anything!) People come to restaurants because they know the food is great. When the service is great as well, it's a HOMERUN! Some of my favorites: Spicy Crunchy Tuna- won't find this unique style of crispy rice sushi anywhere. Their ISHIYAKI's are so tasty! As I'm writing this I'm craving the food. Lobster Dynamite- There were actual lobster pieces that weren't hard to see. Shoju drinks were yum!
(5)Juliann C.
Why does everyone think its worth it to wait at least an hour to get into this place?! The Good * Parking is never a problem! * One of the more enjoyable places to eat a honey toast * Bibimbap is pretty good * Salads are good The Bad * The ridiculous waits to get in * The ridiculous prices you pay for small portioned food * I just REALLY hate waiting for a seat and my food! & it doesn't help that Shokudo is a place where people like to take their time and eat. It's definitely not an in-and-out kind of joint, which sucks to wait! The Weird * $10 for honey toast. Shit expensive for toasted bread and ice cream -- if you really think about it!
(2)Julianne C.
Really? What's the big deal here? So I've finally decided to visit Shokudo after 5 years because lately I've been hearing people rave about their honey toast. Blah blah blah...We went there on a weekday at 7:00pm and was told there was an 1 hour to 1 1/2 hour wait. We were shocked because we saw plentiful tables that were vacant. Ok fine, I consider myself a patient person. Then upon learning that there were no young children in our group, were were offered the high tables seating. Ok fine, we like to people watch anyway. I ordered the red eye roll...aesthetically, my sushi looked beautiful when it arrived. My tastebuds on the other hand were none too pleased. At the time, all I could taste was the rice vinegar and the soy sauce..... fish? what fish? Though I must say, the supposed fish was very tender, so good job on that. I definitely would've appreciated it more if they gave it a lighter hand on the vinegar. After stuffing my face with sushi, we ordered the honey toast. Okay, this must be the most OVERRATED dish ever! It's just bread and ice cream people?! Where and what in the world is the earth shattering element here??! It's a big carbo-load attack covered in honey and vanilla ice cream... I mean it's okay and good (a 5 year old's wet dream!), but I wouldn't call it "amazzzzing" or a "must-try!" Personally, I find other Japanese restaurants better than Shokudo, hence why I haven't dined here in 5 years. Perhaps I'll visit again in another 5 years?
(2)Chris S.
My goodness this place has horrible customer service. We had a party of 12 and they said our wait would only be 45 minutes so we decided to wait. I'm just going to say right now that it wasn't 45 minutes....we waited for over an hour and a half and they still didn't have our table ready. If they told us that our wait would have been that long, then we would have went somewhere else. But then these retards don't know how to properly give a reasonable estimate wait time. My friend just graduated and we wanted to celebrate his accomplishments. Because of this place, they ruined the night and we couldn't celebrate his achievements. I advise not to go to this place unless you don't mind waiting for hours and hours. Honestly, at one point I was playing candy crush because I was so BORED FROM WAITING! That's about it bro. This place sucks...
(1)Christina A.
Shokudo is pretty pricey, so I really only go there for happy hour and sit at the bar. The food is great and is served in a timely manner. The servers are awesome! Everyone is super friendly!
(4)T. B.
My husband and I went to Shokudo for happy hour/dinner tonight. This was my husbands first time to the restaurant and he was more than pleasantly surprised. We sat at the bar and our bartender was Wade. From the start Wade was energetic, attentive and gave us great service throughout our meal. The food and drinks were awesome and their happy hour menu is a steal! Definitely will be back soon!!! Thank you Wade!!
(5)Scott M.
So disappointed, Shokudo is not what it used to be. Went for my wifes birthday the other day. Shokudo used to be one of our favorites, however, things have changed, alot. The dining area is very dirty, lint everywhere, dust on fake trees, torn seats, holes in lights. The silverware (my daughters fork) and mini plates had dried crusty food on them. The bathrooms were dirty, and sink and toilets looked as if they were not cleaned in awhile. The workers seemed to be using the restrooms to change clothes. The menus were falling apart and a wreck. The service was slow and sassy. To start, We ordered agedashi tofu, yukari fries, and mochi cheese gratin, which are supposed to be hot/warm but were served cold. The ribeye sizzling plate and salmon bowl were both over cooked and mash was extremely dry and tasteless. The waitress did not refill our green iced teaeven once, although refills were free. Worst of all -the servers forgot to bring an order (ahi roll) to our table and accused us of receiving the dish twice, when we had not recieved it. Very unproffesional. We think the waitress gave it to another table by mistake as she seemed clueless. The only highlight was the honey toast, but considering we were charged for it when it should have been free on birthdays added to the frustration. Thankfully, live and learn, we did not get sick from the food, and will not be returning.
(1)Denise K.
Trendy Japanese fusion. There's nothing traditional about it and that's why I like it. If you want fusion, this is your spot. Sushi Pizza? Think of it as a flattened out California roll. It's pretty good! They also have beef tataki sushi with crunchy fried onions on top - a must order! There's another sushi roll that has spicy tuna atop crunchy rice cubes, innovative and fun to eat. And as everyone has already stated, you can't go home without trying the honey toast with ice cream. You'll roll outta there a happy camper!
(4)Pumehana A.
Great service from Ryan! He greeted us with, "Hey guys, happy holidays!" Now, Christmas time is my ABSOLUTE favorite time of the year, so he's already got an A in my book. He also informed us of Shokudo's gift card special after his initial greet-- something most servers usually pitch at the end of the meal; this was pleasantly out of the ordinary. Throughout the meal Ryan was extremely attentive to detail (i.e., clearing empty plates as we were finished, replacing a saturated bev nap, offering another round right before our kirin was finished, and checking on us on his way over to his other table). To be quite honest, Ryan's service was a breath of fresh air amidst a plethora of mediocrity. Thank you for a great experience!!
(5)Lance K.
Oh shokudo...I can't say anything extraordinarily outstanding bout this place, but I also can't really complain about it either. This food here to me is just okay, with the exception of the honey toast of course xD. My favs from here are the Teri chicken Quesedilla (I know odd for a Japanese place right) and the mochi cheese gratin....OH and also the bi bim bap lol I love how the rice gets crispy in the pot! The drinks are tasty but a little on the sweet side. The service is usually consistent with the servers being friendly and quick. Overall the food is not great but not bad, but the service is always good and dat honey toast being the crown jewel of this restaurant. oh also the wait can get pretty long on peak hours so try to come early!
(4)Robin K.
The food is consistently delicious and the service is attentive without being intrusive. Love the crispy shrimp tempura sushi, tofu salad and the honey toast with vanilla ice cream. The homemade tofu is a treat.
(4)Ashley M.
Brought my grandma and sister here for their first time after bugging them to go for so long. I always enjoyed coming here before, but this place really went downhill over the years. Host/hostess was rude, they just ignored me as I stood there while they continued on with their conversations and I had to interrupt them in order to put my name down. Waited about 15 minutes for our table and got seated. Waitress was okay...but the food was kinda meh. I noticed that their lobster dynamite contains mostly vegetables such as broccoli & what not. I was disappointed with it, to be honest. Felt as if it tasted much better before. Had to get their honey toast, which was pretty much the best part of dinner. Other than that, don't think I won't be coming here unless I have to such as a party one of my friends plan.
(2)G P.
Great contemporary Japanese (and other asian) cuisine. I had the bibimbap and it was excellent!
(4)Juan F.
Came here just for dessert. We ordered the Honey Toast and Shave Ice. They both were just average. The Honey Toast was big and with two scoops of ice cream. However, it didn't wow me. I could probably make that at home. We got the Melon shave ice. The ice wasn't as fine and fluffy as I'd like, but its okay. I like the atmosphere here! They play good music and the setup of the restaurant is outstanding.
(3)NickMitsTheDemiGod ..
A really overrated experience! The most over hyped thing there is their Honey Toast! Imagine a piece of toasted bread with ice cream in it!! Whose terrible idea was that? Toast 2 ego waffles. add 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, and agave nectar. Better than Honey Toast
(2)Diane E.
The boss brought our team here today for lunch to celebrate a birthday. Lots on the menu to choose from. The array of Udon noodle bowls looked enticing, but I opted for the spicy tuna roll. Everybody ordered something different and it all looked good. We shared the Red Eye Roll (spicy tuna with fresh tuna on top) and the Foot Long Chicken Katsu. We shared the Honey Bread dessert and they brought the birthday girl her own. A great time with the team. Some of the drinks looked interesting...I may have to come back after work some time and imbibe in one of them.
(4)Justin Y.
Last I checked, kim chee char siu was supposed to go on a plate and not on customer's shirt & head. Thanks Shokudo for proving me wrong AND charging us for it! But ok, let's do this in some kind of order just for kicks. The food was ok. Not great for the price that's for sure. The fish in the sushi was old, the wasabi must've been SUPER old as I literally ate half of the pile by itself, chew on it, inhale anddddd...nothing. Sad & actually quite gross when you think about it. The service was slow, and well...quite appalling. First strike was when my friend's yuzu vodka drink came and the waiter dropped the yuzu on the table then...just walked away. Wtf? Get a new one maybe? But that was just small beans compared to the rest of the "experience". Whoever the busser was at our table needs some kind of training, because he spilled all the juice from the Kim Chee Char Siu thing all over my new shirt & in my hair. THEN he spilled the crap from my friend's salad all over his pants. Nothing got comped, no manager coming over to apologize, AND they had the nerve to tack on an automatic 17% gratuity. If I HAVE to tip for someone ruining our clothes, do we get to charge for the shirt & pants too? Maybe even a shampoo for all the pork and kim chee chunks in my hair? Ugh. Just UGH. Boycotting this place from now on. Why bother putting all that money into redecorating if that's how people are going to get treated in there?
(1)Alex D.
Okay, what is up with the lines even late at night? The ultra hip decor in a restaurant by a mall? The girls in the 10 inch heels on the dates with the guys in the flip-flops? And why does every table have the hollowed out toast with scoops of ice cream on top? Ice cream on bread... wtf? Infused vodka cocktails reading like a soda fountain menu? None of the above makes any sense... but it somehow, someway... it comes all together nicely for a cool night out in HNL. Yummy food, cool vibe, cosmo island uber hip atmosphere....Shokudo gets my KUDOS fo' SHO easily. OH, and one last question: what kindda of crack yumminess is in that honey toast?
(5)Jules N.
I think the food here is "meh", but the BF has this permanently etched into the "Please do not ever take me here" list. Not because of service, (which is okay, never had bad wait help), not because of ambience & setting (which is bad, cause there's a ton of teenie-boppers here), but for his complete and utter dislike of their food. We've tried almost everything on the menu, and here are the only items that he's liked: -Agedashi Tofu - Pretty good actually -Sushi Pizza - It's california roll ingredients with a Jalapeno on top. He likes spicy things. -Edamame - You either like edamame or you don't. Yep, that's the entire list of items that he's liked and we've tried almost everything on the menu, even the specialties menu. We usually spend ~$80-100 including tip and it's really not worth it for the quality of the food.
(2)Joyce F.
For: food, service, location Against: Other essentials: Free parking on the backside of Shokudo. Drive down into the lot (same building) then wait the Shokudo marked stalls. Also, their lunch menu is pretty legit with smaller, cheaper versions of some entrees as well as $3 sangria, etc. More: The food is delicious here. Key words: Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio and Garlic Shrimp Rice. Both amazing. The Carpaccio has a yuzu sauce and is served over julienned daikon. So fresh and I love the citrusy vinegar flavor. The Garlic Shrimp Rice was such a nice surprise. It is served in a hot stone bowl with so much garlic (yum) and chili peppers. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and we let the rice crisp up a bit before eating. I usually stick to sashimi but the Lobster Dynamite Roll was good with huge chucks of delicious lobster piled on top. Skip the Spicy Scallop Roll. After everything else, the flavors were just mediocre and didn't impress. The assorted tempura was light and crispy. We also got the Tofu Salad - good vinaigrette-ish dressing with crispy wontons to balance the silkiness of the tofu. Good dish but not incredible. I've had the Tuna Sashimi Salad before which I loved (anything with raw fish, citrus and vinegar and I'm happy). Have to shout out the service there. We had Bob as our waiter although even waiters from other sections would come and clear off our table. Bob was friendly and frequently changed out plates so that we wouldn't mix flavors between courses. This can be a waste at times although the attentive service was nice. Happy hour from 4-6 and 10:30 to close.
(5)Chyanne O.
this joint has been here for a looong time. i remember my high school years. i think they've been trying to step it up a little with the sushi bar and all, but it's still just ok. food is good, but not great. sushi could be better. service is a hit or miss. some are attentive, some are just.. horrible and slow. pray you don't get those. i still don't understand why the wait is so long almost all the time on prime hours... the honey toast is good but it's just overrated. btw, don't order the vodka lychee drink. all you taste is the lychee syrup.. too sweet it's just so nasty.
(3)Eddie M.
Ate here Saturday night with the family. Great service up front and did their best to accommodate us with our 5 month old daughter! Food was great and will be back!!
(5)Nicole F.
The wait for this restaurant can sometimes be time consuming because it is the cool spot to eat for the younger adult crowd, but the wait is always worth it. I am a regular, and the staff is always friendly, and there to make your meal enjoyable. They are famous for their honey toast, but the agedashi tofu, and mochi cheese gratin are must try's.
(5)Misty P.
I have come here three times and all the times I have come here the food was great. I wasn't reall a fan of their stone garlic rice pot though. It had a bit too much butter for my taste. However the appetizers of sushi, sashimi, fries, shrimp dynamite and tempura were delicious. The honey toast is simple, but great with ice cream. It's a little bit pricey but I'd come here again. The decor was nice and modern, but I pay attention to detail, and the blinds need a good dusting/cleaning. The service was ok. Not the best, but it was friendly and we didn't have to wait too long for a table or our food.
(4)Michele K.
One of my favorite places to go when I have late night food cravings!!! They have pretty good happy hour specials. (Before dark from 4-6pm and after dark from 10:30 till closing!) They have a special food menu where everything is $3. The teriyaki chicken quesadilla is SO GOOD. It's definitely one of the popular dishes because I saw so many people order it! It comes with a cilantro dip, so if you like cilantro... I think you'll love it! The honey toast is also another popular choice. For the food on their normal menu... I'd say my favorite is the stone bowl bibimbap. I've tried the mochi cheese gratin and the spicy tuna crispy rice too. Those are pretty good, but the bibimbap is definitely my favorite! I don't think the drink specials they have during after dark are that great. The prices are good, but they don't have many choices. I got a kirin draft for $4, but the cocktails on their normal menu were all normal price. lame. :( Shokudo has good deals for food during happy hour, but I think there are better places to hit up if you want better drinks. Sometimes service is super super slow. It took them a while to bring out our food and I got my food at least 10 minutes after my friends.
(4)Christina S.
I used to be a regular here a few years ago and just haven't taken the time to go back recently and I really don't know why. I love this place! They do get really busy on the weekends so if you don't make reservations be prepared to wait a really long time. But today I went relatively early on a Monday so we were seated immediately. I always look forward to having their sushi and they had their albacore tuna on crispy rice sushi on their seasonal menu (my favorite dish at skokudo!!!) I'm sad that it willbe gone in a couple of weeks. It is really good seared ahi on fried crispy cubes of rice topped with a picked jalapeño and awesome sauce. Soooo good! You really can't go wrong with ordering anything on the menu. My other favorites are the spicy tuna on crispy rice sushi, sushi pizza, mochi cheese gratin, and the rice bowls served sizzling in a hot stone pot. Plus you can't leave without hovering the honey toast dessert! I don't think I have ever had a bad experience here other than waiting a long time for a table, but it is totally worth it!
(5)Maryhmelle C.
Me and my boyfriend would occasionally come here, especially when I'm craving their honey toast. We usually come around lunch time because 1) the wait Isn't as long as during the nighttime dinner rush and 2) The waitress Alyssa recognizes us and always makes sure we have great service, which is a plus 3) the wait for the food is 10x faster in my opinion.
(4)Ellison U.
Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar Hmm... What I can say about Shokudo... Well, just I ABSOLUTELY Love this place! I visit Shokudo from time to time. I think it's the décor and the food that draws me. Specially the late night menu! Man, it is BOMB! It features an array of different mini dishes that range from $2 - $5 dollars. Also included on the menu is the specialty drinks which is decent in prices. Late night menu is from Sunday - Wednesday from 10pm - 12pm I believe. Who ever thought of this late night special menu is Genius Some of the dishes I usually order are; the chicken fajita, Spicy Tuna Nachos (sounds weird but Nommm...), Cheese Mochi, Agadashi Tofu, Pork tenderloin, Edamame, Honey Toast, Spicy Ramen, rainbow sushi platter, Sashimi, Spicy tuna on crispy rice, and I think that's it! Some of the greats and must tries are Cheese Mochi, Spicy Tuna Nachos, Chicken fajitas, and the Honey toast. They are all to die for! Geezus... mouth starting to salivate. Décor, I LOVE IT... This place is a great for mainland visitors, awesome place to take a first date, and good place for groups. With its modern Asian décor, and ambient/intimate lighting, no wonder why this place is soo popular and busy all the time. Service is Meh. Never really had any bad experiences. I'm just saying, it aint great. Like some one once said, there are reasons for my madness. But you know why I say this place is good for first dates... well here are my reasons. 1. Prices are reasonable... will not hurt your wallets guys. 2. Place is loud... loud enough to get close to the girl and have a conversation. (best used while sitting at the bar next to each other.) 3. Vibe is good... I think it's the décor. 4. Open till 12pm so after watching an early movie is perfect! That's it.
(4)Laurie P.
I haven't been to the restaurant yet, but I tried their cocktails while at the Yelp Elite Battleship Bash event, which is why they only get 3 stars. I love their peach and yuzu saketinis! The yuzu isn't as sweet, so if you don't like super sweet cocktails, I recommend you order this one. Their peach one is definitely sweeter, but not cloying. It was my favorite of the two.
(3)Jessica C.
AMAZING!!! The food here is great but the customer service is better. Our waiter, Grant, was super polite and friendly. He provided one of the best customer service I have ever experience. My friends and I were celebrating a birthday party and he offered amazing customer service. Alongside that, the food here is great and very reasonable. Definitely try the yukari French fries and the honey toast. A+ for customer service. I will definitely be coming back again.
(5)Margie N.
My absolute favorite place for their homemade tofu salad, dynamite roll, sashimi platter and their famous honey toast! We went here a couple of years ago and wasn't impressed. Someone gave us gift cards so we thought we"d try it again. We were so glad we did because this time it was absolutely perfect. The hostess mentioned it was her first day but she sure didn't show any signs that this was her first day! The waiter was amazing and helped us with the menu cause there were so many choices. Confident 5 stars!
(5)Nikki N.
So I have not been to this place for a while. However, I love the service, the new food items, and the fact that I don't feel like I'm paying too much even though the prices are not cheap. We got there on Friday night at 7:45pm and go seated by 8 even though they were really busy. I saw the winter menu and decided to order from that instead of my usual. I got the Crispy rice, soy, walnut shrimp, ume cucumber, and my boy friend ordered one of the udon bowls. It was all BOMB. The only thing that I was not satisfied with was my Ume Shu with soda was filled to the top with ice and I only got like 4 sips out of the cup. I didn't mind about the drink though cause at least they kept my boyfriends water cup full and took away plates that were empty so we had room on our little two seater booth table that was comfy. The service was very efficient. A different person came by to deliver our food, came to fill water, came to take plates away, which I loved! I hate it when we have to wait forever for our particular waiter to come by for service. Thanks Shokudo for the awesome chill Friday night out.
(5)Yon S.
Been here a few dozen times over the years, since they first opened. They just opened a few weeks ago, after being closed for renovations a few months now. The inside looks the same, the menu was the same. Not exactly sure what the renovation was for. Looks like all they did was add a sushi counter on the existing bar. Food was very disappointing. I miss some of their original menu items, and I let them know, but I have a feeling they are not bringing back the buta kakuni and the cobb salad where were draw items for me and my dining mates.
(2)Cindy L.
We had a group gathering here with about 25 people plus kids. Obviously they don't have the room to accommodate such a big group, but we made do with the chairs and tables around us. The best way to eat here is to have a whole bunch of items on the menu and share, and so we did. We had the following items: Agedashi Tofu: Lightly fried tofu with lots of bonitos and dashi broth. Very yummy! Pork Gyoza: Eight pieces of gyoza, nothing really special. Chicken Karage: Fried chicken breasts. It was a bit too dry for me. Although it came with an excellent dipping sauce. Lobster Dynamite Sushi: Excellent California roll topped with lobster bites. Tempura Roll: California roll with fried crust. Yaki Soba: Very delicious stir fried soba. Caramel honey toast: Cut out toast squares drizzled with honey, topped with your choice of ice cream and caramel syrup. The food was good and the service was excellent.
(3)Natasha T.
Giving this place a 2-star, because I really don't think the food is anything special. I've been there a few times and every time was just mehhh. My last experience was pure crap though. I ordered the fried calamari, and it was awful. I've eaten a lot of calamari, and this is one of the worst places to get it. Too much breading, no flavor, etc. My husband also got katsu, and it was SO FRICKEN OILY. Like how do you mess up katsu in Hawaii? Such a fail. The honey toast never disappoints though!
(2)Jacqueline G.
Walked in on a Thursday night at 11pm. It was a full house for it being a week night! Sat in a two person booth by a glass window looking into the kitchen (Probably not the best design idea) But the dining room decor was modern and eye catching. I loved the two person booth though! Perfect for intimate dinners. Our server was helpful, told us that usually 3-4 dishes are good for two people. Started off with the calamari appetizer. It was ehhh. The tempura batter was not the best I've tasted. The lobster dynamite roll was yummy! Large pieces of lobster with a tasty sauce. Ordered the Ishiyaki garlic shrimp rice. The hot stone bowls are brought our with your food in it and someone mixes it up for you table side. I loved the flavor dish. The rice cooked to perfection. Ordered the chicken katsu as well, should have gotten a different dish. You can get chicken katsu anywhere! Highlight was the Honey Toast with vanilla ice cream. Simple but good! Next time I'm in Oahu for the weekend, will stop by again. I heard about their late night half off specials but we payed full price for everything. Maybe only for weekends.
(4)Ashley H.
My boyfriend and I tried this place for our anniversary, we heard it gets packed so we made reservations in January. Our anniversary was on the 18th of February, they only had two slots left so we picked 6pm. I was excited to eat, we got there and was greeted by the host, we told her we had a reservation she said okay one moment and left us standing for 10mins the manager finally noticed us and sat us down. We went straight to ordering I got the karage chicken because I was eating sushi all week and my boyfriend got a spicy soup. His soup was good, my chicken was plain. I couldn't stop thinking about the honey toast since everyone is always talking about it. We got the double with oreo ice cream it was good but not heavenly like everyone made it seem. The manager thanked us for coming and even took our picture for us. The service overall was good. I could see us going back.
(3)Aaron Y.
Good lunch menu and food was really good. Also, validated parking which makes it very convenient.
(4)Faithyui C.
I like this place. the staffs are nice. the restaurant is clean and kids friendly. closed to Ala Moana Mall.
(4)Joseph F.
Waited an eternity to get in on a crazy Friday. They have a wide variety of Japanese dishes done in the local style. Sushi was competent enough, and simple things like gyoza / chicken katsu were fine. We didn't enjoy the garlic shrimp flavored sizzling rice as it was simply overpowering, and I was the only one in the group that enjoyed our shrimp tempura udon. Service and atmosphere was outstanding, and it is kid-friendly, but we didn't really think it merited the reviews overall.
(3)Kiare K.
I have never took the time out of my life to write a review on anything, but after my experience at Shokudo on 03/19/14 i need to. I just came back home from college and if you've ever been away for college, you know how it feels to come home and eat good again. So my girlfriend and I along with our two good friends made reservations and still waited over 20 minutes for our table. We were finally seated and our server was really nice. This is my girlfriend's first time and only my second, so we were excited. We ordered within 5 minutes. My girlfriend's food came right away and so did one of my other friends. Me and the other person had ordered the teriyaki chicken quesadillas. Time goes by and my girlfriend is half way done with her food. The server comes and apologizes about how long the food is taking and lets us know that the manager is going to buy is dessert. We say okay and he leaves. Now that my girlfriend is almost done with her food, the manager himself comes and says how he is sorry and will buy us dessert. He says "how about some honey toast? you have to try it right!" He leaves and we finally get our food. The quesadillas were really good, but as we were eating my friend that had also gotten the quesadillas sees a cockroach come out from in-between the menus and crawl behind them. I was completely grosses out and disgusted. I told our server quietly because I didn't want to make a huge deal about it. He didn't do anything about it. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. He didn't offer to move us to another table, nothing. I scooted completely to the other side of the table practically pushing my girlfriend off the table. The server came back and asked for dessert orders. I didn't order because I was grossed out. My friends and girlfriend did though. We got two honey toast and when the check came, our server said that the manager had taken care of ONE of the desserts. I know in these types of situations the managers usually only offer one, but when he was talking to us he made it seem like we could get whatever we wanted, he did not specify that he was only taking care of one, because we had ordered two orders of quesadillas. What if we didn't have money to pay for the other one? And that the cockroach thing hadn't even been acknowledged. We could have made a big scene but we didn't. It may not seem like such a big deal, but coming home from college and just wanting to have a nice dinner with friends you haven't seen in a while is not a lot to ask for. The food was great, but the other things that happened out weighs that. I would also like to throw in that we are college students and money isn't handed to us like how it was when we were younger. I wish we had spent our $80 some place else. I won't be going back to Shokudo.
(1)Rachel G.
Recently the shokudo restaurant and bar has been serving less than optimum food. When I first started going there four years ago the experience was 5 stars. But now the service and food has declined. But all in all I mainly go for the happy hour. Very cheap, very private and a good bang for your buck! Try it out, you may like this place and have a better experience than I recently had.
(4)Denise T.
Be sure to arrive early if you plan on getting a seat! My friends and I have made Shokudo one of our go to spots whenever we feel like eating dinner. This place has a nice atmosphere and you can enjoy Japanese fusion cuisine without having to dress up for it. The Unagi rice is dah bomb because whenever I order it, it always comes out sizzling in a stone bowl and it tastes sooooo good. :3 The best part about Shokudo is their honey toast, like seriously I wish they made honey toast everywhere! Who knew, bread and ice cream could taste so delicious? The Cheese Gratin is something you have to try, although I find that it tasted okay, my friends seem to love that stuff. The sushi pizza is pretty awesome too.
(5)Christopher W.
Fast, simple , and accurate review for people who don't want to read a novel finding out if a place is good. Ordered (2/2 stars) My favorite is the eel fried rice in iron bowl. Very tasty . Tried pretty much everything on the menu. I would recommend this place to anyone. Must try the honey toast dessert. Service (1/1 star) Very good service . Very prompt. It is very good considering this restaurant is always packed when I go. Cleanliness and parking (1/1 star) Very clean for being a very busy restaurant. Just remodeled kitchen. Plenty of parking in the back Good for casual or semi-fancy date nights or group parties. Will definitely be back.
(4)Gabby B.
Came here the other night with some friends and everything was AWESOME! Our server Gabriel was very knowledgable about the menu and even answered some questions that my friend had about the sake. He was attentive and sincere, and always kept our drinks full which is a huge thing for me. Every Time I come here I always get the same thing over and over again (garlic shrimp rice) which is still absolutely amazing! But this time I wanted to try something different. Our server, Gabriel, recommended the bibimbap and I don't know if I'll ever go back to the garlic shrimp rice lol it was phenomenal and had so many different flavor profiles that just worked together and the whole table agreed. (Tip: let the rice sit longer to make it extra crispy- so good) We were very pleased with our experience and made sure to save room for the anniversary honey toast (maple bacon) which was probably my favorite one I've ever tried. We even got a $10 coupon off our meal in April from getting the anniversary honey toast! Overall we had a great experience.
(5)Deborah K.
Eat the homemade tofu. Simple, clean, delicious. I could eat it every day of my life. The stone pot rice did not crisp up as it should but it almost didn't matter. Everything was delicious and the service was delightful. Great unexpected drinks too. I had the yuzu honey cocktail. We were only in Oahu a few days but this was the only restaurant I wanted to eat at more than once.
(5)Diana N.
The service was particularly exceptional today! The servers and wait staff were helpful and entertaining. Honey Toast is a must order. We also enjoyed the Garlic Shrimp and Sukiyaki Bibimbap. My husband and I took my parents here for their first visit and they thought the food was good quality with a fun twist.
(4)Jonathan L.
Came here two nights in a row. I didn't know that there is only happy hour on Sunday to Wednesdays. So It was a big fail on Thursday when I went. I guess they have happy hour on less busy days. When we came on Wednesday after the yelp party it was 10:15PM. The host was nice enough to seat us a little before happy hour started. It was not really packed inside. There were big parties here and there. They told us the happy hour option doesn't appear until 10:30 so we just took our time deciding what we wanted until then. We started with a round of yogurt shots. Those were the bomb! I couldn't taste a hint of alcohol at all. Maybe that's why people get so messed up. Good thing I only had one shot. After we ordered everything from the happy hour menu. For the food we got the teri chicken quesadilla, kim chee fried rice, garlic edamame, pork chops, spicy tuna roll, and lobster dynamite. Every thing was pretty good but I thought some of the items *cough" spicy tuna roll *cough" was not really worth the price. Also the chicken quesadilla was kinda burnt. But I really like the cilantro dip though. Again everything was good but nothing memorable. Ended the night with their happy hour honey toast(It only comes with one toast opposed to the regular one which comes with two). We got the cinnamon one for a dollar extra. Honestly I didn't think it was really that good. I don't know what other people were raving about. They put too much butter on the bread which made it taste really salty and they also put too much honey as well. So first you taste the saltyness then comes the super sweet honey which was not a good combo. Good thing it had ice cream or else I would've been even more pissed off. The service was so-so. Our waitress disappear for a while until the end of our meal and poured water for us once. The mens bathroom is pretty messed up and dirty. There were napkins on the ground everywhere and when I flushed the urinal and it overflowed. Sorry Shokodo. Oh yea parking is in the back of the building.
(3)LL C.
you may need to wait during evenings/weekends. the server was very friendly and apologetic about the wait. the food was all solid. and yes, that dessert with the bread and ice cream, that combo does work and it is phenomenal.
(4)Viv P.
Our family went to Shokudo on a whim on a weeknight on the recommendation of our teenage daughter. It was a 30-minute wait, which was fine since we heard it was a good place. At least there was seating for us outside. The first thing I noticed when we got seated was how loud it was. Hmm, maybe I'm just getting old... Our waiter was friendly and extremely helpful. There were many items on the menu to choose from. He asked if it was our first time (which it was) and helped us with our selections. His best advice: choose about 4 items because it's more than it looks. We finally settled on the Gyoza, Assorted Tempura, Sushi Pizza, and Chicken Katsu. All were great and I would recommend any of these. Honey Toast for dessert was a must. Since we were so full after dinner, we split one order of Honey Toast between the four of us. It was super good, and one plate kept us just on the verge of exploding. All in all, it was a great experience. Not someplace I would go out of the way for, but very agreeable for social gatherings.
(4)Bernie B.
I usually eat here at least once when I'm in Honolulu. Sat at the bar this time. Matt, the bartender, made this visit particularly pleasant, and watching the sushi chefs was very entertaining. The scallop roll and char-siu pork with Japanese scallions were the highlight of this visit. Try the bar when Matt's working - pretty much all the food is great (although, in my opinion, the honey toast is a bit over-rated).
(5)Edwin E.
I took my Intern here for a late dinner and had Ryan as our server. The staff were super friendly, courteous, and helpful. We had the mocha dish, sashimi platter, pork chop with special pineapple sauce, and calamari tempura. Needles to say, everything was so good. Great place to hang out with your friends, or date or meetings. Mr. Park, another server is excellent. The best place to treat yourself with excellent Japanese food at very reasonable prices.
(5)Anthony L.
A modern take on Izakaya (Japanese tapas) food. Pros: Tofu Salad looks blah, but is amazing! Honey Toast is as good as the hype! Pork-chops are perfectly balanced with the veggies they are served with! Mochi cheese, that's right. Mochi infused with cheese! Albacore on rice cracker Ox tail ramen is boss! Waiters are honest and knowledgeable Pricing is decent ambiance is prefect for a date or a big group Cons: Nothing i can think of. Remember kids, this is an izakaya style restaurant not a sushi bar. Great modern take on Izakayas, highly recommended!
(4)Michelle L.
Two words. Honey Toast. This simple concoction made from 4 ingredients (bread, honey, vanilla ice cream, and butter) was AMAZING. And this is coming from a girl who isn't big on sweets. (I actually looked up the recipe online, it's SUPER easy to make.) It's definitely big though, so plan on sharing it with someone. We shared it between 5 people, and ended up all diving in in and picking at it like a group of hungry velociraptors. Other items on the menu: Crispy rice with albacore tuna on top - yum. Exactly like the description sounds like. Slightly spicy because of the jalapeno they put on top, but that can easily be removed if you're not into spicy foods. Garlic shrimp with rice in stone pot - one of the more substantial dishes. The garlicy flavor infused the shrimp and rice, making it savory and memorable. Sushi pizza - I would pass on this item. Conceptually it sounds cool, but it's really just an unrolled california roll with cheese and japapeno's on top (baked). The menu says it contains a bunch of other goodies, like scallops and what not, but I didn't really taste those items. Lobster dynamite roll. California roll with baby lobsters smothered in sauce on top. They aren't very generous with the baby lobsters (one piece per piece of roll) but no matter, this dish was still good. Mochi gratin - PASS. This dish just wasn't cutting it for me. It is just cheese on top of mochi, but I didn't appreciate the flavor combinations and heaviness of the dish. Drinks: Lychee martini and pomegranate vodka soda were both good. However, the pomegranate soda had no alcohol taste in it (which either means they masked the flavor very well, or there was little to no vodka in it to begin with) Between 5 of us (with drinks and dessert included) the total came out to be $25 a person, which I thought to be very affordable for such a fun and unique dining experience. MAKE RESERVATIONS.
(4)Rochelle M.
First time dining here, we almost made the decision to not eat here, based on the last two reviews on Yelp, but boy are we glad we came! The service was EXCELLENT!! Every single staff member was extremely kind and helpful, Kelsie was an AWESOME server! And the food was so so delicious. We had the creamy lobster california rolls, homemade tofu salad, shrimp tempura, and the crunchy shrimp rolls...everything tasted perfect and hit the spot!!! Worth the drive and every penny!! Fast, friendly service, and GREAT food!!! Will definitely dine here again since we didnt get a chance to try the Honey Toast yet....next time for sure!!
(5)Chane L.
I used to frequent Shokudo almost every other weekend. I had stopped coming when I got turned off by a inexperienced hostess who was rude and not helpful. I want to say that I had secretly boycotted Shokudo for almost 1 year. But do you know that going cold turkey with no Honey Toast for dessert is absolutely horrible! I broke down and gave in when my boyfriend suggested that our dinner date be at Shokudo. I did miss the Honey Toast very much, as well as the sushi! I was aware that they had special sushi chefs and I wanted to try because I heard the nigiri and makimono rolls were better than before. I was a little skeptical when I arrived to the hostess stand, but the hostesses were attentive, and immediately greeted me. I gave my name for a party of 2. I think the floor manager was standing near and overseeing everything, and he had come over and asked us if we would like to sit at the sushi bar. We would be seated right away. I said yes! *high five* for going above and beyond! Our waitress came only minutes after and we already knew what we wanted to order, so we got our drinks and I ordered the kudasai roll, and the raging tiger roll? I can't remember the exact names, but it was something like that. It was oishi! The boyfriend always orders the unagi rice. He also had some of my sushi. I wish I tried the omakase, but I was already full. Next time I will order that. The selection of nigiri had a large variety. There is also a short explanation of what each sushi is. So its good for visitors who are not familiar with the names, they'll know what they're eating. Of course, for dessert, we ordered the Oreo Honey Toast. I was amazed that it tasted better than I remembered. We devoured it all, including the crust. I remembered the crust of the bread being hard and like cardboard. But this new honey toast crust was moist and crunchy, not difficult to swallow. As we finished up our meal, we noticed large groups arriving, our waitress seemed to have gotten tied up, so we waited almost 20 minutes for her to give us our tab and come back for it. The manager swung by us and took our payment, and she came back with the receipt to sign. I wanted to tell the manager and our waitress how awesome they were, and that they got me back as a regular! I'm so happy to relapse back into my sweet addiction to Honey Toast.
(5)Faye M.
I don't know what's wrong with this place & why I keep coming back!! It's really nicely decorated & the food and drinks are good, but damn. Service sucks!! I've been coming here off and on since they opened & only 1/4 of those times have I received the service I'd expect from any restaurant. One thing that happens almost every time: the food comes out in sporadic intervals, we could get one dish every 15/20 minutes & the waitstaff don't bat an eye. I also met a few friends here for dinner one night and the hostess didn't even bother walking me to the table they were at. She just pointed in the general direction of the back space in the elevated seating area. WTF!! This past Saturday was the last straw. I made reservations on Open Table for dinner at 8:15pm for 2 (me & my BF). We get there at 8:05 and are seated immediately. Our waiter, Ryan was nice and friendly and took our drink orders and then our food orders. We ordered 4 items: Yukari Fries, Sticky Yakitori Sticks, Char Siu Pork, & Lobster Dynamite. Our fries came out first, maybe 10 minutes later and they were pretty good. Almost 10 minutes later, nothing else came to our table...our waiter told us that the rest of our food should be out shortly, but it was almost another 10 minutes before the Yakitori came out!! As we were eating our Yakitori, I noticed the staff setting up tables right in front of us for a large party. So a party of 12 sits by us and they start to order and everything, while we're still finishing up the Yakitori. I'm keeping an eye on them because 1: this is a large party, and I'm thinking they probably have to wait longer than us! And 2: I'm just niele like that! So we finish eating our Yakitori stuff and just sit there, waiting for our last 2 items. My BF is on his 3rd beer & I'm ready for another drink - hoping it would calm my nerves. We are now entering our 45th minute. The table of 12 meanwhile, are all eating their dishes which they received faster than we did and we're only a party of 2!! Ryan tells us that the kitchen "never received the order slip"...I never worked in a restaurant, but thought that one would place the entire order at one time, on one order slip? IDK - he didn't give us details as to how the restaurant works, all I know is that that party of 12 are finishing up their dinners while we haven't even received the second half of ours!! We get the Char Siu and it's cold. It sucks. We are not happy. The Lobster Dynamite comes out shortly after & we could tell that it was hot, since it was still bubbling a little. Ryan comes by and asks "Well, was it worth the wait?" Ummm, NO, IT WAS NOT WORTH THE WAIT!! We tell him our pork is cold, and we don't want it anymore. But minutes later, a runner comes with a new plate of Char Siu, my BF tells him that we don't want it anymore, and he leaves. Then our waiter comes back with the plate like that was gonna make a difference! Another waiter came by and apologized because he gave our last 2 dishes to his table (the party of 12) and all I could do was give him a fake smile, because while we're just starting on our last dish, the big party are packing up their leftovers!! So yeah, we just ate the Lobster Dynamite & finished our drinks. My BF went to the restroom & that's when the waiter decides to come by and apologize. So not only did the kitchen not receive the tickets for our Char Siu & Lobster Dynamite, the other waiter serves it to his table instead of ours - I honestly don't know what to believe. So I calmly tell him that although he was really nice & kept us updated, the fact of the matter is that we were here at least a half hour before that party of 12 was and they got all of their food before us. He apologized and said that he'd check with his manager as to what he could do about it. He came back with the check and comped our last 2 dishes, but the manager never came by to apologize. Maybe it's because of my job, but I really pay attention to customer service & the whole night I saw the manager walking around, helping out a bit...but towards the end of our meal: he was hiding off to the side, staying away from our general area. I'm not sure if this is all coincidental, but the least he could have done was apologize on behalf of the restaurant. I do not foresee myself EVER coming back here, even if it's for a friend's birthday - I will send my regards and tell them I'll see them at the after party. ps: EFF THEIR HONEY TOAST!! I WILL NOT MISS THIS PLACE ONE BIT.
(1)Kevin B.
After a long one-month-ish wait, Shokudo's back. And back with it is my favorite Lobster Dynamite Roll. Good news is there are two new rolls in town, as well. The dragon unagi roll, which I can now add to my list of favorites there, and the other not-so-date-oriented garlic-filled KudaiKudasai(?) Roll. I recommend trying both (or at least the dragon roll if you're on a date). Add to that the scallop roll and mochi cheese gratin and you've got a roll feast and leftovers for the next day. I'll be back. K
(4)Evan F.
I've been to Shokudo quite a few times, tried most of their menu, and I just really am not impressed. As a matter of fact, I feel like every time besides the first time I ate there I've been swindled into going back due to special occasions for friends. I don't quite understand the hype behind it. The sushi is average at best, some of the other options like the bibimbap and others are nasty, and it's pricey. Pricey to the point I regret spending money at Shokudo. That honey bread ice cream dessert is pretty good, though.
(2)Tawnie-Ann M.
My first and only time coming here was a pretty unforgettable one. We were lucky the place was not busy so we were seated right away. We ordered Shrimp tempura, honey toast and we wanted the lobster dynamite, but they were out of lobster so we had to settle for the substitution, scallop dynamite instead. Food was okay. Nothing worth raving about. It was no better than any other Japanese place I ate at. Even the famous honey toast was ok to me. It's honey drizzled on toast with ice cream?! Nothing that special...anyways, after our first bite of the shrimp tempura we noticed a dead German roach floating in the tempura sauce!!! Eeeekkk!!! We notified a waiter who said OMG let me get YOUR waiter...our waiter came by and apologized and told us he was going to inform his manager. The manager came by and sincerely apologized for the incident and reassured us that they have pest control done once a month. He end up comping the shrimp tempura, but I think it's safe to say that was probably the last time we eat there!
(2)Tiffany S.
Came here for their happy hour with a party of 10 around 11pm and were greeted and seated promptly. Our server was very helpful with our happy hour menu. Call me a pig... my bf and I ordered 5 items from the happy hour menu! Everything sounded really appetizing so we ordered to our stomach's content. We ordered the spicy tuna nachos (which we didn't like so much cause the "chips" were fried wontons and I felt they were pretty oily), kimchee fried rice (delicious), teriyaki chicken quesadilla (pretty good, I liked them), garlic clams (wish the clams were bigger, but very flavorful), and the dynamite fries (I would've been fine without it. Too saucy for me... or it could've been that I was too full.) My friends and I also ordered the sushi pizza and that was pretty good as well, but some pieces were spicy as hell (according to my friends.) Even the people who can eat spicy said it was too spicy. Overall, I enjoyed the hh food, ambience, and service.
(4)Rob P.
AMAZING!!! No other words describe this restaurant besides Amazing, The service, food, ambiance, and sheek new upgrades make this place irresistable, not to mention the new sushi bar. The food is more Asian Fusion style and is the place to go whether you're looking for a quick bite at the sushi bar or dinner out. My girlfriend and I make it here at least 3x a month for a date night and usually sit at the new sushi bar. The chefs are right in front of you and delighted to offer suggestions and make the roll right in front of you. Our Chef is Hiro, he's the best! The manager, Alden came over to see how our experience went and thanked us for coming in. I think it's Awesome that the managers are so connected to the customers to ensure quality service. Now, ONTO the good STUFF... DESSERT. Honey Toast, Honey Toast, Honey Toast!! Unreal. This stuff is at the crossroads of incredible and magnificent! The combination of soft toast, coated in honey and served with your choice cinnamon and other flavors. Drinks are great and pretty reasonably priced. I like the vodka soda they serve. It's not overpoweringly sweet, but they are dangerously addictive. Happy hour is 4-6pm during the week and they also have an after hours menu later on at night. The menu is different from the normal menu, but is amazing as well and you can choose the normal or after hours menu. You must try! Great service, food, and open late....really don't think there's any question, No brainer. Shokudo is as good as it gets. 5 stars!
(5)Kimo K.
Great if you can get in. Love the place.. everything about it. Nice bar. The sushi chef is a master behind the knife. Good to order a lot and share your food with group of friends and just enjoy the great atmosphere, sushi, sashimi, Ahi tataki, spider roll with beer and sake. Great curb appeal. The desert if famous and sexy. The staff is plentiful, expert and attractive. Young trendy crowd with locals, mostly asians, some gay and always a wait which means it is good. Many items around $10. I like the theatrical seating.. where you can see and been seen. I would hate to own the old pasta place next door. Decor is top drawer and brings glamour to a strange little corner on the way to and from the Ala Moana Mall scene and "K-Town".
(4)Bo-Bae K.
Came here for a friend's going-away party and made reservations for 11. We waited for 20-30 minutes and suffered through a guy in a blue collared shirt brushing us off when we asked about how much longer it would be. When we finally got seated, it took the staff another 15 minutes to even bring us water, and we still hadn't placed our orders for food yet. An hour after we got seated, our food finally came out and it was just mediocre, nothing spectacular. All in all, I wouldn't wait 2+ hours for food I could get from a cheaper place and empty my wallet for the faux trendy, "classy" feel that most people seem to think they find here.
(1)Jasmine H.
Wtf, you have to be 21 to see the effing happy hour menu !? Seriously -_____- who does that ? I mean it's only food not like I wanna order alcohol I just want a discount on my damn food . #fatgirlproblems
(1)Sharon H.
On a recent Friday night, we made our way to Shokudo anticipating the good izakaya-style selections and trendy ambience dished about by other yelpers. We were not disappointed. Expect the noise level to be short of deafening at times, and the mood lighting waffling on and off throughout the night. My litmus test, agedashi tofu, was good albeit lukewarm by the time it arrived on the table. Other nice flavors found in the chicken teriyaki quesadilla served with a cilantro dipping sauce, sour cream, chopped lettuce and fresh diced tomatoes; the chicken karaage, served piping hot and bursting with juices upon the first bite; and the yukari fries! Bliss. The yakisoba noodles were alright, just not my favorite, I think because of the bonito flakes overload. My dinner mates certainly enjoyed it, since they love that fishey taste. Parking was easy with plenty of choices -- restaurant garage, Ala Moana and the FHB lot across the street. A few cautionaries: when I made the reservations, the staff said that we had to be in and out in two hours. We went slightly over that, and were not kicked out so that's a plus. When I got home, however, I could smell a greasy smokiness on my hair and clothes, and I recall that the table next to us had ordered something that was being flambed table-side. While you can't know what other diners are going to order, just know that you may leave smelling like the food someone else ate!
(3)Randy F.
Shokudo is a restaurant that specializes in nouveau-style Japanese cuisine. Our friends, Honolulu natives, James and his wife Susan, took us to this popular restaurant and helped us navigate the menu. The result? A thoroughly excellent meal with a few eye-opening and memorably delicious choices. Cheese gratin mochi - a definite favorite the combination of melted cheese and mochi is perhaps one of the last combinations I thought I'd see, but it matched perfectly. The gooey cheese and soft mochi went wonderfully well together and were a delicious, albeit high caloric, treat. Tofu salad - house-made, ultra fresh tofu was mixed with bonito flakes, tomatoes, lettuce and ponzu. A refreshing and delicious healthy appetizer Seaweed pizza with jalapenos - Another innovative food combination that had a nice crunchy and spicy kick. Not as well executed as the cheese gratin mochi, but cutting edge. Seared tuna with garlic - a large hot iron plate was accompanied by fresh tuna and large pieces of garlic. Cooked for a short period, the tuna tasted great with the accompanying ponzu sauce. Korean bibimbop rice - standard fare, nothing special, but tasty Lobster rolls - a large sushi roll with a enormous amount of lobster and mayonnaise mix on top. This was my one choice from the menu and it was the most disappointing. While the lobster was present, the roll was otherwise mediocre. Stick with the cooked dishes and appetizers. I'd say pass on the sushi if this roll is indicative. Honey toast - the star of the meal, I was thrilled to see honey toast on the menu. After having it in Vegas at Izakaya Mai, I've been looking for it everywhere. Shokudo was my first success and they did Vegas one better - they have 5 different types. We opted for the cinnamon and it didn't disappoint. Butter and cinnamon infused the honey toast bread and a generous dollop of vanilla ice cream rounded out the huge dessert we all shared. Shokudo is a fun and popular restaurant that has a very diverse menu. Stick with the cooked entrees and appetizers and you'll have a meal reminiscent of other new Japanese fusion Bay Area places like Gochi or Tanto. And definitely order the Honey Toast. Shokudo accepts all credit cards, including American Express.
(4)Stine H.
This is a way overdue review for Shokudo. During my visit to Honolulu, it was nearly impossible to find above average restaurants...until finally my father stumbled upon shokudo while cruising the streets. His motto is 'if it's packed, it's good' so we went here for dinner one night after failed dinners previous nights. The interior is very modern and hip. Similar to restaurant bar and lounge asian fusion places back home. Shokudo provided an array of different foods from sushi, to udon and cooked entrees. Their beverage menu was endless! Lot's of interesting looking alcoholic beverages and non alcoholic. I opted for a refreshing iced green tea latte to beat the heat. My parent's got fruit flavored soda floats..very interesting. One was a honeydew soda with vanilla ice cream and the other green tea? They were definitely sweet, a good drink to end the meal but not to drink with your meal. For our starters, we got shoe string fries with some kind of japanese salt? A spinach salad that was very simple, yet delicious, and some sushi rolls. We also tried the sushi pizza and to my disdain, it wasn't as good as I expected it to be. Everything else was mighty delicious though. My mother ordered udon and my father opted for a sashimi platter. It came with scallop and squid sashimi topped with fish roe too which was a pleasant surprise on top of the usual salmon, tuna, and hamachi. For tourists and locals, if you're in this part of town and desperately looking for good food...I recommend Shokudo!
(4)Quinn S.
I have always wanted to go to this place because every single time I pass by it is OPEN and crowded! - day or night - this has got to be a good sign! The first time I went here was for Happy Hour. They seem to have a lot of drinks and appetizers on special. I can't recall everything (or anything) that was ordered, but they were all tasty. I guess it helped that my friend knew the bartender too cuz the drinks were good and strong;) I can recall my second visit here and I was very pleased. They had some New! appetizers including Tomato KimChi. I did not expect to like it at all, but O-M-G, I loved it! So fresh, so clean, so refreshing! Not a strong KimChi flavor, but a great flavor in general. A whole tomato chopped into slices that was probably marinating in that wonderful sauce for days! I devoured it like the world was going to end like-right-now!!! I also had the Garlic Shrimp fried rice. I guess that is more of a side dish as opposed to a meal. It had a nice flavor, but I thought there would be a little more to it, maybe some veggies or something besides just rice and shrimp with garlic. Since the tomato satisfied me beforehand, I did not mind at all. I will definitely go back and order the rice and then try one of their many other dishes. The parking is great because it's FREE and plentiful! This makes it a place where you can keep coming back, not worry about parking, and know that you will always leave happy and satisfied!
(4)Jesse C.
Came here for one of my homegirl's birthday party. Its ala carte style so we ordered a bunch of dishes. Mind you these aren't cheap prices. I can tell you right off the bat the sushi here isn't it. The spicy Miso Ramen had fresh chives but the flavor was mucked; nothing came out distinctively except the chives. The dynamite was good. I know everyone raves about the honey toast. They need to work on just making a few good dishes because it feels like a jack of all trades but master of none. Seriously this restaurant could be awesome if they just focused. I would've gave them 1-star but our waitress was super and I heard they have an awesome before and after dark specials that can't be beat. I remain skeptic.
(2)Joe K.
Number 2 daughter loves this place, and wanted dinner here for her birthday, so we made it a family outing. I remember celebrating another birthday of hers a few years ago, but didn't quite remember if we enjoyed it or not. (maybe too much cocktails before ) Our server was friendly and attentive, I reminded myself not to get too carried away this time with the event. The family ordered apps, and it became a tasting frenzy when they all arrived... so many different things to try. Things like Mochi Cheese Gratin, a soft gooey mochi with a cheese topping, in a sweet salty shoyu like sauce. It's a bit chewy but the textures and taste is awesome. The Lobster Dynamite Roll, like a California Roll, but topped with Lobster chunks, and a sweet chili cream sauce (mmmmmmm, ow, hot, mmm!) Agedashi Tofu; a lightly battered tofu fried, and served with a light shoyu dashi broth, garnished with Bonito flakes. My dinner was the Salmon Rice; A stone bowl , that was probably under a broiler, and is super hot, filled with rice, topped with Smoked Salmon, Salmon Roe, watercress, and a bit of pickled ginger, mixed together at our table by the server. The bowl is so hot that the rice gets crispy the longer you let it stick to the sides. I love the saltiness of the roe all over rice. The wife got the Tuna Sashimi Salad, a large plate crispy veggies, Wasabi Mayo, and an Apple Soy Dressing, very refreshing. And also she ordered A Lobster Dynamite, but different, It had chunks of Lobster in the dynamite sauce, but instead of on a bed of rice, it came with French Baguettes, mmm so good with the Sashimi salad. I was so jealous. The grand kids wanted the Oxtail Ramen, and you just know that it was my sole duty to give the broth a taste test. Passing with flying colors, so much complex flavors, comfort food in a bowl! Don't you love watching little ones slurp noodles. Birthday girl, got a Garlic Shrimp and rice; same concept as with the Salmon Bowl, but with large Garlic Shrimp instead. And she wanted to share a Garlic Steak with me. A Garlic Rib Eye steak , broiled to perfect doneness, and served with Garlic Mash. A perfect Surf, and Turf! They are known for their Honey Toast dessert, but as we were kinda full, we opted for a lighter fare and tried the Baked Banana Flambe, sliced Bananas, drizzled with Caramel and chocolate, topped with Vanilla Ice Cream, and a Dark Rum Flambe, soooo decadent! Also got some Green Tea Shave Ice. A scoop of sweet condensed milk, a scoop of Azuki beans, under a mound of tart slightly bitter green tea smothered shaved ice. (spoons for everyone!) Service was excellent, food was great, just on the pricey side, but definitely a place to celebrate a special occasion. Will return again.
(4)Stefanie M.
I've been going to Shokudo for many years now and my impression of the place hasn't changed much since the first time. Depending on the night this place wobbles between a three and four star. For their lack of consistency, I'll settle with a three star review for this Izakaya style Japanese restaurant. They still have good food and good drinks for decent prices but service is okay depending on who you get and food itself is a hit or miss. The menu items that I usually order is Spicy Tuna on Crispy rice, Garlic Shrimp Rice, Mochi Cheese Gratin, Yukuri Fries, agedashi Tofu, and Sushi Pizza. I've had other dishes over the years, but they weren't impressionable enough for me to remember, let alone order again. Recently they have adopted a cheap late night menu. From the items I have tried didn't impress me and the portion size is so tiny that it probably is worth less than $3 and you may as well order from the regular menu. Four tiny pieces of sushi for three bucks? Yeah, I'll pass. As for drinks, they have Kirin on Tap and a bunch of fruity vodka cocktails. They also have a decent sake collection and special flavored infused sakes for specials. They have a full bar and a good variety of drinks, so that is a plus!
(3)Michelle B.
Apparently, you need a guide to eat at this restaurant. A guide in the form of a friend who is willing to order a dessert bigger than both of your heads put together. A friend who has a really big cranium and will stick with you to the end of this gargantuan dessert. The heavyweight winner: Honey Toast! I'm not going to do justice to the ridiculousness of a half loaf of bread that they've hollowed out, toasted, drizzled with honey, and then stuffed with ice cream. You just gotta go look at the photos and then decide if you have a friend brave enough to share this with you. The food was still pretty mediocre but the dessert more than made up for the edamame beans with ice crystals and the dry piece of salmon teriyaki in my bento box. The night we went the place was stuffed to the rafters with bachelorette parties and 21 runs. If this sounds fun to you then go there on a weekend, if it doesn't, stick to eating Honey Toast on Tuesday nights.
(3)kay c.
I just love the ambiance of this place and their carb-arific dessert toast. This place serves a great assortment of japanese-korean-asian fusion cuisine, from sushi pizzas to bi-bim-baps and everything in between. They have a fantastic-ly priced happy hour offering pupus for $3 and select drinks for $5. This is a great time to get their honey toast as it is a smaller serving and you can practice portion control. But I think its totally worth it to get the full order of the toast (includes two scoops of ice cream!) as it definitely does not disappoint. The pupus are all delicious, but if you have time for a sit down dinner with a group of good friends that would be the best. Preferably a larger group so you can order a bunch of different plates and share so that you can try more! Tip: Make sure to make reservations on Thursdays through Sundays because this place is packed by 7:30pm or completely booked.
(4)Heather B.
AWESOME AND FANTASTIC!! Nice presentation. Great vibe for taking your date. First time here and definitely will go back again next time I visit HI. It's very crowded so get there early.
(5)Cristina H.
I used to really, really like Shokudo, but my last few visits here have brought it's ratings down a star. It's probably because I've gotten used to the menu and nothing seems to be be as unique as it used to be. Over my many visits to Shokudo, I've tried quite a bit of stuff, but only a select few have made it to my "must try again" list. That short list includes the bi-bim-bap bowl (with burnt rice please), green tea latte, lychee mojito and drumroll please... the yogurt sochu (the whole carafe just for me). I also used to be a fan of their honey toast, but I've learned that Izakaya Tairyo's version trumps Shokudo's any day! I still love the ambiance and their service is still good, it's just the food that doesn't get me excited like it used to.
(3)Spense T.
There's a reason why all my friends and my wife's friends repeatedly use this place as a setting for bring everyone together for a dinner. The food has always been good with me, and that's from someone who can't eat seafood. The karage chicken was the most recent thing I've eaten from memory, and that was very good. I won't get into the desserts too much because everyone else has praised its kickass-ness enough already.
