Sol R.

Yummy! Quality fish! Omakase with Yuji is always a treat!! Uploaded more photos of Omakase.
(5)
Clarissa B.

Incredible food, fast service, everything was on point. Also, the sashimi was very fresh!
(5)
Tammy B.

Large menu, expansive drink selection, I was left impressed!
(4)
Guy T.

Got here for after dinner drinks and pup us around 11PM since we read they are open late until 2AM. We were immediately told that it is last call which was okay since we weren't going to stay long. After our food and drinks arrived, the vacuum cleaners came out and we ate with the cleaning crew working which for me was a drag. Food came out quickly and the Sapporo Beer was nice and cold. Food was okay. Staff were friendly. Just wish we could have eaten in a better ambience considering they claimed they open until 2AM.
(3)
Jamie D.

i love this place! there's so many other detailed reviews, so i just want to put my two cents in and give them a positive shout-out! we love you!! every time we take a new friend here, they always say, "i can't wait to come back, and bring so & so." :) that's a great review!
(5)
Emmanuel F.

Came here for some tasty izakaya style grub. Had mostly yakitori and some other small dishes. Reminded us a lot of our favorite restaurant Honda-Ya in SoCal. Parking is a bit annoying, but there's plenty of parking in the neighborhood behind as long as you don't mind walking.
(4)
Julie H.

This place is less than adequate. The shrimp smelled and tasted old. The tempura was soggy and vegetable tempura was under cooked. Even the peanut appetizers were slimy. The toro was good. let's just say there was 40% of the food left on the table. food and service sucks if there was a zero.star that would.be .generous
(1)
Michelle Y.

Decided to check this place out after a long day of shopping. Be careful cause one can easily miss the small sign. Good thing we had reservations this place was packed! The bf and I ordered a variety of sushi. The fish was fresh...rolls were huge and very tasty. Everything seemed to just melt in my mouth. Will def go back the next time I'm in Hawaii...
(4)
Lisa L.

always my fav place the salmon skin salad is out of this world! and I love the squid pancake! I also order the Uni because it is about as fresh as it gets!!! SOO yummmmmmmmmmm!
(5)
Tiff C.

Tastiest sashimi I've ever had, hands down. We were in town and a friend recommended Tokkuri-Tei as one of the best sushi restaurants he's been to. We went and were not disappointed. Everything was delicious, service was quick and friendly, and the atmosphere was colorful. Definitely get the albacore sashimi in ponzu sauce. The sake sashimi was like butter. Amazing.
(5)
Debbie C.

Sat at the sushi bar, stuffed my face with raw fish and of course washed it all down with some delicious sake and Asahi beer. Probably my best meal in Honolulu. Tokkuri-Tei is a cool izakaya. Tiny place that is very casual with really good and cheap food! The four of us ordered tons of food and alcohol and the total was only about $30 per person including tip. The place was packed on the weekend and valet parking is the way to go since parking is a hassle.
(5)
Brandon S.

I've been a long time fan of Tokkuri-tei, from their days on Sheridan street to the last hot spot on Kapahulu Avenue near Zip's. The last location was small....maybe you could fit a Volkswagon van in the main eating area? Anyway, small. It was so tight that you would end up playing marriage counselor to the guests sitting next to you because you could hear their conversations, and they could hear yours. Yup that's how close everyone was at the old location. This new location is much larger. I love it, more elbow room and no more whispering. The service here is excellent. For awhile they had a hard time adjusting to the larger spot and their service suffered but since then they've adjusted and it's back to their friendly, personalized and prompt ways. Put on your reading glasses cause the menu here is huge. I almost wish they had an app on my phone where I can just do searches by category, meat, type, etc. You want variety? They've got everything from sushi, robata, kushi's, sashimi, noodles, teishoku's & other light tapas. Most of everything that I've had here is very tasty so you can't go wrong with anything you order here. I suggest going with 2 or more people so you can try more than one thing. Like most tapas bars and Izakayas, the price ads up with more things you order but at least you can share the cost and food with more people. I recommend the aspara buta bata, ume yaki, shiso maki, the bata clams, beef salad, shishito, any of the ochazukes and sushi. Have at it. Make sure you bring a wheelbarrow. You'll need one after you eat here.
(5)
Taylor M.

Came here for lunch with a friend and it was completely empty, but that's always better than waiting forever to be seated. We ordered nigiri (otorro, hamachi, and maguro), california futsomaki, ginger pork, chicken yakitori, and fried ika. Everyone is ranting about this place but the food was alright. It could've just been what we ordered. The ginger pork was on the sweeter side so that wasn't my favorite. Fried ika, california futsomaki, nigiri and chicken yakitori were standard. Other than the food being ok, the service was alright as well. The guy kept acting like we were such a bother for ordering more things at different times, but we couldn't help it being that the menu was so extensive. This place was ok for my first time.
(3)
G W.

Friendly staff, Kilauea roll, AMAZING. Very large portions. We ordered three rolls for two people and had left overs. Clean, fresh, would certainly come back..
(5)
Krys Y.

I like this place for their DELICIOUS lunch specials! My favorite is the wafu hamburger steak lunch special! The sauce that is drizzled on it is so savory and tasty that I am always drawn to getting it. It's on the lunch specials menu. I think it's also like $11-12 dollars too. A little pricey for lunch if you're on a budget, but definitely worth it. They also have good sashimi teishoku and an interesting, but tasty, nori chip appetizer. I highly recommend this dish if you're here for lunch! During the work week, it usually is not crowded. The owners are very nice and half the time they are working the floor and helping the restaurant out. I'm not sure how the night crowd is, as I usually frequent here during the day. There are metered street parkings right out front and it is connected to a small cluster of stores and restaurants on Kapahulu Avenue, so I'm not sure if there's a small lot underground somewhere as well. I will definitely be back here to eat again.
(4)
Joshua B.

I tried this place on my anniversary and the food and service was much better than I expected. The place is kind of hidden and just by looking at it from the outside you wouldn't think much of it. The restaurant is pretty spacious and it also has a sushi bar. What's good is that there is an open kitchen so you can see all the cooks at work. We sat at the sushi bar and the sushi chef ryuji was very friendly. He talked story with us and he helped recommended things on the menu being that it was our first time eating here. We started off with the salmon skin salad which was good. It was different from most places which have the same thing, pretty much just some greens and salmon skin. The salad here had a variety of mixed greens with some spicy mayonnaise and the salmon skin also had some meat on it too. The next thing we ordered was the enoki bata which was by far the best enoki mushrooms I've had so far. It was like sautÃ©ed in garlic butter and special sauce. We then got the tempura miso butterfish. That was very simple and good. What I liked about that was it was boneless so you could dig right in without worrying about the bones. We finished up the night with a omakasen that the sushi chef helped create and he have us some small free samples. We had some japan papio, local papio, a Japanese snapper fish, and he even gave us some fresh grated wasabi. The dinner experience was awesome. We finished up the dinner with some dessert, it was some sort of house special I can't recall the name. But it had a bunch of things on it. Scoop of green tea ice cream, seasame gelato, matcha powder, mandarin orange, and some gelatin. Very tasteful and it wasn't too heavy. Out bill came out to $70 (we also order 2 drinks which came out to $10) so without the drinks it would've been around $60. Price was reasonable and I walked out of the place full and satisfied. I would definitely come back here again.
(5)
Erica W.

I am finally glad I was able to get a table this time. First time I came here there was a 45inute wait, I was so hungry I left and went somewhere else to eat in Kapahulu. The service was great, never had to worry about having to flag a waiter/waitress to get my water and hot tea refilled. The food was tasty. Would definitely go back.
(5)
R S.

Not just sushi. But if u are there for sushi i recommend u sit on the counter to get the full experience from the sushi chef. The restaurant has been around for more than 20 years and they have both local and visitor followings. Each sushi chef has a signiture style and unique dish to offer. The menu is extensive; steaks, grilled fish, yakkitori (skewers), sashimi...I've lived in Japan for 8 years and I can honestly say that they are authentic plus they add a local flair if you are looking for that local exotic dish.
(4)
Risa H.

Deeeeelicious food, friendly staff. High-Five Tokkuritei!!!
(5)
J C.

I really wanted to like this place and since we found it on Yelp with great reviews, we figured it would be awesome. Unfortunately, it was not good. In fact, it was almost bad. When we walked in, the woman told us to follow her to our table. She threw the menus onto the table and vaguely gestured at it while walking away. "Hmm... Okay," I thought, "Maybe she's just really busy." About ten minutes later, she came by and casually dropped a bowl of something on the table and a couple plates with warm towels. The bowl turned out to be full of boiled peanuts, though we had a tough time figuring that out after her drop-and-run. Another several minutes went by before she came by to take our orders. We had a couple questions about the menu. (They listed Nigiri and Sashimi as "Sushi" and sushi rolls as "Rolls". We wanted to double-check that we understood the menu.) Unfortunately, she seemed really irritated. Once again, I thought "Oh, okay... must be very, very busy." We ordered sashimi, nigiri, and a sushi roll. The sushi roll came out very quickly, and the other orders followed. Once again she pulled a drop-and-run and we were left confused, trying to figure out what plates to use. (Turns out, they expect you to use the towel plates. That's fine, I just wish someone had explained it.) The sashimi was not very fresh but not inedible either. The roll was just okay. The nigiri, however... SO BAD! Each piece was so overloaded with wasabi that you couldn't taste the fish at all. (Which is probably alright, since the fish was pretty flavorless anyway.) After our meal, it took about 20 minutes to get anyone's attention for the check. I was really bummed at this point. Questionable food quality, rude service, and an endless wait... Pretty much a terrible night out. At some point, I remember saying "I just need to get out of here." I can't remember ever feeling that way before about a restaurant. The verdict: Bad food. Bad service. Don't trust the Yelp reviews!
(1)
Michael K.

If you are ready to throw down some money, you gotta try out this place. This was our favorite sushi place over all of the ones we tried. We ordered the TOKUJOE Nigiri plate. It came with alllllllll kinds of Nigiri (only one piece though), and one of them was the Toro (Fatty Tuna. Some places call it Otoro). All of the fish was extremely fresh, so we kept ordering more rolls and nigiri. No complaints on the food here! Gotta try this place out!
(5)
Sharon H.

First off, I love that parking for Tokkuri Tei was so easy on a Tuesday night ... just next door at the First Hawaiian Bank parking lot ... and free! Second, the place is huge compared to its former digs a few blocks away. Third, the menu is extensive and there's something for everyone, including non raw fish eaters like me. My litmus test is the agedashi tofu, and Tokkuri Tei makes it well here, while the tsukune (chicken balls) and yakitori sticks are also standby favorites. Two nice surprises were the portobello mushroom with fried rice and the stuffed shiitake with chicken and tofu, each $9.50, and shared between three of us. The shiitake is served three on a plate, each coin dollar-sized mushroom overflowed with stuffing but yet were gone in just two bites. Thankfully, there were mixed greens on the plate fill up on, but seriously I could have eaten the three pieces all by myself. Oink, I know. I will be back for further "sampling"!
(3)
David Y.

Came here for lunch on Memorial day. Our friends had dinner here the previous night and just had the sushi chef choose whatever was good and local to the island for them. We wanted to try out the same experience and ended up doing some serious damage (mostly to our wallets) rather than our stomach. It's hard to fill up on eating seafood so at some point when I saw the list just get longer and longer I had to cut it off, plus they were closing up for lunch soon. The experience was unique to our own as we were served completely different items than what our friends had. The chef said due to the day being a holiday they didn't get their usual load of fresh seafood delivered in the morning but what he created for us was still plenty. He started us off with a free appetizer that they plan to have on the menu eventually. It was a battered nori deep fried with uni, roe, and some special sauce. Super good, I would pay for this item easily. Next he prepared monkfish liver topped with pickled daikon in some vinegar ponzu sauce. Then came some sashimi sushi dressed up with a lot of leafy greens, which we didn't particularly care for as it was too much greens to eat in a sushi roll. He served us tiger prawns with just the tail attached over some rice. This was a little on the overcooked side. He made us raw oyster with uni, row, and a raw quail egg. This was amazing as I normally don't eat raw oysters but this went down smoothly along with everything else. The dish was fresh and appetizing. While preparing the various items he really showed off his knife skills by creating fancy decorations using vegetables and showing off his plating skills. We only cared about eating the various fishes he served but it was an experience watching him create these dishes for us. He served us fresh salt water geoduck, which was still alive. He said they're not allowed to serve dead geoduck at the time of cooking. This was the first time I've had something like this and the way it was sauteed in butter was really good. Stuff local to Hawaii that we ate included salt water eel, some local hawaiian fishes and marinated in a ponzu sauce, cuttlefish with spicy ginger topped off with a quail egg, and some type of local snapper. A couple of items he used a lot of mint leaves as he confessed he liked the taste so he likes to use a lot of it. The mint leaf overpowered the taste of the salt water eel that was cooked over a grill and then torched. It would have been better to allow the taste of the seafood to come through without over dressing it with other overpowering herbs. We received free black sesame gelato with a black sesame sauce that's imported direct from Japan. Overall it was a great experience, not sure if I would do this again though as my wallet definitely felt the hurt on this one. There are a few parking spots underground shared about the other businesses around. It was easy to find parking for lunch, but then again it was a holiday and most people were probably at Alo Moana park.
(4)
James P.

Just a short walk from our hotel. They provided a wet towel (I really like this Japanese tradition). We had Spicy tuna on chip (Great), ahi tar tar on crispy rice (Great) Tori (chicken) (Good) and a spicy tuna roll (Good) and a Butterfish Roll (Ok) - overall a good experience!
(4)
David C.

This joint is DA BOMB!!! This is a must visit for all foodies. Located in a sort of outta the way area but it is worth the troop or short drive. Trust me, the inconvenience is worth it! You enter a roomy restaurant with a playful decor - tshirts as table dividers and patron decorated walls. We were greeted by a sweet little old lady who very happily seated us. And an equally sweet older dude happily served us. Great vibes. We were quite hungry so we ordered a catamaran-load of food. The menu was just as playful as the decor, frequently listing the meat in the dishes with a "?" as if to say "you'll be surprised with the meat :)" We shared an app of spider roll poke - amazing flavors and delicious fresh fish. The wife had a tofu udon noodle soup - she ordered off the menu as she needed a good soup for a hangover cure and this totally hit the spot. My entree was this years Rice Fest tournament champion, Unagi Risotto - a fusion of two of my favorite cuisines; it was heaven in my mouth! The portions were very generous but I channelled my inner pig and scarfed it all down to the amazement of the owners. This place is Ono! You'll have fun goring through the huge and delicious menu. All out dishes were amazing so don't worry about any misses.
(5)
Debbie L.

The first time I came here was almost a year ago. Their food was average. However... I came back about a week ago, and I realized that it was just the dishes I ordered. I don't remember what I ordered before (it might have been the yakitori chicken -- I played it safe since I wasn't sure what to order), but I ordered the Yaki Udon, which is fried udon with vegetables. We also had their Tempura Chips..... SOOO GOOOD!!!! Their spicy ahi isn't too bad either. The only thing about their sushi is that it's a bit pricey for the amount you get. I would suggest to just get the entrees and some of the yummy tempura chips. Now, I will gladly go back to Tokurri-Tei and try the rest of their menu. Their menu is a bit cluttered, so it's hard to figure out what to eat. But a word of advice is to not order the "normal" Japanese foods. Go for something out of the ordinary, you won't regret it. I learned my lesson from ordering the Yakitori Chicken. Service is also really quick and the staff are friendly and always there when you need to order or ask for something. The seating can be a little packed. We were seated in the corner. Towards the end of our meal, a couple was seated behind us and it felt a little squished, kind of like we were sitting with our backs facing towards them and listening to their conversation.
(4)
Dejon K.

Oishii to da max! Unbelievable! Best sushi, super fresh fish, fantastic grilled items, udon noodles, green tea ice cream was all wonderful. The service was very prompt for being super busy. This is a hidden gem of a place in Kapahulu. A must try if you love authentic Japanese style food & sushi.
(5)
Shell C.

This place has the best home style cooked Japanese food. Luv luv luv the salmon skin salad. The miso eggplant, coris spicy tofu, stuffed mushroom, and ahi poke tartar with crispy rice are amaaazing. Parking is so convenient here. And now that they expanded waiting time for seating has been reduced. Ichiban suki!!!
(4)
Angela H.

First off, the "family-style" Japanese food isn't really my cup of tea; I don't like only having tiny pieces of every dish...Let's start off with the menus: too content rich, not enough pictorial references to the food, and not enough food item description. I'm not too familiar with the intricacies of Japanese food, so it would've really helped to have some reference pictures--or, at least, more detailed descriptions of the food. If you're like me and you don't know too much about Japanese food, be prepared to ask a lot of questions and/or take some risks...As for the food itself: not bad, but very tiny portions. Nothing stood out in my mind as being particularly delicious or memorable. Along with other dishes, I got a Spicy Tuna hand roll which was $5--a ridiculous amount for a few mouthfuls of fish and rice. The service was good, but nothing to write home about. Overall, a very mediocre experience. Would I come here again? Yeah, probably. Will it stand out in my mind as behing a great Japanese food experience? No, probably not.
(3)
Denise K.

They changed locations to a bigger place on Kapahulu. When I first went to Tokkuri-Tei, I didn't like it very much. The nigiri was very basic and not very memorable and the sushi chefs didn't talk to you very much. When I opt for omakase, I wanna talk to my sushi chef! Why do I give TT 5 stars? Single handedly - it's because of Yugi!! He is so knowledgeable about sushi, FUNNY and super friendly. He wants you to love sushi as much as he does! He served us some out-of-this-world delicious items. He grills his unagi to perfection and opts for sea salt rather than the sweet eel sauce (good choice!). When he serves amaebi nigiri, he tops it with shiso and uni! TO DIE FOR! And his grilled prawn nigiri is so delicious... and the prawn is so huge... you'd swear you're eating lobster. My favorite piece of the night - a huge grilled hotate simply placed in nori. Gotta check out my killer pix on Yelp! Man, I rolled outta there! I wish I lived in HNL still... just so I could be Yugi's #1 fan!
(5)
KKTCA K.

Good Sushi. A little on the pricy side, around $60 for lunch for two with tip. We should have ordered the chef's recommendation, where you tell him how much you want to spend and he'll make a special order for you. I've heard dinner gets pretty crowded, but when we went for lunch on a weekday, it was empty. Would definitely go again.
(5)
Alice A.

Great food and ambience. Make reservations because it is a popular place. If you go in the evening you can probably park on the street. The squid pancake is tasty. The hot sake goes down smoothly. A fun place for dates and friends. A little pricey.
(4)
Eduardo S.

Don't get to eat here as much as I'd like to, but when I do I'm never dissapointed. Consistency is key in the food industry, without it you loose customers and get a reputation. I will be back.
(4)
Nat N.

Been coming here since their initial existence in a hole-in-the-wall joint on Sheridan Street. Then they moved to a "bigger" hole-in-the-wall on Kapahulu Ave next to Papa Johns. And now, they are located in a much bigger space above Hee Hing. I think many will agree that they can no longer be classified as a "hole-in-the-wall". This place is huge, and while some people I've talked to have said that the quality of the food has gone down (which is the case for many places that expand into a larger restaurant), I beg to differ. While the cozy ambiance is no longer there, the food is still the same - fabulous. Service-wise, the food has never come out faster than it did last night. We got there a little after 6 pm on a Monday night, and the four of us powered through 9 courses in less than an hour. The only disappointment was that they didn't have asparagus, so we had to settle for enoki bata instead of asparagus bata, but that's ok, because the enoki bata was just as pleasing. Anything sauteed in butter and garlic is going to be good. The negi toro and negi hamachi rolls were excellent. The assorted tempura plate was overflowing with fried goodness! The miso butterfish roll was not that impressive - I could barely taste the butterfish. You're better off ordering butterfish ala carte. If you park directly underneath the building, it's valet only and $3 a pop (plus tip). Only after we were finished eating did we find out that customers can park at First Hawaiian bank for free after 6 pm. Good to know for next time!
(5)
Manda Bear B.

*********************** 814 ************************ My local friend took me here after a few choices she offered; and she warned me that this sushi joint will be loud, noisy, no fancy but the food is super fresh and delicious. I'm so glad Wanita took me here Tokkuri-Tei. Located on the second floor of a building, valet parking is only $3 downstairs, a sushi bar with about 12 seats, we had to have reservation on a week night to secure our spots. Tokkuri-Tei was packed at 7 PM. We didn't really order anything from the menu. The chef asked us what we liked and I told him a few fishes that I prefer; then there he went. - Anago - island river eel sashimi - Fresh Big island Abalone sashimi - crunchy good, sweet. - Santa Barbera uni sushi - what can I say, we love uni anytime. - Big Island Amaebi sushi - sweet - Hotategai from Hokkaido Japan - scallop sashimi, was so sweet, butter texture, we loved it. - Hirame sashimi, crispy fish bones, onion - this was AMAZING dish. - Grilled Vietnamese tiger prawns - grilled right behind the sushi bar, we can see everything. - Hamachi kama - Barely charred Otoro and chili, out of this world good. One would think Otoro should be indulge sashimi, so I thought, until I tried this dish. Thanks chef. - Delicious Okinawa sesame ice cream - homemade, like I never had once before! Hakkaisan sake by the glass, pour table side, $15 smooth, creamy, love! Chef recommended, he was right on. Sitting at the sushi bar was a lot of fun, I got to harass the chef, but mainly I got to see him whipping up some serious knife skills with these fishes, more entertaining than anything else. Dinner for 2 was $230, about the same price point at some other top sushi spot in Wakiki. I don't like rolls, so all we had were sushi and sashimi. I love Tokkuri-Tei for the sushi selections and also izakaya, definitely 1 of my FAV sushi joints in Waikiki.
(5)
X. Y.

It was the 25th of February, our last day on O'ahu. I walked or drove in front of this place several times and my girlfriend decided to try it for lunch. The restaurant is located on the second floor of a building with several businesses in front of a green area. When I walked into the restaurant the place was quiet and there were a few customers. A guy wearing a face mask was near a register and seemed to ignore us. He clearly works there but it doesn't look like he wants (other reasons could exist for his behavior - maybe he had a bad day). An older lady showed up and told us to sit anywhere. At first she seemed serious but after we talked to her for a while she opened up and turned out to be nice and courteous Japanese lady. I wanted to eat some local catch and I ordered maguro sashimi. The lady told me I would get 7 or 8 slices for the full order. After about 5-10 minutes I got my plate with the tuna and I counted 8 slices. The full order is definitely a good deal because for the price, I think $18, you get a lot of seafood. At first I thought 8 is not a big number but after looking at the thickness and the size of each piece, I converted the number to 12 (comparing to slices in California that are usually big not not huge like the one I got in this restaurant). The iced tea I ordered was decent but it was sweetened with something I could not recognize. It didn't taste bad but I didn't specifically like the kind of sweetness. Maybe it was the mix with the kind of tea. I can not tell to this day. All in all this restaurant is a good place for a meal. I just want to point out that the menu has probably 150 different things you can order (if not more). Honestly, after looking at the menu, I felt as if there were too many choices which make things challenging. I would give the place 5 stars but I give only 4 because the presence of the face mask guy is somewhat disarming and it kills the atmosphere. He brought a few plates and hardly said anything. He constantly avoided conversation and eye contact. Whether he is weird, shy or bored I just didn't like his "sinister presence" which certainly does not do any good to the business.
(4)
Juliana Y.

yum! the chef is amazing.. he even made us breakfast togo! the sesame ice cream here is the best ive ever had.. too bad it's specially made for tokkuri tei =/ so much fun here.. the food was great.. sea salt and fresh wasabi! homemade plum soaked ginger.. really enjoyed my experience here.. super friendly. and it seems like all the other customers know him really well and they were also enjoying themselves
(4)
Yon S.

Not sure why the 4 star reviews. Flavoring of the food and the cooking style not authentic Japanese. More like local Japanese style. 2 persons, 4 dishes, 1 beverage, $100. Much better places to go. Gyotaku, Ojiya, Gazen, even grocer bento is better.
(2)
Thomas C.

Large izakaya menu. I really liked their soba zaru - it came w/ a tiny egg! (I've only seen that done in Asia.)
(4)
Yuko A.

My friends are indecisive so I always end up choosing the restaurant, which isn't a big deal since they aren't picky and I get to try out places I've bookmarked. Tokkuri-tei had been in my bookmarks for a while so I was excited to try it. The menu is HUGE. The first 4 pages is just alcohol. :) Anyway, 2 of my friends don't really know anything about Japanese food so they let me order. No problem. Here's what I ordered for our table of 4. - Ika yaki - fried octopus - Nalo Green Salad - Nasu no dengaku (Eggplant cooked in miso) - Shrimp dumplings (in a cream mushroom sauce) - Tsukune (meatballs) - Hatsu (heart) - Tan shio - Negitoro roll - Spicy Tuna roll - California roll (they use real crab!) - Spicy scallop handroll - Natto w/ squid Everything came out quickly which is always appreciated. I thought most of the dishes were good. The shrimp dumplings which were a special were 4 plump shrimp dumplings lathered in a cream mushroom sauce were a favorite at the table. The only thing, was that it was a little odd that it was a mushroom sauce over seafood...It might have been even better if it had been a meat dumping. The sushi rolls were pretty impressive for a restaurant with such an extensive menu. They were big and fresh and reasonably priced. I never really order California rolls but they make theirs with real crab, how could I resist. It was WAY better than the usual imitation crab rolls, I think all sushi bars should make em like that. :) I know everyone likes the ika yaki and I'm not hating on it but I thought it was a little too oily for my liking. Maybe cause it came out at the end of our meal when I was getting full but I thought they could have even done without the tempura flakes. But that's just me. Our total bill came out to around $120 (including a 20% tip) - 4 people Definitely want to come back to try some of their other dishes.
(4)
Mitchell I.

If you want nice mix of Japanese cuisine, this is the place to go. It is near Waikiki, but far enough away from the tourist confusion to be more of a local hangout. We had the big sashimi platter, ground chicken balls, tofu, chicken hearts, rainbow roll. Everything was good. Great place for a big party. Excellent selection and the staff was terrific.
(4)
Troy H.

Nori-Nachos. Shime Saba. Saba Shioyaki. Sushi. Yakitori. I'm jus damn happy I was introduced to this place! Best Local non touristy Izakaya on the Islands!!!
(4)
Susan M.

This is one of my favorite two restaurants on Oahu. The problem is that everything is so good, and I tend to keep ordering. I go to TT for really special occasions too, since I'm never unhappy with the food, drinks, or service. I preferred the old location and would rather stand in line to be there, but the food is the same great quality it always was.
(5)
F K.

This place has a wide variety of dishes to choose from. The service is always attentive and will never let your water cup go empty. Parking is valet for a hefty price in the basement garage so I would recommend finding street parking. I come here for the dishes and not really for the sashimi. Things to get: Salmon skin salad Teri Cream Tofu Enoki mushrooms Kikuni pork? If your not driving, the snake venom Habushu Sushi rolls are always good here Negs: Bathroom outside by the elevator I always leave full from Tokkuri Tei. Food is always good and you wont find waitresses as attentive, quick and friendly anywhere else.
(4)
David E.

Tokkuri Tei is by far my favorite Japanese restaurant. I have been to multiple Japanese restaurants here on Oahu and Tokkuri Tei is the only one that I will request. It has never been disappointing and has always been pretty solid. This last trip consisted of a Dragon Roll, Kimberly Roll, Spider Roll (my favorite roll on the menu!), Kilauea Roll, Nori-chos (a unique "nachos" made with nori), & edamame. The presentation is always lovely and the food always good. The food here is not cheapest (nor is it particularly expensive), but it has never not been worth it. This restaurant is frequently busy. I highly suggest making a reservation. When we went yesterday (a Friday night), it was busy but with our reservation we were actually able to sit down early. Service is always friendly and they are pretty quick. Occasionally, some items do take a bit longer to come out (a tolerable wait, not a ridiculous one) and that is generally when the restaurant is packed. When we first got there we ordered a lot of stuff and received it pretty quickly. We ordered another roll at least 45 mins later (the restaurant was even more busy) and that one took a bit longer. But that's ok. Worth the wait and we had our pitcher of beer to deal with. Will definitely come back soon!
(5)
Sarah B.

Sit at the sushi bar. Ask for Ray. And let him take it from there. That was the most exciting sushi experience ever.
(5)
Kana T.

I'm a bit late to write this review, so I'm forgetting the details, but I wanted to make sure people heard about this great restaurant. The restaurant is izakaya style, so they offer items a la carte style, and there is A LOT on the menu (Possibly more than Cheesecake Factory...) It's great that they accept reservations and there's so much to choose from, but what was even greater was that the waitress took her time explaining her recommendations to us. We all enjoyed the food, and I thought the bill was extremely reasonable for what they offered. You can't expect good sushi for cheap, so I look for the places that are worth the price, and I highly recommend Tokkuri-Tei. Another girl who wasn't even our waitress was very accomodating when we asked for a picture, and you can find parking at the First Hawaiian Bank that is just a few steps away (free, I believe,) after 6PM. Thanks Tokkuri-Tei-my friends who were visiting all the way from NY really enjoyed your food, and I can't wait to go back either!
(5)
Macey H.

This place is great it's a little noisy but the people that work there cause that because of the welcoming greeting and the service is good and nice people the food is really good
(5)
Russel R.

This was my first time here and I really enjoyed it. The prices are not that bad and the quality of fish was really good and our waitress was awesome. The service was quick, friendly and honest. We over ordered and the waitress helped us to order less and we were soo full. The toro, salmon and their rolls were awesome. I can only judge this place for my one and only experience. But I would definitely go back to try more things.
(5)
Shim C.

Love the omakase! The chefs are so friendly and always make the best stuff for us.
(5)
Nadia K.

We really enjoy eating here. Their menu is extensive so we get to try something new each time. But my favorites are their ika yaki and butterfish tempura (only 4 pieces so we order 2). We also like the ume yaki and yaki tori. What foods don't taste good on a stick? For dessert, their goma ice cream is winner. The one downer though is that I've started noticing how unfriendly the wait staff is (not everyone, but at least half). I didn't notice the first few visits because the food was so good. But last night was a particulary slow Sunday and I just didn't get a good feel. The service wasn't terrible at all, but they just weren't nice and to me, that is less incentive to return since there are sooooo many great izakaya(s) here in Hawaii. However, unlike a lot of other izakaya restaurants, it is a great place for large groups.
(4)
Mostly S.

food was awesome! soft shelled crab roll, salmon -something roll, karage chicken and a salmon salad. all yum! really yum! service was super homey and friendly! definitely would go again! definitely!
(5)
Kevin S.

My wife and I used to frequent Tokkuri-Tei when they were located near Papa Johns. I really liked the hole-in-the-wall and intimate atmosphere, now it's a little more mainstream looking. We sat at the bar ( yelp.com/biz_photos/tokkâ€¦ ) and ordered a bunch of stuff, a few of the notable items I always order: Otoro ( yelp.com/biz_photos/tokkâ€¦ ): Good size, and melts in your mouth Salmon Skin Salad ( yelp.com/biz_photos/tokkâ€¦ ): we always always order this salad. It's really good and can fill you up. The tofu is very soft and it's a very good portion. Sometimes we order two! Portobello Mushroom Topped w/ Rice ( yelp.com/biz_photos/tokkâ€¦ ): I like the gooey and crunchy texture, and it's very tasty Amaebi Nigiri ( yelp.com/biz_photos/tokkâ€¦ ): Very creamy and the crunchy head was cooked perfectly Oyster Shooter ( yelp.com/biz_photos/tokkâ€¦ ) I'm giving this place 4 stars because valet parking is not necessary at their new location. 31 Yelps Review Challenge - 10 of 31
(4)
D H.

No wait, service was great, food came so fast! Don't order the ume yaki, it's a little weird tasting-chicken and ume together! I do like both but I guess not on a stick. Would definitely recommend to those that love sushi and sashimi. Tori karaage was delish!!
(4)
David J.

Holy cow...I'm still buzzin from eating here last night. It's been a very long time since I've been here and I don't know why it took so long for me to come back. I've noticed they've moved since too! One of my favorite types of restaurant happens to be an Izakaya and this one (besides the higher price) hits the mark. Great food, great location, and lots of beer. Sushi - excellent. We tried the Hamachi, maguro, salmon. The salmon was delicious. Hamachi Kama - Very good, was crispy and tasty. A little bit on the expensive side at $28, but I guess that's the going rate these days. Agedashi Tofu - was one of the better ones I've tasted here. Very crispy on the outside just how I like it. Yakitori - was very tasty and tender. Squid Pancakes - was super delicous. I couldn't get enough of it. Beer - tasted the same as anywhere....but tasted amazing here combined with the good food. Parking: like rest of Kapahulu hard to find free. You can park for free along the street or pay $3 plus tip to park in their garage. Well worth it if you ask me. Overall excellent place and I recommend to anyone wanting a taste of good Japanese izakaya style restaurant with decent sushi.
(5)
Teri C.

This place is packed and they only take reservations up to 7 pm each night. I called ahead to ask how busy they were that evening and he said they were slow...yeah right! We scored the last table after bypassing valet parking ($3 plus tip) and this was on a Monday night! * Ika Yaki ($7.50) - We started off with the much talked about squid pancake and we can definitely understand why. The generous helping of bonito flakes topped on this tasty dish makes for a pretty presentation. The sauce on this pancake is what really makes so flavorful and you definitely want to enjoy it when it's hot. * Sunagimo Kara Age ($6.50) Deep fried chicken gizzard with a nice fresh squeeze of lemon juice on top is something to be enjoyed right away. Once the heat wears off, it gets a bit chewy. I prefer it not as deep fried, with a lighter batter or fresher oil perhaps. * Atsu Age ($4.50) Four pieces of tofu that have been deep fried and then grilled with a little bit of freshly grated horseradish and ginger to accompany it. I think a little bit of dashi soup would complement this dish even more. * Sakekawa Tofu Salad ($11.50) A huge salad of grilled salmon skin, salmon meat, nori,onions, mixed greens, and masago sitting over silken tofu. There are some bitter greens mixed in there that weren't our favorite part of this dish, but the tofu texture adds a unique and softening effect to the taste of the grilled fish. * Hotate Bata ($9) Three large scallops that are sauteed in butter and seasoned with soy sauce. With a fresh squeeze of lemon juice served, you can enjoy this fatty dish because of the buttery taste. We thought we were going to order more, but were both pretty stuffed with just these five items. It would help if you came with a party of three or four, but not more since it's such a small restaurant and larger parties would be harder to accommodate. Service was standard - the food came at a good pace and beverages were filled quickly. The menu hangs on a ring at your table, which is helpful if you need it for reference and plan on ordering more as they do have quite an extensive menu. We'd definitely be interested in going back to try out their other dishes on a return visit to the islands.
(4)
Amy C.

We came here few years ago with some friends and the food was yummy! This was when they were in the little restaurant in a small plaza. Place was really small! And they were always busy. Last October we decided to come again, but they had moved! So we searched for their new location and it was much bigger in size. Again, the food was GREAT, very fresh. We loved the butterfish, my hubby is a fan of it. I saw that they had the yakitori (grilled rice cake), but instead of it being triangle it was on a sugarcane like a corn dog. Which was a first for me. Price isn't so bad, but when you want great quality, you need to pay for it. :) BTW, come early to get seating. It's usually busy during dinner time.
(4)
Young K.

I sure do miss working at Tokkuri Tei! If only the boss wasn't so strict about everything...but other then that, friendly environment & awesome food! If you guys want good sushi, check out Ray - San at the sushi bar! He is the man! Make sure you tip him good, cause I know for sure you'll be back for some more!
(4)
Dreamcast P.

Ray is awesome! Everything was excellent tonight. Good times. One of my favorite HNL joints. You just can't go wrong having sushi here.
(5)
Jonathan L.

Found out about this place through yelp. I called and made reservations and surely enough they weren't booked. They have valet parking and also you can park at first hawaiian bank. at night. Luckily we were able to find meter parking right in front of the restaurant. It is located on the second floor of the Hee Hing restaurant all the way to your left. It was pretty packed when we got there but there our table was waiting for us. The menu is pretty huge, I think it was like 6-7 pages of food and drinks. It took us a while to decide what we were going to order. The first thing that came out was the chicken gizzards which was super small and in a tiny basket. I think it was about 3-5 ounces of gizzards. Which was pretty sad cause we took that out in a minute. We sad what the other tables ordered and their food was gigantic. The gizzards weren't that great it tasted a Anasia's one. Our next order was the Tan Shio or cow tongue. The bbq sticks needed to have two sticks minimum. Which came to about 12 bucks for two measly sticks. Pretty sad. =( It was really chewy and did not have much taste except for the lemon we squeezed on it. We also took that out in a couple of minutes. The spicy tuna sushi was the next ordered that came out and my eye opened up wide. We paid about 8 bucks for 6 small sushi???? Look at the picture if you don't believe me. Their spicy tuna was different than other places because the fish is smashed up to mush. It was also pretty damn spicy. It was pretty good though I wish I could have more. The chicken skewers was a lot of meat but then again it came with two sticks again and cost the same price as the tan shio. There was more meat than the tan shio and it was more tasty (there was teriyaki sauce) but it still didn't hit the spot. So we decided to go crazy and ordered four more dishes. We got the japanese style nachos, squid pancake, salmon sushi, and salmon skin salad. All of those were better than the dishes I mentioned earlier. These are also the larger portion dishes. The best thing that we ordered was the salmon skin salad. Our bill came out to 90 bucks and the services wasn't that great. We asked what would they recommend and they told us everything on these pages which was over twenty items. Not very descriptive at all. They also hardly came back to refill our water. I probably would not come here again because 1) it is super expensive and 2) I left still hungry :( Also their bathroom is outside the restaurant and down the hall. It is pretty dark and scary if you go by yourself.
(2)
Heather M.

Love, love, love this place. My boyfriend and I are huge sushi fans and we always choose Tokkuri Tei for date nights. Their fish is delicious and fresh and come in pretty generous portion sizes. Service is always good, very polite and happy servers. I have been here so many times and have never tipped below 20% I like the ambiance here as well, nothing too loud or crazy. Just a relaxing place to eat fresh fish and have a couple beers.
(5)
Kate Y.

Sushi wasn't that great and it's a bit over-priced. The portions were decent but the presentation of the rolls were kinda messy. I don't think I'll be back.
(2)
Sarah L.

One of the best place so far I have gone, good food and drinks, good thing my bf doesn't drink that much so I get to unleash my wildness at this place. I like the service as well but not totally a big fan of prices, definitely we will be back.
(4)
Brett J.

Okay, I really wanted to love this place based on the reviews. Made a reservation just in case but obviously not needed on a Tuesday evening. You would think with the slower night that service would have been a little quicker. It seems there was a team approach to serving, I wasn't sure throughout the evening who was actually our waitress. However slow, all of them were informative and polite. Now to the food: Salmon skin salad - we had to try this based on reviews, not sure what all the hub bub was about, just ok for me, Kimberly (wife) was a little more positive. Hamachi sashimi - best thing we had. CLEAN, FRESH, AWESOME "Nick Jagger" pork and potato dish - pretty good but unusually sweet instead of being more savory. Spicy Tuna Roll - our next favorite thing, very good I will try this place again since I am in HI once a month on business and their menu is huge, and an excellent value. Try them your selves!
(3)
Nobu K.

Nigiri only review. Even though I did not seat right by the counter, I could see all fish in the glass case looking so good. We were here group of 4, good friend of mine, haven't seen him for a decade, so we did not want to seat the counter because we wanted to have a good conversation. The place is the friend's favorite, quite big, 3 different dinning area, with one long sushi counter that seating for about a dozen, 3 sushi chef was on deck ready for more action and a large kitchen behind them, the place offers Izakaya menu too that I don't really care, I don't care less "Izakaya-style", I care more "Gangdam-style" may be, Nahhhh!. It was pretty busy night but the service was nice and friendly. I ordered: The Akami, red-tuna, 2 for $6, was awesome, thick slice, good Shari The Hamachi, 2 for $7 The Saba, mackerel, 2 for $4, Great Shime (salted and soaked in vinegar). The Aji, Spanish-mackerel, 2 for $8 The Shima-Aji, Papio, 2 for $7.50 The Ika, Squid, 2 for $5 The Tekka-maki $5.50 The Negi-Toro $7.50 The place has great Nigiri, thick Neta (sliced fish), good Shari (sushi-rice) that the Nigiri format, the balance of Neta and Shari that you don't see in San Francisco. I felt like I was time warped to 70's when Nigiri was bigger. So as the Tekka-maki. I usually don't order "maki" at all but I saw a group next of us having it. I looked, and I looked then I said to myself, I have to have that. The Tekka-maki was big as about 3/4 of Futo-maki. It was really good. Again, the ratio to Neta and Shari is very old school. When Shari is good, Akami is nice red, and Saba is good, the Sushi-chef usually doing good job. But the size of Nigiri that hard to find. 5 star Sushi. I really enjoy it. Thanks to my friend. I wish I can come back here again.
(5)
Shannon C.

It's been years since I've eaten here. This past Friday we had a girls night out and came here. We ordered the sashimi show platter, two different rolled sushi, and a lot of the different yaki sticks. My favorite was the pork with shiso leaves. The sashimi wasn't to fresh and the chicken tasted old. Probably will not return any time soon,
(2)
Jason G.

Great sushi place. This is my first visit since they moved to their new location. I prefer the previous spot...tiny, but had lots of character. This new spot is clearly much larger, but a lot of the charm is gone. That said, the sushi is still great! The wait staff isn't terribly friendly, but they're efficient, and they know their sushi. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a casual sushi meal.
(4)
Chad S.

Talk about feeling some nostalgia walking into Tokkuri-Tei for dinner. I never knew it was in the exact same spot that use too call home for Sam Choys. It literally was the last time I stepped foot in that restaurant back in the days when my big brother use too work there. It funny that been long time but somethings never change. The layout of the restaurant not changed since but LOVE the new decor with all the hanging lanterns for lights and the customers artwork decorated parts of one wall. No doubt soon open the door walking into old school japanese style restaurant. Talk about busy had too go late because nothing open till past 8. Thankfully once got there not that bad of wait and able too get spot with my friends. It all japanese tapa style food. So was able too try few things by the end of the night. One of my friends went with big fan of all the inner parts of chicken or most anything. I always keep open mind with food and always willing trying too everything once. We literally order all of them from chicken heart, liver, and gizzard. The liver never been fan of any kine of liver only one had is beef. It tough too get done and no exception too this one. The gizzard think fact that not diced up in some stuffing never really work for me. The heart some that surprise but was really good. Stuffed portabello with fried rice. The portabello mushroom never really worked with the rice. The fried rice by itself was awesome. Some nigiri sushi that really enjoy. Jalapeno Spicy Poke for sure was another highlight. Another dish that came with broth that was amazing. I have no idea in it was was dam ono!! We had too get some staple tempura that loving the batter was perfect light, golden brown, and crispy. The menu is so HUGE not sure if you can try everything in one night. It such diverse menu could see myself coming back more and more just cause lot of good stuff still want too try. The sake list is pretty extensive. Parking never been pleasant part of the building located in since only handful downstairs. It pretty busy restaurant all the time so make sure get reservation in early if want too eat at normal time. They do open late too. So if in the mood for some really good japanese tapas Tokkuri-Tei is the spot too hit. If your visiting the islands staying in waikiki just taxi cab away. One spot that added too my must spots every time back home in the islands.
(4)
Dani D.

I love this place... I am so happy that they moved to a larger location. The old location was a little claustrophobic but it kind of reminded me of SF dining... The only reason this isn't five stars is the wasabi chicken, while still damn tasty, wasn't as wasabi-y as I remember it being (we eat here at least one or two times a year). We were a large party so we ordered a ton of dishes. Some of the standouts were the wasabi chicken, the mauna loa roll, the butterfish tempura, spicy scallop roll, poke salad, and the the agedashi tofu. So the Mauna Loa roll is literally the biggest roll you've seen as is much less roll than it is a platter-sized plate of sushi rice, fish, avocado, and tempura. You need at least three hungry people to eat this mammoth of a roll. The menu is extensive I suggest narrowing it down to what your favorite fish/ingredient is and then picking from there otherwise it's easy to get lost in the choices.
(4)
The Captain S.

This place is simply awesome. Sat at the sushi bar and Chef Yugi did an impromptu Omakase. I had nothing but the freshest local fish around. He prepared uni, scallops, toro, poke all too perfection. Will be back, highly recommend!
(5)
theresa s.

FH was out of town for work, so i declared this week: "SUSHI WEEK". he does not eat seafood (no, he is not allergic), so we typically do not go to japanese/sushi restaurants when we dine out. my friend recommended tokkuri-tei (i am a TT virgin), and we set out to kapuhulu. my friend didn't realize they had moved, and was pleasantly surprised at the ease of parking and the larger space compared to the old location. everything we ordered tasted fresh and my taste buds were dancing. the measly portion of grilled squid tentacles left me wanting for more! with the vast items on the menu, i think i can take my FH here next time; from ribeye to chicken skewers, his cravings will also be fulfilled. my ultimate new addition? nori tempura. FH doesn't eat nori either, so yeah, i can't wait to go back to TT with him. i won't have to share!!
(4)
Ken W.

Very, very good food, if you can figure out what to order. A place like this really needs pictures for their food items. I felt like there must've been over a hundred items on their menu, many of them being cooked items that are not what you would find if you go to restaurants specializing in sushi. I guess they add some humor in their descriptions, but unfortunately it's usually one or two words and not terribly helpful. One item listed the name, and the description was "fox?". Yes, with the question mark. Is it fox or not? The good news is even though we didn't know really know what we were ordering, everything was very good. FOOD 1) Ika Yaki (Squid Pancake) - don't worry, there are no tentacles sticking out, and it's not seasoned with Aunt Jemima's. The squid was chopped up nicely and it was fried like the Asian green onion pancake. They drizzled some sauce on it that was dy-no-mite!! 5/5 2) Sakekawa (salmon skin) Tofu Salad - good size salad with salmon skin and lots of other ingredients. Very tasty, but a little heavy on the raw onion. 4.5/5 3) Mixed Tempura - we ordered a tempura udon but this came out instead. 3 pieces of shrimp, some zuchinni and some other squashes. Tasted great. 4/5 4) Yaki Udon - Lightly stir fried udon with shrimp. 4/5 5) Butterfish roll - delicious! 4/5 6) Stuffed portobello mushroom - stuffed with I think mochi rice. Good flavor, but not unique enough to order again. 3/5 7) Spicy scallop roll - barely had any scallops! 2/5 Overall the portions were not huge, but with enough items you will be full. Not the most economical place in the world, but good Japanese food rarely is. LOCATION The restaurant is located on the 2nd level of the building, along the street. There is underground parking that used to require validation, but now it's open. We went at 6pm and there were plenty of seats, but by 7:30pm the place was rockin.
(5)
Deb D.

Restaurant was a bit too noisy. At a small table against the front window, I could barely hear my fiance talk. Menu was difficult to navigate and too busy. I had asked a waitress for recommendations, but like I said, the place was too noisy I couldn't hear what she had suggested so I gave up. I let my fiance pick what to eat. Food was ok. I did enjoy the tempura butterfish and hamachi sashimi. I would give this place another try maybe during the week and not a weekend night. Maybe ask for a table away from the walls and window, if you want to have a conversation with your date.
(3)
Gina N.

This "hole in the wall" joint definitely hit the spot to satisfy my sushi cravings!!! I found out about this spot from a local. Really small restaurant, and if you're not looking for it, you probably wouldn't even think twice to eat there. But glad we did! We were a bit overwhelmed with the menu options as there was a huge variety to chose from. We decided to pick & choose from the different selections, and went with: Spicy scallop hand roll: Probably one of my fav rolls of the night. Loved the crunch of the cucumber in the middle, & the scallop was amazing. sooo fresh & spicy!! Yummo! Ribeye: suppose to be one of the best...compared to nobu's but prob half the price. They cut it into strips for you on top of salad greens, and provide you with the fatty juices it was cooked in for the dipping sauce. The hubbie said it literally melted in his mouth, and the "fat" added the extra flavor =) Dynamite roll: the BEST roll of the nite for me! Soooo velvety & buttery. HmmmmMmmmmm!!! But then again..i'm a sucker for scallop. Miso butterfish roll: mediocre & forgetable Ahi tuna tartare: different. The tuna is piled on top of a crunchy rice concoction which wasn't that flavorful for me...but i guess i would prefer a light flaky rice cracker or something to go with the tuna as opposed to a hardened rice cake. Tuna was definitely fresh & on point, but the dish overall was good, but not over the top bomb. I would definitely come back here again with a local, so we know what to order. But the Ribeye is a definite MUST here.
(4)
Randydeluxe J.

Most people who live in Honolulu don't want to eat where the tourists eat. That way generally leads to discomfort. Sushi in Hawaii can be surprisingly hit and miss. It's a crowded market that can't help but try to jockey for tourist eyeballs and dollars. Except for Tokkuri-Tei. Sure, this place used to be even more "locals only", but the change is a good thing. Parking used to be a nightmare. Now you have several good parking options in every direction. It used to be a place where the only door for customers dumped you into a prep area alongside the kitchen, and if there were more than 15 people already eating there, you had nowhere to wait. Outside on the sidewalk, I guess. The sushi here is great. No one running Tokkuri-Tei cares about attracting tourists. They care about serving delicious food, and every time I've gone -- every dish I've tasted there -- I've been very pleased. Their edamame even seems better than elsewhere. I don't know how. It may not dazzle you if you're a tourist. But maybe it will. Especially if you like fantastic sushi.
(4)
Neelie O.

I'm no sushi connoisseur; I only ordered two items here; and I'm all about value. So keep those things in mind as your read this review in the midst of everyone else's rave reviews. 1. Squid pancake: the pancake itself was quite tasty - it was nicely fried with yummy chopped up squid bits. The sauce on top was the killer for me. It tasted like creamy, tonkatsu sauce and was drenched all over the pancake. I found it extremely overpowering. I would suggest asking for the sauce on the side, as a dipping sauce. That way, you get to enjoy the pancake with as much or little of the sauce as you'd like. 2. Fresh ahi inside out roll. Like I said - I'm all about value. This roll was $9.50 for pretty large slices of tuna, wrapped in a thick layer of rice rolled in tobiko. I would have preferred to spend the money on Ono Seafood's poke bowl = $2 cheaper, way more fresh tuna, and fresher rice. I did appreciate the service. We took our time ordering and I liked how they didn't pester us too much and gave us ample space, yet still being attentive. For that, I'll up them up a star.
(3)
Ted S.