(5)Samuel C.
Went in at 11:00pm for a late dinner. Had the spicy tuna roll, home made tofu, and gyoza. Tofu was tasty but warm and a little on the firm side. I prefer cold tofu and a little softer. Gyoza was good. Nice and crispy on the outside with a good filling. Spicy tuna roll was good but nothing special. Service could have been better. The table next to us had a server that stood out with a happy demeanor and was very attentive. Ours was just OK, she did enough to get by and didn't seem sincere. Music was a little loud but we didn't mind, it is for the late night crowd playing up to date music. Enjoyed the atmosphere and modern decor. The menu is way too large. We were on a two top table and we opened only one menu which took up the whole table. The reason for the large menu is because all the items were pictured (which is very helpful). There are a lot of items to choose from and is basically 'pupu' style. They have a 'Chef recommendations' menu as well as a 'seasonal' menu for both food and drinks which are both innovative and fresh. ----"There is no love sincerer than the love of food"----
(3)Katie K.
I really wanted to like this place; as it is close to my house, open late, and had Japanese food, all of which I love, but I'm sorry, my first experience was my last, and no good. Surprisingly we got seated right away--we were only a party of 2. Our server however, was clearly overwhelmed: it took him a while to greet us and take our drink order, and then dropped the wrong food items on our table twice throughout the night! My friend and I ordered beers and 3 different sushi rolls: Spicy Ahi, Lobster Dynamite, and Spicy Scallops. I can honestly say all of them were just okay...at best. There is sooo mush better sushi here on island. My favorite of the three was definitely the Lobster rolls, but really only because of the lobster on top! The rolls themselves were just plain 'ole California Rolls. So really, with the blah sushi rolls and the tacky '80s overly elaborate decor, I have no intentions of returning to Shokudo. Maybe their other food items are better--the gyoza that got dropped accidentally on our table for a few seconds looked good--but I just don't think I have patience to give it another try.
(2)Maile P.
Awesome experience....,our waiter JT was so helpful in suggesting some delicious choices... Very fast service and friendly staff... Thanks JT you made Shokkudo worth visiting!!!!
(5)Cammie T.
Great late night happy hour Sunday-Wednesday. It's my go to place when I want a late night snack or drink!
(5)Radianne A.
Best time to go is happy hour. Otherwise, don't go cause it ain't worth it. I've had better honey toasts...
(2)Sheri D.
Two words: Hamachi Carpaccio So freakin delicious!!! Seeing the mixed reviews about this place, I was a little hesitant to try it out, but Shokudo pleasantly surprised me with great, solid dishes when some friends and I went out to dinner a few days ago. Besides their hamachi, the chicken katsu, lobster dynamite, and Red Dragon roll were AWESOME! So good!!! Oh, and let's not forget about the Honey Toast... so, so, so yummy! It was a little intimidating at first but I forgot all about that once I tasted it. Delicious!!! Yup, I'll definitely be back!
(4)Kristian G.
Although I've been here several times, I only really like to go here for their CINNAMON HONEY TOAST! It's so yummy and big enough to share with a friend. Besides the honey toast, I really like the design of the restaurant. It has a nice chill ambiance to it. Although the restaurant is loud, it isn't unbearable and you can still hold good conversations with others at your table.
(3)Eric W.
I had few drinks and honey toast. Prices seemed reasonable and drinks were good. Honey toast was a bit sweet and we couldn't finish it. We had two drinks and honey toast and paid less than $20, which seems reasonable.
(3)Kayla R.
Shokudo is probably one of my top favorite Japanese restaurants (so far). Okay, maybe more of a Japanese/ American style restaurant, but still one of my faves, none the less. The dress code seems to always be pretty casual (shorts and slippers allowed), but the atmosphere some how still feels pretty classy. Perfect for that 'last minute decision meal' with a bunch of friends. Just be sure to have a bunch of friends with you since most of their dishes are like family-style and are pretty good sized portions, it's also best to make reservations (especially at night) unless you want to wait long. The staff was very friendly, but the wait for our food and drinks took super long for it being so empty inside the restaurant. It almost felt like the staff were all taking a break in between their rush hours. Even the servers were walking slow!. Still not a good excuse to take an hour to make food. I've been here many times before, and usually come during their busy hours, but have never gotten slow service like this before. strange. As for the food, my only complaint is their Tempura roll. Two words: almost tasteless. Probably the only thing on their menu that I don't like and would never order again. Over all I really like this place, and will be back again. Maybe even during busy hours, that way they'll have an actual excuse for their slow service.
(3)Nick S.
Delicious Japanese food with a modern twist. We enjoyed the usual suspects mentioned in the other reviews; the cheesy mochi gratin, sushi pizza and lobster dynamite roll. On top of that the homemade tofu was excellent and a spicy crispy hamachi roll we ate from the specials menu. We ordered the obligatory honey toast for dessert, and it was tasty, but essentially just cubes of white bread toast drizzled in honey and served with ice cream, I could probably take it or leave it in future, knowing I could make it myself for about a buck at home. However, nothing dampened the experience, it was a grade A meal and I will definitely return when I'm next on the island.
(5)Randi J.
The wait is long (make a reservation), the portions are smaller while prices stayed the same (oh well, we're still in a recession, right?), all the adult beverages that I've had were watered down (might not be such a bad thing, we all gotta drive home, ehy?) but the food is ono and atmosphere is fun. My friends and I go back again and again. Favorites: Tofu Salad Garlic Shrimp Rice Vegetable Tempura Sushi Pizza Honey Toast The only hiccup; Is it just me or is the floor unusually slippery? I always almost slip on my way to and from the main dining area to the restroom. ??? Maybe it's my shoes.
(4)Kimberly H.
A happy hour favorite of mine. The food is great, the service is unfortunately a hit or a miss. I've had absolutely great service here most of the time but when it was bad, it was terrible :( I really wouldn't recommend this place if you have a large party only because they have a 2 hour limit on the table. It's great for the restaurant so they can "turn and burn" tables to generate more sales but bad if you're there to celebrate a birthday party or any special occasion. Even with my bad experiences here, I still keep coming back ONLY for the food and drinks.
(3)Victoria R.
Came here for a friends party. Drinks from thr bar took forever to come. But that doesn't stop me from eating here. My favorites are Tempra roll and Teriyaki chicken Quesadilla.
(4)Geoffrey N.
What anyone would look for is the complete experience. Atmosphere, food, and service. Atmosphere was great. I tend not to be too impressed with restaurants with high ceilings and flashy decor but I must say that Shokudo definitely made it work. It's a tad loud but still very comfortable. Food overall was very good. My cousins had ramen, and I had the bibimbap. Bibimbap was a bit dry for my liking. Sushi pizza was interesting and surprisingly tasty. I like the japanese fusion concept and the bold attempts to showcase new types of food. The service was so-so. Waiter was nice but he seems like a newbie. Usually they would ask "How's the food, is everything ok?" before you finish the food. A minor detail. I'd come here again but have other restaurants on my mind.
(3)Genevieve G.
The food is pretty good! But the service is SOOOO SLOW! it's like they make you wait for your food on purpose so you have enough room for the honey toast.
(3)Jen K.
PART TWO OF TWO. Since my post was truncated by Yelp. Before we ordered, I got my heart broken a little. I wanted the Fresh Homemade Tofu so badly I would've ripped someone's arm off to get to it, but our waitress informed us that a few items were out for the night, including my beloved tofu because the tofu machine was broken. On one hand, it was kind of nice to see proof that the homemade tofu was indeed homemade and at the mercy of modern technology. But on the other, how do you think they made tofu back in the day? Get back in the kitchen and hand-press that shit, wench. So no tofu. I'll have to come back now. That's how they get you. I had to drown my woes in sake. They have a lot of alcohol, including wine, shochu, and a healthy selection of sake and the menu even had like a sake barometer that illustrates where on the dry-sweet, light-full body spectrum all of their sake lies. They have small (300 mL) and large (720 mL) bottles. We got a small bottle of Shirakabegura junmai ($15), a dry, full-bodied sake. It was alright. I'd say the sake-ometer was pretty on pointe. They serve it in a large sake box full of ice. They also have lots for frou frou non-alcoholic beverages. I saw a Grape Calpico float on the menu. Next time. To start, we got the Yukari fries ($4). Meh, they were okay. Its a creative idea to use shiso as a salt substitute, but the fries themselves were not stand alone good. They were shoe string, the supreme cut of fries, but they were too dry. They're served with ketchup. But even before the fried dropped, we got the Garlic Tuna Ishiyaki ($13). I'm not a big fan of tuna. Tuna is like Sashimi 101. Its like the most vanilla, beginner fish to me. Its what you try when you've been eating California rolls all your life and then decide to transition over into real sushi. But this was surprisingly good. The tuna had a nice fat content and, accompanied with lemon and garlic had a mild buttery flavor. It was served over a bed of minced onions with ponzu dipping sauce, minced daikon, lemon, and a slice of garlic. It didn't even need the ponzu. So yummy. Ishiyaki hot stone. Its like yakiniku, only you have a hot stone about you cook your shit over. This is perfect for me because if I'm gonna eat cooked fish, its not gonna be cooked very much. As my bf says, just walk it through a warm room. We debated over the Yuzu Hamachi Carpaccio ($13) or Albacore Over Crispy Rice ($12). We decided to get the Albacore because it was a dolla cheaper. Nah, I had the hamachi before (and it was good) so bf wanted to try something that I hadn't had before. Even though we both love hamachi so much we'll probably end up having a threesome with it someday. I don't know why he picked the albacore ... But it was good. Its served nigiri-style, slightly seared over a little block of baked rice and a little slice of pickled jalapeno. Even though it wasn't my first choice, I was very satisfied with it. We also got the Mochi Cheese Gratin ($7) because if there's mochi on the menu I have to order it. Mochi and cheese sounds way decadent. And it was good. It was baked with mozzarella and shoyu dashi and garnished with nori. There were four small pieces and when you pulled them apart, the cheese would just stretch like a Little Caesar's pizza. It was just a little too salty.
(4)Nikki W.
This place is amazing. I am so mad at myself for waiting until the day before I left Hawaii to go there. It most certainly on my to do list for every visit back home now.
(5)Ashley S.
Worst customer service! We had our Christmas party there. Service was crap. They would not honor happy hour just because we were sitting in one part the restaurant.
(1)Sam N.
great food! the bibimbap is legit. my wife is 1st gen korean and she thinks it's better than most korean restaurants'! mocha cheese gratin is good. spicy tuna crispy rice is awesome. get there early for dinner (5-6pm) and you won't have to wait in line. go there late and be ready to suffer the consequences.
(5)Catie T.
Delicious foods!! I would recommend the honey toast its the best dessert! :)
(5)Pamela S.
My friend and I got Losbster Dynamite and sushi pizza and they were delicious! We drank some plum wine and had a great time. If you go with just one other person, you can sit at the bar and there's no wait.
(5)Cinsational C.
My friends took me here for a casual pre-birthday celebration on a Wednesday night. Although they said that they could only accommodate us at 8:30, we arrived an hour early and they were still able to seat us. We ordered the spicy tuna on crispy rice, spinach salad, homemade tofu, chicken quesadillas, scallop rice in the stone pot, and some cocktails (and the sake sampler.) The food was ok. I'd probably go back just because it's enjoyable. It's clean, fun, and energetic. I especially enjoyed the sake sampler.
(3)Laura N.
Another awesome visit. My friends and i came down for the Kawaiikon. Our yearly visit. Good food, good drinks, and good friends to hang with. The perfect combo. Mochi cheese gratin was awesome. And the surprise winner for drinks was the melon soju. Was dangerous, couldn't really taste the alcohol. Good thing we stopped at 3 bottles....
(5)Rob D.
Good food but sometimes the food comes out of kitchen slow. They should also make sure that everyone's (on your table) food comes out at the same time so that some people aren't eating alone when everyone else is finished. This happens often.
(3)Jennifer H.
I really wanted to like Shokudo but I didnt care for any of the food I tried here. I had all these tall and fancy looking drinks and even the giant french toast dessert thing.. I dont remember everything I tried just a hot stone bowl of sizzling rice and Unagi (eel). Eh.... its not that good..Looks better than it really is... The food seemed not to work out for me and I was not that impressed. Its a nice looking place but the food didnt wow me...it seemed like imitation wannabe fusion...Food with no soul.....you will leave feeling ripped off by a cheap stripper.
(2)Jirarat S.
It was Saturday night around 8:30 and from all of the people standing around outside, you would think they were waiting to get into a nightclub. Fortunately, we had reservations and got seated right away. It was loud inside with a young, stylish crowd. Plenty to look at for guys...for girls, not so much. The food wasn't that memorable, but then again, we stuck to the basics: spicy tuna roll, shrimp tempura, yakisoba, salmon rice bowl, seasoned fries, and lobster dynamite. If I had gone by myself, I would've chosen other dishes but since there were 5 other people, I just let everyone else order. The one thing that did amaze me was the honey toast. We got their special which was the cookies-n-cream honey toast. Who would have thought that bread, honey, and ice cream would make a great dessert? I was doubtful at first but after taking my first bite, I knew it would become a favorite. That alone deserves at least 3 stars. I gave an extra star for the service. Our server was friendly, patient, helpful, and timely. I'd definitely come back and eat honey toast again.
(4)Melissa E.
The food here is so-so.. We had the shrimp tempura, california roll, catepillar roll & the red eye roll. They red eye roll however, had the freshest tuna on top! ( I mean, were on an island, so i wouldn't expect any less ) The other rolls weren't anything special, but that is expected with these plain rolls. Haha. What we REALLY come here for is the famous HONEYTOAST! My boyfriend & I refuse to leave Hawaii without having this at least once on our trips there. It's the perfect blend of taste and texture. It's so simple, but we love it!
(4)Suzanne R.
What an interesting place. Tried it out last night with a party of 8. We were seated right away, surprisingly, based on what other Yelpers have said. Our waitress was very friendly and recommended a few things that we ordered and liked. However, the service was a bit spotty. It took us a LONG time to get water at our table, well after food had started arriving. They forgot one of the dishes we ordered (which turned out to be a good thing, since we were all so full). And my drink order was overlooked for a while as well. We ordered a ton of stuff and shared everything, and almost everything was pretty good. The stars of the show were the Tofu Salad, Lobster Dynamite Roll, Rainbow Roll, Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice and despite it being talked up so much that I thought I'd be let down, the Honey Toast. We definitely could have done without the fried noodles. They were not good and had a really funky taste. But overall, I liked it. With everything we ordered and split between 8 including tax and tip (included in the bill) it came to $32 a person. Not too shabby. I'd go back for sure. Maybe during happy hour though. My two questions are: (1) What is a chicken quesadilla doing on the menu? Totally weird and (2) What is up with their music selection? It was all over the place, ranging from Aerosmith to Chris Brown to Leanne Rimes to Nelly (yes, Nelly) to Tim McGraw (and no, not the song he did with Nelly.) Very odd selection. And a bit distracting.
(3)Kimberly L.
Parking readily available, dynamic fresh housemade innovative yet traditional food, very reasonable prices, cool decor, and good-looking people. It's totally a win! I admit the first time I came here I vowed I'd never come back, but that was years and years ago when it first opened, and I came with the wrong people (my family) expecting the wrong things. Good place for a date, bad place to come with your mom, dad, and little brother. We found it overpriced for a family-style dinner. Five or so years later, I've been back half a dozen or so times at the bequest of friends or be/for/e a night out. Win! The staff is pretty trendy and good-looking, and the food is priced very well for such a cool place in such a central location. Lots of Asian college-aged kids come here. Went on a Sunday night at 9:15 or so. They close at ten. We were seated immediately in the best table ever! It was at the top of these kind of stadium seating rows where we were Kings who Surveyed All Below. Including food, fake boobs, lava flows, and an unfortunately shitsu-faced woman. Fun! The guy mister is on a diet, so we ordered tofu salad $9, beef bibimbap $12, and teriyaki salmon bento $15. And a coke for only $2 which was gulped down by the mister in about three seconds flat. The waitress came back about 1 minute later and refilled it (free). She also left me an entire pitcher of green tea (hot) for me. Nice. Very nice. The bibimbap didn't taste that great, and was kinda greasy, and didn't turn as crispy as I like on the stone pot. We asked for it spicy and it was barely spicy at all. The taste wasn't good to begin with, so some spice to mask it would have helped. Oh well. Just don't order it again. Tofu salad was amazing, with fresh housemade soft tofu, applesoy dressing and sesame dressing as well. I asked if they sold the apple soy chinese dressing and unfortunatley they don't. boo! I was literally almost going to lick the plate. and this was a salad, people! For only nine bucks this is a total steal. I will order this again and again. Teriyaki salmon bento was nice. Came with takuan, magenta pickled yucky things, tons of edamame, and rice and 3 unsettlingly healthy-tasting gyoza. No dipping saucce for gyoza. Too bland for me. I think maybe because it was made from good ingredients, from scratch, and I'm used to the frozen 99 cents for a dozen variety. The salmon was the star. I'll just order it ala carte next time. Moist and seared with a delicious glazed drizzle on the outside. Very ono. Too much edamame. Did not eat it. All in all, our waitress was the bomb excellent and gave us superba nd very attentive service without hovering, the food was innovative, fresh, and quality, and the prices were incredibly reasonable considering what we got. I like it.
(5)Lani B.
Just came back from Shokudo for a birthday celebration. Food was very good but nothing that really rocks, other than the Honey Toast. Among the four of us, we ordered the Mochi Cheese Gratin, Katsu, Pork Chops, Bi Bim Bap, Lobster Dynamite, Yukari French Fries and Honey Toast (of course!)...all very good! We had a fair amount of leftovers that next time we'll do without one or two items. The wait staff was nice and attentive tonight, even told us the kitchen was a little behind but our food came quicker than anticipated. I really like the modern vibe and ambiance...reminds me of when I lived in LA. Enjoy!
(4)Michael E W.
Honey Toast and Happy Hour Pupu
(3)WonderWoman W.
Should have written this back when I went. It's open later than most restaurants and was crowded at a late hour. I recall my ahi salad was tasty but not memorable. What was memorable was the "priceyness" and the overrated honey bread. It's just nondescript doughy white bread with honey and ice cream. Fried bread would be tastier, ask Native Americans. Waffles would have been great. My friend wants to go back, but since it's on my tab, I make the call and, so far, there are other places to go.
(3)Josh P.
This would be the go-to place for those of you who want to experience a trendy meal, on an inexpensive budget. The place is modern enough so that it attracts the attention of younger groups, but compared to high class asian eateries, it falls short of the decour alloted to the more fashionable restaurants in town. I would recommend taking your buddies from work here, your friends from school, or if you need to find a place in town that's open til 11. However, if you're looking for the true restaurant gold, Tsujiki Fish Market on the 3rd floor of Ala Moana, Gyotaku on King Street, or one of the little hole-in-the-wall restaurants near Shokudo are a better choice. 3/5 for being a decent restaurant. Nothing wrong with the menu, but surely only average at best. Edit: I went here during Happy Hour (4pm-6pm) and I've got to say, my friend and I ordered 8 dishes between us for $26. So if you can beat the crowd at 4pm, then go for Happy Hour, it's worth every penny!!
(3)Ken A.
We're always on guard when a place tries to be 'nouveau' anything, but Shokudo pulls it off with modern riffs on Japanese cuisine. The honey toast gets most of the attention -- and it's worth saving room for -- but the whole menu just works, on a level that could make it in Tokyo. Oh, and they were one of the first (maybe the only?) places in the United States to offer frozen beer foam ( gizmodo.com/5898804/froz… ).
(5)Amanda A.
Everytime I eat at Shokudo I am never dissapointed. I love their HONEYTOAST! Shokudo is not only a great place to eat, but it's also a friendly atmosphere with an energetic staff. Everytime someone asks me where to get a good meal, Shokudo is on the top of my list. They have a wide variety of sushi, sashimi, noodle and rice dishes, and even french fries; there is something for everyone there! And their drink list is great too! Everytime I get a cheat meal from my training Shokudo is the place I go.
(5)Jay K.
What the crap is with people who endorse Shokudo and Yanagi? Both are pretty disgusting and charge $$$! don't waste your $, crap quality = crap taste no matter how much sauce you put on it
(1)NoneYa B.
A "Must See & Experience" Restaurant in Honolulu! :)
(4)Kristine M.
The thing I really appreciate about Shokudo is that there really is something for everyone. Their menu is quite extensive and offers a pretty wide array of nom nom choices. Also, because it's such a big place, you don't have to wait very long even when you have a larger party. I love the agedashi tofu. It's da bomb! I also enjoy eating the various sushi rolls, you can't really go wrong there. I've heard the mixed drinks are good and really enjoy the tea. Everyone goes on and on about the honey toast. It's simple, warm, and yummy. You can't not order it if you're there. It's blasphemous if you do. All in all, it's a great place to go. Just pray you have a good server, otherwise you'll be waiting forever as you watch those around you eat and drink to oblivion. Also, don't pay any attention to the totally dusty decorations floating around you... :)
(4)Cassandra L.
I totally procrastinated and waited almost a month to finish this review. But, I guess it's a good thing because I only remember the best and worst things about my lunch here. Mochi cheese - It sounds like such a weird combination, but it's SO GOOD! I love the addition of the nori because it adds almost a nutty flavor to the chewy goodness. Oxtail ramen - this was a big disappointment. The oxtail was not fall off the bone, but chewy. The noodles were SOGGY. I mean, so soggy that even my 2 yr. old won't eat them because they were mushy like baby food and he's "not a bay-beeee!". The soup was really really salty.
(2)Millicents F.
honey toast yum! and the flavored sake!
(4)Deb D.
This review is based only on visiting the restaurant last night. I've been to Shokudo at least 5 times and always go with guests. Last night we sat at the bar and I ordered Ox tail soup and I must say that this is the first time that I have been disappointed. There was only one piece of meat and it was 75% fat and bone. Barely a mouthful of meat. Therefore the soup was quite greasy and not too pleasant to eat. We also ordered french fries and edamame which are always great. My daughter ordered a salmon plate which she liked but the watercress had too many stumps and the mash potatoes were dry. My friend ordered a crispy calamari salad which she said didn't have enough dressing but the balsamic beef tataki was to die for. Our server was great and patient with our indecisiveness! I will not let the bad soup choice alter my opinion of this restaurant. I usually have great food here. I just won't ever order the oxtail soup again and I will return to try again. I would normally give it a 4/5 star rating.
(3)Alina Noelani C.
Their service could have been A LOT better. The guy barely checked up on our table or asked us how we're doing. And it kinda seemed like he didn't want us to be there, Geez! However! The FOOD! I had their crisyp spicy ahi appetizer which was yummy and their Garlic Shrimp Rice was awesome. The chocolate honey toast was pretty good too... next time I go I want to try the caramel one. But overall it was a good dinner, just wish their service was better.
(4)Michelle O.
Ahh Shokudo. If only it were in my neck of the woods, I'd go every week! TRY THE HONEY TOAST. All I can say is ... YUM-O! If nothing, you should come here to try this dessert. It is two big honking pieces of toast (think 5 inch thick texas toast) with the insides cut out. Then they take the soft white bread part and cut it into cute little cubes, somehow toast it and throw it back into the 5 inch crust, drizzle honey and top it off with ice cream. I know, I know, that may not sound like the "normal" dessert, but believe me, it is AWESOME!! I'll try to post a pic. I'd come back just for the honey toast but the rest of our food was pretty darn tasty. The menu is quite extensive and since it was our first time there, we ordered whatever sounded interesting. We started with the Pupu Platter. Don't recall what was included... edamame, fries, chicken karage, some other stuff... all I know is we polished the dish. The Sushi Pizza was the bomb. It sounds like just ordinary sushi but it was laid out (just like a pizza) and baked... and the way it was cooked made the rice crispy on the bottom and made for an interesting texture and taste. We also had the Sukiyaki Bibimbop. This is a korean-style rice dish with beef, kimchee, other yummy stuff and served in a sizzling hot stone bowl. Ok, I can't tell you how much I love the hot stone or clay pot rice dishes. The rice gets this nice crispy crust on the bottom and it makes it sooooo goood! Overall, I really liked the food that we ordered and most definitely will come back for the honey toast!!
(4)Derek K.
The $3 happy hour menu is perfect! Order two things for your self or share a bunch of items amongst friends. A couple highlights are the honey toast jr and the spicy ahi nachoes. There are bunch of different things that can satisfy your taste buds on the menu. The one mistake that I made was ordering the salmon chasuke...again. The first time I had it, I didn't think it was that good. This time it was better, but still disappointing. Overall, a great place to have happy hour. The service can be slow, but it seems like the wait staff is more attentive than before. At $3 a dish, you can't go wrong.
(4)richL L.
When you go to shokudo, you definitely need to know the best tasting things on the menu. If you don't know them, I don't think that you will enjoy your shokudo experience. When i first discovered this place, I was there on a daily basis. It wasn't just their food, it was many of the waiters. They are helpful and friendly. They never let me down. My favorites are: lobster dynamite roll. Not the lobster dynamite with the bread. The lobster dynamite roll has a better balance of flavors. The dip version is more on the saltier side. Udon with sukiyaki beef and mochi. Their broth is amazing. Bibimbap, Mochi cheese gratin, tofu salad (they make their own tofu), agedashi tofu, miso soup, seared ahi, sesame seed spicy ahi, and of course their honey toast original or cinnamon. I love this restaurant and the whole atmosphere.
(4)Mako S.
thier foods are good. I had spicy soup noodles and was tasty! we orderd some dishes. all of them were good! I can't say i like the atmosphere though... I would prefer more cozy chair :P I don't know why I might not stay there for a long time with chatting.. but foods are wonderful ;)
(3)Spongey B.
I have never been a fan of this place with the food being sub-par and the crowds of people always in there (I never understood why so many people like this place). My latest experience was when I was with a friend who phoned in an order. We got there at the expected pick-up time, but we still had to wait another 25 minutes. The hostess was apologetic, but words only go so far. Where's the compensation for time wasted? I'm never going there again even if it's just to wait for a pick-up order with someone else.
(1)Zhen L.
After an extremely long time, I came back here for an outing with friends. And no surprise, I thought it was great! My friends and I ordered six-seven dishes, and they came out in less than 10 minutes each! We were so surprised at the pace that they came out. Honey toast was awesome like usual, but having a birthday honey toast was even better! Server was in a rush, but never failed to remember to check up on us. Keep up the great work Shokudo!
(5)Kayla K.
Shokudo is like the go to restaurant for me and my friends when we wanna have get together dinners. It's just so comfortable and the food is so good and inexpensive when ordering pupus to share (: It's reasonably priced in my opinion and the food is good! My favorite dish there is the spicy ahi on crispy rice. It's spicy (my fave) and flavorful! It's awesome. Second fave: Yes, the sushi pizza. You have to try it. It's different but it works. It really does. Whenever I come to eat here, I always get the spicy ahi on crispy rice and the sushi pizza. They are musts. Other good ones: Mochi cheese gratin (sounds weird, but it's super good. trust.) balsamic steak sushi or whatever it's called garlic shrimp rice fresh tofu Oh and they have these $3 pupus at certain times during early day and late at night. These aren't really that great I'm telling you now. Like half of the menu has this gross sweet sauce on it that's so overwhelming. My friend and I just came back from here actually. We ordered the spicy ahi nachos, dynamite fries, and gyoza first....they all had the same damn sauce on it. Gross. Then we got the nachos again (I scraped the sauce off) cuz it was good (minus the sauce) and then we ordered the salmon chazuke, spicy ahi rolls and garlic pizza bites. My friend had one of the pizza bites and low and behold that gross sauce was on it. But the salmon chazuke was sooooo good. Chazuke is like when you put dashi soup on top the rice. I google'd it on my phone haha. And then the spicy ahi I took home cuz we were full... But you should definitely check out the $3 pupus. It's a great deal. My only warning is be aware of the gross sauce thats on top a lot of the dishes. It's not super disgusting but its a strong flavor that is very overwhelming. Honey Toast. Yuuuuuuuuuumy. Nuff Sed.
(4)Tania L.
Again, one of the places in rotation for lunch with my mom. When she first went to this place she loved it so much she went THREE DAYS IN A ROW. If she were writing this review she might even give it five stars. But she's not. I am. And so... Well, first off, their food is good. Of course, like many places, it's about knowing what to order. They've got a better handle on certain foods than others. One problem I did notice is the consistency problem. Their herb grilled chicken is either good... or bad. Lol. My family is in the food service industry so they can tell right off the back what type of meat is being used. Sometimes they use breast, other times it's thigh. Thigh is not as healthy, but then breast is just so dry! Yeah, I can nitpick on every single item we've ordered in the past but the fact that we would be able to tell you about the many items we've had tells you that it must be good enough to be a repeat customer. Although, I will tell you that you should try the salads (the ahi tataki salad, the spinach salad, they used to have some seafood salad which is pretty good too), the chicken karaage is ALWAYS soft and flavorful, the agedashi tofu is a must, their garlic shrimp rice is pretty good, and I really like the spicy ahi on crispy rice as well as the hamachi carpaccio. Also their desserts are good, the honey toasts and the green tea shaved ice thing (they improved on it, more flavor and less ice!). I wish they still served the green tea cheesecake, which was mine and my son's favorite. Okay, so food on the side, service... Ahhh... service. Who knew that service could have such a huge effect?!! Well, we all know that it does. Their hostesses range from nice to SUCKY AS HELL! Young girls who just don't have that charisma and experience. Servers... they're pretty okay. Some a little better than others, but they're okay. Not as "attentive" as they could be I suppose, but what can you expect? The managers are very caring (most of them used to be servers themselves) and friendly. Well what else can I say? Wow, after that spit about the service I almost want to lower my star rating, but I won't.. for now. I've only dined there mainly for lunch and sometimes for dinner but never late at night. It wouldn't be my choice, but then again I'm not trying to play the role of the sophisticated 20-something professional in Hawaii (sorry to bag, but a lot of ppl are like that and it's kind of annoying).
(4)Shayna R.
Shokudo! I didn't really care for this place the first time I tried it (they constantly change their menu, and I think I chose all the things that they've since discontinued), but I've since grown to love this place for the consistently tasty food, fun atmosphere, and good happy hour offerings. I love the unagi hot stone pot and how crispy and tasty the rice gets. I've often dreamt of making it myself, but I can't imagine how I can do that at home and not burn my little hands, so I'm happy paying the $12 or so to get a perfectly done bowl of it at Shokudo. And I love the homemade tofu salad (though I know my limitations and wouldn't even dream of being able to make something as light and custardy as their tofu!). Why can't eating healthy always be so delicious and easy!? For happy hour, try the cold ramen. It's super light and refreshing and, though it's a deal for $3, I always end up wanting a full-sized serving of the stuff!
(4)CarolAnn S.
the service wonderful and the food delish
(5)Brandon B.
My first time here, went around 2pm on a sunday. Got seated right away. Then proceeded to wait with it not being too busy, just caught in talking for about 15 minutes. Then I was like where the hell are the drinks. And then followed by who the hell is our waiter?! Got up and grabbed the nearest waitress. Told her what we wanted and said we didn't know who our waiter was. She took our order, food came out with our drinks pretty quick. We were nearing the end and still had not met whoever was supposed to be our waiter. I felt like we were in the dead zone for waiters. So i went to the manager, told him we had no waiter and we wanted the honey bread. All the food was delicious, 5 stars all around for the food. We got our check and i left 35 cent tip to round out my dollar. I have no idea who got that 35 cents but they did not deserve it unless it was the cooks. So my first experience here was pretty bad for service, but the food made up for it. The friend we went with said that has never happened to her so hopefully when I return I will not be stuck in the twilight zone of no waiterness.
(4)Liz C.
Honey Toast. #foodgasminfinity!
(5)Jermy D.
They have a fairly decent happy hour here if you're jonesing for some sake or $3 sangrias. The happy hour food is good, but a little small. I enjoy the edamame and agadashi eggplant. The honey toast jr. is the perfect size for two people. The drinks are pretty good. Sometimes, I think the sangrias are a little more juice than wine, so I would stick to the sake if you're looking for a good buzz. Who can beat a tokkuri of house sake for $5 (i think it may be $3 or $5, not sure). The service at the bar is always fast and friendly. I would recommend this place if you just need to relax or unwind and aren't too terribly hungry.
(3)Sam O.
Lobster dynamite roll, spider roll, and passion fruit vodka soda every time! The li hing sake is good too. Unagi don was disappointing. Fresh tofu is so soft and good. If you've never had FRESH tofu, you must try this. Many of their servers seem kinda clueless. I now either sit at the bar, or ask for Connor. Also at the bar, you won't have a lamp hanging in your face.
(4)Gary N.
Just came back from eating a late lunch and I just realized that I missed on Happy Hour! I thought that they only had that late at night, but now I know that they have it during the day as well. Happy hour is where they feature a number of delicious plates for only $3 each. I ordered the Healthy Bento while other people ordered the Combination Bento (twice), and the Deluxe Bento. There were four of us. I enjoyed my Healthy Bento. It came with miso soup (generous amounts of tofu), salad (delicious shoyu dressing), tuna and salmon sashimi (so fresh!), homemade tofu, and 4 pieces of California roll. The Deluxe Bento truly was deluxe which appeared to be the Healthy Bento and Combination Bento in one. My sis's Combination Bento came with teriyaki chicken, assorted tempura, furikake rice, pickles, salad, and miso soup. The only thing that I found strange was when we ordered hot tea, it only came with one cup. We had to ask for more. Overall, not bad for the price.
(4)Jose C.
Shokudo took a step down. I had two rolls tonight and they were small and not well made. I'm not happy about this because it's been a favorite place of mine for the year I have now lived here. What I would brag about was how big and delicious the rolls were. No more. Both were small, over priced for the size, and the flavor was messed up. I returned two and the third was ok, but with ultra thin avocado. I loved being able to come here for a great Mai Tai and a roll and I was done! So good! Step it up, Shokudo! :)
(2)Daphne F.
So yummy. My friends and I come here for happy hour between 4p-6p and after 1030p. We found it a little pricer than we'd prefer when we came here other than those hours, but its always packed. We usually order the vodka and soda with fruit flavors, but they're only on happy hour in the early afternoon and not in the late evening. The honey toast jr. is perfect for people who have never tried it before (btw its onolicious) and a great size for just a couple people. The food is fine, my friend likes the beef bento box, but I haven't found the meals to be anything to write home about. Overall, the bar is the best thing about this place, and the free parking around the corner. People here have always been friendly and we run into our old classmates every now and again to keep things interesting.
(4)Kelly K.
Shokudo is a great place to gather a group of friends or to grab a bite after work. My reviews on some of the foods are... Must try... -Fresh Homemade Tofu-suuper soft and the sauce w/nori that comes with it gives it enough flavor...healthy too! -Char-siu Pork-its fatty and yummy! -Sushi Pizza-!!! I looove this! I always get this. The jalepeno on top gives it a kick and the seafood inside baked together is soo good! -Clam Miso Soup-great hint of clams in the miso soup w/couple clams (in shell) -Unagi Rice and Garlic Shrimp Rice-comes in a hot stone pot. They mix the food for you and as some of the rice sits it becomes crispy rice. It's like a hot but better fried rice. Both are very flavorsome! -Honey Toast-!! A must try for dessert. Nuff said. -Vodka Soda-A drink w/Vodka inside...the Lychee and Passion Fruit is yummy! Okay... -Mochi Cheese Gratin-I thought I wouldn't care for this that much but its actually quite good and flavorful. -Lobster Dynamite-it's okay, I love the idea of it but I wish the mayo was baked more so it's not as mushy when you break into it. -Sashimi Sampler-bad experience but it could've been just that one time... Now, the late night $3 menu after work is awesome (10:30pm-12am). What I usually get are the Agedashi Eggplants (eggplant in sauce w/tako flakes on top), Spicy Tuna (4 pieces), California Maki/Roll? (4 pieces), Cold Noodles, and the Jr. Honey Toast!
(4)Cyn D.
Shokudo is a really contemporary, glass-walled Japanese restaurant and bar that's great for a family dinner or a night out with friends. Sushi options are limited, but there are good ramen choices, curry, and stone pot dishes. They even have bi bim bap (this place must be owned by Koreans). All this plus a full bar and convenient location near Ala Moana mall makes it a great dinner stop.
(4)Jeffrey M.
A great place to grab food or a late night snack with friends, Shokudo is another one of the places I always go to when in Hawaii. Their interesting dishes are both tasty and easy to share and the atmosphere is great as well. Just try to make reservations if you can, because it gets really crowded and wait times can be ridiculous. As far as my top recommendations go, the tofu salad is a must have- their homemade tofu is delicious, silky smooth and soft. It's so completely different from the typical firm tasteless stuff you get at most places. They have some really good sushi dishes as well; I'm a big fan of the spicy tuna on crispy rice. The cripsy rice adds a nice contrast to what would otherwise be a pretty ordinary dish. The unagi rice and bibimbop are both good as well, coming out in hot stone bowls that add a bit of crispiness to the rice. The yuzu hamachi carpaccio is good, but it's really hard to screw up hamachi, especially when it's nice and fresh. And the mochi cheese gratin is definitely a must try if you want something different- the chewiness of the mochi adds an interesting texture, while the cheese, dashi, and nori add great flavor to the dish. Of course not everything is a must try, although to be fair I don't think I've ever had anything I would consider bad. The balsamic beef tataki sushi was interesting, but too similar to beef sushi dishes I've had elsewhere, and could have used a bit more balsamic. The gyoza is another dish that is fine, but not anything special. Now if you've heard of Shokudo, it's likely that you've heard of their honey toast. Available in a variety of flavors, the dish comes out with two thick square crusts stacked on top of each other, filled with cut up cubes of the insides resting in the middle, drizzled in honey (or whatever other flavor you got), with a couple scoops of ice cream on the side. I'm not a big dessert fan, but whenever I come here, somehow I end up ordering it to share with friends. It's a good dessert, but there are always a few things about it that bug me. First off, not enough ice cream. I think adding one more scoop would be perfect. Secondly, I wish they toasted it just a little bit more. I think it would be great with a little more crunch, especially the pieces cut from the middle. Finally, a little bit more honey would be great, just to add that last bit of flavor it could use. Also worth noting is their drink menu. Personally, I haven't had any, but my friends have tried several of their vodka sodas and mojitos and generally been happy with them. Overall, Shokudo is one of my favorite places to sit down with a group of friends. The dishes are overall excellent and easy to share, and the laid back atmosphere is nice without being overly loud.
(4)Reyna R.
Always end up eating here at late hours while I'm on vacation back home. I'm not going to lie, I love this place! I just wish they had better service. I ordered my all time fav., Tiger Roll. I swear, it took like half an hour for my food to arrive. Other than that, you MUST order their Honeytoast!
(4)Natasha G.
like i've said earlier this is my favorite place to unwind before i go home from work. kelly and paul are the best bartenders! attentive and friendly...thanks!
(5)Ryan O.
I'm a server so i write reviews from a servers point of view. great food, great atmosphere. It feel like dinning at a high end place with a moderate priced menu. Service: I've been there three times and two of the three times; was with a very large party. As a server i know Big parties means a lot of attention but knowing in most case your tip will be added on to the bill. Most servers will have the mind set "i know for sure im getting a tip being that it's a large party. so i dont have to worry about giving them great service" this is what i felt my server was thinking. she had other tables and spent very little time attending to us a party of 12. though she was nice she put up a wall when we needed the check split. she said it was against store policy to split the checks and then continued to tell us that if we needed to take out cash that there was a ATM across the street!!! If a server ever says they can't split the check it's BULL SHIT! either they're too lazy to do it. (It can be time consuming splitting checks on the computer) or the restaurant is so old that they don't even have a computer.
(4)Anju J.
Had a good server. Kinda loud, but the atmosphere wasn't bad. Good sushi too! Try the Lobster Dynamite Rolls
(4)Amber M.
At first glance, Shokudo seems pretty cool..neat decor, a funky selection of food, and mostly good-looking servers. But alas, dining at Shokudo is akin to getting smashed and going home with the "cute" gogo dancer you met at the club -- it seems like fun at the time, but when all's said and done, you leave feeling dirty and a little broke! Though I've only been to Shokudo a handful of times, on each visit the first thing that caught my attention was how the restaurant always smells vaguely like cat pee, especially on the right half of the restaurant (what ARE they cooking that gives off that odor?!). The food is nothing to write home about. Most appetizers and entrees are palatable, but far from satisfying with tiny portions that don't complement their large price points. The french fries are good - never soggy, excellent in flavor, different from average fast food style fries, but good restaurants are not built on french fries alone. Also, I realize this may be a fluke thing, but on one occasion I ordered the green tea shake and was sick for the rest of the evening. Bad milk, possibly? The only thing that salvages a night out at Shokudo is their famed honey toast dessert. Yes, it is amazingly tasty, but consider this - it is simply honey, toast, and ice cream. Yes, you could reproduce this yourself at home. And you probably should.
(2)Retired B.
I ate here back in 2008. I would say its more asian fusion than just regular japanese. Portions are big so we did family style. We shared some sushi rolls and meats for grilling, but none of the dishes really stood out. Service was decent, but a little on the slow side. It was hard to get a table so reservations would be a good idea for larger parties.
(3)Mako H.
*Update 2** menu has changed again, for the better, loooookin good, got the sushi pizza, ebi-garlic rice and cal roll, chicken karaage and fries good stuff, glad we gave this place another chance service is not great though, if you expect this you'll enjoy your meal
(4)Tammy T.
I give 3.5 an "A-OK I'm a fan". Not a YAY! but an "eh" So yes, the menu is always changing. Which in a way sort of sucks? If you love something, the chances of it being there the next time are slim. So if you had high hopes to enjoy this items, with intentions to get this item, and it not be there...well that just seems like a waste. We got (pictures): Fresh Tofu - 6.95 Ginger Kurobuta Pork - 14.95 Sukiyaki Bibimbap Rice - 10.95 Assorted Tempura I heart the tofu! Fricken Heart it! That and the honey toast! The ginger thing was burnt. Well it taste charcoal-ish. The tempura was thin and the batter was thick, and it was super oily. The other thing I found out was that the raw fish isn't fresh, it's frozen?!? Which was a shock to my chef friend that I went with which made him sad *tear* Now looking at this write up make me wonder why I gave them a 3.5. One, for the tofu, two for the honey toast, and three because it's open till 2 AM which is hard to find a place that serves food till that time. The service is blah. I think you pay for the environment you are in. It's good for groups, you get to share food together, drink, talk story, etc.
(3)Jonathan I.
I started going to this place regularly when they first opened, and continued too until recently. Since then the food has changed quite a bit (for the better) yet the ambiance and atmosphere has stayed exactly the same. Food-wise, Shokudo currently has a few good items on their extremely large menu. By large, I mean physically large. I am not a big person by any means and when I open up their tri-fold menu all the way, I can barely reach both ends. Once I get past this ordeal, my eyes go directly to what I have learned to stick with....Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice, and the Beef Tataki Sushi with Balsamic. Odd dishes, but pairs nicely with a nice cold Sapporo. Other than those two, I have tried almost everything there, but haven't ever really been thrilled. Hell, originally a few friends and I would go to Shokudo at least once or twice a week for drinks, and while they ate, I opted to just drink. Only when they first revised the menu did I dare to try the food again....and even at that I would rather choose to go elsewhere for a meal or pupus. So why rate 4 start you ask? Well, I for one LOVE the decor. It is simple and well thought out from an architectural/interior design stand point. To add to the "likes" the bar staff there were always so personable and cool...to the point where a few of us are actual friends now, go figure. To me, these two factors make me really like this place, and if they were to improve on their food menu, I might just start becoming a regular again...
(4)Oh Y.
Went back. Ate real food like a civilized person this time. Practiced my "calming breathing" as the waitress demonstrated an attitude with an uppercase A. BUT the food was delicious and the tab at the end of the night was surprisingly affordable (for Honolulu). Party of 10 = $200, included 4 glasses of wine.
(4)Christy K.
Decided to give it another shot-- I came here with my girlfriend the other night before having a night out on the town. I forgot to mention last time that Shokudo makes my favorite alcoholic drink: the Lava Flow. THIS must be why I keep on coming back. This drink is sweet delicious heaven in a glass... though I could've sworn I got a slice of pineapple before... So we get in and are trying to get out within ~20 minutes. We promptly order two lava flows, the lobster dynamite roll, and a honey toast. And we begin our wait. A few minutes later, a busser comes by who noticed that we had already ordered and asks if we want water. We graciously accept and he brings them. Five minutes after that, while we are wondering where our drinks are... they are brought to us. YUM! Eight minutes after our drinks, our waitress approaches us and says, "I just checked with the kitchen, and your dynamite roll should be out shortly." Oh-kayy... Ten minutes after that, our roll gets to the table. The roll was very delicious. The topping was hot and my friend and I savored each of our four pieces. Oh, and I forgot to say that by the time we got our roll (30 minutes later), we knew we wouldn't have time for honey toast. We cancelled it. How sad! The honey toast eludes me once again!
(2)Tia M.
GREAT FOOD. Must get the spicy tuna crispy rice, ahi tataki, dynamite lobster roll & OMG HONEY TOAST. That is all.
(5)Jenny L.
Try the TOFU SALAD!
(3)Serenie S.
The freshly made tofu..... TO DIE FOR! It like melts in your mouth and it has such good flavor. I'm really picky about my Udon and it can't be too sweet or too salty. This was perfect. I tried the sushi pizza. Not my thing but it does have a bunch of flavors so I understand why people always say to get it. The honey toast. Yums. I don't even really like honey, but all the flavors mixed together was delicious! I went around lunch time on a Friday and it wasn't too busy. The service we got was great so we left a fat tip! The server was on it and he was very friendly. The prices are very reasonable for what you order. I like the atmosphere too.
(5)Jace B.
Shitty that the happy hour is only for 21 and over. It's only for food too, that's the only reason why it's two stars for me. I'm 18 and then stupid.....
(2)Watah H.
Went to happy hour and found only one beer special and have to sit at bar. Ok, restrictions aside, the food is ok and bartender friendly. I haven't seen the place packed yet, but overall decent food. Could add more beers to their happy hour repertoire.
(3)JD L.
When this place is busy, service can be blah. Love the lobster dynamite roll, volcano roll, yukari fries, hamachi sashimi and the honey toast! This is a nice place to chill with friends.
(4)Derek N.
I have a weird relationship with this place. On the one hand, I don't like it for the most part. On the other, I find myself eating here a lot because of my friends. Everyone wants to eat here. I gently suggest going elsewhere, but this is where we end up. So they do have a happy hour menu that is pretty reasonable; $3, $4 and $5 items. However, certain things (like Tako karaage) they just don't have anymore; and this can be extended to their regular menu as well (ahi-stuffed mushrooms). I don't really like a lot of the dishes, so I find myself only eating certain ones over and over. For example, the spicy tuna nachos, which for some reasons my friends love, are really bland. If I'm really craving gyoza I might get the steamed gyoza, but it has a weird taste... can't they at least fry it? The portions are not that good of a value for what you pay. This is even more true of the regular menu than the happy hour one. I generally find myself sticking to Dynamite Fries ($3), Kim Chee Fried Rice ($5) and Sukiyaki Kim Chee Pizza ($5). I guess if you're not hungry, this would be a good place to go. The honey toast, while simple is rather delicious. The service is kinda hit or miss. B-White, aside from having a really cool name, is a great server. However there have been some that have gotten orders wrong or charged us regular price when it was supposed to be cheaper for happy hour, or asked us if we were ready for dessert while we were still waiting for three of our dishes. Apparently the really convoluted explanation was that they didn't have enough of the weird dishes our food came in kept breaking because they were poorly made in China. They couldn't just put them in some other kind of dishes? On the bright side, the manager Chris seems like a really nice guy. The music and ambiance are kind of weird. The music, while seeming to stick to a certain genre within each CD (or however the music is organized) varies greatly from night to night. The decor kind of works, except for the surfboards just randomly inserted into the chains above the bar. I am 12 years old and what is this? The food is a 3 (with the exception of honey toast), and the service averages out to something a little higher than a 3. Rounding off to the nearest star we have a 3. I don't know what else to say here. They're open late, and that's cool.
(3)Chi-Hye M.
Does anyone else get the feeling like they are being rushed when you eat here? The food is ok...not the best, but just ok. They have a sushi pizza that's pretty good... Service was not so great....but the manager was awesome!
(3)Jaynie K.
Beautiful interior, delicious fresh tofu, aaaaand, desserts that make my toes curl!!! The honey toast is crazy freakin' delicious, all the right amounts of crusty, and yet soft, pillowy, drizzled with delectable honey, and topped with ice cream. I dream about it. And the green tea shaved ice with azuki beans... I'll be honest, I was there with a batch of people, and I was like a starving little animal on NatGeo... I snarled and pushed people away from that huge tub of shaved ice while scarfing it down at lightning speed. Mmm.
(4)Yasuo O.
seriously? again? went there on sunday and once again, a horrible experience. But I did notice that the portions got smaller! I guess there was ONE change from the last time I was there. the service is always ok. The food is what bothers me. I dont know why they have a see through kitchen to be honest. Its like you can see the soot on top of the hoods and the grease all collecting. why? Why not put up decorative art there or something? BTW, I can tell ya, being Japanese and being from Japan, this aint authentic! (sshhhh.. scare away the haole tourists.. gasp!) but this is not too bad. the price is ok. RINGER: I gave em my credit card and the girl looked at it, flipped it over and asked for my ID. which is cool. I thanked her for asking for my ID. then she flips is back over and says.. we dont take this kind of card... WTF? I told her it was an american express. and she says.. really? without getting into details, the manager came out, smiled and took it and charged it. uhm... dont matter if the card is blue or white or red or black... its still an amex... maybe a lil bit of training would help instead of embarrassing me and parading my card around like its a disease?
(3)Brian A.
For some reason I always call this place Sudoku, my bad. It has a clean hip young vibe to it. Right off of Kapiolani, it's hard to miss with it's wooden panel shades coming down the windows. Unfortunately, to me, nothing on the menu really stands out. It's kind of like a Japanese fusion restaurant. It's really cool how some of the booths are terraced tough. It's a place to take someone for drinks and dessert though. Their signature dessert is the waffle-like, stacked with ice cream in the middle and a honey glaze on top. It can get busy during peak hours. Parking can be accessed in back, but I find it easier to park at Ala Moana and walk over.
(3)Kalae P.
The food, first of all, is okay. It's Japanese, yes, but prepared in a contemporary, normal, sort-of-fast-food way. I didn't try an of the sushi or house specialties so I'm not too sure if I got a good sample of the place. I walked in looking like I had just come from the beach (haha) but nevertheless didn't really care. Looked around...very nice decor & may I add some hotties up in that joint, gotta venture there more often (haha). I ordered Shrimp Tempura & Rice Bowl (ala carte) with a plantation iced tea. It was the normal tempura just a little higher priced. It was sort of satisfying though. The food = meh/ok/satisfying enough. The price is not the best, but pretty good for a decked-out place lookin like this, so whatever (what's $15?! haha). Overall, I need to try some authentic house specialties, otherwise I'm not too sure the food is that spectacular and something to rave about.
(3)Breynden I.
Gabriel at Shokudo is the best server. He has the best sense of humor. He remembered all our orders and that we wanted to split our check. All around great guy ask for Gabriel at Shokudo!
(5)Jenny H.
I ate at this restaurant before everyone became obsessed with it. Definitely not authentic Japanese, but not bad. A few pros and cons... Pros: - the way the dishes are prepared haven't changed with the increased customers; many times I worry that a restaurant's service & food will suck once it becomes really popular, but Shokudo proved otherwise. - the center of the honey toast [period] Cons: - I think they bumped up their prices - now they're always busy - not a big fan of their parking I love their: - Agedashi Tofu - Beef Tataki on Balsamic Sushi - Sushi Pizza - Unagi Rice - Honey Toast Tips: - make a reservation - complementary honey toast for your birthday dessert - park at Ala Moana by Macy's so you can kind of walk off something before you make a 30 min drive home to Ewa ;) Honestly, you should eat here... at least for the honey toast!
(4)Nat N.
I miss this place so much! We found this place out of sheer luck. We were leaving Ala Moana Mall, ready to head back to the strip to find something to eat, when something about Shokudo's decour caught our eye. We instantly yelped the place, saw all the wonderful reviews and decided to turn back around to park at the mall. It did not disappoint! The bibimbap at this place is amazing. It was the first time I had ever tried bibimbap, and boy was it worth it! I've tried several places here in California since but nothing has compared. I think it's the only place I've been to where they mix it up for you, right in front of you. Of course we had to try the sushi pizza, one of the most innovative dishes I've seen. The dish itself really just tastes like a California roll, probably wouldn't be that memorable if it wasn't in the form of a pizza, but definitely worth ordering. Like everyone else in the restaurant, we ordered the toast with a red bean topping. We felt it was slightly overrated, but probably because I selected a horrible topping to pair it with. It's not every day you get red bean as an option for a topping so I thought it'd be a good idea. An extra scoop of ice cream probably would have been sufficient. We tried going back on our last day there. I had called ahead of time to see if we could put our names down for a reservation. The girl assured me no reservation would be necessary, as there was only a 15 minute wait. I figured that would be fine, since Ohana East to Ala Moana Mall is about 10 minutes, we'd have no problem. We left as soon as we got to the car and got there maybe 15 minutes after my call. Once we arrived the hostess told us it was over an hour wait! Man, what a difference 15 minutes makes! I decided it wasn't worth the wait and wanted to enjoy my last night doing something else. That, right there, was one of my biggest regrets of the trip. I should have just waited that hour. :( Oh how I miss Shokudo.
(4)Kristen C.
I came here a while back for a party and it was good. My auntie and I shared the tempura sushi, gyoza, and bi bim bap and we enjoyed everything. I especially liked the bi bim bap because of its presentation. It comes in a hot bowl and they mix everything table sized and the rice that gets nice and crispy on the bottom and sides are the best part. I wanted to order the honey toast because that look SOOO GOOOOD but we were just toooo full. The food is pricey but I wasnt paying so idk if i would come here on my own. However i will make it my mission to go there just for the honey toast!
(4)Aprilei R.
A trip to shokudo after a long night shift. Managed to make it there around 11pm, to find out they are open till 1am. Hostess seemed quite unhappy. server was unfriendly at beginning, but cheered up...although service was fast. Tried one of the entree on the chef's recommendation - sashimi tostada..horrible! The fish tasted old and too "fishy". I like my sashimi to melt not have to chew my jaw off. The spicy tuna on crispy rice was on point. Different texture, but you can't go wrong with spicy tuna. (EX)Boyfriend had the Kirin and I had the green tea shake (must have for green). Ended the night with honey toast. Portion was good..although the toast could use less butter because by the end of it both my (ex)boyfriend and I felt like we had eaten about 2 sticks of butter. Overall the experience was all right. Will try again at earlier time..hopefully it can only get better.
(3)Carlyn Y.
I love Shokudo! It's the perfect place for pau hana (especially after a long work week) and equally perfect for a night out with the boyfriend! We love to just sit at the bar and eat and the service, food, and drinks are second to none! I personally love the cheese mochi (although my boyfriend is not the biggest fan but all I can say is "Yay! More for me!") and the ever popular honey toast! In all honesty, there is so much selection that you really can't go wrong with the menu! The drinks are top notch and besides having Kirin on tap (how cool is that) they have the best saketinis and Japanese beers that always hit the spot. Their bartenders are amazing - friendly, helpful, and did I mention they make the best drinks? My two favorites are Jess and Paul...go there on a Friday night and you won't be disappointed! My only complaint is that some staff behind the bar seem to not be as customer service oriented as the bartenders. One girl was re-stocking for literally an hour (I didn't know it could take so long to re-stock a bar but then again, what do I know...) and never acknowledged that we were there, let alone asked if we were okay...and she was right in front of us! I was shocked! All is well though...with amazing food, amazing drinks, and amazing bartenders who provide amazing service, I definitely recommend Shokudo!
(4)Wes N.
Great decor but a little on the bright side- Service depends on the waitstaff you get... Food is good. Unique cuisine. Try it once and you will know if you want to come back.
(4)Byoung Kyu S.
Made a return lunch trip to Shukudo. Ate alone so sat at the bar. The service was great. The girl working the bar is great. She is extremely attentive without being too annoying. Ordered bibimbohp in stone bowl and agadashi tofu. Great food and I was stuffed. Only drawback was that the stone bowl was WAY too hot. I like to let my rice sit a while before mixing so it can be nice and crispy. But because the bowl was too hot, the bottom of the rice ended up burning and turning black. Agadashi tofu is $8 and the bibimbohp is $11. I also got hot tea which I was not charged for.
(4)Traci H.
I was able to make it for their late night happy hour. I ordered my usual favorite...mochi cheese gratin...mmmm. This was my first time trying their happy hour menu, where the items on the menu were $3. Also most of these items are not available at other hours. My bf and I got the spicy tuna roll (4 pieces), and they were big pieces. I liked the cucumber in it. Also the spicy tuna nachos, it was interesting. I don't know if I'd get it again, but a must try once. Oh and add a little shoyu, it makes it taste better to me. Also we had the teriyaki chicken quesadilla, which was ok. I'm not a big cilantro fan, and it came with a cilantro dipping sauce. Also for the late night we got this mochi dish, I think it was yukari mochi. (Sorry if it's wrong.) It was pretty much deep fried mochi with salt and maybe nori sprinkled on top. It was WAY too greasy for my taste any my bf's taste. We had a bite and that was it. If it wasn't for the fact that I knew that they had a special cookies and creme anniversary honey toast I would have gotten the Jr. honey toast form the happy hour menu. After having th cookies and creme honey toast I wish I did. The cookies and creme over power the delicate taste of the honey toast, and that's all you can taste. We didn't finish it all. This was a learning experience at Shokudo. I'm pretty much sticking with my favorite from now on, throwing in a change here and there.
(4)Dino K.
The first time I went here, they just opened. I didn't think it was that great. I just had dinner here last night and I must say that alot has changed since I first came here. I had the grilled chicken teriyaki and it was quite tasty! I rated 4 stars instead of 3 because of that awesome desert they call HONEY TOAST!! :)
(4)Mallory P.
Wow I'm surprised to see this place only receive 3 1/2 stars. From what I can remember I had the bi bim bap and I can assure you that if people ordered this then maybe shokudo will get 4 1/2 stars. I also remember ordering the chocolate honey toast for dessert, which by the way was f***ing huge but good, but I swear I might have developed diabetes after consuming that monstrous sugar rush of a thing they call dessert. So why such low ratings??? The prices maybe??? Regardless, I definitely want my boyfriend to take me here again when I visit.
(4)elisa o.
Great place! You are definitely paying for the ambience! Price can be a little better. The last two times I was there the food temperature was not that great. Food tasted warm and non piping hot!! I highly recommend the oxtail ramen! mmm... good! And the fruity shave ice! So ono! I like the hours of operations and can count on a decent meal late at night. Weekends til 2!! I definitely will tell you to order the FRESH TOFU!!! AWESOME!!! I do not recommend the SUSHI! If you want sushi look at my other reviews.
(4)Inthira M.
I've always liked this place, the decor is modern, it has a lounge type of feel, the staff is attentive, and the food is pretty good. The only thing that stops me from going every week, or every other week, is that it does get a little pricey so when I finally get the chance to come back I can't wait to eat! Since they've opened they've changed their menu a couple times (just certain menu items have been removed, others added), but have finally settled on one. I LOVE their drink menu, it's so inventive and there's pictures for almost every cocktail that it's hard to choose. I usually try one of their flavored vodka soda's. My favorite is the grape calpico (It's a Japanese n/a drink that I believe is a milk mixture of some sort), and lychee and watermelon are always a good choice. FYI: if it's too much soda for you they have martinis with just about all the same flavors and you can get it with either vodka or sake. For food, agedashi tofu is awesome with 4 huge pieces of tofu topped with bonito (fish) flakes and green onions in a dashi soy sauce (my mouth is already watering), the yuzu camachi carpachio is bomb (go to the website and look at the picture- 'nuff said), calamari is always something people like to get and it's fried perfectly, I just don't like that sort of mayonnaise mixture to dip it in, the mochi cheese gratin looks fantastic. I personally haven't tried it but there's a ton of cheese melted on the dish and that's reason enough for me to try it next time I go. For entrees, etc. the spinach salad is awesome and although it's not a Japanese dish the crispy wontons and the dressing it's tossed in makes it so that it blends right in with the rest of the dishes. The bibimbap Korean style fried rice is awesome, all of their sushi is good because they're big pieces and it's so tasty. One thing to note, though, is that for being a Japanese restaurant they don't have as much sushi or unique sushi rolls as other places I've seen. Finally, to end the meal you HAVE GOT TO get the honey toast. It is so big and so good, it literally melts in your mouth. I just go for the original one, but they have flavors like chocolate and strawberry. Another favorite (and another HUGE dessert) is the shave ice. I've only tried the green tea but it's topped with condensed milk and azuki beans and a scoop of ice cream... I couldn't stop eating it. This is definitely a place you should try if you have the chance. One hint: make a reservation, they're always booked with the only openings at the bar.
(4)Joey B.
Nice atmosphere, very trendy crowd. I've gone here during the evening/night three times. All three times I have come to the same conclusion. The food is not worth the price they charge. The service was really slow, and they messed up our order a few times. I got my bottle of wine before my food.... that was kind of strange. All three nights I've been there it was busy, but considering the price they charge, you'd expect promptness, and accuracy. I'd say, just go to Don Quijote and purchase one of their bentos in the seafood section (they're great!), then walk on over to Shokudo, for drinks.
(3)Kellie K.
A few weeks ago I tried to make reservations for dinner to celebrate a friend's bday with some honey toast. Unfortunately, I never got past making reservations. My experience with the hostess was that bad. 1. I called at night (they were still open) to make reservations, and no one answered. I left a specific message with the date, time, and number of people in the party, and asked for them to simply call and confirm the reservation. 2. The next day I called back, since no one had returned my call. The hostess greeted me on the phone, and said let me put you on hold for minute to check the calendar. Minutes tick by, and she never comes back! I hung up. 3. They call back, but I missed the call. In their message they apologize for missing the call and that they were very busy the night before. Instead of confirming the reservation like I had asked, they simply said to call back. Ugh. 4. I call again, there's no answer, and I get sent to voice mail. This is just a few minutes after they called me, I know someone's there! 5. I call again, and someone answers. Hooray! But instead of getting the standard greeting, "Thank you for calling Shokudo....", she asks "Are you the one asking about the menus" I say no, and immediately she clicks off and the line goes dead. Uh, what happened to common courtesy? Sorry Shokudo, I gave you 5 chances and I think that was more than enough. If I can't be make reservations quickly, and easily, then all the honey toast in the world can't tempt me to come back. Goodbye Shokudo!
(1)Molly L.
Been here twice in one week. Loved the food here. The Mochi Cheese soup is to die for. All the food here is great. Great ambience, fast food service and great lighting. I'd go here again, twice in the same week LOL
(5)Michelle C.
AMAZING food! Went here after another restaurant close early. SO glad we did! Ashlee was a FABULOUS server!! Try the Mochi Cheese Gratin!
(5)Nina T.
i have been here a few times, the food is alright, the price isn't too bad, their japanese beer is good, not strong at all. server is nice and fast. i would come here for late dinner because they open until 2am, plenty of parkings. I love their dessert, honey toasted, their vanila ice cream is a bomb, wanna try more of their desserts, would prefer make a take out order, not worth the long wait just for dessert. the wait is ridiculous...i guess if i go with a big group of friends, would not mind to wait that long...otherwise, too crazy!
(4)Ema C.
Shokudo gets: 1 star for cool decor. The place just looks really good! The wooden blocks though, kind of remind me of kamaboko blocks all tied together . 1 star for decent food at a decent price. They have melon soda and green tea shave ice, which is delish. -3 stars for the waitress not knowing whether a dish had any sort of seafood in it (bonito extract, etc.). This is a huge minus because I'm literally deathly allergic to all seafood and a waitress not knowing what the ingredients are in the food they serve is on a bit ridiculous. She did not bother to check with the cook either, which is just poor service in general. Poo on that!
(2)Estelle T.
I had a great experience the first time I came here. The food is definitely different. It's your typical sushi, but modernized. It was interesting and ono. I tried the Udon, Sushi Pizza, Spicy Ahi on Crispy Rice, and Honey Toast, they were all okay. The udon's broth tasted like it was from a packet, like the ones you buy from the supermarket for like $2. But then again, it was only $7. The Sushi Pizza was definitely different, but then to describe it, it's just a california roll that was laid flat out instead of rolled and baked to a slight crisp. It wasn't as good as I expected it to be since 1) it kept falling apart 2) it tasted like a california roll. The Spicy Ahi on Crispy Rice was definitely a winwin. 1) The rice was salty on the outside and sweet on the inside 2) Spicy ahi was excellently flavored to go well with the rice 3) the crispy texture tied everything together. The Honey Toast was alright, everyone goes wild about it, but to be honest, it just tasted like bread, icecream, and honey.. But, the bread did melt in my mouth, it's weird, I never knew bread could taste that good but I just had a higher expectancy for this dessert since there were raving reviews about it. Other than the food, I really liked the decor, it's modern and it's quite a sight. I give the service 5 stars, they were great. All in all, I'd come back here again, but probably not for a while.
(4)K F.
This was my first time, and was very pleased, I loved the choice of music, really added to the atmosphere and experience, I wish I could get a copy of that playlist. My waitress was knowledgeable and very helpful, the decor added to the experience, I like the graduated seating and lantern style lighting. I found a wide range of choices on the menu and my kids ate everything served. I felt comfortable with my family there and could see this being a great date nightspot. I had the rainbow roll so that I could gage the flavors to compare and was pleased. Rating high on my list of other restaurants in Oahu. I would have no problems bringing my out of town visitors here
(4)Lester A.
I cannot wait to come back to HI to eat here again. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious, i regret not saving enough room for the honey toast dessert. but next time i will. Sushi pizza was a must try, very different but very good. The Hamachi Carpaccio and Beef Tataki sushi was addicting. There were so many things on the menu I wanted to try and plan to the next time I'm here. Must have the vodka sodas. The place looks amazing on the inside too. Just a great place to eat i think.
(4)Camille N.
So this place is our favorite Izakaya, wide array of really good SAKE. The food is pretty good too. Loved the oxtail ramen, sukiyaki bibimbap, pork chops, tuna on crispy rice and of course honey toast! Aside from the drinks and the food, customer service is excellent. Staff is very attentive and knowledgeable of the drinks they serve (sake in particular) So the only gripe I have on this place is the crazy wait time, if I need to wait for more than 45 mins, I'm gonna have to pass :)
(4)diego m.
Been there before but forgot how memorable it was......... NOT There is an old saying that goes like that: "What does not kill you, will f*ck you up" Fast forward to the slim recessionary reality to 2009. Me and 2 friends went there last week and neither of us took the patience and virtue to check the prices and in doing so, we order a bunch of items. Expensive is not an understatement. 1) Char siu deglazed with a vinegray sauce - A little salty 2) Ahi Salad with grilled onions - Good 3) Pork Potslickers - Good - Not too Oily 4) Garlic Shrimp with rice - Good stuff 5) Spider Roll - Good 6) Calamari 7) At least 5 more items that I was too drunk to remember 8) A sh*tload of sake The bill came to over $150 for the 2 hours we were there. Food is good but it normally will require a financial bleeding. Not a smart choice to make when we are in a recession. Now, I am broker than broke. But you bet my stomach was happy.
(3)Olivia M.
I would have given this place a 4 a few years ago, but their quality of food has gone down. The stone bowls are usually my go to (bibimbap or shrimp). They use to have an amazing chef special, curry katsu, but they took it off the menu. Their drinks are really good (vodka sodas and mojitos). They are almost always busy and service isn't anything special. Good place to go to for large groups if you make reservations.
(3)Genie G.
My son had been here before and said I had to try it, so one rainy day in Honolulu while we at the mall we decided to take a stroll over for some lunch. I was so surprised, they serve a tofu salad (I am not a tofu fan) which my son said I had to try since they make the tofu in-house. It was so good and very tasty, I think I ate about 1/2 of it. Then we had this spicy tuna sushi, which was spicy tuna on crispy rice squares, another great choice. Also tried to oxtail ramen, that was good but nothing I need to rave about. But I do need to rave about the sushi and that fantastic salad. Ran out of room for the honey toast, so I'm saving that for the next trip there.
(5)Evelyn T.
DAMMIT i fell victim to the hype again. This is one of THOSE places. The pictures look good, the reviews are promising, but when I went there, I was utterly disappointed in the food and experience there. I ordered the sushi toast out of curiosity, and didn't WANT to finish it. The boyfriend ordered the bibimbap which..was OK, similar to something I could have concocted at home. Had to get to toast, ofcourse, which was huge, and impressive looking, but didn't blow my mind. Tasted like bread with Nutella. The sake and beer was good stuff, though. Go here to drink and to kick it, but not to have a dinner of overpriced "Japanese" food. Like someone said in another review..yes, it is a Japanese Denny's.
(2)Zoe M.
Yea! So much fun here!! Trendy, vibey location, that's big enough to probably never wait too long, and simple enough to park at the mall. You could be all dressed up here or quasi scrubbed out and fit in just fine. Drinks are moderately priced here, yeah! ;). And they're very tasty, I had the blueberry vodka drink. We ordered all our Japanese faves and thoroughly enjoyed all, and hubby ordered a huge entree that he deemed magnificent as well. Highlight--pumpkin tempura, love it! As recommended, ordered the honey toast, dang it's HUGE! Was shocked when the check came, we usually drop $100 easily on sushi nights, and it was something like $70 . Will definitely be back, great place to take friends from outta town (everyone loves a trendy, decently priced, yummy Japanese restaurant!)
(5)Brent C.
Have been there twice and received excellent service. The food on both occasions were great and delicious. Both times were during the lunch hours on a Saturday. We were seated fairly quickly (awesome) but the seating is pretty tight (not so awesome). I just love the combo Lunch Bento Box and have to always finish the meal with Honey Toast. On the second visit, brought my mom, aunt, sister, niece, and nephews - all for their first time. They had always wanted to go, so I brought them there to have lunch. They were extremely impressed with service and food. Everyone that works "front of the house" are just awesome and very accommodating. This place has quickly become a favorite place for lunch when in the ala moana area.
(4)Tae C.
Very Good food. nice
(5)Marjorie C.
I have a fat girl confession to make...when Shokudo had their late night specials with a mini honey toast costing less than $5, I used to head over there after eating a Chirashi special from Sushi King. That means sushi, ice cream, toast, honey and throw in Shokudo pupus and their vodka sodas and it was midnight snacking turned into a stuff-your-face-smorgasbord. I love Shokudo because it offers a late night atmosphere where you can hang out with the hip crowd. The tiered dining area to the right (when you enter) makes you feel like you're intimately dining even though you're surrounded by throngs of people. The tiering also makes it great for people watching ;p Shokudo is a great place for any occasion, had their lunch specials and the prices are reasonable and the food is good, been here with a large group of people (15+...back room, unfortunately when we went the air conditioning was wacked so that meant sweating) and a dinner date for 2. Each time I've been here the staff have been friendly, patient, and accommodating. They have interesting dishes like sushi pizza and teriyaki chicken quesadilla. I stick to the hot stone pot dishes or the ramen. It can get pricey but my friends and I usually share dishes and we've been stuffed each time we've gone so it's worth it. Parking is in a shared lot behind Shokudo and Angelo Pietro, spaces are a little tight but there's usually lots of open parking spaces.
(4)Tupu S.
Don't jump out of your seat until dessert. I had high hopes for this place since I heard nothing but GREAT things about this place from friends, colleagues and team members.. But of course, before I made my way to town I had to see what my Yelp friends say about this place.. Seeing the mix reviews about this place told me this place is "aight" ( pronounced AH-EYE-T) Sooooooo, we had the private room in the back - 4 stars for the nice cozy VIP status feel to the room. Perfect for small private parties and or business meetings which I was there for. The first thing I noticed, our server was as friendly as sharp stick in the eye. Seriously, so sharp it felt like fire ants biting at your bare skin.. (feel the cringe) Any who, lets order.. We had everything from edamame, bento boxes and everything else between. the FRESH HOMEMADE TOFU was pretty tasty along with the SPICY TUNA on CRISPY RICE (loved the texture of the combo) and the HONEY TOAST was worth waiting for.. Although @ first I was a bit skeptical about the Honey Toast deal, it was an interesting dessert that would make me come back for more. If I wasn't so full, I would've ate the entire thing by myself rather than sharing it with 5 other people... All in all, Shokudo is cool. Nothing to go and twitter or facebook about... but a good place for some good food and good company. Would recommend in the future for a casual place to eat.
(3)Shirley L.
I have been to Shokudo about three times over the last one and a half years. I must admit, my most recent visit on December 21, 2009 was the most disappointing of them all. We ordered: chicken kara-age, spider roll, and shrimp tempura roll. Likes: Food was *okay* but not for the price we paid. Echoing the comment of another reviewer of Shokudo, eight bite-sized pieces of chicken does not justify the $10 bill for that item (of course, excluding tax and tip). Dislikes: Hmm...where shall I begin... (1) The service was beyond terrible. During my previous visits to Shokudo, I have experiences awkward waiters. In fact, he kept hovering over our table, asked us if we were students, told us about his educational pursuits, something about his girlfriend, his living situation. We got the whole life story, yet all we wanted to do was sit, eat food, and catch up amongst ourselves. Even so, I brushed it off as the waiter being new. This time, our waiter was not only awkward but was also rude and pushy. He kept coming rushing us to order when there was NO ONE else at the restaurant (at 4:30 in the afternoon), he kept coming back to ask if we were going to order anything else, he was in a hurry to bring us the check. Upon receipt of payment, he said, "You guys have a good ni..., I mean, nah, stay as long as you want." Anyone capable of reading between the lines will understand this to be a request that we leave. We stayed maybe another 10-15 minutes to catch up with my friend with whom we have not met for over a year. At that point, our waiter came to our table and informed us that the host has asked that we leave but was too embarrassed to come tell us himself. (2) Prices. As I mentioned in the "likes" section, Shokudo's prices are too high for what they're offering. I was expecting more taste and substance for what I paid. (3) According to a friend, Shokudo claims to have a full bar but cannot even offer a properly served jigger of cognac at the end of a meal. Conclusion: DO NOT GO.
(1)Nicole S.
Tradition meets trendy, and out pops Shokudo. I was pleasantly surprised by the tasty blend of Japanese and new age flavors and technique. This is a great date place. Although it is trendy (understated, not in your face face flashy or pretentious), you will find young and old locals noshing on some interesting grinds. The cheese mochi sounds odd, but is surprisngly good. Think: gooey comfort. The lychee-tini was one of the best that I have had...I like my fruity martinis to be on the sweet side and less dry, so this was cocktail was a great fit. The gyoza and ramen are also pretty bomb. The honey toast was particularly memorable. Low carb dieters steer clear of this dessert - it packs a mighty sweet and bread-filled punch. It is a pretty filling dessert, so it should be shared by three or more people. I will definitely be returning for more cocktails and to try the sushi rolls!
(4)Kayfo T.
Zippy's - Zipac. Liliha Bakery - Coco puffs. Shokudo - honey toast. Some things are just naturally associated with each other. When I think of Shokudo- I think of their awesome honey toast. My favorite is the original...just honey. No matter how stuffed I am after an awesome meal at Shokudo, there's ALWAYS room for honey toast. The rest of the menu is pretty good too. Although, their prices have gone up over the last year or so. Some of my favorites are the dragon sushi roll, yukari fries, cucumber salad (with ume dressing!), and did I mention the honey toast? Shokudo is a great pau-hana hang out for pupus and drinks because they're open until 2am on weekends! Service is also really friendly. Definitely a favorite.
(4)Leslie K.
I. Love. Shokudo. Whenever I come back home, it's always first on my list of restaurants to revisit. My favorites: tofu salad, red eye roll, pumpkin tempura, and honey toast. These are all musts whenever I visit. I love the decor, although I prefer to not be seated on the risers (the servers, understandably, are less attentive when getting to you involves aerobic exercise), and the high ceilings. It is very trendy, but still family-friendly (although you might want to leave the kids who can't blow their own noses or tie their own shoelaces at home).
(5)Nicole K.
i only recently started going to shokudo when i started college. i looooove japanese food (because i'm japanese). sushi pizza? who knew. but it's excellent. i like their hot stone soups, too. gotta try everything at least once. i live for the square bread and ice cream with honey dessert...i get that every single time.
(5)theresa s.
great modern atmosphere and fun for groups. everything that i have tried here is super delish-- the portions are large and good for sharing. love the honey toast! not too sweet and just the right amount of honey. service is always proficient. crowded most of the time. make a reservation in advance if possible.
(5)Melissa K.
When I first came to Shokudo two years ago, it immediately became one of my favorite restaurants. The next few visits were equally awesome ... but unfortunately the last two were disappointing ... and I really have no desire to return. The atmosphere is trendy, modern and very nice. It's a fun place to go for yummy pupus and drinks at 11:30pm with the girls. Love the lychee saketinis. The sushi and rolls are good but not exceptional. Portion sizes may be a bit small compared to what Hawaii folks are used to so be prepared to possibly order a few extra entrees or appetizers. Be warned: the menu changes ... so what you may enjoy one time may not be there the next. Dessert is awesome. I love honey toast. The name may not evoke images of grandeur but the actual dish is splendid-- two gigantic slices of soft bread covered in vanilla ice cream, honey and a type of topping ... I like strawberry. The bread is Japanese style and has the perfect combination of softness and bite ... the "crust" is similar to french bread. The portion is huge so be sure to share with your friends ... even then, there will probably be left-overs. If I do return again, it will be for HONEY TOAST! =)
(3)James B.
Honey toast??? Hell yeahhhh! Delicious!! What a desert. Yum, yum, yum! And awesome shakes!!!
(5)Ash G.
I like Shokudo, despite being on the pricey side, it is a good place for a date or night out. During the day they have a good lunch special that I believe ends at 4pm. My boyfriend and I went one day during lunch (we live amazingly super close by) and we were pleasantly surprised about the lunch specials (which costed about half the price of when we have gone for dinner...nice) I tried this place when it first opened and have been there now about 6 times. I have also been here about 4 times to pick up food and bring it back to my apartment--and 3 of those times I only ordered the Honey Toast with caramel! The honey toast is so good and addictive, you got to get the caramel drizzle on it--its the best. The food is good, I have no complaints. I haven't had any real 'wow' moments, except for how they present some of the hot food and cold sake. I like the agedashi tofu and the seared ahi, which they bring out on a hot plate, as well as the ramens they have. The sushi I have had was pretty good, although I really liked the unagi roll the spicy ahi roll kinda disappointed me. They have some cute creative drinks, aside from the sake (i love sake). I like the vodka drinks, although I know I am probably getting ripped off (price-alcohol content) I still really enjoy the blueberry vodka soda drink they have, as well as the lychee. Shokudo provides some good dishes in a fun and cool atmosphere--worth of try if you got some money to spend because you can run up a big bill easily with a couple dishes. AND they are open late night, till 2 (last call for food and drink by 1-130am) so great for late night munchies!
(4)Damon T.
two words. honey toast. enough said. wow.
(5)Doctor J.
Looking for a great Japanese resturant while in honolulu...come here...you'll won't be disappointed.
(4)Ann Marie N.
So dissapointed in shokudo right now..Easter afternoon my family and I decided to have Easter lunch at one of our favorite spots. No wait, sat down as soon as we walked in. Great service may I add..butttttttttt I noticed there were left over old food crusted on our utensils, so we used chopsticks, my kids on the other hand used the more cleaner utensils. The food at the time was great, just like our usual day at shokudo. We ordered the mixed tempura, redeye roll, teri chicken quesadilla, hot udon soup, and chicken karaage, and ofcourse oreo honey toast. Once we got home later that night, my husband and I felt very sick, in and out of the bathroom we both, yup, you guessed it food poising, and may I add we had nothing to eat before nor after shokudo..it's been two days and I still feel like someone punched me in my stomach..Shokudo was one of my favorites, now it's just not a place I would step into.
(1)Anthony B.
GET THE OREO COOKIE HONEY TOAST!!!!!! That is all.
(4)Layne H.
Good place to gather with friends and have a family style dinner. The service is great there with friendly staff. The food is ok, some items stood out from others. Kind of pricey for the portion that you get, depends on what you get though. The one thing that I don't recommend is the ahi tataki, how can you pay for five pieces of frozen ahi for 15.00 dollars,you can get that Kuru Kuru Sushi for third of the price. The other thing was that it felt like I was cramped, I guess they are trying to utilize all the space that have but when the workers and customers are getting into each others way it gets irritating.
(3)Mista J.
This place is always packed on fri,sat,sun! So if you don't wanna wait 45mins -1hour I suggest you make reservations! All in all I give this restaurant 4 1/2 stars!:D their honey toast with vanilla ice-cream & caramel sauce is the bomb digidyyy!!!
(4)Braden K.
honestly, half of the time we hit shokudo i'm under the influence. that being said, if memory serves me right, its a neat place with a cool vibe.definitely a chill crowd and with the cheap happy hour menu items, you really can't go wrong. right next to the FHB behind alas, you'll find this japanese restaurant. a great place to start the night off with a few drinks and a quick bite while planning out what trouble your crew is getting into! check it out one weekend, you won't regret it!
(4)Katrice K.
So I just went there this past Saturday for a friend's birthday and found they updated their menu to include boxed lunch sets. My boyfriend and I split the super combination which included: Miso soup, four pieces of california roll, soy beans, small salad, some tsukemono, and we chose tempura and chicken karaage. All that for $13.95. The food was excellent as usual! The tempura came with two shrimp, a shiitake mushroom, pumpkin, and one other vegetable. For the price there is just so much food that it is easily shared with either a appetizer and dessert for two people. It's still one of my go to spots for large groups. However, the boxed lunch is only available during lunch.
(4)Ellen Mae V.
This place seems to get a lot of hype. But in my opinion the food isn't the best. I think a few of their dishes warrant some acclaim for example: their fresh tofu, the sushi pizza (because it's different), the garlic tuna and the unagi rice. Nevertheless personally I think you can get BETTER sushi, bentos and other Japanese dishes for cheaper at other restaurants. $14 for a dynamite roll is just a bit much. Don't get me wrong, the food is good but not the best. And for the price, I say try elsewhere. Despite all this, I give Shokudo props for the ambiance. The restaurant has a very chic and modern take to Japanese dining. The bar and its late hours often attract young and trendy crowds. There is one highlight! THE HONEY TOAST!!! It's so irritatingly simple of a dish and if you go to Don Quiote across the street you can buy the exact same ingredients. BUT... it's the perfect late night cap! Share it with a few friends and call it a night! The honey toast is definitely worth the stop from the club to your house.
(3)Daniel W.
Best Sushi to ever make it to my mouth. You would expect good sushi in Hawaii and Shokudo is were it's at. And sushi is just were they start. The desserts amazing and unique. The dinner options Great. The drinks great prices and selection. A must stop.
(5)Love K.
Love it here! They have a nice big, bright, very open private room in the back where I held my bachelorette party. I like the atmosphere here - modern decor and a hip feel. This time I went back to meet up with my old high school friends. I ordered the lunch bento with chix karaage + teri salmon (but received teri chix instead) minus a point here for screwing up my order. I was very surprised with the chix karaage but I didn't touch the teri chix. They put some sort of dynamite/tartar sauce over it. It was very good! My daughter ate the mochi cheese gratin, which is always a winner. I also ordered the lobster dynamite roll, which was very very good too! The server was nice, however, the bartender took a really long time with my alcoholic drink order. I ordered the momoko sake tini (peach flavored). I saw that the restaurant wasn't busy so it should not have taken close to 10 minutes for my drink order. Overall, it was a great experience and of course I'm waiting to go back there again!
(4)Shecky S.
IMO this is one of the best restaurants that I've tried on Oahu. The atmosphere is young and fun. They have a lot of beers on tap. The food was really good. I got the Asian quesadilla which was amazing. The sweet bread and ice cream dessert was incredible as well. Good service.
(4)Conrad G.
What did we order? 3 Honey Toast Jr. How was the taste on a scale from 1 through 5? 3 How was the service on a scale from 1 through 5? 4 Did we feel it was worth the price? Yes Will we visit Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar in the future? Yes
(3)Les Is More M.
y'know, I get that this is a popular place... but I honestly don't get why. parking can suck really bad first of all, and if you can't park nearby, my preference is to go elsewhere to find somewhere more convenient where I CAN. secondly, the menu prices are a notch or two above what I'd consider value driven. it is like they want to sell their location (see parking issues above), decor (which is nice), and/or service (more on that later). in my opinion, the quality of the food is probably the most important issue, and I find their selection and quality just OK. don't get me wrong, it isn't BAD food, but I'm not blown away by the grinds there. call me fickle, but that's my opinion. as for the honey toast, it reminds me of my childhood since we enjoyed a variation of that growing up... but the way people go hysterical over it baffles me. Now, given - pretty much all japanese restaurants are not cheap or value driven. I get that. And I get that people - especially preppy townie folks here in HNL need places to congregate, eat and socialize. It is my opinion that when sake samplers are the best thing on your menu, you're inevitably going to disappoint a segment of your customer base, and unless you brew the sake in-house, that's just leading to disappointment. The service isn't bad, hostess seats you reasonably quick if you have reservations. We just popped in for a dessert, roughly 8:15 pm one evening - because you guessed it, people in our party were "craving" that honey toast dessert (*rolling my eyes*). they told us we'd have to probably wait at least 45 minutes to an hour because we didn't have reservations. I peeked in, and there were open seats, but maybe they prefer customers who don't mind paying for dinner AND desserts. SUMMARY: the food was fresh, the quality wasn't bad, service was ok, and atmosphere was neat and reasonably clean. I'm just not blown away by this place, like so many others are. I'm no food critic or chef, but I do know a good value when I see one... and this place isn't it. Pound for pound, I can think of 3 places (japanese restaurants) I'd prefer before going back to Shokudo: Hinone Mizunone, Izakaya Nonbei or Aki-No-No.
(2)Kevin A.
BEER AND TOAST Who would have ever guessed that the two would go together? As most people have discovered, Shokudo is renown for their honey toast dessert, gargantuan pieces of bread, toasted, cubed, drizzled in honey, and topped with vanilla ice cream. Pair with an ice cold beer and you have an unlikely, but glorious pairing. While I was pleased with the toast, the rest of my meal was just ok. The unagi rice portion was a little light and the sushi wasn't memorable. I'd probably go back to Shokudo, but just for beer and toast.
(3)Michael L.
Not the best place to have sushi or Asian fusion. The food section is different with offering sushi pizza; hot stone plates and various appetizers. The best appetizer I could recommend is the "Mochi cheese gratin" a very nice servings of mochi with baked, melted cheese. The problem I had with Shokudo was the high price for semi-ok food with the extremely slow/bad service. This is a great spot or parties to meet up and have long conversations while not needing to wait for their foods. Mochi Cheese Gratin = A Honey Toast Original Desert = A+ Ishiyaki Garlic shrimp Rice = C- Yakisoba = C- Sushi Pizza = B Lobster Dynamite Roll = B-
(2)Jen C.
We were desperately looking for a place to grab some late-night food after a long Monday and our hotel recommended this place. On walking inside, you think it is like some place you would find in LA it's so big and grandiose. We ate at the bar and the menu is extensive with lots of choices for many different palates. I went with the Japanese udon noodles (no tempura) which was good but the broth was a little oily. We also got the honey cake which was awesome! It was light but delicious -- especially the ice cream! Our waitress Jess was definitely one of a kind -- friendly and outgoing, you'd think you've known her your whole life. Served its purpose for a late night dinner after a long day.
(3)Lily R.
Thank goodness for missed flights! I was able to have one more night in Oahu and had the pleasure of grinding here! My local buddy suggested we come here after 3 of us in one car driving in circles couldn't make up our minds. We all wanted good quality food but were going back and forth from authentic japanese to curry house. As soon as we walk inside Shokudo, I am instantly impressed. The place is well laid out and the decor they chose is moden yet unpretentious. I was weary about the reviews warning it was a "be seen" restaurant but it wasn't at all! We ordered Sake, Cucumber Salad, Agedashi Tofu, Karaage Chicken, Spicy tuna on Crispy Rice, Yakisoba Noodles...and HONEY Toast. All were AMAZING. The dishes came out promptly in order. We had an awesome waiter. All of the above fed 3 hungry adults for about $25 each including tip. If we didn't choose to have Sake it would be more like $20pp. Not bad! If you come here, don't leave with out trying the HONEY TOAST! Save room for it!
(5)Irene C.
Several things I wanted to mention. The agedashi tofu is pretty flippin good because the broth is heroin-good. The rolls leave much to desire. . . .just having rice and seaweed doesn't make it an awesome roll! It was $14 for a california roll with some shrimp on top. NO MAHALO. I really did enjoy the calamari salad, well. . . .just the cilantro vinagrette, but that's because I can eat an entire bunch of cilantro for a snack. I did like the decor. . .it's Asian, I'm Asian. . perfect match. The booths looked cozy, but seriously. . I do not know what was going on. Every frickin couple in front of me and in a booth were macking on each other. It was very unappetizing. I didn't know chicken karaage was such an aphrodisiac.
(3)Dar C Y.
Went to shokudo to celebrate a birthday. The food was delicious of course but the service and reservation policy is just terrible. We get seated and the waitress is quick to take orders which is nice but she could have given us a few moments to just relax. Drinks were ordered and we were hungry. We ordered our food and it started to come out fairly quickly. The waitress shares with another person from our party that there is a 2 hour limit and then we need to go. I was more upset with the fact that there is a limit of how long you can be in a restaurant. If you want to kick us out then it says to me that you don't want our business. It really spoiled the experience. I work in the service industry and it's the service that brings most customers back. I will not be going to Shokudo for any type of celebrations.
(2)Candice D.
Say it with me now: "Unagi bowl" Yes this place may be a tad too talked about, but I think it lives up to the hype. I actually went here *after* hearing all the hype and still was pretty happy with the results. I think that the menu's kinda half and half, meaning that half the things i've ordered were superb,and half the things i've ordered were just "okay". If you want to feel like you've gotten your money's worth, I would order the Unagi bowl, the seafood salad, and the tofu salad. Go ahead and throw your own ideas in there, these are the menu items that are my favorite. I think that the dessert is awesome, though it gets a little boring halfway through because there's just so much of the same flavor throughout. The ambiance of this restaurant is to die for, it was designed well and gives you a feeling of a more upperclass restaurant/lounge without the really painful prices. The prices are kind of painful, though, especially compared to most restaurants in Hawaii. It's got more of a California portion for the money. Free & easy parking in the building's built-in parking structure, which makes it a nice experience. Note that if you have someone in a wheelchair, though, it will be easier to drop off that person on the side (there's a little side part where you can safely stop for a minute) as the parking garage is not 100% wheelchair compliant. If you're looking for interesting japanese fusion food and a strong drink, this is the place for you.
(4)Royden A.
I love getting a chance to eat here! From the regular to happy hour menu everything is good. You can go in dressed casual and come by yourself and sit at the bar or come with a bunch of friends, then you can order all kinds of different food to try! Some of my favorite things are the vodka sodas (grape) and the honey toast. Theres no way to describe it but to say you gotta try the honey toast for yourself cause its soo awesome! Parking is readily available in the same building and its free. If you plan to come in a big group i would say call ahead and make a reservation, i've never had a problem getting seated just coming with two or three people.
(4)Christa W.
hey, chick at the bar. SCREW YOU. i can drink as much champagne as i want. and who the hell orders it by the glass anyway ?!?! everything else about this place rules, btw.
(5)Aisha C.
This place is particularly popular for their Udon noodles from what i heard from my local Hawaiian friends so we decided to check it out! i thought the decor was pretty hip, modern and loud. we ordered some rolls, udon noodles and their grilled items, i thought it was just ok and did not taste good to me! however ill give it 3 stars just because we went back there twice to get their dessert called "HONEY TOAST" thats the only best thing on their menu and the only thing ill go back for.
(3)Krystal T.
Shokudo has good food, but somewhat steep prices. It's the kind of place you would go to if you're craving some garlic shrimp and honey toast. All the menu items are pretty good: the spicy ahi roll, the tempura, the rice dishes, etc. The atmosphere is pretty relaxed, and the crowd is usually on the younger side. The service is somewhat of a hit or miss. On the numerous occasions I've come here, I'd have to say that half the time the service was below standard expectations. I still remember the waitress who was in such a foul mood when about a dozen of us had come to celebrate a birthday, this was over a year ago. She got a bunch of our orders wrong, mixed-up, or forgotten altogether, and clearly wasn't even apologetic about it. We had her again tonight, and she was much more polite. Other times, the host or hostess is bad with customer interaction and makes it clear they don't enjoy their job at all. I guess it's a hit or miss with the service here. Happy hour is pretty good if you're craving some good ol' honey toast. There's a late night happy hour menu where all the items listed are $3.00. Jr. Honeytoast is on that menu. A simple dish: toast, honey, ice cream. But executed so well here. A few drink specials are also on the menu, and I've usually gotten an order of some sort of sake. This isn't my favorite place to go to (unless it's to get my honey-toast fix), but I would definitely recommend it. The food is decent, just a little pricey.
(3)Shar K.
Really like the bar and food at this resturant. went a couple of times with friends and really enjoyed it. The vodka soda's are really good and the bread desert is really yummy. price range isn't that expensive, or from what i remember. I liked the sushi pizza it was something that i a new way to look at sushi, and very yummy. would definetly go again...mmmmm!!!!!
(4)Yena W.
This restaurant is huge. You can clearly see it on Kapiolani and is right next to another huge restaurant, Angelo Pietro, home of the famous salad dressing. I guess because it's so huge, I've never had to wait for a table, but that does not mean this place isn't bustling. The other reason to go to Shokudo is for the trendy and young ambience. It has a sleek urban look with lots of oversized ceiling fixtures and dim lighting with candles on the table, and they always decorate for every holiday. The restaurant looked even more red than normal during the week of Valentine's Day with red heart balloons everywhere. And now that I actually think about it, I don't think I've ever seen a senior citizen patronize this place. It is usually a young crowd here. There is a full bar, and all the drinks on the drink menu are fruit based, sweet and weak cocktails. And last but not least, Shokudo is like a Japanese Chili's - their menu is large with something for everyone. Ramen, udon, gyoza, sushi, agedashi tofu, yukari fries, salads with light vinaigrettes, hot stone mixed rice, curry, and on and on and on. The best thing to eat hands down though is the honey toast. You just have to get it. And I believe they donate part of the honey toast sales to tsunami victims of Japan. But charity or not, it's good enough to eat on its own merit. Overall, it's a fun place to go eat and drink with your young friends.
(3)Cindy L.
The thing that sticks out in my mind was the horrible service. The 4 of us ordered quite a bit of food. There wasn't enough room for all the plates, and our server was very slow to remove empty plates. She also wasn't good at checking in on us, refilling water, or giving us more napkins. I ordered the pineapple vodka soda. It was refreshing, but super weak and sure didn't look like the one in the picture. Where was my pineapple ring? The food was alright. We ordered the: *spicy tuna roll (not spicy at all) *tofu salad (kind of bland) *sushi pizza (interesting concept, just alright) *mochi cheese gratin (way tastier than it looked, would order it again) *char-siu pork (not bad, would order it again) *hamachi carpaccio (delicious, definitely would order it again) *crispy flounder (fish was bland, but tasted great with ponzu) *unagi rice (good, but our server didn't do a very good job mixing it) We ended the meal with the honey toast. 2 super thick slices of toast with honey drizzled topped with ice cream. Interesting concept, pretty tasty, but for $7, I'll be making this at home.
(3)Lorinne N.
Food was awesome I especially live the garlic shrimp rice, but the place was slow and we had to wait awhile to get served. Our waiter was great but he was definitely working his ass off with all the tables he had. Went on off hours like after 2pm.
(3)Jodie B.
I was treated to dinner here for my birthday by my sister, her husband, our good friend. It was the first time that I had the honey toast and it was awesome! What's not to like? Toasty japanese style white bread, butter, honey, ice cream, more honey! Yum-o! I'm a dessert person so I always save room for dessert and this one did not disappoint! The food was okay, but I would come here just for the honey toast!
(4)Shige O.
Def. a huge fan of this place. Food is always a winner and so are there deserts and sake and other alcohol selections. Service is always good when i go as well. Free parking, fairly casual dress. Def. good for large groups as well. Happy hour and late night menus are offered which are even better! The honey toast by far Ive had them all and i love them all. Def. puts a twist on Japanese styled food and drinks. Also a huge fan of the green tea float. Located in front of alamoana shopping mall along kapiolani blvd. Def. not a hard place to find at all.
(4)Paul T.
I have been reading yelp reviews for a long time now, and I have finally joined as a member. It's only fitting that by first review is for Shokudo. Great food--try the fried tofu--tasty libations, and ample parking even though I usually walk over there. 5 stars because It is consistently a great place to take my fiancee for a date, or just show my friends from out of town a good time. Always good service, and reasonable prices. You can't miss the honey toast. Bring an appetite!
(5)Lea K.
Honey toast and spicy ahi nachos on happy hour....YES please!
(3)Mark S.
I was really skeptical and hesitant about this place, but as always everything was fine once I saw the menu and found things that I could eat. Here are the items that tried: Char-Siu Pork & Japanese Scallions Those small and lean strips were e pretty tasty and flavorful, especially with the sauce that was provided. Chicken Karaage w/Spicy Tartar Sauce Not the greatest chicken karaage I've had, but not bad either. What made this dish was tartar sauce which wasn' that spicy. Beef Tataki on Balsamic Sushi A MUST HAVE if you go here. small strips of meat on top of rice. Man, it's so good! One of the best dishes we had here. Ishiyaki Stone Bowl - Rice Curry This was my main meal of the evening. Pretty darn good except for the broccoli and carrots that I don't like. Also, I'm always a little nervous anytime there are raw eggs involved with dishes that need to be mixed in right away. Once I got everything mixed together though it was smooth sailing. They're curry wasn't that bad. Dessert - Honey Toast w/Chocolate Now I'm going to start off by saying I was expecting good things from this Honey Toast. From the moment we entered the restaurant EVERYONE seemed to be ordering it. And in all honesty everyone that I saw come out looked really good too. Well, when we finally got ours it wasn't really all that it was cracked up to be. The bread itself was ok. While you got a lot of it, I was expecting a little more sweetbread like taste. Another downer was that we only got two scoops of ice cream with it. Chunks of bread filled the rest of our hollowed out pieces of toast. Definitely not what I was expecting. -------- As for the rest of my experience there . . . be sure not to dress up when you go there. The AC system is terrible when the place is close to capacity. When we asked our waitress about it she apologized profusely and basically told us that while the AC was on, it just doesn't work very well when the restaurant gets full. Thank goodness we were almost done with our meal when it really started to get unbearable. I had to use our menu as a fan to keep myself cool. Other than this there weren't any other negative aspects to our dining experience. The service was good, food good, drinks good, and I thought the price was pretty reasonable.
(4)Kayla S.
Shokudo has been my favorite japanese resturant. The food is amazing but pricey so sometimes just going for dessert is something to consider too :) Save room for some yummy honey toast:) i love the cinnamon honey toast, its like a cinnamon roll x20. For food, i really like the tempura dishes :)
(4)Angie D.
We just went for the honey toast, but had a nice meal as well. I recommend going the " family style " route and trying a little of everything. the ahi sashimi was good, but expensive, the garlic steak was nicely done. The waiter did forget to put in one of our orders and by the time we remembered we didn't want it anymore. It's busy there, but it's a nice atmosphere. Great company makes it even better :)
(3)Tiffany G.
I am always satisfied with Shokudo :) I think I've ate about everything on the menu and I feast here.. and I MEAN FEAST. Spicy tuna on crispy rice, chicken karaage, garlic shrimp, and yeah.. all that good stuff. Especially the honey toast. :) brightens my day. Out of all the experiences at shokudo, the food has always been consistently tasty for me. Sometimes the wait can be a bit long and the service inconsistent. but I've met alot of admirable customer service providers. One particular night, I had the best service here. My boyfriend and I had just been turned away from ridiculous Red Lobster who said they'd seat us up until 10 and at 9:50 or so turned us away even after me confirming with them on the phone while parking. So first, we get to Shokudo and Mark or Ryan (the hosts) get our name. We already expect to be waiting awhile for our seats, as is the usual at Shokudo on such a busy night. But as we're waiting, the host comes to us and asks us if we're 21 and checks our ID. He offers us a table in the over 21 area using his OWN INITIATIVE! Great service there! We're seated within 5 minutes of putting our name in. Then, we order a feast (maybe 7 or more dishes) and yes its that good. We get our food in a timely manner and don't get any snickering or weird looks for feasting. Sitting at a table in view of the kitchen, I see the general manager Chris (or as I've concluded him as the GM from previous experiences) with an apron on. I tell my boyfriend how amazing that is that he's helping out when they're low on staff. But then, as the night continues on and we're for our garlic rib eye steak, Chris shows up with the steak plate in hand and explains to us that it's the last steak. He says that its too small for his standards and wants to know if we still want it, he doesn't want to rip us off. I'm amazed by this and say that we still want it. And he says, I'll dock off $5 since it's not up to standard. Without us even asking! GREAT SERVICE! That's when i realize that they're not low on staff, this GM is going above and beyond, inspecting and quality controlling the dishes that are coming out of the kitchen! There needs to be more service providers and manager like this in food establishments. The food here is awesome and its definitely being run by the right people.
(5)Sam S.
1st and foremost, i LOVE the saketini!!! it's goes down as easy as water, and is as smooth as silk! Homemade sangria taste a lot like arbor mist sangria. The food itself is good. I have eaten a lot of their menu: Honey Toast! - Yum! Banana Foster - is ok, I don't think i'd be ordering this again. Garlic Shrimp Rice - good! Homemade tofu salad - one of my favorites! Tempura calamari - comes with a mayo & wasabi dip, which pairs nicely if you like mayo :D Mochi cheese Gratin - This is different and innovative, I like it Lobster Dynamite - is good, but very rich Chicken Karrage - special Pork Gyoza - nothing special Service itself, is poor.
(4)Amit G.
I have been here two-three times. Last time was the best experience because we just ordered a bunch of appetizers including sushi, pizza, and tempuras. The food was came out quickly, and was delicious. We ended with honey toast filled with ice cream, and it was just as delicious as I remembered it from the time before. If you're wondering, three-four people can comfortably share one of those big suckers (or two just extra-hungry people). They also have a full bar so you can get your choice of beverages.
(4)Rachel M.
Horrible, horrible! I talked a group of friends to come have lunch with me and my boyfriend (the first time we were all able to finally hang out outside of work) at Shokudo. Going soley off of recommendations we went on father's day which surprisingly wasn't as packed as I expected. The hostess was meek and would barely utter a word as she got us a table. She mumbled something about $40 for the buffett but we didn't think it would be $40 per head and that the table menu wasn't valid during certain times of the day. So we got squished into a back room because we had kinder (aka, little boy) with us and was served by a very nice waitress. She was streched out however and we were left to sit and wait for a while for our drinks. The food was basic at best. Sushi was nothing to scream about. I've had WAY better at Kozo sushi. The food was all typical local and Japanese meats with some salads. It was not really impressive to any of us and nothing looked really appetizing so much so, we were ready to ditch even before dessert. However, our kind waitress talked us into some honey toast before we left. It was alright however everyone could taste a DISTINCT flavor of garlic on our cinnamon sugar toast! Who puts garlic on that??! I can make that stuff easy at home. In fact I could make all of this stuff at home for way cheaper and it would be way better. Anyway, the king kicker was the $180 bill. For four adults and a little one...we all nearly sh*t ourselves. I believe it was a mutual desicion from everyone to never return to Shokudo. We could have gone to Buca de Beppo on Ward and had twice the food, 10 times better, for half the price! Shokudo= mediocre service + mediocre food + break the bank prices. Never again!
(1)Leea P.
What a joke! I've been a long standing customer @ Shokudo only to be literally standing long! If the hostess did not tell me it was only a half hour wait that turned into an hour, I would've gone somewhere else instead of wasting my time. When I spoke with the manager he did absolutely NOTHING to rectify the situation or COMPENSATE MY TIME. I never look out for freebies but a free drink or something would've made things a flow better instead of showing no effort whatsoever! Whoever hired the manager should really reconsider because he was not a professional. However my waiter was on point. He did a great job serving us. The quesadilla was a bit soggy but everything else was great. Wish the management would step it up to keep their loyal customers. Totally reconsidering on whether or not I should stop recommending guests staying @ the hotel that I work @ if the service is poor & misleading. Even though the food is good, service AND food quality go hand in hand. Customer service should never be compromised. What a bummer!
(2)Thi L.
Went here with a co-worker to grab some pau hana pupus & drinks. We sat at the bar and were greeted by the friendly bartender. She was very nice & smiley as were the rest of the wait staff. Ordered from the $3 happy hour menu: sweet spud fries (good), ume cucumber (good), teriyaki chicken quesadille with cilantro sauce (omg, this was a surprising tasty combo), garlic ahi (cook your own on the hot plate) and the mini honey toast (not very mini at all and those cubes of buttery-honeyed bread...mmm). It was all very tasty & was enough to serve as dinner. I think the bill came out to $30 something inlcuding the drinks, not bad at all.
(4)Brandon B.
Shokudo is an award winning Japanese-style cuisine restaurant most notable for its contemporary decor and zany dishes. People pack the restaurant at peak times enjoying the ambience, which is a lot better towards larger groups of people going out for a special occasion (somewhat lounge-like). There is a bar, which offers a strong selection of spirits that goes hand in hand with the style of dining Shokudo offers. If you decide to pay a visit, you best prepare yourself for a decently large bill. Shokudo likes to base the menu around izakaya style dining, which are kind of like small side dishes that you order when you are drinking (aka. ala-carte dining). This comes in handy when you like to share with a few friends when you feel adventurous to pick some of the more interesting dishes they offer. Some of these include the cheese gratin mochi and the beef sushi. There are a few normal standalone dishes as well for those that want to play it safe. Either way you play it, it's still quite the price for each dish and trying out many types of dishes in izakaya style can rack up to a hefty amount. Unless you're in love with the style or feel no pain at the bill, Shokudo is more of a novel place to visit once or twice for a special occasion or night out. It's best to try out its culture fusion dishes and make a loving or hating memory of it.
(3)Cary I.
had some time to kill so we decided to check it out... we sat at the bar. the service was a bit slow but i'd expect that at the bar. we had the hamachi carpaccio, sushi pizza and the lobster dynamite roll. i got these because they're out of the norm...they were good, but i wouldn't say GREAT. the carpaccio was the best blend of tastes out of the 3. the atmosphere was very nice though. most likely going back soon to try more of their other dishes.
(4)Kaili N.
it's actually more like 3.5 stars. my mom loves this place. it was only recently that i came around and started to actually enjoy it, too. the menu selection and food seems to be better than when they first opened. we always order: agedashi tofu, beef tataki sushi, ramen (surprisingly really good!), and chocolate honey toast. the spinach salad is okay, but i haven't had it in a while. we've also stopped by a couple of times just for dessert and they never made us feel awkward. i also like that they are open late, prices are decent, servers are pleasant, parking is hassle-free, it's clean and casual. only weird thing is if you are seated on the kitchen side of the restaurant - there's a glass where you can see the cook's faces...and they are always staring down at all of the girls. i never noticed until my bf pointed it out...but now i can't stop noticing! seat us on the other side, please!
(4)Tin T.
Went to shokudo last nite for my bday dinner with friends. So a friend of mine waited around 8:30pm for the happy hour waiting list. When almost everyone arrived around 9:30pm. The hostess sat us down on a cocktail table and said we will be seated at 10pm at the regular table. 10:00pm came around and not seated. 10:15 rolled around and we were still not seated. Finally, a friend of mine asked the hostess that we are ready to be seated. And the hostess tells us (in a snobby way) "oh I'm sorry but I just gave your table to a party of 18 ppl who just walked in." so we had to sit on the cocktail table. Dinner was good but our waitress(Jennifer) was not really there to serve us. She took our orders and left. The only time she came to us is when we got her attention. So 12am rolls around and we're ready to leave. It takes her 45 mins to get our check. Spoke to the manager on duty and just said sorry. That's not acceptable and that was it. We were very upset that nothing was done about anything. We should of ate at sweet home cafe. Better service and their friendly. Never going back to shokudo again!!
(1)B. D.
I love this sushi place.. also love the late-night summer hours! For the days we spent in Hawaii.. we went here 3 times!!! I love the mochi gratin, tofu salad, and the bi bim bap and eel in the hot stone pot. The drinks are delicious and I can't wait to take my family here the next time we all go. Homemade tofu... wow! I'm definately coming back here when I return.
(5)Stephen B.
This place kicks butt, the Sushi Pizza in particular is not what I expected, you gotta try it out. For dessert I had the Honey Toast, topped with real honey and ice cream, simple but delicious. The place can get packed though, and service will trail behind.
(4)Erika B.
#NAME?
(3)Tyler D.
Not bad at all...They have a nice selection of food. Nothing knocks me out here, but I like the variety, and the style of the place is pretty unique. I like to sit at the bar and eat a little while I drink. The girls seem to like the saketini type drinks here. I sipped one a few times and they are pretty tasty.
(3)Christina L.
Shoku-what?? Pretty good for my first time here. I love sushi so much, but I wasn't ultimately feeling what they served-it's just "A-OK" in my book. The place is cool, waitresses may need some help, but one thing that will stand out is their dessert menu. From their Honey Toast to their banana flambe. Very impressive.
(3)Sara C.
This is a really good place to go with a group of friends because you can order a few different things and share with everyone to cut costs... however if you're like me you'll end up spending that extra money on the vodka soda drinks because they are so damn tasty! I order the lilikoi vodka drink with Grey Goose (yes the better vodka REALLY makes a difference in this case!) and it's so delicious. Someone else complained that it tasted like a watered down drink with some sugary substance to it, but I completely disagree. I'm sure it all depends on who is mixing the drinks that night, but I've almost always had great drinks here. Anyway about the food: It's good, very good in fact. I like that the menu is pretty diverse and there is something for the sushi lovers as well as the people who don't like seafood. I'm one that isn't big on seafood and I really love their Soba Omelet and teriyaki chicken pizza. My husband loves their unagi rice bowl, he gets it every time. Other people have mentioned the honey toast, and it is worth getting if you've never had it before, it's very good. They have some other 'toast' deserts such as chocolate syrup instead of honey, or strawberries, but I think the original honey toast is the best. The staff at Shokudo has always been very friendly, and we've found that the food comes out pretty fast, even when you have a large group of 10 or more people. Parking is pretty easy as there is a garage attached to the building, but sometimes it's full so I recommend parking at Ala Moana and walking, it's only a 2 minute walk.
(5)Samantha S.
Would've been a 5 star review if I JUST had the honey toast but the food was subpar. I decided to have multiple dishes to sample the traditional food choices. Lobster Dynamite with Toast ... Seemed really popular at the restaurant but when I had it ... I wish I hadn't ordered it. I really wanted the sushi pizza but they were out. The combination of jalapeño, rice and tuna seemed promising. The salmon hot pot thing was pretty good ... Standard though but I would order it again. The chicken karage was tasty but once again didn't blow me away. Now the moment I had the honey toast I wish I didn't order any of the previous dishes because if I could have downed 2 orders of honey toast I would. The butter ... The honey ... The texture of the toast and to top it all off the very awesome high quality vanilla ice cream were absolutely the only reason I'd come back ... They had variations of the toppings and ways you could dress it up but original was amazing enough for me.
(3)Kyle W.
The Miso spicy ramon was great along with the lobster roll. It gets crowded later at night. But a great place to go eat.
(4)Margaret B.
Cool stylish decor. Interesting creative menu with some standouts. Homemade Tofu and Sushi Pizza were great. Honey Toast was interesting - not sure if i would have it again or try something different. The Hot Dishes looked awesome - will try that next time.
(4)Grimeater A.
Shokudo was on it's way to my 4 star bracket until my last visit. I've always fancied their so called "Sangria", but they just serve it with too much ice. I don't wanna pay good money for ice!!! I understand that ice is cost efficient for restaurants but when my drink is 88% ice I get turned off no matter how good it is. This sangria already comes in the shortest glass in the restaurant so extra ice is a even bigger jip. I thought I outsmarted them when I ordered my Sangria with light ice...boy was I wrong. I got a half filled glass with half ice. They gave me less ice alright, too bad they gave me less Sangria too. Considering I ordered 6 dishes plus dessert for just me and my gf I didn't expect them to be so cheap over a beverage. Just had to get that off my chest...on to the food now. The "hot" dishes are pretty good, especially the Chicken Karage. Make sure you stay away from the sushi. It's the worst sushi I've ever had in my life. Do try the Honey Toast for dessert. It's a simple dish but it works.
(2)May B.
Came here after 10:00pm after a very loooong day & I must say this restaurant is awesome!! The decor is fabulous and the food itself was delicious. I had the red eye roll and the lobster dynamite while the bf had the loco moco (served in a clay pot!) and shrimp tempura roll topped it off with dessert which was the French toast with ice cream! Loved the French toast & simply love the food! Will def. Come back again!
(5)renee i.
Over the weekend I went here for lunch. I wish I ordered something other than the shrimp and vegetable tempura. It wasn't as tasty as I thought. I mean, how can you go wrong with tempura, right? It didn't have the crispy-ness i liked. However, two other people I was with ordered the hot pot dishes and their meals looked way yummier! I would definitely go back to this place but not order tempura. The interior is modern and the staff is very friendly. The seating feels very intimate even with the people who aren't sitting with your party. The seats are really close to each other and I could overhear other people's conversations. Although, maybe some people enjoy that.
(3)Stacey K.
most of the seafood is frozen, then defrosted, then served. except for maybe the lobster dynamite, which is yummmmmyyy. that and the bibimbap is prob your best choice. even though the dolsotbibimbap tends to burn
(2)Rueben B.
went there for lunch one day, host was rude from beg. to end. food - average price- totally over price serv.-average
(2)Rania L.
The food here was bland and unmemorable.... Only one person in our party was raving about the food...everyone else was just eating like they had to because we paid for it. The crazy toast and ice cream dessert is just retarded...who came up with such an idea... its not bad, but do you really want to eat a giant slice of bread with ice cream??? not me...
(2)Miki L.
I've eaten 4-5 times at the bar, never in the actual restaurant seating. Service at the bar tends to be consistent and good. The drink menu features some interesting Asian beers you don't normally see, several sakes and a bunch of blended and mixed fancy cocktails. They have a $3 happy hour food menu, featuring a nice selection of little plates. Nice for groups of folks who enjoy nibbling. I had the cucumber salad and edamame, both a great start to the evening. They've got some happy hour drink specials, but seems they ran in the $6-7 range. (Not the happiest happy hour prices.) Happy hour ends at 6 pm. Also order the chicken karaage. Nothing to write home about. The seared garlic ahi was nice (for $10). Free parking in the building at night. After all is said and done, Shokudo is a good end-of-the day stop for a group looking for a drink and a nibble.