A must walk through the menu!!! #1 Sake Dynamite... I cannot believe of all 4 nights I did not try it until the 4th!!! Salmon, avocado, mushroom, and a little spice goodness. I really wish I could find this in LA CA #2 All the poke. My favorite is the JalapeÃ±o #3 Salmon Salad is number 3 but only because everything else is so goo too. Ordered it 4 nights in a row and often wished I ordered 2... of the full salad. #4 The Corey Tofu. I would love to have tried all the tofu on the menu. I love this place and cannot wait to come back.
(5)
kristine f.

I'm sure by now you all can take notice that I love Japanese, especially Izakaya style eateries. Tokkuri-Tei is one that I absolutely fell for. I have been hearing about this place for years but only decided to try it a year ago. What a shame. Tokkuri-Tei is a very quaint and fun place to go after work and enjoy a bottle (or 2 or 3, depending on the day at the office) of Echigo in a frosty, chilled glass. I usually get the Ika pancake which is absolutely amazing. A few pieces of Hamachi and perhaps a specialty roll. And of course, an order of edamame which is very difficult to mess up. If I still have room, I'll order my favorite, Hamachi Kama. The menu has a huge variety for a sushi eater and even those who don't care for raw fish. You should see the names/titles of the menu items it's quite entertaining. The staff is always very pleasant. I've been here for both lunch and dinner. Lunch hours is pretty dead but dinner is usually jam packed. I'd also like to point out that they have awesome lunch specials like Assorted Donburis, Udon, Bentos and so forth. If you plan on going for dinner, either go right when they open or call for a reservation. Parking like many of these small ma and pa restaurants is tight. For dinner, valet is only available. However, I usually find parking on the street. It's definitely a fun and relaxing place. Enjoy!
(4)
Allen F.

This place was amazing!!! We came here for a belated valentines dinner. Chef Ryuji was the MAN! This guy serves you if you sit at the counter and was the 6th star of my rating. We met him serve us what ever came to his mind and everything was amazing!! We just found our new sushi place!
(5)
Richard W.

Food is excellent here. I had a little difficult time reading the menu maybe because I reviewed this restaurant before I arrived planning already what I wanted to eat. Must say that looking at photos on Yelp helped me to decide what to eat. Salmon skin salad was light and tasty. Also had the Maunakea, Sake Dynamite, Miso soup with clams, Monkfish Liver, and Butterfish Tempura. All were excellent. Already thinking when i can come back soon to try the other dishes. Atmosphere was casual and the service was good. Really a good place to hang out to eat, drink, and talk.
(5)
G-man M.

I went there last nite for one reason, to try their HAWAIIAN made SHO CHU. I was very surprised to find it ã¾ã‚ã‚„ã‹ã‚ and ã®ã¿ã‚„ã™. Very smooth and easy to drink. Kazu put out some pupu which made the experience even better. I am not even a fan of shochu as I prefer sake but if you like shochu I'm sure you will not be disappointed. Okay, that's all. Go try 'um, go.
(5)
Erin Y.

I always forget about this place when I'm in the mood for Japanese food. Maybe its the location, but every time I do remember, it's always a great experience! The service here is always great. Sometimes the servers are way too busy, but it's not like they're standing around doing nothing. It takes a little longer because they're seriously slammin'. The food is super. +yaki musubi +that pork chiso roll thing +kurobuta pork sausage +any of the sushi rolls +this other thing that I don't remember what it was but it was $2 each, and it was a fried chip thing with some spicy ahi on it. *DAMMIT* I wish I knew his name. Plus Japanese beers, sake, wine, they pretty much have something for anyone. Prices are reasonable, and the atmosphere is comfortable and of average noise level. I seriously dislike that there is no bathroom in the actual restaurant, but its a small price to pay for kurobuta sausage on a stick and yaki musubi shaped like a corn dog!!! 3/31 October 2012
(4)
Kim B.

This place was great and I loved the location - I was able to quickly walk here from my Hotel. I came here about 2-3 years ago and the service was nice, the fish was fresh and it had a great atmosphere.
(4)
Conor I.

Tokkuri-Tei is great. This location is MUCH bigger than their previous location and the parking is much better as well. I love love love (did you get that) Izakaya style restaurants. Everything we tried here was great. Don't be afraid just order it! Seriously this place is awesome.
(5)
Kevin Z.

Any sushi place that has a wait means the food is THAT good so expect a wait when dining here especially on a weekend. The staff is very helpful w/ informing you about what to try. You can see that the food is fresh as even while you're waiting you can see food constantly being brought out & the chefs preparing everything. If you've had sushi before it's nothing compared to FRESSSSSSSSSSH sushi that is right from the water. Everything we had was good, I have no complaints. The service was prompt as well. We were brought snake sake (habu), which literally is a jar w/ a snake in it! It tastes just like whiskey so that jar stayed awhile! Def a thumbs up on the food! There is tons of parking on the street. The bathroom however is located down the hall outside of the location which is the only draw back I could name.
(5)
Halei J.

Love this place...the first time I was here it was a couple of years ago at the kapahulu location, it was a cool little place, very cozy. This year when I came, I came with my cousins, I thought they were taking me to another place, I didn't know they had moved...this location is a lot bigger, I think I actually prefer the older location. The food is very good, we ordered so much food I can't even remember what we had! Lots of sushi, that's for sure and beef tongue....haha. Service is very friendly as well. I'll be back here on my next visit for sure!
(5)
Kittie W.

This place has a extensive menu. That being said, I wished they were more a little bit more descriptive and more compassionate about their customers when it comes to food allergies. I had a bad experience one night with the waiters. I didn't know their Yaki Udon had shrimp in them because there was nothing on the menu that had said it. So when the food came out, my face just dropped. I loved shellfish when I turned 11, a part of me died when I suddenly became allergic to shellfish. I am very careful when it comes to asking servers about certain food items (because I eat a lot and I do work in the food industry so I do have a good knowledge of food), but I didn't think twice to asked about it since it never indicated shrimp. I hardly ever returned food, even ifs its under cooked (I know, its bad but I'm really not that picky); but since I ordered it and no one wanted to share this dish with me, I really didn't want to waste it. So I politely asked our waitress if I could returned it without the shrimp cooked in it, because I really didn't know there were any shrimp. The waitress suddenly snapped at me and said, "Did you not read the sign?". "What sign?" I asked and she promptly pointed straight to the a small letter sized paper sign that was posted on a refrigerator door where they keep their drinks in. My party sat near the bar but slightly angled and my friend bluntly said, "How was she suppose to see that?" I again politely asked if this was not possible then its fine, just I won't eat it so you can just take it back. She just grabbed the dish and left. Later, another kinder older waitress came out with the same dish without the shrimp and apologized for the wait. My party was surprised because we didn't even know they were gonna make another one AND our waitress suddenly disappeared. Towards the end of the night, since we hardly saw our waitress again, we had to flagged our waitress down for our bill. After 10 minutes, we got our bill, but again she disappeared! We saw her later chatting with the bartender but it was like, really? I understand that it was an inconvenience on my part about my allergy, but its not like I did that on purpose so that DOES NOT excuse her to be so rude to me nor my friends. When we paid, I walked towards the sign and it said something like, please let the server know any food allergies. WE ARE NOT LIABLE and something like that. Honestly, I've been to restaurants where they indicated on the menu and no where on the menu did it say something like that. I know I shouldn't feel awful, but I know what its like to deal with rude angry customers, but still... I wasn't rude at all about my allergy. It made me felt horrible for having such an inconvenient allergy, but I got over it so now I'm writing about it. Thank you for reading this and beware food allergen friends!! This restaurant is NOT friendly to our kind :(
(2)
anh t.

I use the Maguro nigiri as a standard for all sushi restaurants. These pieces were HUGE, but they weren't the best I had. They're good though. Also ordered: Negima - Chicken and white onion. Flavorful but possibly compensating with sauce, since the chicken was a bit bland. Shi so Maki - Pork. good but not outstanding. Kawa - Chicken skin - SOLD OUT! I came here right when the store was opening. Big no-no!
(3)
J C.

Yeah, it's good. I've never had to wait more than a few minutes for a table, even though it always seems to be full. The selection is ridiculous, and they have a fair amount of vegetarian items (albeit most aren't sushi), which I have found to be fairly uncommon in HI. In the 4 months that I have lived here, it is the only restaurant I've been to 5 times. The wasabi yakitori is great, and so are most of the rolls I have had. I think I'll go back soon. Go, and then get a malasada from Leonard's for dessert...if you have room...
(5)
Grimeater A.

This place is not bad. Not my first choice of Sushi restaurants though. This place has a big parking lot but for some reason if you are eating at this restaurant you HAVE to valet. I haven't been back for a while but I find it to be retarded to valet when there are stalls all over the place available to the other business's customers. What makes it even more retarded is that one time when I valeted the car, they valet guy pulled straight into a stall that I could've parked in myself. Free parking for people spending $3 eating ice cream but none for the people spending $100+ dollars. lol. This place is a hole in the wall, nothing fancy inside. The food was ok. I wasn't impressed by the award winning "spider in the poke" or whatever it was called. Everything else was good but not spectacular.
(3)
Mag K.

A new "must come back" favorite of mine in Honolulu now. Absolutely the freshest sushi and super yummy rolls, especially the miso butter roll (I think that's what it was called?!) Super tiny restaurant, great ambiance though. I can see why da locals like it so much!
(4)
Dave E.

Tokkuri Tei is one of my favorites. Something as simple as yak onigiri brings tears to my eyes. The yakitori, enoki mushrooms, tanyaki, shiso maki and the ahi with cheese salad is excellent. Often very crowded, it's definitely worth the wait.
(5)
Lily L.

we got here at 7pm on a Monday and there was no wait - lucky us! it's a little hard to find this gem since it's not exactly visible from the street (it's located in the same plaza as papa john's pizza and across from zippy's). we were eager to order the yakitori and izakaya items more than sushi, so we got the abalone sashimi ($20), nori tempura ($4), green onions and chicken yakitori ($4), fried squid ($8), and beef tongue ($4). the abalone was pretty amazing - fresh and cut just right so the ratio of crunchy:chewy in each bite was ideal. it comes with lemon slices and ponzu, both of which compliment the dish well. i personally find that wasabi/soysauce also goes extremely well with this sashimi. they only had one skewer of the yakitori left, which was a bummer, bc the chicken and green onion bits were so tasty, we found it hard to share. :) the beef tongue skewers were thinly sliced and lightly seasoned. their list of sake options are extensive with a rating system to show you which ones are dry and which ones are sweet. i loved how they overpoured the sake into a shotglass within a sake box - the way authentic Japanese places do. we saw a lot of ppl ordering sushi, maybe next time we'll check that out too.
(4)
Jennifer H.

I had heard so many great things about Tokkuri-Tei and my bf and I were psyched to try it out. I didnt remember it being that great here for the price u pay. Had the Salmon Skin Salad and several other dishes I forget what they were.... its looks really pretty but I wasn't "wowed". Just my 2 cents. I might need to update my review but there are so many other new places on my list right now. If the place doesnt wow you the first time, why would you want to go back again? I know there are some die hard fans of this joint who would love to burn me at the steak right now for saying this... but I am not one of them and I dont think I'll ever be a big fan of this place. It's not that the food is bad but it's just that it's not that memorable either. Maybe because I'm a Californian..??? Maybe I just need a few shots of Sake?
(3)
G T.

Great food and huge menu, but difficult to get reservations since they never answer the phone outside of dining hours and slow service.
(3)
Mike U.

4.5 stars Came in on a Wednesday night, service was quick and friendly, and the food, oh god, such a extensive menu, it took us forever to decide. We went with: beef tongue skewer-well seasoned and perfect with a beer mushroom and pork skewer-interesting textures, could be a little better seasoned. tempura miso butterfish- very well presented, and the fish was light and flaky. salmon sashimi-came out with raw onions and a lemon wedge, it was a really nice combination, and the fish was very, very fresh. hamachi sushi-large strips, fresh and so good. Great place, judging from the walls it seemed to be popular with Japanese celebrities, very extensive sake selection that I didn't get to try. Definitely a go.
(4)
Thomas C.

Missed the entrance the first time around. Parking was scarce, so ended up doing the valet ($3). A small joint, but they sat us immediately. A very large menu. In the end, I went with the omakase sushi, and she went with the omakase chirashi. In my opinion I think the chirashi was a better deal for $40, than the sushi was for $50. Mixture was good though. And the piece-de-resistance was the uni for sure. It was so good in fact, I had to order more a-la-carte. The service for the most part was good. It was a bit pricey, but the fish was ultra fresh and the cuts were generous. It did take a while for our food to come out though. Especially the second time around ordering the a-la-carte items. Does it really need to take 20 minutes for two pieces of uni and two pieces of salmon? Oh well. It was a great meal overall though. And the Asahi was ice cold, just the way I like it.....
(4)
Kim F.

This is my home away from home. I've been coming here since a year after they opened and I have celebrated birthdays, weddings (mine!) and everyday stuff here for over 10 years. The fact that the wait staff is friendly, Santa is always charming and Kazu-san makes the best darn California temaki in this world is reason enough for me to keep coming back. (psst, they use REAL crab in their California rolls) The fact that the owners went out on a limb, several years ago, and decided to go smoke-free (before the State-wide ban was even conceived) tells you that they make their own rules. And their rules rock! Their teriyaki cream tofu (French-Asian inspired) is a work of art! And they are always coming up with new fusion dishes like nori-chos, sheets of nori (seaweed) crispied then dressed with melted cheeses is very ... um, strange, but at the same time tasty! They have great sushi, grilled skewers, simmered items as well as your run-of-the-mill Japanese items such as teriyaki steak and shrimp tempura. I don't think you could get a bad meal here. Ever. As far as mediocre, well ... that would be hard also. The only kind of meal you get here is ONO-lious.
(5)
Cara S.

Tokkuri-Tei is the real deal! It's a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with delicious fresh sushi and plenty of menu items to choose from such as poke. It was packed when we went, but it was obvious why there were so many people there! The servers are friendly. It's worth checking out! Be prepared for the $3 valet only.
(5)
Love S.

I was trying to impress a client with some local homestyle Japanese Izakaya. What is going on with this place? Food is not up to par. 20 pieces of Hamachi Nigiri sliced THIN and it didn't have the buttery flavor. My client was not impressed. The tongue was good but it wasn't as tender as before. The portions of food were rather small, it seems as though they're cutting some corners. I'm gonna have to think twice about returning. I've been a fan for so many years, but I'm docking them a star till they wise up and get it right.
(4)
Faisal M.

Great place close to waikiki and away from the tourist traps. Call ahead for reservations because it's always packed. Great ambiance and very friendly atmosphere. Mostly locals here so great relaxed vibe without the loud mainlanders! I came here twice in one day for lunch and dinner and then once more before I left. Fish is not as stellar as Mitch's but close and it's way closer and more neighbourhood-ish.
(4)
Joshua C.

In my relatively short yelp history I've put a lot of effort into providing a different take on things (especially with places that already have more than eighty reviews). Some are successful (e.g. Le Bistro BBQ Lamb dialogue yelp.com/biz/le-bistro-hâ€¦ ) Some are not (e.g. listing everything I buy at Costco yelp.com/biz/costco-wholâ€¦ ) Some are down right weird (Dog's point of view of Crazy Canine yelp.com/biz/crazy-caninâ€¦ ) Regardless of how ridiculous, I try to at least make reviews useful, though even that's often muddled by irrelevant gibberish. So anyway, back in June I told demur e. that: "... I'm mulling over writing my Tokkuri Tei review from the perspective of two foreign spies who have mistakenly bugged my family's dinner table with a listening device in hopes that we were agents meeting to divulge national secrets...." I thought maybe there'd be discussions like: Spy 1: What do you hear? Spy 2: Static...do you have visual? S1: It's coming through now, there's four males and two females. The target is the larger one with the sushi platter on the end. He's saying something. S2: I've got it. "...the cuts of fish are fresh and decently sized, but not as skillfully done as Sushi Masa's" S1: Sounds like code, he's probably referring to guidance chips. S2: This Masa must be an alternate arms dealer. Wait there's more "...thanks for taking me out for my birthday. The Miso Eggplant and the kushiyaki are delicious..." S1: Kushiyaki? S2: Skewered grill items, clearly a reference to the missiles. S1: "My birthday", must be the launch date. You get the point...or not. It was too silly, like those lame films that are totally unbelievable. How could a real spy possibly think my family dangerous? What country would they be from? Where are they listening from? Nuclear Missles? How cliche! So then I thought, well what if they were FBI agents instead? Maybe on a stakeout in a van right outside of Dave's Ice Cream (next door to Tokkuri Tei). One new trainee, one more seasoned. Special Agent 1: You get the ice cream? Special Agent 2: Green tea right? SA1: Yup, gonna be a long night grasshopper, so settle in. SA2: Think we'll get to bust someone? SA1: Hell I don't even know why we're watching these clowns. One got flagged for writing some controversial reviews on Yip.com or some other BS. Filters picked it up and so here we are. What we know bout this place? SA2: Tokkuri-Tei used to be a few miles from here on Sheridan Street. Japanese Izakaya, popular after work bar, sushi, and small dish place. Extensive menu, cramped spaces, friendly staff, always busy. This is actually a slow night and they're packed, usually the line's out the door. SA1: Sounds like an ideal spot for a terrorist meeting. Maybe you better go in and check it out. SA2: Really sir? SA1: Boy if you were any greener they'd roll you up and smoke you. Just sit there and wake me up when the suspect comes out. Yeah I know, don't quit my day job (which at the moment isn't even possible)? So I'm sorry demur e. you can see I tried, but in the end I'll probably just go with something jejune or mundane. Tokkuri Tei one of my long time favorites that's good and at the same time over-hyped. For better Sushi visit Masa or Yohei. Nicer atmosphere try Sushi Gaku. For more legroom Bistro Shun. But if casual, divey, chaotic, delicious japanese food and drink's your thing, it's pretty hard to go wrong here (unless you think this might actually be good spot to try and take over the world).
(4)
Trav15t ..

If you want real sushi in Honolulu, go here. I true gem with authentic atmosphere. Order the sake in the box and munkfish liver.
(5)
Kimberly S.

Best izakaya I have ever eaten in the world, hands down! I went here with my parents and bf went here during the Thanksgiving 2009 week, so I pretty much forgot the items ordered. The parking attendant is friendly and you can go ask him for some recommendations. Seating is not a problem, even though there's wait time, it gave the whole family to ask recommendations from the parking guy lol.. One thing I remembered for sure is some tofu with soupy thing, and I can say that boy, they were good! Considering I'm a picky tofu eater. When we come out of the restaurant, we gave him a big tip because of the satisfying experience from the food he recommended.
(5)
Rob U.

This is a great izakaya type restaurant (food and drinks are served). The food is great, especially the squid pancake. If you are looking for an interesting meal, get the fish collar bone as well (Hamachi-Kama). That is some of the best fish you will have. Sushi is great too. The chef comes up with some of the most interesting variations of local dishes, including his own poke recipe, which took top honors in the Sam Choy Poke Festival in 2001. The restaurant is located in a small strip mall near Waikiki, but once you are inside you wouldnt know it. Let the food speak for itself.
(5)
susan f.

Deee-lish! * izakaya-style dishes (small plates of bar food) * super yummy * recently featured on the top 50 list (thanks for luggin' back the paper Greg!)
(4)
Jaimie S.

I love this place!!! The menu is pretty extensive here and they had a good selection of sake. It was all reasonably priced. The food came out pretty quickly and the food was soooooo tasty!! The enoki bata was my favorite!! I'm knocking off one star cause they were out of gyu tongue and their parking is valet only during certain hours. Other than that, it was great!
(4)
Rosalind C.

Delicious, you must eat here. It was a little hard to find and parking is also a problem but the sushi is delicious. My friend said it was the best sushi she had ever had in her life. We tried a Hawaiian style roll with the ahi tuna, it was incredible. Highly recommended.
(5)
Ryoko Y.

One of my favorites! Try to beat the crowd by either getting there early between 5-6PM, make a reservation, or get there after 9PM. note: they do not take reservations past 7PM, so be prepared, the wait will be long. I absolutely love the Sakekawa Tofu Salad (yum!), the Yaki Udon, & I believe it's called the Creamy Teriyaki Tofu (correct me if I'm wrong). They have a variety of tasty dishes, that I can't name right now, but all just as yummy.
(5)
zuri p.

I don't think Sushi could get any better! I have been here on almost every day of the week and the food is always fresh, the service is always awesome, the choices are always abundant (and the menu has little jokes written in it!), and it isn't ridiculously priced. I love Tokkuri-Tei. If you haven't been, please please please GO!
(5)
Alex D.

Tokkuri-tei... is a gem in the kapahulu avenue crown of amazing eats. This is a great place to have a beer or cocktail with friends over small plate after small plate of yummy goodness. We enjoyed the squid pancake, fried butterfish, salmon skin salad, teri tofu, and various sushi rolls! The menu is huge, and it will certainly bring me back to try more dishes! This place is a new favorite... and is on the list of "must visits" whenever in honolulu.
(5)
Mako H.

I've got to admit, now that i've tried tokkuri tei I won't be able to do any further food reviews because i'm never going to eat anyplace else ever again,,,,WOW,,,, even my wife said, "best dang japanese place we've been to yet (outside of japan that is)" the atmosphere is like getting off a jet and falling into an izakaya place, decent sized place which is good because by 7 pm the place is packed. They only take reservations until 7. The food: wow what can you say,,,, we ordered soooo much food, my wife ordered and ordered and ordered, I was thinking jeeez is she ordering for me too? hell no that was all for her,,, holy batcaves,, batman. when the food arrived (service was very quick) the table barely had room for all of it, can't even remember what we ordered but it was all heavenly, cooked perfectly. Wifey was so happy about this place she said, "deserts going to be at home tonight!" so I paid the tab and burned rubber home. best $83 i've spent in a dang long time 8)
(5)
Maile Y.

Sushi Izakya gaku was closed for the week, and I've been salivating over izakaya style food ever since Jayson posted his SIG trip on FB. Ordered a whole bunch of stuff, all of which was delicious, some of which I will certainly order again. Winners for me: grilled musubi (I love koge rice), spicy tofu, pork and gobo (a surprisingly tasty dish), panfried butterfish Soso: ahi katsu, stuffed portobello (though BF liked both of these a lot) Can't wait to go back and start working my way through the menu...never even had the sushi!!!
(4)
Viil L.

Truly yummy food, and quite a few great options for veggie hubby too :)
(5)
Daniel W.

Had the spider poki, which is a specialty of the establishment. Also had the spicy tuna, scallops, and another poki dish. My girlfriend had a combination dinner with ebi tempura, beef skewers, grilled salmon, salad, and mochi. The food was fresh. The service was good.
(4)
tan k.

Was much better before the cookbook came out, felt like a special find. That being said, I am a recovering addict of their salmon skin tofu salad. Tuesdays and Saturdays are the days they are most likely not to run out. Ika yaki-delicious. Sake sushi-buttery and perfect temp. Snake drink-I can drink an unusually large amount of sake, but when topped off with this cobra nectar-lethal.
(4)
nicole s.

we visited the new site and the food was as good as ever, and the service was terrific. fast, efficient, and always a filled glass of beer or water. try the miso portabello (my favorite), squid pancake (hubby's fav) and the rice bullets. the corn, when is season is delicious too. good luck with the new spot! great that there is now more seating and parking!
(5)
Alan N.

I like how they rate and describe their sake, makes choosing one out so much more easy. we went here based on recommendations of other yelpers, and the hamachi was melt in your mouth great, butterfish special was a solid dish, and their different rolls were all really good. also nice that it doesn't have that tourist trap of feel (it's easy to miss). highly recommended.
(4)
Dijon Y.

This is at the newer, larger location. This is a good place to go if you want to try different dishes. In general, the food is pretty good. The caterpillar roll is pretty good. Yummy. The portion size is good and they don't skimp on the avocado and unagi. Kind of looks like a caterpillar also. Cool. The spicy tuna roll wasn't as big nor colorful, but tasted pretty good. The squid pancake was pretty good, crunchy on the bottom and soft on top. The salmon skin salad was the only dish that I might have a quibble with. Due to its name, I was expecting more salmon skin than we actually had. Also it seemed to have a lot of orange fish eggs on top, which made it quite salty. It was tasty but would have been better with less fish eggs and saltiness. Pretty good service also.
(4)
altaf g.

If you' re looking to get away from all the touristy places on Waikiki beach this great spot is a short cab ride (or long walk). A really nice local dude recommended a number of dishes while we waited outside. The nachos (really, just go ahead and call them that) were excellent and so different from any Japanese food I've had. I'd avoid the chicken skewers, they had way too much wasabe caked on them but hey some people enjoy feeling like they are getting punched in the face when eating Japanese food. The head guy didn't really embody the aloha spirit but the rest of the staff was very friendly and spent a lot of time helping us figure out the menu and our order.
(4)
Keith K.

This is a must-eat place. This is Tokkuri Tei's third location in the past 10 years, but the food is just as good -- even better than I remembered. You would never guess that the kau kau here is so good from the looks of the exterior and the mini-strip mall that it's in. Valet parking is $3.
(5)
Olga K.

Sushi and rolls tasted ok but looked inaccurately. Service and atmosphere doesn't match the prices.
(2)
Erik S.

Very good sushi here. The sushi chef was really nice and the service was quite good. My wife and I shared 4 sushi rolls which varied from outstanding to decent. The shrimp tempura was the best, followed closely by the california roll, followed by the somewhat bland soft shelled crab, and lastly the spicy tuna roll. It's definitely worth a trip here when on Oahu.
(4)
David C.

There are enough positive reviews about this place so I'm just going write some suggestions for dishes to try. The menu can be overwhelming to izakaya newbies. Here's what I recommmend: Chicken wing skewers: - I've had me a lot of chicken wings at izakaya joints and these rank up there as one of the best. The key is to get the skin nice and crispy and use enough (but not too much) salt. Tokkuri-Tei gets it right. Tip: squeeze the lemon on there. Hamachi kama: - The key is to get the skin nice and crispy and use enough (but not too much) salt. Sensing a pattern here? Also, fresh fish is a must. This is the collar bone of the yellowtail. It's expensive but a bullseye. Zaru soba with mountain yam: - Mountain yam is like daikon but it's really really gooey. You add it to the dipping sauce. I think that's what gives it its character. As long as it's chilled and you use a bit of wasabi it tastes great and it's fun to eat. Warm...well, warm it might remind you of the last time you had a bad cold. Salmon nigiri: - I typically judge a sushi joint by how the salmon tastes. Tuna, yellowtail, halibut and snapper all tend to hold up pretty well to a day in a fridge. But, in my experience (I used to work at a sushi joint), the salmon will taste off if it's not fresh. Tokkuri-Tei impressed me. It was nutty and full of flavor.
(5)
Nate K.

BEST SUSHI ON THE PLANET! Tokkuri is one of, if not the best kept secrets in Hawaii. I was told by someone at my firm this is where the locals go for really good sushi. The place is always hopping and the moment you walk in you know you're in for something special. The owner is behind the bar, the menu is a mix of awesome rolls that are bigger than most places and other traditional japanese fare that balances out their 11 page menu which includes one of the best Sake lists i have ever seen. Most of all, what i like about Tokkuri-Tei is that everything they do is about quality - for example it is the only place i know where they use real Alaskan King Crab for their California Rolls --- sure they are a bit more expensive but the payback is so worth it. Insiders note: try the grilled chicken with ginger wasabi sauce! Insiders note II: don't be put off by the hour wait - yes it will be an hour, but it is so worth it!
(5)
T. C.

It is always a must-stop everytime I go to Hawaii. The food is always consistently delicious & it is always a great time! Santa & Kazu "take care" everytime & I always feel at home there. Don't miss the specials board. All of the pokes are awesome & don't miss the Tofu Steak, Miso Portabello & Yakitori items. Can't wait to go back. My mouth is watering just thinking of it...
(5)
Gary D.

it doesn't get much better than a dinner at the sushi bar here. Delicious. Let the sushi chefs help you decide what to get. Fabulous.
(5)
Patty O.

This place was great! Trashy-chic, no AC, the men's room doubles as a storeroom. Small plates, like tapas, but some really interesting dishes. Among others, we tried the fried ahi w/kraft cheese sauce (white trash cooking, island style) and the hamachi special, a whole broiled jaw of yellowfin. Even tried the snake-venom...described as Okinawan Tequila, complete with a coiled rattlesnake in the jar. The sashimi was as fresh as they come. I would surely recommend this place to my closest friends, but no others...I want to keep it a seceret!
(4)
Chris R.

Tokkuri-tei used to be our place to go to-when we had friends or family in town or just because we needed an ikayaki fix with some good sake and instead ended up stuffing ourselves silly with all the wonderful food on Santa's menu. Both former locations had lots of charm. Naturally we were glad when they moved to Kapahulu-not so far to drive! The new location however, while spacious , lacks that fun feeling the others had-sure you were crammed into a small space but the new one has the feeling of a cafeteria. Worse yet is the $5. corkage fee per glass until they get their liquor license! Worse than that is the SERVICE. What happened to all the gals who were friendly, knowledgeable and speedy with taking your order and delivering it? They were attentive without being obtrusive. We didn't see one familiar face tonight and ended up walking out when no one stopped by with a menu (besides the hanging one). The waitstaff seemed to be huddled around the hostess/cashier's station, oblivious to any of the guests, deep in conference. It's been over a year since we last visited Tokkuri-tei. While the service has vastly improved (we had a young man who very capably managed our party of 10 and it's diverse tastes and large order), the food unfortunately has not lived up to it's former glory. Spicy tuna tastes like mashed ahi mixed with siracha. Butter fish is served battered and fried with a pool of "designer" sauces. California roll has real crab but is made into a bland mushy filling. And alas, our favorite ika yaki was burned on the bottom and lacked the substantial thickness and yummy saucing it had before.
(2)
Teresa W.

I'm loving these izakaya-style restaurants! Never heard of Tokkuri-Tei until a couple of days ago, when we met up with friends from Toronto. They heard great things about this restaurant and wanted to check it out. One of our friends who previously owned a Japanese restaurant said the raw fish was amazing. I'm not a fan of raw fish, so i can't say anything about it. Everything else that I had was delish...the portabello mushrooms stuffed with sticky rice, the soba with tempura, the little grilled pork sausages, the grilled sticky rice on a stick, the sushi rolls....yummy! I definitely will be back for more...there's so many more things to try!!! Valet Parking is $3, avoid paying the $3 by finding a parking spot around the neighborhood.
(4)
Jona C.

I finally got a chance to go to Oahu for the first time. When I was out getting my tan on, I unexpectedly ran into some of my Bay Area folks out there and they recommended this restaurant. Parking wasn't a problem because we cabbed it, the wait was about 15 minutes and we sat at the bar. The tuna literally melted in my mouth, the yellow tail and abalone was delish, the mirugai was pure pleasure and the uni was heavenly. No comment about the rolls. By far, the best sushi I've had in my lifetime. Uni will never be the same here in the Bay. Our other friend was kind of under the weather that night so after raving about it, we had to take her there the next night. We pretty much ordered the same things, but took 4 pieces of uni to the face this time. Sat at the bar again and the chef even gave us some freebies. Well worth every financing charge on my credit card.
(5)
Michelle T.

OMG, they make the best salmon salad. It's delish and refreshing too. We also got some sashimi, which was very good and fresh. My only complaints is that we came expecting $$ prices but it really should be $$$. Still worth the trip out there just to try tho.
(4)
Laura P.

How I wish there was a Tokkuri-Tei in my neighborhood. Instead, my neighborhood is flooded with places that pale in comparison. Not even the high priced disco-ball sushi joint a stone's throw away beats Tokkuri-Tei. We walked here from our hotel, therefore we avoided the $3 parking fee and quickly got our name on the list on a busy Saturday night. The menu is huge (points for cure& funny descriptions). Never do I jones for a tomato salad prior to Japanese food, but I couldn't resist the local 'mater and greens salad. Fabulous. Our bill was ridiculously cheap compared to the amount of food that we ordered- don't try this at some random Waikiki joint though. How I wish that I went back a second time. The ice cream place next door was great as well.
(4)
Emi J.

We went here a few times. Crowded, loud with lots of decor on the walls. Very dark and usually packed. I don't like that you have to valet just to come here. We usually get sushi which is very good and I'll get tempura. Not a lot of places make shiso tempura so that's a plus! We recently took our relatives from Japan here on their short stay in Hawaii and we chose Tokkuri. Everything was okay until the waitress asked my aunty if she wanted another pitcher of beer and my aunty said no but she brought one anyway and we said we didn't order one more then the waitress made a weird face like it was a waste of her time to bring it, her comment was "I asked you guys if you wanted another one!" my aunty had said NO. This ruined the entire dinner for us. If they want to try to advertise to the Japanese tourists and the staff can't understand iie then something is wrong. We have eaten here many times but after this last visit we may never again thanks to one rude waitress.
(2)
Liz G.

to begin, I am not a local, nor japanese... but I do love food, and I had a family of 7 with me that was counting on a good meal. We had all read the guide books full of recommendations, but I encouraged everyone to go with my yelp advisors. We arrived on a tuesday around 8, and it was packed! we got in in about 30 minutes, not bad for a big group. The food? Wonderful! With all these people to please, thats a big deal. We recieved a free tuna app that was amazing, spicy with seasonings, and sauteed to perfection. I wonder if the fact that I told her I was a yelper helped. Most of us ordered the standard rolls, but I tasted a few new things... There was the Coris special-breaded and fried tofu topped with a teriyaki cream sauce... so rich and flavorful, I almost want to go vegetarian. The udon noodles were in a savory broth of perfection, and they were almost meaty, so filling. all of us had the miso, which looked ordinary until you tasted the depth of the broth, it was more than I had expected. The service was fantastic till the end... we asked our server to take a pic of our table, the sushi chef laughed at him, and we never saw him again. I actually had to find someone to get the check. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for some great food off the tourist trail!
(4)
Russell M.

One of the best sushi bars i have ever been to. Its a hole in the wall on kapahulu, but this place is always busy so you better get there early. Sashimi is always fresh and the uni is ultra sweet! Large sake selection.. try the Kubota Manju.. its expensive but well worth the luxury. Maunakea roll was my favorite roll, it was topped with coconut and Sriracha (the hot sauce with the rooster on the bottle). I also enjoyed the deep fried gizzard karaage (mmmm yum).
(4)
Jaisa C.

I've been wanting to try this place out for some time now and last weekend I finally had the chance to. I came here with my boyfriend, our roomie and his date. We arrived at around 830-845pm and were seated fairly quickly. The atmosphere of the place is chill, nothing fancy or fine dining but definitely a place a that's a step up from Sushi King, Akinono, or Chiba Ken. The service here was great, the host, waitresses were very friendly and welcoming. As far as the meal, there's a whole booklet of items to choose from. I got the Caterpillar Roll, Miso with Manila clams. The fried ika geso karaage and the deep fried crab. My boyfriend got the chawan and th deep fried ahi katsu. Overall, the presentation of the food is okay, but it is very good. I really enjoyed the ika geso karaage and the miso. I'm not sure if it was the sushi roll that I ordered or if it's that fact that I haven't had a caterpillar roll that's better than the way Sanseis makes it. Dont get me wrong, I thought it was fresh and the food was great but it wasn't any too outrageous or special. This place is good and I'd try it again, but I'd rather have Sanseis or Doraku before going here.
(3)
Albert C.

While it was a hole-in-the-wall (as I had been told), it was definitely delicious sushi that filled my Japanese craving. Not feeling that adventurous that day, we had some really great tekka rolls, shrimp tempura rolls and chicken age. The sashimi was fresh and the food was great. We didn't make a reservation and had to wait about half an hour and we went on the early side. I would say that you should definitely make a reservation.
(4)
Brent K.

Went here with my friends about a week ago and it was a really good experience. There was a wide variety of things you can order at reasonable prices. I ended up getting the sake chazuke, hamachi nigiri and yakitori. You must be thinking why I would order chazuke, my excuse is because I love it and it was rainy and cold that night. The hamachi is awesome though! The fish was fresh and the portion was generous. The yakitori was pretty good too. I intend to try some sake and eat a little more sushi next time.
(5)
brian w.

stopping by tokkuri-tei makes me wish i took that job in honolulu that i passed up last summer. i love this place. i've yet to find better sake nigiri anywhere in the united states. i miss oahu... in no small part due to tokkuri-tei. we all have our lifetime favorites. this place is one of mine.
(5)
Ai M.

7 of us walked in after 1030pm last night knowing that they close at midnight. Parking was great, empty so didn't have any problem parking our cars. Server did seem a bit grouchy since we were a group of 7 who walked in late. Food was excellent, lots of choices on the menu (thought it was a bit hard to read off the menu), came out really quick. Highly recommended and would go back again. ;-)
(4)
Andrea G.

Perhaps because of rave reviews on Yelp, I was expecting super awesome. I will tell you, it was quite good, worth the trip out of Waikiki, but not close to the best sushi EVER. If you go early (before 7) you probably won't have to wait. We didn't get much attention either from our server, or the sushi chef (we sat at the bar). Not the experience I'm used to. The award winning ahi poke was quite good, but the rest of the meal, I would have to say, was average. Not bad at all, but the size of the menu made me think they should pare it down, as to do what they do well, very well. More focused perhaps.
(3)
John L.

This review is based on a trip to Hawaii in 01/2008, and is a based upon a singular trip. An izakaya, in short, is a Japanese drinking establishment where you have some munchies to accompany the alcohol. Kind of like dim sum, except it takes place at night and you're drinking alcohol rather than tea. I guess another comparison would be to tapas. Tokkuri-Tei is a smallish establishment, featuring a sushi bar, and probably about 40-60 seats. The restaurant is located in a strip mall and as I recall they have some TV's going. Tokkuri-Tei featured a heavy sushi menu, as well as typical izakaya food consisting of skewered meats and other light appetizers. We ordered some of the sushi initially, just to test it. The sushi was quite fresh. So we decided to test out their ama-ebi, or sweet shrimp. The ama-ebi wasn't quite as good as I thought it could be. Not quite as fresh, and a little tougher than I like it. Aside from sushi, we ordered the skewers, which came out nice, and some of the other dishes were good, too. We weren't able to get Kirin draft that night for some reason, so we opted for some Asahi Super Dry, bottled. All-in-all, the food was pretty decent, but was actually somewhat heavy on the wallet. Perhaps I'm just used to izakaya prices in Japan. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to compare to Izakaya Nonbei on this trip. Tokkuri Tei also features an extensive menu, which I did not have the opportunity to try completely, unfortunately. Maybe next time. Another plus is that Tokkuri Tei is located right next to Dave's Hawaiian Ice Cream Parlor.
(4)
elisa o.

I would give Tokkuri Tei FIVE stars if the service was better. Slow in service, food is awesome! I am always placed in the corner (near the restroom) and they forget about me. I usually try to order EVERYTHING at once! But I do admit when I am on the "main" floor of the restaurant service is pretty good! I love izakaya type of restaurants and the selection here is AWESOME!!!! Fish is FRESH!!! I am surprised that there is not a fish tank with your live selection ready to be picked! SOO GOOD! I highly recommend Tokkuri Tei!!! Expect a line in the evenings on the weekends!!! But worth the wait!
(4)
Lynne T.

even though its a drinking place, it has great food! ive gone a couple times in the past and it was pretty good, but we went recently and it was soo different! (in a good way :] ) the ikura musubis are soo yummy and the grilled musubis are grilled on a stick! the food is so tasty and i will definitely be going back soon! oh and btw theres a yummy tutti frutti yogurt placed next door! although it did replace daves ice cream :( ...
(5)
Jeffrey M.

My wife and I decided to go to tokkuri tei for our date night. We haven't been there in a year so we ended up at their old location which was boarded up. We thought that they closed down but looked for their phone number and gave them a call to check. Fortunately they moved just down the street so we were there in a jiffy. We loved the new location...much bigger than the previous. The menu was the same and we decided to sit at the sushi bar. Boy it was the best decision we made!!! The sushi was incredible! And our sushi guy was very humorous and interactive with not only us but other guests as well. I had to order my favorites which is the squid pie and beef tongue. Man I love those!!! All in all we left very full! Another great thing about our sushi guy was that my wife asked for miso soup, so our sushi guy told her that she'll make her a special miso soup which he made with some fish bones. And boy did it taste great!!! Thanks Tokkuri Tei for making our date night a special one!
(4)
Julia S.

Best sushi on the island. Trust me, thats hard to do when there are hundreds of sushi restaurants in Hawaii. They have the most extensive list of sake too. Whether your just visiting Oahu or you're a local, it would be a shame to miss out on this dining experience. Authentic and always busy. Best to make reservations. Would also be easier if you spoke Japanese too.
(4)
Darrell S.

Recieved a gift certificate so we decide to give this place a try. Price was about $125 for a dinner for two, including tip and valet. This negative blog is from my stomach. The messiness of the restaurant, the odors, grime everwhere should have been a signal of how well the food is handled and the kitchen maintained. My guest order unagi, great, the best this year. The server was friendly, attentive and guided us to the hot king clam appetizer, which arrived, sweetbreads texture, cooked (what a waste cooked I thought), but an after taste of liver ( was it going bad, I wondered). A ridiculous amount of insufficiently washed dishes with beautifully crafted cuisine kept on landing on our table, feeling a bit rushed to make room on the table, we goobled the ample tidbits of flavors down. The skewers of prime rib (shiso/daikon/ponzu?), was perfectly cooked but had a rotten after taste, we abandoned eatting the rest. The cute mochi in the middle of the meal was a sweet surprise. Toward the end we asked our server where our portobello order was, she said she canceled it, huh??? Diarrhea symptoms this morning, could the shrimp have also been off too, usually it's bad shellfish that I need to avoid. Gotta trust my sense of smell over a gift card, no more grimey restaurants for me.
(1)
Isao K.

I walked in and could tell by the open kitchen that it was going to be good. all the chefs were japanese! The service was great, and there was hardly any english on the menu! The only fish i had was fried and spicy tuna roll... which is why they only got a four star for now... but next time i will judge the fish too. All the veggies were super good. also, very impressive sake selection... very impressive. This place is a must go. extra bombness
(4)
David R.

Amazing food across the board from sushi to tofu to yakiniku! The handrolls were especially great.
(5)
Audrey K.

First night in Honolulu, and my friend had brought up this place on his Android's Yelp app. It was good, but make sure the friends you bring are adventurous and/or love seafood or Japanese food. If you're bringing strictly meat-and-potatoes people, it may be harder to find dishes that they'll enjoy. Food - 4 Norichos: Nachos with nori. The crunchy texture of the deep-fried (possibly tempura-fried?) nori was spot-on! The avocado, tomatoes, and (nacho?) cheese on top worked well with the fried nori. I've never had anything like this. As I told my dinner-mates: "The norichos are kinda effing weird, but good!" Ika Yaki Pancake: I personally love Korean seafood pajun, and this squid pancake was one of the best I've had. The little bonito flakes (it looked like grated cheese, but bonito!) on top added an interesting dry texture to mix with the softer and chewier pancake. However, not everyone will like this dish. The guy who I was sharing this with is not a fan of seafood, but decided to be adventurous that night. This dish was not for him - the little flakes of bonito looked like they were moving in the heat and the air conditioning, and he only had a bite. Well, more for me! Pork-wrapped mushrooms: They were okay, but I think the mushrooms were a little too chewy for me. Butter asparagus and pork: The asparagus was AMAZING! Each piece had absorbed tons of butter and was seasoned perfectly. The pork, unfortunately, was not as flavorful. I think it hadn't been cooked as long in the butter, or had not been seasoned with more than just butter, salt, and pepper. Service - 5 The waitresses were friendly, had good suggestions, and came by often to check on us and fill up our water glasses. (I'm glad we weren't playing the water game. That would have been painful at this restaurant.) Ambience - 4 The restaurant was cute, and the little paper lanterns above the bar were adorable.
(4)
William K.

Like Yelp needs another review of this place. It's the best sushi place in Honolulu (but don't ask me to compare Tokkuri-Tei and Imanas-Tei, too difficult). Tokkuri-Tei is lively, pretty inexpensive, has a HUGE sake selection, and a humorous menu. The fish in the sushi/sashimi is superb. Whoever picks out their Hamachi is a pro, it's one of the most amazing things anywhere, as is the Miso Butterfish.
(5)
J. J.

To sum it up: pricey - but worth it. Outstanding quality sushi, a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and let's not forget the infamous "Snake Venom" - which makes for great pictures (ask for the bottle to be placed onto your table) and great memories/stories for the folks back home.
(5)
Nan R.

Who would have thought of Nori Nachos? Something about tempura nori with cheese works! It was absolutely amazing!
(4)
aron w.

tasty izakaya spot with a good variety of fish as well..went late so we avoided the crowd..had about 6 dishes with the lady and none of em dissapointed...was maya's fav meal of the trip....my favorite dish was the buttered asparagus and pork dish.
(4)
S L.

This place is great! Its so easy to share and try many dishes with your friends/family/date. You cannot fail as everything on the menu is delicious! And Dave's Ice Cream is right next door so you can go straight there for desert. I love Japanese food and this place definitely knows what they are doing. Parking sometimes can get a little tricky because you need to either find street parking or valet.
(5)
Kimi E.

yummmy! i enjoy going with friends and sharing a bunch of dishes. pretty much everything i've had there has been good!
(4)
Lisa H.

Great quality Japanese food, we really were impressed by the caliber of all the dishes we ordered! We arrived at 5:45pm sharp with no reservation, but the hostess was cool, and gave us a reserved table, just letting us know she would need it for 7:00pm. Food portions are small, but I expected it. Prices not cheap either. But still gets a 5 star because food met expectation. Tried other yelpers recommendation: miso butter fish, spinach, pork and mushroom on skewer, spider poke ... wonderful! We also really liked the chawanmushi. Delicious with a smokey taste!
(5)
Dennis B.

After a year of eating bad food in Australia I had a big craving for some good sushi and Japanese fare when arriving in Oahu (sushi in Oz is mostly cooked chicken or beef slathered in the strangest mayonnaise on the planet and rolled maki style). Tokkuri-Tei was fantastic. The spicy scallop and negitoro rolls were excellent. Also had the nightly special eggplant salad that was fresh and lemony. Other items off the menu were also worthwhile. An oasis of culinary pleasure. Loved the energy in the place and the presence of so many Japanese clients was a good sign.
(5)
Michael L.

We love great sushi and think we know it when we find it. This place is fantastic. A low pretense high quality neighborhood sushi bar, this place also serves a very wide assortment of grilled and sautÃ©ed japanese treats which are well above and beyond a typical sushi experience. Sushi was flawless too.
(5)
ed w.

The food is good. There is alot to choose from the menu. The menu is about 8 pages. so, it took us long to decide what we want to eat. It gets busy at night so the wait will be longer. Their is no parking in front of the restaurant. They do only valet. If you read the sign and you will know why. We manage to find parking anyways. while we were waiting out side we saw the valet parked the cars in front of the restaurants.
(4)
Bryce S.

Don't miss this busy but worth-the-wait restaurant. Extensive menu, fresh fish, with both traditional and westernized items. The scattered mini comments in the menu were irreverent, cute and entertaining....kinda like this website. The strip mall and its parking lot is way tiny, so hoof it if you can.
(5)
Sarah F.

Love, adore, want to marry this place. This is my absolute favorite sushi restaurant on the island. The menu is huge, first of all. Some of my favorites are the seafood pancake and the portabello mushroom filled with sticky rice. Honestly, everything I've tried here is hella good. This is a no-frills, mom'n'pop place. I love that. Parking is hard, but they do have valet out front. People who know about this place come back over and over... I know I did.
(5)
Miki M.

Just when I was starting to get a bit discouraged by the Sushi scene here in lovely Honolulu, I read the recommendations for Tokkuri-Tei (by such respected Yelpers like Masa, Keith, Ryoko etc). And indeed, this one was worth the visit! We had delicious sushi at a venue that looks kind of homey, a little bit like a 'hole in the wall' compared to any of the authentic-looking Japanese eye-candy of sushi restaurants in LA. Situated a bit out of the touristy way, this was certainly the "real thing"- not as commercial looking as most restaurants on the "strip" in Waikiki. Parking is a bit complicated but they offer a vallet service for about $ 3. We arrived around 10pm so there was no line anymore- got seated promptly. Service was very good, but without being overly servile. Orders were serviced immediately- wait time was less than 5 minutes per order even though the restaurant was 85% full- the 2 sushi chefs (Kazu, and the 'other guy', the sous-chef whose name wasn't mentioned anywhere) work neat and quick. Toro was pretty amazing, pieces were of decent size. Nigiri sushi had less rice and was of slightly smaller size, just as it is customary in Japan- not US Caucasian sizes. Bottom line is, we would definitely visit again! Thank you, Tokkuri Tei.
(5)
D N.

We came here because we thought Sushi Sasbane would be too expensive and we thought $$ would mean we could get things at a reasonable price. My b/f and I split an order of Sashimi (can't remmeber which one we got) and spide poke. Both were great and very fresh except the spider poke was a lil on the salty side. I asked for some low sodium soy sauce but I guess that's weird to ask for in HI (I'm from NY...low fat/ low sodium/ low everything is available here). The total came out to be like $50 for the two of us and while I was content with the portion I ate, my b/f was STARVING...and I mean starving. We had to buy him like 4 pastries afterwards to fill him up, however, he is a foot taller then me. Another downside was the wait. There were 3 employees there from the sushi chef, to the waitress to some other guy that I had no clue what his purpose was but service was still slow on a wed. for lunch. It wasn't even full.....
(4)
Julie S.

Having lived in Tokyo for nearly 30 years and eaten all kinds of sushi, from excellent high-end to bad, conveyor belt, I found Tokkuri-Tei's sushi to be in the middle - and rather expensive for the quality. Also, pieces are big - I prefer smaller pieces with mouth-watering fish. This place appears to be more of an izakaya (drinking place with wide range of sake) than an authentic sushi bar. So if you want to drink and order otsumami, this must be the place to go. We don't drink, so we ordered two Jo sushi, which included maguro, ikura, yellowtail, etc. Inaddition, we had 4 sticks of yakitori, a side order of ahi poke and several glasses of oolong tea - bill came to over $80; including the tip, nearly $100. So be prepared.
(3)
Brett M.

this place has been reviewed to death. so ill make it short and sweet. try the ikka yaki... it's absolutely amazing and my absolute favorite thing on the menu. also, come here to drink, eat great food, and enjoy a solid crowd. perfect for a first date, family meal, or just to cruise with friends. it's low key.. and truly that good.
(5)
Annie N.

I visited this restaurant for 2 times and this is the best izayki place. I loved their Stuff Portebella with sweet rice, egg plant with miso sauce. The sushi roll are a bit of pricy but their sashimi is very great quality. They have different variety of food and definitely will go back to visit when I ate again.
(5)
Jessica H.