(3)Chad F.
Ate here last week while in town for business. Are server was excellent and made sure everything we order arrived on time, hot and tasty. The items on the menu are meant to be shared family style. The Hamachi carpacho was very good, the hot stone pots also rocked. Several different sytles. The spicy miso ramen was Killer as well. The items were filling and the prices are a little high, however the food was good. The honey toast is a must for that sweet treat at the end.
(4)Jennifer D.
Does the thought of mochi topped with melted cheese and seaweed in soba broth make you cringe with horror? Try it and your taste buds will sing with delight!
(3)janne c.
love this place! open late, fantastic atmosphere and good food. it's not the best but it def hits the spot for lunch, dinner or a late night get together. Free parking in the building is always a plus. So far I've tried: tofu salad, bi bim bap, unagi on rice, ramen, chicken teriyaki, sushi pizza, chicken karage, yukari fries and of course the honey toast! I absolutely love this desert! I've also tried the green tea shaved ice def worth trying if the honey toast is sold out. i never leave this place unsatisfied!
(4)Jessica C.
ONO, baby! Went with a group of 8 or so and ate our brains out - seriously. Then again, what else do we do? There's nothing like bumping into people around town in Hawaii, and that's something we ended up doing here as well. Great table, great decor, ambiance, this place was happening and I loved every second of it. Food - big menus with lots of appealing entrees, apps, etc. to order. I didn't get the frou-frou drinks but I hear they are legit. Food wise, we got the fresh tofu - in fact, we added another order because it was so good, mochi cheese gratin - really flavorful, sushi pizza - good, the ramen tasted realllly good, and the salmon and roe bimbimbap style rice and we had miso salmon. I might have missed a few dishes as all the sake my cousin was pouring was definitely hitting my head. Dessert of course - is that coffin bread thing - good stuff! Where is this type of place in SF or the Bay? I can't wait to go back to Hawaii to have this place again.
(5)James W.
Wow! My new favorite place! As someone who has lived in the U.S. and in Japan, it has been impossibly difficult to find a restaurant that encompasses the essence of both cultures at the same time... Until now. Shokudo offers a delicious menu with a delightfully friendly and sophisticated staff. If ever you get a chance to venture into this exciting little world that is Shokudo, I highly recommend sitting at the bar. You will be greeted promptly and graciously by the cheery bartenders who welcome you with a smile. I am still uncertain as to how they manage to eclipse the excitement of the beer tap flowing, shakers shaking, and the blender busily bustling, but somehow it just worked. I was overwhelmed simply watching all these beautiful drinks being carefully assembled ever so effortlessly. I felt as if I had redeemed my golden ticket and now was free to wonder about Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Jaw on floor and drool flooding bar, I was unable to decide on a drink order when asked. Fortunately, the helpful bar staff (Yui?? and Jess??) were there to my rescue. Charmingly personable, yet professionally prompt, they were able to accommodate my palate with both food and beverage. Trust me, trust them. They know best. Even our server (Brian?) made me feel welcome when he acknowledged my (the bartender's) great selections. I have honestly never been to a high quality bar or restaurant that has made me feel more at home than Shokudo. This humble review cannot do the place justice. Hats off to the chefs, servers and bartenders for making this place magical.
(5)Lance C.
The honey toast icecream here is so good... I need to find some thick Japanese style bread to make this on my own. Also tried their martini, koyuki, not very impressed. I like the concept and ideas though. I would consider this place as a good place to chill at late night.
(4)Meep M.
I really like the decor and energy, but the service is a bit slow. The food is different, but just OK. I do love their honey toast with strawberry or caramel! It's verrrryyyyyy sweet, yummy, but fattening. They do have a lot of yummy drink specials and also sangria, which not a lot of places serve. All in all, a great place for friends, but not on the top of my list of places I frequent.
(3)Myles k.
HONEY TOAST!! Ok ok. We took pictures of it.... and they do not do justice for its humungo size! This place is great. I'm so glad one of the people in our groups knew of this restaurant. 1. The decor is beautiful. 2. Our waiter was awesome. He recommended us great dishes. 3. The food was yummy. 4. Dessert was even better. 5. The Lychee Vodka soda was good-- good enough, without a hard kick to it! I'd highly recommend it!
(5)maria o.
Came here with my friends after work last week. The food was ok, but next time ill come here just to eat their honey toast and ice cream, its super good.
(3)Jason G.
What's more important, substance or style? We make that decision almost every day, from the clothes we wear and cars we drive, to the company we keep and neighborhoods we choose to call home. The question is also relevant when choosing a watering hole. Do cheap beer prices justify a lower standard when it comes to service and overall cleanliness? Why drink at the classiest joint in town if a college kid at a keg party can make a better cocktail than the guy they've got tending bar? Open since 2005, Shokudo Japanese Restaurant and Bar continues to enjoy steady business from curious Honolulu residents. A diverse menu, coupled with innovative interior design, have made it an instant hit among both late-night scenesters and families looking for an affordable dining alternative to Zippy's or MAC 24/7. The key to an enjoyable drinking experience at Shokudo is to realize what this place is and what it isn't. As the first American location of 50 planned for the next decade, it's definitely an ambitious attempt by owner Tetsuya Emura to get everything right the first time. He enlisted the help of Japanese designer Yasumichi Morita, who also planned the layout for upscale Manhattan eatery Megu. A private dining room, two semi-private tables and a tiered seating area are a cut above the usual rectangular space with a bar at one end. And the emphasis isn't entirely on drinking -- the English translation of Shokudo is "dining room," not to be confused with an izakaya, or Japanese-style pub that offers food. More than 60 items are served here, with seasonal specials rotating in and out every couple of months. Shokudo's 2 a.m. closing time also means you can avoid the dinner crowd and slide through for a few before moving on to The O Lounge, Venus or Zen. Eight different types of sake, two kinds of shochu and plum wine provide alternatives to the usual martini choices. Although I didn't realize it at the time, my first drink here provided fantastic insight. Shokudo currently offers Budweiser in a 16-ounce aluminum bottle, and I found myself hooked by the shiny new container. But halfway into my beer, I realized I was drinking just another bottle of Bud. Mixing simple with sophisticated kicks up the cool factor enough for patrons to forget about spotty service or weak drinks, and still recommend it to friends. Oversized paper lanterns and a curtain of wooden slats connected by S-shaped metal links make you want to stop and stare. But keep in mind that a reputation as the trendy alternative can only last so long before people get bored and move on. For now, Shokudo remains a must-visit for the upwardly mobile young professional with friends to impress and money to burn. starbulletin.com/2005/07…
(3)Jodi J.
This place is ok. The pricing is a little high and they have so much going on with their menu. I have never been to a Japanese place that specialized in everything. Shokudo seems to be spread a litle thin. That being said my lunch was yummy. I had Ramen of some sort. Hubby had a bento box. We also ordered someGyoza which were actually very delicious. Iw ould go here again and probably limit my self to the cooked options the sushi isnt the greatest.
(3)Maria T.
A friend and i happened upon this place by accident. Of course I've heard of Shokudo, but I wasn't planning on coming this particular night. After driving around for more than hour to find another popular sushi bar, I said let's just go here , that way I can try their ever popular honey toast. We weren't sure about parking, so we just parked behind the building at the mall. The wait was approximately 45 minutes, but we sat at the bar in ten. There was A LOT of people there! I suppose that's Friday night in Honolulu! The place was bustling with all kinds of different people and running wait staff. Service was awesome. My friend had a lychee mohito, made with shoju that was out-of-this-world! Dam the laws that be, or else I would have sat there at the bar, drinking until I embarrassed myself. We had shrimp tempura that was crispy and light and flavorful. We also ordered some various rolls that were quite tasty. The reason why I don't really remember exactly which rolls we had, was because we were just pointing to things on the menu, one of these, one of these, one of these. Yeah, we were hungry. But I Do remember that everything was fantastic, the service was great and the food was gone. Which sadly, left me no room for the Honey Toast. I will be back.
(4)Micah P.
Had unagi bowl and various appetizers. More of a trendy bar in my opinion than a restaurant. Food was decent but definitely nothing special. Lots of fruity drinks and a cool decor. Hit it up as a pregamer for drinks but as for the food...only if you're baked or drunk.
(2)Craig H.
This is a GREAT PLACE. I've been here a few time since I've moved back into town and really like the food, the atmosphere, the service and the price. Definitely one of my favorite little places with its art deco japanese style. I LOVE THE DYNAMO ROLLS- they are basically california rolls topped with the tastiest crab concoction ($12). Good little selection of beer and wine and they are priced right . I have found that the service is always good- young, good waiters and waitresses. It was one of the few Japanese inspired places in Honolulu that really reminded me of modern Tokyo. Lots of lights, color and wannabee hip furniture. I have tried a lot of very good things there (Tuna Tataki Salad comes to mind real quick), but I am not too sure about the dishes they like to serve in the hot bowl... not that they are bad, but just kind of average comfort foods like a mom's dish- not very flavorful. For better ventilation the windows should have been designed to open... or turn up the AC and fans. Overall- Shokudo is a winner.
(4)zoe s.
Mmmmm! Shokudo was a great experience. Good service, great food and great food presentation. My favorites that we ordered were the sushi pizza and mochi au gratin! The Caramel Honey Toast was great too! Yummy dinner and definitely have Shokudo on my list for the next time I'm in Hawai'i.
(5)Lourie A.
By far one of my favorite restaurants in Hawaii! The ambiance, the food, the service, and the extensive drink menu. We had a great time here on our visit this past January. They had some original menu items that were inventive but more importantly tasty...Japanese tapas! Since Shokudo is an ocean away, I'm glad to find out they have a sister restaurant here in the mainland (LA Area)!
(5)Levy O.
Shokudo is one of the few restaurants in Honolulu that's hard to miss. It's because the place is a gigantic red lantern-lit corner on Kapiolani Bvld! The first time I went to Shokudo was last year when I went for a visit and I have to say they were better back then. I had a pretty good impression of overall the foods and service last year. Now that I live here and became a frequent customer of Shokudo, I have to say that I'm bit dissapointed. Especially now they just changed their menu...or actually took several good things out of the menu, like their seafood salads. The foods in general is good, bit on the pricey side for the size. But I figure, you'd have to pay for the place and presentation. Their sushi and salads are in general good. Their pizza sushi is so-so..eventho it sounds like a good idea, but the execution was not so great. The bim bim bap and gyoza are bit too salty...but their Agedashi tofu is really good. The ambiance is quite nice. Eventho the red-themed interior exudes bit of sexiness from outside, inside is actually more like family restaurant (instead of a bar/lounge). Most patrons are there with groups of family & friends and sometimes there's too many birthdays in one night resulting in "Happy Birthday to you" song being sung way way to many times in 1 hour...(hint: guys, knock it off) Service is usually nice & friendly..(hey, they sing "Happy Birthday to you" 10x a night...I have to give those guys big credit) A little thing that bugs me about Shokudo is their alcoholic beverage service. Whenever I ordered wine, I notice that it depends on who pours it. Some gal pours a little, some pour bit extra. So if it's your lucky night, then you get more vino...if not, no vino for you!! Also, their vodka-mix drink is mostly water down that you're basically paying $6 for soda water and a splash of sugar. Overall, Shokudo is still an-okay family gathering place that serves decent foods with nice ambiance...so 3 stars. Oh, 1 more thing.....parking is easy...just park in the free garage behind it. But still,...3 stars....no more no less
(3)Guan-Tai C.
Easily the best restaurant we went to during our vacation in Oahu. The food was delicious and the decor was pretty cool. I loved the fact that menu had pictures of all the items, which made it much easier and even more appetizing when it came to ordering.
(4)Alyssa K.
I recommend getting one of the Nabes. I LOVE the Chanko Nabe. Order the big one and share!
(5)Beverly P.
Uhh..ok, it looks nice from the outside but trust me, you're not missing anything. The decor is cool and contemporary, but that's about it. We went there randomly for lunch because our pho place was full. Service was good, but the food was just OK. The sushi appetizer had hard rice and my bf's "cold" dishes still had tons of ice chips in it. Overall, I wouldn't go again.
(2)Kevin S.
The first truly unique restaurant that I've seen in Hawaii in a long time. Its basically Japanese tapas, but the food is soooo good. We had the deep fried tofu which is basically agedashi tofu kicked up a notch, the fried noodles, and the bimbimbop. All of it was really good. That said, definitely save room for desert as the honey toast is gooood. Also for you night owls its open till 2 am on Friday and Saturday and they have some very refreshing vodka drinks.
(5)Tracy Y.
I came here with friends over Labor Day weekend and thought the place pretty nice. I had the lychee vodka soda and thought that was very refreshing. We had the mochi cheese gratin, lobster dynamite, and beef tataki on balsamic sushi for appetizers. I loved the mochi cheese gratin! It's definitely worth trying if you're come here. The lobster dynamite was good, but there was nothing special about it and had very few lobster pieces. The beef tataki on balsamic rice was only okay. The beef was a little on the chewy side and the sushi rice could've used a little more flavor. We also order the old fashioned yakisoba and I was a little disappointed because it was lacking in flavor. My friends actually put soy sauce in theirs. The cinnamon honey toast that came with two scoops of vanilla ice cream made up for the dishes that were lacking in flavor so this place gets 3 stars.
(3)K K.
I've been to Shokudo numerous times and had an okay experience. The food is decent and service and atmosphere was good. This past weekend we went with a couple of friends and things were not the same. The food portion seemed to have shrunk. The place was dead and most people there were not ordering food. Drinks and dessert or just 1 or 2 dishes for the table. At first I thought it was kind of strange but after we got our orders I understood why. The portion size was small for the price they charge. $9.95 for 8 bite sized pieces of chicken? Are you kidding? Soy beans was over $5 and it looked like you only get 1/4 of a $1.29 frozen bag. After it was all said and then our bill was almost $200 and I hardly ate anything. The icing on the cake was when we got our bill it had 17% gratuity already added even though we didn't have a party big enough to warrant the charge. Oh well, saved us 3% of additional gratuity. Service was actually slow for the place being almost empty. If you're on a diet this place is great. Anyone heard of the "Shokudo diet"? :-)
(2)Mike S.
I have been 3 times, the first time the service and the food was excellent. The second and third time the service killed the overall ratings, therefore it received a 2 star...
(2)Ryan T.
This place is great. The bartenders are always friendly and attentive. The drinks aren't overpriced, and the food is always excellent. The menu changes every few months as well so you can always find something new and interesting to eat.
(5)Danny B.
A fusion of old and new Japanese style of cooking. The food is good, not the best I've tasted. Seating arrangements are decent. It's arranged in a weird staircase set up. Back to the food...the prices are some what decent. The appetizers are alright, not too much to choose from. The entrees on the other hand is different. Take a chance on something new and try out this restaurant, but it wouldn't be my first choice.
(3)Hnl -.
Happy hour (daily from 4-6) and after dark (mon - wed 10:30 pm - midnite) is THE BEST. They did recently change it from all items $3 to $3-$5, but still a good deal. Agedashi Eggplant, spicy tuna, and honey toast jr are a must for $3 each!!
(4)Tiffany K.
seems like there are some mixed reviews about this restaurant. anyhow, i came here with a large group of friends on my vacation in oahu. the service was pretty good here. our waiter was very nice and attentive. i actually didnt order any food, so i cant say much about it. however, the presentation of the food is very nice. i had ordered some desert and some friends ordered alcoholic drinks. We ordered the green tea shaved ice (red beans were yummy... but the shaved ice was not that soft), baked banana with ice cream (yummy!), and green tea cheesecake (yummy). also, i thought the sake sampler was very cool-looking. most of all, i was impressed with this restaurant because of the price. considering the location, interior design, and presentation of the food, the price is very low. maybe because im from the bay, it seems cheaper to us, im not sure if thats the case. but if anything, desert and alcohol is good here and a cool place to hang out with a group of people.
(4)Melelina I.
I've had better. Giving it 1 star for the decor since I can't give it lower than that...I've had wayyy better.... Reasons: Tried 3 different rolls: sushi pizza, lobster, & rainbow and the fish didn't taste fresh or good. The rice on the sushi pizza was hard. The lobster was like california roll with a splash of lobster. And the rainbow wasn't tasty at all coz the fish tasted old. Our drinks sucked and it wasn't one bartender coz 3 different ones made them! Dirty martini was very salty. Lychee mojito and lychee martini didn't have any alcohol. Cosmo tasted like sprite. Strawberry martini was like pure juice. Honey toast was very disappointing (I heard that's what they're famous for). I was looking forward to it after a bad meal, but it just didn't cut it. The bread tasted bland and dry even with the ice cream and honey. Last reason, everything was so expensive! We paid $120 for these and we weren't full or tipsy at all! Where's a mcdonalds since that's all we can afford now???
(1)Randall P.
A Friend and I randomly decided to grab a late night meal. Shokudo is a good late night change pace instead of Sorabol or Like Like Drive Inn. Sunday thru Thursday they're open till 1am and 2am on Friday and Sat. They have a modern decor and was dimly lit. We were seated right away without a wait. I ordered a tofu salad and the Agedashi tofu. It was delish! Shokudo also has a full bar with a decent list of sake. Another point in my book. I was left with a good first impression. nuff said.
(4)JAN I.
I think this restaurant is awesome. But this past Saturday I had visitors from the outer islands and it was about 1 am. I remembered they were open till 2 am so I figured take them there for late night munchies. What a disappointment they didn't take us in, saying that the kitchen is closed. They should have a cut off at 1:30 am instead of 1 am. But then again I don't want them spitting in our food.
(1)HeSaidSheSaid K.
SHESAID: We've been to Shokudo many a times and we always leave with a full belly and a satisfied smile on our faces. Recently, we caught their happy hour. Before I go into the review of the happy hour and seeing that this will be my first review of Shokudo, I must say something about a couple items on their regular menu. I love love love their spicy tuna crunchy sushi - it's like a party in your mouth. You get heat and a soft texture from the spicy tuna and the rice appears to have been seared on all sides making it warm and crunchy. The mochi cheese gratin is great. The fresh tofu is simple but the condiments they serve it with will definitely kick this dish up a notch - and it's a guilt-free, protein-packed appetizer. Oh, and the honey toast *sigh - let's just say you gotta save room for dessert. You know, I could really go on and on. But anyhow, Shokudo definitely uses their imagination when it comes to their menu, combining the unlikely and rarely ever is it a miss. Now happy hour, they have two - "before dark" 4pm to 6pm and "after dark" 10pm to 12am (i think) with a special menu where all items are $3. $3!!! We had the garlic edamame, spicy tuna nachos, spicy tuna roll (4pcs) and Cali roll (4pcs), ahi cassanova, and honey toast. They also have a few drink specials - I had a vodka soda (calpico) and he had an echigo. Bill came out to $18 for food and just about $14 for drinks. $18 for food!!! For good food too! HESAID: been to shokudo over 20 times. I really like the bi bim bap, garlic shrimp an the unagi hot pots. The honey toast with chocolate is just great. The beef tataki is very flavorful but it's really hit or miss on the quality of meat (That never stops me from ordering or finishing it tho!!). It's different but the mochi gratin is good too. Would have never tried it but a waitress suggested it. There's sooo much good food it's hard to choose just a few. We rwent for their happy hour wich has appetizers: $3 for a plate. We had 6 dishes between the two of us and that alone was just $18!!! Our drinks cost more than our food items. Shokudo will always be a place to frequent.
(4)LA Sunshine M.
Thanks fellow yelpers for the recommendation. The place is within five minutes of walking from the Convention Center. From the outside, the cool vide and brightly lit restaurant remind you of an expensive, but sub-par quality establishment. This is not one of those places. The waitress is very friendly and the food is very good. I heard that they have few places in California, under the name of Tokyo Table. I might go back there again before I leave!
(5)Mallory M.
hmm. maybe i would give this 1 and a half stars. just went there for my friends birthday. they actually gave us a time limit to be there and than kicked us out! i didn't even know that a place could do that. let alone a place thats alacarte? and with a tab over 200 and still going. we ordered the honey toast because it was his birthday but we never got it because they were in a rush to kick us out and give us our bill. if it wasn't for good company and the yummy garlic shrimp rice i would have given this 1 star! oh and i would like to say that the red roll SUCKS ASS. idk if i'll give this one another chance.
(2)miss b.
Good, forward-thinking restaurant for Honolulu. At least they try to be creative, sometimes successful, sometimes less so. Trendy vibe lends great atmosphere for a lively date. FOOD: I like a big menu with lots of creative selections. Something for everyone to try something new! ~Yukari french fries: had some weird dried seaweed thing sprinkled over it. An attempt to be creative, but needs more focus on taste. ~Sashimi: was pretty good. Nice selection. ~Garlic marlin seared on hot plate: I think the searing needs to be done on the whole block of fish before slicing because the end result on such a small piece of fish is always less than fabulous (fish ends up sticking to the hot plate, looking molested & ragged). I like do-it-yourself things though, like their DIY sushi roll dish. Cute. ~Chicken karaage with spicy tartare sauce: nice touch with the sauce! ~Love the HONEY TOAST! Definitely GOT TO GET SOME! Damn there are still so many things I want to try, like the stir-fried udon with king crab, oxtail ramen, mochi cheese gratin & their cute selection of floats. SERVICE: Rather young & amateur. My friend said the waitress (who was like 18) was flirting with her boyfriend (who's in his 40s). RUDE! Don't sell yourself for a tip, otherwise you might as well hit Hotel Street. I was disappointed with the service the 3x I went as well. DECOR: Awesome decor. Big room feels too big, not cozy at all. I like the steps side better, where the graduated steps are trippy, and there's better lighting, too. BATHROOM: Good. OVERALL: Good gimmicky place for something different. Ahead of the curve in Hawaii, a touch of mainland style, but not entirely successful gastronomically.
(4)Gary L.
Do you like tapas? Do you like looking cooler than you really are? Well here's an izakaya type restaurant which will sure to set your tastes and fashion sense on fire. Located near the Ala Moana mall, this chic restaurant has a contemporary design and for whatever reason every patron was well dressed ready for a night of casual dining with their friends. I felt a little under-dressed in my "This is my Damn" T-Shirt with jeans, but I would come back and wear a "Master Debater" T-Shirt with no shame or regrets. Regardless, it's a casual dining spot for sure. Go ahead and wear as little as possible, I'm sure you'll still get served. The prices are a little steep but for the most part the food is decent and again the environment is really what you pay for. The food ordered will come in smaller shareable portions and I would particularly recommend the fried Tofu there. To end your Shokudo experience, you can not leave without ordering honey toast. This thing comes with two massive slices of buttered toast, drizzled in honey, and topped with two scoops of ice cream. You may be thinking "big deal I can take two pieces of toast and slap ice cream and honey on them." Well let me tell you something. Many have tried and all have failed. Your pathetic attempt of a honey toast creation will never be as good as Shokudo. NEVER. Don't even try. Forget about it. Concede to the greatness that is Shokudo honey toast!!!
(4)Cheryl D.
Lauren took me here for my bday dinner date with her and it was great! I loved the design. In pricey SF space they would never do the lovely design and art-itecxture they did here. The food is cheap! everythings like $10 unless you order a steak or something. Tofu with bonito was really good, big portion, steak perfect. Garlic Shrimp bibimbap - it was good, and I LOVE crispy rice. But I was sad to see a puddle of oil in the bottom. I loved the honey-toast. I love Hawaiian Bread alone - but this, this! Not too sweet, and big for a dessert! It might be dry if i weren't for the ice cream! (OH YEAH thankz Lauren for making me look like a fool sitting there as the staff sang - you took video and it looked like I asked them to sing for me because I was by myself - moded.)
(4)Tiffany Y.
Love this place. The Honey Toast is awesome and the Lychee vodka soda is my fave drink here!
(5)Cin G.
Love this restaurant. They dont require a reservation, they are open late and its decor with the hanging lanterns are cool. I love the menu, the sushi and all the different things ive tried for myself and sharing with friends and family all taste good and the prices are reasonable so you cant go wrong.The foot long katsu was too much even for my hungry nephew, he only ate half and fell asleep ha ha... I am in love with the honey toast dessert! We had a party of 10 so we took a booth and 2 ladies next to us let us have a table they had next to them that was unoccupied so we could extend our table for some friends arriving late with our kids. The wait staff was friendly and good even with all of us ordering lots of items. We did wait a while at the end of our meal for our check the last time and boy did we go all out. $300 tab! But we do tip good and the waiter was a nice guy after all. I had a great experience the last time i came for a reunion with my friends and i loved it. Its nice to have somewhere in town to go that has great atmosphere and great food. You gotta try the oxtail ramen...ono!
(5)C O.
This is a lovely place to get out and enjoy modern preparation of traditional Japanese cuisine. The flavors are clean and well concieved. The decor is simple and modern, the service is wonderful, and the bar is fully stocked (though misses on the wine, usually). The seafood is always fresh and well prepared. The honey toast is wonderful--you have to get it after dinner. I highly recommend the garlic tuna, a bowl of ramen, and a nice tall Saporro. It can get a bit noisy at times--try to sit up on the terraced dining room side instead of the main floor seating.
(3)Jin B.
Great place to have dinner with friends in a very trendy part of Honolulu. Right in the heart of the Ala Moana Center is this ecelctic Asian Fusion restuarant. It's a bit deceiving because when you think japanese restaurant, you think sushi, but there is a very TINY menu for sushi and most of their dishes are cooked. I probably wouldn't come back here for the food, because it was just alright....and the dessert was OK too, but I'd come more for their mixed drinks! YUM! They have one of the best mohitos I've had in a long time!
(3)Lee R.
Nice modern decor and friendly, helpful wait staff. The first time I went, we ordered the hamachi sashimi and it was almost TOO fresh...I expected the meat to still be wiggling around! The food comes out very quickly, both times we went all our food came out within 15 minutes. The agedashi tofu is excellent, tofu lightly fried with a soy-tasting sauce. Tofu salad was nalo greens with a lump of fresh tofu in the center, light and refreshing. I really liked the spicy tuna roll, more emphasis on the fish and less mayonnaise sauce. The karaage chicken was excellent, fried chicken with a lemon wedge and spicy cole slaw-type sauce. We went again last night, and tried the bibimbap ($10), which comes in a sizzling stone bowl inside a wooden box. It was good, I've had better at legit korean restaurants. Tried the ahi carpaccio ($12), seared ahi in a balsamic/soy type sauce, tasty! The desserts looked good, but we elected to just have another Asahi ($6) instead. All in all a fun place for dinner, and not too expensive.
(4)Lisa C.
11/7/11. Nice looking place. We had the chicken katsu and the teriyaki chicken with rice. Service was excellent. Prices reasonable, $12-15 Good portions.
(4)Rainbow B.
The food I can definitely pass on. It's decent food. Edible, but not super yum. The 4stars is for the honey toast. Goddamn it's good. On a pretty bad day, the honey toast will make you float into heaven. O.M.G. Feel like crap? Go get some honey toast and make it all go away....
(4)Ed K.
wooooo.. just ate a good meal @ shokudo. first time going, probably because the outside look like a standard sushi bar. but the inside is grand; high cielings, full bar, ventalation, modern furnishings & music and about 20 tables to the left and right of the bar. stadium seating; we were seated nose bleed at the top. very spacious but not noisy enough to eavsdrop. the evening was delightful and the food was delishious. kinda learned that when there's carpaccio sashimi, it's a fancy japanese restaurant but we didn't have that because there were many other dishes new to tastebuds such as mochicheese, sushipizza, icecream w/ bread crust. mochi cheese was as good as it looked like the top cheese of lasangna. haha.. had to have the sushipizza because it had crab and jalepino. theres no dough or cheese in it but was something new and delightful, wasn't bad, zero wrong. sashimi was sliced thick and not stingy. i would recommend going in a party 5 or more ($20 a head) so that you can order the variety and share like we did. went with good company so there was nothing irritating or disgusting at all. the stairwell in the parkinglot didn't smell like piss. my stomach is sitting happy, belly is smiling, was a comfortable and delightful dining experience.. happy birthday J1W!
(5)Justin S.
We ate a lot of food here. The menu is large bright and very tempting. House made tofu salad was very tasty. The freshly pressed tofu was light, creamy and sweet complimenting the crunchy won ton; very well made. The greens and the light dressing were good, but they kept the tofu as the star of that dish. Their version of sushi-pizza is not nearly as well done as Kona Grill or Morimoto's, and i would not eat that again. It is an unrolled dynamite broiled and topped with jalepeno. The shoyu ramen broth was ok, nice noodles and a small piece of char siu. Chicken katsu was meh, but that is what the kids eat, so had to try it. Lobster dynamite, spider roll and fried ika were also pretty disappointing. Surprisingly, wife ordered the teri-chicken quesadilla and it was quite nice. Overall ok if you stick to the specialties. If everything were house made like the tofu, it would be a really great place to eat.
(3)Kent I.
Shokudos is a nice, trendy and overpriced. I have gone to this restaurant many times with friends and its a nice place to hang out or check out people. The interior is cool and the atmosphere is alive and fun. Basically, if you are going for some drinks and a few snacks, this place is great. The food is hit or miss, but generally pretty good. The service can be pretty horrible though and the prices can be very high ($4 for a very small bowl of edamame?!). Their honey toast is awesome. Good place to go to at least once.
(3)Jennifer G.
Very good solid sushi. We did not try the honey toast, which I not am kicking myself over after reading these reviews. We drove past one night and the place was packed so we made a mental note to return and it was great. Lunch bento boxes, great spicy tuna and dragon rolls, great edamame.
(3)GJ S.
my review is more of a 3.5, not a solid 4. i remember coming here for an inside out tuna roll with black salt and couldn't finish it because it was just absolutely terrible. i think that's what's kept me from straying from my usual order: fresh tofu salad spicy tuna (or whatever sushi they have) on crispy rice honey toast outside of that, i'm a bit skeptical of their menu. hey food trauma does that to you! but i know if i order those things my stomach always leaves very, very happy! ambiance is a solid 5. the decor is incredible, and i love the tiered booths on the one side of the restaurant. service i think is a hit or miss, but that's a given at most restaurants i think.
(4)Serena M.
So kind of the hostess to ask us if we are over the age of 21, would have been even better if she actually carded us. It's been awhile since I've been asked. Anyhow we arrived here during their late night happy hour after a failed attempt to eat at another place earlier. I wasn't expecting much from this place but we ordered so many things that we were bound to have some good things in the mix. A must try is the Mochi Cheese Gratin with it's chewy mochi stringy mild tasting cheesy goodness with an asian flare sauce. I was expecting a bigger portion since the picture on the menu made it looked pretty decent sized but I guess their pictures aren't made to scale. Two other things worth noting is the Ume Cucumber Salad and the Fresh Homemade Tofu. We ordered a bunch of those stuff but not memorable enough to mention. Oh yeah we also had the honey toast with red bean and it was a little dry even with ice cream. One thing that bugged me though was that the light above our table kept flickering like a strobe light and I don't think it was intentional.
(3)Summer G.
Hi my name is Summer this was my first trip to shokudo and now I'm an addict. From the hostess to our waiter I always felt taken care of. Lowell (sorry not sure if that is the right name) was on point his recommendations were what we decided on and they were all great. He only thing I would change would be start with the honey toast!!!!! Heeheehe them suckers are huge to share among three people.
(5)Jennifer W.
Always a long line. Always a wait. It's not worth to wait, so make a reservation. Minus a star for that. I would have thought they would have another location by now. It seems like they are going to have a outdoor lounge area soon. Tofu salad-absolutely love Veggie roll-have it deep fried. So delicious! Mochi w/ cheese-what can I say??? Do I need to say anything? Agedashi tofu-perfect Fries edamame
(3)Jackie C.
This place is known for their honey toast. My cousin loves it! I love getting the sushi rolls. My family and I try a new roll every time we come. The sashimi bowl is a little overpriced compared to most sushi places. Overall this place is really good though. Their staff is friendly and the restaurant looks very nice. You can dress nice for a cute date night or casual. The only downside is that it is super popular, so there is always a wait, especially on the weekends.
(4)Megan T.
Shokudo is known for their infamous honey toast dessert which is simply toasted bread, honey, and ice cream but is so incredibly good. My favorite is their cookies and cream honey toast, if you haven't tried it you should. It's hard to only order one or two dishes when I'm with family and friends because everything on their menu is delicious! But here's a list of things I ALWAYS order when I come here... 1. Garlic Shrimp Rice - comes steaming in a hot rock bowl where you waiter/waitress mixes it together for you 2. Chicken Teriyaki Quesadilla - with sour cream, a green salsa, tomatoes, and lettuce 3. Pork Scallions - tender and in this vinegar-like juice. YUM Although there is so much food to eat and choose from, always remember to save room for some honey toast!
(4)McKena M.
Shokudo is always a treat! Although a little bit pricey, my friends and I like to treat ourselves when we're back home from college and grab a nice dinner here to catch up. The decor is beautiful and the servers are always attentive and polite. The menu is also very extensive and I can guarantee you that everyone will be able to find something they want to eat! However, I think a lunch/dinner at Shokudo is done best when everyone orders a few dishes to share. Moving onto food-- I've tasted the Shrimp Tempura Roll, Sushi Pizza, Fresh Homemade Tofu, Mochi Cheese Gratin, Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla, Garlic Shrimp Rice, and Honey Toast. Sushi: I ordered the Shrimp Tempura Roll once and it wasn't anything special. I've had much better tasting rolls elsewhere for cheaper and it was my mistake to get something so simple when there's more unique food items on the menu. I'm not a huge fan of fish, but the Sushi Pizza is tasty. The jalapenos add a nice kick and the crunchiness of the baked rice created a unique texture to the dish in a good way! Pupus: The Fresh Homemade Tofu is amazing! I'm a huge tofu fan and the texture of the tofu is perfect. It also comes with green onions, sea salt, nori, and dashi broth for your tofu, which really dresses it up. The Mochi Cheese Gratin is a must. My description of it wouldn't probably do it justice, so I'll just say that this dish is amazing. I'll always order this when I come, no matter what! The Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla is really tasty. I'm not a huge mayonnaise fan, but there's the perfect amount in the quesadilla. The homemade cilantro dip is also excellent. Ishiyaki: The Garlic Shrimp Rice is sooooo good. Oh my god. This dish is served in a stone pot that comes out of the oven at 500 degrees, so be careful not to bump your elbow into it! This dish is probably my second favorite (after the Mochi Cheese Gratin) and a must-order as well. Dessert: Yes, the Honey Toast here is tasty, but I feel that Shokudo's Honey Toast game is either on or off point. Some days, the bread is generously coated with butter and honey, while other days, it is dry and bland. Because of this, I wouldn't necessarily recommend getting this. However, it does make for great IG pictures! All in all, a delicious place to eat. I'd recommend reservations if you're coming with a bigger group, especially at dinner time, but my friend and I were seated immediately even during a busy dinner service. PS: The Melon Float tastes like happiness in a glass. More specifically, Melona. Absolutely delicious and great palette cleanser in between bites!
(4)Kelly O.
Co- worker and I decided to try it out Friday during happy hour. It wasn't too busy around 5, and we both had plans that evening so we thought we would pop in for 20-30 min. A hour and a half later, we were able to leave. There were 4-5 servers on the floor, all chatting amongst each other, none of which paid us any attention until 20min after we sat down and after I had to wave somebody to come over. The guitar player saw us waving and even said the waitresses name on the microphone to help us out. Charge us for beers we didn't buy, and took another 10 minutes to edit the bill to the correct amount. TERRIBLE SERVICE. Won't be going back.
(1)Claire F.
GO TO HAPPY HOUR, skip normal dining. The happy hour specials here are AWESOME! $3-5 pupus and $4 drinks ($2 sake/soju shots)! Early bird happy hour is 4-6pm and late night is 10pm-12am. If you want to pig out on a ton of decent/good food for only a small dent to your wallet, here's your place! Faves: +Garlic clams - $3 (comes with about a dozen mini clams cooked in an awesome butter sauce; we've been known to order 3 plates of these for just 2 people...) +Takoyaki roulette - $5 (5 pieces of takoyaki, one filled with wasabi, the others plain. In my opinion, they should make all of them with wasabi!) +Spicy tuna nachos - $3 (a ton of spicy ahi for only $3) +Honey toast - $3 (a mini version of the wildly popular dessert) +Agedashi eggplant - $3 (I love agedashi and I love eggplant so I might be biased here, but it's only $3!) Sorry to hate on the normal dining. I know a lot of people like the food on the regular menu here, but to me it seems a little overpriced, especially when you compare it to such awesome deals during happy hour. The food (aside from the sushi) also seems a bit Americanized, and I tend to prefer traditional/authentic Japanese preparings. Things you must do, regardless: - Order the honey toast. It's wildly popular here, and although desserts aren't usually my thing, it's a unique, novel, and yummy treat! - Take a picture in front of the restaurant. I don't know why, but everyone does this!
(4)Mary G.
Yummy food as always! Our server Robyn provided excellent customer service. Like I would dine here again because of her. Super nice, hilarious, and sweet person. She even stopped low when talking to us. She always checked up on us. She kept smiling the entire time even though the AC went off. Lol. I'm a server myself in a Japanese Restaurant too so I could relate. She talk stories with us cause she knew our friend. So thankful for the honey toast and bread pudding birthday cake!
(5)Angela H.
So the honey toast...uh...is it supposed to be dry? Is the ice cream supposed to help it go down easier? I dunno if we got a bad batch or what but it never got finished. Didn't see the need to force it down just cuz it's the famous honey toast. I'd say the hot food was better like the lobster dynamite and tofu salad. Very delicious and satisfying. Drinks also were better than I thought they would be. Grape vodka calico and yuzu honey vodka were refreshing and not too sweet. I could have had many more of those dangerous and beautiful concoctions! Service was excellent-sincere and helpful, I'd say 5 stars for service. I'd go back if I were in the area, and well heck, I'd probably still order the honey toast just to see if it was the same as before.
(4)Kristian L.
Haven't done happy hour in a while, but it was our first time doing happy hour at 4-6pm. We were seated right away. Like always great friendly and fast service except our serve forgot to put one of our orders in. It was also our first time sitting outside in the lounge area. It was nice, but hot and we were placed right next to the speakers. Overall, the food is always delicious especially their spicy ahi nachos.
(5)Jesse J.
Wish I could give this place a 5 star review, but due to recent mishap I'm giving this place one star. So I took my cousin here for his birthday along with three other's. Everything seemed great. Waiter seemed nice and friendly, food was great, and service was fast. Everything would have been kept at five stars, till my third cup of coffee was served, or what seemed to be coffee in a coffee cup. IT WAS SHOYU or some other black salty sauce used in their dishes. To compensate for it, my $2 coffee drink was taken off the bill followed by an apology from the waiter. This may seem like no big deal, but when I thought about it, there's no other restaurant that I've been to that mistook shoyu for coffee. This makes me thing that this was either deliberate or the employee's are messing around with each other. Shame, I considered this place a really good restaurant and I still do, but there's no excuse for mistakenly giving a customer a cup of shoyu.
(1)Starla T.
I decided to throw my grad party (14 people) at Shokudo and I'm so glad I did. They allowed me to reserve my seats a few weeks in advance which was awesome because I wanted their private party room. Didn't have to put a down. Since the restaurant can be pricey, I decided to ask if I could set a menu...and to my surprise, they had set menus! It was so awesome. At least at the end of the night, you know what you're going to be paying. I coordinated and modified the set menus with Alden the GM and he was very quick to respond to my emails. On the day of the party, we go seated right at the reservation time. After ordering drinks, the food came out one after the other with the right timing. Not only did my guests LOVE the food they were FULL...mission accomplished. Overall, it was a great experience and it made my night. The only meh:....a total of 4 checks for the entire party. I wish I had known earlier.
(4)Naryssa F.
Great service and asian fusion food in a trendy setting. Their honey toast is AMAZING. Their sushi rolls are good and fairly priced.
(5)Aim H.
Sometimes you return to a place that you have tried and your experience just isn't the same. Well, I returned to shokudo tonight for happy hour once again and was not disappointed. I even had the kids with me and they loved it as well. Our server (Bri) was very pleasant and refilled our drinks before we could even run out! We tried some of the same foods along with some new ones...... Dynamite fries= was a nice twist on fries. Creamy and cheesy. Spicy ahi roll= nice big pieces of fish inside Edamame=lightly salted so that it had some flavor but not too salty Ramen salad=my fav of the night. Totally unexpected saimin salad with some cucumbers, bamboo, bean sprouts, pork , and a dressing to die for. To top it off, there was live entertainment which we enjoyed!! Our bill for 4 of us was about $42!!!! How awesome is that! This is definitely a must try place!
(4)Jason C.
Shokudo. A japanese restaurant where asian food meets trendy and modern. This restaurant is almost always full during dinner hours so reservations are recommended. I've been here multiple times and as far as consistancy goes in taste... it has always been pleasent and amazing. First of all, their sushi roll preparations are unique and different, without sacrificing taste. Their sushi pizza is something I have only seen here in this restaurant and I have been to many cities trying sushi. The sushi pizza is square in size about 7 x 7 inches with a layer of sushi rice and a crab, salmon, scallop, and onion mixture on top, cut into bite sized pieces with a thin slice of jalapeno on top. Delicious. The lobster dynamite roll, a classic that I usually get. A california roll with pieces of lobster mixed in sauce on top of it and onion garnish. It's tasty but its very filling, if you are looking to try more rolls, this roll can definitely put a dent in your plans. The volcano roll and the spicy scallop roll, one of their new rolls on their extended menu . After tasting spicy in El Paso, I know what spicy means. The 'not-so-spicy' spicy scallop roll, has just a hint of spicy to make you wonder if it deserves the name spicy scallop. This roll is wrapped in soy paper, it's an alternative to seaweed to keep your sushi in place. If you don't like the taste of seaweed this roll maybe for your tastebuds. The volcano roll, which was probably named for their attempt to make it look like a volcano rather than tasting like one was scrumptious.The tempura was used to represent the bottom and the tuna on top was designed to make it look like lava, at least thats what i think because it was not hot/spicy. I think it was very clever. The stone pot dishes, a must try! The stone pot is heated to 500 degrees fahrenheit and your dish is served in it. It continues to cook your food for 20-30mins (so DON'T touch the bowl, its hot!). I had the garlic shrimp and my wife had the unagi bowl. Both dishes are simple, basically its just rice with the seafood that you order. But being served in a stone pot gives the rice a crispy texture. The waiter/waitress will offer to mix it up for you, i usually let them do it. The dish is simple but very flavorful. Sometimes less is more, thats how I see this dish. Try it! The honey toast, a great dessert to try. Its another simple dish but its soooo good. Its basically a toasted half loaf of bread with ice cream and honey. The warm sweet bread mixed with the cool ice cream is a treat worth trying. In the picture below, I got the original. In my opinion the original has always tasted the best, and theres no need to fix something that wasn't broken. Though if you're looking for a different taste, it is offered with different ice cream flavors. The service was good. My party was a walk-in for dinner time (lucky us). We were a group of 4 but when the group size increased to 5, they were able to provide us with another chair. We couldn't get another table because the other tables were all reserved. They tried to accommodate as best they could and it was appreciated. The for food ended up taking a lot of room with us five ordering, making space limited to eat on and cluttered. If i was to pick 3 words to describe the atmosphere it would be trendy, welcoming, and bright. The environment was clean, like restaurants should be. Food arrived quickly, no crazy wait time. Things that could be improved: After the fifth guest arrived, she wasn't paid much attention to. She took chopsticks from a different table to eat. Other than that, there's nothing else for me to critique with service.
(4)K C.
After many visits, I'm finally writing a review for this place. Hands down favorite for us is the lobster dynamite. Always seem to get it every time we come here. I really wish their selection of food would change or expand. PARKING never seems to be a problem for us (maybe we just get lucky or come the right time) Its usually packed on the weekends, which is why we avoid going during those times. As for SERVICE, it usually sucks! For the handful of times we've been here, we always get crappy service, but I can understand how busy this place gets. BUT, for the very first time we had excellent service! We went on a monday night and our waiter Josiah?? (OMG I can't remember his name) I believe he said he was still training. Anyways, seriously the best service ever!!! For someone who was still training, you've done a way better job than those we've had in the past here. Attended to us many times, always came by to fill up our cups and checked up to make sure everything was going great. Thats the kind of servers we need more of. FOOD, as I mentioned, we always come back for the lobster dynamite or even the lobster roll. Another favorite is the shrimp fried rice. As for honey toast...Not a huge fan if it.
(4)Sarah T.
Best server - Gabriel Very polite, attentive, and had a winning smile. He made sure everything was okay and tried to make our experience the best experience. thanks Gabriel! Besides that, the food was great! It came out sporadically between me and my friends, but the taste made up for it. Definitely made up for my past bad experience here.
(5)Lowana L.
My bf and I recently visited Shokudo, and I haven't been here since before they added the outside eating area and changed up the menu. We came in around 930 on a weeknight, and it was fairly busy but there was no wait, so we were seated rather quickly by a friendly hostess. The sushi roll was very good, it was both shrimp tempura and a California rolled combined. Very good. We also had the mochi cheese gratin, so different but very tasty! I really enjoyed it! My bf had the sukiyaki bibimbap, which pretty much inhaled. After it cooled off a little of course because the bowl it's served in is 500 degrees! I had the garlic shrimp fried rice, so good! I like keeping it on the bowl for a while so that the rice gets all good and crispy! Dang my mouth is drooling as I type this! For dessert, we had their honey toast of course. Always the same, perfectly made and sooo delicious! The thing that stood out the most, was out server, Nina. She was very personable and recommended a sushi roll on the new menu and the lychee vodka soda for myself. Shout out to Nina for the great job! Thanks for everything!
(4)Rhesa S.
Always the "guarantee" when contemplating a night out for a cool place to hang out and enjoy good food. If you can snag a table early, congratulations. Otherwise, try asking for open seats at the bar, since it's full-service there as well.
(4)Irenio S.
Service is at an all time low, hella disappointed...we came in and waited forever and a day to order and then when we finally did our drinks came 15 minutes later followed by our appetizers came after our main courses. Our main course came after 45 minutes and we had to ask for it, the. Our sashimi came 20 minutes after we received our main course.
(1)Jenny M.
Staff was very accommodating when making reservation. Fast service. Ono chicken katsu. Only no go was spicy tuna crispy rice was rock solid (busy time maybe...overcooked?)
(4)Victoria C.
The food here is always off the charts. This is my go-to place for my sushi fix. The service is always exceptional, but today exceeded all previous experiences. Bri was awesome!!!!
(5)Ashley N.
UPDATE I previously gave Shokudo a bad rating due to a series of events that occurred on my friend's birthday. I realize that every restaurant has their bad nights, , so this is why I decided to update my rating, having visited Shokudo a number of times since writing my original review. As a young adult, going to Shokudo in Hawaii is a must, it's kind of like eating a plate lunch at Rainbow's. Everyone I know either has a birthday celebration here, a holiday get together, or just a simple catch-up lunch. I noticed that their service did get a lot better since writing my original review, which is very nice. I do like their recent renovation, including their new sushi bar. My dad LOVES sushi, and has been going with my mom even more than I have! Their sushi doesn't compare to Gaku, but it is definitely better than Genki. Their new menu options are pretty good as well, but it doesn't beat their other menu options, such as their mochi cheese graitin.
(4)Charmaine R.
Just ate there last night and the server was nice, but felt he didn't have much experience with a large party. We originally booked a private room. And once we arrived, they said they accidentally booked another person for our room. We then had to wait to be seated for a party of over 10. When it was time to for the check, we asked the server to split it however he wanted our party to pay one check of a group of 6. All of our checks had our wrong orders. We had to show him what we ordered.
(3)Jen F.
This is great sushi with lots of interesting options! There are many parts to the menu, so you will have plenty of selection for what you're looking for... be it tempura, sashimi, sushi rolls, noodles, salads, etc. The decor is very nice and classy in the restaurant, and the wait staff is friendly. If you have to wait for a table, it's worth the wait because the food comes pretty quickly. Definitely returning here!
(5)K D.
Horrible experience at this restaurant on Thursday, 3/6/2014. I've been to this restaurant many, many times before, but today has lead me to never want to come back. It started with my coworker's attempts to call the restaurant to place a take out order for our one hour dinner break. We had pretty limited time, so we thought that by calling in our order would hopefully save us some time. Oh boy were we wrong!! My coworker tried twice and the phone just kept ringing. Then I tried calling twice and the same results--it kept ringing both times. We both then just opted to walk over to the restaurant and just order in person because we didn't want to lose anymore of our break time. We walked in and was greeted by a waiter. I first asked if the number we were dialing was correct and the waiter handed me a business card. Turns out, we were dialing the correct phone number. Why on earth were they not answering? I glanced over on the right side of the podium where a greeter stood and it looked like a man was on the phone. So I thought maybe that's why, the man was tying up the line. Unfortunately, this man on the phone seems to be a floor manager. He should know better not to tie up phone lines like that for the risk of losing potential customers. We've also tried several times in the past to phone in an order and have had to try several times before getting through. We then proceeded to place our orders and was told it would take 10-15 minutes. Our break started at 5:00pm exactly and it was 5:12pm by the time we finished placing in our walk in order. Our office is nearby so we decided to walk back to the office and come back in about 15 minutes. Just to clarify that we already knew what we wanted to order so no time was wasted in that sense. We get back to Shokudo at 5:27pm and was greeted by Lindsey. We inquired about our take out order and Lindsey said "oh I forgot to punch in your order so let me do that now." She didn't sound sincere or apologetic and when asked more about what's going on, Lindsey simply said "I got busy!" Lindsey then proceeded to say your order will take about 10-15 minutes to be ready. What?! Another 10-15 minutes? Some of you may think this isn't too bad of an issue waiting another 10-15 minutes. This is true if we had more time and if we failed to use our time wisely, but we simply didn't have more time and we did our best to use our time well. I had also expressed to Lindsey that our time was limited, but she didn't seem to give a hoot. This and her insincerity is what really pissed me off. Lindsey then tried to correct her actions by saying "we will try to rush it for you guys." Even the floor manager came to us and assured us he had told his staff that they should attend to our orders first. Tired, with no desire to grab food elsewhere, and hopeful these people would make it quick this time around to make up for Lindsey's mistake, we decided to just wait. Lindsey then insisted we pay and so we did. Our bill came out to about $116. We decided to just wait at the restaurant. 5:46pm rolls around and we were FINALLY given our order. Grand total of a 34 minute wait on what should have only been 10-15 minutes. Ridiculous. We felt that Shokudo made zero attempt to right the wrong. We didn't feel any attempt of rushing our order, hence the grand total wait, even if it was solely Lindsey's mistake of forgetting to punch in our order because she got "too busy." Oh, they did offer us WATER while we were waiting. We don't need no stinkin' water, we'd like our time back please so we could actually enjoy our dinner. We had about 7 minutes to eat some of our food and it was back to work. Never buying from them again. We'd rather spend our $116 elsewhere and I recommend the same for you!
(1)Kristen R.
Went here last night. This was my second time going. Brought my boyfriend, it was his first. The food was awesome, but one downfall was that my Unagi rice was burnt. The hot bowl was way too hot and it ended up burning my rice and made it hard and crunchy, but it still tasted good. The honey toast was great too! Our server was friendly, but one think that irritated me was that when we were done with dessert, he asked my boyfriend if he wanted water and he declined. So with that, we thought he would then bring back our bill because we were ready to leave. But no he didn't. We waited 5 minutes. He came back around and asked if he could take away our finished dessert, and he did. Then again, we thought he'd bring the bill. NOPE! We waited another several minutes until FINALLY he brought the bill. That decreased the amount of his tip. I'm usually a great tipper, but if the service is gonna lack in any way, then I think that doesn't deserve good tipping.
(3)Taryn K.
To be honest the food here is good but nothing really special. I usually the unagi rice which I love, but it literally just taste like rice with unagi sauce. This time I ordered teriyaki chicken because I didn't feel like eating fish or sushi but I wouldn't order it again. It was extremely oily to the point where it looked gross. The homemade tofu is SO good though! This time when we went our waitress was extremely friendly, but the food took a really long time to come out. They are always busy so I would definitely recommend reservations, although it's hard to get reservations at exactly the time you want. Finally, the honey toast. I must admit it's really good, but very over priced and over rated and I'm pretty sure you could just make it at home. Shokudo is good for a place to eat if you want to go out but not spend a ridiculous amount of money. But it's really not THAT special
(3)Arlene B.
Been going here for years and it never disappoints! I've been going here alot lately for dinner and drinks after work on weekdays. They have great food and good drinks and a great happy hour. The last time I went their I sat at the bar and had the sweetest bartender that took care of me and my friend. Her name is Carol and she was very nice and checked up on us regularly. She also made me a special drink after I told her I wanted a li hing mui drink and she whipped up something that I loved. Go and see her! This place has a very modern decor and is clean from what I can tell. They can seat you very fast on weekdays but not as much on weekends. The setting is very casual and its def. good for dinner get togethers or just a drink with friends. I will never stop going here.
(4)Andy K.
The garlic shrimp fried rice is bomb, I always enjoy eating honey toast here! I'd have to say most of the food is good, but not the best. Only come here mainly for the honey toast.
(3)Leanne P.
In Hawaii, the food choices are overwhelming. We wanted to go somewhere that the locals go to though, and one of our friends said to meet up at Shokudo. Being the Yelp Elite-r that I am, I checked it out online! I was so excited to see all the yummy food, drinks, and desserts! When we got there, we got such a great vibe from the staff. They were quick to welcome G and I (tourists) and my friend (local). My friend has been here multiple times so she had us peruse the menu first to see what we'd be interested in. After a LOT of discussion, we decided on: Lychee Mojito: Fantastic! Very subtle alcohol taste, but you could tell that there was a lot in there. We had it with the sochu which was amazing :) Sushi Pizza: little pieces of sushi with a jalapeno on top. I knocked the jalapeno off because I'm pathetic when it comes to spice, but still excellent. Lobster Dynamite: My favorite thing! Baked lobster and some veggies covered in a yummy sauce and cheese. Served with some bread. Unagi Rice: Another favorite. Let the rice and unagi cook a little longer for some added crispiness and flavor. The sauce was amazing. Sticky Sticks (?): I put a question mark because I can't remember the dish's actual name. It has sticky rice and a few yakitori sticks. It was very good, I loved the consistency of the rice. A few of the sticks had vegetables (which I stayed away from :P) Honey Toast: Their famous dessert! It was humongous and so yummy. I'm not a huge fan of honey (I wish they drizzled maple syrup or chocolate or whatever instead of honey), but it was still pretty damn amazing. The ice cream on top was truly the "icing on the cake". They've got great specials and their special menu looked amazing. The prices are really reasonable, and make sure (if you're a tourist!) to look through the coupon book provided to you by your hotel. Ours included a coupon for a free honey toast! ($7.50 value!).
(5)Jeremy T.
Shokudo is one of my favorite restaurants! The entrees are pretty sub-par, so don't even bother with them. I always get sushi (Balsamic Beef Tataki, Tempura Roll, Lobster Dynamite & Volcano Roll are my faves), and of course Honey Toast for dessert (cinnamon is my fave!). You CANNOT leave without getting the honey toast, as I'm sure you've already heard. It can be a little pricy, but it's definitely worth it. I am also in love with the Ishiyaki Loco Moco, which is a loco moco cooked Bi Bim Bap style! It's a little carby though. Always make reservations, or you may have to wait 30-45 minutes to get in.
(5)Britt N.
Last night my boyfriend & I along with our 2 friends tried shokudo for the first time. We had reservations so our table was all set & ready for us when we got there. Our waiter bubu, gave great customer service. Probably the best customer service ive ever had. We ordered the steak, tempura, lobster dynamite, chicken karaage, fries, asst veg tempura, & the spicy tuna roll. The spicy tuna roll was really spicy, yet really good. The honey toast was amazing, & so was their lychee mojito. Kind of pricey, but definitely a place to try.
(5)Jake M.
The place is generally pretty full, and with good reason, so make a reservation! I've never had to open the door for myself on the way in or out because the staff is impeccably hospitable and always make me feel like a guest. Shokudo serves traditional Japanese and Japanese fusion dishes. From spicy mayo scallops to the ribeye steak, this place is tasty. One of my favorite dishes is a sushi ball roulette (I forget the exact name). They bring you six balls of sushi on a plate, all of them delicious, but one of them dangerously spicy....and they don't tell you which one. The LATE NIGHT HAPPY HOUR has some really popular dishes dirt cheap and the HONEY TOAST is a must! Thick, cinnamony toast cut into bite sized squares, drizzled with honey and served with ice cream, it's among my favorite desserts.
(5)Linnie B.
Lobster dynamite roll, char siu pork, ama ebi, hamachi carpaccio, fresh oysters, HONEY TOAST (of course) was all "OMG" in my mouth! We ordered more items and they were amazeballs!! Definitely coming back! Service was also a plus!
(5)Lar P.
Sat at the sushi bar for lunch and everything was excellent; from the iced green tea to the recommended sake. The selections were prepared perfectly-no need for shoyu or wasabi. The server, Malia , was excellent.
(5)Teresa K.
First time at Shokudo... Did not disappoint!! I had dinner the first time. Must try the Lychee vodka soda... Soo good!! The passion fruit was ok as well. Service was top notch! Better than some Fine dining restaurants I've been to. Attentive staff and yummy food and drinks!
(5)Sara T.
Happy to say that Shokudo gets an additional star for great service and great food the last two times I was here! The late-night happy hour is awesome with a ton of choices, and I am still a fan of the fresh tofu. Next time I go I will take better notes about what I order :)
(4)Trisha T.