We went here more in the mood for japanese than sushi, but ended up having one of the best sushi meals ever. The tuna was so incredibly fresh and melt-in-your-mouth and the rolls were very well done. The udon noodles were good, but overall we were just very impressed with the quality of the fish in general.
(5)
Boki C.

sashimi was good, cute decor - reminds me of some restaurants in japan. valet parking only
(4)
Cameron W.

I'm going to keep this brief... I enjoyed my dinner. I love how the menu was definitely written w/ a sense of humor. I was overwhelmed w/ the sheer size of the menu - it was hard to make up my mind. In the end their hamachi kama stole the show for me. I think they charge about $14 bucks for it, but the thing had so much grilled, tender sweet, hamachi meat. It was very simply presented which didn't take anything away from the food. I I also had a nice nabeyaki udon which had a pretty decent broth - wasn't the best one I've ever had but it was good. I love izakaya dining but would have preferred they offer a few more set dinner options. Considering how large their menu is I was surprised to find only 3 or 4 set dinner choices. I was also turned off by their mandatory valet parking. It was a very quiet Sunday night w/ an empty parking lot yet I was still required to pay $3 to park in their lot. Not a deal breaker but it did leave a bad taste in my mouth.
(4)
Hannah K.

Hamachi. Melt-in-my-mouth hamachi.
(5)
La L.

Fabulous sushi and sashimi. We wandered into this place by accident several years ago and it quickly became one of our favorites. The place is brimming with locals so don't be surprised if they look at you like "how did you find this place?". Just smile and act like you've been going there for years.
(5)
Cynthia A.

MMMmmm... nori nachos, compliments of the server. Thanks!
(5)
Audrey S.

Love this place for Japanese. I highly recommend these two unique items: teriyaki cream tofu, stuffed portabello mushroom (with a buttery rice concoction). And the sushi is very good here. There's also some sort of snake venom sake or something on the menu!
(4)
babynorah t.

I had high expectations of the place given the high rating. The atmosphere is relaxing and friendly. In terms of the food, it was alright. i wouldn't go back though. The menu is extensive which might be the problem. I was disappointed in the quality of the sashimi. I definitely had fresher and better.
(3)
Carol C.

Really non-descript location, but the food here can't be beat. Huge variety and really great Japanese food. We tried a sampling of everything from the california rolls, to japanese eggplant, to egg custard, to stuffed portabello and the wasabi chicken. Great food!
(5)
Mary L.

Everything we ordered was really good except for the fried rice stuffed mushroom. The sushi and sashimi was really fresh. Make sure you make reservations.
(4)
Reina M.

i love going to tokkuri-tei with my friends, sitting at a table towards the back, and just eating tons and drinking gallons. it's casual, clean, reasonably priced, friendly and delicious!
(4)
Lisa N.

fish was fresh.. everything we ordered was pretty good.. the ambiance was nice.. service was fair... however, just a bit too pricey. (i'd much rather go up to king street to imanas tei.)
(4)
Brian L.

My friend took us here last week. I have always enjoyed this place and once again was not disappointed. We tried nigiri, sashimi and some cooked dishes. The scallops that we had prepared in a nice mayo type sauce was incredible. Our service was great and we sat at the sushi bar which was fun. For three the bill was $99 with a few beers.
(4)
Raymond M.

An amazing place. I went with some friends and this is one of their favorite places to grab izakaya (Japanese bar food) and sushi. I would suggest trying a few of the chicken dishes and then adding a few orders of sashimi. The restaurant is small and fills up quickly, so get there early or make a reservation.
(5)
J C.

I have never seen a more varied menu than here. The sushi is excellent and fresh. The dynamite rolls is da bomb. Spider poke rocks. I can't remember the names of the other rolls we had ordered but it didn't matter as they all were very good. The stewed pork not so good. Would definitely come back for more. Parking is a pain as half the lot is reserved for valet... go figure.
(4)
Miye I.

Great fresh fish...Very warm and friendly.
(4)
Sarah K.

great place for tapas and drinks! the miso butterfish was excellent. we also had the squid pancake, spicy tofu, grilled rice ball, ahi poki... all were very good.
(5)
diane g.

alright, I was a lurker, and used the reviews on here to base my selection of resturaunts. We went to Tukkuri-Tei, and you Yelpers know your sushi, sake and neguri...thank you fellow Yelpers for the advice...the food was excellent and the service wonderful!!
(5)
Ken F.

After eating at Mitch's my Standard for fresh fish has gone up. After arriving here, who would want to pay Valet which there are over 10 stalls open in that very parking lot. Park at street or zippy's. Anyway to the food. I decided to go for the best and ordered the Omakase which ranges from 90-120 bucks and the actual price was 95 bucks, same price as Mitch's Omakase. There was an assortment variety of sashimi and that is all. All for 190 bucks(paid for two). The only thing memorable eating at this place was the insult to my money of using ootoro which was possibly more than a day old. The taste of ocean wasn't there. I knew something was lacking. Texture looked pretty bloody; imagine pink flesh with some coagulated blood red dots on it which can be easily scraped off with a chopstick. Small abalone the size of mandarin orange was cut up to slices, which was really good but not worth its price. I've noticed people across of us were noisy and drinking a lot which means that this place is only good for late night gathering for friends and family but never for the freshest of the fresh. Regret was the key word of the night there.
(3)
Michelle E.

Sushi was okay, sloppy.
(3)
Aug C.

the food is definitely great. The hamachi was amazing and I don't even like hamachi to begin with. The service was fast and the girls worked really hard throughout the night. I loved the draft Kirin. Miso soup was awesome. I hate miso soup from bags and they don't do that here. One reason I didn't give it a five stars because I thought this place was more than I expected from a two dollar sign. I'd say this is more of a three dollar sign place.
(4)
Stella P.

A good foodie friend who lived in Honolulu said Tokkuri-Tei was her favorite sushi joint on the island. We took a walk here from our hotel on the Waikiki Strip. The walk along Ala Wai was nice, but otherwise not so pleasant. The restaurant is in a little strip mall but you really can't judge a sushi restaurant from the outside. We had the otoko yama sake to drink. We ordered otoro, tuna, and yellow tail sushi and big fat chunks of the freshest juiciest fish appeared on our table. Otoro is always good but I was floored by their yellow tail. It was like buddah melting in my mouf. It was heavenly. I was craving uni but they were out for the night... the only disappointing part of our dinner. We also had the lomi lomi salmon poke which was really flavorful and yummy. The rainbow roll was one of the best I've ever had thanks to the big chunks of yellow tail on top. My bf and I aren't real big sushi connoisseurs but we said we know good sushi when we taste it and Tokkuri-Tei definitely has some awesomely fresh sushi.
(4)
vanny j.

This is probably my favorite restaurant. Lots of vegetarian options...I always get the miso eggplant and the spicy cory tofu. Kazu rocks!
(5)
R H.

This is the best sushi spot hands down. The oyster shooters are a must. A great blend of spice and kick. We took our guests in town to this place and they loved it as well.
(5)
Matthew C.

I enoy ALMOST everything I order from Tokkuri-Tei. Some of my favorites are the Poke Winners, Stewed Pork & Potatoes, and of course the raw fish. (But you can get that anywhere) Some of my not so favorites would include some of the grilled dishes, and a few I can't remember right now. I give this 4 stars only because it doesn't really make that much sense to pay for parking at this establishment, and the service is what you would find at a bar, not a restaurant. I'm not knocking the service, and yes I know its a bar. The price is a bit high, and sometimes it doesn't seem fit for the product. But I always leave full. I'll definitely return.
(4)
Ken S.

3.5. Minus points for service. The food here is great. It reminds me of my favorite izakaya back in Japan, especially the decor. One pet peeve I have with Japanese restaurants here in Hawaii is they have be able to cook rice well (it's surprising how many can't) and the rice here was good: light, fluffy and tasty. The sashimi we had was nice and fresh. The service wasn't so good. After our first round of food, the plates were cleared, then they steered clear of our table for the next 10 minutes or so. After they cleared the second round of food, they waited another 10 minutes or so to check back on us. And after our third round of food, it took another 10 minutes or so to get our check. That and the waitresses seemed annoyed every time I would ask a question about the menu. The check can build up pretty quickly, but I didn't mind too much since I miss my izakaya food. Just wish the service was better. Oh, and I hate their parking arrangement. Guess it's hard in Kapahulu where there's not much parking, but there's really no need for a valet.
(3)
Kristen K.

4.5! I was ecstatic when Tokkui moved to the old Sam Choy's location. Their old set-up just was way too cramped and "Iwouldalwaysfeelsquished", if you know what I mean. Now, it's nice and roomy! Tons of street parking (meters) or downstairs of the building (I believe that most times at night this will be valet). Everything I've had here is good. However, in my personal opinion, I'd recommend that you sit at the sushi counter. I got to have somewhat of an informal omakase there last time, and the chef was absolutely amazing. Then the icing on the cake was later when the he handed me these frozen strawberries in condensed milk. To.Die.For. What makes this place even better is their sake selection. You can buy bottles and keep them there. I love this Born Gold one that they serve...in the moment, $80 was a small price to pay for something THAT good which I thought they were only carrying for a short time (but I found it at Tamuras later, SCORE). They also have the monster sized Otokoyama one which I currently have stashed away there....this makes for a good deal if you go out with a group. I can't wait to go back...my gigantic sake bottle awaits!
(4)
Keiko P.

Always quick, unique staff members, and wonderful food. Love the electricians favorite soup. So ono!
(4)
Courtney C.

I have been to Tokkuri-Tei many times and have always had a great experience dining here. This is my boyfriend's GO-TO restaurant for authentic Japanese sushi when we are in Hawaii. I haven't tried nearly everything on the menu but they serve a huge variety of Japanese food ranging from basic spicy ahi rolls to live abalone. My favorites are the ikura, chawanmushi, hamachi and salmon sashimi (which are always so fresh). Definitely one of the best places for good quality sushi at a reasonable price. Each time I have been here the restaurant has been completely crowded. I'd suggest making reservations ahead of time or getting here early before the dinner rush or be prepared to wait. I also noticed the servers seem a little stressed out with so many mouths to feed.. So don't forget to smile and say thank you!! Or I'm sure a good tip works too (:
(4)
Benny N.

From out of town, and asked the server what she recommended. Had a Stuffed mushroom with risotto, Cow tongue, Stir fried udon and several other dishes, but those above really stood out. All of the suggestions were good, but the ones above were amazing!
(4)
Lorraine P.

You can do better than this place. If you're looking for a good izakaya (AKA Japanese drinks/bar food, AKA meat on sticks) keep looking! The atmosphere is kind of kitschy and it's good for large groups (um, Japanese TGI Fridays???). They have a massive menu with pretty funny descriptions, but maybe they should focus less on being comedians and more on being chefs. The food was just whatever. Even the sushi was sloppy. We had a several things on skewers that were decent, but I didn't bother to take note of what we ordered. At least the alcohol list is pretty good. Please find better izakaya elsewhere....then let me know where!
(2)
Bobby J.

new in town, tried this place last night. it was amzing! great sushi rolls, also had the hamburger steak.. everything was hittin. great presentation, flavor, the service was awesome too. the menu seems a little too big.. but I guess thats not a bad thing if everything is good. will definitely be back
(5)
Phung C.

OMG......you have to not just eat here. You must sit at the sushi bar and do Omakase! the creations are fabulous. I love my sushi......but have to admit, it gets old if all you eat is your standard nigiri and sashimi. So to fill my need for more flavor and taking my taste buds to the next level without sacrificing the freshness of the fish by drowning it....I go to Tokkuri-Tei. But if you do just want the "standard" nigiri and sashimi, they have that too. Okay, I'm hungry.........who's coming with me?
(5)
rice rice m.

Parking was tight, but you will always have parking if you don't mind walking less then 5 minutes. The ambiance was terrific. Like going to a bar in Shinjuku Japan, with all it's kitsch. Japanese kites, nice norens, ....The chairs were hard, the tables were clean, the floors were clean and the staff were running around, super busy but also helpful, it was loud. I felt comfortable. There were some griping, some laughing, some frowns, but mostly, lots of smiles all around. The food was great. Squid pancake was crispy, The beer was cold, the boiled peanuts were juicy, the fish was fresh, and the Chicken hearts were crispy. I liked it. Give it a try.
(4)
Clarence S.

Ryuji is one of the most talented Japanese Sushi Chef's I've met. His ability to design subtle twists to classic japanese style sushi and produce complex culinary experiences is unmatched--and I say this having eaten sushi twice at Kyubei in Ginza Tokyo. To be clear, if you've seen Jiro Dreams of Sushi then you can begin to understand Ryuji's mentality--his fish selection is unbelievable. He makes distinctions where others simply buy bulk--I have not seen such scrutiny for detail from any chef I've met in the US and the results are obvious within a few platters. SIT AS THE SUSHI BAR. Ryuji will make sure you have a great time, he's super chill and funny having been born in Japan bust raised in the US from age 3. He also can fine tune the meal to your individual palette. This all said, if you are a sushi roll lover, you can't go wrong here. Where I avoid rolls [which are an American style of food you won't find ubiquitous in Japan as they usual distract from the finer tastes of the fish] Ryuji clearly understands both extremes which equal focus on the quality of fish, textures, and presentation as well as on satisfying unique American style palletes which crave unusual combinations and unique bold flavors.
(5)
Brett I.

woo-hoo... oh so delish! i've been here so many times (countless times at their old location and twice at their new) and it has never been a disappointing experience. Sushi and ala carte dishes are so fresh and tasty. Over the years, I have enjoyed a many wonderful dishes--some of my favorites: - IKA YAKI: a squid pancake that is so delicious and cut like a pizza. Even though it's squid, it doesn't taste very "squidy," if that makes any sense. The sauce and other ingredients, topped with some sauce, gives an added dimension to the dish. You may order a dozen dishes during your meal here, but you always remember the Ika Yaki. - NASU DENGAKU: a simple dish of steamed eggplant and miso. Sometimes simple can be so good, eh? - STUFFED PORTOBELLO: A portobello mushroom stuffed with goodness with some cream sauce and sriracha on the side. - SALMON SKIN SALAD: Amazing. The salmon skin is perfectly crisp and comes with soft tofu on top of a bed of spring greens. Tobiko (flying fish eggs) gives the salad a nice "crunch" and the dressing is very light but not intrusive on the whole salad. Sushi is great there, too. The chefs are really friendly and know how to cut and make sushi with the best of them. The servers are really nice and knowledgeable about the menu. The amount of the items on the menu can be overwhelming for first-timers, but the staff is really helpful and friendly with giving suggestions. Also, the decor has improved greatly since t last came. They've really made a great effort to recapture the same kind of charm and feel in their new location as they had at the old one, and--even though this place is more spacious and spread out--i think it really has that similar laid-backness. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Amy M.

The quality of food and chef's knowledge of it all was beyond amazing!! So happy we got to try it while on vacation!
(5)
Rick J.

Great sushi and rolls. Some of the very best we have had! Fast courteous service too.
(5)
Monthakan B.

This place is awesome! Great Sushi, great food, too menu items on the menu! One of the best place to go to for UNI! Very Sweet! I always ordered the Omakasa Sushi platter, Ahi katsu, Salmon Skin and Tofu Salad, and a Hamachi Kama! Was sooo good, we never had any left overs. Reservations are highly recommended. Always busy. The servers are super nice but the service can be very slow when they're busy.
(4)
Cynthia Q.

Get the teishoku. Expensive but hearty and the beef is incredible! So full didn't have room for sushi roll.
(4)
Malia S.

Wow! What can I say about this place. My GF and I were greeted with a big hello in Japanese and smile. We sat at the sushi counter were Yugi greeted us. Yugi asked us if we wanted to look at the menu and we said no bring us whatever sashimi style, boy I'm glad we did. We had Sweet Ika from Japan, Kona Abalone on a stick, some fish tempura style that I never heard of from Japan with Sea Salt and Shiso Leaf yummy. Pickled Ginger and Garlic cooked in a rice cooker that was out of this world, who knew you could cook Garlic in a rice cooker..and a few other treats that was outstanding. Yugi was the best, it was the top two sushi experience that we had hands down and it didn't break the bank. Ask for the gelato, you'll be surprised that certain things taste like peanut butter but it's really healthy for you....wow. Go and check it out...
(5)
Zar A.

The awesome: This place has a menu thats contains about 500 food items!!! There are so many items on the menu ranging from sashimi, sushi, makis, handrolls, deep fried vegetables and tempura, salads, udon, soba, grilled, omesake, beers, sakes...... I was overwhelmed! I literally could not choose. The menu is quite interesting as it goes in and out of English, Japanese and funny lines that do not really explain what the food item is or what is in them... What I got: agedashi tofu, salmon skin tofu salad and kake udon. All delicious! I especially loved the salmon skin tofu salad. Generous helping of Tobiko (small fish eggs) and soft tofu. It was delicious! I want to come back and try more items on the menu! The negative: valet parking or street parking. Boo!
(5)
Lyndsey C.

So far we came here twice and never left disappointed! Tried their sashimi combo, oyster shooters, dragon roll, spicy tuna chips, ika karagge, scallop temaki, spicy tuna roll, gyoza and everything was very yummy!
(4)
Kyle C.

According to the waitress "don't get the strawberry custard pudding"... at least she was honest
(3)
J G.

Norichos were a winner! I think I could eat two orders. Everything was so ono. We also had ika pancakes, oyster shooters, an assortment of sashimi, cucumber sticks (love the miso dip), and amaebi (with fried heads). Very good service. Looking forward to going back soon.
(4)
Jason D.

Ho man, because my boss is a regular there and also knows the owner - we really got hooked up! Went there for a Christmas party with a whole bunch of my coworkers. They don't have a private room, so if you're going to play games, make sure you're ok with people watching and hearing you. We had a preset menu and honestly, it was the best food I've had! We even got some dishes that weren't on the menu. I had a few drinks so I don't remember what they were called. A lot of beers, 3 games and 9 courses later, I left this place a happy man. I'll return as a "regular" customer next time to try it out.
(5)
Johnny U.

My buddy brought me here and I would go back everyday if I didn't go broke. They have the most impressive and varied menu I think I have ever seen. Risoto at a sushi place? Do yourself a favor and order it, it is amazing. Sashimi amounts are huge and they have all kinds of appetizers, two pages full I think.
(5)
Tony N.

Up on Kapahulu, checked it out due to the Yelp reviews as I was in the area. Loved the ahi tar tare - spicy tuna poke on a grilled ball of rice with something like a tepanyaki sauce within - fantastic (menu says it won some contest years ago). Would try this place again.
(4)
Asako O.

Tokkuri-Tei is a Japanese restaurant that is located on the upper level of the Hee Hing Plaza on Kapahulu Avenue. Even though this building complex has parking available downstairs, we were fortunate that we did not have to deal with parking since we live close by to this restaurant. We finally dined at this establishment for the first time as this restaurant has been open for a while now. Upon entering the restaurant, I did not realize that Tokkuri-Tei is fairly large and spacious with plenty of tables available and filled with Japanese ambiance and dÃ©cor. Since we were meeting guests who ate at this restaurant before, we allowed them to order for us as we were overwhelmed with the many menu choice options. Besides a variety of sushi, their menu is pretty extensive with food items I was unfamiliar with. In the end our guests ordered several dishes including karaage chicken, deep-fried shrimp, salad, tofu, sashimi plate and a variety of sushi and yakitori. What surprised me was that our dishes starting arriving shortly after we placed our order. We were amazed that every dish that was ordered was absolutely delicious and were all prepared fresh and cooked to perfection. All of us enjoyed it so much and were so full that unfortunately there was no room left for dessert. I highly recommended Tokkuri-Tei as the food and the service we received was excellent.
(4)
Ceecee W.

Came here on a Thursday night for a double date with friends who are locals. We parked downstairs using valet and went upstairs for our 7:00PM reservations. The menu is very extensive, with perky little descriptions of what the items contain. The sashimi were very fresh and the waitress recommended a great sake to compliment our meals. Great ambiance and good food, I will definitely be back again! Highlights of our meal: Sake ( s3-media4.ak.yelpcdn.comâ€¦ ) Rainbow roll ( s3-media1.ak.yelpcdn.comâ€¦ ) Bacon wrapped mushroom ( s3-media4.ak.yelpcdn.comâ€¦ )
(4)
Outofthebox24 7.

First time here.. And it was Date Night!!! I wish I could add an extra star to this rating! My boyfriend and I have never been here but heard great things from all our friends. They only take reservations until 7:30p, but it wasn't a busy night so we decided to do a walk in. Service was quick to seat us and our waitress, Kyla, was amazing!! She was patient with us as we bounced ideas back and forth on what we wanted to try. The menu is huge so having her suggestions as to what we may like was very helpful! She was very knowledgable about each item and her excitement and enthusiasm created a very welcoming vibe. We tried the $50 sushi dish (assorted),geso karaage,Shimeji, pork wrapped enoki, chawanmushi, uramaki spicy ahi roll, and mixed tempura. All the food was fast to come out...and yes it was fresh and hot! The wait staff was very good at helping each other out with filling glasses, clearing plates, serving food,etc. All 3 girls working were very smiley and pleasant. Everyone there.. Hustles!!! Love it! The negitoro was THE Best I have ever had!! It was "melt in your mouth..amazing!" The Toro nigiri was to die for as well!! All the battered items were cooked in clean oil, which meant less need for rice.. And more room to try other items!!! My boyfriend is a huge fan of chawanmushi.. He said the ingredients in this one was spot on! Overall was an awesome experience.. Was glad to leave Kyla a 20% tip!! Shout out to that girl.. She was the best waitress I've ever had!! To top it off... When we went to get our car from valet.. The guy hurried to come help us and made small talk, asking how dinner was. He was very friendly and energetic :) ...it gets better... ...we paid him and got into our car.. Then he started rushing to walk up the driveway ramp.. I thought he was just waiting for us to leave but he was actually trying to get to the top of the ramp before we did so he could guide us out back onto the busy roadway!! And yes..he stood ON THE ROAD and looked for cars for me and waved me on to exit the lot! Amazing service! We wished we gave him more than a $2 tip!!! Thank you Kyla, and everyone there tonight for making this first time at Tokkuri Tei, one we will tell allllll our friends about!!! We will be back!! And we're asking for Kyla!!!
(5)
Kehau S.

My husband and I love this restaurant!! It's our favorite - the food is fantastic, the service is great, and it's a fun atmosphere. Everything is good: I particularly love their miso butterfish sushi roll. They bring in a lot of the stuff they serve straight from Japan - so you won't be able to get many of their things anywhere else. Honestly, this is not only one of the best Japanese restaurants in Hawaii, it's one of the best restaurants in Hawaii, period. Perhaps one of the best places I've ever eaten in the world. It's that good.
(5)
Cameron S.

Tokkuri Tei is a little hard to find and you'd probably never know it was there unless someone told you about it. It came recommended to me by several friends and co-workers. When they told me where it was I was shocked to find out that it was only a few blocks from home. We had reservations and when we came in it was pretty busy, but we sat right away and pretty good service and prompt delivery of our orders. We came here with 6 people and all left very happy. We were full of delicious sushi rolls and poke, beer and sake. The best part was that our combined bill was less than $200 (before tip).
(4)
Trish P.

i had such high hopes for this place.... FOOD - hit or miss SERVICE - mehhhhh DECOR - Japanesey pleasy upon entering, you're visually greeted with a Japanese izakaya setting - lanterns, kites, etc.... nice decor, but the food did not live up to it. i spotted some habu sake in their fridge, but i'm pretty sure its just there for people to look at - i doubt they serve it to anyone.... but maybe i'm wrong? anyone know? we ate: Ika yaki (squid pancake) sabi chicken (wasabi chicken) beef tongue kurobuta sausage yaki udon (fried udon) agedashi tofu grilled steak ok - for reals - what is the hype about this pancake? did we come on a bad night or something? b/c it was pretty JUNK...the pancake i got was simply batter with panko, fried, and topped with bonito and sauce. where was the ika???? was it chopped up so small that i couldn't find it? the only thing good about the pancake was the sauce.... other than that, we got fried batter again Yelp - what is with these suggestions? apparently the wasabi chicken is popular among Yelpers, but why? i tried a piece of this, and it was simply some grilled, under seasoned chicken, with mushy grated wasabi on top. i'm lucky i even got some wasabi, b/c some of my friends couldn't even taste it. i don't see what the big deal was here....... the beef tongue was EXCELLENT - however, i did find it weird that they ran out of beef tongue (we got the last 2 and 1/2 orders.....), and it was only about 7:30pm.... they're open till midnight, so wouldnt you think they'd have more on hand for the later diners? kurobuta sausage was also EXCELLENT. skewered and grilled so it was a little crispy, but still juicy on the inside. so good. the yaki udon was probably my favorite of the night. it lots of udon noodles, fried nicely with cabbage, shrimp, pork, and some other veggies. DELICIOUS! agedashi todu was pretty standard. nothing spectacular - you can get this at any Japanese restaurant :P i tried the grilled steak from my friends teishoku.... and, well, it was just ok. nothing that was spectacular. i've had better steak from those $6 plate lunch places...... apparently the OYSTER SHOOTERS are extremely good here though - my friend ordered 3 of them.... over all - there were some good dishes, and some bad ones - but the good was NOT ENOUGH to over come the bad. the menu is huge, so there is a very small chance i might come back, b/c maybe we did not order the right things? but, i don't think that visit will come anytime soon :(
(2)
Jesse K.

This place was better at the old location. Now, the wait help doesn't seem to give a care at all. I ordered a beer, never got it. And no one once came by to ask if we needed anything during our meal. Just to get the check was quite a wait, getting our order in was a wait, and the beer never came. They have so much business they don't seem to tell the wait staff they still have to do a good job. Food was okay. #lazy.
(1)
Brenton E.

Bottom Line - Natto Ice-Cream At first I was taken back by all the stuff you could order, but finally decided on some saba, yakitori, salad, and caterpillar roll. Everything was good. But the Natto Ice-Cream is what made my night. Was small kine hesitant, but figured to chance um. Couldn't stop eating um. I'd go back just for that...if you like Natto, then you gotta try this awesome creation. Vanilla ice-cream topped with natto, shiso leaf, and corn flakes...broke da mout!
(5)
Chad Y.

Tokkuri-Tei is an izakaya style restaurant right off Kapahulu Avenue and they feature a fantastic menu and good food. However, while their food gets it extra stars, it's service is lacking and takes away any of that goodwill it gained. The menu is stellar with the staple offerings you would come to expect of an izakaya restaurant. The staples such as karaage chicken and the sashimi are all very good but nothing wow-ing. The Spicy Tuna "nachos" were really good with a tempura fried nori piece topped with their spicy tuna combination that was fantastic. The pork wrapped enoki mushrooms were nice, but still lacking. Other than the spicy tuna nachos, I have yet to be truly wow-ed by the menu, however at the same time never really disappointed. Service really needs an upgrade. If an establishment is going to take reservations, it should honor them within reason. The two times I have gone recently, with reservations, we ended up waiting nearly 45 minutes the first time and 30 minutes the second time before we were finally seated. Big minus right there. Also, the wait staff seemed a bit frazzled with the crowds and I'm sure it will get better over time, but they really don't know their menu well. They know the basics and the staples, however specialty items is certainly not their forte. One one instance, a friend didn't get their teishoku dinner set, luckily he ordered a bunch of other things that barely filled him up. The location right off Kapahulu means you will be valet parking your car, and be sure to get your ticket validated at the end of your meal. Up on the second floor, if you happen to get a seat near the window, it offers nice views of the Ala Wai Golf Course across the street and of the Waikiki skyline. The decor is clearly from when the restaurant was Sam Choy's and Ranch House with a few new Asian additions. I think it has potential and a lot going for it, they just need to get their service act together and they will be a winner!
(3)
Denby R.

So I was a little bit late to the party on this restaurant. Tokkuritei has been an establishment for many many years and only recently within the last couple have a I gotten to experience the wonderful food and service provided at this restaurant. our most recent visit was for my birthday. My wonderful husband plans with my parents, sister, brother in law, and grandmother (complete with wheel chair) to have my birthday dinner at this restaurant. The elevator is on the far side of the stairway (not far at all) and there is handicap parking available. We ordered family style: Hamachi sushi 8 pieces. Unagi risotto Uni risotto California Roll Rainbow Roll Ahi Belly A couple orders of ika geso karaage. Norichos Everything was beyond delicious and came out very fast. The staff was so nice and the beer (asahi on tap) was cold. What better birthday dinner could I ask for? great food great company. Feeling blessed. Update: still 5 stars....went back (luckily) for dinner with friends.....the waitress poured sake in the "overflowing cup" We had the one with the caption "Favorite" it was yummy. And she filled the cup in good form all the way to the rim of the outer box. That is always a crowd pleaser. 31 yelps challenge (16 of 31)
(5)
Lars M.

As I walked into the restaurant I wasn't expecting anything out of the ordinary because the setting seemed very casual. I was meeting some friends of mine and noticed that the place was filled with people ordering small plates with a drink. After someone at the table mentioned that it was an Izakaya, or a place where drinks and food go hand in hand, everything including the menu, started to make sense. The menu at Tokkuri-Tei is exhausting, but in a good way. The menu has a wide variety of items to choose from so depending on what your in the mood for, you can pick and choose. Tonight I was craving tuna, natto, and rice, so I ordered something somewhat off the menu, but my friends seemed to order it all the time. What came to the table, blew my mind. Nestled on a mound of chopped up tuna and natto, was a tiny qual egg, placed upon a finely cut "birds nest" of nori or seaweed. On the side of the dish was fresh daikon, yama imo, tobiko eggs, shiso, kaiware sprouts, takuan and okra. After placing the quail egg on top of everything and mixing it around, my friend suggested that I order nori and rice to wrap the mixture into one cohesive bite. Let's just say, that it was the best thing I've eaten all year. To finish the night, I ordered a bottle of Aloha beer and a grilled onigiri stuffed with cured salmon. That was also amazing. If you're not a fan of real Japanese Izakaya type food, I would go some where else, but as far I am concerned the sashimi and sushi type dishes here are absolutely spot on. Five stars. P.S. If you are going there for the first time you can't go wrong with ordering sushi/sashimi. The sashimi that I had was super fresh and blew my mind.
(5)
Jonn D.

Rating: 4/5 Date(s) visited: 11/02/2013, 6/02/2013, once in 2007 Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Price: 3/5 Parking: 4/5 The menu is still over whelming. A separate menu for alcohol and wine would be nice and even give it a classier touch. The print on the menu is too small, and a special attention to detail to distinguish the item and description would help. Food: Just how I remembered it...good. I'll be back. Service: I thing there were more waitresses than my last visit, or they were more organized. Not too sure. No complaints Atmosphere: Great view from the restaurant. Didn't like the fishnet that much. Felt as if I were in a "Fish n' Chips" establishment. Much more visible from the strip, with a nice view of Ala Wai Golf Course. Price: Price vs. quantity was satisfying. Parking: Free street parking is available, otherwise valet is $3.00 with restaurant validation.
(4)
Chyanne O.

I just love love, LOVEEE this place!! Sushi/sashimi is always fresh and their speciality rolls are great. There's a wide variety of Japanese dishes you can order- perfect to come with those who doesn't like raw fish. My favorite tho is the spider poke and the salmon skin salad. Their hamachi sashimi is super soft too. I almost don't want to give away much information about this place because I want to keep it mine!
(5)
Victoria C.

So this is my new fav sushi hot spot. Okay, it's not really new cause I've been to the old Tokkuri-Tei a few times, but I wasn't like a super big fan of it. Although it was good at the old spot, for some reason I found my experience at the new location to be so much better! I had heard that one of my fav sushi chefs had moved there so my fiancÃ© & I had more of a reason to check it out. Ryuji is amazing and I swear he always whips up things that you would never even think of.... like natto ice cream! Seriously, who would ever think that natto with ice cream would be such a good combination!? Even my fiance liked it and he hates natto! That is some good stuff... and a must try. But it's not on the menu so you got to ask for it! Besides the dessert though, the sushi was faneffintastic! I don't know if it was just cause Ryuji made it but it tasted better to me than what I was used to at the old Tokkuri-Tei. My fav has got to be the GINORMOUS sized shrimp and the seared toro nigiri. It is to die for. Seriously. Every time I eat it, I'm in sushi heaven. We had a bunch of other sushi that I can't remember, but Ryuji just made us things he thought we would like. In fact, every single thing he made for us, we enjoyed thoroughly :) One thing I noticed though is there sushi rolls are pretty fat. It's packed in with a lot of stuff and rice! I wish they would cut back on the rice a little bit but otherwise, everything else is perfect! I like their new location so much better. Better parking and bigger space!
(4)
Carol B.

Salmon skin salad may sound weird to the uninitiated but it was heavenly. Mounded high with vegetables and generous crispy salmon skin and sprinkled with tobiko this dish was refreshing and light. The vegetable tempura was crispy, delicious and hot with a nice assortment of sweet potato, carrot, green beans, in a delicious dipping sauce. Topped off with a bowl of udon, yummm. My friend and I had a lot to catch up on over an ice cold cup of sake in the traiditonal box you drink from as well. Next time I will try one of the lunch specials that others have raved about. If you park in the basement you can take an elevator up to the restaurant or take it from the first floor as well. Obscure so good to know if you have trouble maneuvering stairs.
(5)
Cindy L.

Yes, back again so quickly. My hubby just loves sushi and it doesn't matter that I am pregnant and can't eat raw fish, he will continue eating it in front of my face. He liked his Joe Nigiri set ($25) so much that he had to order it again. I stole his piece of salmon. OMG, it was SOOOOOO Good! It was the best piece of salmon I ever ate, we got a really good cut of it, it's like fatty toro, but fatty salmon. I totally tasted the fatty oil going down my throat. Oh, it only makes me crave sushi even more. But no, I have to continue searching for a good cooked sushi roll. Yeah, its pretty much non-existent! This time, I tried the miso butterfish cut roll ($10.50). Totally did not taste the butterfish at all, its there but it just kinda blend in with the rice. I swear, I really do give up on ordering rolls here. Luckily, I ordered the stuffed Portobello mushroom with sticky rice ($9.50), the portion was small, but it was delicious. Other parties ordered the salmon skin tofu salad (very good), miso egg plant (waste of money), Chew Chirashi set ($25 - better to go with the Joe Nigiri). The restaurant was packed as always, but the wait service was good, they kept coming to fill water and tea.
(4)
E E.

This place is okay-good. The menu is a little overwhelming and some of the stuff they had listed was pretty pricey. The food was good but the overall experience wasn't memorable.
(3)
Darren N.

Valet parking and validated below and the restaurant is on the second floor of the building. I would go early before the place fills up. Good service, water levels checked. Pretty quick on the food delivery as well. The restaurant is a pretty big size and can accommodate a large party. Ambiance is a bit interesting, the decor isn't what I would think of when I think of sushi restaurants but no complaints here. They have a huge selection of items ranging from Japanese teishoku dishes to a varied sushi selection. Had to go with beef tongue on skewers, and the sushi combo platters or specialty rolls. The quality and size of the nigiri left me satisfied and the spicy ahi roll was simple but satisfying. Prices are decent. 4 stars for the overall experience. I haven't dined here since they were at their old location and the sheer size of the menu makes it hard to do a complete review but they have not disappointed me yet.
(4)
A K.

Made reservations the night before for a large party with no trouble on a weeknight; that seemed like a great first step. Surprised that the restaurant was half empty when we arrived - this is my first visit since they have moved from the old location. It's kinda tacky dÃ©cor, but more room to move around and easier to find parking. Stuffed portabella, squid pancake, salmon skin salad, and various sashimi were really good. The miscellaneous rolls we ordered were sloppy and were falling apart on the plate before we even dug in. They were tasty, but falling apart. Half of the party liked the Nori-Nachos - something different. I would give it one more try, but the servers came with a horrible attitudes; like we were bothering them with questions and large orders. It started in the beginning and never stopped, making the visit almost unbearable to sit through.
(2)
Sovatha A.

My gf's parents were in town and we went to check out this place. They really liked the way the interior is organized. Her mum even jokingly asked if this place was in Japan or Hawaii. You definitely feel a cozy ambiance when you walk in. There's a wide selection of food too. Service is excellent. This place is a good example of how to run a restaurant when it's packed. The waiter kept coming by filling our water glasses and the food kept coming out of the kitchen as we eat. If you sit facing the Ala Wai golf course, the view is pretty nice and you could probably see a bit of sunsetting too, which is a nice plus for sure.
(5)
Courtney O.

If you are hungry, this great japanese restaurant will stuff you silly! Their menu is about 10 pages long. The first few are drinks and the rest is food!! About 7 pages of food! I could not pick what I wanted because I wanted to try everything!! And their menu is hilarious. They are very witty with their descriptions. There are sushi rolls, yakitori, and an abundance of tempuras and udons. I can not wait to go back! I ordered the petite salad (possibly the yummiest salad dressing I have ever ate), seaweed and tofu miso soup (a little salty but very good), the agedashi tofu (yum), and the edamame (for $1 you can't go wrong!). They give you small bowl of complimentary boiled peanuts (about 3-4 peanuts). We went on a very crowded night for dinner with no reservations and a group of 7 people. We only waited about 5 minutes for a table and our food came out so quick. The service was excellent. I would recommend making reservations though because I think we were just lucky that night. Downside: Parking is a little tricky. They have valet in a downstairs lot and there is a lot of street parking but if you go at night, the parking is all full.
(5)
Raych D.

Been coming here for some time now. Whenever I need that good sushi fix, nothing in my head pops up than TOKKURI-TEI! I love the fact that they relocated down the street to a bigger and nicer place. Parking is street parking, at First Hawaiian bank or valet downstairs. The waitresses wears casual attire, such as jean shorts and basic tank. Their all so nice and friendly with good service which is another reason why I love this place! So, I went there this past Saturday and it was pretty busy maybe because it was still the grand opening of the new place??! The wait was about 30min and to me it was totally fine since they do have good sushi. My "MUST TRY" has to be the 2 beef skewers, the beef literally melts in your mouth and it's just full of all kinds of goodness! also the sashimi is the bomb! the hamachi and salmon sashimi is so buttery and fresh that you're forgetting to chew on it. The slices they give are also very huge, they are not greedy on their sushi like some other sushi joints. The UNI is also good quality and huge portion. I've loved this place since the first time I've tried it and will continue to love it!
(5)
Rob H.

With its izakaya menu, Tokkuri Tei pretty much satisfies all appetites. But for us the main draw here is Ryuji at the sushi bar. We've followed him for years from Yohei, Zenshu, to here. Good as he was at each stage of his career, Ryuji is now a master of sushi. His omakase features quality seafood from Japan as well as fresh local catch, and he uses seasonal vegetables when available to complement his dishes. Tonight we tasted grilled fresh sanma alongside a delicate and savory matsutake chawan mushi: the fish and mushroom are in season now and if you haven't tasted them fresh, this is an eye opener! Each sushi dish offered something familiar but interestingly prepared, Japan papio, lightly grilled sea bass, hirame thinly sliced with grated seasoned daikon, mirugai, snapper with sweet ume, and blue fin tuna maki. Fried-up fish bones and his own sweet pickled ginger roots were tasty additions to pick on while we sipped our beers and waited for the next dish. We finished with tea and dessert, a refreshingly tart sorbet and a black sesame seed gelato he has specially made that keeps your taste buds and eyes guessing what it is, Jiffy's peanut butter or Dairy Queen's chocolate dipped cone. Ryuji balances his dishes with finesse and forethought yet keeps his sushi-loving customers on their toes with good-natured ribbing. In no rush to out-sushi the other guys, Ryuji exudes confidence in his hard-learned skills and is concerned only with the satisfaction of his knowing customers. We left full and happy and eager to return soon. Even in this town it's not that easy to find a likable itamae and sushi you like at a fair price. Ryuji and Tokkuri Tei are hard to beat.
(5)
Sarah W.

- Maybe the best Poke I've ever had, slightly spicy and crunchy. No poke will ever compare! I will dream about this Poke for years to come! - No wait for a table for 2 on a Saturday night at 830pm, it was close to a full house though - Cheap drinks, $5 Co
(5)
Lori L.

Tokkuri-Tei is a long time local favorite izakaya. From sushi to grilled items to deep fried, these are truly tasty tidbits. They have a large, open dinning area, lots of servers, and food comes out pretty fast. You really can't go wrong with the menu, order what you like, but a few of my favorites are uni, negitoro, sakekawa tofu salad, soft shell crab, rib eye steak, kawa, nick jagger, hotate bata, and age dashi tofu. Grab a bunch of friends, order some beer, and expect good food and a good time.
(4)
Jozlyn H.

This place reminds me of the old fisherman a wharf... But with better food. The decor was like a fishing boat style..... Not sure if I explained that well lol I ordered their katsu don which came with salad and miso and hot tea. I also ordered one order of otorro sushi. Everything was delicious and actually too much food for lunch! This place is great if you have an appetite. I came here with a girlfriend for lunch. There was lots of parking downstairs, there wasn't long wait time to get seated, the restaurant was semi busy and their service was quick and friendly. My friend ordered the ahi katsu, which also came with a salad, miso soup and tea. She enjoyed her meal as well. They also gave us a adzuki stuffed Mochi for dessert!! Yum!!!!!!! This is a cute lunch place that sits right outside of Waikiki. I'm curious to check this place out for dinner. Their sushi bar looked like a cute set up.
(4)
Pam M.

I've been dining at Tokkuri Tei over the years & most recently had dinner there last week. They have an extensive sake menu & my bf likes their oni goroshi, called the "evil killer", which is very smooth & strong. I usually get their watermelon chu-hi drink. Their food is consistent and tasty. Service is very friendly & prompt. We had: - Nasu dengaku (miso eggplant) 4/5, one of my favorite dishes, beautifully plated grilled eggplant on a dish of miso sauce - Miso tempura fried butterfish 4.5/5, the same miso sauce as the nasu dengaku plate with tempura fried butterfish fillets, light & tasty Hamachi sashimi (4/5) - nice & fresh yellowtail pieces Tamago yaki (4/5) - generous pieces of chilled egg omelette Uni shooter (3.5/5) - uni topped with quail egg & other little goodies that weren't listed on the menu but tasted good Ahi tartare (3.5/5) - seasoned ahi tartare on rice cakes - they're famous for this dish, very tasty Maguro, saba & tamago nigiri (4/5) Japanese uni & ikura nigiri (4/5) Chawanmushi (3/5) - this was OK. They have other dishes for people who don't eat seafood or raw items. I've previously had: grilled chicken skewers (yakitori), enoki mushrooms wrapped in pork, portobello mushroom stuffed with flavored sticky rice and teriyaki tofu, which were all pretty good. They have a bunch of specialty rolls too. Reservations are strongly recommended. This place can accommodate large groups & we bring our vacationing friends here often. Everyone always has a great time.
(4)
Jon C.

Tokkuri-Tei is a local style izakaya. While there are more fancy ones that have nicer interiors like Gaku, Tokkuri-Tei has been known as the local choice for bringing out of town guests when they want local, izakaya japanese food in a no-frills environment They have been located in the old Sam Choy's Diamond Head in the Hee Hing Building, owned by the famous Lee Family who owns Hee Hing, Hoku Brewery, and I believe the Nimitz Liliha Bakery location. Parking is no longer valet only but located on the basement level. Beware if you have a lowered car like mine as the spine from the street to the ramp is very steep. I kind of miss the old Tokkuri Tei with the signatures all over the wall. This new location is much larger and feels that way. On a Friday and Saturday night it is quite packed, so reservations are recommended for the entire restaurant. I highly recommend reservations at any time for dinner at the sushi bar. Chef Ryuji Murayama, a local born boy trained in Japan is an artist and sushi purveyor of high quality stuff. No, he may not look like Jiro, but even though Ryuji is young, he has developed relationships with some of the best fishermen and fish mongers in Hawai'i and gets the best local seafood. Highlight experiences have been kanburi from Hokkaido and Chiba, fresh akagi from Tokyo, and fresh ama-ebi from the Moloka'i channel. Standby favorites include the salmon skin salad, ikura, king salmon from New Zealand and bigeye maguro, Also, when Ryuji has Onaga, you MUST get it. AMAZING! The hot dishes are on par with other good japanese restaurants but the real highlight here is the sushi. In addition to the food, Ryuji is a great chef because he speaks with you and is very friendly. The young wait staff are always very attentive and accommodating. Like I said above, no frills environment. Excellent, fresh Japanese food.
(5)
James C.

Great and fresh! Had one of the sashimi and one of the nigiri plates (moriwase?) Great flavors, buttery, fresh, fatty are all things that come to mind.
(5)
Jonathan G.

Having come to Hawaii over 10 times now, I must say this is the best sushi place I've encountered in the Waikiki area. Very authentic, they even have NATO! yum. Took my family here last night before our late flight, and they accommodated us very quickly. Great service - love the hot napkins before dinner. Also love the pickled peanuts as an aperitif! Some highlights: -salmon skin salad: wow, holy masago! So good and also has some tofu in the middle that gives it great texture. -dragon roll: we got two of these! Enough said! -shima aji sashimi: was worried how much was going to come given the price, but this was delicious and was a good amount, about 6 really well cut and think pieces, full of color, texture, and flavor. My favorite! -dynamite: very different here! Minimal dynamite sauce is actually a pleasant surprise as it brought it out the flavors of the different seafood in there- which was delicious. -toro belly nigiri: wow! This was melt in your mouth goodness. Definitely my second favorite, but I wish they had salmon belly, even though the salmon they had was quite fatty and delicious, but still. Not a lot of belly meats! I love me some good belly nigiri. But rest assured, the toro was great! Oh, did I mention it's a lively place? Lots of people there even on weekdays - I like that. Service was also phenomenal as we told them we have a flight to catch and had to be out under an hour, they got 5 of us in and out in 45 minutes - without compromising food quality or service! And free parking! I've come here every visit for the past 3 years and I was excited to share this gem with my family. So much more on the menu to explore. Can't wait to come back! Thanks Tokkurei tei!
(5)
Wei-Hong C.

Atmosphere and decoration is great; this is a perfect place if you have sth to celebrate for. The food is decent and authentic and the menu is pretty amusing. Staff is friendly. There is a garage underground so parking should be easy.
(4)
Janice C.

A Japanese dinner is a must when in Hawaii. Fresh fish right here in the islands! We were lucky to have our local friends with us to help guide throughout the very extensive menu, because I sat there for a good 15 minutes just staring at the dizzying amount of food choices! (the sake/beer list already encompassed 4 pages!) In the end, I just said, "Sashimi for me!" What came was a symphony of beautifully cooked enoki mushrooms, asparagus and tempura chips topped with roe & mayo as appetizers. Immediately followed with a uni topped hand roll, crunchy Amaebi head, salmon skin roll and my Joe Moroiawase: 9 cuts of supremely fresh sashimi and miso soup. It has the usual maguro, salmon, ika, hamachi, white tuna, tako and scallop. My belly was happy with the seafood goodness that I filled it with. Of course, when dining Japanese, you must get sake! ;-) The Oni Goroshi sake that I had was on the dry side, full bodied and crisp. It matched the sashimi cuts perfectly. Make sure to come on a Tuesday night for the best pick of the week because this is when they get their shipments from Japan. Also, make sure to befriend locals because everything they order here? you're going to love it, guaranteed!
(4)
Sebastian F.

Taken here by locals this unpretentious restaurant was packed on a Tuesday night. Mostly because, as I was told, due to the fact that they receive a fresh shipment of seafood straight from Japan always on Tuesdays. Please forgive me that I don't recall all the names of the delicious sushi, sashimi, onigiri, and fried shrimp pieces that were ordered - what I can tell you is that it was super fresh and really everything was delicious. Prices were reasonable for the quality sushi and service was quick and attentive. Pro tip: parking is free on the First Hawaiian Bank parking lot right next door.
(4)
Ron R.

Place was ok. Not bad kinda sloppy when you walk in. Service was good could be better. Writing this review because I'm questioning there otoro sashimi. For the price of 29.99 for 6 pieces and they ain't big. And that's a half portion. There the pieces was like the squares of a checker board. Come on now I definitely won't be eating here again just cause I still came out hungry and I know they could do better on the prices instead of ripping people off. This place sucked
(1)
Roselle S.

This was my first time in awhile that my husband and I went out of our area to look for good food. We started with the salmon ravioli with portabello mushrooms in a cream sauce which was very delicious. The waitress recommended the enoki mushrooms wrapped in pork, it was a little chewy but after you chew the whole thing in your mouth then the taste comes out. We also ordered a roll which was mediocre, nothing impressive but tasty and presented nicely. I asked the waitress for something that I saw in the pictures on yelp which they never bright to us and a half hour later after i pointed it out she said that they accidentally gave it to someone else and that it was the last one. She made up for it by giving us a free hamachi sushi, and we also ordered the beef tongue and fried shrimp heads. Were said were wanted to try different things than we normally order and get went bad. Altogether the good was alright but nothing over the top. Service could have been better.
(3)
Scott B.

Honolulu's best izakaya. My new favorite place to eat, drink and socialize. Food is authentic. I have lived in Japan for three years and have been to many many izakayas, and this place could stand shoulder to shoulder with the best of them. We tried many of the items on the menu, too many to go into detail, and we were not disappointed with any of the dishes. Everything is served as it should be and was so onolicious. The one dish that stands out was the Spider Crab Poke. This is a must order item. The value is there as well, but this is an izakaya, so expect a decent sized bill especially if you imbibe a few. Ambiance is Japanese izakaya. This place could be in downtown Tokyo and would fit in without changing a thing. Service is Japanese style. Impeccable. They also work as a team, so there is always someone nearby to attend to your izakaya needs. Truly deserving of five stars.
(5)
Nakita C.

The ahi poke. Let me repeat, the ahi poke. It's probably the best I've ever had. It just melts in your mouth. We also got a few handrolls which were delicious but we will definitely be back for the poke. Oh and they're open until 2 so it was perfect when my friend and I decided at 10:30 on Tuesday night that we wanted to go out for sushi.
(5)
Sasha L.

I've been coming to Tokkuri-tei since they were at their old location. Their new location is nice because they have a lot of parking underneath the building. They have a very extensive menu, and everything here is delicious! Tokkuri-tei is good for groups, because their new location is larger and more specious. But they also have sectioned off tables for small groups or couples that want privacy. What's nice is that their food is very good quality, there's so much to choose from and their portions are huge! I don't know a lot of izakayas that have this quality of food that also has this quantity. Whenever I come I see Kim, who is always gracious and friendly and makes my dining experience wonderful! Definitely recommend for an intimate date or a group dinner!
(5)
Terry H.