The late night happy hour is fantastic! Honey toast jr. for $3? Bring it on. You can get a decent variety of foods for a very reasonable price. I've never had a bad meal here.
(5)Chiko K.
Excellent customer service Kylie was amazing fast service GREAT food Honey toast is the BEST dessert in town!! Make reservations it's very busy!! Don't believe what the negative reviews said all not true!
(5)Sky A.
Had an AMAZING dinner here! We sat outside and really enjoyed the music. The musician was even able to play songs that we requested. Sherri's service was awesome! She recommended dishes to us that we never thought we'd try but ended up loving it all! She was a great waitress and would definitely go back to her for her terrific service. Thanks Shokudo and Sherri for making my tummy happy and my night amazing. :)
(5)Alicia D.
Honey Toast. Honey Toast. Honey Toast. Happy hour, Happy hour, Happy hour. I love Shokudo! I have never had anything I didnt like here. Sometimes the wait is long but I dont even care, as long as they never run out of Honey Toast. Wow I would just be devastated if that were the case. You always get your food quickly and its always good. I usually go during happy hour to get pupus off the $3.4,5 menu. I love the Gyoza and the Quesadilla (yes its asianized) NOM! the Udon and the Kimchi fried rice. I usually go here on a week night after my class because its open late and I love that. Its always very clean and the servers are very personable. I also enjoy getting drinks here. I cant help loving flashy lights around the bar. Great for all reasons! Can class it up or dress it down. Parking is easy as well, never have a problem. I love bringing people here for the first time to watch as their eyes light up at the glory of Shokudo magic.
(5)Moses G.
Came in for pupu's and drinks the other day and sat at the bar. Dynamite lobster roll was awesome and creamy and loved it...and i don't like seafood but this was good. Also got awesome service from Matt the bartender. Being a bartender myself i was very impressed with the level of service Matt have to myself, other bar patrons and even take guests he was taking care of...would definitely go again and sit at the bar.
(5)Radiant C.
How did I not write a review for Shokudo already? Nonetheless, Shokudo is like that staple restaurant you and your friends go to either for a lunch meeting, after work pau hana, or a night cap. My friends have even spent our time at Shokudo during Single-Awareness-Day... I mean Valentine's Day... Surrounded by dim-lighting and lovestruck couples. Hrmph. Nonetheless, any occasion, Shokudo Japanese Restaurant has always been a comfortable place to dine at. I would never feel too dressed or too dressed-down at Shokudo and it is a welcoming feeling. Whenever I come to Shokudo, I tend to just stock up my tummy with sushi rolls and sangria that I can't even get to the honey toast! Sucks, I know. I keep telling myself that I'll just come for the honey toast. Only the honey toast. Shokudo has expanded their menu recently (well like last year) with new drinks and especially rolls. OH MY TUMMY! My personal favorites are the Volcano Roll and the Beef Tataki (the meat melts in your mouth!) and the Kusai Kudasai roll. You know whenever you look at a menu and you feel overwhelmed and you just end up going with your fallback menu items? So here at Shokudo, I have a few: Sushi Pizza, Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, and the Lobster Dynamite Roll. Shoot! That's a whole meal for a few people. Top it off with my regular sangria and I'm golden! Waiting has never been an issue as there is enough coverage outside to stay out of the sun. Parking is a bit difficult for me since I drive a large car. But that is my kuleana. Parking isn't that difficult, just as long as you kokua and don't park on top or over the line. Overall, going to Shokudo is a comfortable experience.
(4)Sonya C.
Shokudo has to be one of my favorite restaurants! Every time I come, I am never disappointed. My absolute favorite is the lobster dynamite roll and the chocolate honey toast. It's best to come with a group of people so you can order a lot of items off the menu and share. Be prepared to wait a while for a table - but that's how you know it's good!
(5)Shirani O.
I apologize for the monstrous review I'm about to write. But I STRONGLY RECCOMEND you folks read this before even thinking about eating at this restaurant. Arrived here with my boyfriend around 11pm. Had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. Was seated, but not greeted for what seemed like 10 minutes. When we were finally greeted, our waiter, HECTOR, just said "Do you guys want to order anything?" Without introduction or offering of drinks, happy hour specials, etc. After asking for water twice, we finally received them after about 20 minutes, no exaggeration. He gave us good drink and food recommendations on both menus. We put in our alcohol and pupu order which seemed to take a while. By the time we were done eating our pupus, we put in our dinner order, and the restaurant crowd started to die down. Thank god we had our mixed drinks to hold us over for the next hour we waited. (One of which was watery- the yuzu vodka, and one was awesome-the lychee vodka.) Both my boyfriend and I come from customer service work backgrounds (restaurant and sales) so we tried not to let the nearly hour wait on our dinner entrees bother us. We started doubting our waiter, questioning if he forgot about us, while majority of his time was spent near the computer counting his money. But, we refrained from saying anything. Waiter came by to mention that they were doing last call on honey toast, so we figured we'd just put our order in, even though our entrees haven't even arrived yet. Another 10 minutes go by, and our mini honey toast arrives. By that time we realized the reason we were waiting so long for our entrees because the order was probably never sent. We flagged our waiter over, and asked why we received dessert if our entrees never even made it to the table. His response-"What entrees?" OMG. I knew we shouldn't have been so patient or give him the benefit of the doubt. We reminded him of what we ordered, and his response? "Oh, the kitchen probably lost your folks ticket, I'll be right back." LAME! Don't you dare try and blame your kitchen boys on your lousy service! By that time, our date and my boyfriends second dining experience there was ruined. We were over waiting any minute longer. We returned the honey toast to a random worker, and walked straight to a manager. After telling the manager, SONNY, the situation, he had the audacity to just stare at us, say no response, and just WALK AWAY! How unprofessional!!!!!! I don't care if we look like a young couple being annoying and complaining, we are still your paying customers! I've been treated like that by waiters, but NEVER by a manager! By that time we knew none of this was going to be solved, so we paid for the alcohol and pupus and left. Our server apologized, saying "Tonight was my bad." No apology from the manager. After waking up this morning, I still couldn't believe what had happened. I called the restaurant and spoke with another manager named CHRIS. Chris was so nice, personable, and apologetic. He apologized for Hector and Sonny's behaviors. I know if he was working, maybe the situation could've been fixed. But he wasn't, and what can he do for me over the phone? Nothing. I just hope something changes at this restaurant because they have a popular reputation, and I wouldn't want anyone else getting the treatment that we did. Chris hopes that we return to give them another chance, but to be honest, knowing that another encounter with HECTOR OR SONNY is possible leaves a bad impression with me. Both waitstaff and management need major improvement (minus Chris).
(1)Gunther W.
Am currently in the restaurant and am so very disappointed with the service. We came in with a large party and the service getting the food to our table was really spotty. I waited 35 minutes past when other tablemates got their food. One person who sat right by me ordered the same time as all the rest of us and it took 1 hr and 10 minutes from order time. Most of the party was done eating whem he got his food. Also when one pupu arrived, it was COLD. The wait staff was very apologetic but just past the point of doing any good. Food was great when it finally came out.
(2)Jason D.
I usually never go out to sushi. However this place changed my whole outlook on sushi. Def have reservations or sit at the sushi bar. That's what I did and avoided a 40 min wait. Lobster dynamite roll and spicy tuna over crispy rice were the best sushi rolls I've had. I've only ate sushi about 7 times but my gf who eats sushi all the time agrees.
(5)James G.
I do like this place but there were some things that stood out to be problems to me. We had James (Great Name) he was a very outgoing individual and very thorough so we had great service, 5/5. I love sushi and looking at the menu somethings looked amazing while others meh. Problem 1, the plates are too big to be served on such small tables. If that isn't an oversight. Problem 2, the wasabi was a disappointment. It looked to be an upscale sushi bar so I expected it to be fresh wasabi but it was the powdered kind and wasn't even hot at all so all my sushi was being dipped into was almost pure soy sauce. It might come off as some so small to some but if you really love sushi, wasabi is very important to you. Other than those two things everything was great. The Gen Mai was served at the perfect sipping temperature, not scalding hot like some places where you have to wait 5 minutes for it to cool down, just perfect temp. We had: Caterpillar Roll - 5/5 Spider Roll - 4/5 (The soft flavor of the crab is slightly overpowered by something in the roll) Lobster Dynamite - 4/5 Assorted Tempura - 4/5 Shiso Fries - 3/5 Teriyaki Chicken - 3.5/5 Teriyaki Salmon - 4/5 -Watercress Salad - 5/5 -Pickled Ginger - 5/5 -Wasabi - 0/5 The Honey Toast. Great stuff, VERY filling if you actually eat all that bread. We had the cinnamon/caramel one, very tasty. My daughter snatched once scoop of the ice cream for herself so the wife and I had to share the other. The way the Honey toast is structured is interesting. They take a thick loaf of Japanese bread (forgot what kind), they hollow it out to leave the frame of it and they toast the insides that were removed and toss it with honey and cinnamon after it's been crisped up a little then return those parts back into the middle of the bread then place 2 scoops of ice cream on them and serve it warm. As you are eating the ice cream and picking at the bread the ice cream drippings coat the toasted bread pieces on the bottom and creating a tasty ending. Parking was perfect, there's a free parking lot (Mall Parking Lot) literally 200ft from the restaurant. Overall as an experience I would rate it 4/5. We will be back.
(4)Holly B.
What a wonderful experience tonight! Chris was very friendly, helpful, and attentive. The Happy Hour (3-6 p.m.) specials are $3, $4, and $5 and so worth it! We enjoyed the creamy gyoza and the spicy ahi rolls x2! And I love the cheese mochi gratin, tempura, and tofu salad! The soft drinks are refillable which is another plus. Affordable and satisfying! If you go around 4 p.m., you will be seated quickly and served quickly too! Everyone is friendly and the waitstaff seem to help each other seamlessly. Will be back to enjoy their ono offerings again soon!
(5)Sarah H.
WOW! This place was recommended to my friend and I by a local gal and we weren't disappointed! We had the Sakura, Kusai and Mermaid rolls which were amazing. The service was wonderful and the banana flambe looked and tasted waaaay more amazing than the block of bread. (I don't get it-sorry!). Also, the best gyoza I've ever had.
(5)Renee H.
Service is horrible! This used to be a really good restauraunt, but each time I go it just gets worse and worse. They aren't even busy when things are going wrong, so no excuses. Not going back again. First horrible experience was when the busser carried dirty dishes over my friend's head and spilled sauce all over her. The manager said he would take care of the cleaning bill, but didn't take her name or any other info from her just walked away. When we tried to give them the contact info, they declined - what lip sevice BS. Another time the restauraunt was filled with smoke from grease in the kitchen being too hot or something. Everyone's eyes were burning and people were coughing. They didn't even offer any satisfaction recovery, no 10% discount off of check, nothing. Another time we went for happy hour special and the tables were packed together so tight (but not occupied) that the waiter could't walk past the table without bumping into it. Well, he bumped it so hard all of our drinks spilled, and that would be okay because mistakes happen, but again the manager didn't think it was a big deal, just wiped up the table and left the soggy food, didn't even bring us new plates. He said, you were almost done right? Yes, done. Very done with Shokudo.
(1)Aileen Q.
This is a must visit when you go to Oahu. The service is good. Our server was nice, I don't know his name but I'm pretty sure he's Filipino. The food was so good. This restaurant was actually recommended by a friend. Their honey toast is super delicious... Heaven!!! I super love their garlic shrimp rice. Their tofu salad and pork chop were so delish as well. Everything was so delicious. I would love to go back here on our next visit to Hawaii that's for sure!
(5)Reid A.
Seems to be a trendy place, but I have no idea why... I've eaten here a number of times and the food was okay. Nothing really stood out, including the famed honey toast. I don't mean to say the food is awful, but it's certainly not noteworthy. I've had one bad experience with the food. I think it was old crab meat for the sushi pizza. I had hives after dinner and it was not a fun experience...I'm not allergic to crab, so it had to be rotten or something. The atmosphere is kinda neat. A red and white interior theme is nice. I like the use of the blinds, which they used those kamaboko wooden blocks to vertically line the windows. I'd only go here if I was invited for a birthday. Otherwise, I'd pick another place for modern Japanese food.
(3)Jin B.
This place needs to reevaluate their entire business direction. Good customer service=repeat business=surviving the food industry Unfortunately, the management here are either oblivious to the fact or just very apathetic. I gave this place 3 chances & all 3 times, nothing spectacular, only disappointment. The last straw was a few weeks ago, when I had to coordinate a lunch party for 23 people. I spoke with a very rude gentleman named Brandon who I later found out is one of many confused managers their. He insisted that my party chooses from a pre set menu and not from the regular menu. I told him we were there a few weeks ago with a similar party and ordered from the reg. menu, sent our order a day in advance & that went okay. He replied that he remembered our party & that our party caused the kitchen a lot of confusion & hassle. REALLY!!! We frickin' sent you our menu selection a day prior. I tell him I needed to check with my party and will call him back. I call back in 5 minutes, no one picks up the phone. Call a second time 10 minutes later and let the phone ring for 2 minutes straight, nothing. Call the 3rd time, a ditsy girl answers, I ask for a manager, she asks for what purpose, I tell her I spoke with Brandon, call a couple times with no answers & I need to get $#!+ straight with you people. She puts me on hold and gets Alden, another manager who tells me Brandon told him about our conversation. I then spend 20 minutes trying to get this new guy to allow us permission to order from their reg. menu which wasn't a problem a few weeks before....f*@# it! I HAD A FRIGGIN HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE TRYING TO HAVE A PARTY AT A RESTAURANT THAT DIDN'T WANT THE PATRONAGE OF 23 INDIVIDUALS. I HAD TO ACCOMODATE THE RESTAURANT TO GET MY PARTY THAT WAS REQUESTED BY THE GUEST OF HONOR . SPOKE WITH 4 DIFERENT MANAGERS WHO SAW US AS A NUISANCE. I'D RATHER EAT A 7-ELEVEN SUSHI ROLL THAT COST $1.49 THEN SPEND $14.95 FOR SUSHI MADE FROM FROZEN TUNA & A SLAP OF MAYO. I'LL CELEBRATE AT ANGELO PEITRO'S ON THE DAY THIS PLACE CLOSES DOWN FOR GOOD. THE WAY THAT THIS PLACE IS RUNNING, I WOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT LONG.
(1)Kimi K.
Customer service needs improvement. Expect to wait a long time even with reservations. I hope that these employees learn that our time is just as important to us. The waiting time to be seated and served was not reasonable. The food, however, is good.
(1)Sasha L.
I don't really like the food here. It's good, but not great. I don't really eat the entrees here. However, I do love their honey toast! Honey toast with Vanilla ice cream and extra honey is the main reason I come here! Also, their Girly drinks are really yummy too! Anything with Shochu and calpico is a must!
(4)Peter C.
VERY SLOW service. Three hours between the time of our 8:30 p.m. reservation and the time we received the check. We weren't seated until about 15 minutes after our scheduled reservation, and our food took a long time in coming to us. However, the awesome food will bring me back. We all shared a variety of appetizers, all of which were excellent: homemade tofu salad, lobster dynamite w/ bread, edamame, sushi pizza - oh wait, our sushi pizza never showed up on the table, although it did show up on the check at the end of the night. :-/ As for the entrees, although we were warned that they may not come out all at the same time, they did, and we were pleasantly surprised. Apparently, that's not the norm. I thoroughly enjoyed my lobster dynamite roll (very rich and AWESOME), and the sizzling unagi bowl my neighbor had ordered looked so good I stole a spoonful (apparently, it's best when it's crispy-burnt, just a little bit; it's part of the experience). Everyone raves about the honey toast, so of course I had to get it. I ordered it with no toppings, since I'm such a purist (actually, I didn't feel like paying extra for toppings on a dessert that already costs $8 by itself). I was unimpressed. After all, it's a couple of big pieces of toasted bread, drizzled with honey and topped with ice cream. What SHOULD have I expected? I'm not convinced our server was the reason for the slow service. She was very attentive the entire time. She and her teammates were very pleasant and helpful during our visit, and I'm sure I'll be back for the awesome food someday... when I have several hours to burn. Pros: EXCELLENT food (except the Honey Toast), pleasant staff Cons: SLOW food orders
(3)Rubie G.
The lobster dynamite roll was SCRUMPDIDLYUMPTIOUS. Enough said. No, really though, This will be one of my go-to dinner spots whenever I'm back in Oahu.
(5)Ashley K.
First of all, definitely recommend getting a reservation if you want to eat on the weekend!! Lunch bentos are delicious and well portioned!
(5)Debbie R.
This is the holy grail of Japanese food. 'nuff said. If I may be so bold as to recommend: spicy tuna on crispy rice, garlic shrimp rice then finish off your meal with the Honey Toast. OH, and the menu has pictures of all the offerings . . . very helpful. By the way, the food comes out looking EXACTLY like the pictures . . . !! This place is a winner!
(5)Missy T.
I have been here twice since starting this review, and I can confidently say that while Shokudo definitely earned a solid 2-star rating, they sure are consistent. The first time a friend and I had lunch there (4/16/2012), our primary goal was to see what the Honey Toast hype was about. Seriously, our friends wouldn't shut up about it, so after our meals (I had the Shrimp Tempura Udon Noodle) we ordered one to share between us. Fast forward to my second visit - I was there with a party of about 12 and it was about time for dessert. The first-timers in the group saw the pictures of the infamous Honey Toast and asked if anybody had tried it. The following is my Honey Toast disclaimer: "The Honey Toast is a small structure made of bread. It is delicious, and you are not ready for it." Seriously, you'll cycle through all five stages of grief. Denial - "It's not THAT big, I'll finish it just fine!" Anger - "WHO THE F--- ORDERED THIS?!" Bargaining - "If I finish it all, can I have my soul back?" Depression - ":'(" Acceptance - "I will die because of this, and I am fine with that." So, to sum that up - You share that Honey Toast with a whole bunch of people, and you share it HARD. While the dessert is worthwhile (the Banana Flambe was pretty awesome, too), the entrees were just meh for the price. My udon the first time was okay, super filling, but mediocre in flavor; not the best $10 I've ever spent. The second time I got the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice I had mentally bookmarked during the first visit. I love me some spicy ahi, and was super excited to try Shokudo's version. I was a little disappointed when my plate arrived - the plate definitely could have used some wiping around the edges before it left the kitchen. The actual flavor was alright, although everything had a lukewarm temperature to it. I was expecting the rice to be hot, or at least warmer than it was, and the tuna to be cold. The rice WAS crispy, so that wasn't a let down, and the jalapeno slice on each piece of sushi was a nice addition, although it didn't make of for the lack of heat/flavor in the actual tuna itself. Again, not the best $13 I've ever spent. I'll go back to Shokudo to try their Happy Hour, I have yet to have ordered drinks from there, but will probably refrain from any lunch/dinner invites unless it's a special occasion for someone. Bottom line - Dessert, yes. Anything else, meh.
(2)Diandra M.
I love it here! Great for a late night meal, or a nice lunch. If you ever want to just for for dessert, I suggest trying their Honey Toast! I love their menu and absolutely love the FREE green tea! The staff is young and energetic and provide excellent service!
(5)Laura W.
Super trendy, but still casual. Got their lump crab meat roll. Interesting concept, but don't know if id order it again just because I wasn't a huge fan of how creamy the crab mixture was. The honey toast was yum! And the portion of edemame was great! Even had left over edamame to bring home!
(4)Toni M.
Got seated quickly on a Friday evening and had great service - very attentive. Modern decor with cozy ambience. Enjoyed the lobster dynamite roll and, of course, the honey toast. This restaurant is a must when visiting Honolulu!
(5)Raych D.
After my 5th birthday dinner (actual birthday) at d.k steak house last night I wanted to go to Shokudo to have some of their honey toast and since it was close to 1030pm for happy hour me and my ex did just that! Came in without a problem because we chose to sit at the bar just for the honey toast and maybe a shot or two. The place looked pack! Maybe because it was mid-term week so everyone needed to relax?..anyways the bartender Jess was super fast and nice, she ordered our junior honey toast as soon as 1030 hit and she even gave us a free scoop of vanilla ice cream after she jokingly said "I won't charge you for it, just give me a fat tip hehehe"! We ordered the li-hing sake shooters waiting for our dessert...and that shot was interesting to say the least. Maybe because sake with li-hing is already a strange combo but it tasted kind of bitter in my opinion. When we got our bill it was so cheap only like $7 for everything...so we ended up giving her, her "fat tip" like she requested
(4)Ray L.
Go for the lunch specials here. The bomb is the tempura bowl. Its huge! There's many reasons to make a visit to Shokudo if you haven't yet. In addition to the lunch specials, they have happy hour deals which would make any monday blues go away. Lunch specials consists of a laminated sheet with various ramen noodles; miso, spicy etc but again the tempura bowl is a must try! Service is alway good with friendly hostesses and wait staff. Of course parking is never a problem with the Ala Moana center nearby.
(4)Lillian H.
Shokudo has great food (definitely not traditional Japanese, though). I've loved the food at Shokudo since my first visit when it opened years ago. My friends, family, and I frequent Shokudo and is a common gathering place for us. Normally we have a good experience, but this past visit really ruined it all for me. It was a Sunday mid-morning, I was hungover from the night before, but I had to drive in from Mililani to have lunch with my family because my brother was in town just for the weekend. I tried to call around 10:30am to make a reservation, but my call went to voicemail. I figured they can't be THAT busy for lunch, so we just went without a reservation (party of 5). When I arrived, my brother and his girlfriend had already put our name down on the waiting list. We were next and they had told my brother they were setting up the table already and it should only be about 5-10 minutes. We sat outside waiting for 30 minutes, even after we checked in again twice. This did not make me happy at all. We were kept waiting, despite what we were told, for half an hour in the sun, while I desperately needed a cool non-alcoholic drink. When we were finally seated, NO ONE came to help us!! NO ONE served us WATER or asked what we wanted to drink! They just assumed we didn't need anything while we were looking at the menu?? I thought the standard procedure was to ask what we wanted to drink before taking our order, or at least to bring us water. Our waiter was really boring, unexciting, and overall just MIA. We kept needing things (i.e. water, tea, dessert) and he was never there to ask! He never checked in on us! We had to wave other people down for help. It was just ridiculous. Yes, it was pretty busy, but there were so many workers walking around, so I'm not sure why he couldn't pay attention to one of the tables he was assigned to. I'm not going to lie, I will probably be back for the food, but I really hope they improve their customer service ASAP.
(2)Curt C.
Come for the Sushi, stay for the honey toast... Located next to Ala Moana, the parking lot is a bit hard to find and its a bit cramped, but there is usually enough parking for all. I recommend making reservations as it can be quite crowded especially during the dinner rush and can take over an hour if you didn't make reservations (trust me, I know haha). There is also a happy hour, however it is only from Sunday-Wednesday 10:30 to close. To me, the food is not the main attraction, although the food is good, it is far from great. We had ordered the Sushi Pizza, Korean Bibimbop, and Lobster Dynamite and it is an interesting twist on "staple" Japanese food. For me, I come to Shokudo for two things, the drinks and the honey toast. They have a good mixture of drinks ranging from beer to sake to "fruit infused Vodka soda" with flavors like Passion Fruit and Grape Calpico. While there we discovered there was a special, a 40 oz bottle of flavored Soju for only $28. There were multiple flavors to choose from such as Green Tea, Yogurt, and White Peach. We ordered Yuzu, and while it tasted delicious, it was noticeably sweet by the third shot, but well worth it for the price point and for the fun of having a huge bottle of Soju to take pictures with. However, the main reason to go to Shokudo is for the Honey Toast. Two thick loaves (I'm not even how to describe it, pieces? slabs? Take a look at the pics and let me know!) of toast with vanilla ice cream on top and drizzled with honey. There are additional toppings that can be ordered, but I stick with the original. Inside the outer crust of the toast lies square shaped cuts of bread that is drenched with butter and sugar. With each bite make sure to eat one piece of toast with some ice cream....just sublime. Would I go back? Yes. I would go back to grab a few drinks and then drool over the Honey Toast.
(3)Michael M.
It's difficult to find an "easy" restaurant these days in town. Try walking into Morio's without a reservation. Try finding parking at Kohnotori's after 7. Try getting seated at Cheesecake Factory within 10 minutes of arriving. No dice. Wife and I came here for dinner at 5:30 and were seated instantly. Parking was bountiful because it's at Ala Moana. Our server was very mellow and actually put me in a better mood. I was a little salty that the hostess did not inform us that it was happy hour and we missed the last two spots at the bar. Our waiter reassured us that the Sake-tini's we ordered wouldn't have been on the happy hour menu anyway. Did I mention Sake-tinis? I first got turned on to this place at Yelp Uncaged when they were giving these gems away for FREE. At 8 bux a pop they are still worth it. I prefer the Lychee flavor. We did pupus for dinner. A shrimp tempura roll, crispy rice with spicy ahi, french fries with shiso salt, and yakisoba. My wife said the crispy rice spicy ahi was one of the best things she has eaten for a while. I said the shrimp tempura roll is one of the best thing I have eaten for a while. We are having some kinda culinary lovers spat. I love french fries done in Japanese restaurants. I'm not sure what they do to them that american restaurants can't do, but they always come out soft yet crispy. With shiso salt, they are tremendous here. Then....HONEY TOAST TIME!!!! I'm pretty sure they call it this because you have to share it with your honey. How come more foods are not served in a Jenga format? This thing is so huge and awkward, you just have to cowboy up and plunge in with your fork no matter how you look. If you don't have a honey they serve a "junior size." Dinner for two = 75 with 4 sake-tinis. This place gets packed fast. So if you want "easy" come "early."
(4)Lora H.
Our waiter Paul was pretty awesome!! Nice guy, good service... and sometimes, well, who am I kidding... most of the time, service is what makes or breaks an experience! So he made our night pleasant! Now, for the food... love the food. My friend and I just had a bunch of appetizers family style. Mochi cheese gratin... wow! Hamachi Carpaccio... sooo good! Pork and Negi.... another wow! The only item we ordered that we would probably never order again is the foot long chicken katsu. Sure, it's a foot long... but you get a sliver of chicken under a butt-load of fried breading. Yuck. Okay, but other than that... great food! And the cool part Paul turned us on to... we ordered shochu. But he suggested that if we order the bottle, it comes out cheaper between the two of us, if we both had 2 drinks each, which we knew we would do! So the bottle it was... AND, they hold that bottle for you for two months so the next time we go, no cost for drinks. We just let them know that we have a bottle, which they even gave us a sharpie to mark up and personalize as our bottle, and we have drinks!! I mean really, what a GREAT idea! Convenient for us, and smart for the restaurant.... good way to get us to come back cause they know we're not going to just come and drink... we're going to order more food! Crowd was nice... an older crowd, but not too old. Nice mix of people, good people watching. Parking is free and easy. All in all a fun night out!!
(4)MJ S.
The hosts, the servers, the restaurant itself are all very nice but the food is lacking. Lacking flavor, lacking creativity, lacking presentation. I think it's one of those places people go because everyone else goes, or to be seen maybe. They get a star for decor and nice service and another star for not giving me the evil eye when I brought my 2 year old in for dinner.
(2)Stephanie D.
A really good place to go for happy hour! Cheap food and drinks, what more could you ask for?!
(5)Juliene C.
I celebrated my birthday here a few days ago. Honestly, i just wanted to try the honey toast! I made reservations on a weekday around 2pm. Honestly, no need. The restaurant was not packed & we were seated right away. We parked at Ala Moana mall & walked. So, parking is not a big deal. The waitress was really sweet. Service was great. Another waiter checked in on us as well. That was cool. Very modern ambiance! On to the food! -tofu salad: sooo good! The dressing was tangy & sweet & i love the crispy wontons on top. I just wish there was more vegetables though. -teriyaki chicken quesadilla: it came with sour cream, diced tomatoes, & a cilantro dip. Very tasty. The teriyaki sauce is glazed on top. -sukiyaki bibambap: i've had better, but it isn't bad. Good flavor. -oxtail ramen: i didn't really fully enjoy this one. The broth was bland, but the oxtail was cooked to perfection. -toro sushi: fresh! I could eat more than 2 pieces, but it's $9 each! -melon float: looks good, but it was just whatever for me. I don't think i will be ordering this again. I should know better since i hate carbonated beverages. -honey toast: best thing i ever ate! It taste way better than the ones in California! So delicious! I could have ate it all to myself. It was lightly toasted & buttery. The honey was drizzled all over & there was 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream on top! OMG! We spent $80 with tip included. For all the food we got & the portions it came with, i would say the prices are reasonable. Most def coming here again!
(4)Christine E.
I have not been to Shokudo in yearrrrsss. And in the last month, I've gone twice! the food is still pretty good, but the service, good grief! The two times I've gone here (one was late night, one was normal dinner time), 'service' was non-exsistent. Orders are taken fast, food even pretty quick to come out, but then you wait 10,000 years for follow up from your server. Or even water to be refilled. Multiple times my friends and I were like "lets just slowly walk out, see if they care then" (of course, we would never do that, but I think you get my point). So my advice, eat here when you got LOADS of time. Food. I looooove the mochi cheese thing. I loooooove the sushi pizza. I love unagi rice. and I love honey toast! That's pretty much the only things I think are worthwhile to get. The late night specials are pretty good too. And I like have a late night eating alternative that's not Zippys. :) Overall, food is pretty good, service not so much, definitely a good place to go with a bunch a friends for snacks and talk story time. But not really anywhere I'd seek out. Side note/random fact: We've noticed that on the playlist in this restaurant is always 1 good song, followed by 3 crappy ones.
(3)Tim K.
My son, his wife and I had a most enjoyable experience, primarily because our waitress Robyn went out of her way to make us comfortable and meet our every need. The food, of course, was great, but the tipping point to making this a wonderful evening was the care and kindness shown by Robyn. There really should be more wait staff of her caliber.
(5)Milly C.
There's already so many reviews on Shokudo; I'm not sure if I can add anything new... but I'll give t a try anyway! It was my first time ordering from the happy hour menu a few nights ago, and I'm happy to say I was pleasantly surprised. We ordered the lihing shooters and yogurt soju shooters ($2 each) and they were both really good! I think it was the best yogurt soju I've ever had. I'll definitely be going back for more! We also ordered spicy tuna roll, gyoza, fries, and the honey toast Jr. The food was alright, nothing stood out except the honey toast and the yogurt soju. The honey toast jr is better than the original honey toast. Not only is it cheaper, I think the proportion of ice cream to toast is better as well! I know, I know... you're all thinking that can't be right since the jr version is exactly half of the original... but it's true! My theory is that there's so much toast in the original that you gradually eat more and more ice cream to balance the dryness of the toast. However, because the jr honey toast is only half, you don't need to eat as much ice cream! Too bad it's only available during happy hour...
(4)Rizelle Aira L.
Their udon is the best. Like this is the real udon that you can get in Japan! I mean other restaurants make their udon ok. But the best part about this restaurant is their dessert! Honey Toast. It's like bread with ice cream on top and caramel syrup. It sounds weird but it's really delicious. Haven't tried anything like this before. Favorite Japanese restaurant in Oahu (:
(4)Paul H.
The main problem I had was the girl behind the counter when you first come in. I asked how long is the wait for 2. She said they are clearing tables right now and we will then be seated. I said, "oh, great!" The way she answered gave us the impression that we would be seated immediately. Over 30 minutes later we still weren't seated even though others were being seated. When i went back up there to ask how much longer, she said we will be seated very soon, but she had people with reservations that needed to be seated first. We would not have had a problem waiting if she had told us up front how long the wait was. But we felt that she intentionally would not tell us because she didn't want us to leave. It was very deceptive. Plus her attitude was really non caring. We didn't get a greeting, or a good bye. Get rid of this girl. 6/9/14, 8:00pm.
(1)Jayson N.
Everytime I think of this place, "shokuDONT" comes to mind. Okay let's digress for a minute. The origin of shokuDONT comes from hanging out with my friends... Everytime we're drunk and we don't know where to go, it always ends up as a SHOKUDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.. And good decisions never follow. Anyways, friends from out of town wanted to eat dinner here so this review is solely based on dinner dining. For one, the menu isn't all that extensive. I mean you got some sushi rolls, some salads, and some ramen and udon. Very tapas and Izakaya like which I tend to like. I am all for getting a bunch of different stuff and sharing. I ordered the lobster dynamite roll.. And... for me it fell short. when you think dynamite, you think BAM.. IN THE FACEEEEEEEEEEEE... All I got from the roll was mehhh, mush. My friends spider roll was made with a small soft shell crab and a whole bunch of imitation crab.. BLEH... Definitely not my cup of tea...... Another friend ordered the Calamari Salad.. Okay this is my honest opinion on fried calamari.. If you know what the hell you're doing, you wouldn't place fried goodness on a bed of leaves with a crap dressing... That should be considered murder.. I mean it was a complete mess. The texture and flavors just did not work with my pallet. You can try it for yourself, but it just didn't work for me.. For dessert we had the HONEY TOAST or whatever people always rave about shokudo for.. I mean it was okay.. It didn't blow me away.. I much prefer the garlic pillow toast from kit-n-kitchen than this dessert toast.. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it.. The service was good, he was attentive without being pushy and the ambiance is quite nice.. I will say that people with uncontrollable children should not be allowed in nice places. I felt so bad for all those guys working hard on impressing their dates. Anyways, shokuDOOOOOOO for drinks.. shokuDONTTTTTTT for dinner.. trust me.
(2)Yuriy B.
If you know and love sushi - this place is not for you. Ordered simple spicy tuna and it had no flavor. Then came our order of sashimi: - I've never seen sashimi cut like here, small and long . It looked like French fries not sashimi. - and it tasted the way it looked , horrible. We ended up eating none of that. Have to say a positive thing about our waiter. He went back and had "chef" re-cut our sashimi. And he didn't charge us for that as well. Overall - don't bother, find another place, there are plenty of good sushi around.
(1)Jennifer L.
We arrived after 9pm on a Thursday and it was packed. We had a party of six but only had to wait 10 min. Lobster Dynamite roll - excellent! My favorite dish! It is very rich. It does mayo on it for those that might be adverse. Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice - nice and spicy. Spider Roll - typical spider roll Tempura Roll - I didn't try this. It was ok, nothing special. Red Eye Roll - good but not great. Spicy Scallop Roll - very good. This was the favorite of the table. Michi Cheese Gratin - like a french onion soup on top of Michi. It doesn't sound too good but we all really enjoyed it. Garlic Scallop fried rice - very good! I would recommend order this version or the shrimp version. Honey Toast - good. Extremely large portion. Very different and worth trying. Virgin Lava Flow - a little too sweet for me. Kirin frozen Ichiban Shibori - looks cool but is just Japanese Budweiser. The frozen head on top is supposed to keep the beer ice cold but that did not seem to be the case. I like the atmosphere of the restaurant. Service was great! The food came out at a good tempo. Great for groups. I would definitely come here again!
(4)Mike A.
It's ooooook over rated for sure. fish wasn't fresh at all. I like my sashimi chilled not at room temp! friendly staff & the only thing that tasted ok was they're honey toast.
(2)Jeannie L.
Food is always great. But the awesome service made it better. Thanks to our awesome waiter Grant!
(5)Randall F.
My second visit in 3 yrs to Shokudo and this time for lunch was really good. We walked in around 1 pm on a Friday and not overly crowded. Our server was very friendly, almost 'professor like' and helpful with the menu. Taking time to digest the menu and using any super-vision to catch visual contact of food being served at other tables led to a very enjoyable meal. Oxtail Ramen? Not everywhere but was very good. Bibimbap in a hot stone cooking bowl, they call it Ishiyaki on their menu....oh, their presentation and use of colors is outstanding for a upper casual restaurant...see some of the pics posted. I could not get away from having the bento box, again the visual contact with my not so good super-vision saw a very neat and abundant meal that I had to have. Salmon Teri, Chicken Teri, Cali Rolls, Edamame, Soup, Salad...how can you miss? The table next to us (4 ladies) had the honey toast, but based on their comments and reaction (yes, super-nosey-hearing as well), the toaster or the honey had an off day. So, go try Shokudo for lunch or dinner if you haven't yet and try again if you thought it was just okay the first time around, we did and liked it.
(4)James C.
Great food, Sushi pizza is a neat treat. I'd highly recommend trying the honey toast dessert!
(5)Manda S.
Overall, I'd say the food at Shokudo is just okay...but its the convenience that makes it great! (+) I swear, this is the easiest place to bring big groups. They take reservations and I've even walked in with a party of 10 on a Saturday night and we were seated in about 15 minutes. (+) I think the food here is just okay, so we tend to come to Shokudo more to have drinks and appetizers more to eat dinner. There are a few things on the menu that stand out though! I think Shokudo is one of the only places that I've seen the fresh, homemade tofu in a restaurant (I only see it at Shirokiya sometimes, and once upon a time at a Tofu restaurant in Manoa that has closed down). And of course, honey toast? So bad for you but so good at the same time. My favorite is the cinnamon one. :) (-) They used to have this Mango Infused Sake drink. I bet it was just mango juice mixed with regular, cheap, sake but it was my favorite thing on the menu! They've axed the mango and now they've got li hing. I don't remember the li hing being half as good as the mango was. :(
(4)Genelle S.
I really wanna love this place, but I can't. I really can't. It masquerades itself as a trendy upscale restaurant, but the food is not awesome nor is the service any different from CPK, for instance. The price is egregious for what you get and the food is just mediocre. Udon is $6.95 and coming from a Japanese restaurant, I expected it to be spectacular, but it tasted like instant noodles. I also had the famed lobster dynamite roll, which is good, but at $14.95 I could get a bigger and just as appetizing meal at genki or kuru kuru which actually specializes in good sushi, not this fake roll stuff. My friend ordered bi bim bop, which last time I checked was Korean not Japanese. And it's cool that it comes in that sizzling box that takes up half the table, but that's the thing. It takes up half the table. My other friend ordered teriyaki chicken quesadillas, which was basically bland chicken quesadilla drizzled with teriyaki sauce. Once again, eh, not amazing. Last but not least, the thing that bothers me the most is how this restaurant can get away with selling unsliced bread with ice cream and call it a specialty, and they charge what, $10-15? I could buy a loaf of bread and a tub of ice cream for that price. What a rip off. Filipinos have been eating bread and ice cream and selling them curbside on push carts for decades. All you did was slice it in fat pieces and put the ice cream on top, which if you ask me, is really lazy and cumbersome. Did you notice that by the end all you have is fat pieces of crust and no ice cream left? What a waste. Their web site says the food is meant for 'sharing' but with those portions there is no way it can be considered a 'family style' restaurant. It's certainly priced that way but the food is just not portioned that way. There's just nothing special about this place and it bothers me so much how so many can like it.
(2)Chel T.
Definitely a fan of their drinks and desserts!! No doubt. I just wish their menu itself was a little cheaper or slightly bigger portions then it would be well worth it. A new 5 star experience awaits! :)
(4)Darcie P.
Great for lunch and big groups! They can get you in and out in an hour or less. If not, let the servers know and they'll kick it up a notch. I love the bento boxes, cheapest box is $8.95. Great deals, good eats!
(4)Troy M.
Went here for a drink and desert after a great dinner at Immana Tei. Monday night at 8:00 and the place was packed. If you have not been her the food is great and the decor is very modern and hip. Lots of younger people dine her. We had the usual desert the famed Honey Toast and a few drinks. 5 start for the honey toast but also 5 start for the staff. Since we were only in there for desert & we were not the biggest spenders but the staff (all of them) were great. I have to love when at least 4 people sincerly thank you while leaving. Highly reccomend this place for the great good, desert and staff.
(5)Lindsay J.
The hubby and I met some friends here for some late night grub and drinks. It was our first time there, so we didn't hesitate to order different things. The portions are not too bad. It was enough to feed all 4 of us. We got a lot of food: unagi rice, "caterpillar roll" (unagi with avocado), sushi pizza (mix of salmon, scallops, crabmeat, baked sushi rice) ahi sashimi salad, ume cucumber salad, spicy tuna crispy rice, "foot long" chicken katsu, and a "red eye roll" (spicy tuna wrapped with tuna). They have lots of mixed drinks, but I only tried 2 vodka sodas which were mmmm.... yuzu citrus honey and passion fruit. Tasty and not overly pricey ($6.75). We still had room for dessert. So what did we order? HONEY TOAST: OMG. need I say more? As if 1 wasn't enough, with a tower of toast with little honey toast croutons hiding inside, covered with 2 huge scoops of vanilla ice cream. We HAD to order 2. I happily stuffed myself silly, enjoying every sweet morsel... YUM YUM YUM... Just make sure to call ahead for reservations in case they're busy.
(4)Amber M.
Love this place! The food is consistently delicious, staff is professional, and the ambience is chic. Took my cousin here for the first time with our kids. She really liked everything we ate especially the honey toast (my favorite). Even when my son was whining I didn't feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. Thank you shokudo staff for making my cousin's first experience a great one!
(5)Jeanne H.
FAVORITEST PLACE EVER! Not much seniors, just a lot of teenagers and/or adults Their happy hour is very very cheap and not to mention, DELICIOUS. Quality foods and very friendly staff. Food comes within minutes, and it's a great hang out place. Tends to get crowded, but you'll only need to wait 5-10 minutes for seating. Atmosphere is really cute, but the noise level is kind of high. Don't blame the people though, there's a bar right next to the restaurant. GET THEIR HONEY TOAST. It's the best dessert in the world. Or on happy hour, get the Jr. honey toast. It's smaller, but I recommend that because I could never finish the whole honey toast.
(5)Kellie O.
Shokudo is one of the restaurants I could dine at almost everyday.Their yummy, fusion food, comfy ambiance and friendly employees are what makes you want to come back again and again! I recommend making reservations for large parties and being on time because there is a 2 hour dining limit. Don't fret about parking because you can either park in the structure behind the building or right across the street at Ala Moana Shopping Center. I've tried almost all of their items on their menu and loved them all! With each bite of the food, it excites my palate and satisfies my hunger. In addition to their good food, the sangria and honey toast dessert are a must try!! We NEEEEVER pass on honey toast. Somehow, we always have room for it. You won't regret trying it!
(4)Lily B.
Been here once before with a bunch of friends after an event at the Convention Center... but my boyfriend looooves sushi... so after a Halloween Party at Aloha Tower I decided to bring him here. Ambiance is nice... tables on one side with booths... and then big white booths and tables on the other side... the bar is in the middle. It's really nice inside! Staff is always friendly and service tonight was exceptional... I think our server's name was Bobbi if I remember correctly... she was on it! We ordered the garlic shrimp rice (which I had last time)... and it was just as delicious as the first time I ordered it. TONS of garlic... and I loooove garlic! Jumbo shrimp not tough or overcooked even though the food continues to cook in the little skillet bowl they bring it in (I know there's a true name for the bowl it's brought in but I dunno what that is). My boyfriend ordered the spicy ahi roll... he said the ahi was "mushed" and he really didn't like it. :( I don't eat raw fish so I can't help out with that review... we also ordered the gyoza (which was pretty good!... the filling tasted... um... fancy?? for lack of a better word lol)... we liked it!... and the shrimp tempura was good also. Nothing fancy I'd say, but definitely yummy. My boyfriend also got the oxtail ramen, but it really didn't have much taste. He was super disappointed with his food. We also ordered the lobster dynamite but they were sold out. FAIL! Finally, for dessert, we ordered the oh so famous honey toast with butter, honey, and cinnamon. It's basically two HUGE pieces of toast... the middle is cut out and cut into squares, and then it's placed back into the crust with two big scoops of vanilla ice cream and the honey/butter drizzle. I have a super duper sweet tooth, seriously... and I must say... it LOOKS way better than it TASTES. Sad face. Needless to say... we came, we tried, we won't be back. :( Overpriced and over-hyped to me! Pricing... a little higher than average for sushi... but it's a higer upscale restaurant if you ask me...
(3)Bradley H.
I've found this place is really hit or miss with some of the food. The Hits: Vodka Sodas...especially the grape calpico one. Yeah, i know grape calpico didn't sound so good when i heard it either, but from the ones i've had, this was the best. The Inari Fries...freshly made fries with nori flakes on them...if you like salty, this dish is for you. If not, you'll probably still like it. The Dessert Toast...Yes, a big waste of bread (you will know what i mean when you order this), but quite tasty...sweet bread topped with ice cream, honey, and another topping of your choice (cinnamon was very good). This is big enough to be shared with one other person. The Misses: The Vodka Sodas...went there twice and they didn't have the much anticipated blueberry vodka soda either time. The second time, they told us that the flavors were imported from japan and that they were out. I didn't know they only grew blueberries in japan. The Inari Fries...the second time we had these, the fries were totally overcooked...but we didn't complain because.... The Curry Fries...the first take, the curry served on them was cold...not a good start. Then we asked for the Inari Fries instead...after which they brought us another serving of the curry fries. Finally they brought us the serving of Inari Fries, but they were overcooked...so...see above... So yes...hit or miss...but a kind of trendy place that's active, but not too noisy that you can't have a good conversation... Happy Eating!
(3)Ashlyn B.
Yelp 365 Challenge # 2/365 Me: "I wanna go out to eat tonight." Him: "I want Shokudo." Me: "I swear you can read my mind." Yes, "going out to eat" usually leads us to Shokudo for dinner. I love the Asian ambiance, the amazing customer service, and the Dynamite Lobster. I like to sip on a mojito while enjoying a Rainbow Roll. The food is awesome, and although I do enjoy the food here, I've had much better tasting sushi at other sushi joints. The sushi plates average nearly $10 for one plate. (Yikes!) I personally feel the service and presentation is involved with the price. I've read a lot of reviews about the Honey Toast. Definitely give it a try. I think it's a meal in itself and by the time I'm done with dinner, I'm too full to order dessert! But do try it if you haven't. Parking is in the back and usually free at night. Don't bring your lifted trucks or lowered cars, though!
(4)Jonathan N.
Great place for a late night hang out and snack. Food is great here, just wish they had more variety of sushi....save room for their desert. if you come at a busy time the place could get a little noisy. The atmosphere is really nice in there.
(4)Sereia C.
Friend calls me on phone: What are you doing later? Me: Not sure. Friend: What do you mean you're not sure? Did you forget what day it is? Me: Tuesday? Friend: Heeeelllllooooo?!?! Yes!!! IT'S HONEY TOAST TUESDAY!!! GET IN YOUR CAR IMMEDIATELY!!! This was what he called every Tuesday. He got super excited about honey toast Tuesday from the moment he woke up. Strange obsession. He's a bit of a freak, but I love him. I'm pretty sure there's no deal on the honey toast on Tuesdays, but that was the day he chose to drag us all there. It is pretty damn good. Description: 2 thick slices of bread, hollowed out, and filled with cubed pieces of bread, drizzled with honey, and topped with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream. Definitely try it. The menu: bonus points for having pictures of everything! Love that :) They have all the standard sushi rolls...but I like their unique sushi options...like spicy tuna crispy rice, sushi pizza, and lobster dynamite roll. Also good service, and free parking in the garage.
(4)Elena H.
Trendy Japanese restaurant with a fun ambiance. Good drinks. The home-made tofu was not my favorite and the spicy tuna roll was kinda gross (not fresh at all). Everything else I ordered was pretty good. Would go again for the atmosphere, the creative seasonal drinks, and maybe an appetizer.
(3)Brandon I.
Finally getting around to posting a review of one of my favorite go to places to eat. I'd say on my last 5-10 visits here, the service has always been really good and friendly plus most of the dishes on their menu I dig. On my last visit, we decided to try a few new items and most were good but one dish the Chicken Katsu Curry with Cheese came and the middle was cold. I informed our server and they were really good about it. Brought out a freshly made and piping hot one. I'd probably stick with my usual orders of the Mochi Cheese Gratin, Spicy Ahi Crispy Rice, Oxtail Ramen, and Sukiyaki Bi Bim Bap. Also try the happy hour menu, $3 and a variety of things to choose from.
(4)Chelsey Y.
I work directly next door to Shokudo so we've done many lunches and pau hana's there. I've tried many things on the menu - the sushi is really fresh and yummy - the unagi rice bowl is SO tasty... but my favorite (and not very Japanese actually) is the teriyaki chicken quesadilla for some reason. One of the more surprising delights on their menu is the tofu salad (I know, doesn't sound very appetizing, but trust me - it is!) Also, you HAVE to try the dessert toast with ice cream and honey. So good! I've never had a bad meal here, and the price is pretty reasonable. It's a nice atmosphere, especially for happy hour where they have a pretty decent pupu menu. I would definitely recommend Shokudo for lunch, dinner, and happy hour with a big group of friends! It's a fun place!
(4)Diana G.
I've eaten here about 3 years ago with my brother. I remember that they had great food and fantastic atmosphere. I finally had a chance to take my husband there a couple of nights ago. Our experience was much better than what I recall. The service was just outstanding. We were served by Tantra who was super. From the moment she greeted us, she was all smiles and happy and very attentive. Very detail oriented with our order. Thank you for a great experience.
(5)Aubrey A.
The only thing holding me back from giving Shokudo 5 stars is the service. It is truly hit or miss, which seems crazy - I've seen their job postings on Craigslist saying that they get a large turnout of applicants for the server positions. Makes me think it would be very competitive to keep your job as a server there, but we have been ignored several times once we sat down so sometimes it seems they don't care. They just aren't very attentive. That being said, the thing that keeps us coming back (lots and lots of times!) is the FOOD. Which is amazing. Our two favorite food items hands-down are the Lobster Dynamite Roll and the Honey Toast, of course. During their 6th anniversary celebration, we were one of the first 600 to get the PB Choc. Honey Toast and become part of the Honey Toast club, which entitles us to two free extra scoops of ice cream on our honey toast for a year! So awesome. Why we never though to add two extra scoops of ice cream on it in the past is beyond me! More ice cream = better honey toast! We haven't tried all the flavors of honey toast yet because our favorite (cinnamon) is just too good to pass up.
(4)Kate Y.
Food is good, tiny bit above average, but I think it's little too pricy, we ordered bimbibam, hamachi,spicy miso ramen nd green tea shake, it cost 54 include tips...it worth to try if someone treat you :p
(4)Lisa C.
Sushi Pizza, lobster dynamite, salmon rice, delicious mojitos(lychee and yuzu were my fav), flavored saketinis, baked banana flambe, honey toast, and our great server, Tarik....all of which made our experience enjoyable here. He even surprised us with a comp dessert for a friend's birthday. The honey toast topped with vanilla ice cream was a brillant invention! Definitely save room for it. Come here if you're looking for a nicer place to do dinner. Great food and good drinks.
(5)Catherine K.
Shokudo is a favorite restaurant of mine, I LOVE their food, drinks and desserts. Here's a couple of things I have experienced from my many times being here. PARKING: The Parking structure is tiny, and for anyone with a large vehicle, have fun getting in there because it is very tight. If you go before ala moana closes, I'd suggest to park there, up the ramp by macys. SERVICE: The service here isn't the best. Honestly they take forever to seat people and even longer for the food. The waiters and waitresses are very nice though and make you feel a little better about waiting for so long. THE PLACE: It's clean and has a lot of asian influenced furniture, and although it says casual, trust me I usually wear a dress or at least something a little dressy for dinner. Lunch is more casual. FOOD: Okay, my favorite part is the food. I've tried a LOT of this menu and these are my recommendations: Appetizers/Salad -Mochi Cheese Gratin melted cheese on top of soft mochi baked, how bad can that be ! -Calamari Tempura really light tempura batter makes this really yummy (w/ lemon) -Homemade Tofu Salad very filing, and flavorful ! seriously try this ! I don't like tofu or salad too much but I LOVE this salad. -Lobster Dynamite baked lobster dip with crunchy bread, delicious. Sashimi/Sushi -Ahi Tataki with Garlic Chips small portion but tastes fresh and good if you have a small appetite like me -Red Eye Roll this is basically spicy tuna with extra ahi slices on top. I love ahi so I almost always get this. btw it's pretty spicy and I'm korean so... -Spicy Tuna on Cripsy Rice suhi rice fried into a crispy square topped with spicy tuna and a jalapeno. It's not as spicy as you think it is but it's really tasty. -Sushi Pizza so weird, but it is really good. It's one of those "you just have to try it" dishes Ishiyaki -Salmon Rice If you like salty and fishy foods, this is definitely for you. -Garlic Shrimp RIce this is like a bowl of garlic mixed with rice and shrimp. if you're not a big garlic fan, ummm good luck ? -Unagi Rice a must if you like unagi Dessert -Honey Toast (Strawberry, Oreo Cookie&Cream, Original) what Shokudo is known for -Melon Shave Ice even though everyone always gets Honey Toast, my friend hates bread so we got this instead, it was sooo good. Drinks (just try them, especially the aiko=my fave) -Lychee Vodka Soda -Grape Calpico -Aiko Saketini -Melon Float -Grape Calpico Float -Green Tea Shake
(4)Stephanie C.
I remember the first time I went to Shokudo was when I was on vacation here a few years ago. My friends and I were driving around in our rental car looking for a place to eat and the decor of this place caught our eye. Where I'm from, when you walk into a place like this you expect the prices to be kind of high, so we were delighted when we opened the menu and prices were.... cheap! The ambiance and decor of Shokudo is great, trendy but not intimidating. I've gone here plenty of times dressed shabbily after a long day at the beach and have never felt out of place. It's also a great place to go with friends before a night out on the town or even date night with the bf. Every time I get visitors from the mainland I bring them here and they always like it, some even ask to return. Every dish they make has a unique twist to it that's pleasantly unexpected. I always get the lobster roll, sushi pizza, and mochi cheese gratin. I've pretty much tried everything on the menu and have yet to dislike anything!
(5)Crystal J.
This place is very friendly and enjoyable to be at with your friends or family. The atmosphere is very alluring and it feels as if you could just stay there all day. Though, the food is only sub-par. It really isn't anything special and is just maybe three levels up from a restaurant chain. Though, the variety of food and drinks they have make up for it. From chicken katsu to sushi, you can satisfy any local craving you have. The drinks are also quenching and unique, as they have things ranging from alcoholic sodas to green tea shakes and floats. Also, a signature dessert from Shokudo is the popular Honey Toast. The Honey Toast consists of two large pieces of bread that were removed of the center whites that were chopped up, toasted, then drizzled in honey. To top it off is some nice, delicious vanilla ice cream. You can also choose what toppings you'd like on the Honey Toast too. This place is very popular with young people and gets extremely busy at night, so if you want to eat comfortably, I'd recommend going at around noon.
(3)Anela A.
There are a few yummy dishes, like the cheese mochi, dynamite lobster and the honey toast but as a whole, the menu was pretty limited and average. Our table oredered a whole bunch of different dishes and I found the quality, taste and creativity of the dishes to be pretty poor. The service was awful. For a Monday night when it wasn't too busy our server took so long to take our order and bring our food and our food all came out at different times. Then at the end when we are eating our dessert, the hostess had the nerve to come over and tell us we had to leave because our 2 hour time limit was up! How rude when they were so slow! Not worth the $60.
(1)Evan C.
As a first time diner at Shokudo, I had gone there with high hopes. Alot of my friends and family have eaten there and told me all about the awesome food, and ambience, so i was pretty excited for my first time. We had to wait only about 20 minutes when the four of us were then seated. My two friends ordered sushi and beer (don't remember which ones) and me and my other half ordered the fried calamari salad, miso ramen, and the teriyaki chicken. The three dishes were very good, the teriyaki chicken came with wasabi mashed potatoes, which were soooooo good (probably my favorite part of the dish). The miso ramen was spicy, and the calamari salad was also very tasty. Desert we of course tried the honey toast (something I had heard alot about as well) and it was very tasty. Not only was the food good.. but our server, Michael was awesome. He was a very good server, and I will be returning asking to be served by him. He made us laugh, let us know how much longer our food would be, and overall made the experience that much more pleasant. 5 stars! good job Shokudo
(5)Anjyl J.
A friend and I were here a few nights ago for the late night happy hour. It was sort of busy but we didn't have to wait very long to be seated. Our server was great, very polite, friendly and funny. We basically only came for the honey toast but we ended up getting a few other things from the menu, including drinks. I think the server was Steven. He never let our waters go empty and even halved our honey toast onto two separate plates since I was sick. You should definitely try to get him as your server, he'll take good care of you.
(5)cindy q.
Ok,first time here so I read some reviews to see what to expect.Thank you everyone!! a reservation is a must for any group size because when we met up w/our friends there was a crowd waiting outside and it was crazy busy. The food was good,the service was great. Every review pretty much talked about the food,service and parking.but what made me like this place even more is the fact that they let kids use a IPad while dining in the restaurant. We had our 3 year old son with us we notice other diners w/kids have I pads on the table and asked if we could get one for our son they said sure but you would have to leave a credit card w/them and after our dinner drop it off to the front where you pick up your credit card. No charge at all. We loved that idea and there was a good amount of movies and games to entertain our son while we enjoy our dinner with friends.
(4)Reuben R.
Yeesh... my what, third visit here??? What happened!? We were seated quickly and forgotten. I dunno, Im not sure its all worth eating here... maybe should just go here to drink and get honey toast. Its funny, because even after we finally got our meals, after we finished we were forgotten again! And it wasn't even that busy... c'mon! it shouldn't be a 3 hour visit just for two people!!! I pretty much wanted to just walk to the register and ask for our bill but my date didn't want me to make a scene -___-
(2)Jessica Y.