I've come here dozens of times. I frequent for lunch on Thursdays and dinners on the weekend. Parking is better now that Hee Hing is closed. Bevvy and Tucker is also closed during dinner. Best of all it's free now. The sashimi is very tasty. Fat and oily. When I go to Japan it's here that I compare to the bars there. I usually order the Tokkuri Tei Teishoku. Comes with 2 trays of yumminess. Or if I'm not too hungry I'll order the Chu or Go Moriwase. Tonight, for the first time, I ordered the Chef's Omakase. $75 and the chef makes whatever. It changes almost every night depending on the day's fresh ingredients. Started off with a plate with a slab of ahi, albacore, ginger and yellowtail. Followed by a flat head fish tempura and Mahagony Clam Next a flounder and red snapper nigiri and a small bowl of King Crab. And another bowl of egg roe and Uni. The crab was sticking to the shell badly but the roe popped in mouth like flavor beads. There was a ten minute lapse before anyone told me it was the end. Clearly not worth $75. And on top of that I had to ASK for a dessert. NOT WORTH $75. It almost made me want to change my rating. What irritated me tonight was that the server argued briefly that we ordered a full instead of a half order of salmon skin salad. And for the Omakase some the orders were not put in front of me and explained by the server. Remember I'm paying $75! Among the other favorites are Mushroom Risotto, Salmon Skin Salad...the girls like the Hyotan Teishoku. The sake dynamite is tasty too I recommend this place to Yelpers from other places and to people I meet on the street. I would go 5 stars but I want to save that for something that when my palette commands me.
(4)
John M.

We had top-notch sushi at Tokkuri Tei, which falls into the less-than-stratospherically expensive but still nicely above-average sushi restaurants for me. All of our orders were executed well, with quality fish, and while the restaurant was lively, it did feel a bit empty, at least on the Sunday night we went. They have a lovely view of the city and very attentive wait staff. I would probably explore other sushi options in the future to see if another place could better TT, but I wouldn't hesitate to return again.
(4)
Luckyginger K.

My most favorite of restaurants. Seafood is always fresh -- quality! Love the pork belly! Ikura sushi and Sapporo. And of course, their famous SPIDER ROLL.
(5)
Marko C.

Easily one of my favorite Sushi / Izakaya restaurants in Honolulu! The food is fresh, the service is OUTSTANDING, the prices are reasonable yet a bit on the high side. Make reservations especially on the popular eating out days/nights. You'll be glad that you did. You walk in the restaurant and there are tons of odds-and-ends laying around the entry way. I don't know if this is the decor of the restaurant or if it is just a convenient place to store all the lefover junk they don't know where to put in the restaurant. As you walk in, you are greeted by several friendly and energetic servers! Hamachi Sashimi Appetizer: AMAZING. Fresh Hamachi, and it tastes like it is from Japan (Not Mexico or Florida). Buttery and melt in your mouth delicious. Grade: B+ Catepillar Roll Sushi: Typical sushi with krab inside, topped with maguro, hamachi and salmon. Grade: B Assorted Sushi Platter: There are about 4 different levels of sashimi you can choose from. We got the 2nd from the most expensive level. It was a nice selection of hamachi, maguro, salmon, tai, hokkigai, and other delicious fresh fish. Teh assortment was nice, and the fish was fresh and tasty! Grade: A Chawanmushi: Perhaps the BEST Chawanmushi (egg custard) that I've had in my life. Making this dish is an art and Tokkuri-Tei does it well! It was light and creamy egg custard with shrimp, clams, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, chicken and several other goodeis in the cup. I *hate* eggs, but I could have had 4+ dishes of this by myself! Excellent service! This place is run like a well-oiled steam engine! The staff come out of the kitchen with dishes, check in the dishes with the mama-san at the cashier, it is checked off, and delivered to the table. No room for error! Food Grade: A! Service Grade: A+ Worth the Money Grade: B+ Overall Impression Grade: A
(5)
Teri Y.

I wasn't aware of this place until I was introduced to it by my Auntie & Uncle this summer. Then I ended up there twice that month and again recently for a birthday celebration. DO make a reservation! I felt sorry for the people waiting at the front--they looked hungry--while we walked by to our table. The menu could be more explanatory. It's pretty witty, but that doesn't help much if you don't know what you're ordering. Things I liked...agedashi tofu, tamago with quail egg, ikura with quail egg, salmon skin tofu salad, "nachos" (fried nori chips with ahi, avocado, etc. on them), ika pancake, natto sundae (yes, natto). I would go back and just eat the salmon skin tofu salad and ika pancake all by myself, I liked it so much! Oh! I can't forget the goma (black sesame seed) ice cream. That was so good, I'm going to try to make that at home!! The only reasons to take off one star (because I cannot take off 1/2 a star): the not very clear menu, their being out of items we wanted to order on more than one of my 3 visits, and one of the servers knocked the quail egg off my ikura with quail egg as she was bringing me the plate. I had to ask for a spoon to reconstruct it. Since sushi is highly visual, and also not so easily eaten unless it's rolled nicely, that was a big booboo on her part. She probably should have taken it back to have it re-made instead of serving it to me. Perhaps it couldn't be helped as the new health laws had just been implemented requiring the sushi chefs to wear gloves when they assembled the sushi. I'm sure there was a learning curve involved with rolling things nice & tight while wearing those sticky gloves.
(4)
Dave T.

I've been to this place several times. Started going when it was back in the Papa John's shopping center. Was afraid of all the bad reviews when it moved to the new location, and maybe it lost some of it's vibe as an intimate izakaya, the food is still awesome, and service is great and it still feels like an izakaya. If you're dining alone, sit at the bar. the master will talk to you and make you feel comfortable. This time, I had the grilled mackerel, beef tongue, agedashi tofu, and yes spider poke is to die for! great sake and shochu selection. They have dassai sake, and kurokirishima shochu. can't really ask for more :)
(4)
Lelabee D.

Very good sashimi. The menu is hard to read but I managed to get what I want. Love their dragon roll. Comes with a big shrimp head in the front, nori tempura chips which was $3 for a chip. I thought was expensive, grilled liver, heart and teri chix, we also had the udon yaki soba. Will Def go back again. I thought they served frog legs because I saw it on yelp. That's a absolutely not. The atmosphere was very pleasant. Very casual, the entire ohana can go there. MOOD: Got my sushi fix!
(4)
Leslie G.

A must-go in Honolulu. They have just about anything Japanese you could want to eat. The nori-chos are interesting too - nori nachos, with cheese sauce, jalepeno, tomato, cilantro, and some roe. They were surprisingly delicious. I also had the agedashi tofu, miso soup with mushroom, and cucumber roll. All were great. Prices are very reasonable for the quality. Service was excellent. The menu is enormous, and there are lots of choices for vegetarians.
(5)
Kyra L.

The sushi here was spectacular! But from one yelper to another, I would say this restaurant is more on the verge of $$/$$$ . Coming to this restaurant I assumed I'd walk out of here a happy and full customer. Instead I walked out still hungry and $45 poorer. I enjoyed the few small plates of sushi that I ordered but I refused to let myself order anything more because the bill was racking up far higher than I expected. I found this place on yelp , saw $$ and thought it would be affordable. Instead I left the restaurant still hungry. And a little upset at how expensive it all was
(3)
Angela L.

Extensive menu! We had to ask for recommendation from our server. We ended up ordering/trying out variety of items: * Nori-chos: super crunchy deep-fried nori (seaweed). It's a Japanese take on Mexican food. Very interesting dish. We loved it! * Salmon Skin Salad: very pretty salad, very tasty & delicious, too. Highly recommended! * A plate of assorted sashimi: extremely fresh sashimi and we truly enjoyed this dish. Would order this again! * Kushiyaki/skewers: we had Tan Shio (beef tongue), Reba (chicken livers) & Shiso Maki (shiso pork). All were good! * Chawan mushi: good & very delicate! * Geso Kara Age/Squid legs: super crunchy! How did they do it? And the squid stayed crunchy, they didnt turn soggy at all. * Yaki Udon: nice smoky tasty udon with seafood.. Great dish! Service was great. Our server was helpful, attentive and eager to please. Parking is available in the basement of the building.
(4)
Carmen Y.

It is our last supper in Hawaii and we decided to look for a decent place for our Uni crave. In our dictionary, decent doesn't mean Fancy nor Luxury...it is a restaurant where they made their dishes with heart; Chef who understand your taste and who look after what you like or dislike. We came across with this Japanese izakaya place that is not from the center of Waikiki, it is hiding in the upper story of a random plaza. I would use extraordinary and speechless to describe our experience. We had the best meal of our trip! From Shima Aji or the long lost Kohada, Japanese Uni and the amazing Hamachi Truffle...we were in Heaven! We ended the meal with a black sesame gelato from the chef. : ) what else can we ask for? It will definitely be my "must eat" for my next Oahu trip.
(5)
Dean L.

The place is upstairs in a dimly lit, concrete building, but had free underground parking, a rarity at the end of the Ala Wai Canal on busy Kapahulu Avenue. Sat at the sushi bar and had a great experience; seven courses all recommended by the chef. We enjoyed the freshest exotic items before the place got too busy. Lightly steamed spicy fish collars, amazing vegetarian natto rolls (fermented soybean), even black sesame seed ice cream. Sometimes chefs can take advantage of you pushing items they want to move, but we didn't feel ripped off.
(5)
Sheila K.

Love Chef Yuuji and his osusume! He always delights us with his special creations! We love ordering off the menu too! Consistently delicious!!! Definitely one of our favorite spots!!!
(5)
Darrin D.

The Real Deal. Not in Waikiki, thank goodness. "Locals Only" type of place. I may be the only tourist here. This is the down home type of joint I was looking for. All of my fish is super fresh & clean.
(4)
Hisoo H.

We started out with the Salmon Skin Salad, tasty and lightly seasoned with dressing, Beef Tongue yakitori, Spinach w/goma dressing, cucumber with ume paste, chawan mushi (an egg custard with shrimp, bamboo shoots, chicken or pork) Spicy Scallops Handroll, Tempura mix, etc., I like that you can order a teishoku and you can order off the menu a bunch of stuff, just keep going and going.....Everything was excellent! Parking underground or on the street
(5)
Sarah L.

This was our last meal in Oahu before we left, really didn't know what to expect... we sat at the sushi bar, and from the first dish to the last blew us away. We mainly ordered items not on the menu, and what the chef recommended according to what we liked. Wow. We were blown away with everything-the creativity, uniqueness, quality and the service. If you have a chance to stop by- sitting at the sushi bar is a must and let Chef Yuji guide you. You won't be disappointed! Recommend: Amaebi with uni, fresh king crab with snow crab innards, yellowtail sashimi, ikura salmon hand roll, and the scallop hand roll with gochujang sauce. Freakin amazing!
(5)
T S.

Food-3 1/2 stars Service-2 stars Price- 2 stars Not really much to say. Not going based on price and service.
(3)
Nicole S.

I've always wanted to check this place out and am happy that I finally did. It was basically an outing with current and former co-workers. We had a decent size group and pretty much ordered separately. One of the members of our group knew the sushi chef and was doing omakase which looked amazing! We watched in awe of the intricate nigiris he put out on the table. I wouldn't dare to repeat what was actually given only because some of these had to be special made. One star off because of the fact that when we had saw the kinmeidai that was given to the chefs friend (OUR GROUP MEMBER) we ordered automatically thinking about how amazing it looked and my boyfriend just loves a good kinmeidai (red snapper). But when we were served the nigiri it looked like the trash end of the fish and honestly tasted horrible that my boyfriend told me not to eat it (although I did and yes, it wasn't all that great). If you serve it to one person anywhere in the restaurant one way, you should serve it the same to others. I really did not appreciate that and that was the biggest upset of the night as everything else we ordered was delicious. I cannot say that I am a sushi expert because I am most definitely not, but I know service and consistency is everything. Lastly, I do recommend Tokkuri-Tei to others, order what you personally like. The beef tongue was one of the best things on my mind. Natto ice cream was a hit with our group and so was the unagi rice.
(4)
Britni K.

So I'm finishing up a massage at a friend's house and my bf texts me and is like "My heart is set on sushi. Meet me at your house- I picked out a place on Yelp that's open late." Enter, Tokkuri- Tei. All I have to say is WOW. We found it pretty easily on Kapahulu, with a parking garage under the restaurant. Walked in and there was a cute decor going on. Slow night (lucky for us, but I felt bad for the hoard of visible cooks in the back) so we were seated right away. My bf was HUNGRY so we looked at the menu and asked the girl for a couple of recommendations. She pointed us to the local faves, which were mostly poke dishes so we explored the very large menu and just started ordering. It was all such a delicious blur- highlights were the ahi nigiri (so rich and melted in my mouth), softshell crab handroll, baked alaska salmon handroll, stuffed mushrooms, and at the end, an uni shot. This last thing, I can't say that I would order it again, but I encourage all to try it because it is QUITE the experience. It has sea urchin, masago, green onions, quail egg, and probably a couple more ingredients and it's all served in a shot glass. We "shot" it and it was such a ridiculous mix of textures in my mouth. I tried chewing but it wasn't working out, so halfway through I just swallowed it all. It was crazy. Haha! Overall, service was great with the girls coming to check on us consistently, and the quality of the sushi was amazeballs. A tiny bit pricey, but nothing you wouldn't expect from a great sushi place. Definitely marked in my book to come back again and enjoy more dishes!
(5)
Anna Y.

Very creative Menu , explains every item in detail , thus making non Japanese speakers easy to understand all the items on the menu . Server were very nice and professional . As for the meal , we ordered different things off the menu to share between the two of us . Nothing really stood out but wasn't bad either . Fried soft shell crab was very good , they were the right crispiness and great to go with your sake. Sashimi platter was fresh and came in decent size . skewers were mediocre to the point where I don't think it's worth mentioning . one thing that made me take off another star is their restroom , it is located outside of the building and in the back corner of the plaza . I was dining there at night so it was dark and I just didn't felt safe to use the restroom by myself . This might not bother you but as a female I am always worried about my safety , therefore , I might not come back for this particular reason.
(3)
William O.

Wide selection of great food. A lot of vegetarian options. All done well. Great service. Highly recommend.
(5)
Krysten I.

I was craving some late night sushi and Tokkuri-Tei is so close to my place, I couldn't find an excuse not to go. I find it hard sometimes to find places open after I get home from work (I usually work until 9), even though I live in waikiki. I'm glad Tokkuri-Tei can fulfill my sushi cravings so late at night. The restaurant is located right above Hee Hing on Kapahulu, and although the decor is nothing to rave about, the restaurant is rather large and feels homey. We ordered a sushi combination plate and a roll. This place is legit, so the prices reflect the quality. Being Chinese and all, I was a little hesitant when ordering because it seems like I was spending a lot, but I had to remind myself that I wasn't at genki. The rolls are actually huge, so if you're hungry, get one of those. I also love ordering sushi combos when I have someone to share it with because there are certain fish I prefer over others. This tactic becomes particularly advantageous when I'm eating a sushi combo with my boyfriend. Why? I can easily convince him that the ones I don't like are "better" lol jk. He's nice enough to give me the nigiri I like and eat the ones I don't :) there honestly weren't any "bad" pieces. The fish was cut in just the right thickness, and I probably would have eaten the entire thing if I was alone. I loved the ebi, tamago and tako in particular (I seem to base my sushi quality ratings on these three and Tokkuri-Tei doesn't disappoint!). The service was fast and attentive, I wish I had room to try some of the other offerings, but there is always next time. I'm not sure what the parking situation is like during the day, but at night, there is plenty of free street parking.
(5)
Kevin C.

This Japanese restaurant was just what I was looking for after being disappointed by two straight meals on Waikiki, which is so overloaded with tourists that most restaurants, especially the Asian ones, have long lines, even on Mondays. Tokkuri Tei is a 10 minute walk from the Marriot away from the tourist hordes of Waikiki. It's in a bit of a run-down area, a good sign. The menu was extensive and in both English and Japanese, and many of the patrons were Japanese--good signs. We tried a ton of stuff on the menu including sashimi, sushi rolls, and poke, a Hawaiin dish that can best be described as a sort of fish salad. Everything on the menu was excellent and it was fairly priced.
(5)
Heather S.

I rate this place 3 stars, but their NORI-CHOS five stars! This appetizer is what will keep me coming here again and again. Just get me an order of this and maybe a shot or two of the koshi no kagiroi sake and I'm good to go! Nori-chos is nori but deep fried tempura style. So basically, it's their nori nachos. These nori-chos are topped with spicy ahi, avocado, tomato, and a bunch of other stuff drizzled with this sauce that's both sweet and spicy! Soooo good! We of course ordered a bunch of other things (like vegetable tempura, unagi, mushroom skewers), but I won't be ordering them the next time I come here. Not that these dishes were horrible. They did taste ok, but portions are small and not worth the price you pay for. Also, be forewarned. The menu can be overwhelming. There's so many dishes and different types of sake. Nothing wrong to have a variety. It's just that the menu itself is not appealing to the eye. It's like trying to read a book with tiny print. There's the name of the dish, plus a description, PLUS the Japanese translation. It's a bit too much.
(3)
Aphirak B.

Based on my personal opinion, this restaurant is one of the best sushi place in Honolulu. They serve very fresh and yummy sashimi. We had salmon skin salad with tofu. My mom said it was the best she has had. But I like the dressing at Yanagi better. We ordered their Sashimi plate and it was the perfect. Each piece of sashimi is smooth, fresh, and the perfect portion for a single bite. This was the highlight of the night for our dinner. In addition, we also had Hamachi Kama, Moana Lua Roll, and beef tongue. In sum, it was a perfect dinner after a long week. But be prepared to spend $$$.
(5)
Pamela S.

The food is really yummy and there is lots of seating. They bring out peanuts to each table for an appetizer. This is a fun place to go and do family style. The salmon skin salad is a must try!
(4)
Mark G.

Very good food, comes out quickly. The service is by committee so it can be good or great, but never bad. Reservations are a good idea.
(5)
Phil C.

We had a group of 9, service was horrible, they wanted to rush us out when we called for reservation. Sushi was good, but we are never coming back again. Caused drama in the family, complained to worker and she said she will get the manager but they never came by. Doesn't look like we are ever coming back to this place. Sad I have to give my first two stars. Btw, we had only 15 pieces of fish come out on the supreme joe order. Wack!
(2)
Robin S.

We've been coming here since they were a little hole in the wall on Sheridan Street. My favorite things are the salmon skin salad, ika yaki, yaki ume, gobo and pork. horenso tamago, ahi tataki. Great energy here at night...quiet for lunch.
(5)
Shawn C.

Both the food and the service is excellent. The menu is extensive, almost to a fault, but then if you know what you want you can be pretty sure they'll have it and know how to prepare it. This is a real sushi restaurant, not what you get along the beach with low lighting and black walls. Highly recommended.
(5)
Gary N.

It was a cause for celebration... I finally had a date on Valentine's Day! Every year in recent memory has been my bad fortune to have a dateless day. Alas, this year's Valentine's date has flown back to her home in the mainland, but it was still a really nice day. I had never been here before and I have to say that I'm a definite fan! Much thanks to Denise K's recommendation! I followed her suggestion of ordering the Omakase at the sushi bar and I was so happy with my food. It is endless and you just tell them when you're done. You get charged appropriately. Dinner started off with the tempura nori tuna chips. These were amazing as they were just like chips and had just the right amount of bite. I had never had anything quite like it before. It was an evening of firsts. Next came sea cucumber and mini squids. The mini squids were really neat with each squid having an eye! I felt like they were watching me devour their friends. It was creepy yet tasty at the same time. After that came a shooter, the type of shooter escapes me, and hotate with plum. I must say that this hotate might have been the best I had ever tried. It was so soft and it melted like butter in my mouth. Hirame and ono came next. I had never had hirame sashimi style before and never had ono. Both were really good and prepared perfectly. I enjoyed the fish egg tempura even after I realized that it was a fried sperm sack. The various other seafood I had was really good as well. Service was really good except for one worker that was working with us. She seemed a little grouchy. Parking is valet only or on the street. Altogether, it came out to about $112 for what you see in my pictures. Not bad at all for the exotic, yet satisfying food.
(4)
Steve D.

Still awesome with the salmon skin salad. Came back every time we come to Honolulu. 3x in the last 4 yrs....
(5)
Sai C.

The food taste almost like authentic Japanese food. Its quit delicious but the portions are small. I would recommend this place if your a fan of Japanese food. Personally, I think Its better than the typical local Japanese food and its not overpriced.
(4)
Matt C.

I have done several sushi reviews... and said this place is the best, this place is the best, this is the best... so on and so forth.... but THIS PLACE REALLY IS THE BEST! Unless you are in Japan, you cannot get better sushi. (Yes, I have been to Japan). The menu is in Japanese first; then English... This is a good sign. No frills - the restaurant is very casual, no white-table clothes, no hipsters, no music playing. It's not Nobu or some of the other booshie / overpriced places in places like LA, SF, and NYC... My GF and I went here twice in 5-days... We could have easily gone here everyday. The sushi is incredibly fresh, and delicious. You can taste the freshness. 1-AND; its reasonably priced also. Cheaper than Nobu, 2-AND, you are also in Hawai'i (where everything is more expensive)... not here. Reasonable. Service was great, all the servers were very nice. This really is it. This is the Best! Win, Win, Win. 100-stars If they had a T-Shirt, I would wear it.
(5)
Joba B.

You walk in see signs on the wall saying this is one of the Best Sushi spots. (excitement!) A host comes to greet and promptly seats us. It wasn't too crowded around 9pm on a Friday night, but the volume does get loud especially since there was a big party next to us. The decorations are cute; there's a fish net in the middle of the room with fish on it. My friends and I couldn't figure out what one of the fishes were, so it was a good time filler until we got to order. We just came for the Seafood salad, but ended up eating a whole lot more because the food was so ono! We got Nori-chos, which taste the bomb with the mini-tobiko eggs. Then we ordered the award winning Ah I Tar-Tare Poke which I was ready to inhale until my friend told me the Shiso leaf was missing so I stopped, and had to ask the waitress to bring a Shiso leaf which she graciously did - she brought us three leaves! Then we were stuffed, but had my eyes on the ice cream menu. After much debate we ended up with Gome, Kinako and Condensed Milk. Had tea to settle the food down. What a perfect night!
(5)
Tiffany B.

While visiting Hawaii I went in search of some inexpensive but good sushi... I came across this place walking distance from my hotel... It's in what I would consider a strip mall on the top floor... I walked in and sat at the sushi bar, which is located in the kitchen area. I was sat immediately... After being seated I was given an appetizer on the house... Some type of spicy tuna situation... Which was amazing! I then places my order miso butter fish roll and the spider (soft shell crab) roll... Which are both pretty nice size rolls... The miso butter fish was AMAZING! Make sure you try it! It has a great mayo and and eel sauce on it.. The sider roll was great too!!! They give u a nice size soft shell crab... Which is great! The customer service here is excellent too! I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Krisha A.

Excellent Japanese restaurant with creative and innovative spins of traditional Japanese food. -Make reservations for larger groups. It gets crazy busy. -Definitely check out the specials posted on a white board close to the entrance. Food: 1. Age Dashi Mochi: So delicious! The outside is fried so it has a crunch and the inside is gooey just the way mochi should be. I love savory foods and mochi so this was like the best of both worlds. I wanted to order more except I got full. 2. Ume Ochazuke: Perfect comfort food. Ochazuke is very classic and simple. I like it on a rainy day or any day for they matter and it's always reliable to get since you can't screw it up too bad. This one was delicious the broth was tasty. 3. Miso Portobello: Very interesting. It was presented like chips and dip. The portobello was grilled and to the side the the decorative miso was at the center of the plate. It was good if you like miso although I'm not sure if I'd order it again. Drink: 1. Hot Green Tea: Good and authentic. I love authentic green tea, like it's almost bitter. Ambience: Loud. Family style. Busy. A very fun and enjoyable atmosphere. There's also a sushi bar indoors. Customer Service: Good. There's a lot of things on the menu so it's a little overwhelming the first time. Our waitress was very helpful although a little distracted, understandable considering it's busyness. Overall I would recommend. It was a good dining experience and the food was memorable.
(4)
Stewart T.

Vacation to Honolulu turned out to be a foodie trip due to poor weather... thank god it did. Tokkuri-Tei was the best meal of the entire trip - possibly of my entire year. We visited other places that were heavily recommended but a local brought us here. I can say that individually the dishes were great but to truly be blown away do the omakase. You can eat til your eyes pop out - which may happen due to how amazing everything looks and tastes. But the food is well balanced, you get a good combination of textures, flavors, proteins, and vegetables. You get things you may have never tried like fish skin, raw quail egg, or conch in yo mouth. And everything is seasonal - you're likely not to have the same meal here twice. My favorite dish was a conch stew in my mouth. Super delish broth and tenderly/crunchy conch in my mouth. Actually my favorite was the raw oyster w/ quail egg. I'm from Seattle where oysters reign supreme - they didn't disappoint. Wait.. my fave was actually the mini-chirasi bowl which again came w/ a quail egg. ok, now I remember what my fave dish was - it wasn't even fish. It was the homemade sesame seed ice cream! You get the picture - everything here is da bomb, amazing, and yes, I'm gonna say it - the forbidden description according to sushi snobs - amazingly fresh. To get fresher you'd have to be a whale or a shark!
(5)
Marnica B.

What an experience! Date night grinds with my girl and was taken through a sushi escapade lead by chef yuji. Sure there's quality sushi at other establishments, but it's the experience that sets this place apart. Simply put, it's our favorite place to eat sushi on the island.
(5)
Izumi K.

This place is an average Japanese restaurant and serving traditional Japanese food. They had moved a couple of times but have been around for a long time. A good place to hangout with a group of friends.
(3)
Jennifer L.

Just ate here and left super disappointed. Only come here if you want cooked food. Overpriced, sucky sashimi, none of them were good. Not sure where they get their fish from but it's not fresh and neither is the uni. The price was ridiculous for bad sashimi. The food trucks around beat this with no doubt. We are experienced sashimi eaters and this doesn't even match the sashimi places that charge much lower in San Francisco.
(1)
Coreen L.

Yay!! I've been coming to Tokkuri-Tei for years and can't believe I haven't written a review for them yet. So you have to come into a place like this (izakaya) knowing that the style is meant to be like grazing while drinking, talking story with friends (or whomever you are dining with) and enjoying great food! Portions will be like tapas - smaller in size - so you can sample many different items. My favorites here are salmon skin salad, grilled musubi, bacon wrapped enoki mushrooms, ribeye kabobs, sushi of any kind, and nacho poke. But there are always great and delicious specials and so many other items to try -- its hard to remember all of them. Beers, sake, and shochu available too!! YUM
(4)
Keisha P.

Location: Kind of hidden, however it is big once you get inside! We went on a Thursday night at 6pm (with reservations). Upon arrival we were 1 of maybe 6 tables in the entire restaurant. I would always recommend making reservations. Good for couples or large partys! Parking: Free at First Hawaiian after 6pm, or plenty of street parking =) Price: I felt it was pretty inexpensive for the quality of food! Price range around $8-$40 for food. There are lots to choose from, so get ready for options galore. Food: Great great great stuff! I love sushi, I love fish, I love food! My girlfriends (Fab5) and I went out for my belated birthday dinner and I was extremely happy with my first experience here. The menu is large, with lots of options. There is something for everyone. Side note: The owner created the menu with little funny witty description of each item, cute idea! We had: Salmon skin salad large portion Frog legs (5 pieces- $8.50) Chef special poke (4 piece sushi roll) Maunakea Roll (16 pieces HUGE! $40) Portabello mushroom rice thing- I know it sounds odd but it was amazing. This of a big mushroom stuffed with risotto rice. That's how I would describe it. The salmon skin salad people rave about. I on the other hand, will probably not order it again (my own taste). Everything else was BOMB! Frog legs sound weird, but its deep fried with some sauce and it taste like chicken wings! Maunakea roll I would recommend if you are with a bigger party! Its huge and delicious. I bought the girls and I a round of shots. A round of SNAKE VENOM SHOTS! It's a cool daring experience. I secretly asked the waitress for a round of 5 snake shots and her response was, "wow you're brave." Instantly, I thought to myself...crap. Here we go. The waitress brought out a huge jar with a real dead snake at the bottom. She literally scooped out the liquid alcohol right out of the jar into the shot glass for us all. Taste was definitely not my cup of tea (taste like 151 whiskey) but the experience was fun! The service was good- they all were very attentive and patient with all the questions we asked. Our server was extremely knowledgeable about the 5 page drink menu and 5 page food menu! I will definitely be back for more sushi and frog legs! I highly recommend this place!
(5)
jazzy l.

I wasn't expecting this place to be so big in a nicer building compared to other ones in Oahu but I would say the rolls were big and I couldn't really hear my dinning partner because it was loud in the restaurant. Salmon skin salad - i would recommend this dish to others spicy tuna roll and a butterfish roll - too many panko for the butterfish roll Street parking. Near Waikiki.
(3)
Ryan C.

Loved the spicy scallop roll covered in roe and the tempura; but most of all the Miso Butterfish roll. Find convenient parking in the garage below
(5)
Jonathan N.

Great quality and excellent service! Arrive early as it does get packed fast! Stuffed portabello and sashimi are a must!
(5)
Tammie C.

Came to Hawaii with a mission to not only relax, but to also get really good sushi! After yelping several sushi restaurants with omakase, I decided that Tokkuri was the one. Unfortunately it fell short on so many levels. They have peeled and marinated ginger instead of sliced ginger-- interesting. They have ginger grated soy-sauce- yummy. So far this place seemed promising. The chef was young and very nice, but unfortunately I'm not sure if he knows how to impress his customers. First course: 6 pieces of lightly charred spanish mackerel. Okay, not bad. Second course: more mackerel, but this time in a soup-based broth and a slice of lemon. A little overcooked in my opinion, but at least it is unique. Third course: seasoned baby scallops over a bed of seaweed. Pretty bland. Fourth course: some japanese abalone that he baked-- this was not tasty at all. Fifth course: thinly sliced mackerel. More mackerel??! This is where I started distrusting the chef since I have yet to had one amazing dish. Also thinking they really need to get rid of the mackerel at this point... * Pause: Hey Chef, can we get some sashimi--say like, toro, uni, yellow-tail, salmon...maybe just some fresh fish? He came back with a conglomerate bowl of all the things we said we liked, sliced 1/4 thick like thin threads messily placed over a tiny bed of rice with a raw egg on top. Seriously, this was disgusting. I get emotional when I eat really good food, like super happy. I also get emotional when we're paying so much for really bad food, like super sad. In this instance, I was almost bordering depressed (I know, bad sushi... #first world problems). However, I felt so bad because I wasted our one Saturday night in beautiful Hawaii on a bad omakase meal. I never thought there could be such thing with sushi, especially with such high-ratings on yelp! As good little asians, we begrudgingly finished the not so good fish bowl and started to order off the menu to somewhat save the meal. Unfortunately, the items we ordered were not mind-blowing either. I think the chef felt the depression and gave us a particularly delicious black sesame ice cream with a bit of drizzled chocolate. That was the best part of the meal, but it certainly didn't redeem the prior courses. So here's my theory-- this place is good for locals. The locals are the chef's friends. They make good non-omakase everyday food. So if you're looking for something special with a talented chef and really good fish, this is not the place. I feel bad for writing a bad review but with $180 down the drain for 2 peeps and a unsatisfying meal, I feel like it's my duty to let y'all know that this is not a good place for omakase. Spend the extra money at a Sasabune or order one-off's on the menu.
(2)
Shayna K.

The first time I came to the new location (above Hee Hing on Kapahulu, where Sam Choy's used to be), I felt like they lost the historic, intimate, hole-in-the-wall feel of the original location. But they quickly redecorated and made the huge space feel like their own. Either that or I've just gotten used to it. I love the food here. 1. Salmon skin salad: it's amazing. Broccoli sprouts, onions, tobiko, salmon skin, and a delightful dressing. Next time I think I'll ask them to go lighter on the dressing, though, because I noticed globs of mayo this time. 2. Spicy ahi (tuna): this is the way I like my spicy ahi. Not too much mayo, and super spicy. They have mastered it. Great service, good for families, and I really appreciate the wet wipes and complimentary green tea. Tip: get there before 7 pm when it gets packed on a weekend night.
(4)
Kit W.

I wasn't impressed with Tokkuri-Tei the first time I tried it but it's won me over since then. This is definitely a place you should come with a group so you can share a variety of dishes. Here's what I recommend having: Hamachi Truffle (5/5): Everything about this is perfect--the flavors, the texture, the presentation...love at first bite! Portobello Mushroom Stuffed with Sticky Fried Rice (4.5/5): Maybe it's because I don't eat portobello mushrooms often but this was unexpectedly delicious! Spicy Tuna Chips (4.5/5): $3 per chip which is a little outrageous but these things are so darn yummy! Ika Yaki (4/5): Fried squid pancake that is thin, crispy, and has a good amount of squid. Salmon Skin Salad (4/5): Great flavor but a little strong on the raw onion. Wish there was more salmon skin too. The menu here is extensive with creative/intriguing item names and descriptions (heard great things about "There's a Spider in Da Poke"!). I am rather looking forward to trying something new every time I come here again.
(4)
Leenelle T.

Great service! The food was tasty and on point! I highly recommend this restaurant! Can't wait to go back :) we had the steak... Very tasty, chicken balls, nice flavor, pork stew, tempura and tofu all very good!!!!
(5)
George S.

This year I sat at the counter and let the chef's do their magic. Ray was the best. He definitely enjoys his craft. He's originally from Okinawa and has been perfecting his skills for over 17 years. I ordered the ahi poke to start and continued onto a medium fatty toro, specially prepared oysters, fresh squid and a yellow tail (as well as a few others). Finished with an Okinawan black sesame encrusted gelato. Great food and even better service.
(5)
Cedrick Z.

I was visiting Hawaii as a tourist and we wanted to get good sushi away from Waikiki. This very nice izakaya was much better than what we had found in Waikiki. The menu was extensive and the fish was good quality. They had good sushi including anago which I always look for and don't find often and local foods like poke. It's not cheap, but it was a good value for the quality. They were busy but the service was good. I was also thinking it'd be a good place to hang out and drink with a group of friends. The ambiance was nothing special. It's not too loud and not too quite.
(5)
Melissa L.

Extensive menu. Took me forever to read it through. Luckily, my friend had been there numerous times so I just had her order for us since we pretty much had the same taste in foods. We ordered the Sashimi platter, cow tongue, roe musubi, tempura and some type of steak. Delicious!! im pretty sure we inhaled everything in record time. We went right at opening with no reservations so we got sat promptly but when we left around 7pm, there was a line outside. Would love to come back and try more things on the menu.
(5)
Jon H.

Happiness! Love this place. So good. Hard to make a bad decision given their menu of traditional and innovative offerings! Great service.
(5)
Fran C.

After seeing my friend's posting of da grindz at this place, I knew one day I had to come here and try 'em! It was was my good friend's belated burfday, so I told him "we go check dis place out!" We ordered the following items tonight (see pics) - 1. Spider Roll 2. Hamachi Sashimi 3. Salmon Sashimi 4. Spicy Ahi Cucumber Roll 5. Agedashi Tofu (Fried Tofu) 6. Yakitori (Chicken Skewers) 7. Nalo Greens I must say, the food over here is EXCELLENT!!!! The fish is very fresh! On the down side, if I could complain about something, is the lack of service from our server........... Granted, the restaurant was busy tonight, and I did not see too many waitresses working, so I guess they were spread thin. I mean the simplest thing like having your hot tea or water refilled, I had to ask them, as no one was really attending to us.......go figure? On the bright side, the food came out fairly fast. And again, the food was EXCELLENT!!! If you're into fresh fish, this is a very good place to go! Parking is valet only for ($3.00), and gratuity is not included. I later found out you could park at First Hawaiian Bank (Kapahulu Branch) after 6 pm. I would have given a "5" for this place, but had to knock off a point for the below average service.
(4)
Alvin L.

We sat at the sushi counter by choice. Our master sushi chef was Taka-san. Food presentation, taste and service was great but the waitress was slow on refilling drinks; otherwise would've been 5 stars.
(4)
Sean C.

parking: street parking reservations: no need cost: $60 per person restrooms: not in the restaurant the food: - NORI NACHOS! - hamachi sashimi - chicken hearts - uni and surprise shooter - agedashi tofu - black bean ice cream This space is huge! There's plenty of seating in this wide open area as well as a sushi bar in the back. The decorations is ocean and sea-faring themed like Boiling Crabs in Southern California. And yes it was necessary to capitalize all the letters in NORI NACHOS! Get it! Just do it. They're chips made of nori with avocado, tomatoes, and teri sauce. So simple yet so amazing. The chicken hearts are also a winner. The uni shooter was not very good. There was simply too much in one shot. I think if you can't eat it in one mouthful then you can't call it a shooter. Try the one at Sushi Izakaya Gaku it's much better. Although everyone raves about the black bean ice cream, I didn't think it was all that special. Overall, a nice place to come for decent sushi and the NORI NACHOS! Great for a meal with friends in a casual setting.
(4)
Michael V.

The food was okay, but the wait staff we got was excellent. I would've given them 4 stars but the question for today is "what restaurant doesn't give you change?!!!!" We had just finished eating our meals and we were about to leave. I came up to the cashier to get change and he said "we don't give change"... I was actually speechless. I'm not sure what kind of rule this is? But the change was for the wait staff!!! I wanted to leave a bigger tip.... How ridiculous can this be to not allow me to show my appreciation for their hard work. Waiters and waitresses pay their bills with tip money. Probably won't be back anytime soon.
(2)
Fred M.

This is our must stop place every time we are in Hawaii. Best sushi, very fresh and the chefs are very attentive and good at what they do. When you sit at the bar just let them chose what they are going to make you, you will be surprised at the amazing new food you will try. Will be back again soon.
(5)
Billy H.

got horrible service/attitude/cancelled reservation without notice at wada so went here instead. very festive and people seemed to be enjoying themselves. the first thing i noticed was how nice the waitresses were compared to the horrible experience at wada. ordered omakase and waitress recommended we sit at the bar which we welcomed. usually prefer this. asked if it's something similar to another joint on the other side of waikiki (sasabune) and she said yes but not so sushi nazi about it. hahaha. and she was right. other place is great and we love it but this place will wow you. so moved over to the bar and kazu served us all kinds of goodies. he is the owner. it's omakase which means that you won't remember all the names so wife and i just sat and enjoyed every dish. toro literally (no, i don't use this lightly) melted in my mouth. everything was fresh. i remember the last dish was like an uni shooter type but no liquor. instead, all sorts of delicious include oyster. and the shot glass was a double shot size so a whole heck of a lot went in there. please see picture. he uses japanese salt for some dishes and it really enhances what goes on in the mouth. Thete was this clam dish. Some raw pieces and cooked pieces woth the salt. it's warm. So it was like wuh since sushi is mostly cool on your palette. Soooo good. Also, toro is usually good right? it melts here like I said. It was like ice cream. also, equally amazing is kazu's attitude toward the customers as he kept us talking the whole time. wife and i both had an amazing time. to cap it off, your desert is 2 scoops of ice cream with super sweet bean paste. one scoop was green tea but the other one is japanese purple sweet potate. i was full but kept shoving spoonfuls in my mouth. finally wife wanted to ask for the check so i would stop eating. haha.
(5)
Gena L.

Our family had a get together for dinner which we had called earlier that day to make reservations for 10 people for 5:30 p.m. a woman took our reservation. When we entered tokkuri- tei we weren't greeted or approached by any of the 2 female workers! When I approached them I said hi we have reservations for 10 people for 5:30, one of the waitresses looked in a book then said is it a party of 6 with a high chair? Then I said no party of 10, she replied back with nope not showing that on the book! She then walked away fr. Us! She was not polite at all! Her attitude was very rude and she had NO customer service at all! I had to ask her again and I told her I spoke with an older sounding woman earlier, that waitress soon replied with did she speak japanese with broken english? I replied yes, she then said that's the owner she don't speak English and we should have called days earlier! She then said im just going to set up a table for you guys! It was so rude and made us feel like we were wrong! She could have just ser the table for us to begin with!? The food was awesome! But the service was a minus 5!!! I would not recommend this restaurant! I had a few friends that wanted to try here but I have already made them aware of the unhappy disgruntled waitresses.... the foods good but not worth the attitude at all! Amazing these two females don't get complaints about them! Or do they but the so called owner don't speak English to understand that she has the worse workers I have ever come across! We still tipped good so with that money I hope they can buy new attitudes!
(2)
Jordana F.

Since it was a Sunday, street parking was free and there were lots of stalls open. If it isn't a Sunday or street parking is full, you can park in the hee-Hing structure lot. The decor is very...busy. There are fishing nerd, lots of Japanese lanterns and drawings on the wall. The menu has a lot of options to choose from for both drinks and food. I ordered the lemon dai Shochu. It was really good! Very lemony with a little zing. As for food we ordered the show sushi combo that had salmon, yellow tail, ahi sushi and cucumber rolls. I also got the tokkuri teishoku. It came with miso soup, salad, sashimi, tempura, rice and a 4oz steak with a miso-glaze. Everything was delicious!! The salad dressing was really good--a little sweet with a nice sour tang. The steak was pretty tender and the glaze was good as well. Oh I also got a sweet treat--mochi with azuki beans! The prices were reasonable, the food was absolutely delicious, and the waitresses were nice. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Amber M.

My boyfriend and I are here on vacation from LA. We are big sushi eaters (2-3x a week) we saw this place on yelp and decided to give it a try. We were very pleased with the friendly staff! Our waitress was attentive and knew the menu very well. There menu is very big. I don't think we have ever been to a sushi place with so many options before. The fish tasted very fresh and the sake was delicious. The food was very traditional Japanese which is always fun. We loved the salmon skin salad! It was amazing. We also had great quality spicy tuna. We will Def be returning here on our next Waikiki trip.
(5)
Joe B.

Very good! Excellent food, easy parking at street or lot . Hamachi Kama - excellent. Uni- excellent Sesame ice cream excellent Def rec!!
(5)
Charlene S.

This is a great place to have sushi. My sister-in-law and her husband took us to this restaurant. They ordered most for us. All was delicious. Some I've never eaten before such as seaweed chips, yum! My favorite was the Hamachi.
(5)
E C.

The food was delicious! the portobello miso was like nothing else...you need to experience it!!! only complaint was the service was a little slow and sparse.
(4)
Denalee C.

On a Friday afternoon, I made a reservation at Tokkuri-Tei at about 4:30 for dinner at 7pm. We got there about forty minutes late (eek!), but they still honored our reservation! I felt a little guilty walking by a whole bunch of people waiting for a table on the way to the hostess. We sat down to individual bowls of boiled peanuts-it's the little things that make a difference to me. I ordered the chirashi "chew" (of course). And, OMG...yum.The Maguro was what I like to call, "lip fish"...fish so soft you can eat it with your lips instead of your teeth. The sake was oily and the hamachi was incredibly tender. For $25, it was a steal.
(4)
Christie A.

Best sushi bar in Waikiki! Extensive menu that can be overwhelming, but has everything that you ever imagined! My favorite is the Kilauea roll. Great service too.
(5)
Russ C.

I love, love, love this place. I've come for business dinners or with the kids. You cant go wrong.
(4)
Denise H.

Izakaya in Japan is a traditional watering hole or a casual bar where the salary man goes after work with colleagues. There's usually a large menu with a myriad of different types of otsumami (pupu) including sushi, sashimi, grilled meats and veggies, fried shrimp tempura and veggies, ochazuke, noodle dishes and an assortment of small plates comparable to tapas. Tokkuri-Tei is a one of a kind local Izakaya. What makes it special is not only does it mirror a traditional Izakaya (minus the menu on the walls in Japanese) but it adds a layer of Hawaiian flair and flavor to the ambiance and menu found no where else in Hawaii. The walls are covered with local fans and celebrity autographs. And the Japanese lanterns and fishing net decor make the place all too colorful and fun. What sets Tokkuri-Tei apart from any other Japanese Izakaya in Hawaii is it's creatively designed menu of both traditional and contemporary items. There is something for everyone and it's reflected in their clientele. I've never seen a restaurant like it that attracts such a range of customers. Plates are meant to be shared so family style is the best way to go although they also have set inclusive dinner menus. You can find sashimi, sushi, tempura, ochazuke, udon, nabe, etc. while also experiencing contemporary local menu items found no where else. Some my favorites which are all awesome include the Norichos (Japanese nachos), salmon skin salad which is served on a bed of tofu, the Morimoto Natto and the Winner of the Sam Choy's spicy ahi sushi roll. While I have not had everything on the menu, I have had most of the traditional Japanese items. The quality of the Japanese menu is above average with the quality and portions reflecting the price. The only reason I give this place four stars rather than five is because I don't particularly care for the sushi. While most people find value in large cuts of sashimi on their rice, I find it difficult to eat and unappetizing at times. I prefer the traditional one bite size and would opt for a "less is more" sushi. For the non-traditional dishes, I have to say this place is a winner with some dishes even named after local celebrities around town. Their creations are not only interesting but tasty and include local versions of okonomiyaki and nachos, as well as many other offerings that are worth trying. I've been there many times and still have not tried everything on the menu. The service is also exceptional where the wait staff is patient and helpful with explaining menu items that while descriptive may be hard to imagine. Tokkuri-Tei means sake shop and the sake list is impressive. They also carry an extensive variety of shochu, wine and beer. If you haven't been to Tokkuri-Tei I would highly recommend it for any occasion. With both large and small tables, they can accommodate an intimate dinner, yakudoshi or birthday party or a simple family night out. There's enough on the menu for everyone to be satisfied.
(4)
Nelsonian M.

Came for lunch. Had uni sushi, spicy scallop roll and the hamburger special. DELICIOUS!! can a bit pricy if you keep ordering tons of stuff, which tends to happen with great food. Love it here!
(4)
Benjamin E.

Chef Ryuji provides a life changing omekase experience. From the moment we walked in, he greeted us by name and made us feel completely at home. Maybe we seemed lost in the ginormous menu, or maybe we looked adventurous. But when he offered to let us relax while he just served us, we agreed immediately, and knew it was going to be awesome. He started with a plate of super fresh sashimi: local tuna, long tail red snapper, and bluefin. We can't get stuff like this in Portland, but Hawai'i is just as close to South America, so we did expect some different stuff. Next was local smoked abalone with mustard sauce on a skewer, really tasty. Next we had Nasu Dengaku, miso eggplant, a gorgeous plate with an addictive sauce. Then Argentinean shrimp soaked in something briny, really delicious. Then tempura eel that puts fish n chips to shame. Totally would have eaten a basket of that. Next was some local abalone with an uni shoyu from the Big Island, the sauce was amazing... We aren't usually abalone fans because of the texture, and this time was no exception, but for the first time ever, I understood what the big deal was with abalone, because it was so fresh the flavor was amazing. Tasted just like sweet ocean. Next was nigiri time, an amazing sardine topped with a delicate blanket of sea kelp marinated in rice vinegar, followed by skipjack with green onion and ginger, rounded out with an amazing raw scallop with fresh Okinawa plum sauce. At this point we're getting full. How about some melt in your mouth wagyu, thinly sliced and absolute perfection. Next was some fresh raw prawns. PETA go home. These were so fresh, their reflexes were still intact. My wife was playing with her shrimp head, and Ryuji says, "you shouldn't play with your food!" "But it's so fun!!" "That's why I always do!" Funny guy. He then offered to deep fry the heads or make a soup from them; we both opted for the soup. I'm a little bug-head squeamish, and my wife had done the deep fried shrimp head thing before. The soup was delicious. With it, Chef Ryuji presented us with the most amazing rice bowl, loaded with a poached egg, green onion, snapper, uni, and topped with salmon roe. I want that for breakfast every day. Forever. My wife hit a wall. She could eat no more. I was crestfallen, filled with woe, as I realized that our seemingly never-ending joyous adventure would, indeed, come to an end, and soon. I struggled with painful questions, like, should I stop now before I've gone too far? Should I leave my wife and set up camp outside the front door? In the end, the chef brought us two bowls of dessert, lychee sorbet and black sesame ice cream. Tasted together, the best frozen PB&J I could imagine. I was fine to end it like that. It was like cold, sweet closure. We agreed afterward that we'd never had a sushi experience like this. And we're not rookies; we've been to some of the fanciest Japanese places in Atlanta, NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, and just about every place in Portland, and Tokkuri-Tei takes the cake. Absolutely drowned in the best food ever, for under $300 (with drinks and tip). Fancy it is not. It's better than that, it's neighborhood, but also top level, which makes it totally...for lack of a better word...real. Dress up or don't, you'll be fine either way. Come hungry, leave happy. Sit at the bar, they will take really good care of you.
(5)
Julianne C.

This is basically everything a Japanese izakaya can possibly have with their extensive menu that's pages long! I love the fresh delicious cuts of sashimi and delicious ala carte items. My personal favorite is the melt in your mouth otoro and sake sashimi, oh and also the hamachi truffle oil....and the list goes on. Prior reservations is extremely recommended for large parties - or be prepared for the wait.
(5)
Richard K.

I love Tokkuri-Tei, can't believe I haven't done a review yet. I have been to this restaurant more than a handful of times now and I never leave unsatisfied. I like to order the rolls off the menu and also spring for a side dish of uni and salmon. I have had the fried butterfish a few times but will probably shy away next time as the portion is a bit small for the high price. They have an awesome selection of sake and the servers have got the pour down solid as it overflows into the box right to the edge, but not all over the table. They also have Echigo, which seems less common at other restaurants. Service is always great and the wait staff is always attentive. I always park on the street (usually lucky enough to find metered parking right in front), but they also have an underground garage. Bathrooms are outside the restaurant, down the hall past the elevator.
(4)
Rowena S.

My boyfriend and I always sit at the sushi bar and order the omakase! All the sushi chef's are amazing and prepare each dish perfectly! One of my favorites is the tiger prawn sushi with lemon, soooo gooood! :)
(5)
Sean F.

Approved by Italians. Good and cheap. I recommend it! Consigliato! I don't give 4 stars because of the location.
(3)
Jack W.

Great place to hang out and eat! The food came out so fast i was blown away! The staff was extremely polite and knowledgeable about the menu. All of our rolls and tori type food came out amazing. I love the atmosphere and watching the chiefs at work was awesome, the only down side i would have to say was my Otoro was kinda small, for 20$ its kinda disappointing when the slice of fish was so small and such a hefty price. All in all great food, fast service and food and great customer service. I will say parking is tough to find but well worth it.
(4)
Sylvia K.

Amazing omakase from Kazu San. Make sure you eat at the bar. We were thoroughly impressed and were given items that we have never had anywhere else (we try to do omakase every city we travel; we travel A LOT... Lol) Make sure you finish with the house special sesame ice cream and the Okinawa sweet potato ice cream. Service was great, the chefs were amazing, and the food was wonderful!
(5)
Hail G.

I don't know how this place has good reviews. I love sushi and I must have been to hundreds of Japanese restaurant, but this place was the worst. I ordered a sashimi plate and my friend ordered a sushi roll. After one bite, my friend couldn't continue eating because it was so awful. She called the waiting staff and asked it this was how it was supposed to be served. Their attitude was more like "What the heck is wrong w/ you." instead of being apologetic. My assorted sashimi plate was worse. Salmon must been gone bad. I wonder this place managed to get a good ratings. Their waiter service was mediocre, and the food was pretty nasty.
(1)
Arlene A.

I don't know why I waited so long to visit the new location or why it's taken me so long to even come back! I miss this place! I came with some friends - all first-timers to Tokkuri-tei - in celebration of my post-birthday. And boy, I'm so glad we waited. We made reservations the day prior for 6:30 p.m., a perfect time to beat the Friday pau hana crowd. It was still a little empty but that sure didn't take long. I liked the new setup of the place. You could see at least a dozen chefs in the back prepping the food. It looked fun to sit at the bar, but we got a large table off to the side where we could see all the action taking place. We ordered a bunch of different things off the humangous menu (fried stuff, sushi, sashimi...). The food came out pretty quick, too. All were excellent but we all agreed the quality of the fresh fish items were unbeatable. My friends aren't really drinkers, as am I, but they convinced me to order something, just cause. So I got the watermelon shochu. It came in a large cup and was very good and refreshing. Not as sweet as Duck Butt's version but still good. Anyhow, I think it's safe to say that we left pretty stuffed and satisfied. We had a good sampling of the various dishes, and more importantly, a positive lasting impression that will likely keep us coming back for more.
(5)
Travis W.

Came in for dinner tonight. The service was awesome very attentive and friendly. My favorite item I ordered was the soft shell crab hand roll. The ribeye steak was tiny and not worth the price. Overall it was pretty decent.
(4)
Dave F.

I am a fan of Sushi Bars, Izakaya Style Dining, etc., so Tokkuri-Tei is just my kind of restaurant! If you enjoy eating sushi as much as I do and love fresh seafood, I highly recommend this restaurant to you. I suggest you make reservations ahead of time as they get really busy around dinner time. I was amazed at the level of service we were given provided how busy it was. After looking over the menu and wanting some sashimi, we ordered the maguro assortment which was uber fresh and came to the table looking so appetizing! It was very much enjoyed! Gotta have tempura, right? So the tempura assortment fit right in. Light, crisp and hot! This fits in perfectly with the meal. Wanna try something different? The Ahi Tartare Poke is thee bomb. Negi Toro roll, Spicy Ahi Nigiri, Salmon Nigiri, all were great and added to our feast! Oh, cannot forget the Salmon Skin Salad, a lot of places have different versions of the salad, but I enjoyed the one here. I enjoyed how there was generous pieces of salmon and the sauce was very tasty. I also enjoyed the sweet onions which gave it that nice taste. Enjoyed the ice cold beer--as always, and the great conversation while enjoying a great meal. Park in the building, I forget how much it was, but for me, it was easy and convenient instead of driving around burning my gas looking for on street parking. Looking forward to my next visit!
(4)
Nicole C.

Tokkuri-Tei was a massive disappointment. Here are the main reasons why: 1) The restaurant was dirty looking and grungy. The wall I was seated next to had dark scuff marks pretty high up (as in not just at foot level), and the interior decorating left many things to be desired. For example, the restaurant has an incredibly tacky net hanging over the face of the upper section of the seating area with things "caught" inside it. I don't know. This was just a gigantic turn off. 2) The fish tasted... fishy. And it shouldn't have if it was fresh. In particular, the saba and the hotate tasted less than fresh. The rest of the nigiri we ordered (salmon, hamachi, o-toro, and something else that I just can't remember) was fine in terms of freshness, but nothing we had was better than average. 3) Service was a hit or miss. It wasn't just one server delivering dishes. It was a communal effort among the servers. Some servers were friendly and happy, and others just dropped the dish and left without so much as a smile. Consistency, people. The only thing I did like about our meal was an appetizer of spicy ahi atop a piece of deep-fried nori. Overall impressions: I would not return. Hawaii has lots of places to get sushi, and I'll be trying those out in my never-ending quest to find Hawaii's best offerings.
(2)
Lindsey S.

One amazing restaurant with a variety of dishes! I always come back for the TIGER PRAWNS! My fav. I like the thin beef tongue with lemon. Their rolls are really well done, my husband and I enjoy the baked Alaskan Roll. The California Roll is made with real crab and sprinkled with tobiko. We stay away from fried food, but we enjoy grilled very much. The grilled octopus, mackerel, and salmon are made perfectly each time. We've only had sesame ice cream as desert but wouldn't want to order anything else! They have an extensive wine, sake, and sochu selection watermelon sochu is my fav drink here =] Definitely worth trying out.
(5)
E C.

Not ideal for a quiet, and relaxing meal......It was hectic, loud, chaotic, and crazy busy at the restaurant. The servers were running around like a chicken without a head. I felt guilty asking them for anything. As for the food, everything we ordered was good and portions were generous. Their famous norichos is an inventive way to showcase nori but slices of jalapeÃ±os would've made the dish much better. Omakase sushi was fresh but the server never told us what we were being served. She just plopped it down on the table and took off. I can't blame her since she was so busy. She wasn't rude or anything. Just busy! I presume it is like this every night. I much prefer the refined, and quieter setting of Izakaya Gaku.
(3)
Dawn Y.

Guest from Sweden wanted to eat sushi. Where to go?. Quantity quality or showmanship? Luckily this place met all at a great price. Fresh onaga sashimi, pork and enoki yaki, dynamite roll and spicy tuna served with cold unfiltered sake was perfect for 2. They pour the sake glass full and overflowing into the square lacquer cup. Lots of parking, but also within walking distance for those staying on the Diamond head side of Waikiki.
(5)
Anvie L.

Amazing sushi! If you are visiting wakiki area don't miss this place. Seat on the shusi bar and make a reservation. Ask the sushi chef for recommendations and they will give you the fresh and the best!!!
(5)
HighStandard S.

Ever since Omakase with Ryuji-Sensei, I've been dreaming of fried tiger prawn, so I went back this evening to get me some! No tiger prawns, no Ryuji, but no despair! Chef Kazu, quite possibly the sexiest man on Oahu, was there to make everything right. The way this man glides behind the sushi bar made me wonder if he had roller skates on! He has such finesse, such style, he was a pleasure to watch, and he clearly was having great fun---Kazu, you're a rock star! 2 dishes below, plus free ahi tuna chip and boiled peanuts = $17 uni shooter: The whole ocean in a tiny cup. red clam: I pointed at the glass case and begged, "Make me something with that, please?" Kazu-San came through with a bowl of sliced hokegai, steamed, I think, on a bed of seaweed, vinegared cucumbers, fresh sprouts, with a slice of lemon, a round of lime, and some grated ginger. Impressive dish!
(5)
Stefan H.

The restaurant is a short uber ride about six dollars from Waikiki Beach. Casual somewhat campy Japanese ambience. Some really amazing dishes here.... sashimi, nice Japanese tapas style dishes. I would take a pass on the tempura it's pretty basic. I would take a pass on all the Yakitori .... it's not too exciting. Some really yummy fusion cooking tapas style dishes. They have a really nice saki selection.
(4)
Elizabeth N.

Came here for the first time on a busy Friday night. The place was packed, workers were jamming, and all the patrons looked happy getting their grub on. One thing nice about waiting is that you have clear view of the front reception and all the food that people order passes by you so you can ask, "What's that?" or just oogle. I must say everything coming out the kitchen looked GREAT. Here's my recap: Pros: -This is a very unpretentious, very non-Japanese feeling Japanese restaurant. There's no shoji screens, or black lacquer furniture, no minimalist feel to the dÃ©cor whatsoever. There was fish net hanging from the ceiling as well as fake fish. It was kitschy but in a very welcoming way. I feel like this is a place I could take my family to, over and over. -THE SALMON SKIN SALAD. It's huge, even the half order was substantial. I can't even describe the yummiest factor as it has all sorts of textures and flavors, hot (the crunchy salmon) and cold (the salad/tofu). I haven't had anything like this anywhere. -Super fresh and very tasty Sushi -Attentive service -The hot towelettes they give you when you sit down -Valet parking underneath -Kid friendly; I mean its so loud and busy that nobody will notice your busy body, shrieking kid (if you had one =) Cons: -Can get quite busy and crowded -Small and tight valet parking underneath (did anyone trip out that the guy running the valet was also fixing cars up in there??? Talk about hustling!)
(5)
Jody S.

Soooo yummy! Sat at the bar right in front of the sushi counter and was immediately served sushi as a "welcome"--love it! We ordered california roll, sticky rice in portabello mushroom, shrimp tempura sushi and miso butterfish sushi--super fresh, delicious and tasty. The sushi literally melted in our mouths and all was super filling. Cant wait to come back again...and again...and AGAIN!
(5)
Christine E.

Don't come here if you are incapable of making decisions and are easily confused and/or have a bad memory. The food list is ridiculous!!! But....many of the items we ordered were very YUM so i'm not upset at all. Let's start with the drinks. Do I want beer? Sake? Wine? OMG, even this list is too long. I'll just take the house unfiltered cold sake. Um...it was DELICIOUS. Unfiltered sake is typically not my favorite but it was so good. Like...I realize I didn't even offer my girlfriends a sip so good. Then, I just start picking things to order. The menu is too freaking crazy long, and my brain hurts. So everyone (we were there with 7) just pick like 4 things and we'll all share. The steak in the teishoku wasn't all that great. And though the teishoku came with a lot of things and looked pretty good, at this kind of place I'd stay away. My gf had it and it was just alright. WINNAHS OF THE NIGHT: -Portabella mushroom stuffed with fried sticky rice (OMGGGG...it came with salad and a cream sauce and was by far the most delicious thing ever) -Ahi Katsu (soft pieces of katsu, battered and fried, served on a sweet chili type sauce. YUM) -Chicken Meatballs (looks like mini brains. lol. but very tender, delicious, and comes in a nice teri sauce) -Zosui (we got both the gomoku [vege] one and a chicken one. it's yummy. comforting. very ochazuke-ish. basically its some veges with rice in a thick tea chicken soup type sauce) - Kurubota sausage (come on, who says no to sausage) - and Black Sesame ice cream!!! We also had the salmon sashimi (very fresh and veryyy good), and also the Dragon Roll and Caterpillar Roll. Not bad indeed. Service is minimal. The food comes out whenever it's made so you'll just get dishes pouring out randomly, and occasionally people come and fill water and remove plates. The waitress was supppper busy but she still took our pictures when asked. So I'm pleased. Parking is $3 valet in the structure OR you can try and find street parking. I was driving alone so I chose to pay $3 vs getting raped and murdered in kapahulu. :) I can't wait to go back and try other things. My only gripe - make the menu smaller and add some pictures. My brain was literally sore from trying to decide. So i just started pointing. haha. Luckily the things we ordered were yum!
(4)
Domingo O.

My family and I had dinner here tonight and everything was on point from the sushi rolls to the waitresses. First the fish was super fresh and melts in your mouth. We had the rainbow roll, magoro, and ahi poki. They were all delicious. What can I say about the waitresses...they were friendly, courteous, attentive and I mean super attentive! Our water and hot tea was never empty. What a great find! Definitely come here again before we leave.
(5)
Tiffany N.

This was our first time sitting at the sushi bar and the experience was more than I could have hoped for! Chef Ryuji made our dinner experience one to remember for sure! Exceptional service, top quality food and amazing selections. We ordered the omakase and he just kept pushing out the dishes. LOVED every plate and while the bill was on the higher end it was completely worth every penny. Can't wait to go back again!
(5)
Mike Z.

The greatest restaurant ever! Come and come often!
(5)
Ariana M.

Decided to eat at Tokkuri-Tei last night for a late dinner. My boyfriend and I enjoy eating here a lot. Its good for an after work bite to eat. So we went here on a Saturday night with no reservations and were seated immediately with no wait. Service here isn't too great. I notice a lot of the times we have eaten here that the servers are hardly around. I mean its nice when were trying to enjoy our meals, but not when we need water, the check, or to even order more food. Last Nights Din-Din ;) Uni (ALWAYS BOMB) Salmon Sashimi (sometimes they cut it too thick/thin) Amaebi Karaage (The head is the best) Sake Dynamite (Very interesting) Enoki Mushrooms rapped in bacon (Anything wrapped in bacon is good) Overall I would have to say my favorite thing to eat here is the UNI :3
(4)
Helene H.

Omg this place is legit!!! Sit at the sushi bar and let sushi chef ray take care of you, omakase style! Very reasonable price, less than $200 for two people including 8-10 course plus sake, beers, and beef tongue yakitori. Chef also treated us to house made black sesame gelato with sesame paste, amazing! Sick and unique preparation of fresh and beautiful fish. We will definitely be back next time we come to Oahu!
(5)
Watah H.

I went there as some tourist said it was the best sushi ever. Ordered uni shot, oyster shooter, black pig sausage, uni nigiri, hamachi nigiri, maguro nigiri and spicy tuna hand roll. The good, large pieces of fish on the nigiri. The bad, the presentation is bit lacking but as it looks like a family joint passable. uni shot was salty and price high for less than freshest uni. The spicy tuna roll was made using scraped pieces of fish, not chopped. Overall ok sushi joint but, lacking in focus as they have a large menu. The final dig is when leaving the joint not even a "thks for coming." After having dropped $85 myself, a "thank you for coming" would have been a nice gesture. Don't have any urge to return.
(3)
Jin S.

If you like this type of food, you will not be disappointed. Came here with a party of 8, age ranging from 5-65. Everybody was very pleased with the choice. Service was quick, environment was upbeat but not too loud, drinks were plentiful, and the variety of dishes were absolutely delicious. I won't go into the details of the dishes that we had simply because there were too many and none of them were disappointing. Just ask your waiter for recommendations if you're not sure! 100% would return next time I'm here.
(4)
Erika R.

Phenomenal, fresh fish and outstanding service. We were looking for a great, authentic sushi outside of the tourist zone. Thank you, Stacy, for making us Seattle folk feel so at home! Next time we're in Oahu we're eating here!
(5)
Andy V.

My girlfriend LOVED the sashimi, and I must say the fish was very fresh. They also had skewers, and I had the beach tongue, which was also good. And let's not forget that salmon skin salad. I can say I've never had anything like it, and it was delicious.
(5)
Jeff W.

Went there for lunch today. Usually go there for dinner. There are plenty of fairly priced lunch specials as well as their regular menu. Not as crowded as dinner time, so that's a plus. Parking is easy at lunch also. Great tasting food as always.
(4)
Kim M.

The food is excellent; service is attentive and friendly; and the hours are pretty extensive. The menu may be slightly overwhelming for first-timers, but the servers are all relatively knowledgable and should be able to give a bunch of recommendations. Ask for Andrea; she's awesome. (Super nice, too.) IKA YAKI $7.50 This squid pancake is delicious! It's cut like a pizza, so it's easier to eat. They claim that it tastes sort of like Pumpkin Pie, but not quite. There's no seafood/ocean taste, if that's what you're worried about. It's kind of like Okonomiyaki and Korean Pancake, but not. HATSU $4 Skewered Kushi Yaki Chicken Hearts with light salt and pepper seasoning, garnished with a lemon. I always like a squeeze of lemon on my Chicken Hearts. They have this wonderful rich, meaty flavor that I really can't get enough of. 3 hearts per skewer; 2 skewers per order. SHISO MAKI $4.50 Pork and Shiso rolled together to create a maki-type roll, then cut. 3 slices per order; 2 skewers per order. This was excellent with a squeeze of lemon. The pork was lean and the shiso was plentiful! DESSERT GOMA (Black Sesame) ice cream was excellent. It may look a little weird bc of its purplish color, but the taste is great! yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ Yelp 365 - #315/365
(4)
Sinan G.

They have a huge menu, catering to all parts of Japanese cosine. But nothing they made was better than average. Since the menu was huge. We tried a miso soup, Japanese salad, grilled salmon, a couple of rolls (spider and tuna), and the skewered chicken. They were all ok. The cloudy house sake was actually bad, but they have a decent selection. Their regular house sake was drinkable.
(3)
Joshua B.

One of the best sashimi meals I've had in my entire life!! I ordered the "Tako-Joe" Moriawase (Chef's choice) sashimi platter. The fish was incredibly fresh & tender. The Uni (sea urchin) was perfect: creamy, smooth, and flavorful: not at all salty or fishy. My girlfriend ordered a "plain old" California roll, which they make with real crab here. It was the most delicious California roll either of us ever had (and we eat good sushi about once per week). We also ordered one glass of Sake for each of us (a "Mo" and a "Hakkaisan", and they were both excellent: light and very smooth. Surprisingly, my favorite item of the evening was actually a "dragon" hand roll, which was inimitably perfect! Juicy, tender, wonderful flavor from both fish & sauce, and with a lovely crispness from tempura shavings. Next time I'm in the area, I'm definitely coming back to try the Omakase!!! Gochisoosama deshita!
(5)
Christine G.

Not the traditional omakase but some really fresh sushi. I liked the casual vibe and you can roll in with no reservations. They have asahi on tap to enjoy with your sushi. Service was good and the owner was very friendly. Took advice from another yelper and parked at the bank nearby. Seems like the thing to do since the lot was full and the bank was obviously closed.
(3)
Penelop Q.

The second time I came here just blew my mind! This was the best customer service & sushi I've ever had! Chef Ryuji was so funny, nice, and definitely made this night a 5 star experience. The first time I came here, I got a roll that I could have gotten at any (cheap) sushi restaurant. Don't get me wrong, the roll was great, but it was nothing different or "rave-worthy". This restaurant has such a variety of sushi and foods; it is so worth it to try something different! My 2nd visit here, I went with my boyfriend. As we looked though the menu we got some nori chips with spicy ahi on top on the house! That was so ono (must order next time)! We shared a Baked Alaskan Salmon roll and a Joe platter, which normally runs for around $27 but we upgraded to $30 and got some different fish rather than the fish detailed on the set menu. The salmon in the salmon roll was very fresh and it was very tasty! The "main attraction", however, was the platter full of different fish that were fresh and in season!! My boyfriend is new to the sashimi/sushi world and is very particular about the sashimi. Usually he will stick to seared ahi or a regular salmon or ahi nigiri, but he loved every single sushi on the platter here! He never eats uni, but even liked the sushi with uni, shiso leaf, and scallop (which was my ABSOLUTE favorite)! All the fish were so fresh and soft. It was honestly THE best sushi/sashimi I've ever had. After our meal Chef Ryuji gave us ice cream on the house too! One was pineapple gelato with yuzu sauce and the other was black sesame gelato (very interesting). I enjoyed both alot! Throughout our meal Chef Ryuji talked to us about where each fish came from and talked story with us. He was so nice and funny. I felt more special eating here than any other fine dining restaurant I've been to. Although one of the waitresses didn't look too happy (We came in around 10:30pm. They close at midnight but, I think, were getting ready to close a little earlier bc it was a slow Tues night.), she wasn't outwardly rude and still checked up on us promptly and occasionally. Chef Ryuji's fun and kind customer service (& of course the food) made up for that. He is very open to listening to different styles of sushi that would fit you/ more in season & changes it up for you if requested. Any of the foods on the menu can be made new/different. Just ask the sushi chef! One thing that really touched me was when Chef Ryuji told us not to tip him extra bc it wouldn't make sense for him to give us "free" chips & free ice cream if we did that. He said those were supposed to be "from him". He said he'd rather us save that extra money and come dine with him again-- to use the extra tip money on sushi or food he can make for us. He really cares about his patrons. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone & it is easily my new favorite restaurant!
(5)
Nat W.

Tokkuri-Tei offers authentic Japanese izakaya (bar) food. The menu is extensive. Everything was good but the price is too much for the portion you get. Plus Japanese izakaya style food is supposed to be reasonable in Japan. They were very busy so food took a while to come out and there was a long piece of hair in our food. I know stuff happens and the server was apologetic so no problem. Would I go back? Probably not because of the price. It was $60 for me and my friend with two drinks before tax.
(4)
Katherine L.

My absolute favorite restaurant on the island! I have been coming here for about 4 years. The service is consistently friendly and efficient. Large group friendly. When busy, it has a bustling and loud atmosphere. You can tell there are a lot of regulars that patron the place. It can be on the pricier side, but then again I find myself eating more food here than I can elsewhere, but it is well worth the quality and absolute amazingness of the food. It has full bar with an extensive food (traditional and fusion) and sake menu (i.e. SNAKE SHOT). You really can't go wrong with any of their dishes, but the following are my whole-hearted recommendations (** indicates top favorites**): hamburger steak katsu (when available) - crispy on the outside but juicy and soft in the inside, simple but very tasty. It's not on the regular menu and is only available on certain days as a special **salmon skin salad** - no dressing included but the salty crunch of salmon skin and tobiko along with the slight bitterness of the fresh sprouts, greens, and shredded daikon is a perfect combination of taste and refreshing. stuffed portobello mushroom - stuffed with seasoned sticky rice and pan-fried. slight crispiness on the top, but soft stickiness inside. Delicious with the creamy dressing and red hot sauce decorating the plate. I'm not a big rice fan (despite my asian roots), but I love this dish **spicy ahi chips** - OMG!!! First thing I tried here and it got me hooked. spicy ahi on a tempura fried nori chip, drizzled with unagi sauce, sweet chili sauce, japanese mayo and topped with tobiko and green onion. You pay by the chip, but absolutely worth it. **hamachi truffle** - DIVINE. riceless, so my kind of sushi. nori wrapped hamachi chunks, sprouts, and diced tomatoes, soaking in a ponzu truffle sauce. ika yaki - crispy ika (squid) pancake, drizzled with unagi sauce and japanese mayo, piled with "dancing" bonito flakes (moves because of the emanating steam). watermelon shochu - reminds me of the jolly rancher. My goal is to try the snake shot at least once. Darn, this review is making me so hungry for it. I hope I've convinced you even remotely as much as I have just convinced myself. Please check it out! :)
(5)
Neal T.

Great food and great service is the key to a good experience. They nailed it. The service was so fast and everyone was so nice. They have a really extensive menu and everything came out great. Id definitely recommend to friends and come back again. Loved the buttered potatoes and octopus. The mochi for desert was delicious.
(5)
Louise T.

We found this place on yelp and decided to give it a try. I ordered a petite salad and salmon. My husband ordered grilled squid, sushi rolls and tempura . The tempura was the only good thing that we ordered . The salad was a joke because it was a bunch of ice Borg letter with two prices if tomato, 3 cucumber slices topped with soy sauce and no dressing! Fail! I will not be coming back here again!
(2)
sybril s.

Parking in the strip mall for this restaurant had turned into "valet only" for $3 since the last time I was there years ago. I'd still recommend to make a reservation. We went there without one but managed to get seated fairly quickly since it was still early. The guy gave us a mean face when we told them that we didn't have a reservation... erm - ok. We ordered: Mirugai bata (butter stir fried giant clams) - must have!! Ikura oroshi (salmon roe on grated raddish) - yum! Ahi tempura poke (flash fried poke roll (no rice) with ahi and tempura shrimp) - over fried a little, the sauce is nothing extraordinary, would skip this. Hamachi sashimi - it's good but tasted a little different from the usual hamachi you'd get. Simmered eggplant - kinda strange to see eggplant being "naked". They peeled the purple skin of it and it's kinda soft. It's ok but I don't crave it. Natto maki (fermented soybean cut roll) - nothing special, they make it with chopped green onions. There are a huge variety of food on the menu... took me sometime to go through everything and decide what we can actually eat and finish :p
(4)
Steph J.

I'm sorry Tokkuri-Tei. You used to be a cool little izakaya novelty restaurant before a bunch of other ones popped up. I typically go here with a bunch of friends. I don't know what happens but I feel like I pick at things and never can get full enough until I go on strike and my only child syndrome comes out and I order my own bowl of chazuke (rice in tea with another ingredient, I usually get salmon) in order to fill me up. Before I know it, I've just spent $50 on a meal that never really leaves me satisfied. Don't get me wrong, the food is definitely good. But maybe I'm spoiled from having a Japanese mom that is a really great cook. So when I go to restaurants where I feel like I can eat the same food at my mom's house for free but end up having to pay about the same amount as eating good sushi, I get disappointed. For $50, I would rather go to Imanas-Tei and sit at the sushi counter. But I keep going because my friends keep picking you. So as long as they suggest it and I agree to going, I have no one else to blame but myself.
(2)
Julie B.

If you are looking for the equivalent of high end Japanese bar food, this place is really fabulous. Don't expect a fine dining experience: it's the flavors that really grab you. Neither the presentation nor the atmosphere are anything special, but it was such a fun, different dining experience. The food was playful, delicious, fresh and cheap! There were some really interesting combinations, great sauces, etc. and so much on the menu that it made it hard to decide. We really enjoyed everything we ordered: butterfish roll, ahi poke, squid pancake, nori chips and the salmon skin salad. Great meal!
(4)
Phil R.

Easily the tastiest and most fun sushi experience I've ever had. Delicious food and great staff. We booked a table at the sushi bar, which I'd highly recommend if you are a couple. Right in front of us was an unbelievably skilled sushi-chef who I could have watched all night. He even threw us a free ahi tartare over the counter which was delicious. A little pricier than some of the sushi places in town, but definitely worth it. What more can I say, next time we're in Honolulu we'll be going back!
(5)
Jaynie K.

I really should've stopped myself from going back to Tokkuri Tei today... Had a really lovely experience with my good friends last weekend, great food, decent service! Every bite was delicious, the atmosphere was boisterous, loud, and yet cozy, and even though it was busy, service was actually pretty decent. We ordered: Tan shio: crispy grilled slices of tender grilled tongue. Enoki maki: bundles of enoki mushrooms rolled up in a blanket of pork, dressed in a delicious ponzu(?) sauce, topped with grated daikon. Oh, this is seriously OBSESSION STATUS. The flavor and texture explosion is amazing! Kilauea roll: California roll topped with spicy ahi, crunchy tempura flakes, and tons of tobiko. Amaebi nigiri: Oh, sweet creamy raw shrimp goodness!!! And bonus, crispy fried shrimp heads! I love it! Sakekawa salad: mixed greens topped with crisp salmon skin, zippy radish sprouts, sliced onion, and a salty pop of tobiko! I was having flashbacks and salivating over the photos I took that night for the past few days. My mom and I were in town yesterday, I decided I'd splurge on a pricey early lunch because I thought it'd be worth it. I was dead wrong. Food was lackluster and service was kind of crappy, which was silly, because we were the only customers there. Ended up so disappointed and later grossed out... Tempura udon: standard udon in an okay broth, with two sad pieces of shrimp tempura and one piece each of carrot and zucchini. Enoki maki: still as tasty as I remembered, and the only happy moment of today's lunch. Amaebi nigiri: Same. Sakekawa salad: Same. Kilauea roll: seemed smaller and had WAY LESS tobiko than the last time. Disappointing. Tan shio: arrived at the table barely lukewarm, wasn't as tender, more rubbery to be honest... and the kicker? There was a random piece of WIRE stuck in the meat. I bit into it and was surprised. Pulled it out of my mouth and inspected it, thought it was maybe a burnt piece of skewer, but when I bent it, realized that it was a piece of WIRE. O_o; Got an underwhelming passing apology and a couple pieces of mochi for my discovery... I guess I was too polite and meek about it? Still feeling so disgusted and disturbed. Considering the prices for lunch and dinner are the same, I'm really sad about the money that I spent on a weak shadow of a meal, and a really regretful experience. What a craptacular way to end my relationship with Tokkuri Tei.
(1)
Elena C.

The best sushi I've ever had in my entire life. I ate here a few years ago and had thought about this place many times. I was lucky enough to go back a week ago while on vacation in Hawaii and it seems like this place was better than I remembered it. Freshest food and awesome drinks. If you haven't been here and you like sushi, just do your self the favor and go, you will NOT regret it!
(5)
Wendell D.

First time here. Outstanding food and service. Nalo Greens salad and a half Salmon skin salad to start the meal off . Nigiri sushi was top shape. Also had the Spider Roll, Rainbow Roll and the Dynamite. Rolled out there full and satisfied...
(5)
Pinky And The B.

Tokkuri Tei Had the ambiance of a Japanese joint in the village in NYC. Loved it. They served the biggest Maki rolls I have ever had jammed pack with the freshest Maguro and Chu-toro! Huge menu with so much to choose from at good prices. The sushi platter I had included a shrimp tempura roll which was a nice touch even though it's a little touristy or pedestrian to get a roll like that alone. The platter was just enough without stuffing you to the gills. Everything we ate was super fresh and tasty! The wait staff was efficient but harried. Definitely wave them down if you need water. The joint is noisy and parking is dumb. You have to valet it. After finishing dinner don't get your car right away. Walk north and grab some goodies at Leonard's which is a short walk.
(5)
Sherry O.

Hamachi roll is a must have!
(5)
Toko M.

Tokkuri-Tei is an interesting place. I happened to be walking outside at night (headed to Safeways) when I saw the big (attention-grabbing) sign across the street, and so I decided to take a brief detour. Tokkuri-Tei is located right off of the busy Kapahulu Blvd (above Hee Hing Chinese Restaurant), so its kind of hard to miss. Look for the BIG sign. The interior of the restaurant ... initially made me pause. I thought the Japanese decor on all 4 walls, and upon every inch of each wall -- was a bit overkill. However, the decor was authentically Japanese nonetheless. The customer-base is a mixed crowed of mostly Asians, some local, some not. And the place was reasonably filled. Regarding the menu: if you love all things sushi and sashimi, then this is certainly the right place to go. They even surprised me by having nabeyaki on their menu! You certainly don't see that every day. The prices seemed fair for the amount (and quality) of food that they give you, however I was a little disappointed... they are severely lacking in some of the more "traditional" Americanized Japanese food items, such as bento and ramen. Those items were completely missing from the menu! [Therefore, my removal of one star] :-( Overall, their service seemed OK, and they are good about keeping your glass filled with water or other drinks. From what I hear, the owner is authentically Japanese (Mr. Santa I believe), but most of the employees are not native Japanese. I don't know if I'd consider this place an "Izakaya", (it didn't have that feel) but it certainly is a top notch sushi spot. I think you'll either love it or hate it. But by all means, do try it.
(4)
Krystal C.

This was my favorite meal while in HI. We found this place thanks to Yelp and all of the recommendations were on point. We called in before hand and were able to get reservations for 7pm on a Wed. night. With the convenient $3 Valet parking we arrived right on time and our table was ready. Although everything was good here were some of our favs: Squid pancake - Can't really describe what it taste like...but its GOOD!! Toro (Fatty tuna) Spicy tuna hand roll Salmon skin roll Chicken gizzards If your in the mood for some great fresh sushi this is the place to go!!!
(5)
Emily L.

If you had to choose your last meal what would it be? Would it be fancy lobster with a side of lamb? Or would it be a McChicken from McDonalds? How about your mom's home cooking? Or maybe...just maybe... Tokkuri-Tei? I chose Tokkuri-Tei! Ok, it wasn't my last meal ever or anything *knock on wood*. But it was my last meal out in Hawaii and I was craving some really good Japanese food and my aunt recommended Tokkuri-Tei. Actually she didn't know the name of the restaurant. She called it " T..something T....it's on Kapahulu". I had no idea what she was trying to say. So what do I do when I want to search for a japanese restaurant in my local town and want to know how good the place is? YELP OF COURSE!!!! I searched "japanese restaurant" in Yelp's trusty search bar and found the "T..something T...restaurant" on the third page or so of the searches. "Tokkuri-Tei?" -____- I asked. "YAH YAH, Tonkaturi-Tea!" she replies with failure. The restaurant was nice and spacious. Service was really good and attentive. The menu was absolutely hilarious with their descriptions of their dishes. "Mushrooms. Unfortunately, no magical effect" I laughed to myself as I read through the menu and was so entertained I forgot to pick what I wanted to eat. "Uhh, a few more minutes? haha, sorry.." The dishes there were generally pretty good. I liked majority of the sushi and dishes I tried (family style eating that night for us). Some dishes were just alright, but nothing stuck out as less than delicious. All personal preference!
(4)
Keola m.

Had to stop here again before meeting some friends up the street. Started with a Sashimi Joe platter. Huge fat pieces of raw seafood. YUM. Nori chos of course. Ankimo. Tried something new this time.....Ankimo/Uni Nigiri. WHOA! Crash Boom Pow....Ooishiiiiiii Always good and never unsatisfied
(5)
Anh P.

Came here after a UH basketball game and it was one of the joints that was open late. Yuji has a great personality and took my two friends and I on a sushi experience beyond this world. Highly recommended and would definitely come back in the future if I had the chance.
(5)
Nicole P.

I came to eat here a few days ago for my family friend's birthday. The food was pretty good and the place seemed pretty packed. We had a party of 8 and they accommodated us pretty well. The only problem was that it took a while for the waitress to come and take our order. We had to go up to one of the other waiters to come to the table. I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. It was pretty busy. Its kind of pricey (not tooooo bad) but hey, we were a party of 8 and ordered a lot of food. Its cheaper than the higher end places that's for sure. I would come here again!
(3)
Jason R.

Good local joint sat at the bar and mostly ordered appetizers. Salmon skin salad was tasty and also was the scallop roll. Fish seemed pretty fresh and we'll prepared. Free tastes at the bar made it that much better.
(4)
Hiro I.

Food is good as far as Local Izakaya's go but I liked their old location a lot better. This is their 3rd location and it seems the quality goes down each time they move and the place gets bigger. Overall I still like the place and they have a great large menu selection which overall is good. Pricing is decent, service is hit or miss (friendly but staff is always busy). Not as good as a true Japanese Izakaya (local owner) but still a good choice.
(3)
Jeremy D.

Mmm...sushi! I've been to Tokkuri-Tei about a dozen times and have always received excellent food and friendly service. This was my first visit to their new location on Kapahulu (above Hee Hing Chinese Restaurant) and I was pleased to find more seating and more parking ($3 Valet). This is definitely an upgrade to their previous location. Going over what we ordered and how each dish tasted is pointless because everything was great! Ahi and Salmon Sashimi dishes were fresh and served at the perfect temperature. Mixed tempura was served hot, crunchy, and in ample portions. Spider roll was perfect and worthy of ordering a second. ;) Great place to take a date, have dinner with friends, or just enjoy a great meal!
(5)
Kristy K.

First off, our waitress wasn't too friendly. She was kind of rude. I told her I had an allergy to shrimp and it seemed like she didn't care. She said they use the same oil to deep fry everything. To make things worse, there are signs all over the restaurant that say "Please tell your server if you have any allergies, we are not responsible for your fate." Then when we asked for 3 separate checks, she seemed kind of irritated and said that it was too busy and she couldn't do it. Here's what we ate: Teishoku - sashimi, shrimp tempura and angus beef Ton Katsu Kakiage Vegetable tempura The sashimi was not melt in your mouth good. When reading other reviews, a lot of people said it was super duper good. Where have they been eating??? My friend said the shrimp tempura was small, almost identical to the ones they sell at Costco. The Angus beef was JUNK. It was tough and had too much tendons and fat. The ton katsu was ok, nothing out of the ordinary. The vegetable tempura came with shiso, carrots, zucchini and asparagus. No sweet potato and no kabocha. For the quality of food and the price we paid...this restaurant gets 2 stars. I doubt we will be coming back.
(2)
R L.

Yup, Tokkuri-Tei is still the nÃºmero uno of izakaya's! Here's a few list of items I sampled. Moriawase sashimi platter, tan shio (seasoned cow's tongue), chicken/negima (chicken yakitori w/Tokyo onion), shimeji bata (small baby mushrooms with butter garlic taste), aspara-bata (sautÃ©ed asparagus in lite butter), mentaiko (marinated pollock roe) onigiri and the house sake. The food was delicious and the service was superb!
(5)
Stacey P.

Am I missing something? I mean this place wasn't BAD, but from the crazy reviews it gets on yelp, I expected better. We got clams (probably the best dish we got), some butterfish sushi (which was alright), yaki onigiri, ummmmmmmm... I forgot what else we got. If simon from american idol were here, he'd say, "Forgettable" and then turn away in that british way. I loved the ambiance/decor, though! Um, and it's annoying to have to valet your car too.
(3)
HY L.

Finally ate here w a friend who's been going for years. They have all the good Japanese izakaya stuff. I'm talking both drinks and food. I'm surprised they have large portions esp. for izakaya. Super hole in the wall - but thats also what I like.
(4)
Ming-Jou C.

Found it on Yelp! The bf and I both found this place separately, so it was a good alternative to expensive Sasabune for sushi. It's in the Papa John's plaza. I know the reviews are varied here, but I can only give it what I feel it deserves from my experience. Totally giving this place 5-stars for the following: 1) Picked up when we called and gave us approximate wait time. 2) Told us about 45 minute wait when we got there, but we chose sushi counter/table, whichever came first and ended up sitting at the counter in about 20 minutes. 3) Menu had a great variety of yakitori and sushi and had funny little sayings and descriptions throughout. Fun to read! 4) Yakitori came out very quickly and sushi was fresh. Everything was timed just right and we didn't feel rushed, but didn't have any awkward lags. 5) Bill for 4 people came out to $107 which included two large beers, about 7 plates of yakitori (couldn't keep track of what the other couple ordered), albacore, salmon, hamachi, a spider roll, spicy tuna roll, crunchy roll, and california roll. 6) Like 5 minutes from Waikiki (driving). 7) Service was friendly and they were very attentive. 8) It's Hawaii, you can wear your slippers! I would say the only con is there's no parking in there, except for valet and we didn't even bother with that. Just park in the neighborhood and walk. Seemed totally safe.
(5)
Jesse C.

Wow. We ordered: Tofu Miso Soup Ahi Katsu (A must order!) Ribeye with Raddish Teri sauce. Yum. Chicken balls (blah. couldve done without it) Agedashi Tofu; shaved bonito Geso Karaage (all tentacles) Spider poke (Ono! Full of seafood, minus rice) Omakase (Chef's choice: Scallop wrapped with Salmon, King Clam, Otoro, Halibut, Umi, Hamachi, Ebi, Abalone) Super fresh. Oishiikatta! The Ahi Katsu (w/ sauce) is to die for. We ordered a second dish of it. I also didn't know that fresh abalone is crunchy. Ha!
(5)
Erica U.

while on a flight to Honolulu I sat next to a local and was advised that if i like local sushi then this would be the place to go. After checking on Yelp first we high tailed over there to Tei's for sushi. We're not well versed in the "real" sushi, we're mainly the californian type who are down for rolls so this was taking a step out of our comfort zone. We were lucky enough to find a really helpful waitress who basically ordered for us, including the sake which was SUPERB; I mean, thats what they called it on the menu and it really was super good. We had about 10 dishes a la cart and a the ahi tuna tar tar which was amazing. I cannot for the life of me recall the names of what we ordered but i would recommend the chicken wings, the ahi tuna tar tar and the spicy tuna hand roll. but everything that we had was pretty good and not scary at all for those of us who aren't used to authentic japanese cuisine. just get a waitress to hold your hand and lead you to the good stuff.
(4)
Darlene S.

I've always been a fan of Tokkuri Tei since its location near the UH. Sushi was always fresh and tasty. Took my friends from DC there recently and spent about $60 per person including tip, so I expected good sushi and sides. The food was tasty, service friendly, drink selection extensive, and atmosphere kitschy. The only reason it didnt get a higher rating was due to the lack of quality in the sushi. Sushi was suboptimal; messy, and it easily fell apart when picked up with chop sticks. I don't know if Santa still owns the place, but you can go to a conveyor belt sushi place and get the same "quality" of sushi. Very disappointing. I'll be checking out the nearby Nombei izakaya next time around.
(3)
Mikey O.

I ordered the seared ahi tuna, spider roll, and the salmon sashimi with a nice bottle of Echigo. The sashimi was served up in big slices, even though I prefer thinner slices; it was all good to moderate in taste. I wasnt a big fan of the seared ahi as it is piled high on sprouts and onions. Not as delicious as the seared ahi at Home grill and bar!!!!! A friend ordered the tempura udon. And by the look on her face she liked the soft crunchy tempura (but not too crunchy) and the warm udon. Tip: it can get a bit cold in here, I even saw a waitress rubbing her arms to get warm. So sit near the bar or away from the ac fans/near windows if your the kind of person who likes a warm eating environment. Also, the tap water does taste a bit metallic/chlorine filled but that's okay. Service was good and waters were refilled in a quick manner!
(4)
Hope H.

Ate dinner there last month. Had the natto sushi, sashimi, chicken with ume, and the natto ice cream. Food is good and prices are reasonable. Loved the natto ice cream. It's an unusual combination but the saltiness of the natto contrasts nicely with the sweetness of the ice cream. One suggestion - add pictures on the menu. This would make ordering a lot easier.
(4)
Riana S.

Went here with a friend. It's not really visible from the street and it's literally in a corner. Wonderful sushi, also yummy KIRIN :) I can't believe I paid $18 for the dragon roll (it's MASSIVE) I mean, it was good but not $18 good. All the sushi has different styles like hand roll, blah blah. Their prices vary on what roll you get. The menu is very big, it took me awhile to figure out what I wanted. If you're claustrophobic, I don't recommend this place. It's really small and if you're sitting at the bar, you're at elbows with strangers.
(4)
Jennifer W.

I meant to give this restaurant a 4.5. I know I came here with a large group (about 13 people) and I underestimates how small the restaurant was. But after reading all the yelp reviews, this was definitely one of the restaurants I must TRY! Considering we didn't make reservations, we were seated after 30 minutes. They split us with one table seating 10 and the other table 3 people. We came on a weekday and I am assuming they were under-staff. The food took forever to arrive. We stayed at the restaurant for a good 2 hours waiting for the food. And they brought out the food one at a time so I was disappointed. It's sort of a tease when people are hungry and the restaurant brings out one dish at a time. You get what I'm sayin'? Besides for the delay on the food, the food was delicious!! It doesn't get any fresher than Tokkuri-Tei. But I would not suggest ordering the sushi rolls. The sushi was falling apart by the time I dipped it into my soy sauce. o0o0o....and one more bad thing (don't want to be a whinier, but I want you to know how my experience went). So my family decided to dine here for our last meal in Hawaii and when we went there they said they can't accommodate to us because they have reservations booking the whole restaurant. But there was no-one in there!! I wanted to tell them we will make it quick since we have a flight to catch, but o0o...well. They lost our business for that day. Will I come back? Yes. Maybe next time not with such a large group. So that is why Tokkuri-Tei got 0.5 deducted.
(4)
The Connoisseur X.

Omg! This place is so good! And the service is excellent. All I can say is this place is a must! The uni shots to the monkfish liver!! Yummy!!!! :)
(5)
Martin L.

If you ever want to waste a day of your life, order shot of the Habu Shu, AKA Snake Sake, wait a few minutes, repeat until you feel like a super hero. From there it is a mere 4-6 hours before the only thing flying will be... well, let's just say, not you. I had it a few years back, but on a recent trip to Honolulu, I decided to revisit for another dose... and bring along some friends. Suffice it to say I no longer feel the need to prove my manliness by throwing back a few shots of venom-induced sake. We did also eat here... and although I have no recollection of exactly what we ordered, all of it was very good. Fresh fish, great appetizers and overall, just a fun place to be. Tokkuri-Tei, please place me on the "no snake sake for you" list. Thanks.
(4)
Danielle B.

Came here on the recommendation of a friend. We wanted to try some sushi while in Hawaii. I noticed a trend that many of the sushi spots recommended by Yelp were $$$ or $$$$, so I wanted to make sure we were going to go to the best one everr if we were going to pay those prices. My friend is a Hawaiian native and she hadn't failed me on any other food suggestions yet. We were worried about the wait time, so we tried to call ahead for a reservation, but they told us it wasn't busy and to just come in (this was a weekday around 9pm). The place is pretty tiny and their parking lot even smaller. They do valet to help the traffic out, but we found street parking right across, so we didn't even have to deal with it. As they had promised, there was no wait. The atmosphere is cozy and very genuine and traditional. I did some Yelp homework on what to order, and I'm glad I did because the menu is kinda overwhelming on first glance. We decided on ordering: -ume shiso qri -spider poke -pork and mushroom skewer -squid pancake (ika yaki) -saba shio Our absolute favorites were the spider poke and the pork and mushroom skewers. If I have the chance to go back, I am definitely ordering these two. The squid pancake is very interesting - take a look at it closely and you can see it moving! Its amazingly creepy and unique!! The ume shiso qri was average, but I don't think I would order it again. I like that in general all the portions are pretty small which gives you a chance to try more things! Tips: -eat everything while its hot! -be adventurous!
(5)
Bonnie O.

It had been at least 3 years since we last went to Tokkuri Tei. Their former location was a bit of a hassle and it was always super crowded. It looks like they've solved these problems with their new spot. We were seated right away and had great, prompt service. We started with some cold sake. I'm a sucker for when they pour the sake and let it overflow into that box thing. It makes me feel like I'm getting an extra- big serving. Woohoo! The petite salad was crisp and the dressing was really delish. My favorite though was the spicy ahi on the nori crisp. Y U M M O!!! The grilled musubi and miso soup were good too. I wasn't crazy about the squid pancake or the tonkatsu. Both were too tough for my taste. Even so, we had a great experience and will probably return again soon.
(4)
Rita D.

I saw the reviews and all of the great selection on their menu. The food is ok. We ordered two kinds sashimi and it is fine. Kind of expensive. My husband was still hungry after we left.
(3)
Jan M.

Finally got to try this place out. Had to control myself and not get carried away. We ordered the fried squid legs, totally yummy. Ribeye was tasty, tender and a little fatty. Very good. Grilled onigiri is on a stick! Everything is more fin on a stick.. Someone else ordered a chirashi sushi, another a prime rib teishoku. Age dashi tofu good too. The tempura butterfish with miso was ok, rather have the thicker broiled miso butterfish. Can't wait to go again.. We went at 5:30pm Saturday and the place was full speed ahead. I even saw the wait staff running. Awesome friendly service. They kept coming by to refill our water, soda and tea.. Having tau least a party of 4 is nice so you can try an assortment of items because there is a lot!
(4)
Terrence Q.

Make reservations to sit in front of Chef Ryu-ji pronounced '"YUJI". Ask to pre-order Ahi Yukke. Dis is his top dish that will make eyes go "Goo goo" at the counter when served!!! My favorite seat is right in front of him, 5 seats from the right with a little hole to see his magic. The adventure of a fresh catch that's prepared in front of you is so amazing that his passion to please your palette is admirable. I first met him when he was at ZenShu and followed him since then. So this is probably my 4th visit since he's been here at Tokkuri-Tei. Each visit has never been the same. My quench is the Kubota Manju... a must for me when eating here. Ryuji always has something up his sleeves at the end. Whether its a special burrito, or steam onaga, or a hidden fresh catch under the counter... there's alway's something new for him to prepare for you. In all, he thrives on your expression of delight.
(5)
Dan R.

Wow. This place is amazing. I just went for the 2nd time. Sit at the sushi bar, and have the Omakase. Just let them bring what they will. They get very creative and you will be amazed by they gastronomical journey.
(5)
Phil E.

2 Words: Sushi Coma! A sushi lovers dream come true. This place is amazing. We hiked to get there, but it was worth every step. The spider roll was out of this world. Another favorite that stood out was the volcano. The service was excellent and very knowledgeable. I was THIS CLOSE to trying the snake venom :) Next time.
(5)
Grace C.

I asked for recommendations and the waitress btw a a sushi restaurant recommended veggie dishes. Almost vegan like... We ordered 3 tapa like dishes and bill came out to $65. Don't go here it's really no worth it.
(1)
Michaela D.

Good quality sushi. We were given a free app that was delicious. The spicy tuna and dynamite rolls were fresh and lovely. My only complaint is that the hamachi, although tasty, was cut too thick. I am accustomed to nice thin slices that melt in your mouth. I would also suggest staying away from the hamachi with truffle oil. Fusion does not work in this case. The sushi chef was awesome though and I will definitely be back.
(4)
erik w.

Some of the best sushi in Honolulu. Got hooked on the dynamite here for the first time, and everything (and I'm talking perfect pieces of sushi) was good here. Welcoming and lively atmosphere with the requisite celebrity photos and other curiosities hung on the walls. Pretty good sake selection, at reasonable prices. Menu has a bit of humor to it.
(4)
Sierrah I.

I am picky beyond picky. I RARELY eat fish, and I mean RARELY. But if I do, it's HERE so that must mean something. Whenever me and the boyfriend go back and forth over, what should we eat tonight.. Tokkuri-Tei is my answer! There's nothing here that I have ordered/tried that I didn't like. Whenever we come here we are always seated immediately without reservations. Service is good, fast, and food always comes out fairly quickly. I usually order the items from the yakitori style side (the grilled skewers) Those are always super good! Kurobuta Sausage Tsukune- Japanese Chicken Meatballs Yakitori- Grilled Chicken Gyuyaki- Grilled Steak Teba- Japanese Chicken Wings etc. My boyfriend a seafood lover, goes for more of the sushi rolls, fresh poke and fish. Miso Butterfish Ahi Katsu Norichos Tempura Butterfish was my favorite. It's tempura style butterfish and it just melts in your mouth! It has this sauce on it too that is sooo delicious. IDK JUST TRY IT! Trust me. The menu is huge, but it's great because no matter what, someone will always be able to find something that they want to eat or like or even something new and interesting to try. *Check out their specials when you get to the front cashier place before you get seated. Buta no Kakuni! When they have it, try it! It is SO GOOD. Parking: Usually street, or there's a garage underneath that I believe is only valet. $3.00 with validation from Tokkuri-Tei.
(4)
Bridget P.

You have to be prepared for the Izakaya treatment, which means you're going to sit in a crowded room while people drink plenty of sake around you. It's loud. It's crowded. Reservations are really important. If there's just one or two of you, you can try to squeeze in at the bar. That's what we did. We were right next to the wait-staff station, which was fun, watching these three ladies, shout out their orders. They are joyful and fun to be around. Every bite we had was abso-freaking-lute-ly awesome! We had the squid pancake, the Joe Sashimi (a wide variety of sashimi, so good), monkfish liver, pork yakatori, chicken yakatori and uni! So good. The whole meal was fantastic. The sake is by the glass, but you get a good sized glass. We got out of there for $150 for the two of us. So amazingly awesome. I don't have enough good words. Plus excellent for people-watching. Go!
(5)
Brent K.

This place is one of my favorites. My local friends that like sushi think this place is the best. And the prices are good to. I like the specialty dishes. It's funny how people post there food on yelp. I look at the pictures, write down what it is, then I go to the restaurant and order it. There's to many good stuff to eat on the menu. You can't eat all your favorites on one visit. LOL We've been coming here for years, and it only gets better. Thanks Santa san !
(4)
Andrea G.

My new favorite sushi spot in Hawaii! Sean M.'s review pretty much sums up our experience here. Let me add, that we had considered ourselves sushi connoisseurs prior to our Tokkuri-Tei adventure, but boy were we wrong! I just about died and gone to sushi heaven eating at this place. What a wonderful surprise that this "hole in the wall" restaurant came up with such fresh, unique and delectable creations. I only wish that my tummy was able to digest faster so I could eat even more. Sorry Sean M. - I think I've fallen in love. I'm moving to Hawaii and leaving you for Tokkuri-Tei's awesome sushi. :P
(5)
Kallen A.