We hit up Shokudo last night for our work "christmas" outing. Yeah, I know it's almost Valentine's day but the holiday season is pretty hectic for us. I had to adjust our reservation several times and the staff was very accommodating. We ended up with a party of 18, including several children and got seated on the rising side of the restaurant. I don't know if our waiter was overwhelmed by the amount of people we had in our party or what, but the entire meal was chaotic. We started with drinks and he took some people's food orders and didn't take others. After he had taken everyone's order, we realized that he had still forgotten some people and put in their order later. I would say about a quarter of our group got their food almost immediately, but another quarter of our group didn't get their food for another 45 minutes! One person in our party literally did not get her dinner until we were ordering dessert, about an hour after the first group got their food. Another person was served the wrong type of sushi roll and was told it would take an extra 30 minutes for them to correct the order! As far as the service went, they most definitely did not have their bleep together that night. As far as food goes, my boyfriend and I split the dynamite lobster sushi ($15), the sushi pizza (about $15 as well), the honey toast ($8), and some sort of nori french fries ($5). The lobster dynamite sushi was a 4/5. The lobster dynamite was great, big chunks of lobster in a spicy sauce. The thing that wasn't so great about the dish was the sushi, which was kind of soggy and fell apart when I picked it up with my chopsticks. You can also order the dynamite dip by itself with crackers, which I think would be better. The sushi pizza was also a 3.5/5. The concept was interesting, a layer of nori with sushi rice and a imitation crab/mayo mix baked on top. This had a little too much mayo and was also a little soggy. The nori fries were yummy, very freshly fried with just the right amount of seasoning. 5/5 As far as their famous honey toast went, I would rate it a 4/5. The toasted bread in the middle was super buttery and covered in honey and paired great with the ice cream. I was really looking forward to dinner at Shokudo because I had heard such good reviews about them. With the experience we had there last night, I might not ever return, ESPECIALLY not with a party of more than 4 people since the restaurant is clearly not capable of serving that many people at once. Food-wise if you're craving Japanese and are on the leeward side, hit up Kunio's in Waikele. That place is bomb! (FYI-if you're in a big group you can only split your check into 4 different bills so be prepared).
(2)Ronnie S.
Great service, aesthetic and vibe in this large Honolulu restaurant. Must have's are the fried rice nigiri with spicy tuna on top, the tofu salad and of course the honey toast. Go, get some!
(4)Michael Q.
Before I start...Honey Toast with Cinnamon. You owe it to yourself. This place is always crowded so make a reservation. Good for large gatherings. Spicy tuna crispy rice is a must. Along with the Ahi tataki and Balsamic beef tataki. Assorted sakes also to go along with the extensive menu. Did I mention the Honey Toast?
(5)Gidget T.
Shodudos is absolutely delicious. If you haven't been there before, the only thing you need to taste to get hooked is their Honey Toast. It's one of the most delicious desserts I've ever had, and large enough that you could share it with two or three people. Sometimes, I go there for that alone. They do have some great dinner entrees, as well. I normally get the Teriyaki Chicken and my husband likes the Bimimbap. The Happy House specials are nice. I'm a fan of their Sangria as well as their Sake-tinis (which are NOT included in the Happy House special). Most 2 - 3 person seating is on the left in small tables and booths that are comfortable but a little tight on room. Larger groups normally sit to the right where they have large booths and are very comfortable and spacious. Not to mention elevated, so you get a nice view of the whole restaurant. The bar has lots of seating, has a television and serves full meals if you would rather not wait for a table to open up. The service is always fast and friendly when I've been there and the average wait (on weekends) seems to be around 20 - 30 minutes. They have a small waiting area inside, but on a crowded night you'll probably have to wait outside. Overall, the service and good are very good. The Honey Toast is excellent and worth the trip in itself. It's one of my favorite "date night" spots on the island. I take one star off only for some of the prices and the cramped seating you sometimes get stuck with when in a party of 2 (the angled tables in the center, under the lighting structure). Though, if you can get a small booth, it's very nice.
(4)Rita L.
favorites: Crispy fried rice sushi, sushi pizza, yukari fries, and honey toast! I love the salmon rice too! portions are nicely sized! the ambiance is great here! heard they have great lunch here, alwasy was here for dinner! free parking and great service!
(4)Raquel K.
best honey toast with molasses and adzuki beans...great service and chill atmosphere
(5)Mitchell L.
I can't count the number of times I've been to Shokudo now, and don't plan on trying. Shokudo is an upbeat spot in a decent location with Asian Fusion on the menu. They have a special lunch bento menu, as well as an after dark bar pupu selection. Definitely get there "after dark" and try the dozen or more choices for $3/each; it will give you a taste of what the regular menus are all about. I dropped a bill or two with a friend one day trying everything that looked good on the menu. These are some of my favorites: Yukari French Fries - It's something about hot french fries that always wets the appetite. Mochi Cheese Gratin - This may not be texturally for everyone, but if you like cheese and mochi, you'll love this. Lobster Dynamite Roll - Think lobster in a densely rich cream sauce poured over a California roll and popped in the oven. Ya, that does sound good. Fried Calamari Salad - If you like freshly fried calamari, and a cilantro-packed salad this is for you. For the price, you can't beat it. Tokyo Shoyu Ramen - It's not the best there is, but it certainly hits the spot in a hurry. Unagi/Garlic Shrimp Rice - These are donburi's in a large hot pot that you can cook the rice to a crisp in. Very tasty stuff. Spicy Ahi Nachos (After Dark) - Need I say more? Honey Toast - I suppose this is probably what they're best known for. I've had it about half a dozen times now, and I tell you -- it doesn't get old. Think of a half loaf of bread, which innards are cut into cubes just for you, glazed over in honey and your choice of topping (cinnamon is best) and toppled with two scoops of vanilla ice cream. Heaven? No. Heavenly pillows of toast and ice cream? Yes. Om nom nom nom nom nom.
(4)Jeremy L.
Stupid promotions. If you come for happy hour make sure everyone is over 21 or you cannot order off their happy hour menu. Our whole experience was horrible. Do not recommend and definitely will not be back
(1)Kandice S.
super great lunch. we ate lunch family style, everything we ordered was delicious. loved my sushi pizza and lobster dynamite. you have to try the honey toast...
(4)Craig P.
I personally like shokudo a lot! Especially the honey toast! and its many variations!!! Love it~ In my opinion: The Good: nice clean atmosphere. More upscaled so quality is expected and delivered. Absolutely love the honey toast and drinks! You've HAVE to try the Honey toast at the very least! That's what shokudo is known for! If you have a larger appetite I think the ishiyaki bowls will satisfy you...just eat the smaller expensive stuff off of your friends plates! :P The Meh: When dealing with mayo it'll always be some what of a hit or miss. Granted that it happening 1/3 times isn't much of a consistency issue it does affect your perceptions. Long wait to get a seat if you go during the dinner rush. If you have a larger party always call in a reservation. Saves you a looooot of time. Always a good place for dinner when you feel like splurging on sushi!
(4)Panda G.
The decor was very nice but the the selection of sushi is really not there. A lot of the rolls have jalapeno in them and there is only a short list of rolls to choose from this is not your typical sushi restuarant. Its better for their other entrees. I had the honey toast and it was nothing to rave about. Sansei would be a better choice if you were looking for a sushi bar.
(2)Walter A.
Rawr Honey toast after drinking in Chinatown is the perfect way to start your Waikiki drinking night. If you do not like hipster/trendy Asian scene, you might want to steer clear from this restaurant. The food is delicious but will leave you hungry (if you aren't used to Japanese-style portions). If I focus on the food and not each person taking a picture of their food, I'm okay eating here. The parking is okay and free. If you plan on going to the restaurant on a usual busy day and time, be prepared to wait.
(4)Christine C.
This place is close to home and work, so I had to check it out. The food, service, and atmosphere is all good! We had the unagi & rice and albacore on crispy rice. It was good. I also enjoyed the leechee martinis- Yumm!
(4)Brent K.
I must say, I thought this restaurant was better when it came to service. The food is great, but the service they have for this restaurant, ABSOLUTELY SUCKS!!! I called to make a birthday reservation for a friday in the private room for 7:30pm for 16 pax . The initial person I spoke to confirmed everything and I thought it was all set. Here is what happened: 1. Got called 3 days later and was told whoever took the reservation made an error in booking the private room and that they don't make reservations for 7:30pm....UM HELLO...why have someone answer the phone then!!!! 2. Was told my only options were either 6:00pm or 8:00pm and I only had a 2 hour window and that we would have to leave after 2 hours...WTH?!!! 3. Was then told that if my reservation dropped below 12 pax, I would be charged an additional $300 for the room...AGAIN, WTH??!!! 4. So I switched the reservation just to the dining area to avoid the charge 5. I called back a couple days before the date of the reservation to make sure all was set. I was told that I still had the private room. WHAT?!! Finally the day came and we got to the restaurant and MORE POOR SERVICE. 1. I told the manager I was here for my reservation, he looked at the res sheet and then looks up and says, "oh, my hostess will help you with the res since I can't find it?" WHAT KIND OF MANAGER ARE YOU!!! 2. As the dinner went on, the server came to our table as we were finishing desert and says, "the other party checked in and you have to leave." HOW DO YOU TELL PEOPLE WHO ARE CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY TO LEAVE!!! 3. Looking over the bill, they didn't even give us a free honey toast desert for the birthday person!! All in all, this place NEEDS A MAJOR CHANGE with their service. They are absolutely HORRIBLE. DO NOT PLAN ANY PARTIES HERE!!!
(1)Maika Y.
Yesterday was my second time here. It was better yesterday because the first time i came it was on my birthday, almost 10 months ago. I never came back here until yesterday because on my birthday last year, I hated this place. 1st time: I was wearing really silly pink 'happy birthday' glasses so it was OBVIOUSLY my birthday. Our waitress was always mumbling and I htink she had a bad day that day. I didn't really let that bother me so I just ordered my food. the food was pretty good, i must say. their honey toast is the bomb! But our waitress dropped a glass plate right night to my foot. I didn't get hurt and I was going to let it go after she apologized because everyone makes mistakes. I've dropped 2 glass plates before. but she was STILL mumbling when she apologized. The look on her face when she dropped it right next to my foot was "oh, shoot, oh well, sigh." I also got food poisoning. I tipped the girl a penny, which i had NEVER done before and probably never will. It was my birthday so I was just expecting good service. 2nd time: It was my friends birthday so I went, hesitantly. I just had the oreo toast which was also really good, and it was a different server and he was pretty nice. The yakisoba I tried was pretty good, but being japanese - it tastes nothing like the REAL yakisoba. It was ok though.
(1)Nicole M.
If you're looking for good sushi for decent price and in a nice setting, Shokudo is the place to go. The honey toast is also amazing. Hits the spot every time:)
(4)Kelly T.
CROWDED & NOISY: That's my first impression of my first visit to Shokudo. Met up for dinner here with my girlfriends and when I arrived (a few minutes late), it was so noisy and crowded that I could barely get a word in to the hostess to ask where my party was seated. Maybe it just means that I'm getting old...but I felt like there were too many tables packed in there and the noise level made it almost impossible to have a conversation. SERVICE: Our server was attentive enough, at the beginning. But once our food was finally on the table, it's like he just disappeared ... for the rest of the night. FOOD: I ordered a spicey ahi sushi roll...which was decent enough and had a nice kick to it. I'm not sure if I'd get it again though as it wasn't any more impressive than a spicey ahi roll at a fast food sushi spot (eg. Ninja Sushi, Genki). I tasted my friend's Bi Bim Bap, which comes sizzling on your table and the server mixes it for you. It was fine, but again...could get something similar elsewhere. AGAIN: It was an okay experience, but I doubt I'd go out of my way to go back to Shokudo...not even for the honey toast. :0(
(3)Stephie L.
Always a happy time at Shokudo :) whether it's a vodka soda, cinnamon honey toast or Hamachi Carpaccio. Just to name a few of my favorite things..
(5)Stephanie H.
I have been here three times and every time I have enjoyed the food immensely. Just the thought of the lobster dynamite roll makes my mouth water, not to mention the infamous honey toast or "honey tooooooast!" as I lovingly refer to it. Today, though, I visited Shokudo during the lunch hour. I love it when restaurants have a great lunch menu, and Shokudo is one of them. Since my new health kick is still in full effect I zeroed in on the Healthy Bento. It comes with four pieces of sashimi (ahi and salmon), miso soup, homemade teryaki tofu, green salad, and California roll. Let's just say if I could eat like this everyday I would never have a problem with eating healthy. Everything tasted good especially the salad and the roll. Our server was really nice too, she was friendly but maybe just a little slow. This wasn't a problem since it was a Sunday afternoon and my friend and I were in no hurry at all. OK OK, so maybe I cheated a little a splurged on a flavored vodka soda, but I'm glad I did because it was worth every sip. I got the Lychee vodka soda and it was huge! It had just the right amount of vodka (not too strong and not too weak) and a nice lychee flavor; crisp and fresh. It's the weekend, if you can't splurge on the weekend when can you?
(4)iFloyd P.
If I had one word to describe this place, it would be overpriced. Everything that I've tried (sushi pizza, fries, dragon roll) was good, but in my opinion, not worth your hard earned money. Also, a lot of people rave about the honey toast, but at that price tag, I believe there are better desserts around. They do have some things going for them such as the Lychee mojito and the ambiance is great, especially for big gatherings (I guess that's why I keep coming back).
(2)Alvin P.
Okay Shokudo, what the heck happened to you? I remember this being the go-to restaurant for the hip and happenin' demographic and everyone raving about their food. That was then, and this is now. I couldn't help but notice that the quality of the food has gone WAY down. And I mean it: it's pretty bad. The last two times I've been here, I left with a bad taste in my mouth -- literally! My friends and I love sushi, and since Shokudo is open conveniently late on the weekends, we frequent here whenever we are in town. On our last visit, we ordered the usual popular dishes: spicy ahi roll, mochi cheese gratin, pork gyoza, and tempura udon. We were instantly disappointed with the quality of our food (and no, we weren't even talking about the pitiful portions). For starters, the spicy ahi roll came out extremely cold. Even the plate it came on was like an ice block -- as if they were keeping it in the freezer or something. The rice was extremely hard, the fish had a gross brown color to it, and it had no taste at all. For about $9 a roll, I rather eat air. Next, our pork gyoza was DRENCHED in oil. In fact, it practically looked like a gyoza soup since it was swimming in that stuff. I understand that gyoza is fried, but jeez, that's a little too much -- even for me. Our mochi cheese gratin was probably the only "passable" dish we ordered. Even so, it was definitely not up to our standards, and I feel like the only reason why we were semi-satisifed with it was because we were so disappointed with the dishes preceding it! The tempura udon was extremely bland and the noodles were overly soggy and broke apart too easily. Nothing really to say about that either. One thing I will say is that I've never had a problem with the service at Shokudo. Usually the servers are very polite and give cordial service. It's just the matter of food here that will deter me from future visits. And plus, isn't that what a restaurant is about anyway? Good service is essential at a restaurant, but good food is what will ultimately keep customers coming back. People say "I'm craving sushi!" not "Hmm...I'm craving some good service today!" Oh Shokudo, how the mighty have fallen.
(2)Janel T.
Last nights visit with a group of seven was by far a good evening. Made reservations at 8, got in a little before 8., took our orders and received them within 20 mins., waiters was awesome and friendly., Food was great with a variety of sushis, rice platters, and appetizers. Their signature dessert was great honey toast original. It just melted in your mouth...
(4)Diane L.
I'm also a fan of the mochi cheese gratin; I know it sounds weird, but try it! It's tasty! The fresh tofu salad is really good, as well as every variety of sushi I've tried. I also enjoyed their clam miso soup that last time I visited. I like their honey toast; the last time we got it we tried it with azuki bean. It's a bit big for two people though. The wait time seems strange and unintuitive; we were told that there would be a 30 minute wait for a table for two, but when we decided to sit at the bar instead we noticed several empty tables, which stayed empty throughout our dinner.
(4)Sandy H.
I was very excited to try this place out for the first time after hearing such great reviews from family and friends. I looked at their menu online and found their prices to be comparable to that of other Japanese restaurants. It really didn't matter because I really hoped I just made it through dinner in one piece so that I could enjoy the Honey Toast. BF ordered the Lobster Dynamite and the Teri Chicken Quesadilla. While the latter makes me wonder what's so "Japanese" about it (the teriyaki?), I had a piece of the quesadilla and found it pretty decent. I ordered the seared beef sushi and my usual staple, chicken karaage. The chicken karaage was soft and flavorful. I wasn't a huge fan of the beef sushi and made note of it not to order it again for future visits. Thankfully we had enough room for the Honey Toast, and after devouring the ice cream had a few pieces left to take home and enjoy later. We went on a Monday night and was told that it was going to be a 30-40 minute wait for a table. Surprising for a Monday night. As luck would have it, we only waited 10 minutes for a table. Upon ordering our food, we were told that the kitchen was really busy so our food might take a bit longer to come out. They were off on their estimation because our food came out right away. Our overall experience was a pleasant one, but we probably won't be rushing over anytime soon...unless I have a hankering for Honey Toast, of course. Other than that, I'll just think of Shokudo as the Zippy's of Japanese Food.
(3)Roberto L.
We went here last night and had a good time overall. I would make a reservation to be safe, we did not. Although we didn't make a reservation, we were told the wait would be 20-30, but it took maybe 10. These people are really fast at turning tables! The Drinks: Gin&Tonic ($8) - Was it worth 8 bucks? Probably not, but it was a Bombay and was fairly strong. I took the 8 dollar sticker as a friendly reminder that I live in Hawaii. Asahi Super Dry ($7) - This is more like it. Big bottle and less than the gin. Go with these. The Food: Chicken Curry ($13) - AWESOME! Best curry I have had since Japan. Really good stuff here. Garlic Shrimp Bowl ($12) - We get this every time we go, it is pretty dang good. I have had this several times and it has never disappointed. Tempura Roll ($11) - My wife at this and I just asked her what she thought of it, "it's my favorite thing on the menu, I'm never disappointed". She really likes this too because she is pregnant and cannot have a lot of fish. Honey Toast ($8) - Just get it!! BOTTOM LINE This place is awesome and great for couples or the whole family. Sometimes the service can be lacking and food will come out as it is made, not all at once. I would highly recommend this place to anyone visiting or local.
(4)Marlon I.
Me and a few friends were at the mall, and nothing at the mall was cutting it for us, so then I remembered that the "hype japanese honey bread restaurant" was just a walk away, and so we all decided why not try it? We called to see if we needed to make reservations, or anything and they nonchalantly said "No, just come in." And was I surprised, cause all I see on facebook is like "Omg, waiting 30 minutes to be seated at Shokudo is so worth it!" LOL. When we got there we were promptly seated, and so I got the grilled teriyaki salmon steak, and a plantation ice tea. My friends got those hot stone rice meals, it was all good actually, and then dessert came, which is of course was the honey toast, and it was okay. I don't see what they hype about it was? I'm pretty sure I could just grab a loaf of bread, cut the inside into cubes and toast the thing, add a few scoops of ice cream and a drizzle of honey, and voila, Honey Toast at home. lol. Overall Shokudo a good restaurant, I've had better food actually. Too overrated if you asked me lol. I'd come back though, to try the hot stone rice meal.
(3)Jay A.
Going to Shokudo "Suckdodo" have been the worst idea ever. To think that we were going to celebrate our 14 year anniversary there. We waited an hour and fifteen minutes for a table that's suppose to be available in 30-45 minutes. My wife, my son, and I was starving. I give the place a -5 stars! We left after being pushed back several times. If this is how they're going to treat customers, I don't want to be one!
(1)Lauren C.
When you have friends or family visiting our little island you want to take them places you know they are going to enjoy. Having never been to Shokudo before, I was a little hesitant bringing a out-of-towner. I was rather surprised! We sat at the bar and ordered a few rounds of sake and a few rolls. Jess, our bartender/server made us feel instantly welcome. She made sure that our sake was filled, our conversation was flowing and our belly's were full. Now on to the food. Rainbow roll, red eye roll, spicy tuna roll and the lobster dynamite roll were all fresh and delish. I have to say I am partial to the rainbow roll but the lobster roll was out of bounds. Really really good. Having read all the reviews about the honey toast I was really looking forward to having some at the end of the meal, but alas, my eyes were bigger than my tummy and was just stuffed with sushi. I could not eat another bite! I didn't pay the bill but the one that did never looked shocked at the bill so I guess that's a good sign.
(4)Renae B.
This is THEE place that got me loving Unagi. Their foods are exquisite and delicious. The first time i tried Shokudo, i feel in love. The servers are always nice, and the atmosphere is super chill. I've tried a great deal here, all being quite amazing, but the one thing that most people go for is the Honey Toast. Honey Toast is one of the most perfectly sweet desserts that I have ever tried. I only go for the honey flavored, nothing too fancy.
(5)J L.
Okay, so I know there are so many reviews on this but I just decided to put my review out there as well. So I went here with me and 5 other friends and we decided to choose 4 dishes and split them family style. Honestly, I don't think this is a good idea. I actually don't recommend going here with more than 2 or 3 people unless you plan on spending quite a bit of money. The dishes are made for maybe 2 people maximum to share. Not for 6 people like we did. So there wasn't enough food for everyone to eat. Fortunately, 2 other of our friends ordered their own dishes so we had a little more to share. The food we tried was pretty tasty, except for the chicken katsu dish. It wasn't anything special. It tasted like something you could get at Zippy's. So I recommend skipping that dish. The garlic shrimp and rice dish and the teriaki chicken quesedillas were my faves. And of course for dessert we had the famous Honey Toast. In my opinion, it is OK. I don't think it's anything to rave about. I think it's more of how interesting it looks that make people want to try it. Most people only eat the middle of the bread and don't eat the outside bread because it's so dry. Well our group was determined to finish EVERYTHING so that's exactly what we did. Even if the bread was dry, we ate it because we don't like to waste! I think it looks cool, but other than that, it's something you can make at home. Just get some bread, drizzle some honey and put scoops of vanilla ice cream on it. Bam! Pretty much exactly like the one here. The atmosphere of the restaurant is nice, has a very modern look. Comfortable climate conditions. The wait is always usually long because it is such a popular restaurant. So I definitely recommend making reservations unless you're willing to wait about 45 minutes. Overall, I think if you make reservations, come here with only 2-3 people and maybe go somewhere else for dessert, then it would be better.
(3)Kevin M.
Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar Ala Moana Pacific Ctr 1585 Kapiolani Blvd Honolulu, HI 96814 When we got there we were quickly seated, staff seemed pleasant, and friendly. We figured they would get slammed for the Halloween rush and service would be minimal to none "Wrong"... To me in Honolulu, the food choices are getting a bit blah for causal dining. So I wanted to go somewhere that the locals go to though, and don't really have to dress to impress you can fit right in with just food and drinks. Prices are really reasonable, service and food excellent for casual dining.
(4)Matthew K.
The food was good. The service was great also. Our party was so huge because we had about 25-30 people. It was understandble that they couldnt help everyone all at once. I do think they did a good job though. I got all the drinks I ordered they food they served was great. I think the wedding party was happy also.
(5)Rachel S.
Shokudo is meh. 12 bucks for meh bibimbap. 12 bucks for a piece of unagi on rice. I think we might be paying to heat up the stone bowl. Only things that are worth it: Lobster Dynamite ($14) & Honey Toast. ($8) And maybe some appetizers.
(3)Masumi K.
Edit: (11/22/2010) Honey Toast flavors When this place first opened, I was in love with their mapo tofu dish. But they don't have it anymore! ;( they always change their menus which is a good thing. I think a lot of businesses should do this with their menus. It helps keep their restaurant fresh and on top with things. I love their garlic shrimp and rice dish here. Though, I honestly think that they should give a little more shrimp. I think there is more rice than shrimp! And rice is so filling as is. The best dessert here would have to be their famous honey toast. This thing is not meant for one person. It is either meant for two people for a whole group. Toast flavors to choose from are as followed:// Honey: Original. This one is really yummy Chocolate: This one is really good! Caramel: Too sweet Cinnamon: It's OK~ But it's just cinnamon. Big deal. Strawberry Puree: This is my favorite! Sweet Red Bean: Not my favorite ... Oreo Cookie & Cream: This one is good if you REALLY want to spoil yourself. It's an orgasm in your mouth DCS: This is a secret one that isn't on the menu. You can either order this by name or just say DCS (Dirty Cum Slut) This toast is drenched in condensed milk. ;) NOTE*** Not all waiters/waitresses know of this toast (So please do not expect to get this every time you go to Shokudo) I do recommend ordering it if you are with a large group. The shaved iced dessert is OK but I do not recommend that you order that. (Their shaved ice is big as Mt. Fugi!) Even if you are a fan of shaved iced. If you want good shaved iced then you should go to Matsumoto's. The ramen dishes are good here. I also like their tofu salad. Though ... I think it is a bit expensive for such an average sized dish of salad. When I saw the price of it, I kind of expected a bigger dish. I highly recommend that you try the ahi tataki w/garlic chips ($12.95) and Mochi cheese gratin ($7.45). :) I don't recommend that you order the garlic rib eye steak dish ($24.95) it wasn't that good. And I have had much better.
(4)Johnny C.
Come for the happy hour from 4-6. The food for the most part is passable with the staples of fries, gyoza and various sushi. But the real outstanding dishes are the ramen salad and the poke nachos. They are Flavorful and refreshing with a diverse array of textures and Colors. At $3-$5 a plate for the happy hour menu, you can eat yourself silly without breaking the bank. My only gripe with this place is the wording in the menu and some of the items. The "teriyaki chicken fries" don't actually contain chicken. It's just fries with teriyaki sauce. The waiter was kind enough to warn me before hand, but you can imagine that they have received more than their fair share of complaints over this misunderstanding. There's also a "takoyaki russian roulette" dish on their happy hour menu. That's 4 pieces of mediocre takoyaki and one fried blob of wasabi. A surprise for sure. The menu warns of a "bomb" in the dish, but i have a hard time conceptualizing how this dish might be a good idea for anyone who comes in to the restaurant who isn't drunk with a group of rowdy friends. Seems like a kid thought it would be fun and they went through with it. Either way, steer clear of these two or in the case of the later, just ask them to omit the "bomb" and you'll be fine.
(4)Elizabeth G.
Went to Shokudo today and was excited to try all my old time favorites such as the fresh tofu salad and the bibimbap! When the food came I was a bit disappointed that the portions were much smaller than what I was use to and the taste wasn't something to brag about anymore. The salad had too much dressing and the tofu seemed a little tough for fresh, the bibimbap was really wet and there were probably two pieces of meat in there...I dont even recall seeing an egg? Service was okay...I don't know if I wanna go back. I expected a beatiful renovation and a newly improved menu. Everything looked the same just a new sushi bar added in, and a room closed off. Not impressed because I used to love Shokudo so much before!
(2)Katheryn H.
I've been to this restaurant several times before and have had really bad service. But this wasn't the case for our elementary school reunion. I had booked the private room for our elementary school reunion, and we had 10 guests, which was enough room for everyone. Although our reservations were at 8, we didn't get seated until 8:15-8:25 because they were still cleaning up from a bachelorette dinner party ahead of us. We were seated and handed menus. And within 10-15 minutes our waiter came in to greet us and ask if we would like to start off our orders. I was pretty surprised that we were greeted so early, since from my previous experiences we normally had to flag someone down to get our service started. But since we were a huge party, I guess customer service was a priority. We hadn't decided on what to order, but ordered drinks first. It took a while for our drinks to come and our waiter had also given us the wrong drinks, which was shortly corrected. Our waiter checked up on us every 5 minutes to see if we were ready to order, but we were still undecided. So while waiting, we decided to write down everything we wanted to order to make it easier and less confusing. It not only sped things up but it also made it easier for our waiter, because in no time, our food came out and ready to serve. The food was great. I can't remember what we had ordered, but I was sad that they had taken the curry off the menu and replaced it with a Loco Moco. The loco moco was delicious, but it didn't fix that curry crave. Aside from the great service, the only downfall we had was the late arrival of drinks and the little mix-ups. For the night I would've given it 4 stars, but because of really bad previous experiences, I'm giving it a 3.
(3)Judy G.
This place is one of my favorite dining places- the wait is usually between 20-45 minutes on a regular weeknight and maybe a bit longer for weekends. I've been here countless times and the food has yet to disappoint me. Then again I usually order the same food all the time, which is the kimchee fried rice, the teriyaki chicken (I love this), and their ever so famous HONEY TOAST. Sometimes I come here at night just to get the honey toast because it's super yummy. The service is also excellent here, highly recommend coming here whether it's for a normal friends outing or for a date. I wouldn't say this place is too pricey, but it's definitely not too cheap, so be prepared to spend maybe... $35 for a good meal? It's worth it!
(4)Avis E.
Gah, Shokudo! Why are your servers so rude and mean and kinda scary? Ha ha well not all of them but we had a terrible server when we went. I showed up to our party a little late so they were sat already. I joined them then waited 10 minutes for our server to come by and ask for my drink order... Actually, no she didn' even ask. I had to seriously flag her down violently to get her attention in order to GIVE her my drink order cause she apparently didn't realize that I was a new person in the group and did not yet have a drink. I really cannot understand how a place this busy has such shitty service! I've been a server off and on for about 3 years and I would never treat my guests this way, but then again I wanna make $$ and I'm not a biatch!!! Haha okay enough about their crappy servers. The food and drinks on the other hand are actually pretty good. The sushi and sashimi is fresh and the lychee vodka soda is amazing! They also carry Echigo beer but it's kinda expensive. I mean this place for what it is, is kinda overpriced in general. Idk... I wouldn't ever choose this place but if I had to go to a party for someone else I suppose I would tolerate it. BOO!
(2)Nicole N.
I love Shokudo's happy hour. Today I took my friend to try it for her first time and our bill only came out to be $15 for both of us. $15 doesn't sound like it would get you a lot of food, but it does! Me and my friend were both really full after. My favorite things on their happy hour menu is their Spicy Ahi Nachos and Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla. Spicy ahi nachos may sound a little bit weird, but it was so good. I love their nacho chips and the sauce on it! Then to top it off you dip it in the Spicy ahi, and it is just perfect. As for the Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla, that was interesting but I loved it. In fact, I liked it so much I ate two orders of it. Also, if you are a dessert lover you got to try the honey toast! The best thing about it is that it's only $3 during happy hour! It is huge and super delicious if you like eating dessert. As for their service, I would give them a 3/5. I think our waitress/bartender could have done a better job in serving us. She was nice but I think she could have paid attention to us a bit more. Other than that, I think this place is great. I will definitely come back for sure!
(4)Sarah C.
THE HONEYTOAST IS AMAZING! (Exactly like the dessert at Ichiza's in Las Vegas!) I've had almost everything on the menu due to being a regular customer. Though I haven't been at the bar yet. Their sushi is so good, their bibimbap's are served on those old school rock bowls. DELICIOUS!
(4)Brian K.
Pros: Great food, open late, younger/fun crowd, great contemporary atmosphere, full bar, and free parking. Cons: No items stick out because of the overly extensive menu (the food is good, but if someone were to ask me what to get there I wouldn't know what to say). Prices are a little high. Parking lot sucks if you have a truck or a large vehicle.
(4)Brent K.
I haven't come here for a long time. I remember the last two other times I came were just average.. Today I had the Lunch box. Food is ok, Service is good.
(3)Erich D.
This is a very modern and trendy spot as evidenced by the decor, ambiance and even the food. They have a pretty fairly good-sized bar if you are just interested in grabbing a few signature tropical-Asian-fusion cocktails. Service, dish presentation and the food were all good. When choosing what to eat, the menu can be a little overwhelming at first because they have pages and pages of tasty looking food, all of which is delicious. When we came here we had a pretty decent sized party so I was able to try a lot of the food this restaurant had to offer. Some of the most notable dishes were the tuna tataki salad, sushi pizza, garlic ahi tuna, bi bim bap, and the french fries with chiso salt (What? Fries? Yeah, they were good!). You definitely want to save a little room for dessert when you come here as well as they have some very sweet desserts. What Shokudo is most well known for is their honey toast, which I definitely recommend. Green tea and lychee shave ice with a side of vanilla ice cream is also a great and lighter option for dessert.
(4)Jennifer H.
I have been here a while ago and had several experiences with terrible service. With bad experiences I have neglected to come back. But I did return for my friend's party that I had planned here several days ago and to my surprise the food had come out quickly, our waiter was really nice to us (Desmond?). But the planning process was a bit tedious and would have hoped for an easier time to do the pre-set menu and reservation space. Otherwise to our waiter and the other staff that had helped us that night, thank you so much for helping us celebrate my friend's party and making it a great experience for us.
(4)Tawn B.
I made Reservations here w/chris and he was super accommodating. It was my moms 60th bday and we had about 25 people, so it was a little bit more than they allowed for the private room, sp they gave us the two top tiers of the dining room. The place has a really nice ambiance, deco was pretty cool and chic. Matt was our sever for the night, and he deserved every penny of our tip to him...(and I tip big). I read some reviews regarding the two hour limit, but they didn't at all rush us. He even brought out the cake, and let us cut and eat it way after the 2 hrs. Now, to the food... We ordered family style so we could try all of it lol. Top hits: the tofu salad. Just omg! The fresh tofu...so silky and well, fresh. It literally melts in your mouth. The Mochi cheese gratin: IFLY! Bless the soul of whoever invented you. The fries: Step aside McDonalds. Spicy ahi crispy rice: I wish all rolls were like you. And finally but of course, save he bes for last. Honey Toast. We had the regular and with chocolate and by that time, I didn't know which won my heart. It was pretty equal with my tummy. Shokudo, you were def a win in my book! Not that bad in prices, but much expected in Waikiki.
(4)Neya P.
My husband and I love coming here. Since the food items are mostly pupu-style (small bites or appetizers), its common to order multiple dishes. Almost everything on the menu is super tasty though so you'll want to order more than one thing anyway. Here's our normal choices and top picks: ~Char-Siu Pork: Thinly sliced pork cooked with Japanese scallions. This is a must-have for my husband. ~Mochi Cheese Gratin: Mochi with mozzarella in a light soy dashi broth. Definitely an unusual dish that I really enjoy. ***Garlic Shrimp Rice: Garlic shrimp and rice mixed together in a sizzling stone bowl. This is our favorite dish. It is so delicious! ~Yuzu Hamachi Capaccio: Yellowtail sashimi with yuzu vinaigrette. Another all time favorite of ours. The yuzu vinaigrette just puts it over the top. ~ Lobster Dynamite Roll: If you like lobster dynamite and sushi, then you'll love this. It's not too sweet or too spicy. ~ Honey Toast (Dessert): Like many people, it's hard not to get the honey toast when you go to Shokudo. Where else can you get a dessert like this? It's so simple (just bread, ice cream, and syrup), yet it's so yummy. We normally get the traditional honey, caramel, or strawberry. The only down side is that the restaurant can get really crowded so make sure you make reservations or you're in for a long wait. And because it's always crowded, the atmosphere is not very intimate. Location is great as it's easy to find. It's located right on Kapiolani Blvd near Ala Moana next to Angelo Pietro with a large sign so you can't miss it. The parking structure is located in the back and it's free. The ambiance is really nice. The decor feels modern, artsy, and upscale. The service is also good. We've never encountered any problems with long waits for our food. Considering how busy they are, that's impressive and it shows how organized the kitchen and servers are.
(5)Lynn T.
BAD service! Our waiter failed to check up on us for over half an hour, never offered refill on water or drinks, didn't ask us if we wanted dessert or not. Even when he came to serve the table next to us, he did not acknowledge us. The food was delicious but the service was what ruined the experience.
(2)Dawn G.
this is a good place to go to try lots of little bites of different things however the quality/consistency of the food is not as good as it was a couple years ago. garlic shrimp rice is a must agedashi tofu so yummy lobster dynamite - meh - sometimes has a burnt taste to it honey toast - delish I like the seasonally changing menu, that is what keeps me interested in going.
(3)J A.
I really like this place. I feel the food is consistently good. Their menu changes on a regular basis with the exception of popular items being kept on the menu. I really love their salmon and rice, their different sushi rolls, spinach salad and many more. We normally order 3 or more items just to sample. Although their fries are simple, it is a well liked item by my daughter. I have tried all their vodka sodas and love all of them. My favorites are the grape calpico and lychee vodka drinks. And can't forget the honey toast!! The green tea shaved ice is pretty good too.
(4)Scott H.
I would have given four stars if I only paid $18 for my meal...but I had a $75 gift card...so...I don't think my experience at $93 justified 4 stars. What we had: - Lobster Dynamite (appetizer) - Tempura Sampler - Spicy Scallops Roll - Lobster Dynamite Roll - Unagi Rice Bowl - Chicken Karage - Yakisoba - Honey toast The good: - Lobster dynamite and Lobster dynamite roll: SO GOOD! I did make the mistake of ordering both dishes, when I just should have got the rolls. The Lobster Dynamite rolls are a spicy/sweet mayonnaise lobster mix that is served on top of California rolls and broiled. The highlight of the meal. Just the right touch of spicy and sweet. Kinda heavy on the mayo, definitely local style. The appetizer version is the same mayo/lobster mix with the addition of cubed zucchini and bell peppers, broiled in a dish served with four slices of crusty toast. Very good, too...but I liked the rolls better. - Tempura sampler. The waiter said the "President" made this dish for us personally...but I'm sure Obama has better things to do. Comes with eggplant, zucchini, a single mushroom, carrot, and two pieces of shrimp. Was pretty good. Light, crunchy. Dipping broth was very good; the tempura was light enough to pick up the subtle tastes of the dipping broth. - Service. We went at around 4 pm. Very little patrons there, so we got good service. Waiter was attentive, and best of all allowed us to move from the tiny stupid booths they like squeezing couples into. - Unagi Bowl. Finished table side. rice and a piece of unagi served in a sizzling hot stone bowl (think bi bim bap). The server will mix the rice/unagi for you, and if you like (you will like) she can prepare it so that the rice is "crunchy" as it fries on the insides of the hot bowl. Kinda strong flavors, but good. Really good if you like unagi and the concept. - Spicy scallop rolls. They were good. Not great, but good. Not very spicy. Honey Toast. Their staple. It's good, but...it's just toasted thick slices of japanese bread, honey and a couple of scoops of vanilla ice cream. The Bad: - Yakisoba. It's HUGE, easily feed four people as a side. They brought it out last! So it was of little use to us. Worse, the shaved bonito flakes were old and had lost their flavor. - Chicken karage. This used to be one of my wife's favorites. This time not so much. They now serve with a homemade tartar sauce. The old dipping sauce was good. the new tartar sauce is...different. Looks like watery mayo mixed with tuna. Doesn't taste like that...in fact doesn't have much of any kind of taste. The chicken is best consumed with a splash from the lemon wedge. - Those stupid booths! Why must they insist on making couples sit at those uncomfortable and small booths! If anyone has been seated in them you know exactly what I'm talking about. If you are going to make reservations for this place, ask NOT to be seated in them. The last time I went it was PACKED, and the only openings were in the booths...sucks but I understand. This time, there was hardly anyone there...and the lady seated my wife and I in one of the stupid BOOTHS! and one right at the front entrance to the dining room area! Not only are they uncomfortable, but their small size makes it very hard to eat a place that is kind of a "plenty of small dishes" place! - Expensive. For the price, the quality just isn't there. If our meal cost $30 I would've been happy. But at almost $100...not so much. Come here for desert or pupus...or better yet, save you money and make a whole load of honey toast at home...impress your friends!
(3)Tyler T.
Shokudo has been a pretty trendy restaraunt for at least the past couple years, and I've finally gotten around to going for the first time. 30 min wait for just me and my gf. Which actually isn't too bad. Ran into my neighbor there, his party of 5 had a 2 hour wait! AND HE WAITED. Pretty crazy ha. The servers were pretty nice though, and they were pretty on it. Our waiter knew a lot about the menu, and could even tell me interesting things about the house special vodka soda (WHICH SOUNDED DELICIOUS), but I settled for the green tea shake, I'm not much of a drinker. It was arguably better than jamba juice's matcha green tea blast. More creamy than icy. I ordered the sushi pizza. Oven baked (I presume) sushi on a nori sheet, with scallop, salmon, jalapeno, and onion. It was different from other things I've had before, and it made me full. It looked like something I could have made myself for $5 at home. But hey, it was pretty unique, and tasted great. My gf ordered the tokyo ramen. Delicious miso dashi, with the bonito flakes they put on tofu, onions, and bamboo shoots. Normally there is char siu, but we got it without it since I don't eat red meat. Hands down, the BEST ramen I've had in my whole life. Better than my dad, and grandpa, and hole-in-the-wall place's ramen. And for $10! Not too bad cost-wise, considering the more expensive things on the menu. Last but not least, I had to try the honey toast everyone has been raving about. Seriously, how good can toast, honey, and vanilla ice cream be? AMAZING. You may think people are exagerating when they say the honey toast is amazing, but we aren't. I have no clue how it turns out so damn delicious. I really don't understand. For $7.25 Whole meal for me and my gf came out to $44 including tip. Kinda pricey for 2 people, but you get what you pay for. Excellent, friendly service, and great contemporary unique quality food. Yeah, pretty pricey though. I suggest if on a date (and you both don't care about being a bit cheap), just get one entree, maybe a vodka soda, and honey toast. Honey toast will ALWAYS BE A REQUIREMENT. And its a lot of bread! Its pretty filling.
(4)Jenny C.
Service is great. Cheese mochi is my fave.
(4)Dennis M.
I was there 3 times when I was on vacation in May. Great food and Jess at the bar is the best. It is a must try. Credit Card Model
(5)Natasha N.
Went for the happy hour with 4 of my friends around 11pm and was seated promptly. All I have to say is that the food was delish!!!! We went for steamed gyoza, Dynamite Fries, Teriyaki Fries, Spicy Tuna Nachos. For drinks we had Sangris and the Passion Fruit vodka soda :D and then for desert we had Honey Toast Jr and Honey toast w/ Oreo :D:D I would rate it 5 stars but the only thing that i didnt care for was our waiter... what a douche!!! He obviously need to learn how to place a fucken plate EXPECIALLY with the knife handle sticking out in front of someone AND NOT SHOVE IT IN MY FACE!! Like WTF i dont feel like getting poked in the eye! X( Other than that food was good
(3)Miki L.
If you haven't taken the time to read previous reviewers, I'll tell you what's important: honey toast. There's other flavors, but the only one I've tried is the original honey toast and I have no reason to try any of the other flavors. I alwaysalwaysalways order spicy ahi crispy rice and the unagi rice. I guess all that means is I have a penchant for crispy rice, but it's so ono!! Regardless if you order the salmon, unagi, or other rice, make sure you ask for the dashi so you can make a little bowl of fish stock + crispy rice at end of your meal. Just pour the dashi into the bowl, let it soak in the rice and koge-goodness, and then scoop it all into your bowl and enjoy. It's best to go in groups, because portions are served family-style, but it's best to make a reservation, especially on the weekends.
(4)John O.
I have been her twice now. First with some friends for late night snacks and drinks. Very inexpensive both for food and drinks. Yay for Happy Hour! :D The second time I came for lunch. I sat at the bar this time as I was solo. I order their Lunch Bento. Wow, I was impressed at the size. It was very filling and tasty. For around $6 it was a great buy! This is a great place to come with friends and talk story well sharing pupu's over drinks. Shokudo is a winner!
(4)Angela A.
One Saturday, I dragged my boyfriend to the mall. After a few hours he'd had enough shopping and demanded that we stop shopping so we could eat. We considered eating at the [over-crowded] food court or any of the [uninteresting] restaurant chains inside the mall but nothing was floating our boat. That's when we remembered that Shokudo was right next to the mall! Our boat promptly floated right through the restaurant's front doors in a matter of minutes. The inside of the restaurant is so, so cool! There's stadium style, graduated tables at the far end of the restaurant, gigantic and modern artsy-type decor hanging down from the ceiling in the main dining room, and the coolest little booths. We had sushi and some type of saimin for lunch, which were both quite good, but that's not what I'm here to talk about... We'd watched several surrounding tables order and enjoy Honey Toast and we were giddy to finally ask our server for the dessert menu so we could see what options we had to chose from. We went for the Oreo Cookies and Cream. My guess, honey on toast, is technically right. It's so so so much better than that! It starts with two perfectly square slices of bread, more like loaves of bread. The bread is toasted and the inside is cut into cubes, and graced with honey and butter. Since we got Cookies and Cream, we also had sweetened condensed milk, or something like it, on ours, making it even more insanely decadent! The top is piled high with ice cream, cookies, and chocolate syrup. Honey Toast is massive! When it arrived, I said "there's no way we'll finish that"! But... we did! I've never really seen, or eaten, anything like it before. The best combination is getting the cold, smooth ice cream with the warm, buttery, toasty bread together for a delightful hot/cold and sweet/salty bite! Shokudo, we will be back for more Honey Toast! [This review is modified from my blog entry about Shokudo. Read the whole thing here: alohayinzmangia.blogspot… ]
(5)Karen Jane M.
This is the best Japanese Restaurant experience I ever got. Well, best is an understatement. It was beyond my expectations. My brother went ahead and made reservations for my birthday, and believe me this place did not disappoint. We ordered almost everything off the menu, and you bet your ass it was DAMN GOOD! My recommendations: - Beef tataki Sushi - it was beef tataki placed on a bed of rice, drizzled with balsamic vinegar, and onion strings. Oh man, once having a bite of this...I ordered one more order. - Unagi Rice - I forgot what the name was specifically called, but it was a bowl of rice served in a hot pot. The waiters/waitresses mash the rice together and serve it to you. I love how it has salmon roe eggs in it, it compliments the rice and unagi. - Lobster Dynamite Roll - I think that's what it was called. Oh my, pure BUENO! The lobster is cooked to perfection and it most definitely melts in your mouth with that sauce. - Ice Green Tea Float - MMmmMm, thinking about it makes me happy. The green tea isn't too sweet, but the ice cream does help sweeten it out. The flavor of the green tea is there, I just wished I ordered one more before leaving. There were a bunch of other stuff on the list, but I can't remember. These were the ones that stood out. Just be careful when coming here, you'll tend to spend more than 3 bills. I know I did, LOL but it was well worth it.
(5)Haunani L.
My over all experience is always great when i come here. AREA: swanky. CUSTOMER SERVICE: it was alright but i dont think our waiter came to check on us enough. we always we asking a random waiter for things. Food: good.. Dessert: HONEY TOAST IS THE BOMB no questions asked. only bad thing . they didnt have kid cups. my son didnt have a lid and ended up spilling it all over.. it might have been my fault cuz i knew he was going to empty it out BUT I LOVE THIS PLACE..
(4)Rachel K.
The food was okay, I got the mochi pizza and my table split a honey toast. The service was terrible! It was a busy Thursday night but there are only so many times a waiter can apologize to a table before they need to step it up. Our waiter apologized to us every-time he came over which was not often. We were there for two and a half hours, by the end we were all sitting with our heads on the table praying for the check to come.
(2)G G.
Not sure why this place is always busy the food is awful here. Fish items smelled fishy and not fresh and the serving plates are chipped.
(1)Josh L.
Its always pretty good to eat there. The food isnt to die for or anything but for the price its work it. The sushi is a little expensive but its better than some other places that I have gone. The honey toast must make them so much money!! Its good but its just half a loaf of bread, honey and ice cream for $8!!! Im a fan and my girlfriend is a huge fan of it, im not complaining that it isnt good or worth it but I am sure that they are making good money from it. Their homemade tofu salad is really good and worth it! Its really soft and I just cant get enough of it. It is a place that I keep returning to because it is nice, the food is pretty decent, and its not too expensive.
(3)J G.
What can I write that hasn't been written about Shokudo? What photo can I take that hasn't been shown? Count me in with all the rest as Shokudo fan's. Want somewhere to go after work for pupu's and drinks with happy hour prices? Shokudo. Looking for a nice dinner for two? Shokudo. Getting together with friends for a party? Shokudo's private room. Hungry for dessert after a movie. Shokudo's honey toast! Their menu items are served hot, taste fresh, and are not something you will find at every other restaurant. My favorites are the bi bim bap rice and the honey toast. Parking is sometimes a pain, and the wait for a table can be long at peak hours, that's my 4 stars. If you haven't tried it, you'll be glad you do.
(4)Louise T.
This was my first time here with my family. My auntie took us here and the food was bar far the best ever that we had in Hawaii! OMG from the appetizers to the entrees to the dessert! Bat none hands down the best Japanese food and good service! You have to try it! We are visiting from California and this was the best dinner ever! The garlic shrimp fried rice was fantastic! The terriaki was cooked perfectly. The tempura was so flaky, crispy and had this fabulous flavor! Wow!
(5)Wayne S.
Some how they changed my mind. I have had some really bad experiences and below average food at this joint but yesterday they had a good day. First of all our waitress left alot to be desired. She had NO personality and seems like she had a really bad day due to her attitude. Come on life is too short to be a bitch!!! Had the Hamachi roll and that was pretty good. Loved the textures and the incredible flavor of the shisho. that is one of my most favorite flavors ever! Having said that the shisho fries was just ok. if i were rating this on just the fries.........the fries were great! but its sold as shisho fries so i must say that it was very forgettable, just salty and not flavorful. we then had the foot long chicken katsu and that was good. i mean its just katsu and anyone can make chicken katsu but was did it was the sauce. they had a great katsu sauce and i do think i remember it saying that they make the sauce. the salmon stone pot rice was fantastic. raw pieces of "farmed" sake, suzuko and a leaf of shiso all mixed together and cooked in the stone pot. i must say, i love the rice when it gets slightly crispy and toasty on the stone pot. YUM! then of course the honey toast. my mom was a honey toast virgin so she got a taste and she loved it. all in all, the food was good, service wasnt so good.
(3)Winnie L.
i'm not sure which came first, Shokudo or Tokyo Table in Beverly Hills yelp.com/biz/tokyo-table… , but a couple of people have referred me here. The menu is pretty much the same but the decor is different. i remembered at Tokyo Table that the sushi pizza and homemade tofu could be skipped, and so we had the following: -mango-infused sake - the mango isn't syrup for shave ice, there's really bits of mango! -beef takaki - supposed to be raw beef like sashimi but it was seared / cooked well. perhaps it is to comply with Hawaii state food laws -spicy ahi on crisped rice - i was hoping the rice would be crispier but it's just a block of rice browned in units for the spicy ahi to sit on -mochi cheese gratin. it's really cheese mozarella -honey toast with red bean: i've made this at home with my bread machine - you just cut two very thick slices of bread, hollow the bread by cutting cubes, leaving the frame intact. stack the frames and throw in the cubed bread. top with ice cream and topping of choice (e.g. red bean). voila. everything we ordered was tasty so i give this place a 4. the decor and ambiance are also very nice. see pics!
(4)Mary G.
I have been here a few times with friends and the taste is still good but my friend and I both thought their portions have gotten smaller while price stayed the same. Happy hour's great though. Seems to always be busy. Need more hands on deck.
(3)Chad M.
Was very prompt in service. I ordered shrimp tempura. It was crispy the way it should be. Happy hour is a must to get cheap deals on beer and pupu's.
(4)Kerri I.
It has recently been brought to my attention that I have only been giving negative reviews on yelp. This probably makes me look like an ungrateful little brat, so I thought I'd share my thoughts on some of my favorite places. Shokudo is a trendy Japanese fusion restaurant in the Ala Moana Shopping Center. I've been here countless times and I've got to say, it's definitely one of my go-to places to eat in Hawaii. It's a popular venue for young people, so like most restaurants, getting a table on a friday night without reservations is nearly impossible. The food speaks for itself, and they are constantly changing the menu up to keep it interesting. My favorites are the mochi cheese gratin, freshly made tofu, lobster dynamite roll, and the teriyaki chicken quesadillas. I love to order a bunch of the appetizers as a main course. This is by far the best way to eat, cause I get closer and closer to trying everything on the menu. I'm sure the drink menu here is fabulous, unfortunately, I haven't reached the drinking age quite yet. Grape Calpico float is my favorite nonalcoholic drink, and it's almost a dessert in itself. But then there's the dessert at shokudo... Honey toast is one of the restaurant's signature dishes. Toast for dessert? Doesn't sound too appetizing. But when you see it, you'll understand. AND to make it even better, they give away free honey toast on your birthday! All in all, i recommend this place, but I'm going to refrain from giving this place five stars because of the loud environment. The service is also slightly slow, but I'm guessing it's because the place is always packed. Good things come with a price!
(4)ashley p.
shokudo! what i seem to be always craving when i can't go cause i'm too busy living in kaneohe and all that jazz. but when i do go, it's gooood. being that shokudo is the hip place to go for dindin for youngins around my age, it can be nuts! thus, i usually stop by during the lunch/afternoon hours when it is much quieter, and seating is easier to come by. service is alright, they're always nice (occasionally some seem to be in a rush), but as a quick tip for you honey toast fans--get your order in right as you order your main course or else you might be left twiddling your thumbs for another good 10-15 minutes waiting for it to arrive. this happens to me even during the quiet times, but it's all well worth it in the end. truth be told, when it comes to restaurants, i'm more of your appetizer-go-to girl, so i make a pretty cheap date. but some of the meals i have tried were really good. my standard is pretty much the homemade tofu salad, which is served so that all can have a share, but i can usually clean out the whole platter by myself. i have tried the honey walnut shrimp with the mochi dish thing, which was actually quite tasty, but the portion was so big that my mother and i couldn't finish it! but what i really love about shokudo is their seasonal chef-recommended menu. i usually find myself ordering off that menu for that thrill of ordering something that could be gone in the next month is somewhat addicting. everything i have ordered off that menu have been winners in my book; from a steaming bowl of ramen just the right size, to a wonderful pizza with vegetables that complement each other wonderfully. parking is located behind the restaurant, albeit a tiny structure, there always seems to be a spot whenever we go. i wouldn't chance it in the evening hours though, it seems more reasonable to park in ala moana and walk on over, but then again that's just me. don't forget to get your parking ticket stamped after you eat! once i meet a decent guy to date, this place is definitely one of the the first places i'd love to go (although it seems a bit cliche for kids here these days).
(4)J A.
Food is alright for the light eaters, but I want meat. I really like the unagi or salmon bowls. I just tried the tofu salad. I enjoyed it for the change of pace. The dessert honey toast is good I'll try the other versions next time. Good bar too.
(3)Frances G.
Service here isn't the same. my first experience here was great, everyone was nice, we we're seated immediately and food came in without any long wait. I came here with cousins and my niece and nephew. We we're seated as soon as we got in, waitress was really nice. We got our waters and it was a good thing my niece saw that there were things floating in our water, a couple cups had some green thing, (according to the waitress it was from matcha green tea) still a big no no and it was seriously gross. We ordered a bunch of sushi and calamari. The sushi was great. The calamari on the other hand had and eyelash inside the bowl. After eating sushi we ordered cookies and cream toast and a chocolate toast. It seriously took 20 minutes to get our toast, it wasn't even busy. All in all LOVE the sushi. But yeah..
(2)R R.
Only 5 stars!? I wish I could give it 10! I have only eaten here once, and I really, REALLY want to go back. The lobster dynamite roll was absolutely AMAZING. My friend ordered the Shrimp Tempura roll and we shared the two amongst ourselves. We also ordered their edamame, which is lightly salted. Great appetizer to share while you're waiting for your food. Another one of my friends ordered something with crispy rice, and I was not a fan of that. But I've heard other people loved it. Of course by the time dinner was over I had no room for dessert, so I didn't get to try their famous honey toast. I can't wait to go back and try that!
(5)Phuong M.
There happy hour menu is the only thing I would recommend to go there for. Everything else was not worth the price for the quality of foods. The first time I went there was for happy hour and I got the spicy tuna nachos, which was tasty. The nachos were just wonton wrappers cut into triangles and fried. The spicy tuna was mashed up tuna with some spicy sauce and green onions mixed up. Great flavors combined in it. This was only $3! I also had this delicious soju yogurt shot! Only $2! I ended of the night with their delicious honey toast jr. which was only $3! I definitely recommend the honey toast over and over again if you have never had it. It is the most simple amazing thing ever! Its some kind of asian toast cut in 2" thick, toasted nicely and the insides cut out and cut into cubes and tossed back in the center and a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and drizzled with honey. So simple, yet so amazingly delicious!! It was so amazing that I had to come back for seconds before I left Oahu! ^_~
(3)Alex G.
Overrated Japanese food considering you will wait anywhere from 30 - 1hr+ on the weekends. This place is ALWAYS packed. It definitely caters to the younger crowd, situated by ala moana. There's a bar inside but everyone knows people just go here for the honey toast. Yes the food is pretty good, but it's not authentic and some of the portions are on the smaller side. My favorite dish is the eel rice in a hot stone bowl. They crush it up for you and it mixes very well. When you are here with a group, I guess the norm is to get the honey toast for dessert. It is really the honey toast that keeps people coming. What an ingenious marketing idea! Overall, this place is good for groups, food is decent, but the lines are WAY to long. I would prolly recommend a friend to a Japanese place elsewhere, somewhere more authentic and more low key
(4)Ericka M.
Whoop whoop! Uh huh the customer service here was thee bomb diggity. Our server was on top of things. Drinks were never empty. He was always checking on us. Gave us great suggestions (as we were Shokudo virgins) and was really down to earth. Really added to the already chic feel good atmosphere. I dont know if its the lighting or the decor but as crowded as it is it feels very relaxed in there. Like you could sit back with your honey toast and your hot date and just relax with a nice cold drink. We ordered a lot of food mostly because we didnt know better. Had the andage chicken, gyoza, and fried pumpkin which was pretty good. I didnt care too much for the fries and sad to say they ran out of chicken katsu but still a very enjoyable meal! But the ultimate cherry on top of it all has got to be the wonderful Honey Toast. Yes everyone it is really as good as everyone says. Better even. And I intend to go back after my diet to indulge in that wonderfulness very soon. I often find myself dreaming of it sometimes...Anyways its really that good and I look forward going back soon.
(4)Camille D.
Shokudo is always poppin! Their food is all right! I like that their portions aren't too big too, less fat for mehhh. Haha. Their udon is good, same old udon. Their bi bim bap or whatever the hell it's called was very interesting! I love the bowl it comes in, so cute! Good too, but it needed a little more flavor. Sushi pizza was okay, kinda pricey and the definition of Americanized Japanese food. Honey toast is good!! What I want to know is why people don't eat the ends.... such a waste!!!! It's a little expensive for me though. Two pieces of buttery toasted bread with honey drizzled over it? And vanilla ice cream on top? Idk, i'm pretty sure I can make that at home. Overall, Shokudo is a fun place to go to with friends. Specially with their atmosphere.
(3)Christopher C.
Visit: 6/5/09 - Dinner. Ate garlic shrimp rice, rainbow roll, adadshi tofu, fried flounder, steak roll, lobster dynamite. Garlic shrimp rice was okay. Not that great. Maybe if they mixed the rice first, it would taste better. Rainbow row was nothing special. adadashi tofu was good. fried flounder was terrible. The meat was all dried out and the fish was not fresh. Steak roll was not good. lobster dynamite was good. Very tasty butter sauce. Kinda oily, but thats what made it taste good. Service was terrible. The waitress didn't inform us that their are no free refills. The worst part was we paid $2 each for soda that had tons of ice in it. I thought I just bought a soda from the 50th state fair. They always give too much ice. The price here is terrible. Each dish cost like $12 each and wouldn't make my 3 year old nephew full. I will not come back here.
(1)Reimy K.
I have always been a fan of Shokudo---good food, great ambiance, and especially enjoyed the honey toast! But unfortunately, after my experience tonight, I won't be going there anymore... I called on a Friday afternoon to see if I could get a reservation at 6 pm for my family, since my 2-year old loves Japanese food. I was told that they only take a certain number of reservations each night and they already maxed out their reservations, but that I could come because they always leave tables available for walk-ins. So I asked if I came at 6 could we get a table and she said "LIKE I SAID, we always have tables available for walk-ins". So, my family went there and got there at 5:50 pm and when we got there and I asked for a table for 5, I was told that they are very busy tonight and the next available table for 5 is at 10:30 PM!! I could not believe my ears and was so upset as they obviously knew that they were busy and I wish that I was just told that they could not take us when I called, instead of us making the drive to Shokudo and then being turned away. Plus, the restaurant was practically EMPTY when we were there! There are so many other japanese restaurants around---that have excellent customer service and good food that I won't really be missing much... hmm...maybe I just have to try to make my own honey toast!
(1)Row I.
from the time we made the reservation we were told that we'll have the table two hours. I can see why, they are very crowded. I wasn't disappointed with the service. We didn't have to wait very long for the foods we ordered. I was rather surprised by the awesome taste of "mochi cheese gratin." Now I know that mochi, shoyu, mozzarella and nori would taste good together. On the other hand, "Agedashi tofu" as well as the "Honey Toast" that everyone was raving about were my disappointments. It was not as good as I thought it would be. Mexican with a Japanese twist, the "teriyaki chix quesadilla" was tasty in a unique way. We also ordered "calamari tempura" which I thought was bland, a bit chewy, and greasy. With a party of seven, you think all those food I mentioned were enough? In two hours we guzzled a total of 8 dishes, 2 desserts, and 4 drink floats.My fave for the evening were "spicy tuna crispy rice", "sushi pizza", and "green tea shake". I usually ask extra jalapeno when am at Subway, so for a moment I was confused when we got our sushi pizza topped with jalapenos. If I have known, I would have said, "extra on jalapeno please!" Jalapenos on Japanese dishes? very innovative. Hawaii indeed is a melting pot ^_^
(4)Deanthony N.
Since this place can get quite busy, I don't go here to eat that often. Their food is Japanese, but with a more...general tone to it. If you want straight up authentic Japanese food, then this is not the place. But if you want something that's not too generic, then this place is fine. For me, I have tried their char siu ramen, the fries, the teishoku, and honey toast from what I can remember. Their char siu ramen was kinda meh. The noodles and soup were okay, but the meat wasn't as good as ramen places. The fries, the ones with little black specks on them are pretty good. They're more like skinny fries, not thick cut ones so if you like your fries thick, they may not be for you. The teishoku I got at lunch time because you can pick two different items. I got the teriyaki chicken and the karaage chicken. The teriyaki chicken was surprisingly good. I liked the kaarage chicken also, but I could do without the sauce that comes on top of it. For the honey toast, that has to be one of my favorite desserts ever. I really like the caramel and strawberry flavors. I just remembered I also tried the salmon plate. It was okay. I thought it was slightly dry and could use more flavor. As for service, I hear that it can be spotty, but fortunately I've always had really nice people. I feel that the dinner people are usually more nice and helpful than the lunch people, but then again I've had some awesome lunch servers so in the end it's quite mixed. Some are a bit eccentric, but fun and helpful (or not, hehe) nonetheless. It can get REALLY busy at certain times, especially on the weekends so either rsvp, or come at a less busy time. The ambiance is much nicer when it's not totally packed.
(3)Forest F.
Shokudo is pretty good. Its super trendy with age 18-28 townie kids so if you don't reserve a table the wait could be kind of long. The Agedashi tofu is really good, the hot plate stuff isn't bad but I think for the portions its kind of over priced. We also had the hot stone rice, this was ok but you can get much better at more traditional asian restaurants. The food all came out really fast which tells me they are just making it and expecting the orders. We ordered the sizzling steak MR and it came out like 3 mins later and was cooked medium, very little pink left. They had to have had the steak cooking already for 5-8 mins in aticipation of the order. Also, it was super salty. The tofu came out super quick too, but it still tasted good. The ambiance of the place is nice, very modern and bright. Guys, if you are going on dates 1-5 this is a good spot, for some reason women LOVE this restaurant. If your looking for purely the culinary aspect there are a ton of better priced and tastier options out there.
(3)Jennifer H.
So the best way I can describe this place is like a... american-fused japanese food. They make these special french fries with nori-goodness ontop and japanese nachos... It's not like other japanese places you'd typically eat at. I went here for the honey toast since my bff said it was amazing. It was ok. i always recommend it because it's better than most things but nonetheless you probably won't have most of these food items anywhere else. Definitely try this place if you want try something new and different than your typical stomping grounds
(3)P S.
My experiences here have been so extremely bad that I signed up for a Yelp account JUST to review. The food is delicious. We all know that. I'd skip the spicy scallop roll, but pretty much everything else I've had here has been good. No, the problem is with the service. The last last time I was here, I went on a double date with my girlfriend from out of town. At one point in the night, our waitress disappeared without warning for literally over an hour. We were planning on asking for boxes so we could take our leftovers home, but after about 45 minutes of waiting we decided not to because out food was cold and dried out and not something we wanted to keep. She showed up again with no apology and then we had to wait an extra half hour for our honey toasts. At the end of the night, we politely asked if there were any comment cards so we could write a note to the manager. In response, the waitress asked (in a challenging sort of way) if we would like to speak with the manager directly instead. Yes, now that you offered, we do. As soon as we said yes, our waitress began to panic and rushed, "well just so you know I was in the back making honey toast." That was fine. The fact that she didn't hand her tables off to another waiter or give us warning or apology was not. So we ended up speaking to the manager and he said in an off-hand sort of way that he did pull the waitress to the kitchen, comped our honey toast, and gave 10% off of our meals. That was good enough compensation for me to come back again...only to be disappointed. Last night, we had a reservation and showed up about 5 minutes early to check in. The hostess replied that our table was paying out, and so it'd just be a bit. We waited outside for half an hour and watched about five other parties go in before us. Went inside to check with a new host and he said that the last hostess hadn't marked us as checked in. He apologized and said he'd seat us right away, and I appreciated his demeanor. The hostess who came to seat us, however, did not apologize, even though she was in the front when we had first gotten there. Our waitress was nice enough and she seemed like an honest worker. I ordered the salmon rice, and when it came, the server said they made the bowl a little hotter than usual. They definitely made it hotter than usual, because my food was BURNT. Not nice and crispy, or burnt along the edges of the bowl - there were consistently black bits in my bowl, so it must have burnt as the server mixed it for me. I had to scoop out all of my food into the regular bowls so that the stone bowl wouldn't burn anything more than it had. The entire dish tasted like charcoal. I have charcoal in my grill at home and I don't have to wait half an hour if I, for any reason, want to eat it. Which I don't. Waitress didn't stop by to ask how the food was so I had to wait another half hour before I could ask about the food. I wanted to be polite and ask if it was meant to be as burnt as it was (you could clearly see that my food was BLACK), rather than flat out tell her my food was inedible... to which she responded (in a slightly patronizing way), "Yes, that's the whole point of the bowl...". She did get us a new one, in a much cooler bowl, and we tipped her about 25% for the trouble, but I am pretty sure I'm never coming back.
(1)kristen n.
I've come here a couple times and always just thought the food was ok, but a friend wanted to go here for drinks and pupus so figured why not. The service was alright but we ordered a bottle of Kurosawa and got otokoyama, wtf it says Kurosawa in ENGLISH! Unfortunately, my friend who was buzzing opened it up and started pouring it before I could stop him! Needless to say we were stuck with it. They didn't charge us for the otokoyama but its certainly not the sweet sake we wanted. Mistakes happen, but the real boo was the honey toast. I dunno but mine just tasted stale. The bread seemed like it was past it's prime even though it was toasted and covered in honey, I could taste that staleness. My friends ate it up like crazy but I guess I wasn't buzzing as hard as them! I can't say I'd recommend this place, but 4.50 for umeshu soda and great cocktails at least makes a decent place for drinks. Next time we'll just come at happy hour..
(3)Alexis T.
I love Shokudo! It's got a great ambiance and it's a great place to go to when you're going with a group of people. All the appetizers (pupus) are great! I love the Yukari Fries, Gyoza, and especially Lobster Dynamite Roll (I also enjoy the Homemade Tofu and the Char-siu Pork). Whenever I have guests from out of town, I love to take them to dinner here. I always specify that even though we're going to eat a LOT, to save room for (Caramel) Honey Toast. It doesn't disappoint. I took out a star because the parking gets full sometimes late at night and some of the fixtures are a bit dusty.
(4)Apollo Y.
Went there last nite for happy hour n had a bunch of stuff for a pretty decent price...there was 4 of us n we paid just under $50 which is not bad considering all the drinks n food we had but the must have if ur gonna have anything at all to it is the honey toast......one word CRAZY!!!!!! I will definitely come back but just for happy hour
(4)Tyson J.
Bomb dot com.. Sushi pizza and honey toast end of story ..Havnt had a bad expiereince yEt So I keep coming back
(5)Lauren K.
i remembered my first visit to shokudo as a wonderful experience. nice decor, "exotic" dishes ((ok, DISH--mochi cheese gratin. at that time it was different to me)), huge ass portions and delicious food. this was in 06 or 07... when i revisited the eatery over the summer, i realized my memory sucks! aside from the ambiance being the same, the food and drink wasnt as good as i expected it to be. i ordered salmon sashimi, mochi cheese gratin and the lobster dynamite roll. salmon sashimi was ok. no complaints. the mochi cheese gratin seemed bland to me. what i once thought was so fun and different certainly lacked in taste this time around. it wasnt as stringy, the cheese. that took some of the fun out of eating it. oh, lobster dynamite roll, how i wanted so much to love you.. i love love my lobster rolls and consider baked lobster rolls as a sushi staple in my life. so, of course i had to order it! it was a little more expensive than what id normally pay for that type of roll at around$14-$15, but i figured whats an extra $4 if its good?! ... i was not impressed. maybe im just a sushi snob but this roll PALED in comparison to what im used to. PALED. i read quite a few positive reviews here about this roll, and while it isnt BAD, its just not doin it for me. i ate less than half, boxed it up and gave it to my friend. oh yeah, and the honey toast. while "soooooo good" id probably only opt for it for special occasions. like a friends birthday. ((a friend who really likes honey toast, otherwise shokudo aint worth it)) i can make the same thing at home
(3)Conrad M.
I LOVE this place! A nice place to have drinks (lychee martini the best), and great entrees and the BOMB HONEY TOAST! The staff is great and friendly! I recommend two items : Sushi pizza and of course, the HONEY TOAST.
(4)C M.
Happy Hour everyday from 4-6!
(5)Garrett O.
Really unique Japanese food; really friendly waiters/waitresses as well! Whenever my family and I visit Oahu, Shokudo is one of the restaurants to stop by. The sushi pizza and honey toast is bombbbbb.
(4)APRIL R.
very very very delicious. An unexpected trip to this restaurant and so glad I did. I had the sushi pizza. It was good, a little salty for some reason but the lobster in dynamite sauce with the little biscuits wee gooood. The tempura was honestly some of the best I've ever had. I was hoping to try to the milk toast by the waitress recomendations but by the tim I finished the tempurs, my martini, edamami, sushi pizza and lobster was to full.. But next time! :)
(5)Derrick S.
First time there and I was definitely impressed. Decor was really nice, our server (Brian) was super friendly. Drink prices were normal for a Happy Hour, pretty decent selection of pupu's, all of which are good -- yes we ordered damn near all of them. The Sushi Pizza & Lobster Dynamite aren't on the happy hour menu but they're definitely worth the price you pay. The saimin appears small but is very filling and the quesadilla's are great w/ the cilantro sauce or without. I'd definitely make the late night trip back again!
(4)jesse g.
it was ok one word: "overrated" like the 2-star rating says, it was very meh. i was expecting alot from this place because of the hype that i've been hearing from "the crowd" some good things about this restaurant is that the interior of the restaurant is very clean and upscale. the service i received was very courteous and friendly. the food is good, but nothing that i'd rave about nor would i tell my friends how great it was on facebook. the presentation and the taste of the food is about your average sushi restaurant. prices are about what you'd expect from any normal sushi place. but the one thing i don't understand is all this "HYPE" about the honey toast. it's ok, but nothing you can't make at home for cheap. it's basically bread icecream and bottle honey. nothing to go crazy about. if you wanna know where to get BETTER honey toast, read the reviews for tairyo izakaya. try both, because the hype would die if everyone tried the honey toast from both places. overall this place is ok, i'm just saying that i wouldn't wait in line that long as if i was waiting on fine dining to experience food that is "just good" that's all. and for anyone who gave it a 5, y'all need to get out and eat more at different places
(2)Li B.
I struggled with 3 v. 4 stars, I really did! I called ahead for reservations...on a week night..and we got there less than 5 mins early and we weren't seated for another 15. Our reserved table? It was in the corner next to the servers' station. We shouldn't be punished for making reservations, we should be rewarded. Let the walk-ins sit in the corner. Nobody puts Lili in the corner! That took one star away, since they started with 5. Then, our server was forgetful, and brought our food backwards (entree 1, appetizer, then entree 2, all about 10 mins apart). That was the reason another star was taken away. Overall, the food really was meh. Nothing to write home about, nothing special. The highlight, of course, was the HONEY TOAST. Can't go wrong here and they didn't, it was great. So, I recommend you go for cocktails and honey toast. In fact, skip the cocktails, I'm good with honey toast alone.
(3)Ashley S.
Shokudo is good. Not great, just good. I've eaten here a handful of times and never leave dissatisfied. But at the same time, I don't get excited when people suggest we eat here. My friends and I usually order family style. Tonight we had: 1) Crispy calamari salad - Nothing special. I wouldn't order it again. For $10.45 I expected more, in terms of both taste and size. 2) Lobster dynamite - This is consistently good! They do not skimp on the lobster so you are definitely getting your money's worth. HOWEVER, the sauce is a bit sweet, so it might not be for everyone. I personally love it. 3) Agedashi tofu - Yum! Shokudo makes their own tofu, and you can really taste the difference. It has the perfect consistency, and they serve it with a tempura-style broth. 4) Shrimp tempura roll - This was good. Not life-changing but I would order it again. 5) Old fashioned yakisoba - Meh. I don't really know why we ordered this one. Tastes just like the yakisoba you can buy in any Japanese food stand in the food court, except more expensive. Would not recommend. 6) Chicken karaage - Again, meh. You do get a lot of chicken and their tartar sauce is pretty good, but the chicken itself was reminiscent of what you'd find in a marked-down Shirokiya bento box. Not impressed. All that split amongst four people came out to $16, including tax and tip. Not bad, considering I was stuffed and parking is free after 6pm! Drinks are expensive ($8 for a saketini?!) if it isn't happy hour, which starts at 10:30pm. The honey toast is great and definitely worth getting if you still have room for dessert. I would recommend splitting it with at least two other people, though. Overall, Shokudo is alright. The service is just OK, but at least it is consistently OK. Location is great, free parking is never a problem since it is right next to Ala Moana. I will continue to eat here, but am not crazy enough about this place to recommend it to friends.
(3)John L.
Great place to hang out for small dishes like pupus, sushi/sashimi, noodles. Overall, food is worth 3 stars considering their prices. BUT, their famous Honey Toast dessert earns the place their fourth star. It's awesome! definitely worth a visit just for this unique dessert.
(4)M A X.
** LUNCH TIME ** My wife & 10mo son and I went to Shokudo for lunch. It was nice not having to wait 30minutes for a table (as is the case during dinner time). The menu offered many kinds of lunch specials. The service was excellent (esp. since we had a squirmy little guy with us). Our food came promtly and we both felt that it was priced right, a good value. Basically at the same price as getting some Shirokiya bento's (+drinks), we can sit down in a relaxed atmoshpere and enjoy our meal. :o) AWESOME A++++
(5)Christopher S.
Food is ok! They want you in and out in 2 hours if you have a big party! They charged me $24 for a alcholic beverage called "BEAUTIFUL"! They told me they charged me $12 for a shot of Grand Marnier and $12 for the Courvoisier shot! So I told the waiter it should be a double then because I paid for 2 shot! Since it wasn't a double I only paid $12! Still pretty pricey! This ain't Vegas! Bottom line is that my wife likes the toast!
(2)Averi S.
SOOOO...... I wasn't gonna do anything for Valentines day, but I came across an fb post by Shokudo. They advertised a special Valentine night, with a romantic ambiance. They posted pictures, and I commented, and asked if I would still be able to make a reservation. They responded, and said yes. I called right away, to make my reservation. They called me back on Valentines day to confirm my reservation, and to take my credit card info. They said if I was a no show, they would charge $30 to my card. That was understandable, since it was a busy occasion. I had been to Shokudo many times before, but I was excited to see their special Valentines day decor. When I got there, they sat us in a side room. In my opinion, it looked like a side storage room. It was brightly lit, no candles, no rose on the table, no Valentine decorations at all. My point is, if you are going to advertise a special ambiance for a special day, and you need to seat people in a side room, let them know ahead of time. I wouldn't have gone there to sit in a side room. I would've had a much more romantic experience elsewhere. It's too bad they didn't know that I have 5,000 friends on fb, and I am a popular Yelper.... smh.
(1)Chad K.
Shokudo, how this place gets so packed on the weekends is beyond me. Ive been here a handful of times and its simply ok, not the first place I'd pick, probably not even in the top ten but I can put up with it occasionally . To start my drink was on the weak side, so I ended up ordering a shot to go along with my drinks, together they were perfect. I ordered the basic rainbow roll and soft shell crab roll, both were decent but not memorable or anything I'd brag about, you'd think it would have been the best thing ever being that I was starved but eh.. I also ordered the chicken teriyaki casadias. my bad. this choice was strictly hunger induced and more of an impulse. My first instinct was to order it w/o teriyaki sauce, I should have followed my instincts. The teriyaki sauce was waaaay too sweet and over powering, it tasted like burnt caramel. Had the teriyaki sauce been absent, the casadia would still have been subpar. Ok so the honey toast which seems to be regarded as the pinnacle of culinary creation by many is in my opinion overrated. Perhaps my take is skewed because I'm not a dessert kind of guy but Ive had a bite of this before and it fails to leave me with anything other than a "is that it?" kind of feeling. Same thing happened this night. The service was so slow despite the fact that waiters and waitresses were scurrying about like workshop elves on Christmas Eve. Looking for our waitress I spotted her behind the bar making drinks, yes our waitress moonlighted as the bartender or did the bartender moonlight as our waitress? Either way that explains why she was never there. I walked over and ordered a drink and a shot, and she said it was on her. Making small talk I aksed her if she does both jobs on the weekends and she replied no but "Sean's the new bartender and needed my help" she then asked me how the earlier drinks were and I told her it was on the weak side, in which she replied with a laugh "that was Sean, he's still using the jigger". In my head I automatically thought ok 20% tip, Im such a sucker but so be it, yeah she was never there, and yeah she left me with one napkin to last my entire meal but the free drink and shot made up for it, call me easy. best waitress ever.
(3)Wing L.
Price is a bit expensive for something small sometimes.... But I am a fan because I love their Banana Flambe and their Honey toast. So now days I only go for deserts and their drinks. Love lychee. I have their Honey Toast Club Card as well!! They finally made an official hard cover card. So for those of you that got the card and its still paper, go down to Shokudo now and they'll give you a more solid card. I miss the peanut butter chocolate honey toast though. That one is hella good. I like this one waiter. Dont know his name but hes very flamboyant and every time I go there, I always hope to have him as my server. Because he really puts a good mood on our table's atmosphere. All the time. Never fails.
(4)Janel K.
I really enjoy going here. Good price for really good food. brought the boyfriend once and he got his first flambe! Totally fun.
(4)Mark P.
With a decor and ambiance fit for an emperor, I expected Shokudo to bring out the better of Neo-Japanese cuisine. Realistically, I had stumbled down a cascade of lousy flavors even peasants would have refused on the famished of days. To bypass the wait, we sat at the bar and was placed with a bartender of asshole proportions. No smile, hasty, no humor, and no follow-up. Worst of all my yuzu cocktail was so abominable, if I'd pissed in it it wouldn't have made it worse. So here we are already off to a bad start. Maybe just maybe their food will be really good so they have the right to act like an ass crack. I took the liberty of ordering: Char-Siu pork, pupu platter which came with chicken karage, ume cucumber salad, yukari french fries, edamame, and fried cod, albacore tuna on crispy rice, rainbow roll, garlic tuna, unagi rice, assorted tempura, crispy calamari salad, and beef tataki on balsamic sushi. That was the order they arrived, not the way I ordered it. I kept waiting for something to taste decent but that moment never came. Char-Siu pork: pork belly, marinated mainly in sweetened soy sauce, not even crisp. Pupu platter:chicken karage had little to no salt, ume cucumber salad had zero ume flavor, yukari french fries were limp, edamame was edamame, and the fried cod could've been made by Gorton's. Albacore tuna on crispy rice: rice was mushy and the tuna itself was Todai fresh. Rainbow roll: looked like it was made by a Mr. Roboto, however the thin layer of sliced cucumber was refreshingly surprising. Garlic tuna: was I supposed to marvel over the hot stone? nice novelty, welcome to 10 years ago. It wasn't even necessary. Unagi rice: just because it's Nagoya-style doesn't mean the unagi itself is from Nagoya or even Japan for that matter. I guarantee it. Assorted tempura: biiiiiiiig fuckup. What would you rather have? Stale batter or bland batter? How about both?! Crispy calamari salad: why would I want to eat this near the end of my meal? Why is the fried calamari soaked in the dressing? Beef tataki on balsamic sushi: yay, I love to finish my meal on a heavy note of red meat, right after a mushy calamari salad. The beef? Select cut and chewy. I wonder if they forgot the balsamic on the sushi rice. This visit had crippled my spirit of looking for new and innovative eateries on the island. Quite funny... we were looking for Yanagi's but ended up here. Next time I'll stick to the plan.
(2)Joo S.
i come here for two things that i can't get anywhere else: -mochi cheese gratin it sounds gross but if you like mozzarella cheese and mochi, they're a surprisingly delicious combination! it comes out all gooey and melty...and the dashi broth is good! -HONEY TOAST. nuff said. thanks to you shokudo gets an extra star. i've tried various other things on the menu over the years...nothing else really stood out. the shrimp tempura udon had a distinct shiitake mushroom taste, which i hated. their sushi is ok. spinach salad was decent (a long time ago) but i prefer petite garlic's spinach salad (r.i.p.). the thing i could do without: -service - slow and no common sense servers. and it was a slow early evening, probably 5 total parties in the place when we first got there. and if you know how big shokudo is, you know how empty that is. it was funny how one of my friends ordered tea, so our server brought the entire pot with just one cup, not asking if anyone else wanted any. we didn't see him for a while, so we ended up using our clean extra bowls for the tea. as my other friend was drinking tea out of her bowl, he came by and asked, "do you want a cup?" uh, kinda missed the boat on that one, buddy!
(4)Justin H.
Happy Hour with Jess! Great service, great food, what more can you ask for?! Will do happy hour again!
(5)Angry K.
I'm not big on Shokudo at all, because every time I've gone, the food is hit or miss. Drinks are pretty good. The decor is nice there too, although a little weird. Service is alright, but nothing outstanding. Food, meh. I do have to say that I like the mochi cheese gratin, and the stone pots are pretty good. But some of the other things I've had there were just bad, or weird. The worst? The "sweet potato fries" appetizer. They were sliced really thin, kinda like potato chip fries, but cold. And had sugar on them. Is that why they were SWEET potato fries? Har har har. The duck appetizer, I remember, was also not so great. The gyoza was nothing out of the ordinary. It's not a place I would frequent, yet somehow I always have a friend who has the brilliant idea to eat here, so I go. But there are many other eateries in Honolulu to spend your money on that are much, much better.
(2)Jen C.
Love this place ! Food is Ono
(3)Julie P.
My boyfriend and I had an awesome time here on New Year's Eve. Our waiter, Connor, was really friendly and knowledgable about the menu. At his recommendation, we started with the Mochi Cheese Gratin, which was absolutely delicious. We ordered a few sushi rolls next, which were also great, but we definitely over-ordered. The rolls are enormous, so four rolls between two people was way too much. As all the reviews note, the Honey Toast is amazing. I think literally every table in the whole restaurant was ordering it., and you should, too. For a pretty simple dessert, it's really incredible. One note for those coming from the Waikiki area: you have to pass by several strip clubs/adult stores in order to get to the restaurant. It feels a little seedy, but don't be deterred - Shokudo is worth the trip.
(5)Kristel Y.
pro: HONEY TOAST with ice cream. con: every time I eat here, my clothes really reek after. My friends and I went the other night and our server remembered us (from the week before) and said, "9 shots of grey goose?!" We didn't want 9 shots of Grey Goose on this night, but it was nice to be remembered. The same woman was our server on this night too and she was excellent. She remembered from our previous time what our drink preferences were and she was always quick to refill our water/drinks/etc. She was knowledgeable about the menu, polite, and extremely attentive although it was busy. I wanted to write this review to say a good server can really change your experience at a restaurant. I've gone to Shokudo before and have had decent service, which probably made my excellent food seem just okay. But on nights when I have great service, I swear the food the seems better. On this night, the food was excellent.
(4)Stella J.
came here while on vacation, it is defintley different from what im use to in san francisco. the pizza sushi was interesting and delicious, the honey toast was drool worthy. the unagi hot stone, spider roll, crispy calamari salad all were pretty good. =) i would love to come back here the next time im in honolulu. oh and the lychee and grape calpico vodka soda were pretty good mixed with grey goose!
(4)Christine A.
The food here is amazing. Not one item I have gotten was sub-par. The sushi is amazing and the atmosphere is great too. There is almost always people here but the restaurant does a great job gettong you seated fast and food ordered fast as well. The parking is terrible because there isn't really any, but I go to this place every chance I get.
(4)Gary A.
They have good food in a nice setting. It gets crowded at night so get there early. I've been here several times to try other items on the menu. Too many good food to list, but remember to top it off with their Honey Toast.
(4)Yuree N.
I don't even know where to start with this place. Since I've been home this entire summer, I find myself gravitating over to Shokudo every week. I think I may have ordered almost everything there is on the menu... yes, it's that intense. First of all, for appetizers - the Agedashi or Fresh Homemade Tofu is BOMB. They make their own tofu (I think that's what they told me) so you know it's legit. I don't really waste my time on rolls here because you can get that at any other sushi restaurant. Shokudo has some unique items so don't miss out on them. For salads, I always, always get the Tuna Sashimi Salad. The dressing is yums and they give you fat slices of maguro sashimi with this awesome wasabi mayo sauce. Now this is what I'll have a mad craving for sometimes in the middle of the night (it gets pretty bad)... the Ishiyaki (Hot Stone Cooking). The Garlic Shrimp or Salmon with rice is soooo good. It comes in a stone pot that's already heated with steaming rice and whatever you pick on top. The waiter can then mix it up for you, pour some shoyu on top, and you're ready to grind! (Date Warning: the garlic shrimp with rice will give you or your date gnarly breath) Other notable menu items... garlic tuna, sushi pizza, spicy tuna on crispy rice, hamachi carpaccio. I've had the bentos but I don't think they standout at Shokudo among their other foods. I'd probably go to Sushi King or Yanagi Sushi for that. And of course... I don't think I need to further emphasize how amazing and addicting the Honey Toast is. I always stick with the Original, which is just toast a la mode with honey drizzled on top. But it's not just any toast, it's orgasmic toast. Seriously. I've heard so many great things about the drinks here, but I haven't gotten to them yet! I guess I just get so blindsighted by the food? Or honestly, sometimes the food bill just racks up pretty high here that I don't feel like spending more money on drinks. I wish they had some kind of happy hour special. Anyway, I'm getting ready to eat there right now! This inspired me to try a drink there, so I'll update on how that is later tonight. ____________________________ UPDATE: Tried the lychee mojito. It was SO GOOD. For $8, I was hoping it would be in a taller glass though. Oh well! I'll probably be getting this every time I go now. :)
(5)Shawn B.
Spicy miso ramen:) it's the shizzle.
(5)Forest S.
Superbuddy and I went here for happy hour. The rolls were unconventional but very well done. The fusion foods were tasty. Our Honey Toast, Jr. dessert was delicious. Our bartender/server was godlike.
(4)Chevis H.
I'd say the only reason why I come here with my girlfriend or friends is cuhz of their Honey Toast. I love their Honey Toast, it never lets me down. I've sampled quite a bit of their entrees but I don't seem to have any interest in any of them, so I only go there for dessert, & thas fine with me.
(3)Remee A.
I love late nights at Shokudo. They have an excellent late night menu special, we usually have the clams, gyoza (never really hot), spicy ahi nacho (favorite), and either califoria roll or spicy ahi roll.
(3)Emiko T.
Shokudo sort of confuses you in many ways. You walk in (almost thinking it's an office building) and it looks like a night club and you look bashfully down at your sandals thinking you're way underdressed. Then as you get led to your table you begin to pass ladies in heels and club wear and you definitely begin to wonder if there's a dress code. The seating arrangements are strangely spread out with one half of the restaurant looking like a lecture hall and the other a sort of cozy yet swanky, modern restaurant. But I guess that huge chandelier piece in the middle of the room just throws you off. Anyway, if you get past the strange melange of dress-code and atmospheric confusion, you remember that this place is awesome because they're actually open past 9:30. Ordered the Red Eye Roll, which wasn't fantastic or fresh out of the sea, but it was filling (watch out, because the spicy tuna is no joke). Next the agedashi tofu was also mediocre but also enjoyable, as it was four HUGE slabs of tofu but the fried outside didn't have that necessary crunch and crispiness. Instead it had an odd, chewy texture that left me sort of perplexed. That's ok though, the size of the tofu made up for it. Finally the tastiest dish was the sukiyaki bibimbap, which is exactly what it sounds like. More bibimbap than sukiyaki, but the meat they used gave it the one Japanese flair. The rice itself was excellent and full of kimchi. Definitely a winner. I also have to recommend the cucumber mojito--this was surprisingly delicious. So refreshing and they don't skimp on the alky. And while I kept eyeing the gigantic bricks of honey toast passing my table the entire night, we didn't save room for one :( Of course this means I'll just have to make a special trip. This is an awesome late-night place and it seems like the dishes are kind of hit or miss, but I think it's definitely worth trying once.
(4)Jaedyn C.
Meh, I finally went to see what the big hype us about this place. Went with a friend of mine on a Saturday night, and apparently Shokudo is where it's at with the college crowd. Ton of 18-20+ year old and there group of friends. I went and got the bibimbap, don't remember much about except that there was a little pool of oil on the bottom when I was almost done with it... Ehhhh, when I eat bibimbap I usually see a bunch of crispy rice on the bottom and not a small little pool of oil.... My friend wasn't impressed with the sushi either and feels like she could've gone to Genki if she wanted some rolls. With dinner done, we figured the Honey Toast would've made up for it. Mmmm, I wasn't too impressed with it. Just a big slab of bread you could probably buy at some Japanese bakery, toasted and cut up with some honey drizzled all over and 2 scoops of ice cream. Not worth the $8 in my opinion. I'd rather spend $8 on a nice slice of Red Velvet Cake ala moade at CPK than on Honey Toast which you could easily make at home if you wanted to. Maybe Shokudo was having an off night or something, but I'll only give it another shot if I'm not the one going to be paying for the meal. Other than that, this would probably be the first and last time I'll try this place out.
(2)Cheech M.
Went here and had the teriyaki bento. A little pricey, and nothing too fantastic. Also had the honey toast, which was awesome. I recommend you share this with someone, as it's very filling. The overall theme of the restaurant is to share anyway, so. Would probably come back on a date or something of that nature, not if I'm starving though.
(3)Jessie R.
Came in a group of 8+ so we made reservations ahead of time. We all got something different to split and share. We had the yakisoba, gyoza, teriyaki chicken obento, sushi pizza, red eye roll, unagi rice, lobster dynamite, mochi cheese gratin, and the bibimbap. We're pigs, we know. Is it me or have the dishes gotten a lot smaller? I liked the red eye roll and the lobster dynamite. The other dishes were just average. Honey toast for dessert! Delicious as usual. We also tried the pomegranate infused sake, Aiko, and the mango vodka I believe. Extremely disappointed with the sake and the aiko. The sake didn't have the airy crisp taste. It was just like watered down cough syrup. The aiko was super thick and bland. Our server took his sweet time coming around. He checked on us once the whole meal. We're guessing it's because gratuity is automatically added to parties of 6 or more and that he doesn't have to worry about us tipping him badly. The restaurant didn't seem too busy either.
(3)Deanna B.
All I have to say is"AWESOME!!"
(5)Natalie T.
A modern Japanese restaurant and bar that offers a unique modern twist to traditional Japanese cooking. The lighting and fixtures help create sophisticated yet relaxed ambiance The first thing you notice around the Bar, Tiered and Main Dining areas (the place is huge!) is the 18 to 30s age group that make up 80% of their customers. They're well-dressed and ready to party! (or just eat :) I enjoyed their California Roll, Spinach Salad, Tempura (the batter was light and tasty) and Unagi Bowl prepared Ishiyaki style (hot stone bowls and plate). For a unique dessert treat, try their Honey Toast, a house specialty of thick white bread toasted, cut and cubed, topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with honey. Sweet, crunchy and filling at the same time. The service we got was consistent, with the server anticipating our need for refills, soy dishes and water. A good place for drinks with office mates after work, to meet up with friends for dinner or to bring a date or group date. Just be prepared to speak louder and shell out a bit more that your usual dinner bill.
(4)Angel P.
Great customer service! We had a big group of almost 20 and they seated us in the back private room. The server was more than nice and understanding. The sushi was delicious however they didn't have a big selection of sushi. The price was very reasonable (rainbow sushi for $15) They were a little incomplete...one table didn't have soy sauce the other table didn't have enough chopsticks, but it's very understandable because of the big group we had. The honey toast is so good! It did take them a little long to bring out because they waiting for everyone's order. I would go here just for the honey toast. overall my experience was great. The server was even nice enough to go outside and take a big group picture of us.
(4)Dennis M.
First time to enjoy this restaurant, greeted well from hostess, given the choice of bar or sitdown, I chose bar, view of TV, pleasant bar attendant gave me time to look over menu, Menu was fusion Japanese, with some traditional items. I chose the Kaisen Sashimi Bowl, and order of half udon. Cool and pleasant environment at the bar, view of entire restaurant. Food came about 15 minutes later, udon hot and tasty soup base, udon texture good, Kaisen was good volume of rice and cut slices of varies sashimi. Good choices and well done. Price was 20,00 for both dishes, somewhat pricy. I enjoyed my time, good environment, service and food good. Will come again.
(3)Mimi A.
We came as group of 8 people but the service was quick and great. Even though, the waiter forgot our drinks but came back with it quickly. The food was okay but it was a little too salty for me.
(4)Chero-Lyn M.
I love this place. Great food, great mixed drinks, fun atmosphere beautiful interior. The only negative thing I would say is when I go with a big group of 10 or more, they can only make 4 checks at the most, && it gets complicating but other then that, I love love shokudo. Oh && I only see asian or white workers in the front of the house. RACIST Much?
(4)Vicky K.
Came here for lunch and got the tofu salad, lunch bento box (~$8), ahi sashimi, and agedashi tofu. Yummmmmy! Sat in a booth for two that's pretty cool the two seat benches were next to eachother instead of facing eachother. Wasn't super crowded lunch time so we had a pretty chill meal. Didn't get the honey toast like last time. I gotta come with at least 4 people to finish it! awesome portions!
(4)Melissa L.
i miss working here because now i cant afford my lobster dynamite roll and char sui and honey toast and garlic shrimp :( i have dreams about it.
(5)Angela M.
We went here for dinner and were pleasantly surprised at the inside of the restaurant. It had a full bar but a nice restaurant seating as wells. We tried a few dishes to sample because everything looked so good. We Mochi Cheese Gratin was delicious...never had anything like it. The Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice was my favorite dish of the night. The Pumpkin tempura was pretty good. The Sushi Pizza was pretty amazing considering it was a interesting twist on sushi. And last but not least, the Honey Toast with Cinnamon was so freakin good. We were pretty stuffed from the rest of the food, but we had to try it. I'd like to think that I could try to make it at home but I'd be afraid to mess it up. Overall, it was a great meal and I would go back again to try more dishes and reorder the ones we had!
(4)Howard L.
First visit i had the oxtail ramen. It sounded good at the time. The broth was bland and lacked the flavor that oxtail really provides. There was a load of fresh ginger in it. Ginger is good for getting rid of bad flavors or smells and also tastes like crap when there is too much. Horrible experience, just horrible. The happy hour stuff is ok though. The spicy tuna nachos my girlfriend seems to like. I wasn't a huge fan. It was fried wonton wrappers instead of chips but oh well , they're trying to be creative, it's different i'll give them that. The Honey Toast is very tasty...The first time i had it. The second time i had it there was butter on it, very salty butter. Butter, honey, and ice cream doesnt go well together. The rolls are also horrible. They made a mistake on one (spicy tuna crispy rice or something) and had it dipped in soy for us already, which by the time it reached us it was drenched in soy. I like salty foods, i really do, but this was too salty and even i couldnt eat it. tried to rinse it away with beer, couldnt. Finally i had them take it back and got the spicy scallops roll instead. Scallops didn't even taste like scallops. I assume they were the frozen baby bay scallops that arrive in bags. The ONLY reason i would come here, is for Honey Toast, and drinks.
(2)moejoe r.
This was our 3rd visit and once again it was a full-filling experince!! Matt was ojr waiter and attended to our every need with a smile. We order the wrong item and it was quickly taken away with apologies and we quickly received the correct item. Thank you for an amazing night!!!
(5)Glenn N.
Been here 6x. Skip the "happy hour" pupus and drinks. It seems that they skimp on the food, hence the lower prices. Go during regular hours and you can really enjoy the bountiful of variety of delicacy. My favorite is the "Lobster Dynamite Roll". Skip all the ramen noodles. If you want ramen then go to a place that specializes in noodles. Shokudo is more skilled at exotic sushi. Don't forget their signature dessert, Honey Ice Cream Toast!" You can make this at home in 4 minutes and eat it every night! SOOOO GOOOOOD!!!!
(3)Christine S.
Great rice and noodle dishes and SPECTACULAR honey toast. Sushi is just alright: would suggest elsewhere if you're hungry for sushi.
(3)Chantel G.
My husband and I really enjoyed our dining experience at this restaurant. The server was very attentive and recommended foods for us to try since it was our first time. The food was pretty good. We were dining with another couple so we ate all our food family style. We recommend their tofu salad, lobster dynamite rolls, and honey toast. The japanese beef was nothing special. I highly recommend that you make reservations especially if you go on the weekends. Overall, we enjoyed everything at the restaurant.
(5)Hanna M.
This place is really good. There's always a wait which is the only reason I didn't give it five stars. I like that it's not routine Japanese food that you can get at any restaurant. They have interesting dishes, like sushi pizza, and their sashimi is really fresh. I have dreamt about that honey toast dessert that they have - it's just too big for one person (that's what she said!)
(4)Dawne F.
I love this place!! Only bad thing is that it's always crowded. I went with 3 people lastnight and we got there at 10:00pm and I couldn't believe we had to wait 20 min. I didn't expect to wait thinking most people went for dinner already. But the food is just that good, people are constantly there! I always come back to order the Yukari French Fries ($4.45), Lobster Dynamite ($10.45), & Tofu Salad ($9.45). My 3 friends never tried the tofu salad but they helped me eat it up! Then one of them ordered another. I would never order tofu salad but once I tried it I had to have it everytime I come. The Lobster Dynamite is so delicious! It comes with slices of thin toasted bread and it's baked mayo over pieces of lobster, onions, broccoli, mushrooms, and red peppers. I noticed the servers always bringing them out to other tables so you know it's good! I also tried the Chicken Karaage ($9.95) and it comes with this spicy sauce. It's really good and the chicken is very crispy. If you don't care for spicy things then you might not like the sauce but you can eat it without because they serve it on the side. I also ordered the Gyoza ($6.95) and it was good. It comes with sauce and it gives it more taste. The overall food is very delicious and you will definitely come back if you like this type of foods! Oh and you cannot leave without ordering a Honey Toast!!!
(5)Sid S.
Let me start by saying that a couple friends of mine have told me they've had spotty service. I've never had that happen to me I've come here for both lunch and dinner. This place is a little bit overpriced, but good food, ambiance and (for me) excellent service make it worth it. The lunch bentos are very reasonably priced and a good sized portion of food. The sushi rolls here are good, but not any better than what I can get cheaper at Sansei or Ninja Sushi. The reason I keep coming back to this place though is for their unagi rice bowl - awesome, my favorite dish, and something I can't get anywhere else. The honey toast is well done and good for what it is, but I'm not a fan of it. I prefer their oreo shake for desset, but that's just me.
(4)Kenny K.
Great Japanese food and sushi! All their hot bowls and rolls are awesome. Always parking, great that they stay open late.
(4)Kristina K.
I don't see why people love this place? Had the mochi and cheese...it was different but not as tasty as I thought it was. Also had pancake sushi again creative but not much taste. The most impressive things were honey toast which was delicious and their cocktails r good too.
(3)Travis M.
Wow, such bad ratings for a place that is pretty packed for lunch and dinner. I've been here on a few occasions and even for just drinks, presentation is nice, taste is average, and a bit pricey. Overall this is an alright place to go if you want to change things up. Just don't know why its always pretty busy.
(3)Michelle N.
I accidently wrote under myles k's yelp profile rather than mine. "HONEY TOAST!! Ok ok. We took pictures of it.... and they do not do justice for its humungo size! This place is great. I'm so glad one of the people in our groups knew of this restaurant. 1. The decor is beautiful. 2. Our waiter was awesome. He recommended us great dishes. 3. The food was yummy. 4. Dessert was even better. 5. The Lychee Vodka soda was good-- good enough, without a hard kick to it! I'd highly recommend it!" ADDING onto this... goodaamn yes, nothing else compares. They say they have another restaurant in LA, under a different name. Anyone know? umm... the thing about this place though, there were a lot of "the same japanese foods" but it all had a slight twist to it. either a korean twist, ie. the bibinbap, or... the cowpiss (calpis) drink mix. the tempura was normal like always. i am so craving for it right now.
(5)Jocelyn L.
"Waffle honey dessert dealio is great. Hot pot rice is good too"
(3)Justin W.
Upon walking into here last night I was thinking this place is pretty cool. There is free parking behind the restaurant when we went at 11:45pm. We were immediately seated and began looking through the menu. They have a wide variety of items on the menu and the place is very trendy. I actually like the climate there, it is a bar and restaurant and the music that is playing is pretty much top 40. Pretty good stuff. Our server was extremely helpful and recommended and even told us a couple items that were not worth it. That is awesome when a server will be honest and suggest something better! We ordered some sushi items which were good, and I also ordered the gyoza which was alright. The best thing was their honey toast dessert. First of all that thing was huge plus it comes with two scoops of ice cream. The prices are reasonable for the food quality. I am sure that we will be back here again if we are in the area.
(4)Crystal N.
The decor at Shokudo is very contemporary asian. Very unique compared to most japanese restaurants. Prices are moderate. I recommend going with a group of friends and eat family style so you can try all their food. Quality of food is 3 out of 5. I ordered their ramen and it was a bit too salty. Their spicy yellowtail sushi roll was okay. The Lobster gratin was pretty good though! The happy hour menu is pretty cheap, everything being $3, but the choices are limited and random. Overall, the ambience and decor are nice! but food is okay. This restaurant seems to attract a younger crowd that aren't particular about quality.
(4)Ryan C.
Ambience This place had a really good vibe on a Saturday night. A lot of people who seemed to be in their twenties. I really like the design of the restraunt- it felt trendy. However, the urinal in the men's bathroom overflowed... 1 star Service Our waitress was pretty accomidating and patient. Especially since we took a while deciding hot to split the bill. 1 star Price It was pretty reasonable... we paid family style with 10 ppl and it came out to a little over $20. This included 2 bottles of sake, 2 desserts, 4 entrees. 1 star Food Quality I thought it was pretty good. Nothing special, just good. 1/2 star rounded up = 1 star
(4)Margie B.
My sister took our mainland visiting families to Shokudo for dessert, their famous honey toast, but we decided to eat there also and Im so glad we did. The quality of the food for the price is unbelievable. We ordered the homemade tofu salad and it was creamy tofu, crunchy won ton chips and delicious dressing. The popcorn fish was so tasty I made everyone taste it and they agreed. Everyone else around the table of 13 was wowing about the dishes they ordered. Then came the honey toasts-cinnamon, caramel, regular, chocolate-I think she ordered 5. Definitely a must taste experience. Toasted cubes of bread with the honey and flavors topped with ice cream. I think2 would have been enough but we managed to sample all of them and they were as good as people said. This is my favorite place to go back to the next time I come home.
(5)Megan U.
They have changed their rules and now check your ID if you want to sit at the bar. I used to sit there if I just wanted something quick to eat but I was told to leave the other day since I wasn't over 21.
(3)C S.
We had a fantastic waiter, Matt, who was very accommodating and patient, especially since for several of us in the party this was our first time at Shokudo. I had the garlic shrimp rice, and, as soon as I saw it coming to the table, nestled in a large box, I knew it was going to be good. It was very good, and everything that others at the table tasted good, too. It was a trendy place that we are looking forward to visiting again. Great, pleasant service, tasty food at reasonable prices...
(4)Josh P.
They are open pretty late and serve some funky Japanese dishes that are not bad. Service can be kinda hit or miss sometimes but Kelly does an amazing job so search her out if you can. They have a pretty good selection of libations so you can't really go wrong drink wise. Great place to hang out with some friends and enjoy some shared plates.
(3)n p.
I went here a while back with my family after walking by it several times on our way to Angelo Pietro. I can't say I was amazed or satisfied with anything. We all found the food to be mediocre and nothing special. I can't even remember what I ate, which to me is a sign of how lack luster is was. The decor is nice but that in itself isn't enough to make the food taste good. The best part of the meal was when the women seated at the table next to us started fighting over the bill.
(2)John L.
Came here in the afternoon on Friday, the place is deserted which is good since this is our first time, it'll give us a chance to look and snoop around. Got lost in the mall coz we kept thinking that this place is 'IN'side the mall which is not. Came only for one reason only 'honey toast' as i read it in a food blog. Unfortunately we just ate or else we would've ordered more of the food menu items as well instead of just eating the honey toast which was excellent, it was simple and delicious. Markus was our wait staff, he's HAWTTT!!! LOL "sup smiley face!"
(4)pirateninja a.
So one of the manager/staff contacted me offering me a compensation by asking me for a copy of a receipt. Unfortunately that was over a month ago, and my friend had taken the receipt. Being the nice friends that my friends are, they have probably had chucked the receipt. So I attempted to explain and sent an email. No reply. Yeah just because I don't have the receipt, it doesn't mean that I made this crap up. I put this review because I actually had a real CRAP experience. And the worse part is that we were charged for their crap service due to the gratitude party. Of course your staff doesn't give a shit they will get 20 percent no matter what. And the worse part is you charged everyone at the party TWENTY percent regardless if they were sitting on the table or not. Not even a plain ass sorry. Well arrogance will get you no where. I have always a bad taste in mouth every time I see shukudo. Crap service, crap food for super expensive prices.
(1)Larson V.
Shokudo is a restaurant conveniently located on Kapiolani at an entrance to Ala Moana Shopping Center. Sat at the bar with friends and sampled some dishes and threw back some drinks, although getting a drink proved to be more difficult than it should have been. More on this later. Anyway, tried the mochi cheese gratin, lobster dynamite roll, and the teriyaki chicken quesadilla. All were excellent and would highly recommend. In addition to the to the good food, Shokudo has a nice vibe. Casual, although not overly so, somewhat hip look with out trying too hard, and it's open till 2AM - always a good thing. Food service was pretty good - dishes came out pretty quickly after they were ordered. The only negative aspect of my visit was the bar service. Took forever to order a drink even though the bar wasn't very busy. The bartender (think her name was Jacie) seemed distracted and wasn't particularly into helping customers. When my friends and I were able to get her attention, it took her forever and a day to fill the order. Is a bottle of beer really that tough to make? Too bad because the rest of the visit was really very good. Anyway, aside from the slow bar service I did enjoy my experience. May give it another shot.
(3)Layla A.
Omg this is prob my favorite Japanese place on the Island. The food is just amazing. And I AM IN LOVE WITH THE DESSERT like u see on the pix. Sushi is also good.
(5)Patsy U.
Awesome lychee mojito, choose shochu vs rum!! Was apprehensive about the mochi cheese gratin but glad I had a taste and was pleasantly surprised at the flavor and texture. Got to order the lobster sushi roll and chicken karaage Don't waste your time on the crunchy spicy hamachi roll--can't even taste hamachi nor was it crunchy. Creative sushi pizza--pretty good pick. Calamari salad was so so--they need to season the calamari and not count on the dressing on the greens.
(4)Raul N.
Looking for a late dinner while staying in Honolulu for a conference, my friend and I decided to grab sushi at Shokudo. There was a little bit of a wait for a table for two, but oh man, it was well worth it! I don't know about you, but no sushi meal is complete without a cup of miso soup, so i started with that. It wasn't bad--a good mix of green onion and savory miso--but nothing special either. We ordered a couple rolls--a shrimp tempura roll and the lobster "dynamite" roll--to get our sushi fix. The shrimp tempura roll had a nice balance of shrimp and rice, a welcome change from so many other places that pack so much rice around the shrimp. I was a little surprised the roll literally only came with shrimp tempura--I'm used to sushi places back in California that tend to put avocado in every roll--but I have to say, I think it might actually have been better without the avocado. The lobster roll was only OK--it was slathered in sauce, which isn't one of my favorite sushi preparations. The flavors were nice, but a little rich for my tastes. Last, but not least, we ordered some pumpkin tempura. The batter had a sweet kick to it that added to the sweetness of the pumpkin perhaps just a tad too much? I also wish the pumpkin had been a little riper--some pieces were too crunchy, even after getting fried. But the dish was a nice twist on a classic sweet potato tempura and perfect for fall. But the real star of dinner was dessert. (And I'll be honest, it was the dessert reviews that sold me on trying Shokudo in the first place.) We ordered the honey toast, with cinnamon. The presentation alone impressed me--the sweet bread was lightly toasted and topped with cinnamon and ice cream in an elegant tower. The bread soaked up the honey drizzle and spicy cinnamon powder--one bite in and I was in heaven! This dessert is so simple, but still so sophisticated with the flavors and presentation. It's a huge beast of a dessert, and can easily be shared by two people, if not more. I'd say the honey toast alone is worth a trip to Shokudo--and I'm plotting how to make this dish myself back here in California. I've got to say, I was pretty impressed with the service at Shokudo. Even though it was crowded and it's clearly one of the trendy restaurants down in the Ala Moana area, the service was top-notch. Our server never missed a beat taking our order, bringing out food, refilling our waters, etc.--she clearly handled the pressure with grace. This was a welcome change from the trendy restaurants back here in California that all too often give you an extra side of attitude with your meal. And even though there were obviously diners waiting to get in, we never felt rushed during our meal. I doubt that I'll be back in Honolulu anytime soon, but I know if I am, I'll definitely be popping back into Shokudo.
(4)Tammy M.
Been going here for years. Love their food! Favorites include: - agedashi tofu - oxtail ramen - fresh tofu - sashimi salad - bread w/ice cream desert - assorted sushi rolls
(4)uilani c.
we went to shokudo to try the items offered on their lunch menu which we later found out is the same as their dinner menu. there are a lot of choices and there are some fancy "specialty" items that certainly caught my attention and so of course, they were ordered. we started with the mochi cheese gratin (redundant, but that is what they call it). the base of this is plain mochi (suffice to say it is a requirement to like mochi in order to even think you're going to enjoy this dish). it is covered with cheese and a shoyu & sweet sauce (like teriyaki but not so tangy) and baked until the cheese is just a wee bit crisp. mochi is one of my favorites so i enjoyed it. the flavor is all cheese and shoyu sweet sauce, of course, since plain mochi doesn't have much flavor. next up we had the sushi pizza. open faced california roll with chopped up bits of salmon and bay scallops, bits of chopped onion mixed in and baked until the nori underneath is crispy on the edges. nouveau. we liked it. oh yes, there is a tad bit of mayo mixed in with the seafood and onion topping. it's a fun dish and tasty, too. we also tried the hot stone bowl shrimp and garlic. WHOA! garlic and butter explosion! but what better to compliment shrimp?! this dish was buttery, savory, and oh so delicious! it looks like a small serving but once the ingredients are mixed together (your choice to have the server do it or do it yourself) it's really quite a heaping mound of food. the honey toast dessert is gargantuan! two slices of toast approximately 2.5" thick served with ice cream, honey, and whipped cream. off the charts awesome dessert, but it took four of us to eat it! the portions for the items we ordered were good sized and we left shokudo a lot fuller than we intended to be at the end our meal. the establishment is clean and the staff friendly and sharp...great service!
(4)Herenui T.
Great because they open late and have happy hours. The food is good if you select the right dish. The garlic shrimp is good, the sashimi sampler as well but don't miss out on the honey toast. The place is nice and my husband and I like the service...for all the times that we've gone there, we always got good friendly service.
(4)Mel E.
This place is packed and you also gotta find parking. The food though is TOTALLY worth it. Dear god, just eat everything!
(4)Kirk W.
Had the pork chop tonight. It was very juicy and the outside was crispy. Also has the sashimi sampler which is yellowtail, tuna and salmon. The yellowtail pieces were huge but the salmon was very thin. When you come here you have to get the garlic shrimp rice which comes in a hot stone bowl. Crispy rice and garlic shrimp. Very yummy. For desert of course is the honey toast. Make sure to save room as this is the highlight of the dinner.
(4)richard d.
Very modern and non traditional type of food at this restaurant. It is very trendy and innovative. I usually like going there for late night specials around the bar for food and drinks which are fairly reasonable. The food is ok and can sometimes be a little over the top with creativity. The atmosphere has a young more hip vibe. I guess it could make you feel younger and in the scene. There is also a variety of Japanese drinks anywhere from creative martinis' and mixed drinks to sake.
(4)Chan K.
i ate here once and it was a pleasant experience. great bibimbab, which was actually korean lol. and california rolls! thats always a plus! and they have this dessert thing...i forgot what it was called. but its like waffles with ice cream inside or something. that was bomb!
(4)Slyn C.
all i can say is HAPPPY HHHOOOUURR!
(4)Dana S.
This restaurant deserves more than the ratings previous reviewers have given it. Perhaps it's because I'm from SF, or it's because I appreciate a Japanese restaurant that doesn't serve just sushi and teriyaki, or maybe it's because we don't have restaurants like this in the bay area. The food was unique and quite tasty! If you had a trendy restaurant like Shokudo that serves yummy dishes in the Bay Area, people would be flocking to it, lining up and waiting for hours to get a seat there. Mouth-watering foods, creative dishes, yummy sweet drinks/cocktails, trendy decor, reasonable prices (cheap if you were in SF), friendly staff--come on people! 2 stars? 3 stars? Puh-lease! They deserve more than that. But what do I know? I'm only from SF...
(5)Jenna B.
Bimbimbap, sashimi, chicken teriyaki, sushi, ramen, beef steak sushi, and the honey toast were all delicious. Our server was very nice and patient with our group in explaining a lot of the dishes (my colleagues don't know much about asian cuisines so it was quite tedious trying to determine what to order). Our food was made fairly quickly, piping hot and fresh from the kitchen. I'd definitely go back!
(4)Happy M.
Good service, but the food was hit or miss. I really like their sushi, fresh tofu, mochi cheese gratin, and honey toast.
(4)Mizuho M.
Okay , so the atmosphere is cute, chic, modern...and the service? Not bad. But the food...it's not that great for the price you pay. In fact, the food is not memorable at all...the only dish I really like there is the tofu. It's fun to come here with friends because of the atmosphere, I think, but if you want quality food, this is NOT the place you want to go to. It's definitely NOT on my 'favorites' list.