Wow! This place was definitely different. Their menu is pretty hilarious if you read all the little captions. "Mushrooms (without the magic)" Also, wasabi bloody mary? Awesome sauce. Came here with a friend; just wanted to try somewhere I haven't been before. They have a wide assortment of Japanese food. The menu is a bit overwhelming for someone like me who's indecisive, especially when it comes to food. Some great things we had were the negitoro maki, portabello mushroom stuffed with sticky fried rice, tempura, and ume yakitori. The tempura was huge. Came with shrimp, the usual vegetables, and a mix of thinly sliced gobo, carrots, and onions. Definitely what I wanted as I was ravenously hungry. The ume yakitori was just how I imagined it, melt in your mouth goodness. On a side note, the reason for the -1 star; when you have specials, make sure your specials taste good. Our waitress recommended a flounder nigiri on special that night. We ordered one order, but somehow two came out. I definitely was VERY apprehensive of the dish, because it was flounder, which is a bottom feeder with not a lot of meat on it. My friend wanted to try it out anyways. Was worth a try, but NEVER going to order it again. It had a slightly sweet taste, but the texture was what really got to me. It was very chewy, almost like ika; however, to the point where it was like chewing a piece of rubber. After a horrifying minute of chewing and not getting anywhere, I just ended up swallowing the piece whole... I came that close to just spitting it out. What was worst was that there was a second order that came as I was chewing (I thought it was something else cuz the color looked slightly different), but when I put it in my mouth I definitely knew it was the same thing, I didn't bother trying to chew it down...
(4)
Julie C.

My favorite place to go! Food is super delicious! The menu is huge but it is great for those who want to try new things every time they go! Go early, it can get crowded. Wait staff is nice too!
(5)
Annie L.

Tokkuri-Tei has relocated from its old corner location next to Papa Johns to the former HeeHing spot further down on Kapahulu. Location wise the parking is better and restaurant is larger, but it has a lost a bit of its old izakaya vibe. Service is still very good and the food is still as delicious as it used to be. My favorite little appetizer is the spicy ahi on nori chips. It's like little explosions of tasty yumminess in your mouth! We usually get a couple of sushi rolls, a fish, some yakitori sticks, a tofu dish, maybe cow tongue, and some sashimi. Don't do the zosui...it's like porrdige but way watered down and way undelicious. It used to be BYOB with a $5 corkage fee but the last time I came for dinner they were serving alcohol so maybe that has changed since. In any case, the prices are decent, the food's amazing, service is good and they're open late!
(4)
Mckenzie Y.

Huuuuuge menu, great variety. Just plain delicious. There was everything from your regular japanese staples to things liek salmon skin salad, pork tongue, gizzards.. everything - just amazing. The service can get a little spazzzy and.. wehn they gave us the bill they didn't list what we ordered on it.. so.. yea watch out for that... and they made us wait awhile for a table on a weeknight when there was obviously open tables in the restaurant... But the food is delicious and reason enough to come here!
(4)
Jewelyn T.

Came here twice this month for dinner while visiting Oahu for summer vacation. (Only because we had a gift certificate). I came once before probably back in 2007 for dinner. From all 3 visits... I average it out to 3 stars! My first visit of the month. We paid for valet parking which I think is stupid since they park your car in the very small parking lot on location. It was so crowded we sat at the sushi bar right by the door and cash register. Food was okay... I had a poke hand roll and we shared a teishoku. Second visit this month. Since the original spot we wanted to eat at was close, we ended up coming back here... Since we had my grandma with us, we parked in the handicap stall for free. We were lucky and scored a table and were seated right away. Food came out pretty fast. My grandma had the cold tofu (very yummy!) and the chicken balls. I had 2 poke hand rolls (Not on the menu but I asked them to make it for me) at first the girl who took the order said they couldn't make it but the guy at the sushi bar from my previous visit made it with no problems... so she asked if they could make it and moments later... I had 2 hand rolls! (So if you don't see something on the menu, just ask!) My friend had the same thing like the last visit... the teishoku... chicken and tempura. Comes with Miso soup. You are greeted with boiled peanuts and a handwipe when seated. Both visits... Customer service was bad! They don't come by your table to check on you. They took forever and a day to bring the bill, both times I ended up going to the register. I think that they are so busy, they forget about you. I wouldn't come out of my way to eat here. But if in the area and craving Japanese... Tokkuri-Tei may just be the spot to hit up. People seem to like this place. Check it out and experience it for yourself. Pretty big menu.
(3)
Aline T.

Ever since Yama Chan closed I've been trying to find a Japanese restaurant with good food at a great price. This place has good food but some downsides were: - the long inevitable wait if you have a large party (mine was 5) without reservations (only taken before 7pm, standard for all izakayas I believe) - $3 valet parking only (all they did was move my car 10 feet away...grrr) - long wait for the check For a party of 5 at 8:30 pm, we had to wait half an hour. Everything was good once we got seated, good customer service, food came out pretty fast but it was odd that my friends' fried and cooked foods actually came out before my raw fish nigiri... Best pork gyoza I have ever tried. ever. it was so delicious. The best thing I ate during this outing. Maguro was surprisingly not that great quality - above average but I was disappointed. Hamachi was good though. My friend got the black ink? okonomiyaki and that was surprisingly tasty. Tonkatsu was very good. A friend said I had to try the Ahi Tartar poke. Not that great for all the hype. I really do not like my ahi being pureed to the point where it's just mush that's formed into a ball. I really love ahi but I could just not eat half of one. I gave it to my friends. At $15 for 3 fish balls on sushi, it' s not worth it. Stick to the basics and you can't go wrong. I won't be rushing back to this place.
(3)
Sara T.

The Agedashi tofu was a bit disappointing - very standard and the tofu didn't taste like it was very good quality. The nori nachos (norichos) were a interesting concept, but cheese and fried nori don't mix. Also, I couldn't help thinking that I was paying $9 for pieces of tempura nori (like the kind you can buy in a bag from Japanese/Korean grocery stores) with pieces of Kraft American cheese torn up and sprinkled on top with some tomatoes. The salmon skin salad was mostly tobiko and not much salmon skin. The sushi (I had ikura and hottate scallop) was good. They have a huge selection of dishes, and it was fun to order a lot of different things (we had a party of 5). But I think I could get better food elsewhere.
(2)
Vero K.

This was probably among the best meals my husband and I had in Honolulu. It's a bit off the main tourist route, which I liked. I had a sashimi and shrimp tempura dinner, and my husband had a roll of some kind. The service was very quick, and pretty attentive. The sashimi was of great quality, and my husband loved his roll. The tempura was delicious. All in all, a good dinner experience. I wish I had gone back to try more of the rolls.
(4)
Anna K.

I have eaten at the old and new location. Their new location is closer to my house so I was really excited by this. I could walk from my house to the new restaurant in less than 5 minutes. The old location was good. The food and atmosphere was great. However, the new location is terrible!! The sushi was BAD. The seating arrangement is awful. The fish was chewy and the service was terrible. I could have slipped out without paying and they probably wouldn't even notice because no one paid attention to us. I had to flag them down numerous times just to get water. Will I come back? No. Sorry, you lost me.
(2)
Susan V.

Thanks to Yelp, I was able to find Tokkuri-Tei (which seems to be a local favorite). We came during down-time; late night on a weekday so it wasn't crowded. The service was good, food came out relatively fast. I liked the ambiance, the place was somewhat small, like a typical Izakaya joint (Japanese bar food). My bf and I ordered so much food and everything was delicious. We had: -Soft shell crab -Ankimo (fish pate) -Hawaiian tuna roll -Award winning Poke **highly recommended!** -Fried squid -Fish collar (forgot the name) I love to take credit for finding this restaurant, on my own...uh hem...no assistance from locals here :) *pat on the pack.*
(5)
Cj L.

I've been to the new location twice and was seated and was pretty saddened by the freshness of the sashimi... twice!! everything else was average as the appetizers and help. It was bustling as always like the old spot but atleast more arm space if you know what I mean. This 3 reluctanct time I went with my friend who personally knew the sushi chef at the bar so we sat in front of him. THAT WAS THE KEY there! Yugi made us great sushi in front, things off the menu and really took care of his customers in front. We dropped more than going to sasabune though.. but it was well worth it. Definitely ask if Yugi is working at the bar and reserve a spot in front. He handles you well there!
(4)
Edward K.

--Food Salmon Skin Salad : Didn't like this. I felt like it needed a salad dressing. I don't know if the cook forgot to put it on or what but with the watercress's strong flavor and abundant leafiness...it needed some kind of dressing. Spider Roll: Loved
(4)
Aaron K.

Food: 5/5 Price: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Organization: 5/5 Layout: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Okay, let me just say that this restaurant really set the bar for service that I highly enjoyed. The waitresses were attentive and always smiling and you could hear it in their voice. Service was just spectacular. They were responsive to your needs without you really having to ask them for anything. The organization seemed well put together and communication between all the staff created a very productive and positive atmosphere that I could sense and just added to the enjoyment of the atmosphere and the food. The layout is also currently under a bit of renovation because from what I heard, they had just moved into that particular location. Overall, it's not very bad and I can't wait to see what they do. It's very colorful and creates a vibrant atmosphere. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. Now time for the food! OMG! Loved every single bit of food that was brought to our table. Ordered so much that we had to take home leftovers. The price can be a bit much but I highly recommend you go and actually treat yourself to several plates as a well earned reward because if you only try one, you're missing out on an entire experience! So price aside, my friend was the one that ordered the food because it was my first time. The menu was extensive and while it would be nice if the drinks were on a separate one so not to be as confusing, it is a traditional izakaya restaurant. Dishes are small but allow you to share amongst the party and try several ones. We started off with: Spicy Ahi Norichos I have never had tempura fried nori (seaweed) but it is amazingly good. They had fresh spicy ahi topped with masago (smelt egg), green onions, and some teriyaki sauce. Loved them! You have to eat it while it's fresh otherwise the nori does get that stale texture not because it's not fresh but because of being fried. Gyoza Shiitake Soup This one had a creamy teriyaki sauce and was so delicious! The gyoza was filled with ahi and the blend of flavors with the mushroom was delectable. The main course consisted of: Ika Yaki Pancake Loved this dish! It really was a potato pancake of sorts with onions and squid in it. The bonito flakes that covered the top looked like they were alive and moving from the heat. Honto ni oishiii!!! Norichos It's like a really delicious and cute spin-off of nachos, but with nori (get it? Nori + nachos = norichos! Haha). I do forget all the toppings on there but it is a definite must try! Stuffed Portobello Mushroom The mushroom is stuffed with a risotto that I must say is moist and tasty. The salad on the side is mainly for show but the cream sauce underneath the mushroom pairs well with both the mushroom and the salad. Delicious, but not my favorite of the night. That would still have to go to the Gyoza Shiitake Soup. Spider Roll The spider roll was good. Presentation on this was great and enjoyed it, but honestly, I was there to try all those other dishes rather than just traditional rolls I can order at other restaurants. Must say though I could tell it was fresh in comparison to some other places I have been. There really isn't much to desert there other than mochi ice cream. But who cares?! I was so stuffed that it didn't really matter! Haha. Overall, please, please, please give this place a try! It is amazing! The yelp reviews speak for the restaurant already. Lol. Parking will not be too good but finding street parking after 6pm isn't so bad and the walk around Waikiki only serves as a nice way to close off the evening.
(5)
Manda S.

I love going to Izakayas! There's something special about eating late-night pupu style dining and drinking Japanese draft beer (or sake) with good friends--it makes for a really good time! Haha. Strangely, I haven't been to many izakayas in Hawaii (only in Japan and Okinawa), but here's my lowdown on Tokkuri-Tei: (+) Waitresses are super nice and refill water very often~ (+/-) Parking is valet only. Otherwise, there's street parking...BUT if you're coming after 6, parking is free at the First Hawaiian Bank right next door. Take your chances! We came around...6:45 and there were at least 3 other stalls open. (+++) SASHIMI WAS WONDERFUL. My friend ordered the hamachi sashimi and he got a generous portion of thickly cut, beautiful pieces of hamachi. It was soooo good. (+) I ordered the Ahi Katsu. Whenever I've ordered it before, it came out kind of like a tonkatsu, but Tokkuri-Tei makes it more chicken nugget style. I think I would prefer the sauce drizzled on instead of sitting in it, which is how it comes. It also comes with a generous portion of nalo greens, which made me very very happy. (+) Our table ordered the dynamite and miso butterfish rolls, which were very tasty, but I was more impressed with whatever the waitresses would walk by with! The spider roll looked delicious, and they had this roll with avocado on the outside (the Kimberly, I think?). (+/-) We ordered the natto ice cream. We were super super curious, but in the end, I was kind of disappointed. I expected natto to be incorporated in the ice cream itself, but it was just vanilla ice cream over natto. It came with cornflakes and tiny strips of mint. It was actually pretty good! The natto paired very nicely with its toppings, although it still retained its signature texture, haha. It actually tasted more like caramel, and we rather liked it. Ahh, I am definitely looking forward to my next visit here--I wanted to try so many things but there was no space in my stomach.
(4)
Alexander H.

What a great place to dine! I was in the search for a Japanese restaurant outside Waikiki and long behold, I came across Liz T's review claiming this is a must eat. Having stayed at Waikiki for more than 3 nights and massively been bombarded with tourist, it's nice to get away to a local Japanese restaurant. I would highly recommend everything from their chirashi bowl to their bento boxes. Tokkuri believes in great quality and execution, it's no wonder why this place is always crowded. Eat away your guilty pleasures!! =)
(5)
Spencer T.

Ahi tar tar makes me feel like a kid receiving their first surprise birthday party. It tastes like happiness. I actually prefer the old Tokkuri-Tei, with their dingy walls, smoke-filled room, and cramped dining quarters. It had character. The new location is cool too, but lacks a little bit of the character that the old place had. Maybe it will get there in about 30 years or so. Almost everything is good. Get here early, or make a reservation two days in advance.
(5)
Lindley K.

How do I love thee Tokkuri ... let me count the ways. I love you for the amazingly fresh sashimi and the tasty Japanese beer on tap. I love you for the beef tongue skewers that suprised me with their savory chewy deliciousness. I love you for the cucumber and seaweed salad with it's sweet tangy dressing and almost-no-calorie yumminess. I love you for the quiet smiles and easy invitations of your staff. I love you for your quick kitchen and creative chefs. But most of all, I love you for living up to my expectations every single time I come to visit. With much love, ME
(5)
Jesse V.

To be honest, I liked the old venue better than the current one, but it only made sense for them to move to a bigger spot with their influx of customers. It is a bit of an upgrade, but I honestly don't see any need for a collar or a fancy dress. My step-dad helped out the owner, Santa (yes, he answers to that! But it's a Japanese name, so you have to say it as such) with some banking stuffs several years ago, and we've been coming back for great food and friendly service ever since. My favorite dish is the Nori-chos (Nori nachos). Bite-size pieces of nori lightly fried in batter and topped with a kind of sweet chili/teriyaki sauce, cheese, tomatoes, bean sprouts and something else that I can't remember at the moment. I'd tell you to go and read the menu, but it's kind of a hit/miss thing: Santa's a character, so about half of the items on the menu are described using funny/sometimes dirty jokes or wordplay. Don't be afraid to ask the waitresses though, they're all very friendly and know their stuff. Feeling adventurous? Try their Tan Shio. It's two small skewers with three pieces each of _____. I'm not going to tell you what it is, because you're probably going to stop being adventurous at the mention of what it is, so order it, try it, and then ask your friendly waitress exactly what it is :)
(5)
Christy K.

The food here deserves five stars. My table ordered the enoki bata, shrimp tempura, shrimp tempura ramen, hamachi kama, spicy ahi chips, ahi tataki salad, and spider roll. All of it was absolutely fantastic. Some of the best Japanese food on the island, hands down. Now for the downers: I'm sorry to say that service was lacking. The girls were nice enough, but they kind of botched our order. Next, despite Tokkuri-Tei serving their food izakaya style, they had no alcohol. Isn't the ability to serve alcohol a qualification of being an izakaya? I know the transition must have been fast between locations, but someone must have been able to obtain the liquor license in time! My group of 4 would not have chosen to go to an izakaya on a Friday night had we known. At least tell us while we're waiting for a table! Last, the food is kind of expensive! $3 per ahi CHIP? C'mon, it's good, but not THAT good. $15 for the hamachi kama? I'm pretty sure I had some bomb ass hamachi kama at Morimoto's that was like $12. I mean, I could buy a whole 'nother ahi CHIP for that difference! Anyhow, maybe I'll give it another go when they can serve sake again, and I get a good paying job.
(3)
Tania K.

LOVE this place!! :) I've been coming to this place since my bf and I first started going out! (his friend has worked there since hs) We always get super good service and the food is soooo good! I'm not really a sushi person but i'll eat it here! I know thats kinda weird but it just tastes better. LoL. Plus they make things for you that aren't even on the menu! Love that :) We've tried so much things that I can't write about all of them but I like the volcano roll, katsu donburi, salmon skin salad, and some other things that I can't remember. Haha but I do remember that it was yummy!
(5)
Royce Y.

OVERALL RATING = 9 / 10 The EATS: Nigiri: Albacore = 10 Nigiri: Tuna = 10 Salmon Skin Salad = 8 Yakitori: Chicken w/Japan. Green Onion = 8 Nigiri: Tamago = 7 Yakitori: Chicken Wings = 7 Bacon-wrapped Enoki Mushroom = 7 The DRINKS: Sake: Hakkaisan = 9 Asahi (Draft) = 7 The ATMOSPHERE = 8 The SERVICE = 6 ---COMMENTS--- Went w/ wife. Note: This is an izakaya, and I will be comparing this izakaya to the other ones I've visited in SoCal (the only ones.. can't imagine what it's like in Japan). Sushi - One of the best nigiri's I've had. Period. If you want good sushi, this is a sure bet. Sake - Good ones to allow you to pair their raw fish with. If you order the bottle and don't get to finish it, they'll let you write your name on bottle with sharpie and save the rest for your next visit. So don't be shy when ordering. Yakitori - About average based on izakaya standards, which is generally not bad. The salad - Interesting; one of the better seafood salads I've tried. Only the seafood salad at Fukada (Irvine) is better. The APPEAL = 9 If I'm ever back in Oahu... Definitely coming back to try some more of their sushi along with different sake to pair them with, but only after trying sushi from other places that I've heard about from the Yelp community. The prices were decent. So much sushi.. so little time...
(4)
Ka'imi L.

Tokkuri-Tei is a great place with good food. I came here on a weekend night and the joint was pretty busy. The service was great... I can't complain about that. The food was good, but I think I've had better. I can't judge fairly because I didn't order any kitchen-prepared menu items, all I had was Sushi. I'll have to come back and try some of their entrees to give this place a better review. Great place for a chill night. Tokkuri-Tei is pretty standard.
(4)
Russell B.

We decided to come here after our plans for sushi at Morio's after we found out they closed the week before. So, based on everyones good reviews (including on the sushi) we decided to come here primarily for the sushi. First off the boiled peanuts were a little off with mine being cooked through and another's still being really hard. We got some edamame of course which was eh. Fortunately next out came my tuna and salmon nigiri. Each was covered in long thick slices of fish which tasted super fresh and melted in my mouth. These were definitely good. The other sushi rolls we ordered disappointed at least me in that they lacked a lot of flavor from either the seafood or other ingredients. Even the dynamite roll wasn't all that spicy to be interesting. The seared ahi roll was the worst of the bunch, containing a bland tuna and tempura shrimp if I remember right with no rice to add any interest it was just bland. I appreciate fairly traditional and simple sushi, but when you put together something like a dynamite roll you need to bust out the srircha mayo or eel sauce to give it some flavor. The chicken meatballs were nicely juicy with decent flavor, but not enough to forget about the below average sushi. Maybe we should've stuck with the izakaya portion of the menu more and not have entrusted a good sushi experience to this place..
(2)
Vicky K.

They definitely upgraded (and moved) since I was there back in November 2010! Thumbs up for the increased elbow space! I love the decoration here too, seems like they kept all the original decor from the old place. The menu was the same too, which I appreciated, with the same great food selection and cheeky little comments to introduce each item. Last time I went to Oahu, my friend introduced me to this restaurant and this time when I went back, this was the one place I specifically requested to go eat again. It's one of my favorites on the island! The stuffed mushroom and baked salmon roll are at the top of my list. If you don't eat eggplant, you'll eat it here. Even basic soba was more appetizing here. It's the atmosphere and the good food put together that makes this place such a winner in my book. If you're looking for a great japanese meal, this is the place. My favorite: Sake Ochazuke
(5)
Jason N.

Of all the different Izakaya places that I have had the chance to eat over the years this is the BEST. I loved the food here. It is crowded with a large crowd. If you want to eat here be sure to make a reservation. I sat at the sushi bar with my friend since it was just the 2 of us. the service was good despite the high volume of orders and customers. The dishes are small enough to partake of several type and not only get your fill but satisfy your curiosity. The Ikura (one of my standard test items for a sushi place) were crisp, round, and flavorful. Ikura is offered in several different ways, the Ikura with Daikon was excellent. The kurobuta pork was juicy and had an excellent taste with crisp crusts. When I was there a special was running because the restaurant had gotten a shipment of Matsutake mushrooms. These are beefy and full bodied mushrooms that when grilled taste wonderful. The chefs are personable and cheerful despite the fast pace they need to maintain to keep the dishes coming. Food is excellent and there is no scrimping on quality for the sake of speed. This is now one of my favorite places to eat in Honolulu. Price was a bit high for me on a daily basis but I do eat a lot and like expensive items. Definitely use the valet parking lot since it is a small lot.
(5)
Summer N.

By far one of my favorite places to go for Japanese food. The spider poke is to die for! This place never disappoints.
(5)
Minah L.

WAY TOO BUSY MAKE SURE YOU MAKE RESERVATIONS BEFORE YOU GO. granted we had a large group of seven.. but even if!! we were willing to split up our group and they STILL took way too long. the salmon skin salad was bomb. but salty....... the dynamite roll. BOMB. it was a lot of food. i love crunchy sushi!!
(3)
Joel H.

A long, overly complex menu of inside jokes and typos seems to mostly generate mediocre food. The sushi was the highlight, though it didn't even rise to "better than average". The portions were substantial, which I suppose is a point in the restaurant's favor. The veggie tempura was a total miss: the asparagus was inedible and the rest of the vegetables were flavorless. My order of udon noodles floated in a too-bland broth, though my partner said his were somewhat better. The service here is good, though, and the prices aren't unreasonable. Not a place to which I'd ever return.
(1)
Shelly i.

A lot of people seem to love this place (they have a signed autograph from Nicole Richie and the Abarenbo Shogun guy!) but I'm not really one of them. I like the place, I just don't like like it. Ambiance is typical local-style izakaya, which I do like. Thankfully my butt still fits on the really, small seats. I think I'll use that as my diet barometer--when my butt gets too large for the chairs at Tokkuri-Tei, it's time to start ordering salads! The traditional menu items are okay, but I found the hamachi sashimi wasn't skillfully cut. My friend and I had to pull gristle and a few bones out of our mouths after eating the hamachi. We also ordered the salmon skin salad, tsukune, kurobuta sausage, horenso ohitashi, shrimp karaage, and nori-chos. We tried to order kitsune udon to end the meal but the waitress said they can't time the dishes so we dropped that. The salmon skin salad was very tasty and the fish crumbles outnumbered the lettuce 3:1, which is my idea of a salad. The tsukune, kurobuta sausage, ohitashi, and shrimp karaage were decent and filling, but otherwise unmemorable. The nori-chos were memorable, but more like getting-a-huge-zit-right-before-prom memorable. I ordered them because I like the natto-chos at Gyotaku and I thought it might be something similar. Nope. The nori-chos were nori-ten (tempura nori) covered in what tasted like Kraft singles and diced tomato and avocado. I ate two pieces and left the rest untouched. The waitress didn't even ask about the full plate of nori-chos at the end of the meal so I think it's probably a common reaction. We drank pretty reasonably priced Kirin on this visit, but did the whole shochu thing on past visits. I wish they also sold sake by the bottle. One thing I will never drink at Tokkuri-Tei are the sodas and Calpico. They keep those drinks in the ladies restroom and that just icks me out. If they store the beer in the men's, please don't tell me!
(3)
Jenn T.

I came here last night to their new location. Man, all I have to say is UPGRADE! It's so much better than super crowded spot they used to have. Now you can eat with space between you and your neighbor, even with your elbows up, and crazily flailing about if you wanted to! However, some things still don't change. Since they're are still so busy, the service here is kinda slow, and I suspect, since they have a bigger crowd to serve with their new restaurant, that the service is barely keeping up. We sat on the sushi bar, and the sushi chef in front of us didn't even give us the time of day. He simply kept his head down and made roll after roll, never asking us if we wanted to order food. Hmm..i thought the point of sitting on the sushi bar was to get great service from the sushi chef himself and trying their personalized creations?! Luckily, the sushi chef that was servicing 2 guests on the complete opposite side of the sushi bar noticed us and started to take over. He was amazing!! He made these awesome creations and they were super delicious. He was offering us all the specials and fresh items that they had just gotten in. They had fresh sea cucumber in from japan that was ONO! He also made us try this yummy, sweet but salty sushi that he made, which afterwards he told us was some sort of sperm!! In retrospect, GROSS! but so yummy lol!. He took great care of us, even if it was from across the way! The menu doesn't seem to have changed. It's all the usual stuff, with the great usual taste. They haven't gotten their liquor license yet, so its BYOB until then.
(4)
Francis K.

Disappointed... New location, new lower rating. First off, my wife and I have been coming to Tokkuri-Tei for three years. They are in the must visit list every-time we are in Hawaii (2-3x/year). We've brought our friends who brought their friends. so on, so forth. Plus: bigger location with more room/chairs. that's it. Minus (-): new place lost its previous izakaya character. Now, it looks like a japanese denny's/chilli's inside. - food doesn't taste like before (e.g. poke was very average) - service went to hell. we had to chase down random teen waitresses to get anything. I still don't know who our waitress was tonight. - they lost their liquor license so I had to go to a ghetto liquor store to get some beer. Not an ideal vacation dinner. - more louder than before. could be acoustics/new space. Advice to management: Make sure your restaurant at any new location has the same quality and qualities that people loved before you open the doors to public. Especially Yelpers. They are now off my visit list.
(2)
Winnie L.

the sashimi at Tokkuri-Tei reminded me of Sushi-Gen yelp.com/biz/sushi-gen-lâ€¦ in LA and how I wish i was eating there. the menu has witty commentary and explanations, which earns them a star. the service was good and so was the sashimi, but for $5 cheaper, Sushi-Gen offered sides like rice, assorted tempura, miso soup and sonomono. Tokkuri-Tei offered walls and walls of fan praise - one of which was Jake Shimabukuro back in 2002 (J caught that with his eagle eye). see pics of the sashimi - it was delicious but i was reminiscing Sushi-Gen's yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ my brave bf even tried the tako. (he wanted me to write this in haha) the sake here is damn expensive and different than what i'm used to in LA: they sell by the "order" (shot glass in a box for a total of about 6 oz, so says the waiter, but i think i counted like 2.5), instead of by small bottle. Normally I would pay $8-15 for a bottle but here, it was $9 for the Otoko yama and $12 for the Mu (nigori). Holy crap! yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ overall, pretty good joint - next time i'm gonna try Hakone...when i make some money.
(4)
Mia N.

Asahi on draft... at a nice new location. As usual, the food was great! This is one of our favorite places to eat non-traditional Japanese cuisine.
(5)
ray c.

Love the old place - hate their new location. Food's prepared without thoughts & they don't even have alcohol - corkage fee is $5 -- per glass! What crap! overran with tourists... just go to Zenshu.
(1)
Amina B.

This place was delicious! Definitely one of the better meals we had on the island. Between the two of us, we had the asparagus pork buta buta beef tongue chicken gizzards chawan mushi potato and pork stew pork and enoki salt cured grilled snapper - only one I wouldn't order again gyu naku kurobuta sausage and lots of sake and beer - yum! there was an annoying table of girls where one of the girls kept asking her friends "do you want to order "ankimo", i love "ankimo", blah, blah, like 8 times - i think just to keep saying ankimo over and over in this cute-sy, whiny, highly annoying voice. you had to be there - i guess.
(4)
Liz T.

My boyfriend and I came for lunch since it was our first time. Cluttered outside and unpretentious inside, Tokkuri-Tei is another great restaurant I would've missed if it weren't for Yelp. The extensive menu is a bit intimidating but very funny. For example, under Caterpillar Roll, it says: "Tastes better than worm." We got a little crazy and ordered a little of everything. The Spicy Scallop Roll ($10.50) wet our appetite with its fresh taste--I was able to enjoy the delicate flavor of the raw scallop because it wasn't too spicy. The Miso Butterfish Roll ($10.50) was just fantastic. So flavorful, so melt-in-your-mouth, so OISHII! I thought the Ahi Katsu Don ($9.75) was good, but my boyfriend thought it was superb--maybe because it was deep-fried or had caramelized onions? We also got the Shark Fin Soup ($12). The broth was deliciously sweet but anticlimatic for shark... If you know what I mean. Overall lunch was unexpectedly awesome--this is one of the best Japanese restaurants I've been to in Hawaii. The service was weird (server didn't answer my question, server randomly told us the Shark Fin Soup wasn't the Chinese version, server went MIA, etc.), but I'm more of a foodie than an etiquet-iquer. Hehehe. Will be back to sample the uni and other goodies!
(5)
Beyonce H.

Wish they could have the sushi bar in the front like the old spot! The first time we came here, we sat in the corner table and it was not as fun. This time we got there early and we drove the hostess crazy trying to decide where to sit, so we ended at the sushi bar way in the back. Good move! So fun to watch Kazu and Ray cut sashimi and create their specials, So talented they can do it with their eyes closed.! Tako sashimi, abalone, tempura roll, niku gyaga (Mick Jagger) and we got a taste of their mac nut gelato and a taste of the black sesame gelato. Had to pass on the Uni shots, but it was amazing to watch Ray cut with precision, amazing!
(5)
Brent S.

Great place for sushi! The portions are seriously huge and the fish is very fresh. Since they moved from their smaller location, the service does take longer. But I'm hoping it will get better as they adjust to this bigger space.
(4)
Gopher I.

We love this place! They always have great service and the food NEVER disappoints! The tempura is crispy and savory, the sushi is always fresh and tasty, and I love that the restaurant is covered with thank you's and commendations from past patrons! You know it's good when all the patrons leave their mark on their walls... :O) If you enjoy very good Japanese food, come here...you will NOT be disappointed!
(4)
Mary l.

I love Tokkuri-Tei's new location above Hee Hing in Kapahulu! I was a fan of the old Soccer Locker location because of the delicious menu and intimate setting. Needless to say, I was a little wary of them moving on up to the east side in a deluxe location in the sky. Truthfully, the new location is has lost that local hideout feel, but has replaced it with a roomy setting where you can hang with a few friends or host a large party. I don't mind the extra elbow room... So far I've been to the new location twice and the food was phenomenal both times. I do recommend sitting at the counter -- larger portions and a few freebies if you're lucky. And always, always, ask for the chef's specials!
(4)
Sara S.

man this place got crowded.... i mean there has always been a considerable wait, but the last time i went, 30+ min!! that has never happened. despite the wait, this is izakaya is a MUST for me!! it gets a little pricey because it's ala carte, but i think it's worth it!! this is what we ordered the last time i went.... i normally get the same things anyway. lol :P the NOM: SALMON SKIN SALAD (i believe it's called "sakekawa tofu salad"- quite a big portion, delicious tangy dressing. comes with tofu, super fresh!! LOVE salmon skin! AHI TATARE- dude, their ahi is fresh. A+!! ENOKI BATA- enoki mushrooms sauteed in butter... a very simple concept but melt in your mouth delicious!!! this thing disappears fast- almost as sooon as it comes out! TSUKUNE- the grilled meatball type dish on a stick. decent but perhaps spend your money on another dish MAUNAKEA ROLL- on the more expensive side ($18???) but really really really good spicy ahi with tobiko despite the fact that this place is spectacular, i only had one real complaint: SPICY SCALLOP ROLL- WAYYYY too spicy!!! for those who know me, i HATE spicy ahi that consists of just siracha and spicy ahi. that is not spicy ahi people. yes this roll features spicy SCALLOP but i imagined a similar type of sauce. come on, where's the creaminess! where is the smooth spicy! not the overpowering can't even appreciate the scalllop spicy! idk how they could make the maunakea roll so good but this so bad!!??? this was just a minor bump in an otherwise delicious meal! TOKKURI TEI AND SANTA FTW!!! for those who wanna try something COOL and are of age: SNAKE VENOM SAKE!!!! ok so it's really easy to rack up a sizeable bill here.... just don't go crazy when reading the menu! so many choices, too little stomach space.
(4)
Kelvin C.

Pretty good food at a decent price. The Salmon sashimi, chicken meatballs, and tempura plate (the sweet potato fries tempura is the awesome part). Menu can be overwhelming. Other than that, good service and good food! $3 valet was unnecessary. It wasn't crowded, plus the valet boy moved my car about 5 feet from where I got out of my car ...
(3)
Dragon D.

Tokkori-tei moved to old Sam Choy's location in Kapahulu. Above to Hee Hing Chinese Restaurant. I like this location better than the previous one down the road (next to Papa Johns). Parking was hard there. At Sheridan parking was hard too. Lunch specials is what I usually get. Ika Yaki is a must. Yummy Yummy!!!
(5)
Denise M.

Everytime my friends and I are looking for a place to eat and hang out where it's casual and everyone can chill we end up at Tokkuri-tei. I always get the spicy tuna rolls and hamachi. Lately I've been on an uni trip and order uni everywhere I go. The unit is good and fresh here. Love the salmon skin salad and the spicy tuna on nori chips. The portabello mushrooms stuffed with rice is rich and creamy. And my favorite drink is th ume-shu which used to come with a giant ume in the drink, but not anymore.
(4)
Dave H.

Sick of Genki? Yeah, so am I. Try Tokkuri-Tei! It is a hidden gem off Kapahulu, with tight and limited parking, so come early! The menu: A bit intimidating because they throw in a lot of japanese terminology that I'm not familiar with (and it doesnt help that they have a big menu to go through=P). However, I loved it, if you get a chance to actually read through it, you can tell whoever wrote it definitely had a sense of humor. I wont steal their thunder, so just go there and check it out. The food: I had 4 things, each about 10 bucks; the shark fin soup, spicy scallop roll, miso butterfish roll (inside-out style), and from the lunch special, the ahi katsudon. Each Tastes excellent-o. I'd definitely recommend getting something off the lunch special menu if you get the chance to though (it also comes with a side salade, probably the only thing on the table i didnt inhale very quickly, and a miso soup). The service: Very polite and helpful. However, I do have gripes about them forgetting to bring us our check, we were sitting there for about 20 minutes, just waiting for the check. It was like they forgot about us after they brought out the food (i guess cause we were in the back corner). But, whatever, the food was great and I will definitely, definitely, definitely be back to try their other things.
(5)
Benhur B.

I usually won't write a review for a spot that doesn't need it. I just had to give this Izzakaya style Japanese restaraunt 5 stars to keep it's star ratings up. The keyword to sum up the description of dishes served here is "FRESH". Nothing fancy. Cooked well. Tastes good! It did remind me of a izzakaya restaraunt I've eaten at in Tokyo. My head kept turning to see what people in the other tables were eating and it all looked good. It was pretty busy there for a Monday night. (That should say a lot) The interior decor is OK. Nothing special but, gives it it's own good ambiance. It's kinda tight in there but, it won't make you claustrophobic. It may get warm in there though. Service was decent and we had polite servers. I would definitely come back here again.
(5)
Jon T.

Oyster Shooters; YES! Ok; we had a nice selection of sashimi, sushi and rolls. I have to say it's just ok and here's why; we went on Tuesday, the fish was a little softer and smushier than normal. The rolls? Don't do it; they were loosely put together and again the fish wasn't firm at all. (one roll was $18) I say though, I'll give them another chance cause my brother lives here and he swears by them! ! One more:)
(3)
Shay F.

My BF and I went because the line for Tennkaippin was waaay too long. Anyways, I got the Negitoro, Asari Misosoup, and the Ahi Katsu. My BF got the "Chuu" Sashimi special. The Negitoro was really weird. Usually negitoro is clumpy and has a distinct taste, but this one was waaaaaaay too smooth. It really didn't have that negitoro flavor. *shrugs* Something new I guesss..... The Asari Misosoup was okay. Nothing special. The Ahi Katsu was spicy. It tasted okay though. I do have to mention the SALAD that came with the Ahi Katsu....it was TANGY. Yes...the lettuce (or whatever it was) was TANGY. Totally WEIRD. Some of the waiters and waitresses were nice, but there was this one chick that had issues. I would ask for something, and she'd just look at me and walk away without saying anything....!?!?! HELLO!?!?!
(3)
Jonathan I.

Tokkuri Tei is one of my favorite places to eat and have a drink. An izakaya style restaurant, the food comes in small portions, which means you can try a lot of different things each time. Since I have been going there from quite a long time ago till present day, the food has consistently been great, and the service top notch. When you walk in, you immediately know you are in a true izakaya restaurant. Bottles of stored shochu along the wall, cards hand written by long time customers lining every square foot of wall space imaginable, low wooden chairs and tables and of course staff yelling orders to the guys behind the sushi bar. The staff are always fast and friendly, and Santa-san and Kazu-san are the best. Its amazing how many people they remember as there are a TON of regulars that frequent this place. My recommendation on things to try there include: - Norichos: A creative take on Nachos using fried battered nori (seaweed) instead of chips, topped with cheese, diced tomatoes, tobiko and avocado. Odd, I know, but actually pretty good. - Miso Butter-fish Roll: Exactly what it is. My favorite, and they do run out sometimes. Its happened on a few occasions to me. I was bummed. - Shishito: This is a green pepper that resembles a chili pepper, which they grill and skewer. Keep in mind that it is in the pepper family, so some of these can be a bit spicy, though normally it is more on the sweet side. Still very good and simple. - Gyu-Tan: Okay, a lot may think this is gross....Gyu_Tan is cow tongue. They slice it very thin, skewer it and grill it to perfection. I know that just the thought to some of you may be enough to keep you away, but let me tell you, cow tongue in general, IF CUT CORRECTLY is some of the best beef you will ever eat. Just try it. There are so many more dishes there I recommend, so just go try them all! :) As far as seating, no reservations are taken after 7pm, so you just have to go and wait at times for a table. You may also opt to sit at the counter if there is room and you don't want to wait. WARNING!!! Habushu is a dangerous drink! Basically 151 with a damn rattle snake soaking in it....can either make your night fun...or ruin it.
(5)
Mitch W.

We were looking for a place to eat on new year's day without paying an arm and a leg since most restaurants were closed. The ones that were open were the high end restaurants like Roy's. Luckily for us, we found Tokkuri-Tei on Yelp. THANKS YELPERS!!! Izakaya style Japanese food is da bomb! Tokkuri-Tei is definitely a gem, a real diamond in the rough. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but it has some excellent food. Overall 4.5 Stars for me. The food here is excellent! I give 5 stars for the food and 5 stars of the service. Only 1/2 star off for the ambiance/location/no views in Hawaii. We (party of 2) ate the: - Miso Butterfish roll - Spider in da Poke - Miso Shitake Mushroom - Shrimp Tempura (3 piece) - Akimo - Chicken Yakitori It was all very good and my favorites were the Miso Butterfish roll, the Miso Shitake Mushroom and the lightly breaded and fried Shrimp Tempura. I would definitely go back to Tokkuri-Tei in a heartbeat. Definitely try it and you'll like it! Cheers!
(5)
L P.

The service is quick and friendly. Food came out within a reasonable time. I went 7pm on a weeknight and there were empty tables. When I left, there were groups waiting outside to be seated. I think food prices were pretty standard for a japanese pub. Food alone is probably about $15-20 per person. I liked the spider roll and softshell crab---not fishy. Yakitori was tender & juicy. Chicken wing skin was crisp and yummy. I had to pay $3 valet, and they ended up parking the car right in front of the store. In general, $3 valet is cheap, but I coulda parked the car myself if valet hadn't reserved the spot. There was metered parking along the kapahulu street which i think may've been free. There were also some people parking along a local neighborhood street even though there was a tow away sign.
(4)
Li Y.

love this place. well, i love the old place...still haven't decided on the new location. food selection rather large and dishes tastey. sake selection most excellent. beer always yummie and good compliment to this type of food. a number of years ago (at old location) had Sam Choy sitting at table next to us...told him, "if it's good enough for Sam Choy, it's good enough for me!" And the food never disappoints. new location is rather congested as it is situated in a building with other restaurants and small parking...why oh why did you move? will continue going back to this place...love my familiar and favorite dishes including: bacon wrapped enoki or shimeji mushrooms; yumm!
(4)
Pepe L.

Amazing sushi experience. Just go to the bar and let the chef do their thing. Would have been 5 star if not the wait and price, but I ate all the expensive pieces.
(4)
Jessica L.

Off of Kapahula between a Papa John's and Zippy's is a tiny Japanese restaurant. The entrance to this place will lead to straight to an awkward cash register but just get ready for a huge, overwhelming book of drinks, little dishes, sushi, noodles, etc etc etc. Wow - there are just too many things to choose from and too much reading to decipher what the menu items actually are. The salmon nigiri and salt water eel were to our liking, although they weren't cheap...maybe like $5 or $6. We also tried the salmon skin salad with tofu, which was around $12. Also not cheap and it was different than any other salad we had...it had spicy bean sprouts with cold tofu at the bottom. Kind of strange. The sushi rolls we tried (baked alaska and miso butterfish) weren't very special...tasted like other rolls that I've had in San Diego. I wish that I liked this place but I think there were just too many things to choose from. All dishes were small so we had to order a good amount to get full. I liked that the wall was covered with writings from customers about how great the restaurant was....sadly, I will not be writing anything for them. BTW...parking is LAME because you can either valet or park on the street. This isn't a fancy place...why do I need to valet??
(3)
Vivian Q.

Hands down, the best sushi I've ever had! My Spicy Scallop roll was fresh and perfect, along with everything else my family ordered. We stayed in Waikiki for a week and wanted to eat somewhere with less tourists for our last night. A few taps on the iphone yelp app and we decided that a few blocks away, 4.5 stars, and over 250 reviews was enough reason to try Tokkuri-Tei. Things to note: - The venue is small, I wouldn't come with a big group and expect to be seated immediately - The menu does not have pictures of all their specialty rolls, in fact the menu does not have pictures at all, which was daunting for my family because they are use to our sushi place back home. Time to brush up on your sushi terms! - Order the salmon skin salad. Seriously, just do it. It's in previous reviews. The Japanese couple next to me recommended it as the best dish of the house (ding ding! when the people of the cuisine have nothing but praise you know you've hit a tasty jackpot) If you're lucky enough to find yourself in Waikiki anytime soon, GO!!
(5)
Andy N.

Lived in Japan 10 years.... This place would shut down in a week there. Sushi roll was falling apart and not rolled right at all. Udon noodles were hard and gummy and yellow in color. Tempura for my "tempura udon" arrived separately 10 minutes after the noodles. KITCHEN is dirty and cooks are half ass. Waitresses though are the only good thing, very tentative. My guess is a lot of people who don't know proper japanese quality cooking wrote reviews. Try Imanas, or Miyabe, or Shinn.... Even Ojiya on Kapiolani is alot better.
(2)
Carol W.

Yummy! One of my favorite Izakaya-style Japanese restaurant on the island. A little on the pricier side, when me and my husband goes, the food is usually around $60-80 for the two of us (not including drinks now!) Here are some of the must-haves: 1) Spider-Poke (4 pieces) soft shell crab with salmon and ahi, topped with ikura and tobbiko 2) Tuna Tartare Poke - Chopped tuna mixed with special sauce on top of grilled rice. 3) Oyster shooters 4) Hamachi kama - always a favorite 5) Gyu-yaki - Beef grilled to perfection on a stick (1 order comes with 2 sticks) Go have ice cream next door at Dave's after dinner, always a perfect end to a great meal (I love green tea and Ube).
(5)
Jason A.

Nigiri was excellent. Large pieces and very fresh. We ordered a assorted nigiri platter. Ikura, sake & hamachi were the best I had yet. Next time I go back, I'm just ordering those. They need more beer selection. Go early because we got there at 5:30pm. By 6:30pm it was full house.
(4)
sky i.

4.5 Stars I've eaten here several dozen times over the years but have never written a review of it til now. I won't bore anyone with the details since there have already been 5 reviews of Tokkuri Tei within a span of a couple of days. Let's just say, me lovee this place, but wifee does not so me no go as muchee as used to. Okay? Plus always crowded and no can make reservations afta 7pm. Okay? Th-th-th-th-that's all folks!
(5)
Mitchell N.

What makes a place a good dig to eat? Ambience, variety, taste? How about price, accessibility, awards? Tokkuri-Tei is unique, one of the first izakayas and still somewhat of a hidden treasure. In the past few years, its popularity has spiraled beyond Japanese locals and travelers with good reason, it has the perfect ingredients (no pun intended) for a perfect meal. It's casual and busy, for groups 4+ expect to wait 20-30 minutes during peak hours. Couples can usually find a spot to nestle into within 20, individuals at the sushi bar can usually sit within 5. Parking is valet, with plenty of parking in the neighborhoods (except Fri. and Sat. nights) a block or two away. Heed Honolulu's parking signs though or you can find a bill courtesy of the City when you return. While the sushi, sashimi, nigiri are clean-cut, fresh, and visually appealing, they can skipped. The beauty of Tokkuri-Tei lies within the endless small plates. Trust me, because it can be endless, I'll cut to the chase with "must-have's". The squid pancake has enough flavor to satisfy seafood lovers, yet isn't overpowering in case the thought of squid doesn't sit well with you. If you're a patient eater, taking the time to fully enjoy this plate, you'll notice the pancake curling while it's sitting. It's mesmerizing but don't forget to eat it while it's hot! The grilled squid legs are tender and salmon skin salad receives a honorable mention, but the former is certainly for the seafood fanatics or adventurous types. Though I don't particularly like squid, both plates are terrific. The salad and salmon are layered on top of tofu. It's worth a try, but if a salad isn't a necessity with your dinner, it can be skipped. If you do skip it (or are feeling hungry), get the gobo soup. Tasty and something commonly missed, the gobo is soft and more subtle than say, thai bamboo. Another excellent complement is the eggplant, doused with miso sauce. If you enjoy sake, right about now we'd both having a dry sake (more on this) after the eggplant, an excellent way to prepare for the next bite of... An oyster! The oysters, if you haven't ordered anything else, close the meal nicely. If you have, try maguro - they both leave a surprisingly pleasant after taste cleared by another sip of your dry sake. I always prefer dry sake, so while I'm sure the lighter ones will do fine, am biased. They have plenty and a nice chart that can help narrow your choices - if you have no idea what to order, they have another handy column with notes. Don't faint at first sight - the bottle they bring is to pour your sake only, not all for you to drink!
(5)
Emil O.

Went there on a Friday evening. The place was busy but we only waited for about 5 minutes to get a table for 5 people. We came to this place with fairly high expectations - the group is composed of 3 ching-chongs (aka Asians) and 2 whiteys (aka ching-chong groupies). The place has the look and feel of a Japanese restaurant you would find on the outskirts of Tokyo. Simple. Efficient. The menu is a little confusing at first but there is logical order to it (it is Japanese after all). Don't be shy to ask the servers for recommendations - all of the recommended dishes were excellent. They do know their food here. Some of the menu items may look pricey but they are definitely worth it - both in volume and quality. We started with the "Joe" (a sashimi platter featuring 5 kinds of fish) - Excellent. We also had on the side the seaweed and cucumber salad and the okonomiyaki (savory pancake) - the pancake is excellent and the cucumber salad is a good palate cleanser. I highly recommend the grilled eggplant with some kind of sauce (spicy miso???), the black pork/pig skewer and salmon skin and tofu with greens salad. We had the caterpillar roll and it was good but I think the strength of this place is definitely the small plates - I definitely suggest ordering as many of them as possible. The food here definitely met (or exceeded) our expectations and the price point makes this place even more desirable. If this was a BYOB place then it would definitely score another star from me. I would rate this place a solid 3.5 or even a 3.75 but I would gladly concede a 4 star rating because of how pleasantly it exceeded my expectations.
(4)
Shan B.

I LOVE this place. It's by far, one of my favorite places to eat on the island. Top 10 in the overall category. For sushi, top fave period. When people come to visit, it's almost a de facto choice of place. Ok, yes yes, they run of shit all the time. :) And I eat late, so it can be... sad. Very sad. Especially cause the shit they run out of is usually my favorite stuff! But, many of my favorite restaurants run out of shit, and to be honest, doesn't it make you nervous if they always have everything all the time? How fresh is it if it's always in stock? So if it's out, so it goes. Parking is rough. Valet is there, so that's good. Or just use the pay-for lot across Kapahulu. Can be super busy. Sit at the bar if you can & only with 1 or 2 people. Tons of deelish food. Great sake choices. Don't touch my bottle of shochu. First thing I order when I walk in (which is usually a drink!) is the Salmon Skin Salad. Why? Cause they only have so much of that crispy skin every night, & it is GOOD. Has a soft tofu center, greens with all these sprouts, roe, and the chopped up salmon skin all over. Eat it everytime I can & never tire. What else? The menu is f-in hilarious to actually read. Still entertains me, but I am simple. Oft ordered: Pork-wrapped Enoki Mushrooms, Beef Tongue, Spider Poke Roll, Stuffed Portabella Mushroom, Miso Eggplant, Oyster shooters, a chef choice sashimi platter, & usually something chef has on the side. That's to start with at least.
(5)
Tasha T.

Okay, I gotta give this place good reviews for not just having authentic Japanese food, but also because every single time I've come here, they've always accommodated us WITHOUT a reservation. It really puts a damper on the experience when a restaurant turns you away or even says the wait is 3 hours because we don't have a reservation. Thank you Tokkuri-tei! Many have mentioned that the parking experience is difficult, however valet is offered to alleviate that situation. My note on that is, hey in Japan you would most likely WALK to this kind of establishment. Driving is a luxury, so don't get too worked up if you choose to find street parking. If you come here, don't feel flustered over the extensively HUGE menu... Try to look out for the daily specials for suggestions, or glance through the menu for things that catch your eye (English explanations are awesome!). Each time I dine here, I order about 3 or 4 other dishes. However, I always favor the following: Chazuke = Bomb.com :) What's your flavor? Any way your order it will be delicious. Otoro sashimi: SOOOOOOO FRESH! Melts-in-your-mouth goodness. Natto maki: All you natto lovers, will adore this! There is ume & yamaimo, and the blend makes me reminisce on my experiences in Japan. And if you're craving something to quench your thirst, you absolutely must go with the Echigo beer. Not many places serve this on the island, so take advantage of it! And what better place to enjoy it but Tokkuri-tei. Just taking a glance around the restaurant, you will notice that this place is classic. It's been around for decades! And still going strong. Just that notion should give the hint that they're awesome...
(4)
Anna D.

Well, when you sit down and open up the menu you can't decide whether you want to walk out after being overwhelmed with so much to choose from OR if you want to just read all the funny little descriptions and take your time to order. The first thing we all said was, "how in the world do these guys make all this food? the kitchen must be HUGE!". After not really knowing what to choose from, we decided on a lot of dishes that I can't even remember what they were anymore. Since the menu wasn't pictured, I decided to use my handy dandy yelp app to pull up a bunch of things that looked really good and told the waitress, "this one, whatever it is". We pretty much had to be stopped with our orders because she thought our eyes were bigger than our bellies. She was right. The service was great, the food was delicious, and the company was great. I would suggest this place if you want to try something new. Chances are, they'll have something you're familiar with but most likely you'll have a new experience if you let them!
(5)
Richard C.

I really loved this place. It is a few blocks away from the Zoo. I got there early expecting a long line - while there were a few people waiting not a long line as I expected. I ordered the Uni, Salmon Skin Salad, and an Ahi roll. The Ahi roll was only ok and probably would not repeat. The Uni was the best that I ever had. Salmon Skin was the best! Service was awesome - as they kept checking on me to see if I was ok. I would come again but would skip the Ahi roll... next time.
(5)
L W.

I do NOT understand the raving reviews here. I tried and tried to believe that this place was as good as all the Yelpers said it was, but after two lunches and three dinners, I can't help but dub this place as mediocre. FOOD: Sushi (nigiri): Ikura: Might as well go to Genki Sushi, since they give you the same amount (meager) over a heaping pile of rice. Sake (Salmon): Nice and thick, but the rice underneath was two different sizes. A good sushi chef makes everything uniform. Hamachi: Dry. Unagi: Soggy and precut. At other places, the sushi chef cuts your pieces of unagi from the entire eel, nothing precut. This unagi was also under-flamed. Rainbow Roll: Teeny tiny roll with thin slices of fish. Mostly rice and avocado. It fell apart far too easily. Beef Tongue: Lacked flavor, mostly burnt. Skewered Grilled Rice: VERY good. Crispy on the outside, steamy on the inside. Miso Eggplant: Greasy, greasy, greasy. Hamachi Kama: Nice, big, and sort of moist. Needed a lot of shoyu to bring out the flavors. SERVICE: SUCKED. The waitresses dressed in street clothes were pushy, rude, and condescending. They expected our groups to understand the menu off the bat and did not like when we asked questions. The food took far too long to come out (25 minutes+ on a Tuesday!). If you want a truly good izakaya experience, head on over to Imanas, Nonbei, or Gaku. They will treat you well and your food will out of this world awesome.
(2)
Joelle L.

Went here one night with some friends when we vacationed in Waikiki. From word of mouth, we heard this place was good. Well what we heard was wrong! Got here at around 8pm, waited 10 minutes to get us seated since there was 8 of us. Got seated, peeked at the menu for about a couple minutes & our waitress came to the table to ask if we were ready to order. We said we weren't ready yet & she actually told us to hurry up & order since they were busy. They weren't that busy when we were there & we were the biggest party there. I have never had a waitress give attitude like that. This definitely put me in a bad mood. Anyway, we all ordered our food & when it came out, our waitress didn't inform everyone that ordered the same rolls that it was on one plate till one of my friends asked the waitress where their roll was. She rarely came back & checked up on us. The food was alright, nothing special & it was overpriced for the portion. $3 for miso soup?!? Really?! If I'm ever in Hawaii again, I wouldn't go here. Terrible service & average food.
(1)
Tabitha S.

The sushi here is just as good as I remembered from the last time I was here! We had a rainbow roll and spicy tuna roll and both were super fresh. We got there about 5:30pm and since it was so early it was pretty empty so we were seated quickly. The service was good and our food came out pretty quickly. 5 stars for super fresh sushi.
(5)
Theresa T.

So many sushi places can make for an overwhelming decision when trying to narrow done a spot for dinner. Having visited Oahu more than once I decided we needed a delicious sushi dinner without the touristy vibe! Kappa rolls, soba noodles, eggplant...I promise you will not be disappointed. The eggplant with miso (go with the grilled menu) was delish, the kappa and veggie rolls were super fresh and it's no wonder why these sushi chefs are bustling and smiling while making your dinner. The seaweed salad is a bit soupy and may not be what you are used to on the mainland. Every dish is intriguing and will leaving you wanting more. Cannot wait to try the ume rice balls and the miso shitaki skewers.
(4)
Lea K.

I love this place! It's kind of hard to find since it's smooshed in a tiny strip mall, plus parking BLOWS, but the food is worth the hassle! A friend of mine works there and hooked us up with the Nori-chos. I'm soo glad she did because it wasn't something we would have ordered. Who would have thought deep fried nori with cheese would be so good? It also had tomatoes, avocado & a sprinkle of masago. They drizzled it with shoyu (i think??!). This platter of awesomeness pretty much made our night.. so in other words, you NEED to try it! We also had the hamachi nigiri. 2 pieces with HUGE slices of buttery, melt-in-your-mouth fish. The spider poke that everyone raves about was the downer for us.. it's not actually poke; it's like a soft shell crab sushi. It had a really weird taste. The mackerel we ordered was lightly fried to perfection--crispy skin with juicy, moist meat inside. Lastly we had the pork kebab things.. sorry, i forgot what they're called, but they're freaking delish. I saved the best for last.. huge servings of sake, and they have a great sake and shoju list. Make reservations if you can, this place gets super busy.
(4)
kay c.

I don't know if my hunger (i was starving!) coming into this place had any effect on the fact that I would like to give 5 stars to this place, but everything I tried here was delicious. Given that this place is on an island I would expect no less than the freshest fish. And that is exactly what you get. They have a HUGE menu with a ton of unique rolls that are all just so tasty. I stuck to the basics and had my favorite, a tuna roll. One order is huge and enough to fill up a 5 foot almost 4 inch girl. I also recommend the butterfish. It's my all time favorite fish and they for sure know how serve it up here. Great service and great food. What more could you ask for?
(5)
Angela S.

BEWARE When a sushi chef talks alot. I'm not really sure why this place reviews so well. The toro was chewy and the rolls sloppy and monotone. If ur a sushi snob like me..only because I've had amazing sushi too frequently in my life..don't come here. We paid the same amount that we did a $$$$ and felt it a waste. If ur drunk and need some fried food then yah this is ur joint. Otherwise pass it by for the dozens of other amazing sushi bars in the hood.
(2)
Alex K.

Slightly pricy but really good food. They had some uni specials that were really good, and the sashimi was fantastic. If you can spare the money, a great place for a meal!
(4)
Rose W.

i thought the sushi was really fresh and delish here! i came here on the early side of sunday night and the place was already filling up. most memorable plates of the evening were the ahi poke tartare (so yummy we ordered this twice!) and the hotate. the sushi chef looked at us when we ordered the ahi poke tartare again, and asked, "should i make it bigger this time?" the futomaki was pretty big and did a good job filling me up. the service could have been improved (my menu was missing the sushi the page and it took some time to get another menu), but the staff was still friendly. valet parking underground was convenient and $3 with a validated receipt from dinner.
(4)
Arlene H.

I tried the Norichos (yum!!!), ika yaki (good, but I generally like Korean seafood pancakes better), sake nigiri, hamachi nigiri with ponzu and green onion (or so I thought, it was actually chi so leaf), chawan mushi (good, but not really something I'd normally order). I ordered the yaki onigiri which the server forgot, but I didn't say anything since we already had a ton of food. I also got a watermelon shochu, which was just ok since it wasn't fresh watermelon- it was just a syrup. I wish they had at least the grapefruit one. Service was friendly, it appears to be a family business. The waiters bro was the chef. The chef's son works at another restaurant, jinroku (which serves takoyaki and okinomiyake!!!) Bottom line: this is a good place to go for different sushi concoctions and izakaya, but if you just want really great, fresh sashimi, I would go to morio's (only open for dinner)
(3)
Bryan K.

For my 300th review I wanted to review the sushi-ya at the Pagoda hotel. Eating at Pagoda holds special memory for me because my Aunty Pearl always used to bring us here when we were kids. She had no kids so we were her kids. So this week I told my bro's kids that we were going to Pagoda to continue the tradition of Aunty Pearl. But alas the place is closed. Surfing Yelp, I found some other alternatives and we decided to come here. Ponzu salmon, nori tempura, chicken karaage, mixed tempura, ankimo, maguro natto, I think that was it. They were out of karei karaage and tan yaki. Nothing stood out as exceptional or memorable. +1 star for the selection of sake though. I had my niece try a few, Otokoyama, Onigoroshi, Kubota, Masumi. And the pours are quite generous. I was surprised to hear that Yelp was big in Hawaii. I asked the kids for their star ratings: Older niece: 3.5 stars Nephew: 4 stars Younger niece: 3.72 stars Wow kids nowadays are so precise! Me, I give the food a 3. And +1 for the sake selection. Probably not a place to continue the fine tradition, but still a good place to hang out with friends and have a drink or three. Rest in peace AP. This one's in memory of you.
(4)
Paula Y.

All my friends back home rave about what fresh fish Hawaii has and Tokkuri-Tei is definitely the kind of place they're referring to. Made only more awesome by the 2 less than awesome and 1 crappy experiences I've had going to other japanese places on the island. It was all worth it last night as I've now had some of the best sushi I've ever had!!! You know its good when you're dancing in your seat at dinner, the 3 pieces of left overs don't make it through the night before being gobbled down (don't judge) and you wake still thinking about last night's meal. I ordered the squid pancake which are getting rave reviews on yelp. I'm glad it came out first because it was the flat note of the night. Yelpers- What's the big deal about this pancake? It has a cabbage base and a minimal amount of squid with "secret" mayo sauce and creepy bonito flakes waving in the air like earthworms coming alive. I'm not opposed to any of the ingredients, It tasted just "ok" but we should have ordered the salmon skin salad instead. ah my one regret but at least i've tried it... just more reason to go back :) My Finace-gay and I shared a sushi combination .... uh the $40 one and swapped out the uni for salmon ummm sooo good... i'm not a fan of uni but I may be brave and try it here next time just because of how good everything else was. the combo also came with toro yum, unagi yumm, hamachi a favorite, shrimp... where they fry the head, what i believe is the giant clam? and a spider roll mmmmmm. We added on a rainbow roll sooo fresh and pork w/ shiso leaf skewer mmmmmmmmm. Every thing was so super fresh I want to go back... now. Also a helpful friend posted that I should try the Ume sour just more reason to go back... tonight. To top off our night and several of our nearby tables there's a Tutti Frutti right next door! I think I'm in heaven. Tips: Good for a small group. Interesting review I found: aroundhawaii.com/lifestyâ€¦
(5)
Brad Y.

Depends on how hungry you are.. but pregame your dinner if possible before coming here. haha Not as expensive as other izakayas, but not cheap either. Fun place to kick back with friends and grab some food and beer. Small restaurant so sometimes getting a table requires a wait.. smaller parties definitely fare better. There hasn't been a thing that I tried that I didn't like. So try everything! But the sashimi is especially fresh. Think I hate most: PARKING. It's one of those parking situations where everyone parks up the road illegally and you're paranoid about getting towed.
(4)
Alysha K.

Love izakaya style & this one made me love it even more. All the dishes were ono, especially the uni with squid in an abalone shell. One of my favorite dishes is the enoki buta. Sashimi is fresh & service is good. I recommend making reservations because it was crowded pretty much the whole time I was there (on a Friday night).
(4)
Kalani S.

Not what I expected. We ordered uni, Saba, & Hamachi. All 3 was watery which Means it is previously frozen. The sushi chef doesn't even wash his hands after touching other foods. I don't recommend this place. Also the Sake selection is over priced. They say that it's times 10 of the cost of each glass. Big rip off. Genki sushi is better than Tokkuri-tei
(2)
Lyn L.

Ok, I'm in the minority here...but I have to give my honest opinion..... First of all $3 valet (not including gratuity) is ridiculous when we were able to pull up at the front door only to be told we couldn't park there and then had to "valet". He drove the car to the opposite side of the parking lot...all of about 20 feet. We had a hard time finding the front door was because the windows are all covered with "stuff".....upon entering, the "host" didn't even crack a smile. When we walked in, I couldn't figure out what the "decor" was....it felt very cluttered, and run down..."stuff" all over the walls and ceiling. The menu was extensive so we ordered quite a few things...hoping it would be as good as the Yelp ratings.....let's start with the good things...the best thing we had was the assorted sashimi platter....the sashimi was fresh...but nothing cooked here....the shrimp tempura was ok...light and crispy. The gyu yaki was tough and tasteless...the miso butter fish was not to my liking....the miso sauce was good, but what's with the thick soft batter on the fish? The soft shell crab wasn't very special and the sauce tasted like it came out of a bottle...almost like thai chili sauce with extra spice...the agedashi tofu was ok...nothing special and the ume chicken was like something I could make at home...white meat chicken on a skewer and squeeze ume paste on it. The staff was pretty much without any personality...not rude or anything, but no life. They didn't really serve the dishes, they just sort of dropped it off on the corner of the table. They didn't clear empty dishes unless I moved full ones to the middle and put the empty on on the corner. No interaction with the guests...and it wasn't like it was that busy either! I guess I am used to other Japanese restaurants where one is greeted when you enter with at least an Irrashaimase and an Arigato when you leave....Turns out the guy at the door is the owner...I heard a customer say "Thank you Santa". Sorry to have to write such a negative review but I was very disappointed....for an $80 dinner, I expected more....neither of us could even think of any of the dishes that were worth returning for....so I guess we done with Tokkuri Tei.... Next time we're hungry for Japanese, we'll go back to Zen Shu or Imana Tei....too bad those two places are closed on Sunday nite...gotta find a good Japanese restaurant for Sunday nite!
(1)
Olivia D.

I took my friend from San Diego here on Monday night. It was embarrassing. It was only 8:00, but they were out of everything we tried to order. It was almost comical, as we listened to the tables around us also trying to order and getting shot down. We should have just asked them what they DID have. What I remember them being out of was shiitake and portabello mushrooms for the stuffed mushrooms, negi, spinach, sake, okra, shishito peppers, butterfish, and a bunch more but I stopped listening and gave up ordering after that.
(3)
Lana C.

For sushi rolls... not the place. Went here last Saturday and ordered three rolls. They were all staked up on top of each other, presentation was terrible. I ordered a spicy tuna roll, volcano roll, and spider roll. There was no flavor... waaayy too much tobiko and just wasn't that great. I am yet to find a good sushi place in the Waikiki area :( Place was crowded ... maybe the rolls are not the best item on the menu.. wouldn't go back.
(1)
Jennifer H.

I've been here twice, a year between each visit, and the second time was not my choice. Personally, it was a 'meh' experience both times. First off, the menu is incredibly overwelming. You see things in all different languages, and descriptions are just bad puns. Hmm, ok so basically their concept is Japanese tapas. If you're not sure what to order definitely ask your server for suggestions. So the first time I came here, it was so unmemorable I forget what we ordered (it was the server's suggestions though, but remember it being hella expensive and felt slighted). So was brought here again unknowingly, and decided to go the safe route and get sushi. Had a couple bites of things my friends ordered (tapa style plates) and it was once again just whatever. Sushi gets here and my eyes just get big. It looks so good! Got the Kilauea roll (California topped with spicy tuna). I start eating and my heart sinks. Apparently I'm a sushi snob cause it was just sloppy. Taste was almost there but the way the roll was falling apart just killed it. I love when sushi is so gracefully put together that the rice sticks on the seaweed paper, which was not the case at all. I want to believe in this place, I really do. But I've had enough to last me another year.
(2)
Ken H.

I was referred by my local friend & hotel concierge to this place during my trip to Hawaii this July. Its an easy walk from waikiki or you can simply take the #13 bus to this place. They open for lunch (on weekdays) and dinner Mon-Sat. They close during holidays tho! be aware!!! It is a typical Japanese Izakaya Pub that serves anything from Beer to Sake. Menus consists of Grill (i.e. Yakitori), Stir/Pan Fried Items (tako karrage), Noodle/Rice (Chazuke), Sashimi, Sushi (abnormal for Izakaya, but they are famous for their sushi, too). And of course, American menus like Tempura, Teriyaki, etc... Ambience is very traditional cozy, very friendly where chef & waitress are all friendly and chatty (esp if you treat them beer too!) However, their AC is a bit weak so I was sweaty the whole time :P I ordered "Omakase" Sushi set($50) . Cames with Miso soup and its chef's choice of sushi. I got hirame (with fin), unagi, Toro (but tasted like chutoro), scallop, amebei, awabi (abalone), yellowtail, egg, uni (yumm) and spider roll. I think its worth the value (esp for hawaiian standard) and you should definitely try this place out if you are into traditional cusine. Will return to this place when I am back to town
(4)
Lilian N.

Along with the great menu selection for food and sake, the ambience is why we've been coming to this place for years. I've made new friends and met up with old ones thanks to this izakaya-style restaurant. It reminds me of a typical hole-in-the-wall you'd find off the beaten path in Japan. The sushi is best if you leave it up to Kazu-san, the owner, who creates pieces of art with his fresh fish of the day. And I just love the various skewered meats and sauteed veggies from the kitchen menu. Lastly, if you love sake like I do, their selection will not disappoint!
(5)
Dan T.

Good food, but really bad service. Our waitress was terrible. They are many equally tasty izakaya's around that will give much better service. I never come back again.
(1)
Mina F.

Whats the hype? Nothing I ordered was fabulous. Taste was not bad but nothing special, I dont mean to be rude but I was not impressed. Maybe I need try try something else next time if and when I make it over there.
(3)
Calvin U.

My girlfriend and I decided to try it this place out last night and we were so disappointed that I had to write a review, which I never do. And I'm not a picky eater, so that says something. Here's what we ordered: 1. Spicy Scallop Roll - First of all, the scallop was stink and too firm, like it was old. The rice was hard and not the texture you'd expect on a roll. The whole thing had a weird spicy taste that I can't really put my finger on. 2. Tsukune - This was probably the most decent thing we ordered although we've had better. They give a lot of sauce so that was good. 3. Bacon wrapped enoki mushroom thing on a skewer - This thing tasted good but it was burnt. Parts of it was black, literally. It was so tough that I spit it out because I was tired of chewing on it. 4. Dragon Roll - This roll was actually suggested to us by our waitress. When we got it, it looked delicious. I like eating the shrimp head and that was good. But the rice was dry like the previous roll, and the whole thing was just soggy and tasteless. I was very upset about this, because it was a third of our bill at $19.50. I ate two pieces and boxed the rest of it to take home and probably throw away. At this point we decided we were not going to order a second wave of food like we originally planned, even though we weren't full. Maybe we caught them on a bad day, but this was the first time I've ever had a complaint about everything I've ordered at a restaurant. The service was excellent though. We were one of four parties in there.
(1)
Jon B.

Tried this place because I wanted good sushi and was in the area. I checked on Yelp and saw the great reviews and even better pictures! We went in around 11, and was seated without a reservation. We didn't know what to order so we just showed the server pictures of the sushi rolls and asked her what she recommended. Best decision ever! She recommended the black tiger shrimp. Although it wasn't defrosted yet, we placed the order. While we waited we also tried the mixed tempura, spider in poke, ahi tempura roll, and ahi katsu. All of the above were delicious, words can't describe the flavors I tasted... better you try for yourself. After about 30 minutes the chef himself brought out the black tiger shrimp. All I have to say is that IT'S WORTH THE WAIT! He later recommended that next time to sit at the bar, because there are other goodies not on the menu. I loved the ambiance - the decor and especially the staff (we could hear them having fun while preparing all of the dishes). Before we left the chef recommended that we try the SNAKE SHOT.... it looks and smells more intimidating than it is... it smells like it could be stronger than 151 but it was smooth going down NO BURN at all! All in all, I'm bringing the gang next time! You'll have a great dinner and be entertained at the same time.
(5)
Melissa O.

Real crab used in the sushi. Don't be surprised to get miniscule bits of shell and cartilage a roll, but a good portion put into the rolls to make up for a super small inconvenience. Tempura gets soft quickly, so when it arrive chow down. The valet area gets crowded, but the valet makes it work.
(4)
Abbey Y.

I came here recently with my family and boyfriend. I have to say, this place has it's ups and downs. The food here is definitely worth a try, majority of the items on the menu are served in smaller portions; perfect combination with beer/sake, etc. We've tried various items on the menu and we always end up getting: Unagi Don (delicious!), sashimi platter (i forgot the name they had on it but it had very generous slices of sashimi), chicken gizzard (grilled, my parents love these..for some odd reason?), Cow tongue (very good :D always grilled perfectly and pairs off nicely with the lemon that they give you on the side), Yaki Nasu (Deliciously grilled eggplant in a shoyu sauce with bonito flakes topping). We are usually stuffed after eating all these and we haven't been disappointed in the food yet. Although there are some days where the sashimi isn't that fresh, but as for everything else on the menu it's quite delicious and fresh! Aside from the food, the atmosphere is pretty unique, a quaint little restaurant that pumps out food quite quickly. A few downfalls about the restaurant is that it does tend to get very stuffy. The ventilation in the restaurant isn't great because for all the grilling that they do, they don't have a good enough air vent to clear the air fast enough which then leaves you in a small room with little air conditioning. Pros: Great food, decent prices for the quality of food you get. Cons: We have had some bad experience with customer service. Sometimes they all seem a bit rude to their customers, and if they're booked for the night don't be expecting a nice apologetic talk as they got very snappy at my dad for trying to make a late reservation.
(4)
George R.

Culinary adventure... Always interesting Fantastic sake selection New location has none of the charm of the old place....
(4)
Elizabeth K.

First timer of here...I haven't been to the old location so I have no basis of comparison but the restaurant is pretty spacious and the servers were friendly. The decor was a little bit odd (plushie sea creatures wrapped in fishing nets) but kinda of charming. Most importantly though, the food was tasty and pretty well priced (in my opinion) Spicy Ahi Temaki- It was tasty but nothing spectacular. the ahi is sort of pureed and creamy. not terribly spicy Yasai Tempura- The portions for this are huuuuge. Our party of 4 couldn't finish it. It's a nice assortment of whole peppers, mushrooms, asparagus, carrots, shiso leaves and sliced carrot/gobo/potato combination. Ume Onigiri- This large onigiri was filled with a generous amount of deliciously tart ume. It wasn't anything fancy but it hit the spot. Yakitori- It was pretty standard. The chicken was nicely flavored but still pretty standard. Shisomaki- *WINNER* Tasty tasty skewers of pork wrapped shiso, where have you been all my life??? (To be fair, wrap a shiso leaf around pretty much anything and I'll eat it...) Ikayaki- This was my second favorite dish of the night. It's like thin ika okonomiyaki. It's super tasty and a kind of unique dish. Stuffed Portabello- Portabello mushrooms? Sticky fried rice? What's not to like? Nasu dengaku- This made for a nice appetizer. It's eggplant slices on a plate of miso sauce. It was very nicely plated (pretty designs drawn into the sauce) and tasted good even though eggplant isn't my favsies. P.S. The menu is enormous and a little overwhelming but at least you have plenty of options ^_^
(4)
Amy S.

My fiance and I were looking for an "off the beaten path" dinner in Honolulu...we've spent most of our time on the main road on Waikiki and the food seems very touristy (touristy food = overpriced and just decent tasting). I looked up Tokkuri-Tei on Yelp and sounded right up our alley! After walking up and down Kapahulu Ave, we finally found the place (it's in the little shopping center-type place where the Yogurtland is). The place was packed, so we waited outside and within 10 mins we were seated. We tried a handful of stuff...stuff portobella (stuffed with rice and miso), japanese eggplant with miso (seriously the miso was so good we were dipping our fingers in the sauce and licking it), squid pancake...we also tried the salmon skin salad with silken tofu. We were able to order a half order b/c my fiance haaates salmon skin...well, he decided to take a taste and LOVED it. I was shocked! We also had some sushi - yellow tail and salmon - unbelievably fresh and generous cuts. The yellow tail tasted like butter! The only downside was the ahi poke tar tar. Supposedly some special (won some award for the sauce?), but I didn't really taste the sauce and our poke had bits of frozen pieces! Disappointing, but everything else was so fantastic, from the food to the service (they were great with recommendations), so it still gets 5 stars from me!
(5)
William H.

My friend's friends took us to this place and we were pleasantly surprised. Some of best tasting sushi comes out of this place. Monk fish liver, toro, fried shrimp heads, albacore, soft octopus, sweet shrimp, and delicious salmon (although probably not local). Service was okay. Even though we cancelled the toro order the waitress forgot. Is $10 expensive for the best half-dollar size toro nigiri I have had? I don't think so. Decor is very casual, with walls littered with celebrity signatures and pictures.
(5)
Stephanie H.

Especially given the overabundance of chains in Waikiki Beach, this was a great, great find. Long, elaborate menu with tons of choices of food and beverage (potato liquor mixed drinks, anyone?). We stuck to vegetarian items which made the meal slightly more expensive, but the food was delicious. The tofu steak, eggplant in miso sauce, okra, and ahi tuna sushi were spectacular. The waitresses were super patient in explaining the ingredients in the dishes and what vegetarian options were available. The decor is a bit unusual, but it just adds to the restaurant's charm.
(5)
R.G. W.

Really extensive menu: lots of categories, options, and funny blurbs about the menu items. I can see how this place could get expensive though, because most of the "tidbits" are not filling. Word of warning. If you are afraid of snakes, like I am, then do not order the drink called Snake Venom. That's because they bring out a large glass jug filled with that drink with a dead snake inside it, and then proceed to pour you a glass from that jug. You can see the snake staring at you. It is really frightening. We didn't order it but the table across from us did and I almost peed. They should have a bell or a gong or something that they hit before they bring the snake out so that those who are afraid of snakes can close their eyes. Just for that reason alone, I will never return to Tokkuri-Tei.
(3)
Andrew A.

I am comparing this izakaya to the others and ones I've visited in Japan. Overall (8/10) -Food (8/10) -Service (8/10) -Atmosphere (8/10) Pros: - friendly atmosphere, decent menu for an izakaya, and nice fresh cuts of fish. Cons: Parking is valet, unless you want to park up the street and walk in, I would want more unique dishes (they are creative, but a more out of the box menu would be awesome especially for the omakase) So far I have tried the Maguro, toro, otoro, hirame, sake (salmon), ume chicken, agedashi tofu, ika geso karaage. The ika geso and agedashi tofu were so-so, but the sashimi was pretty delicious. Salmon and otoro being my favorite. The ume chicken i something worth a try, and I think all the grilled skewered meats looked pretty good. Beers are okay priced, and always a must with an izakaya outing. Would I come here again? YES.
(4)
Bill T.

Don't let the the small space and window decorations fool you. This place is top notch. We eat here two or three times a month, usually around 5:30pm because if you go early, you're more likely to get in without reservations. If you really need izayaki (Japanese tapas), then make a reservation. They are full every night and even though we are regulars, they've turned us away at least a couple times. Of course you will love their sushi, they do a California roll and spicy tuna like anybody else. I always get unagi which they never overcook, a problem at many other restaurants. And you have the choice of getting items maki, in a roll, inside out, whatever. But the real pleasure is many of their other dishes. The Udon Yaki is a mixture of udon noodles, pork, shrimp cabbage and other ingrediants that is so good my sons usually ask for another order after we devour the first. The same with the Ahi Katsu, which, though spicy, is my 7 year old's favorite. They do tempura well - light and crispy - and be sure to check out the specials - Chef "Santa"(as he is fondly referred to by staff and regulars) comes up with some incredibly tasty innovations almost every night. The service staff are nice, but not in your face. The walls and decor inside are a little kitchy, and the bathrooms leave a little to be desired. But this is a place that you go to because the food is over-the-top great! This is one of my favorite restaurants in Honolulu!
(5)
Juan N.

Ten stars! I don't even know where to start, the sushi is the best I have ever had in my life. I have never been to Japan but this place feels like a piece of Japan in Hawaii. The kitchen food, the unreal sake selection, the atmosphere, I can go on and on about this place! One thing though, be ready to splurge, especially if you start drinking sake! Last time I went there with my gf and we came out over 200 bucks poorer! But it was so much worth it, i can't wait to be able to afford to come here again!
(5)
Avy R.

Most of the time they have really good food. Last time I went there with my friend, the fish wasnt as fresh. But I still want to give them 4 stars, cuz they are usually good. Hehe... Great atmosphere. Little place. You can park on the side streets to avoid paying for parking in their lot. They have a lot of stuff on the menu! Half of those I dont even know what they are! But I would love to try more later on. This place can get busy during weekends. You might want to make reservations. :-)
(4)
Mandy C.

Pros: Food's super good, so good that it outweighs the cons Cons: Valet parking; slow service; tight seating
(4)
Clinton D.

First off, this is a Hawaiianized Japanese restaurant. Don't head in expecting sushi or authentic Japanese food. Once you understand that, you can understand how tasty it is. Tips: Read through the menu and its commentary. Then close it and ask the server what to order. We had: Ume Shiso Qri (sushi roll) - A well crafted roll combining the sweet Ume (a kind of plum) with Shiso ('similar to basil' our server claimed). Poke Tar-Tare - Enoki sauce, seared rice, and perfectly seasoned ahi. AMAZING. I dreamed about this later that night. Yaki Udon - A light but perfect flavor. Miso Sauce - to die for. You can get it with Portobello, Eggplant or Tofu. Kurobuto sausage skewers - they were alright, there were other skewers that looked even more delicious.
(5)
Ha N.

i went back again and i wondered what i saw in this place. after eating here for the first time, i've raved over and over about it, but now i'm a tad bit embarrassed. aside from the salmon skin salad, i really find no reason to come back to this place. if you like this place, you'll like imanas tei even more. one thing for example, the fried ika geso here is like genki sushi's one on a good day. with a little less oil. maybe. at imanas tei, you get fat chunks instead of scrawny little legs. you can see the SUCTION CUPS. it's the same damn price too. damn, you walk out of this place feeling gypped through and through. it's like the owners realize their success so they're not even trying anymore. and the sushi rolls. they're so crumbly and half-assedly done. so embarrassing. i would never take any of my friends here. this place is 5 stars because you never had better. that's what i learned.
(2)
Lekha T.

Only go there if you have plenty of time and want to eat some good food. The salmon skin maki was excellent, we ordered a salad that had tofu, salmon roe and various leaves, this was very good. Squid teriyaki was only so so, I have had better. The waitress kept messing up ouir order so, they treated us to a dish of escargot with abalone and cheese, this was the second best item served, first being the salmon roe salad. Tolkien-Tei used to be in this little strip mall with two parking spots behind zippy's. They now have moved to this large area above a Chinese restaurant. I think the larger space and more clients is something they will get used to. Even though the orders were all mixed up, they food was delicious. I hilly recommend this place
(4)
Adrian J.

Squid pancake is a must try. As for the rest of the sushi, I just tried a combination. Not a sushi snob but I have been to a decent amount of restaurants. Very low key and Japanese. Price was reasonable for dinner and 2 drinks. If you are visiting in Honolulu, highly recommend you try it. Parking is $3 Valet only since they're in a shopping mall that doesn't have any free parking. Parking on the street seemed iffy and/or difficult. This is from an out of towner's perspective. All in all recommended.
(5)
R C.

This is one of my favorite izakayas in HNL. I love the messy look, the crowded place-makes me feel like I am in Tokyo. :) The food isn't as authentic as in Japan, but hello- duh- we are in HAWAII!!! It's all about da mix plates here. I love it, I love love love the fusion food. I have eaten many a great meals here for years. I have stories to tell about being here, this is one of those places that calms your heart when it's heavy or a place that you just want to get away from things in life. I have shared laughters and tears while gulping down sake and tasting pieces of heaven in my mouth. I have been here as early as they open and as late as they close. I have been here with people I love and people I'd love to never be with. I love the food here. I can't even pick a favorite dish, everything is tasty and delicious. Usually, I start off with either Kirin Ichiban or House sake-hot, sometimes they have special sakes. The menu is extensive, so I try a lot of things every time I come here. Service is fast and efficient. The place is small with maybe 3 girls working the floor. Good job and thank you! Always.This is a must try place -if you love sushi/japanese food/local fusion . This is as good as it gets plus the price is just right and the service is always great!
(5)
Jose C.

I must have been there on a bad night or something. My rolls had lumpy rice and were quite small and relatively flavorless. I have heard many rave about this place, but I did not like the sushi rolls. Maybe I need to try something else on the menu? Tight quarters and rather busy and noisy. Not a very well kept restaurant. I prefer something with a bit more room and some atmosphere when I am out for sushi. Valet parking out front for $3 is a bit odd, but it is probably the only way to keep the lot open for customers in that area. Not a bad deal considering my friends did not want to pay and had to park around the block.
(2)
Doris D.

Everything I've had here is great, the menu is extremely extensive so there is no room for boredom! We had a bunch of the yakitori, and the monk fish liver was a star. Love it.
(5)
Jacob O.

Oh man. What a treat. As you can see from most of the reviews here, this place is quite good. My wife and I were in Hawaii about 2 weeks ago and the first night in town we didn't have a car yet so we decided to hoof it about a half mile from our hotel to this amazing place. The dining room is very small and luckily I called ahead for a reservation. We were seated as soon as we arrived. We started off with some Nigiri Sake and a large bottle of Asahi. So far so good. We were tired and after a long day of travel, the alcohol quickly got to us. We ordered several different things off the menu. Some Sushi. Some Yokitori, Some Poke. All of it was amazing. Everything tasted so fresh. You can tell that the elements of each dish were placed with someone that not only cared about the individual ingredient but how they played together in harmony on your palate. The Tempura fried butterfish was a dish that stands out in my memory. If you are planning to go there, do yourself a favor and try it out. Afterward, drunken and happy, we stumbled back to our hotel and slept very well.
(4)
BAJIBU K.

I used to LOVE this place... went back with a friend and found that the quality has gone down down down =( All the old sushi chefs were gone, and the new people could barely make a California roll... it was ugly, lopsided and had waaaaaaaay too much rice. Luckily we didn't order it, but we saw a few of them going out since we were sitting at the sushi bar. The wait staff is friendly when they want to be, but can be testy when you ask them for more time to decide what you want to order. I always get the salmon skin tofu salad which is "winners!!!" but the platter of assorted sushi that we ordered was horrible. The maguro was almost a BROWN color, and the rice was like blobs and the sushi just fell off of it. I suggest the new sushi chefs take sushi 101 again!
(3)
Naomi P.

Yikes! So many 5 star reviews for this place....are my taste buds out of whack? Hm...so confused. Anyways, we tried the ikayaki (squid pancake) based on so many people raving about it, the stuffed portebello, the unagidon, and a bunch of different rolls. I guess you could say this place is not authentic Japanese at all, so I was a bit disappointed by everything because I was expecting real Japanese food. It's more a Hawaii fusion/local taste kinda place....like, the ikayaki is so far from okonomiyaki or Japanese style ikayaki that I'm not even sure what it should be called. Lots of sugar added to unagidon giving it that local taste, and the portabello mushroom was interesting to say the least. Nothing was fantastic for me - lots of oil and grease in the food (which is why I keep saying it's more local than Japanese). I would say 2 thumbs up for a good place to eat at while drinking, or a good place to eat at after drinking (alternate to zippys), but not a good place to sit down for a meal. I felt very unfulfilled after eating here and had to get a real dinner after. Sorry. On a positive note, the inside is charming and very izakaya-like, and the walls are cool to stare at with all of the decorations.
(3)
Alden E.

I came here with three other people, very enthusiastic about trying out their sushi but it was ruined by the young waitress with the glasses with the biggest attitude problem: just because we asked for two separate checks doesn't mean you can roll your eyes and stomp off with such a disrespectful attitude as if going back to the cash register to get another check would take a million steps. AND going back to our table, sighing under your breath while taking our order, does not make us think that you might spit on our food. if that's your way of building customer loyalty then you've lost one that was willling to pay big bucks. I'm a very humble and friendly person and it takes a lot to get me fired up. I ended up confronting her and walking out. so waitress, please learn that service and good food comes hand in hand. you may be tired and might've had a long day but never take it out on your customers. it's your job to provide good service after all. if I could, zero stars.
(1)
Leanne R.

Made a reservation ahead of time, so we were seated as soon as we got there. There was a line with about 10 people waiting for a table (weekend). They still don't have their liquor license - so BYOB but beware there is a corkage fee. The new location is much better than their previous location with more space (and parking). The food was good, not great, but good. The service had a lot to be desired. The waitresses were NOT very friendly and seemed too busy to bothered with helping customers. The waitress got our order wrong, so we ended up waiting over half an hour for our last dish, which she didn't bother to check up on and by the time it came out, we had completely finished our meal. She ended up boxing it up and we took it home. It would have been fine if we didn't have to put up with the stink attitude. My previous experience was the food is always good. However, I will probably never return to this restaurant due to the poor service.
(2)
Debbie P.

Izayaka with great sushi - unheard of until Tokkuri-Tei. My boyfriend recommended the restaurant to me when I went to Hawaii with some girlfriends and I have to say I love and hate him for it. This is hands down one of the best Japanese restaurants I've ever eaten at. I ate here twice during my four day trip it was so good. The fish is so fresh, uni isn't mushy and melty, the rolls weren't loaded with rice and the cooked tapas were all delicately flavored. Can't wait to go back to Hawaii just so I can eat here again.
(5)
Honey P.

This has been the best izakaya place I've ever been to! I don't eat squid but I loved loved loved their squid pancake. The salmon skin salad was flavorful and fresh. The rainbow sushi was yummy, I eased up a lot on the soy sauce because I didn't want to miss any of the flavors. My husband had a drink that had a whole snake in the jar- Habushu, it smelled like purell but it didn't reek. I was too much of a wimp to try it. The service was really friendly and everything we ordered was delicious. It's so bitter sweet to find a place so good so far away from home.
(5)
Wanda T.

Great sushi, reasonable prices, pretty good service, decor leaves much to be desired. Very big menu. The food was good. We all ordered sushi at our table. Part of the sushi came for two of our party (of 4), 20 minutes later the rest of the sushi came. So we all sat looking at the sushi and waiting. Not particularly good. The waitress needed to be prompted to check on the remainder of our order.
(3)
Mike L.

F R E S H to deaph. Some of the freshest sushi I've ever had. Omakase was great - highlights were the fatty tuna which I could inhale all day and my first taste of uni (sea urchin) which was interesting. Very sweet and creamy (TWSS). Even their basic sushi stuff like spicy tuna, yellowtail, and shrimp tempura rolls were great. Their yaki was great and fairly priced at around $3-4 per 2 sticks - yaki tori (chicken), chicken meatballs, gizzard... all good things to snack on with the Sapporos comin.
(4)
Rick B.

Had dinner and as usual the sushi and izakaya was epic...this is one of my favorite places to go and tonight was no exception. I haven't been in while and it's still great. To many dishes to cover them all but one of my fav's is the monkfish liver... AWESOME stuff...
(4)
Larry S.

I loved the old spot. Intimate, different, marching to its own beat. the new space was more industiral cafeteria style. One big open space. Food is always good to above average, however on this visit, the kitchen and service failed me. The food was hit or miss and the kitchen took 2 hours to complete our order. The food came out in drips and drabs, and the waitress, apparantly aware of the kitchen debacle, literally hid, so as not to get involved. The manager(?) eventually came over and offered us free dessert and took some $ off our tab, but still, not an enjoyable evening at all. From other reviews, it would appear this was an abberation, but nonetheless, I though I would throw our experience out there.
(3)
Anna A.

This is a hole in the wall place but is DELICIOUS! My fiance and I went for lunch our first day in Oahu and just got plate after plate. The owner will help you if you're a newbie to the sushi world (which my fiance kind of was) and gets you a free appetizer while you wait!
(5)
Chad K.

I heart Tokkuri Tei! From the cheeky menu to the yummy food and drinks all served up in a cozy hole in the wall location...this place has a lot of character. Tokkuri Tei can come across as a jack of all trades in Japanese cuisine but I think the real strength of this restaurant is their izakaya (think "dim sum" for Japanese bar food). Everything we ordered was good... even the kanpyo roll which the menu described as "i don't know how to explain this, can you?". Well, I'm happy to report that our party was able to identify kanpyo as "that other stuff they put in a maki sushi roll besides the tuna and red/green stuff." Clear enough for you? Go with a large party and order izakaya so you can try a whole bunch of different dishes while talking story. Their flavored sochu was the best I've ever tasted. Their watermelon flavored sochu tasted like a liquid Jolly Rancher. Danger! Danger! Special kudos for not rushing us even though my party was there until after closing. Can't wait to try some more yummy dishes!
(5)
Adam L.

Delicious! Exactly what I expected when I came to Honolulu. Their fish was as fresh as expected and their poke selection was excellent. My salad was a little overdressed, but it was a homemade ginger dressing that was so good, I was glad it was.
(5)
Mark H.

Meh... below average compared to LA. Disappointing based upon other reviews. I had such high hopes. Nasu (eggplant) was grilled and placed on a mixture of different misos. Pretty good, but that was the highlight of the evening. Nabeyake udon was $12, about par for flavor, but lacked in quantity of protein and veggies. Spider handroll. Not bad. Fresh at least. Spicy tuna roll was spicey, but the rice was a bit overcooked and underseasoned. Too much rice in the roll. Liver kushi yaki (skewers)... again, meh. Service was pleasant and the waitresses were patient even with a full house. Looking at other folks at the sushi bar, they have other rolls which look over the top. Interesting, but if they aren't willing to get the basic rolls right, why should I try the expensive ones? Also the classic sushi (non rolled) looked fresh and the sushi chefs looked fairly skilled. Maybe next time I will try the omakase, but that's $60. Cheap compared to LA, but.... Overall, service is 3 stars, food is between 2 and 3; but the food is what is important. Even numbers always round down.
(2)
Marcus F.

In Hawaii good sushi is all over and prices range just as much. Tokkuri Tei is very reasonably priced and I would put their food up against any other sushi place in Hawaii regardless of price. Located in a little strip mall it is easily over looked. There is a perpetual line outside of a half hour to hour wait because great food is something that should be shared. This small restaurant has an extensive menu that is daunting. With at least a hundred items let your server help you pick out some items. If I had not a gem such as the Squid Pancake and would have eluded me. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let us speak now of fish. The fish is clean, fresh, bright and oh so delicious. The quality is truly impeccable. As sashimi, nigiri or roll the fish is impressive. Always ask for what's fresh that day as many times the freshest items somehow eluded the menu. Omakase is always spectacular and highly recommended. If you are a roll person they range from the basic to a bit of fusion. One of my favorites is the Baked Alaska Roll. This part of the menu is fairly standard and really no way you could possibly go wrong. It's all amazing. Now to address the other 80+ items on the menu. When I use to live in Hawaii, I came here at least once a month (generally twice a month). I would always order at least one new item I hadn't tried before. The caveat being the dish will almost certainly be quite different than anything else you have had. I honestly didn't like everything I had, but generally what I got was good. Sometimes great. On occasion phenomenal. If you are not the person who likes to try odd new dishes, by all means don't. But if you are I highly suggest exploring. A knockout of a restaurant. If you haven't been you really must go.
(5)
Adrian L.

What a great place! The beauty of this place is the quantity and pricing of the menu choices. It's priced in a way that allows you to try lots of different types of things on the menu, as opposed to being shackled to one meal choice. I had the Yaki Tori (Chicken Skewer) and the Gyu Yaki (USDA Prime Beef Skewer). The Gyu Yaki is some of the best meat you'll have! It's as tender as butter, and insanely juicy. The Yaki Tori is definitely a step above your everyday chicken meals. The beauty about both of these delicious choices is that they aren't intimidating to anyone trying this place out for the first time. It's chicken & beef. For those feeling a bit adventerous, but don't wanna eat something raw like Ahi (which was, by the way, velvety and delicious), I'd suggest ordering the Unagi (barbecued eel). Nothing crazy... all tasty!
(4)
Silvia B.

Does this place need an extra review... why not! This is our sushi spot. We typically reserve a spot at the sushi bar and don't even look at the menu, we let the chef bring us his best and we are never disappointed! I've tried some weird stuff that I wouldn't have even know how to order. Everything is fresh. You may want to stop the plates for coming at some point... Best dessert to try: specialty ice screams. The black sesame ice cream is just wonderful.
(5)
Frank L.

Awesome local style Japanese place with a large selection of food. Delicous Sushi rolls, sashimi, sake, and skewers (chicken liver, chicken heart, and beef tongue).
(5)
Marti L.

With a tiny door and sheets of paper plastered on the window, we were...confused. But if a shabby looking place has its own valet parking, it has to be good. And it was. Their menu is extensive!!! It took me a good 10 minutes to scan through it once. And probably another 10 to decide what to get since everything looked sooo goood. But the best of all had to be the Spider Poke. All I can say is OMG. When the waiter brought it to our table, I was blown away. Wrapped in nori were gorgeous slices of maguro, hamachi and salmon sashimi. Then topped with a mountain of tobiko and ikura. *drooooools* The taste...taste is indescribable. It was definitely happiness in my mouth. I feel myself salivating everytime I look at its picture. We also had Teriyaki cream tofu, the blanched spinach, mushroom & pork, chicken skewers, and 2 rolls. yum yum yum. *pats stomach* The best thing about this place is that they have tons of small dishes. So you get to try a bit of everything and be satisfied.
(5)
Alan C.

Service was pretty good and the food was great! Salmon skin salad boom! alot of salmon skin alot of salad perfectly seasoned Hamachi was good overall great!
(4)
Murray B.

Won't overwhelm with too many details but, as reviews indicate, the food here is excellent. Fantastic nigiri, enoki mushrooms, squid pancake, extensive sake list, etc. The place was jammed and, while she was in demand, our waitress still kept good tabs on us re: our food and drink needs. Helpful tips: -don't know if this policy is in effect every night but we went on Saturday and reservations can't be made for after 7pm -the adjacent parking lot can get chaotic on weekends but you can normally find street parking nearby
(5)
sideshow b.

Yelp and the iPhone, don't leave home hungry without it! What an incredible great find, but I digress... My wife and I met in Japan, must have been nearly 20 years ago. Try as we might, we could never really pick up the language past the very basics. But we loved everything we ever tried! Ok, not true. There was the fish ovary thing. And the raw cow liver. And some gelatinous potato product on a stick. But outside of those three items, we loved everything else. Oh yeah, natto. Okay, four things. T-T feels just like we were back. The yakitori, sushi, and sake were all perfectly prepared, incredibly favorable, and quite honestly, a very good value. The service and advice were perfect and while the atmosphere is very authentic for a casual Japanese restaurant, T-T will not be winning any ambiance awards. Unless they hand out one for "authentic ambiance". Get there before 6 and avoid the parking problems and the lines. We WILL be back. In fact, we may not eat sushi anywhere else on island! Ok, that one's not true either, but T-T is on our VERY short list and we have tons more on the menu to try out.!
(5)
Cintamani A.

Very awkward layout when you first arrive that was extremely off putting. The service was very slow and unfriendly. The arrival of the orders were decent. The food disappointing and bland. Not terrible but just didn't cut it. I've had better experiences at places that were far more affordable. In the end it left me unsatisfied and relieved that I wasn't footing the bill.
(2)
First Name L.

Tokkuri-Tei is a great place to go when you've had a long day and just want to eat and drink. It's a grungy place, so no need to dress up, come as you are. Ambience is upbeat with a positive vibe. Food comes out fast, drinks are good, selection is pretty diverse, and overall everything has been pretty darn good. We tend to drink when we come here and since the dishes are smaller, you tend to order away. It's probably easier to remember what we didn't like.... hmmmm....thinking... sigh, I guess we liked em all! Okay, for an Izakaya, it's number 3 on my list but the top three are all good for different things. 3. Tokkuri feels more like a college dive bar. Come as you are with whoever and let loose. 2. Gaku - this is more of a romantic date location, IMHO. I'm usually pretty casual but there were people really dressed up when I came. 1. Imanas- My favorite for over a year now. I just love the food here. Creative, yummy, and something for everyone.
(4)
Johnny V.

This might be one of the best sushi spots on the island. Santasan and Ugi are a culinary duo that create art with every dish. Go omakasi style and let Ugi take you through the specials of the day. All ingredients are fresh, sushi making is traditional with a twist of fun. I will keep going back here for sure. 5 stars for sure!
(5)
Oliver D.

I'll keep this review simple! The fish was FRESH! Ahi Tuna melted in your mouth like butter! And the service was GREAT! Make sure you do your sushi research because their MENU is HUGE! 10 plus pages. You can spend the whole night reading it. If you're ever in Waikiki, Hawaii and looking for an quality but affordable sushi restaurant, check this place out!
(5)
Brian W.

I love this place! I try to make it out here each time I visit and it never disappoints. They have this unique miso butterfish roll that is just so good. Actually, I can't think of anything bad I've ever had here in the past dozen times or so I've stopped by. Definitely make reservations as you probably will wait forever without one.
(5)
Kathy S.

I don't know if I ordered the wrong dishes but everything I had was horrible. I Even tried the most recommended dish: squid pancake! It ended up being oily and bland. Service wasn't great either.
(1)
Irene C.

I am fighting off the high caloric intake-induced coma as well as the Nyquil I downed to fight off what hopefully isn't swine flu. Anyway, despite my debilitating condition, I made a venture to this venue and am glad I made the effort. Seriously, lived here six years and this is the first time I ate at Tokkuri-Tei. . .three days before I leave for good. It is bittersweet, my friends. Very fresh and awesome sashimi. The hamachi was, hands-down, the best hamachi I have ever had. Buttery-smooth, people. Fatty and delicious. The Dynamite roll was pretty good, Alaskan roll was alright. (Don't ask why I had to have rolls tonight, you just get that craving for a roll.) Loved their ume shizo, not too ume-y, not too shizo-y. . .just right. Stuffed portabello was okay, a bit too heavy for me. Ahi tartare was a bit overwhelming, but it was our last dish to arrive so I was very full by then. Sashimi, you saved the day. Service is also very efficient. My ocha never got cold, so gold star for you, tea girl!
(4)
Jay S.