(2)Alana R.
I love the interior design. Seating is comfy. Mochi gratin is my fave! Service is always friendly. I thought it was funny that the last time I went, all the cooks were wearing birthday hats on top their cook hats! lol
(4)E H.
I used to love this place!! Prices have sky-rocketed!!! Too bad.. I used to go a few times a month.. Not anymore!
(2)Angel L.
This place is alright but it's not the best! Other places I've tried is better than this one for sure!
(3)Kiko Y.
Ok fusion restaurant. Get the brick toast!!!!!!!! I got the spicy tuna pizza and it was alright. Parking sucks.
(4)stevo k.
yawn. the food. the service. the decor. the ambience. after hearing about this place from many people, i finally went. it was a saturday night for a group dinner, party of 8. we had reservations so there was only a 5 minute wait. they were busy, bar was semi full, all the tables were occupied, alot of background noise, aging modern minimalist design, semi open kitchen, and the ac apparently doesn't work that well with a full house (read other reviews on here). FOOD - i ordered the bibimbap. it was good, nothing great. served in a giant hot stone bowl in a giant box (poor waitstaff), it is mixed at the table for you. we ordered gyoza - good enough, a little greasy, not much of a crust, nothing great. everyone more or less ordered for themselves. SERVICE - our waitress was very nice. one member of our party had ordered miso salmon, which came to the table less than 5 minutes after our order had been taken. then all of the other dishes trickled to the table at different times. 2 members of our party had ordered the mixed appetizer plate (which was GIANT) which came when most all of us had already finished our meal. good enough service, nothing great. DECOR - modern, sleek, minimalist...aging. it was probably really cool a few years ago. i must say, the chairs are really comfortable. they have the kitchen somewhat open - you can see the chefs through a short window. it kind of looked like they were in a giant hot smoking fish tank. AMBIENCE - mix of locals and tourists. young and old. dressed up. dressed down. dates. birthdays. families. the background noise gets a little loud, hard to converse in groups. i'm not someone who walks into every restaurant expecting immaculate service, and fancy decor, etc. - just a good meal and a good experience. just like what i like to eat, where i like to eat is eclectic too. hole in the walls. fancy places. locally owned. franchises. whatever. i must say though, "meh. i've experienced better." food - ok. service - ok. decor - ok. ambience - ok. value - ok. yawn.
(2)Leanne M.
We met my uncle, cousin, and cousin's mom here for dinner on March 28th. It was my first time here and I was suprisingly impressed. We ordered the spicy tuna with crispy rice, lobster dynamite roll, tofu salad, garlic shrimp bowl, mochi cheese gratin, oxetail ramen, honey toast, and lychee shaved ice. I really enjoyed the spicy tuna with crispy rice, mochi cheese gratin, and the lychee shaved ice.
(5)Javier C.
Allright place with Allright food... There are many better and cheaper places...
(2)Kat C.
My beloved MamaSans found this ala moana gem. Garlic Marlin Seared on Hot Plate Freshly Made Tofu Tofu Salad Tuna Sashimi Albacore on Crispy Rice Mochi Cheese Gratin Honey Toast
(5)LooLicious L.
Pretty fun place to go, food is very good but the portions are on the smaller side for the price they charge. It's a good place to take out of town guests. If you're starving, go somewhere else.
(3)Shirley M.
I was excited to try out this place and I wasn't disappointed. We came here at the end of our vacation. I wish we showed up sooner so we can experience more than once. I was extremely happy with the service and the food quality. The homemade tofu was wonderful, my daughter couldn't stop eating it. We order then hot stone bowl with unagi ..yum... I wish I could have just gone around table to table to taste every dish on the menu (with a clean spoon each time..without saying) My stomach didn't have room to try the sweet bread w/ice cream dessert but it look so good. Would recommend it to anyone. Hey they even had a Oreo milkshake...oh they call it an Oreo smoothie...guess it sounds more healthily!
(5)Christina K.
Trendy, young demographic. It's pretty good, fake Japanese food. I still don't understand why unagi is priced so high when it has such a low market price. Sigh. Anyway, cool maki sushi selection, good salads, interesting drinks. Service is great, and atmosphere is very modern.
(3)Chris L.
Shokudo has a hip and modern atmosphere with a young crowd on weekends. It can get pretty noisy at times. The menu features various Asian dishes (though mostly Japanese) with a tweak to it. For instance, you can order spicy tuna sushi served on grilled rice; or be bim bap in a hot stone bowl. Most everything we've tried has been tasty and it is a fun place to hang out with friends. The only dish which has let us down so far has been the shave ice; it's too coarse, like a snow cone.
(4)Sarah F.
Cute place, nice layout. Really good vodka soda drinks. Food here is very reasonably prices, so it's fun to come here with large groups. You can rent out a private room for parties, too. Anyhow, what I love here is the mochi-cheese dish. Yummers. Also, I love the green tea ice cream dessert as well as the french toast bread dessert. Both are oh-so-good. To me this place is a fun place to come with friends, and have a little drink and eats before hitting the club!
(3)Stephanie L.
The waitress was very friendly until she asked to see my ID. I whipped out my California ID and the smile dropped and turned into a smirk. WTF?
(3)Tyrus L.
I'm not much for sushi, so I usually get the foot long katsu (which they burn 90% of the time).... the other day I tried the sukiyaki udon that was okay......
(3)Yen P.
this review is long overdue. i've been to shokudo a handful of times now and it's pretty consistent each time. the food is good, atmosphere is nice, good for groups with ample seating, location is great (next to the mall where there's plenty of parking), prices are fair, the only downfall is the service. the few times i was there, it's always a long wait for drinks at the bar, food to be delivered, and getting the waitstaff to get the bill. it's still a good place to go to grab good food in town, esp for their $3 late night happy hours. order the honey toast! i never thought sweet toast was this good til i tried shokudo's signature dessert.
(4)storm o.
I've been here when they first opened and I decided after that great dinner experience and delicious menu, I'd better go there again on my next trip to Honolulu. However, I was sadly disappointed on my recent trip there for lunch with my girlfriends. The menu changed and what I ordered long ago was no longer available. The service sucked. I think our server was new to the whole food service business. My meal came out first from the 6 of us who ordered a meal. Our appetizers also came out after our meals. My one girlfriend never ever got her miso soup. I will never suggest place to anyone again. Maybe I'll have to wait a couple of years before I can get myself to go there again.
(1)Al C.
It seems like a pretty hip place. The booths are small so we decided to sit at the bar. We started with the unagi rice in a stone pot. It come out hot and you are supposed to stir the rice so that it gets crispy from the hot stone pot. It was just okay. Then there was the hamachi in yuzu sauce. Excellent! The best part of the meal was their fresh made tofu. You get this bowl full of fresh made tofu and then they give you some sauce, sea salt, chives, and seaweed on the side. You add whatever you want to the tofu. We also had the baked mochi cheese. Nothing special there. All in all, the meal was a bit pricey. Its more of a date place. The food is okay. OH, almost forgot. One of my pet peeves about restaurants is running out of food. I think that if you are open you better have your full menu. I originally ordered a bowl of udon but was told that they were completely out of udon. How is that possible for a Japanese restaurant?
(3)Christine D.
This is a restaurant that my cousin and I primarily go to for desert more so than the regular entrees, you cannot beat their honey toast! We DO eat the regular food there, like the ramen choices and the sushi, but it's pretty standard compared to other Japanese eateries. It's a good place to go with friends and have a couple of good drinks- the pink lemonade vodka soda is the BEST!
(4)Mike U.
Really nice decor, nice lines all over the place. The food reminded me a little bit of Cheesecake factory:nice to look at, from a range of cuisines, but has a little bit of a upscale chain feel to it, and it was a little too sweet. Still, it was the only place I'd ever had beef tataki or tako kimchi. And they have plenty of super girly drinks for the ladies.
(4)Thomas L.
Cant believe I forgot to write this review, and its been about a year since I first visited Shokudo and Hawaii. You can take the review as it is w/ some fuzzy memories involved. Contrary to the other reviews we received good service. Waters were refilled, food brought out in a timely manner. One dish that stuck out was the spicy tuna roll. They also have an excellent dinner combination selection. Didnt get a chance to try their vodka sodas, but had Sapporos instead. Definitely excellent interior design. Overall I had an awesome visit.
(4)Jeff A.
Right now, I'm craving the unagi bowl, garlic marlin and tofu salad. It was my second visit to Shokudo for lunch and once again the food was great! It seems like their rice plates are all very good. This time, in addition to a few other plates, we shared the brown rice with fish and seaweed (seasonal dish) and we enjoyed that as well. (I like to let the rice cook a bit longer in the bowl for more flavor and texture) I think I really like this place because of the menu's simplicity (ramen shop style) that delivers unique and memorable flavors that has me craving for more. In addition, there is a nice emphasis on presentation and decor, which helps to make the experience that much more enjoyable. Time to share some plates!
(5)Dave C.
some good stuff. unagi don, selection of sake, and the honey toast i heard so much about. feels sort of chain-y but a hip, fun atmosphere.
(3)Daron C.
I went here with my wife, infant son, parents, sister, and brother-in-law and absolutely LOVED the creativity of the food, the decor, and the waitresses were absolutely wonderful as well. Definitely a "hip" place that I would go back to again. What I loved about this place was that it was family style and we got to share everything from the Sushi Pizza to the Garlic Ahi to the stone bowls. A great experience!
(5)Rob C.
Not your typical Japanese menu. Some fusion elements from other cuisines, but I wasn't impressed. I did like the decor. Overall, seems more of a trendy place to take people out. Reasonably priced for the location/ambience.
(3)Andrea L.
toasted bread + honey + ice cream = yummy goodness
(4)Pam L.
Very nice ambience, decorated fancy, almost has a lounge like feel to it, especially in the tiered seating in the back. Their food is alright, definitely overpriced for what you get. Gyoza, sashimi, chicken karaage, honey toast--they're alright; enjoed their bibimbap though my friend ordered the same and they overcooked/burnt the rice. They stay open late, always eye candy, and clean, nice place to hang out. Get the grape calpico float if you like fruity type of cocktail drink.
(3)Melissa B.
This place is over-rated. The ambience is really cool, great interior design, awesome service. But the food could be better. The portions are so small, and not so great, and you will leave this place still hungry. Ultimately, it's a cool hangout, but don't go here if you expect great Japanese food.
(2)Fanny W.
came for lunch for the 1st time. ordered the deluxe lunch plate @18.95 and it was good, but I expected more sashimi though.
(4)Cindy J.
A "must do" on Oahu. The menu is so unique. Nothing that I've found in the Bay Area. We (group of 6) ate so much that it hurt. Can't wait to go back and try the other half of the menu.
(5)Alton Y.
This place is really friggin' good! We were on Oahu just for 4 days or so and went to this place twice for dinner! Well, one of the reasons for this is because we knew that after leaving, we wouldn't be able to revisit it very easily. Of the two times we were there, we usually started with the premium Sake...don't remember the exact name of it - it was one of the Junmais - the premium is the sweeter one though they're both good. We've had the Sushi Pizza, which was pretty original and not bad. I'd prefer crispy seaweed, but it was still good. Unagi and Rice - the hot plate was very good - should wait until the rice gets harder before serving - rice from the bottom of the bowl is excellent. Yukari French Fries - taste like regular fries, but they've got a little twist - a little different taste that makes it just a little value add over some of the other places. The Rock Shrimp - it was good, but I didn't find it was that good; better than most fried shrimps as the quality of the shrimp wasn't too bad - you know how you can get fried shrimp from some places and they give you mostly batter - not this place. The Gyoza - awesome quality! Not too big, tasted good. Albacore Tuna Carpaccio - it was seared and was a little weird for me since I'm used to having it raw, but it was definitely good. Chicken Karaage with Spicy Tartar Sauce - the chicken was good; I didn't need the tartar sauce. :) It's optional. Stir-Fried Omelet Noodle - eh ... friends thought it was really good. I thought it was okay - not something that I would have again because the tangy taste was a little weird for me. Albacore Tuna on Crispy Rice - definitely original, definitely good - must try. Beef Tataki with Balsamic Sushi - I liked the Tuna better, but this wasn't bad - another original. For dessert, we tried the Chocolate and Cinnamon Honey Toasts and the baked banana. The honey toast is something that everyone gets. The baked banana was alright; tastes like your typical pan fried banana you can get at other places. Overall, A++ - I'll definitely go back when I visit Hawaii again!
(5)calivanilla c.
i liked the interior design & the service was very friendly. delicious & filling mochi cheese, karaage chicken, rainbow roll, and bread dessert. great place for late night eats.
(4)Teresa W.
Holy cow ....all I have to say is, save room for dessert....the HONEY TOAST with ice cream is the BOMB!!!!! It's such a simple idea, yet it tastes soooo good!
(4)Jennifer L.
We were recommended by a friend but didn't think it was very special. It's basically a well designed restaurant w/ a good vibe but the food was bleh. We ordered the shoyu ramen and garlic tuna. They bring out a plate w/ 6 or so pieces of tuna sashimi w/ a thinly sliced piece of garlic on top on a bed of diced onion. They also bring a small hot stone plate on which you're supposed to sear your own tuna. The problem was that the plate isn't really hot enough to sear, but it just kinda cooks the tuna. They serve that w/ a ponzu dipping sauce. Okay... it was alright, but it wasn't that great. The ramen was kind of small and really oily. We weren't full so we ordered the spicy tuna on crispy rice, which was also mediocre. While the tuna was spicy, the crispy rice wasn't very crispy. It was kind of oily and soft/mushy on the inside. Eh. Service was also slow so we had big gaps in between eating each item so we decided to also get dessert (I know, we're pigs!). So we got the original honey toast, which it seemed that everyone and their momma was ordering! It's basically two HUGE slices of bread that they cut up and stuff in the middle. They top that w/ 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream and drizzle all that w/ some honey. That was pretty good. Less sweet than the Taiwanese style. Overall, the meal was less than mediocre and the prices weren't worth it. Bleh.
(2)warren k.
really clean chic modern decor but the food is ok~ its a modern fun version of japanese food~ we had the sushi pizza, green tea shaved ice & spicy tuna~ they were all pretty decent but nothing to die for~! a good place to have tried once & take friends/family but not a place i would go back to...
(3)Waynele Y.
Oh my goodness. This place is seriously over-rated. It's like the PF Chang's for Japanese food. While the food is good, it's nothing spectacular considering what they charge for it. You're really paying for ambiance here, not the quality of food. If you want to go somewhere nice, but don't care about eating great food, then come here. If you're looking for amazing Japanese food, go somewhere else.
(3)John W.
Went last year in the fall while vacationing in Hawaii at the recommendation of the GF's friend. Glad that I took her recommendation and went on two different occasions for dinner. Really enjoyed the layout and atmosphere. Went twice and sat at the booth on the first visit and at the bar on the second visit. Enjoyed the kimchi and beef cold noodle soup, the grape and passion fruit calpico, and the honey toast dessert. Also ordered the salad and some rolls which were ok. Nice collection of drinks, desserts, and food. The food is not pricey and I recommend ordering different types of food and sharing with your friends. It's a young and lively crowd with friendly waiters, waitresses and bartenders, so flirt, drink up, and be merry. Highly recommend going with a group of friends although you can have a good time with just two people. I was glad to know that they had another restaurant in Los Angeles called Tokyo Table. If I return to Honolulu I will definitely be frequenting Shokudo again.
(4)Marcy M.
I've passed by this place so many times and thought to myself, "Hmm, looks interesting." So, for my grandma's birthday, my uncle made reservations (which you totally don't need when you go at 5pm on a Tuesday!). He'd been there several times and said it would be child-friendly (read "noisy enough to camouflage yelling toddlers" which it was). I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. It is a good place to go with a large-ish group of people, because most of the dishes are made to share (and you get to try more things that way-- think upscale izakaya, although the food isn't authentic Japanese, but that's not what I think they're going for anyway...). Because of the crowd I went with, we didn't order any nabes, which looked super ono. (Most of the other tables of people there at the time had them...) Also, the tofu machine was broken that day, so no fresh tofu-- boo! That said, I would go back to try these items. Of the items that we did order, I'd go back for were the albacore on crispy rice, and the garlic marlin. (It comes like a 'do it yourself' tataki, so you can make it as rare as you like.) No, the fish isn't amazing quality, but for the amount you get and the price, it's about what you'd expect. The bibimbop and unagi rice were ok, too. (I'm a fan of rice dishes that come in cast iron bowls, though, so I'm biased...but the unagi rice was a little rich for me.) I thought the champon broth was too salty, but I've never had champon outside of Japan, and that was a while back. Maybe my tastebuds have changed. The calamari salad was fine, and everybody enjoyed the agedashidofu. Ditto for edamame (but it's hard to mess up edamame). The tataki kyuri (lightly pickled cucumber) had some big fans at our table; I thought it was ok. We shared two desserts-- honey toast and the uji kintoki kakigori (green tea shave ice). I would never have ordered the honey toast on my own, but I tell you, days later, I'm thinking about how I can make it at home... It's two 3" slices of Japanese bread (like the kind at St. Germain's in Honolulu or Nijiya on the mainland), grilled and drizzled with honey. Totally simple and brilliant. No, you can't eat a whole lot at one sitting; in fact our waiter told us to order one for the whole table, not two like we were going to-- he was so right-- we still had leftovers. The service was great-- efficient, cheerful and prompt. (But again, we went at an offpeak time...) Extensive drink menu (hiyazake, and lots of nonalcoholic options, too-- something for everyone). Nice ambiance-- vaulted ceilings, light wood and spacious. Family friendly (at least if you go before your toddler's bedtime!) and more American-sized portions. At the end, they even gave us a bunch of free drink coupons for our next visit! Free parking and lots of it out in the parking structure in the back. (Note: it is not stroller/wheelchair friendly, so drop off folks with wheels on the side before you park!)
(4)Stan S.
went there for lunch. it was ok. for 4 people the lunch bill was about $60 not including tips. This was for their lunch specials. the food wasn't outstanding but it was a fun atmosphere. would like to try the late night specials.
(3)Ruth D.
Ok, so I had a horrible craving for their tofu salad so I went with my precious angel, bfren, and his mom. My bfren's mom ordered some California roll since she arrived there first. Ummm.... when the hell did California rolls start having lettuce in them? I thought it was avocado, crab, cucumber, rice, nori, and tobiko? WTF? Yeah then in my salad there was barely any freakin greens? My bfren ordered gyoza and it tasted kinda funny..... Oh and the ramen is a joke. The thing that they call char siu is not char siu. It is some weird fat substance. What happened!?!?! Ever since they changed their menus the food sucks! That's too bad..... ------First Review--------------------------------------------Â---------------------------- I love love love their TOFU!!! It's freshly made there and the best way to go is by its self all warm or the tofu salad. It's definitely a must when I go there. I'm sad to say they changed up the menu for a healthier way to go and changed the teriyaki chicken it's grilled now... :( And the sauce is different.... That was like one of the very few things my bfren would eat....Ah and the toast with honey and ice cream.yummy..... i prefer the one with cinnamon and sugar. I used to have this treat when I would eat a afternoon snack at a cafe in Japan. sigh.....
(1)Clara K.
this is a hip, cool place to meet friends for drinks or enjoy modern japanese cuisine. we were all impressed by the decor, and we really enjoyed the service from both the bartenders and our server. the food was less impressive but still solid, especially the agedashi tofu and the albacore on crispy rice. i'd say skip the bibimbap in the stone bowl -- you can get a better version for cheaper at a korean restaurant. we also got a sashimi plate and thought it was very fresh. but the showstopper here is the honey toast dessert. i ordered the cinnamon version and it was AMAZING. it consists of two huge, thick slices of white bread, with the innards cut into cubes. the whole thing is toasted with butter, then drizzled with honey and topped with generous amounts of cinnamon sugar. it was heavenly. i took it home because i couldn't finish it, and it was still delicious reheated the next day. this is a MUST try when you go to shokudo!
(4)M V.
don't remember the food... walked by the place many times, finally went in one night, and I'm giving 3 stars for the decor... I guess, this time, it's style over substance.
(3)Aaron I.
fresh tofu, mmmmmmmmm!
(4)H T.
we came here for lunch on my last trip to hawaii. this place has a HUGE variety of great dishes and drinks. all of the vodka soda drinks are delicious and made w/ tropical fruit juices. the daikon salad and buttered corn are so good. i had seared tuna on sushi rice for my entree, which i think was a special of the day, and it was really good.
(5)holly b.
one star for a pretty/chic interior. the second star for the honeytoast. everything else is mediocre
(2)Layla F.
Food: 4 Stars I haven't actually tried everything off of the menu, but I've tried quite a few things. -Unagi Rice--it's delicious. Lots of flavor, but, for $11.45, the portion isn't that great. -Garlic Shrimp Rice--one of my favorite things. It's good, but, again, the portions aren't the best. The crispy rice that forms on the bowl is delicious. It has a good combination of flavors. -Sushi Pizza--my absolute favorite thing to eat at Shokudo. The pickled Jalapeños give a good kick. I'm a fan of the presentation, but it makes it difficult to eat. $14.45 is borderline worth it for this one, but I can splurge. -Salmon Rice--it's alright. Nothing too special. Much like the other rice bowls, the theatrics of mixing the food in the bowl is exciting especially when you look forward to eating the entree. -Housemade Tofu--I've never really tried Housemade tofu anywhere else, but I was thoroughly impressed. -Cookies and Cream Honey Toast--on a special occasion, this is delicious. It's a mouthful of deliciousness. Honey toast, overall, is pretty good. I'm not a HUGE fan. It's nothing too outstanding, but it's a good dessert, so how can I complain? -Original Honey Toast--pretty much same as above. I like it. -Chicken Katsu--it's good and juicy. For a foot long of chicken katsu, I'll always be a happy camper. -Shrimp Tempura--5 pieces for $8.45. That's not too bad. The pieces are kinda small, but oh well. -Banana Flambé--it's all about presentation, and the flambé's presentation is spot-on. My family likes ordering this because it's exciting to watch. The taste is good, too. I much prefer honey toast, but it's good. Parking: 3 Stars The structure has super tight parking stalls. There aren't a ton of stalls, but it'll do. Price: 3.5 The prices are reasonable. Borderline not worth it for some items, but, for most, you get what you pay for. Service: 4 Their service isn't necessarily consistent. Some days I get stellar servers and some days I don't. I've waited a few times for over 25 minutes to get my honey toast, so that's something. It's all good when I get acknowledged, but sometimes I don't. I came in for my birthday and the server that night was really nice. I also give Shokudo props because I'm sure there are a lot of times where big parties ask for split bills, which must be such a hassle. Overall, you should try this place out. It's good for late nights. The atmosphere is great, so for large parties, this place is the way to go. The decor is nice. It's a busy place, but that makes the experience all the more exciting. It's perfect for people of all ages, so check it out!
(4)Keisha P.
I've been to this place for many birthday celebrations, and I always have fun. I don't know whether its the great company, sushi, drink specials or fun decor. They have amazing happy hour as well! Going early is a great plus because you can beat the rush, wait and get great deals on good food and drinks. They are known for their HoneyToast dessert! YOU MUST TRY THIS! It is amaaazzziiiing! They have different ice cream to throw on top, but we always stick to the classic vanilla. Parking right next door up the ramp of Ala Moana. Otherwise, park at Ala Moana bottom level and walk right over.
(4)Cassie B.
I have been frequenting this restaurant for a while, and I can't believe that I haven't written a review as of yet. Sorry Yelp community! Here it goes... F O O D: I think the food is pretty good. It isn't the best Japanese fusion I've ever had, but it's good enough to be enjoyable for a night out with the girls, with the boys, with your lover, or with your family. I think some of the dishes are incredibly delicious, but I think some of the others are only mediocre or overrated. -Sushi Recommendations: Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice and Balsamic Beef Tataki Sushi These two sushi dishes are INCREDIBLE. The spicy tuna crispy rice is addicting! The rice and the tuna components compliment each other amazingly well! Good amount of heat without being too overpowering. If you don't like spicy, I don't recommend getting this though; also, take of the jalapeno piece if you like spicy but not "too much." The balsamic beef sushi is also great. Although not as addicting as the spicy tuna crispy rice (IMO), the dish is such a creative twist on sushi and the flavors are incredible. - Pupu /Salad/Entree Recommendations: Yukari French Fries, Fresh Homemade Tofu (pupu), "Foot-long" Chicken Katsu, Homemade Tofu Salad, and Garlic Rib Eye Steak The fresh-made tofu here is PHENOMENAL. I actually think this is my favorite place to get tofu! You get so much, both in the pupu version and in the salad. The tofu is so soft and silky and creamy and OMG. GET THE TOFU. It's a dream to eat. The french fries and the chicken katsu are typical but delicious. If you want consistent, good-ole' pupus, get them! Lastly, the garlic rib eye steak is delicious. I always feel that it's cooked to my specifications, and it is FULL OF FLAVOR. - Noodle/Ishiyaki/Rice Recommendations: Sukiyaki Bi Bim Bap The Sukiyaki Bi Bim Bap is incredible! It is so full of flavor! I love it. GET IT. The rice gets lightly crisp in the hot pot and the robust mix of flavors is like a party in your mouth! - Dessert: Honey Toast. I am a little torn about this dish. I LOVE it, but I also know I could recreate it at home for a much lower price. It's ice cream, thick cut bread, and honey. That's it. In fact, at home, I could customize it to my taste a little bit more. Oh well. I still pay for it because it's so tastttyyyyy and it's fun to eat with friends. Still...I feel cheated out of my money when I eat this sometimes. A M B I A N C E: The ambiance is what gives this place a 4-star rating, at least in my book. The decor is beautiful! The lighting is dim (and flattering), almost candlelight-ish. I also love the lighting fixtures and seating arrangements, because they are unconventional and also beautiful to look at. It's great for date night because the lighting can give this place a romantic atmosphere! I also think the decor gives this place a very classy touch. S E R V I C E: Nothing spectacular but good! The receptionists always great us when we walk in, and the servers seem generally happy to be there! :) O V E R A L L: I like this place, esp during lunch hours (cheaper!). I think it can be a little overpriced for what you get, but I am in LOVE with some of the dishes so I keep coming back! I suggest you try it and see for yourself!
(4)Tabatha P.
I love the sushi here! Nice place to relax and have a pitcher and raw fish. The ingredients taste really fresh, even my son enjoys the sushi here. I wish they had more deals and specials. The environment is clean and decorative, very classy. The location is convenient. The crunchy shrimp roll and Sakura blossom are delicious, so full of flavor. They should have more sushi options like these!
(4)Lofa L.
So what happens when your friends from LA want to eat late night but don't want to go to Zippy's and your other friend that moved to LA from HI tells you to take them to Shokudo? You go to Shokudo right? We did. And I regret doing so. So not knowing better I thought there was late night discounts after 10:30 but they don't do that on a Saturday night-understandable. Saturday is busiest nights.......USUALLY. However we show up at 11:00P and its empty. I sat an entire party of 10 people instantly. Things are going ok and I'm waiting to eat honey toast so I had high hopes, too bad they get smashed. First I ordered french fries as an appetizer. The waiter left and returns to take our real orders and says your fries are just coming out of the fryer. Cool. We order. Fries eventually arrive, but after one of the entrees hits the table first. And I ordered the fries before we were even handed a menu. Then the fries were cold and soggy. I told the waiter and he took back the fries and they brought hot crispy fries that were really good. Then our orders start to arrive......except for everyone who ordered ramen. Now I assume the broth is already ready if its simmering all day and the noodles take but a few minutes to cook but how does it take 45 minutes for a bowl of ramen? It did. My friends didn't enjoy the large strips of fat that were suppose to be char siu and they overcooked the noodles and were extremely soft. Then midway through eating my quesadilla (yeah I ordered it I like it here) I realize its missing the dipping sauce (this isn't a big issue but when the kitchen drops the ball so many times it just adds up to ruining the experience). Most of my friends decided it wasn't worth the effort to finish eating their Tokyo ramen and just ate the honey toast that shortly arrived after or just went outside to smoke instead of eating. I've never heard people say they rather smoke than eat crappy ramen. AND IT HAPPENED! Now the waiter was super nice and I felt really bad for him but the kitchen sucked balls this night. I have never been so embarrassed about talking about the good food and the restaurant not delivering. My local homies all said Shokudo was overrated before we even arrived but it made me sad. Honey toast is still dope here and I think I might even come back just for that, but next time I'll come by myself without guests.
(2)Cheryl S.
Honey toast honey toast honey toast!! Ok you must save room for the grand finale! The tofu salad is good, chicken katsu is yummers, the tempura kabocha was surprisingly good, sushi pizza is a must, gyoza was ok... The service was nice but the food took a while to come out not sure why ours was so slow since we had preordered for our party. But it was slow and I would have preferred everything to be coming out without too much of a break in between. The best part is always eating honey toast. So don't forget that!!!
(4)Mona G.
Had a horrible experience. Waited over an hour for all of our food. Wanted to order the famous honey toast but didn't want to risk waiting another hour. We left still hungry, so we decided to grab something at another place.
(1)T K.
Went there on 12/20 and the service was AWFUL! I've had reservations about coming back ... and I shouldn't have. When you have to wait over 90 minutes to get your food ... its UNACCEPTABLE! I LITTERALLY LOST MY APPETITE waiting for my hubby's order to FINALLY arrive. People came after us and left several times over before everyone in my party got their food. Not so bad if the waiter asked me if everyone got their food ... I gave him the "are you seriously asking me this" look. People in our party were DONE before all the food came ... mind you, we had PRE-ORDERED our food prior. They seriously need to train their servers better and learn how to push out their orders in a more timely fashion. What is the purpose of having pupus if everything gets DUMPED on the table at the same time?? Speaking of dumping ... it's the first Japanese restaurant where they just dump the food on the plates and serve it in that manner. Is there no sense of pride in workmanship? Talked to the Asst. Manager and that was a joke ... talking to the Manager was a bigger joke! NEVER GOING BACK THERE AGAIN!
(1)Blanca C.
First Impressions: This was a Perfect Dinner All around. My husband made the reservations on Feb 1st, yes! If you want to eat here on the busiest day of all - Valentines - you must. We were seated right away and no waiting in line. The hostess greeted us and waiter was at the table before we even got there. The Staff & Service We started the evening with a shaketine, The Beloved One. OMG, it was right on point. Strawberries delight, the only problem was that I shared with my husband so I needed another one. Price was good, only $8 dollars. Staff was very helpful with menu and offered to us their specials. We like to take risk so we went for the appetizers. WE ordered Unagi, my husband and I shared this plate since it was a descent size. It was as visually delicious as it tasted. We didn't leave a grain of rice on the bowl. For the main dish we wanted the Dynamite Lobster rolls. We obliterated this in a matter of seconds along with one more shaketine. The lobster was delightful and the sauces screamed bring me more. To finalize our Valentines experience, we toss between the Cinnamon Honey Toast and the Banana Flambé. I argued my way into my husband's heart and requested the flambé. We ended up waiting 10 minutes for it as the kitchen was backup, nevertheless, the waiter advised us this would be the case for dessert. Once it arrived, it was for sure the highlight of our night. The flames that poured out as the waiter set it on fire made the whole waiting time well worth it. Price/Setting This is a great value. My husband and I got a wonderful experience and top-notch food for only 60 bucks. I have zero complains other than we need to come more often
(5)Samantha L.
YUMMMY! Ive gone here atleast 5 times now. I love their sushi pizza, chicken katsu, and the mochi cheese! I love their seating and decorations. Its definitely a great place to go for all occasions! Their service is fabulous. I have yet to have a bad waiter. They are well known for their honey toast but i suggest bring atleast 4 people to finish it! And dont forget to make a reservation! They get pretty busy sometimes!
(4)Jen M.
This restaurant could use some updating, but it was clean and, while the seats had cracks in the vinyl, the ambience was nice. It was kind of loud in the dining area. The waitstaff here is quite professional and personable! Genuine smiles and very prompt service. Our gyoza was delivered within 5-7 minutes of ordering. The gyoza was greasier than I would have liked, the sauce was too spicy to enjoy, and it seemed as if it was not freshly made. The lobster dynamite was our next dinner item. It came out a few minutes after the gyoza (quick), was piping hot, and tasted predominantly of balsamic and onion (less than appealing for me as this was a cream-based dish and I was anticipating a heartier flavor instead of the sweet). Our final menu item was the new Mermaid sushi roll. The presentation was nice, but I was not impressed with the quality of the shrimp.
(2)Alex T.
I've been dining here regularly for about 4 years now, and while I love sitting at the bar, it was my most recent dine in being served by REO that prompted this review. Everything my girlfriend and I ordered tasted great and didn't take long. Especially love their newer sushi rolls like the MERMAID roll and VOLCANO roll. Waaaayyy bigger than the sushi rolls at Doraku or any competitor at the same price. Reo kept our waters full and was talkative and friendly the whole night. Even when other busboys would drop our food off, they were always smiling and friendly; another reason I love coming back here. PROS: -GREAT WAIT STAFF -FOOD IS DELICIOUS AND REASONABLY PRICED -A LOT OF SPECIALTY DRINKS TO CHOOSE FROM -HONEY TOAST -THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PARKING AREA AND VALIDATE CONS: -WAIT TIMES CAN GET LONG ESPECIALLY ON WEEKENDS (we always try to make reservations)
(5)Chelsy P.
Food is delicious, service is cool. I always come here and love it, but I came here about a week ago with my boyfriend and it was so far so good. Sat at our table and got our waters but there was something black inside, resembling mildew. It was a simple problem so we asked for different waters and they kindly got us new waters. But when we got them it had the same problem. We told them again and for the third time there was still something in our waters. (We drink a lot of water) also the servers started coming to our tables less often (I guess they were getting annoyed). We had no waters throughout our whole meal and they didn't even question that our waters were not touched. But 3 stats for the food, just next time we'll bring our own water.
(3)Alan W.
Terrible host Sean. Takes 5 minutes to seat us on a half empty restaurant. Still unsure of where to seat us when arrive at the table. Didn't even acknowledge that it was still very dirty. Terrible! Waitress keep forgetting our order and asked us to repeat twice after she walked away. Where is the order pad? Don't expect much. Service totally gone downhill.
(1)Lianne S.
Okay, I went to Shokudo not long ago and it redeemed itself from my original review! HONEY TOAST FOR THE WIN!!! Mochi cheese used to be my favorite but they are either making it different now or my taste buds have changed because I don't like it anymore.That's okay because there were several other yummy options. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in Hawaii.
(4)Lisa K.
On my most recent visit, the GM Alden took an otherwise great visit and made it absolutely fantastic, with his glowing personality and accommodating sense of hospitality. Kudos to him and a well-trained staff who are attentive, friendly and service-oriented. I've never had a bad experience at Shokudo, and what makes each dining experience so positive is in large part to the food. It's not your standard Japanese fare exactly, and the creativity makes it stand apart. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the sushi or noodle dishes, and the sticky, chewy, gooey mochi cheese gratin is the stuff of dreams, if not the stuff of good digestion. Don't forget the honey toast. When in my life I ever would have considered "toast" something for dessert, I don't know, but this stuff is legendary. I abandoned my usual fallbacks for cookies 'n cream on my last visit, and boy was I glad I did. It's not too sweet; it's perfect. The only thing *not* perfect about Shokudo can be the wait times. But now that they have their awesome outdoor seating (woo hoo! I love eating outside!), hopefully that should help.
(5)Capp S.
I want to give Thanks first and foremost to the Waiter named Davis for the awesome experience my wife and I had on 1/27/15. This guy is a Leader by example and hope the manager gave the recognition he's well deserved..!! I cannot speak for the other waiters here, but if you plan on visiting this restaurant in the near future, I'd ask management specifically to have Davis wait on your table. This is the second time I've visited this restaurant and again had a great experience. Happy we visited in the off season this time, it can be a long wait during summer. I'm big fan of their sashimi selection and cannot beat the price for the quality they offer. I'm from San Francisco and I pay twice the price for maguro that doesn't meet the quality they offer. As for the reviews that give 3 stars, finding decent customer service these days is almost nonexistent. (9 times of 10) I recieve shitty service around the globe. Thank God for the waiter Davis and few waiters I can think of that save restaurants from poor reviews. Thanks to management for hiring the New sushi chef and changing the menu. Looking forward to visiting again soon..
(5)Danah A.
The wait time here is like in the doctors office... long and agonizing. To be honest, this place is one of those restaurants that you dread to go too but you still find yourself going back. Maybe I'll call for a reservation next time... Our server was quick and attentive, but we got our honey toast before our sushi did, so we had dessert first. It was nice for our server to apologize about the wait time though! They also have happy hour which has $3, $4, and $5 menu. Piece of advice, order your honey toast early when dining, those ones take awhile to come out. I guess we ordered it too early because we got our dessert before our main dish!!
(4)Dyan K.
I know...Shokudo has been open since 2005 and this was my first time here. I've seen the countless facebook/instagram posts of honey toast so many times that I get tired of looking at it. Also, I don't normally desire to eat at a restaurant with a Japanese name because I don't eat Japanese food (with the exception of sushi.) However, I was pleasantly surprised at their selection of food. For some reason, I was under the impression that this place only served native Japanese food. Boy, was I wrong. I ordered a teriyaki chicken quesadilla, a spicy ahi roll, ahi sashimi and hamachi, and this lobster dip that came with crusty bread. All very good! Their menu is pretty extensive and from what I heard, most of it is very tasty and satisfying. And of course for dessert, I had to try the infamous honey toast. I got it with strawberry puree on top. Maybe because every single person on this island over hypes the honey toast, I wasn't that impressed by it. I mean, it is good...but really it's just bread with honey and ice cream. Nothing too spectacular or complicated. But nonetheless, satisfyingly sweet and very filling for a dessert. Reservations are a must, especially if you have a group of people. I always see large crowds hanging outside on weekend nights. I came with a group of 10 and we were seated on time with our reservation. The service was good (for a crowded restaurant) and our waiter was very friendly and easy to talk to. They even had a live singer performing in the outdoor area. Parking was easy, as they have a parking structure which is located next to Nordstrom Ala Moana. You could even park at Ala Moana and walk to Shokudo. The decor of the restaurant is fairly modern and clean, and surprisingly festive! We ate here in February, so everything was red with hearts for Valentine's Day. Overall, Shokudo was a good experience for me and I would eat here again.
(4)Jen K.
Been here a few times. Sometimes service isn't the greatest, but the most recent time has been good.
(4)Sam F.
I love this place despite it's reputation for bad service I had a really good waitress name BJ. A refreshing smile and good recommendation made our time here worth it. The melon soda float was delicious and so was the bibimbap! You have to try it before you can truly judge it.
(5)Mo G.
Quick stop for honey toast before calling it a night. When we arrived we were seated right away. The waitress was really friendly (high energy). We ordered a honey toast and an oreo milkshake. The food came out pretty fast after we ordered and they separated the toast (for two) like I had requested. The toast was good with the perfect amount of honey. Had I not been so full from eating dinner I probably would have eaten the whole thing.. including the outer cube. Brotha Aaron had the shake. It must've been good.. He drank it up :) Only issue I had was it took a bit for the check to arrive.
(4)Arnold A.
Tonight's visit to Shokudo was a small get together with some friends. This leads me to my first compliment, which is that the restaurant has a nice ambiance to it that is great for friends to just kick back and enjoy each other's company. Although there were other tables around us, it didn't seem so because we could not hear their conversations and vice-versa. One con I noticed was on the light fixtures, I noticed a lot of dust, and when I hit it while trying to stand up, I could see some dust that fell onto our table. Luckily our food wasn't there yet so it didn't really bother me. Our waitress was really awesome. I don't normally mention names but she was good enough to get a shoutout. Kylie was really friendly and welcoming during our visit. She was on it with getting what we needed, refilling our waters before we had to ask, and just making it an enjoyable visit. She talked story with us, which is one thing I always look for when critiquing waitresses. For my meal, I had simple snack food, as I wasn't as hungry as my friends. I got the fries and edamame. The fries were good, I love the sprinkling of what looks like nori or something as it added a more subtle saltiness to the fries compared to regular salt. Of course the edamame was a simply yet delicious snack food to get full from. Steamed edamame is the best. For dessert, my three friends and I shared a cinnamon honey toast. Luckily we did because we got full from it pretty fast! After a few pics for Instagram, we dug in and the bread helped to take away from the sweetness of the honey and ice cream, which I favored because I don't like it being too sweet. Overall, I enjoyed the experience, as is most of my visits to Shokudo!
(4)R T.
I highly recommend coming here! Excellent service, everyone was very attentive. Alex was our server, and had great recommendations. Specials were awesome & decent priced. All dishes we had were very flavorful & appetizing! Pictures to follow :P You won't be disappointed!
(5)Liza M.
Seriously, this restaurant is not that great. Many people come here for the famous honey toast dish, which is a towering two piece thick toasts of yummy goodness. When I came with my friends and bf two years ago, we all shared the honey toast because it was a lot for just two people. I had the bimbimbap, which costed over 12 dollars. There was nothing special about the dish. I tasted better korean food than this. You are better off going somewhere to eat for dinner. This restaurant is too much of a fad. There are so other restaurants to pick from in town. It's super loud in here too.
(2)Lucia K.
Shokudo has always been one of my favorite restaurants to eat at. I recently reserved one of their rooms for my best friend's birthday party and everything was perfect! It was a really nice setting, the food was delicious as always. Although i've eaten at Shokudo many times, I was inspired to write this post because we experienced outstanding customer service that evening. Mark was our server and he provided us with excellent customer service and was really good at checking up on us even though we were a rather big party. Thanks so much Mark you definitely made it a pleasant birthday dinner and we all remember you by name! I highly recommend Shokudo for any occasion.
(5)Joan Michelle P.
I love this place, seriously. I always come here when my parents ask "where do you guys wanna eat dinner at?" (Sorry dad & mom, their food is a little pricey but I want it.. But I don't wanna pay, lol) Their wait is ALWAYS long, so I suggest to call for reservations, unless you're fine waiting for 30++ minutes. Interior is nice, very modern-ish. I mean, hey, I'm no interior designer & I mean, what do I know about that fancy stuff. Bottom line is, it's not dirty, ample seating & I personally just like their interior. It does get busy / hectic / loud during peak hours. Service is good. I mean, even when it's very busy, servers always checked on us. Their male waiters aren't too bad either, I think they're attractive as well, which is a plus, lol. They know their stuff, they're always showing how they just wanna serve you. good job. However, their hostess, depending on who it is, are just sorta dead sometimes. It's like, they don't wanna be there. Food: pricey but delicious. I love their sushi pizza! Always recommend the honey toast, personal fave: cinnamon. On birthdays, they give a tempura bread pudding instead of their single serving of honey toast. Their sushi is really yummy, the fish isn't old or gross or anything. Udon bowls aren't too salty and they're flavorful. My sisters love their teriyaki chicken, just not the wasabi mash potato so they get rice instead. Also, I love their lobster dynamite! I just wish there were more lobster pieces in there.
(4)Kaiulani K.
Went again, begrudgingly. Why begrudgingly? Well, partially because it was such a trendy spot for a while- not sure if it still is, it's hard to keep up with the kids these days, and the other reason is because my last experience wasn't great. I should mention that my last experience was 4 years ago... what can I say? I'm a scorpio, I know how to hold a grudge. Anyway, SO GLAD I went back. The Happy Hour specials were great. Food wasn't the best thing I've ever had, but was really yummy and I got hooked on the Dynamite Fries. Honey Toast was still amazing, no surprises there. Drinks were well priced. Bah Dun Cha. Get it? WELL priced = WELL drinks? No? Okay, nevermind. The cocktails were tasty if you like sweet, fruity, flowery things. I don't, but the beer was just as good as any other bar. In fact my Happy Hour experience was so good I dragged my friend for lunch so she could try the Dynamite Fries. Turns out it's a HH only item! That ended up working out great for us because we ordered some sort of oxtail ramen off the lunch menu and it was SOOOO good. I forget what it was exactly but it was like a mix of oxtail soup, okinawan soba, and ramen. It had the spicy pink ginger, a rich flavorful broth, and some bomb noodles. Obviously, no trip to Shokudo is complete without Honey Toast, which I need to remark is so amazingly priced. SHOKUDO- I'm sorry I misjudged you! Or maybe I'm not because your game was upped and I'd like to think my previous bitchy 2-star review was the sole reason you have evolved into a beautiful butterfly.
(4)Bella F.
Everything at Shokudo is lacking of quality. Their honey toast is the only thing I would come back for. As for their sushi, while the plates are fun (they have quesadillas, and a cool looking sushi pizza) they don't taste as great as they look. In addition, the wait to get seated can get extremely long on the weekends. I once went on a Saturday and had to wait an hour and a half for a table for 3. Regarding the wait, Shokudo does not have buzzers either so parties are forced to wait outside the restaurant until they are called. I will try Shokudo one last time because I have a $10 off coupon, but if it's still an overcrowded mess of a restaurant, I probably won't be returning.
(2)Victoria F.
I forgive the servers for the mediocre service because your gorgeous face allows me to. We went in as as group of 7 and ordered just about everything from the menu. Although, the dishes were very attractive to the eye, taste-wise not a lot of them were memorable. Here are two things that I really enjoyed: 1. Honey box- I've had my fair share of honey boxes but they do a really good job putting it together without compromising the taste. Bravo. 2. Big Eye Tuna Roll- I'm a big salmon fan but this roll changed the dinner game for me. Overall, the food and service is mediocre but the eye candy in the wait staff, the spacious place and the honey box are something to drop by for.
(3)Veronika O.
Cheap happy hour drinks, gotta love that, and also happy hour menu. I had two spicy tuna rolls, delicious giant bowl of Garlic edemame, Cucumber salad, and two Kirins for $21. Perfect, not bad for late happy hour.
(3)Krystal S.
Shokudo is one of my few "go to places" on the island. This is the place I celebrate big occasions and always bring new people to, because I love it! I'm not going to lie, it can get a bit pricey; however, if your review is complaining about the places food prices, maybe you should have eaten somewhere like McDonald's... I highly recommend calling to make a reservation, especially if you have more than 4 people or plan to come during high volume times (nights and weekends). The food is always awesome! Even my 3 year old likes the food (and he's really picky). A few days ago, I tried the strawberry and cream saketini. I personally didn't like it, but I also don't really like sake. I love the honey toast, but I was actually so full from dinner that I only ate 3 bites. I have never had bad service here. I read one review from a few weeks ago, questioning if the host was racist, because they were seating Asian people who arrived after them (apparently her bf was white). Well, I'm white and I've never had an issue. I've been here probably 15 times this year, including Father's Day, my birthday, my celebration dinner for my job promotion, and when 2 different family members came to town to visit. They have never disappointed me! Then again, I always make a reservation, so I'm not waiting for hours. :-)
(5)Danielle J.
I don't enjoy coming to Shokudo as much as when I first started eating there. The dish I like to order still tastes good. It's just the service. My step daughter ordered Teriyaki Chicken...I didn't bother to read the details cus I figured it would be okay for her. After she got her dish we found out that it came with WASABI mashed potatoes. I complained to the waitress, she said ITS ON THE MENU. I was like that's not the point, she's a young girl, why didn't you mention or ask if she's okay with WASABI mashed potatoes??? She told me I can order rice next time. Honestly idk when the next time is. Tip was already included in our bills...cus we were a large group n had split bills. But why isn't there an option to write your OWN tip amount???
(2)Paul Axel C.
Shokudo how could you do me so wrong? Your taking advantage of me and I am not going to put up with it any more. Sure your hip allure and trendy decor is eye pleasing. Yeah, your food is orgasmic in my mouth. Your hours are great for my late night rendezvous. But what's up with service? I've been forgotten, received appetizers right before dessert, spoken empty promises to, and charged for items that I never received. Is it worth it? 1st mishap, I looked the other way. 2nd mishap, I put on a sad face. 3rd mishap, Shokudu your now on my plan F (Yeah, your food is orgasmic.) The main reason I keep coming back of course is because of the food and happy hour. * Lobster dynamite roll * Mochi cheese gratin * Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice Shokudo is known for their Honey Toast. I can pass on it. I only eat it if someone else orders it. Shokudo I hope you stop acting like a privileged hoochie mama chick and get off your high horse. Your loosing customers with that attitude. Sure you got good food but I can only take so much.
(2)Frankie R.
I am glad to have the happy hour specials. This was a great experience for me because I wanted to eat something after attending a function and it was amazing! I am going to admit that I am liking the Teri fries and the teriyaki chicken quesadillas, which was fabulousness as well as the honey toast with ice cream as well as the cinnamon. The waiter was really good and he took care of us in checking in with our orders to make sure it was correct and getting it promptly and fast as they could. I recommend checking out the happy hour prices which is a lot cheaper and affordable so you're not going to be running out of funds. I am happy to say they have longer hours on Fridays and Saturdays which is very good so that if people are looking for something to satisfy their hunger after a night out of the town and having fun, then this place is a number place to go if you are hungry and want something that is good. Hope to be back again soon
(5)Angela Y.
If this place was a little bit more cheaper I would come here more often, however it's kind of pricy. So we basically co.e here just for when we are in the mood for honey toast. Notthing can be at the honey toast here. It's so ono. It also comes in different kinds of ice cream. I still prefer it plan and simple. However I must say if you come during happy hour you are getting a good deal. Every time I go here there is always a wait. It can range from 10 -45 min wait depending when you go. However if you ask to sit at the bar you don't have to wait. This place is near the ala moana area and they have their own parking lot. I believe there is a guard but if you go late evening the guard is gone by then.
(3)Trevor N.
I love coming here because the server Alex always takes care of me, making sure I'm enjoying myself! The bar is good there's a regular and late night happy hour for good cheap eats and there's some specialty drinks and cheap sake and beer! The food is good. I always get the dynamite fries, kim chee fried rice, chicken quesadilla, sukiyaki kim chee pizza, and steamed gyoza (the sauce is awesome!) Oh and of course the honey toast is good to share! :)
(5)Jessica W.
Based solely on the food I am very unimpressed. My hopes were high as the place was packed and the wait was an hour. Great upscale 1970 feel and coziness I guess, but the food was cheap and tasted generic. And the honey bread tower? What the heck, it was so sweet it tasted like a kid invented it or something. So bad for you too! We ordered almost everything on the menu as in the pictures it looked delicious! But wow, bummer it didn't taste nearly as good as it looked. I've had better katsu at genki ramen and better quesadillas at chilis
(1)Gayle S.
The food was WONDERFUL! The service, meh... My visit was late on a Saturday afternoon, and the entire restaurant was reserved for a private party. Only outdoor seating was available, and I ended up sitting at the long tall table (after requesting not to sit on a couch) next to some 10-year-olds whose entire conversation revolved around making their own cosmetics and videotaping themselves using it (to post on youtube). On my left was a cute father/daughter couple who explained to me some of their menu choices, and gave me some ideas to try on my next visit. I remember the food being remarkably good... and I remember the service as being markedly unremarkable... maybe next time it will be better.
(3)Biny C.
When I rate a restaurant, I tend to look at two very basics first: Taste of the food and Cleanness. This place failed both ways. Food here is not fresh. Also, it always taste like if it's missing something. And price compare to the quality of the food? Over priced. Now, the cleanness: I don't know if anyone else had realized, but the lights on the right side of the restaurant as you walk in is full of dirty dust. And your food will be served right under these lights. The only reason I gave it a two star is because they have a full bar and a good service at least.
(2)Tiffany M.
Really good service and the honey toast is the best! :) so many choices to choose and everything that I ever ate there was really good!
(5)Denise W.
I came here with a friend for lunch in Sunday so it was easy to get a seat. We sat down and saw the lunch special. Bento box for a very good price. There were a few items I wanted to try but decided to stick with my usual chirashi and my friend went with the tempura set. I am sad that I did not take a picture but it was a beautiful bowl of chirashi. Most of the places I have only 2 of each fish and only 4 varieties. This one I had 7 different fishes even though only one of each. The biggest surprise is the uni. I have never had uni in my chirashi. The rice was a perfect amount. I must come back to try something new. Limited review as I was catching up with my friend so did not pay much attention to her food as much.
(4)Ahula D.
10:45 on a Friday evening. Looking for food, drinks and a quiet place to talk. One block from Shokudo so figured, "why not?" Friend visiting from Japan had heard lots of rumours but had never had the pleasure of dining there so with parking being free and no reservation needed we walked in. Okay. So two out of three is not bad. The food was great. $10.45/ Lobster Dynamite = gooey, cheesy, creamy seafood goodness piled on toasted baguette ovals. $14.45/ Sushi Pizza = crispy nori layered with sushi rice and seafood topped off with a spicy jalapeno slice! Crispy, creamy, SPICY and perfect to wash down with an icy, cold Kirin on tap. $7.45/ Agedashi Tofu = large blocks of beautiful, smooth, soft, tofu battered then deep fried to a golden brown. Topped with green onion, katsuobushi and warm dashi broth. As a non-drinker, I can't comment on the quality of the beer but my associate threw a few back with our midnight snacks so I'm assuming they were good. I chose the Plantation Iced Tea and was pleasantly surprised to find it was a blend of lilikoi/pineapple juice and tea. Slightly sweetened by the fruit juices it was brisk, refreshing and a nice treat for the designated driver - one can only drink so many sodas so finding an establishment that has a wide variety of non-alcoholic beverages is always a bonus! You will find full color photos that are accurate depictions of the items served here by clicking this link: shokudojapanese.com/menu So. At the beginning of this review I said "two out of three is not bad". The third thing was the noise level. I was looking for a place where we could sit and quietly have a chat - that can't happen here. Tables are fairly close together and people are definitely partying. We had a conversation that I could hear clearly and I know our neighbors could NOT hear so although I THOUGHT I was looking for a quiet place Shokudo was what i REALLY wanted. We had a very attentive waitperson who checked on us at appropriate intervals making sure our glasses were never empty and ensuring we were well informed regarding menu items and last call times without being overbearing or "working us" for a good tip. Good job, Garrett - we had a great time and we'll be heading back here more often and with more friends! In the end I left a happy-chappy and can highly recommend a visit to Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar to anyone who'd like to try something new.
(4)Maria D.
Happy Hour Great hip place to hang out with the girls. Mon - Sun: 4:00pm-6:00pm Mon - Thu, Sun: 10:00pm-12:00am Happy hour food ranges from $3-$5 My favorites food: $3: Edamame, Dynamite Fries, Honey Toast Jr. (good portion if no one wants to share), Spicy Tuna Nachos, and California Roll. $4: Char-Sui Ramen Jr. $5: Kimchee Fried Rice Drinks: Lychee Mojito & Kirin Draft Other items I like to order off of the Happy Hour Menu: Spicy Tuna Roll & Tempura Roll
(4)Emily D.
Love this place. I usually get the spicy miso ramen (DELISH!!!) and split a sushi roll with my husband. For dessert, the honey toast is a must try. Honestly, it is just white toast cut into bite size cubes with ice cream and honey, but oh boy is it good!!! Very convenient as well. They validate for the parking structure.
(4)Maria Shea A.
I'm very sad that I became injured and could not make it to our lunch planned/reserved for Mother's Day at 12:30 p.m. today however, I'm frustrated and here's the reason. First of all, I spent nearly half an hour calling them on the telephone, letting it ring so much that I receive a recording: "you have reached a non-working number..." you know the recording you get after you let it ring about 25 times? When I'd finally gotten through, during my 9th (or so) phone call, they took my credit card number in order to hold the reservation and they let me know they will impose a $30 fee if I do not cancel within 48 hours. Okay, I agree to that however, I did become injured and I knew that we wouldn't make it to lunch as of late yesterday. I figured that if I tried to call them then and explain the circumstances there's a possibility they would forgo the $30 charge. I called yesterday and spent about 20 minutes on the line listening to a ringing phone, being disconnected, hanging up and calling back. Because I couldn't stay on the phone for hours at that time, I started to call AGAIN this morning beginning at 9:00am then at 11:25am (they open at 11:30). I'm sad that I'm bedridden on Mother's Day but even more frustrated at the fact that I have tried to call and cancel and have literally spent almost an hour (just today) ringing the phone. It is now 12 :18 p.m. and I still haven't gotten anyone to answer and I still subject to that $30 charge without even having the opportunity to explain to them. I'll bet that if they had answer the phone yesterday they could have booked that space. I have been to this place before and did like the food. Unfortunately I cannot understand how they did not have the professionalism either have someone (or multiple people available) to answer the telephone or at least provide some type of recording, idk....stating that they are not accepting any more reservations? SOMETHING! They'll probably get their 30. However, how will I be compensated for MY time?
(1)Joelle P.
Best Happy Hour! Only from 4-6pm everyday and 10-midnight on Thursdays thru Sundays. You DO NOT get what you pay for (that's a great thing). It's a steal. Kimchee Pizza! Quesadilla! Ramen Jr! Are my favorites. But you can order anything and you will be satisfied. Don't forget to top it off with a Honey Toast Jr.
(5)Kristelle B.
Just remembering last night... The Get together was fun! BUT service at shokudo was crap. My friend reserved and wewaited for more than an hour and when we checked in to see what's up, we found out our group wasn't written on the list!!!!! AND when I ordered sushi, by the time it was ready, it came to the table when already had our dessert.
(1)Trish N.
Mixed reviews because some of the food was good (Raging Tiger roll, yum!!) and some not so good (oxtail ramen, not much flavor, soggy noodles). And while the servers did a decent job of making sure our water glasses were always filled, some other requests (e.g. someone asked 2 times for a bottle of ketchup, then gave up & got it himself) went by the wayside. Also, their kitchen system is clearly not set up to accommodate large parties (this was actually confirmed by the manager), so keep that in mind too. Granted, we had a very large party of 20...but it was almost an hour between the time the first & last people in our group got served.
(3)