This is a favorite place of the Mrs. and I. Almost everytime we come, the place is packed. Parking sucks, try to find street parking if you can; they charge for $3 for valet, and then park it RIGHT outside the door! but enough about that, the food here is great! They start you off with some peanuts to whet your appetite, and no matter how busy it is, the server is always on time, ready to take your order. We have had many things off the menu, and everything is always well prepared. We have tried some of the sushi as well, and it was very good (not Sasabune quality, but still very good!) They close at 1000 pm on Sunday nights, so that's something to be aware of...other than that, Tokkuri-Tei is always a favorite place for us to go!
(4)
Jenifer G.

On the outside, Tokkuri-Tei seems like a rinky dink spot. Inside, well, it's not much better, however the food is pretty good. Valet Parking was a plus. Service was decent. Ate here twice in the last year, once with a friend and another time in a group of 10. Food quality ranks about the same as the other common spots, like Imanas, with a pretty wide variety of menu items that aren't boringly normal. I can't recall the exact dishes I had (my apologies!) but I remember this pancake dish that was different, and this ahi/natto dish that was good. I always order uni, and it was pretty fresh both times. Cost ranges from $30-50/person. They even have those huge bottles of sake, so that was nice. I'd definitely come again to have more uni and update my review!
(4)
Sharif B.

Very fresh traditional Sushi.
(4)
Courtney Y.

My BF's brother lives out here and this is whee he wanted to take us. It's like a Japanese Tapa's place. All small dishes. Here are some of the highlights and low-lights Highlight -Grilled nigiri: Rice on a stick and then grilled, Crunchy on the outside chewy on the in.. Crunchy rice=Pretty damn good -Sashimi: ALL OF IT EXCELLENT. The fish is SOOOO fresh and so delicious. -Beef tongue: Okay, so I've never had beef tongue before but its actually really tasty. It doesn't have a weird consistency that I thought it would. I'm not a fan. -Sake Ochazuke: Talk about one of those home cooked favorites. This dish just makes you feel warm and feel good. -Free Boiled Peanuts: They were good.. and they're free! Low-lights -The Miso Butterfish: I'm not really a fan of tempura frying butterfish. I love it's traditional broiled way. I mean do we have to fry EVERYTHING? So-So -The Menu: I mean the menu is really great, its just HUGE... How the heck do you know what to order?? A little intimidating. -Oyster shots: Yummmmm I love oysters, i just wish these came w/ some Sake in it. Tastes MUCH better. We ordered so many different dishes I really can't remember then ALL, but I do remember being so overly full. We almost left some fish!! I would definitely recommend coming w/ a group so you can try a number of different dishes.
(4)
Anastasia N.

Make reservations!! YUMMY food! Nuf said! (try the salmon skin salad and Mauna Kea roll)
(5)
Courtney T.

I've eaten here twice so far. It's a very cozy restaurant, hidden, but well-worth the trip. You can dress casually, it's got a very non-pretentious atmosphere. I'd recommend getting a reservation, as it often fills up quickly. The menu really reflects Santa's personality and humor. Make friends with the owner, Santa, he's a really friendly and funny guy. There are lots of neat photos, drawings, newspaper clippings, art, and nostalgic/ethnic decor. This place really has a great personality. Parking is kinda junk, if you want to part in the lot, you'll need to valet. It's hard for me to recommend just one thing, there are so many good items, and so many that i want to go back for. the dishes are quite unique, and very tasty. i don't think i can say that there's anything you should particularly stay away from...so no be shame, just go for it!
(5)
Critic's Choice L.

I stumbled upon this place last year when I was staying in Waikiki. This place is hands-down better than sasabune and aushi zo in LA! The fish was so tender and fatty, and the sushi was one of a kind. Staff was very friendly, and the service was top-notch. Just the dessert (black sesame ice cream) alone was enough to make me want to go back! I would definitely sit at the bar (instead of a table)just to get the whole experience!
(5)
Erika R.

I love this quirky, cozy izakaya. My sister and I finally got a chance to visit a few weeks ago. There are lanterns and pictures hanging everywhere and the atmosphere is relaxed. We ordered a TON of food just to try as many dishes as could. I'm serious. The food couldn't fit on our table as we had ordered so many dishes. Our favorites were the tempura butterfish which has the yummiest sauce ever, stuffed portabello (it's stuffed with sticky rice!!) and the sake. I can't remember the name of it but it was served in a cool square black laquered box and I was extremely happy after drinking it. It was sweet and delicious! Being our first time there we didn't know we needed reservations and kind of got an exasperated look from staff. Didn't really appreciate that but now that I know how popular they are, it makes more sense. So yeah, make reservations when going for dinner. It's really good!!
(4)
raechelle v.

Really enjoyed this place. Ordered the Squid pancake that was so yummy with bonito flakes, furikake, topped off with this yummy sauce. We had a super yummy Rainbow Roll with 8 pretty big pieces. The husband ordered his favorite chawamushi ($5) which was super ono, but a little pricey. My daughter wolfed down her miso soup and salmon musubi and she is the ultimate picky eater so that says a lot about the food. Ordered the chiso wrapped pork which was super ono. Excited to try the other dishes on their extensive menu. Tip: Make reservations so you don't have to wait for a table. Service was great and good place to bring the kids.
(5)
Mai Y.

one of my favorite izakayas on the island. the only problem i have with them is the wait. I HATE WAITING. sometimes there is a wait of a hour, so its best to get there a little bit early. i love their ika yaki, and their cocktails are pretty big (and pretty strong, might i add). they have a wide selection of sushi and everything in general. and the price, might i add, is reasonable.
(4)
Petri Y.

Went to Oahu back in February and a friend who lives there told me about it and said it was excellent. I have a passion for izakaya and good sushi so this was a must hit for me during my trip. Went with the BF, a girlfriend who was local (and she had never heard of it either) anyhoo...this place was right near the waikiki strip and hidden inside this tiny strip mall. went on a Monday and it was packed but got a table right away. Had: uni croquette- yummy, creamy and delicious! sashimi salad- good dressy and very good fish grilled tongue- very fresh tongue it wasnt rubbery like usually (those are pre-frozen) miso eggplant-tasty but too salty for me squid pancake (called something else but cannot remember) this was surprisingly very very good. nice crust to it with bits and pieces of chewy squid on the inside with a nice sauce on top. We had a bunch of other stuff that I cannot remmeber but it was all superb and very different from what I have had before. we didnt have sushi because we had it the day prior to but man the table next to us ordered some sashimi and it was blood red and looked so fresh. A must hit the next time I come back!
(5)
Tom A.

Fun / lively atmosphere, cramped in the authentic Tokyo neighborhood sense (perhaps this will be seen as a dive to Americans). Pricey, but many good tastes on this menu. I've been here 3 or 4 times, had tons of things on the menu and never disliked any of them. Seeing lots of complaints about the wait and parking on Yelp, but I've never had trouble. I guess because that's because I usually eat pretty late.
(4)
Jason M.

This by far my favorite Izakaya on the island. I have been here many times, and I am never disappointed by the quality of the food & the quality of service. Soft shell crab & inside out spicy tuna rolls are a must. They also have a very large sake selection. Parking does suck and they do get busy on the weekends, so plan ahead.
(5)
David S.

Amazing Food. I let the chef bring me his choice. The bill was $375.00 for 3 people, BUT I had the most amazing Sushi I have ever had. Pretty much everything was either live or endangered.. LOL Awesome food, great service..
(5)
Andrew W.

Fun place to have lunch. Captions (er English explanations on the menu items) were a riot to read. Waitresses were attentive and patient, even while we dithered over what to order (on my part half of this was trying to wrap my head around what to select from the pages of items and the other half was just going through the English captions). It was a bit difficult to find, hidden behind a pizzeria (papa john's or the like). Even though we were specifically looking for it, we made a few wrong turns following my GPS before our last wrong turn accidentally brought us into their parking lot. We lucked out when we arrived as the place wasn't full (there were a few No Tokkuri Tei parking (insert hours here) signs in front of quite a few spaces in the lot, suggesting they do enough business to crowd out patrons for the other restaurants). Of the items we ordered (mid-level sushi platter, salmon skin salad, grilled tuna, seared tuna salad), we liked the salmon skin salad the best. The hand-made, wrapped in cherry leaves mochi were a nice treat to end the lunch.
(4)
Zee S.

On our first night in Honolulu we were looking for something low key but delicious. Considering the access to seafood and the strong Japanese cultural influence we decided that sushi would be a good choice. We picked this place based on Yelp reviews, Tonkkuri-Tei happened to be walking distance from our hotel in Waikiki. Generally the experience was great. We were super jet lagged and the menu choices were overwhelming, but well organized. I started with a delicious Japanese Sochu glass (one of several) out of the very impressive list of Souchus, and we asked our server what was fresh. We ordered several sushi courses including pickled mackerel (something I try everywhere), squid, and a very thinly sliced white fish (forget what it was but I included a picture). Everything was great. We also tried a couple of the yakatori dishes including chicken hearts, chicken butts and a couple of others I forget. The chicken butts were the best, but generally everything was superb. This venue is in a strip mall type locality and it's not necessarily a 'happening' place. We went there on a Wednesday night before thanksgiving so it wasn't super busy, and the meal was relaxing. The wait staff was a little awkward, maybe there was a language barrier or maybe they just wanted to be on their way to their Thanksgiving holiday, but there was a vibe that wasn't the best. Generally though, I'd highly recommend this place, especially to visitors who want to get out of the super touristy areas and get some great sushi.
(4)
Anh V.

let the gluttony begin! wall to wall kudos and well wishes from previous happy diners. the sumo wrestlers signed theirs with a handprint. devoured: fried rice on a stick 2 orders beef tongue 4 orders beef tenderloin 2 orders chicken skewer spider roll spicy tuna roll mixed sushi with uni, unagi, squid, salmon, etc seaweed rice soup squid pancake for next time: salmon skin salad poke! poke! poke! the fish was fresh and the prices were reasonable for hawaii - this hole in the wall stood up pretty tall.
(4)
Crystal B.

After my fifth visit to Tokkuri-tei it is definitely past due for a review. Their food is AWESOME! I was first brought here by my boyfriend and his parents after hearing a out "the best sushi they'd ever had" for 6 months. It definitely lived up to expectations. Since going there, I have sampled the sake (salmon, both sashimi and nigiri), the spicy tuna roll, the caterpillar roll, the ahi poke, the tofu steak, a sliced steak dish, an udon dish, the toro, several other sashimi, and my friends have had the spider roll (off limits because of a possible crab allergy- lame!). They start you out with delicious complimentary boiled peanuts which are totally addictive. My all time favorite and must-order is the caterpillar roll! I don't even know what's in it, but it's amazing. The ahi poke is also really fantastic, I have never had ahi so velvety soft and mild in flavor. Everything else that I've had has been top quality and wonderfully fresh. I highly, HIGHLY recommend coming here if you have friends who are sushi buffs or if you just want some Incredible fish. The service is always really friendly, the only issue we've had is toward the end of the meal. Sometimes plates don't get cleared and no one asks if we'd like anything else, or the check. Once you ask, though, they are quick to get what you need. They are also awesome about water and drink refills. Yummmm. I always leave happy and satisfied, and somehow when the check comes it's ways less than I expect.
(4)
Jacqueline T.

THANK YOU, YELP! This was our last dinner during our trip in O'ahu, and we went out with a bang! We were seated quickly at the sushi bar. I would recommend making reservations beforehand because the place got packed quickly. We were just lucky we arrived before the rush or we would have to wait. One of the best thing about this restaurant was that it was walking distance from Queen Kapiolani Hotel where we were staying. It only took us less than 10 minutes to get there. My bf ordered the $40 chirashi. The sushi chef took his time, adding each sashimi element on top of the rice. The $40 was well worth it. I ordered the dinner combination with Grade A beef skewer, sashimi, salad (salad dressing...awesome!), mochi straight from Japan, and ebi tempura. I believe we were the only tourists in the restaurant because this is a local hot spot. When I return to O'ahu, this is on my list of places to hit.
(5)
Forest F.

This place is great. The menu is vast and there are tons of speacials. The Hamachi Kama is ono too. The only drawback is probably the parking and the wait since its gotten pretty popular over the years.
(5)
Eileen S.

With yelp reviews in hand, we walked into this place with confidence. The many Japanese speaking patrons there made us feel more confident this place would be good. It was delicious. THANKS YELPERS!!! Service was efficient and friendly. This place is like a hole in the wall, which was just fine with us. Had the omakse (sp??) which was very good, the uni was buttery and delicious. This was so good that we ordered additional uni and toro. Agedashi tofu was crispy, light, soft and delicious. Tempura was yummy. We also ordered other food including several rolls (one of them was a spider roll). We ordered more food than was possible for 2 people to finish, but we finished every last morsel happily. Soo delicious that we stopped by for lunch the next day on our way to the airport enroute to Maui. This place is hard to find, its hidden in the corner of a small strip mall with limited parking in the lot. We drove by this place 2 times before seeing the sign... if you were driving by the area last week, yup we were those lost tourists!!
(5)
kristen n.

Maybe it was because it was the end of the night, but the food was just ok. In fact the sushi tasted a little off, worse was the fact we asked to change out the maguro with something else. The waitress said shed have to check, what we got was the Imitation crab with mayo. I mean maguro is kind of pricy why exchange it with the cheapest thing on the menu, even tako would have been much preferred. The food was average and the waitresses were closing up so surprisingly even though it was pretty empty the service was slow. This all would have added up to a three star experience, till I got food poisening! I'd normally give this a one star but I am still not sure of it from them or the mangoes I ate a few hours before hand. Judging from the rave views maybe its better in the day time but avoid last call for sure.
(2)
LooLicious L.

Very good selection of small Japanese dishes; their sushi is very good. Prices are good. Their food is definitely above average but the parking situation is not the best, usually there is a wait for a table & the ambiance is very dull. Not a good "date" restaurant.
(4)
Stephanie I.

i usually don't write reviews on places that have been reviewed a gajillion times before me, because let's be honest, it's hard to have any original thoughts this far down the line. but to hell with it.. i'm going to review tokkuri-tei and you're all going to love it! seriously though, you're going to love it.. this would fall under my "holy shit" category of places to eat (yes, i will eventually make a list). tiny little hole in the wall place that's been there for centuries probably. service is fast and on it. what we ordered: yaki-tori geso kara age soft shell crab chicken gizzards clam soup (clear broth) natto maki w/ ume and yamaimo tokujoe sushi platter (unagi, uni, hokkigai, otoro, hamachi, amaebi, spider roll) nigori (unfiltered sake) habu shu (snake in sake/whiskey) echigo WOW. just wow. everything came out fast and tasted AMAZING. i love how big their portions are for their sashimis, they really don't skimp. we saw the table next to us order the omakase sushi and i'm definitely getting that next time! the platters are a bit too much to eat on your own so do what we did and share it with a bunch of sides. you won't be disappointed, TRUST ME!
(5)
Kalama K.

Wow. New favorite Japanese restaurant! Awesome menu choices. Wish they had more server staff though as they were slammed and had trouble catching up. We waited too long sometimes. There is an army of folks in the kitchen with somone overseeing the entire process.
(4)
Eva L.

I think it is a $$$ instead of $$. you can easily spend like 30 to 40 on sushi. The spicy scallop, spicy tuna are goodddddd. the non-raw dishes are okay. I think all the dishes which have fish will be good. The miso eggplant is good. i had the steam clams and the soup was yummy. i might come back or not....i think there are more sushi places that are as good but less pricy.
(4)
Tyler H.

tokkuri tei. i like this place. it is affordable, and the food is pretty good. the sushi, the skewers, the teishokus, all really good stuff (which is probably why they moved to a bigger location). the only reason why i give them 3 stars is because the servers often forget small things here and there. i am a pretty patient guy so it's honestly not too bad at all. do some work on an ichiko bottle and it's all good :)
(3)
Maile F.

I enjoy coming here because there are so many food items and sake to choose from and the sushi is awesome. I had the Joe sushi platter. Every piece was so fresh. The fish slices were so generous. That was the best tekka roll I've ever had. The geso yaki and the fried geso are going to be a repeat. The stuffed mushrooms were okay. The shira ae was a little overwhelming. Too much miso. Ahi katsu was just okay. The Tokkuri teishoku was delicious. Light and crispy tempura. Generous slices of sashimi. The meat was so tender. The service was excellent. The staff must be exhausted after the night is over. Next time I go back I want to try the Yose nabe and more sushi!
(4)
Julie N.

Thank God Julie and I still remember how to read a little Japanese because we almost passed by this restaurant as we were looking for this place. After a disappointing evening at Alan Wong's, we decided to go back to our roots and find a mom and pop Japanese restaurant near our hotel (Hyatt Regency). With the help of Yelp, we decided on Tokkuri Tei since it was less than a 10 minute drive. We both weren't too hungry as we were worn out from the intense sun here, so an izakaya was just what we needed. We had some cold tofu, spinach, yakitori and vegetable tempura. It was all delicious and under $30. If we were living in Honolulu, we would be regulars here. It's a very casual place and the waitstaff were all friendly. For all you damn tourists like us, this place is in a strip mall next to a Dave's ice cream. Just "mapquest" it and you should be able to find it. They valet park for $3, but since the dinner was so cheap, I gave the kid $5 and he looked pretty happy.
(4)
Kristen N.

This place is so awesome only if you make it omakase and go with great company! Forget rolls and nigiri sushi: go big and make it omakase. For about $250, three people ate comfortably omakase style, drank well, and enjoyed great culinary display. sugoi sugoi!
(4)
Mayu M.

I have to say.... YUMMMMMMMMMMMMY!!!! should i say... "my fave"... ok, so the staff is great too. i dont think there is a single thing bad about this place... everything is always good eats no matter what it is. this is definitely a place you have to go if you havent already. If you have, i know for a fact you just cannot keep away! need i say more? bon apetit
(5)
Jon L.

Lackluster. Everything lacked some luster there. The menu was super convoluted, and looked like it was written in the 60's... in Japan. We ordered usual sushi fare, I think we had some novel appetizers, but obviously they weren't that memorable. The walls were covered in writing from customers. COOL! NOT. Wall writing is reserved for restaurants that serve burgers, greasy food, or anything with large portions of beef. Not a supposedly upscale sushi joint. In fact, this place was just that, a joint. The food was OK. Nothing amazing, nothing bad. I've had some epic sushi back home in LA, and maybe sushi on the island just has a different style. Whatever was, this place didn't do it for me.
(3)
Michelle H.

Yummy! Of all the places I dined at on this trip, this was by far my favorite in terms of food. No frills, moms and pops shop. However the food was great! We tried the eggplant with miso sauce, salmon skin & silky tofu salad, assorted sashimi, and squid pancake. My husband (so weird to write that as we just got married) loved the squid pancake. Personally my favorite was the salmon skin & tofu salad! Pure deliciousness! The sashimi was pretty fresh too. Doesn't quite compare to my fav sushi place in New York, but this place was pretty good. The people here are extremely friendly, but that's how Hawaiians are. As others have mentioned, parking is almost impossible. Will def be back next time I'm in town.
(4)
Drew T.

All the best food is on this street or nearby in the neighborhood. The outside looks a little sketchy, but inside it's pretty SF homestyle Japanese food. Good prices and a lot of food made to order - even vegetarian options. More of a bar than a sit-down restaurant, but a decent hole-in-the-wall.
(4)
Teddy C.

Tokkuri-Tei Food: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Overall Experience: 4/5 Tokkuri-tei has been one of my favorite Japanese restaurants to eat at for many years. My first experience there was very memorable, mainly due to the delicious food that is served at the restaurant, and I have been coming back and referring many to eat there since. Appetizers: The food here is Izakaya style, with lots of delicious dishes to try! Each dish comes in small portions but that's even better because you are able to try more! The menu is very extensive and the waitresses and waiters there are more than willing to explain everything. Some of my favorites to eat are listed below: * Aspara Bata with Pork o This has been by far my most favorite dish on their menu! It is basically asparagus and pork sautÃ©ed with some kind of special sauce and butter. It is very flavorful and it is a must try! The portion is small, so for those who do not want to share, I would order one for myself. ;-) * Enoki mushrooms wrapped in pork o This dish comes with two pieces. Basically it is enoki mushrooms bunched up and wrapped with thinly sliced pork and grilled robata style. * Stuffed portabella mushroom o This is another dish that I love but cannot finish myself. It is basically a portabella mushroom stuffed with a risotto style stuffing that is very flavorful. Be careful of the red dots! It is not ketchup, instead it is siraccha rooster hot sauce that goes perfectly with each bite of the mushroom. * Fried butterfish with miso sauce o Another great dish that can be shared. There are 4 pieces of butterfish, tempura style and plated on a miso sauce that is Tokkuri-tei's style of miso butterfish. * Yamanaka o If you like ahi sashimi and grated mountain yams, then this is the dish to get! It is diced ahi sashimi mixed with grated mountain yams. Add a bit of wasabi and shoyu to it and it is a very light and simple dish. * Ahi sashimi o The ahi sashimi here has been by far one of the freshest I have had in Hawaii. Each slice of fish simply melts in your mouth! Can be pricey! * Volcano Roll o This dish is made with California rolls topped with spicy tuna and sprinkled with tempura chips. Just a warning, there is a kick to the spices with this dish. Very flavorful and it is another must try! * Hamachi kama o This dish is a popular dish for those who love fish! It is the under jaw of the hamachi fish and it is slowly grilled. This dish is pricey and only one piece is served, but the meat is very tender and juicy! Mix some lemon juice and shoyu to make a complimentary sauce for this dish. * Spicy Tuna Chip o Each order comes with one piece. It is a fried nori chip topped with spicy tuna and drizzled with tobiko and some kind of shoyu sauce. Very good if you like spicy tuna. * Various miso soups o There are 4 different types of soups to order from. The one I had was a fish soup that is non-miso based. The flavor of the soup is one of the best I have had and I love every sip of it. Another must try! Desserts: Sorry to disappoint you, but desert is not offered at this establishment. One of the downsides dining at Tokkuri-tei is the parking situation. There is valet service available, however for those who do not trust the valet service will have to park in the neighborhood somewhere and walk to the restaurant. I usually park further away because after eating there, a walk back to the car is what I usually need to help digest the food I ate.
(5)
Kym L.

3.75 stars This joint is definitely a fun place to go to when you're going out with a bunch of coworkers or friends for drinks/snacks... the beef tongue my gf ordered was really delicious.. I was actually conned into trying the beef tongue since "someone" told me it was just regular beef!!... But, you know what? after tasting it, I've got to say "I WANT MORE!".. the yakitori was also really juicy and tender (but not as good as the beef tongue)... they have so many selection that it's really hard to pick what we wanted... The manila steamed clams were alright... so were the sushi that we ordered... it was fresh and a good value for the price we paid... I guess I would give this place a higher rating if I went with an empty stomach instead... I didn't get to sample a lot from their menu... =( Also, I didn't like that the (mandatory?) valet parking for this place cost $3.. Oh.... we came around 7pm and there were plenty of seats available.. even when we left, the restaurant still had about 5 tables empty .. I'm not sure if there tends to be lesser customers during the winter... but i don't think you need to worry about making a reservation or waiting in line if you're interested in checking this joint out.. I'll definitely visit this restaurant again when I return next year...
(3)
P H.

Oldie but goodie. Food great, new larger loc not as intimate. Missing the family feel. But we still love tokkuri-tei.
(4)
William M.

Oh my Gawd, this is the best place in HNL for sushi! I have never had such fresh and delicious Japanese food in my life. Friends had told me this place is a treat, and it truly was. Everything on that extensive menu should be tried. I ate here 3 times in a week and nothing but great food.
(5)
Jamie S.

$3 Valet only and it's parked in the front parking lot. I'd rather find street parking and save my $3 to use towards Tutti Frutti next door. We ate here on vacation based on the ratings on yelp. I think it's overrated or maybe we ordered the wrong items. The menu was overwhelming and sometimes not very descriptive at all. The Otoro sashimi was overpriced ($45) so we didn't order it. We ordered stuff shitake mushroom, yellowtail collar, albacore sashimi with veggies, spider roll, agedashi tofu, and ahi tuna tartare poke. The stuffed shitake mushroom was delicious. Everything else was ok, nothing palette shocking in any way. It reminded me of the chain japanese restaurants out here in LA. Would I go again, if in HI? Prob not.
(2)
Paul K.

Hideaki "Santa" Miyoshi yells "Konichiwa Paul Klink-san!!!" Izakaya style food Hawai'i style. Delicious A La Carte Japanese food with hometown Aloha! Tell them Paul said "ALOHA!!!" Highly recommended! Love the new location!!!
(5)
Sonya L.

Everytime we come, there's never a line and we get seated immediately. The food is always fresh, innovative and never slow. The sashimi is to die for!! Best yet, try some of their poke dishes - not your traditional ahi poke, but definitely delicious. We always walk to this restaurant, but notice that there is valet parking. If you don't mind walking, park up the street and walk to the restaurant. Treat yourself to some hot sake instead.
(5)
Tom W.

Pros: $3 Valet Small and Cozy with Cool Attitude! Sushi, Rolls, Sake, Unique Beers AND Yakitori Good Service Decent Price Cons: Limited Seating
(4)
Monica L.

This place was crowded, but we managed to get 2 seats at the sushi bar. Not the most comfortable chairs.. but I tried to get past this and the fact that I was so close to the person on my right. Hey, it was 8:30pm on the day before July 4th. I'm here for the food, right? Funny thing is that because the windows are plastered with memorabilia, its hard to see inside. So when we entered, the kitchen is to the immediate left... kinda surprising because it was a bit of an awkward place to put their entrance. Based on everyone else's recommendations, we tried the "Joe" nigiri plate. There were different sizes of nigiri plates and this one was about average (in price and size). $23 for 8 pieces of nigiri and a few little ahi sushi. We also got the spider roll and unagi roll (about $10 each roll). Man, I gotta say, this was the BEST SUSHI I've ever eatten. The sushi rice is perfect.. w/ just enough rice vinegar. The quality of the fish was unprecedented. I mean, all my life, I thought I was eatting relatively good stuff...(i.e. Sushi King, Yanagi, etc)...but I was wrong. This place, by far, has the best quality ingredients and the prices are a little high, but not ridiculous if you can have "melt in your mouth" sushi. The most interesting was the salmon roe nigiri... those little eggs explode in your mouth! I've never had it before.. so it was amazing tasting something like that. Also, the raw scallop nigiri.. it was really fresh.. so different from what I've had in the past. I can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Dan F.

I never expected this place to have a huge menu selection. It was so hard to order something so we decided to get the 2 of the Omakase Sashimi and the regular Omakase. Sorry, the Omakase was alright to me. The Otoro tasted fishy and wasn't appealing. It didn't send me to heaven when I ate it. The baby abalone pieces were disappointing as well, they're just small and unflavorful. The rest of the sushi were okay, kind of similar if you were to eat sushi at Yanagi's, Sushi King, etc. I guess I've been spoiled after going to Mitch's and trying their Omakase. I thought Mitch's was more expensive until I ate at Tokkuri-Tei. Though I can understand why some people think this place is really good, especially if it's their first time ordering the Omakase. Still, it's actually a nice place to hang out and eat.
(4)
Michael Edward J.

I will have to say that I have not had sushi in about 4 years!! This place changed my mind! I had my farewell party here and I not only had amazing friends to enjoy it with, I had an outstanding dinner!! This joint was out of control and I can not wait until the day I get back to Hawaii to enjoy the service and food!! Snake Juice!!! You'll see what I mean!
(4)
Hanna M.

The sushi was not good. We got takeout. It was dry. I would not go there again, but if I did I would eat there and not get take out again.
(1)
n c.

If you have never been here before, be prepared: most of the dishes here are sold ala carte and the menu isn't very user-friendly. Don't expect too much assistance from the staff, either. They are in too much of a hurry to offer suggestions. I stopped after one beer, but that was only because our server never came back to offer me another. We ordered the fried-rice stuffed portabello mushroom, which was overloaded with oil and tasted horrible. We also ordered a pork ginger dish, but the staff decided to wait until they served the rest of our food to tell us that they ran out of that item. The sushi was good, but it would have been nice to have wasabi (guess you have to order that?). Doesn't it seem a little ridiculous to have valet parking for $3 ("not including gratuity") at this place?
(2)
Brian Y.

After growing up in Hawaii and now returning back 3-4 times per year, I can't believe that I've never eaten here until last night. My expectations of this place were sky high by the time we were seated. I first heard about Tokkuri-tei in December on a flight to SFO. The guy I was sitting next to (not a local) said this place was his favorite restaurant in Hawaii, and even better than Sasabune. So I'm thinking: 1. how have I never heard of this place, and 2. does this guy know what he's talking about? I get back to SF and call my friend (who like me grew up in Hawaii) and ask if he's heard of this place. His response: "probably the freshest and best fish on the island". So we got back to Hawaii a couple of days ago, and I ask a third friend if he's heard of Tokkuri-tei. His response: "of course, that place is one of my favorites." So with 3 independent assessments of this place as one of the best on the island, I was expecting nothing short of amazing. And they delivered. We had a table for 6 and ordered a whole variety of sashimi, including salmon, hamachi, mirugai, hirame and uni, along with a bunch of other sides. Everything was fresh as expected and delicious. Some highlights included the spider poke and uni (nice and creamy). Another plus is that being that this place is in Hawaii, its totally casual (shorts and slippers are ok). They have $3 validated parking, but its also pretty easy to find street parking. Note that they don't take reservations for seating after 7, so if you have a big group either plan to eat early or wait (we waited 10 mins, hardly even an issue). This place is now on my list of places to hit every time I'm back in Hawaii.
(5)
Janelle M.

Tokkuri-Tei is an excellent choice for a meal. It's located just outside Waikiki (walking distance) on Kapahulu Avenue. I can't say I'm the biggest fan of Japanese cuisine as I don't eat fish, but everything was really good. My boyfriend enjoyed his sushi and tempura, while I enjoyed a portabella mushroom stuffed with sticky rice and a delish aioli. The roasted green tea is a delight as was the service. Highly recommended.
(4)
Jen K.

This place was so horrible. I vomited whilst eating. Just kidding. Everything was great. I called at 430ish to make reservations for 830. They told me they don't take reservations for after 7. Wow, better be good. My Japanese uncle recommended this place. At first we were gonna go to Gazen on Kapi'olani, but Japanese uncle said Tokkuri-tei has more selection and is a little cheaper. And I'm American so I like variety and cheap. We were supposed to meet with our friends at 830, but Bf and i got there around 8 because I heard parking would be a biatch. And biatch it was. I had to park a block away up the hill on Ho'olulu. Tokkuri-tei has valet parking (for $3?), but the car I was driving was ... not valet-able. I'll leave it at that. Having put our name down at 8, we got a table RIGHT at 830. I was staring at the menu posted on the wall outside the whole time I was waiting. In the future, I'll go here on a weekday, no earlier than 830. When we sat down, several other tables opened up. The restaurant is small and a little cramped (Japanese people are compact), has a short bar seating area, and fairly large bathrooms, considering the size of the rest of the place. They have a huge selection of sake, shochu, wines, and hard liquor. Bf and I each ordered Oni-something sake, a very dry, full-bodied drink. It was awesome with the izaka because everything we ordered was so crammed with flava. They put a glass shot glass in a lacquer masu box (small wooden sake box cup) and pour the sake until it overflows into the box. So its like a six ounce drink. Our sake was $9 each, I think. We ordered: - hamachi kama. Possibly the best I've ever had. I don't know if I saw it on the menu, but I read all the Yelp reviews and was prepared to chow on some kama. It was so fatty and awesome. If I know a place has hamachi kama, I'll order it. I need to know who has the best. - shishamo. $4 for two. Shishamo always good. - teriyaki creamy tofu ($9). This was one of the bigger dishes, but I so could've finished it by myself. It was so good. The tofu is like battered and pan-fried on the outside (like Chinese) and drowned in a sweet, light teri sauce. One of my favorites. - ankimo liver ($9). Very reasonable price for ankimo, I think. I'd order it more if it was always that cheap. It was prolly like a golf ball sized portion drowned in a ponzu sauce. One of my favorites of the night. For dessert, all they had was sakura mochi (my favorite kine). We ended up going next door to Dave's, the best ice cream evar. Tokkuri-tei closed at 1130 on this particular night and Dave's closed at 10 so we had to hustle over to get our fix. I agree with other Yelpers: the menu is cheeky and big. Service was good. There was always someone around to see if we wanted to order more/ spend more money and my water glass never went empty. For the four of us, the bill was $127, which is really not a good gauge. Bf and I had two drinks more than our friends and we prolly ate twice as much. This place is so close to being on my Hawai'i Elite 10 list, but I think I'd have to frequent a place in order to put it on that kind of pedestal. This was but my first time ... be gentle.
(4)
Marisa A.

Went there for dinner on Saturday night and had great food. The best dish we ordered? Miso butterfish tempura...da bomb!!!! The new locations is so much better. You don't feel like you're sharing your meal with the table right next to you. They actually could fit a couple more tables in if they wanted. Staff is on it and food is still grrreat!!!
(4)
Sarah K.

Yummy and tourist free! (except for us :) ) This little hidden gem is a delicious spot to find and everyone there is so helpful and kind. I have eaten at a few Izakaya's in LA before, so I was familiar with some of the menu, but this was the first time my date had been to one. Our server was very helpful and made sure he liked everything he ordered and knew what was in it. I had a sashimi plate, the veggie tempura (my date doesn't eat sashimi), some miso, and a bite of the udon soup. It was all great. A little more expensive than I would have liked, but not too bad.
(5)
Yb W.

Tokkuri-tei serves classic Ikazaya fare in a kitchy but unique setting (the walls are studded with notes signed by notable past diners). The menu is extensive, and additional options are posted on the wall. The ingredients are quality and the preparations are authentic. It seemed to be popular with both locals and tourists. 1. Spiker poke: fried soft shell crab and tuna roll in a vibrant sauce. best roll ever! 2. Miso butterful: fish tempura in a smooth miso sauce 3. Sashimi "Joe": platter of very fresh sashimi. came with sweet shrimp and uni. 4. Ika-Yaki: crispy and filling squid pancake. 5. Hamachi Kama: best hamachi collar I've ever had.
(5)
Lynn T.

this used to be my favorite place! now that they have moved...I don't think we should eat here unless it's a super slow night. their service was chaos! I don't think they are used to running a larger space. servers were everywhere. it seemed they didn't know which table to go to next. food was handled by anyone and everyone. we had to leave. as I was leaving I could hear people cancelling their orders. the wait staff should have sections or something. As soon as they figure out how to serve their customers better I will be back for sure! I love the food but can't stand the service for now! this place seems to be losing it's charm... :( please retrain your servers!!!!
(2)
Lia F.

Food was great, but no one told us it was BYOB when we made reservations :( Service was a little on the slow side even though it wasn't a busy night. Hence only 4 stars. I recommend the stuffed portobello mushroom (my fave), the yaki onigiri, enokimaki, grilled corn, salmon skin salad.
(4)
Iffat B.

My friend got me take out from this place and I was so disappointed. The sushi was gross and I was starving!! If food doesn't taste good when you're starving then it must be really bad!!
(1)
Kimo S.

Be prepare to wait for a table, but it is soooo worth it. I recommend this place to all my friends and clients after having been turned onto it myself a year ago. I was a patron of Yanagi sushi for many years until I discovered that A) they are operated by Korean and B) Yanagi is just so nondescript these days. I want a sushi restaurant run by Japanese and have been coming here, Maguro-ya and the sushi restaurant at the Pearl City Zippy's. Tokkuri-Tei is by far my favorite for a hole in the wall restaurant with a monster line-up of great dishes. Take a friend, take a date... take a client, they'll all love it.
(5)
Rose O.

Always love it here. Excellent food and great service. Toro was extra fresh and melts in your mouth. Butterfish with miso sauce was flavorful. Salmon with tofu is always my favorite.
(4)
Maasai K.

My first Japanese restaurant in Waikiki. It is a small unassuming place with customer signatures pasted on the walls. It reminded me of Dojos in NYC. The waiters were attentive and Japanese American with little hint of Japanese culture. If you didn't see there faces you would look up and expect to see a white girl. Not that I am complaining. Culture is a powerful thing. Any-who - it was a bit of a dive but not in a bad way (as in not dirty, but worn). The funny part, they asked if we had reservations, but the place was pretty empty, so my friends laughed at this comment. 2 hours later it was full though. Moving on. The food... I ordered the Unagi Don, mackerel and albacore sushi pcs. My food was very fresh and really excellent. I have had a lot of albacore and this was truly the best - same with the mackerel. The others ordered grilled squid legs, which I tasted and thought was excellent. It had a light smoked flavor and was tender too. Overall, I think it's a go!
(4)
Doug ..

it was such a mixed affair... $50 for a bottle of iichiko ? how come i have to pay 35% more than when im in SF, when im half the distance away from the manufacturer... the salmon skin salad is a must. i like chicken gizzard. SKIP the DEEP FRIEND butter fish. its greasy.
(3)
priya r.

Best hamachi and salmon sashimi I have ever had? Great prices too. Awesome local joint, but walking distance from Waikiki hotels.
(5)
Miss J.

My last night in Oahu a friend took my fiance and I to Tokkuri-Tei and it was absolutely delicious! We ordered the California roll with spicy tuna on top (which they gave a generous amount), dynamite roll, fried nori chip with spicy tuna on top and grilled grilled collar...all to die for! It was one of the best meals and for 3 people our bill came out to $107 which also included beers and other appetizers. This is definitely a place that I will be going back to every time I visit Oahu! I can't stop thinking about the amazing food! You must go and try it!
(5)
David C.

We discovered this gem on a recommendation from my friend's colleague. Great tasting, fresh generous pieces of sushi and rolls for very reasonable prices. I highly recommend it.
(5)
Jenny S.

This is the BEST sushi I have ever had and definitely one of the best restaurants on the island. I sat at the bar and let the sushi chefs order for me. It was INCREDIBLE. We ate shrimp, liver, and all of the daily specials. Every single dish was exquisite! I highly recommend sitting at the bar and going with the chef recommendations. Ask the prices along the way so you don't get carried away like I did!
(5)
Bill B.

Great low key sushi, not fancy but very good.
(4)
Fatima D.

Renowned as the best japanese restaurant on the island by the locals... i honestly don't have any comparisons, but I was genuinely more than satisfied! Somewhat pricey but certainly worth it. The only few gripes that my company may have had were that at least two items they selected on the menu were not available.... maybe they're that popular!? Everyone did seem to enjoy their dish/sushi!!!
(4)
J K.

I came here based on a recommendation of a local and the yelp reviews. What a MISTAKE! None of my fried orders (i.e., ama ebi shrimp heads, spider roll, etc.) were fresh from the fryer...they were room temperature and the texture of the batter was bleh b/c they had been sitting out for a while. My friend and I spent extra money for the omakase sushi option...again, a mistake! The only thing different about the omakase v. the other sushi combinations was that it included a roll...A ROLL! No legitimate sushi place would even serve rolls, let alone include one in the omakase. Furthermore, the sushi sou-chef was so cheap that he gave me half a roll when the omakase was supposed to include my choice of ANY roll. I was exciting about dining here b/c it had been described to me as a "neighborhood authentic Japanese sushi place." Definitely not worth the money or the experience.
(2)
Denyse M.

Mauna kea roll is bomb! A really good hole in the wall Japanese restaurant! Kind of hard to get seats though.
(4)
nick b.

Went here our first night in Waikiki. It was about 3/4 of a mile from the Marriott. I'm really glad we went. The food was good, the service was also very good. There was alot of Variety. I agree it was a local joint. I think we stood out as tourists. If you like good sushi I strongly recommend this place!
(4)
Byoung Kyu S.

This place is awesome! Plenty of selection to choose from and the prices are very reasonable. The staff is pleasant and very attentive. Been here twice and was pleased both times. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Rosalie A.

Sushi is soooooo Onolicious! Be sure to make reservations!
(5)
Edmond K.

I like the Decor, the menu is extesive lots of variety for seafood & non seafood eaters! the liqour selection is very decent wine , beer, hards, & usual japanese beers & sochu, sakes, seating area is very comfortable Loved it! food was Delicious! i definately will go back!
(4)
C M.

I dont know why this place has such good reviews. It was not good! I was starving when I went too. All the sushi just had a weird taste to it. The dynamite roll was not dynamite, it sucked. This places flavors were just not good. The host was rude too, and treated us poorly because we didnt have a reservation.
(1)
Puna K.

A favorite izakaya in honolulu. Very extensive menu, offers most of the basic staples of japanese izakaya fare plus sushi, yakitori and a variety of rolls. I always always get their buta bata aspara, grilled rice bullets (yaki onigiri on a stick), tofu salmon skin salad, negima (the best skewer), gyutan (beef tongue sliced thin and grilled), tako wasa (raw octopus with wasabi appetizer), and amaebi sushi. Dishes are tapa style so portions are small and meant to be shared and eaten while drinking. Ive found most things on their menu to be good in addition to what i normally order.
(4)
Joo S.

this is one of my favorite japanese izakaya-style restaurants on the island. unfortunately, the last time i went there for a friend's birthday, the service was noticeably bad compared to the top notch service i'm used to over there. our waitress forgot several orders, which was pretty obvious because ALL of our sushi orders didn't come until we had to ask for them midway through dinner. we ended up canceling our hamachi kama at the end because it was taking too long (over an hour), which was unfortunate because their hamachi kama is delicious! our waitress barely came around to check on us, which was also bad for business because my friends can drink! the service was so bad that i was pretty embarrassed about raving about this place. aside from the sole bad service experience, i'd give it another go for the food and the authentic japanese ambiance. i like that it's casual and laid back; kind of reminds me of hole-in-the-wall izakaya/sushi spots in japan but just bigger. perfect place to sit down with a bunch of friends, drink some beer/sake and munch on some tsukune or homestyle nikujaga. hits the spot!
(4)
joe g.

I had eaten here years ago before they moved locations. On my return recently I was told to go, sit at the sushi bar and ask for Ray. OMG! Simply amazing experience. The food is excellent and the service attentive and considerate. I totally recommend you give them a try. Details: Chef asked if we wanted to order some thing in particular - or let him suggest. Now, I do not recommend this if you are a sushi "weenie." If however, you are at least somewhat sushi experienced and adventurous I wholeheartedly recommend this. He started us with bluefin tuna - buttery and succulent. Then I mentioned I liked unagi. And unagi sashimi appeared - so pretty the GF insisted I take a picture of it. Fabulous. Then shrimp appeared looking like little lobsters. My GF hates shrimp - never eats it. She loved this. Then Oysters. I Fear and Loathe oysters. These were incredible. I made an exception and it was fabulous. Then Mackerel sashimi with deep fried fish bones and choice of dipping sauce. We loved it. I would normally never try these types of things, but as he fed us and we chatted more and more I came to trust him. Then came a weird moment. I mentioned how I had tried Uni years ago and hated it. And they laughed and said if one has a bad Uni experience they are scarred for life. That was me. My GF had never tried it and didn't want to. Then the Head Sushi Chef gave us a small taste of Uni. Hmm, no refusing a gift of head chef, who had been listening in an commenting as we went along. WOW. Just as they said - sweet and creamy with a hint of "ocean" on the back. I was officially unscarred. Then he finished with Hamachi belly which was maybe some of the best fish I've ever had - melt in your mouth, amazing color and texture. And a frozen Strawberry filled with condensed milk for dessert. The food, the conversation with the chefs, the experience...made for an incredible evening. I cannot recommend them strongly enough.
(5)
K K.

I've eaten here in the past and the food is good. Went back on 2/21/09 and I must say it just isn't the same. The price to portion ratio is not balanced. Granted if the quality and taste is above average then I don't mind paying the extra money but honestly the taste was OK. Nothing to make you say "wow, that was ono". To make sure it wasn't only 1 dish that made me think the food wasn't as good as previous visits we ordered the following: - Kara age Chicken - small portion and taste was OK - Bata Scallops - 3 pieces for about $9 but worth the price - Spicy Tuna and Natto Roll - I've had better at "fast food" sushi places - Yakitori sticks - Shiso, Bacon with Mushroom (ONO) and Chicken (OK) - Yaki Musubi - Stay away.. Look like a hot dog on a stick - Salmon Musubi - Nothing special. $3+ for 1? yikes! - Fried Goyza - This is actually worth your money. ONO Parking is valet only ($3+tip) or street parking (good luck). Overall it's a good place to go for drinks and food but don't go on an empty stomach.....
(3)
Mark S.

I am going to preface this by saying that I am a picky eater, and when it comes to trying new places I'll always have reservations if I don't immediately see things that I know I can eat--sushi and seafood in general not being any of those things. Having said that, I was definitely nervous heading over to Tokkuri-Tei for the first time for dinner. I decided to give this place a shot after we got there and looking over the menu outside for a good five minutes and finding a few things I know I could handle(like I said, I'm picky). It's a nice little place. The decor is very interesting, they have 8 inch squares all over the place with messages from customers and friends all over the walls. Like others have said, a lot of the orders are small portions so that they go good with drinks. I settled for udon, miso, gyoza, chicken skewers, and of course a bowl of rice. I was really pleased with the portions and the quality of the dishes I ordered. I definitely thought it was a good amount for the money we paid. The udon wasn't anything special. The tofu miso on the other hand was pretty darn good, the taste was spot on and wasn't cluttered up with any other funny ingredients. The gyoza was amazing as well. It was cooked perfectly and just the right amount of crispy. The dipping sauce they had for it was really vinegar-ery, which I liked, it gave it that little kick. My companion had a plate of vegetable tempura which was a lot and with the exception of vegetables she doesn't like, said was very good. She also had spicy tuna and spider rolls which she said were equally as good as well and worth the amount we paid for them. Overall a quality experience here on our first visit. The service good, the only negative thing is the parking situation, something that other Yelpers have mentioned. I don't know now this place gets off valeting their parking at night. They practically take up the whole parking lot for themselves and I don't know how the other businesses here get any business with this restaurant taking all the parking at night. Having said that, I HATE to have to valet my car when I can just park it myself. So I just parked it on the street nearby and saved myself $3 + tip. Other than this, a solid four star experience.
(4)
Thomas W.

Food was good but service sucks. Not child friendly. Only one high chair and it has no seat belt.
(2)
avalon e.

Not sure what to make o this place. Definitely not 100% authentic Japanese but I guess it's 100% authentic Hawaiian japanese. Was a bit concerned it might be touristy (tourist trap?) when I saw the valet parking outside. Not so. 90%+ of clientele local gaijin or nikkeijin but the food didn't disappoint. A bit pricier than bistro shun but portions somewhat make up for it. I'd classify them as $$$ instead of $$. Stick with the signature rolls and squid pizza. It's all good.
(5)
Jerrel C.

ummm have some IKA YAKI.!!!!!!...it dances for you.....then have a shot or two of the HABU SHU WINE! it makes you dance for the IKA YAKI! yey is all i can say!
(5)
Henry L.

A friend suggested this place for our craving for sushi. The service was excellent and the quality of the fish was by far the best I've had recently. Wife and I shared a dinner combo that included miso soup, salad, sashimi, steak, tempura (shrimp, and veggie), and some rice. In addition we ordered another side of sashimi. We can't eat as much as we used to, but this filled us up pretty good.
(5)
Art T.

Had dinner with my buddy the other night. The service is pretty good. I had a medium size sashimi and shared an order of spider rolls with my buddy. The spider rolls were so so because the soft shell crab was probably pre-fried and cold. I definitely had better one at other Japanese restaurant. Nonetheless, the sashimi was very good. I would go back again, but won't order spider rolls from there though.
(3)
Ninja S.

This place made me feel like I should be a Japanese salary man out with my boss, or a halfsey asian girl looking to spend some dudes money. Sadly, I am neither of those people, so I came to sip some sake, slurp some shochu, and eat various things on sticks. Delicious sushi can be found here. Their sake list is amazing and priced accordingly. I have seen some of them priced higher elsewhere, so don't whine too loudly. I totally felt some of the "you're a whiteboy, we serve you second" thing, but I didn't care. I was having a good time. If I was a wise man, and I'm usually too busy making an ass of myself to make time for it, I would sit at the bar and get to know the master of the house and then hit him up for the $50 omakase option on the menu. That would be my plan. Too bad I'm stupid. This was a cool stop for the whitest non-albino guy in Honolulu, so win for me. Parking is a real challenge, so have a plan.
(5)
Jose A.

1of 5 top sushi place on dis island
(5)
Jesse W.

8/20/10: Dinner with a couple friends, wife and baby. Baby lasted the entire 3.5 hour meal without waking up, perfectly timed reservation! We arrived to an expected packed house. Thanks friend for making a reservation. Friend is a regular and took care of ordering all the food and sake. We had a wide range of goodies from fresh water eel hot pot, to salmon skin salad (delish), tinnie bbq'ed weinnies, requisite spider roll and assortment tempura (love the shiso leaf), steamed cold spinach salad, steaming hot fried tofu and good company all around. Valet parking (don't even bother looking for parking). Yummy at $40/person.
(5)
Brandon B.

Expensive but highly delicious and great atmosphere
(5)
CJ C.

I've always loved Tokkuri-Tei and have followed them through their various moves. This latest one to the old Ranch House/Sam Choy's location above Hee Hing is great. Tokkuri-Tei's food is consistently good, and fortunately, that has not changed. Unfortunately, I have to agree with a couple of the yelpers that the service left much to be desired. The restaurant wasn't crowded. Our server seemed very inexperienced, never smiled, forgot one of our orders, and then took over 15 minutes to get us our check after I asked for it. (It was only after she saw us hugging Kazu--who was dining there with his family and not working--that she scurried back to bring our check.) I don't recognize her, so she's probably new. But her demeanor and service left so much to be desired. I'd come back again for the food for sure, but they'll need to step up their service to keep their otherwise good ratings. On to the food: Hamachi sushi--beautiful generous slices over well-seasoned rice Sake sushi - loved the fresh, fresh salmon Scallop tobiko mayo sushi - lovely, tasty portions Mirugai bata - tender, buttery morsels -- just wish there was more! Beef skewers (my only beef, pardon the pun) - tasty, but quite pricey for the two small skewers Shrimp tempura - crispy and fresh! We would have ordered more, but her service was poor. Note: other wait staff seemed to have it together. Just sat in an unlucky spot, I guess.
(4)
Amy S.

THE best cha wan mushi I have ever tasted. The flavor was perfectly balanced and delicate. Such a labor of love!
(4)
Margaret T.

I knew I had to try a sushi restaurant if I was visiting Hawaii and boy, I'm glad I did. If you think The Cheesecake Factory menu is long, you haven't seen the menu from Tokkuri-Tei. It's not only extensive, but it's funny! I can't remember the names of the dishes we ordered, but the Ahi Katsu was really good as well as the Spider Poke roll. Service was great, food was delicious, and I read the most romantic proposal news article posted on the wall.
(4)
Mia F.

This is one of my all-time favorite places for Japanese! Gotta get the following: eggplant miso, tofu cream sauce, poke rolls, hamachi kama, chicken meatballs, and any sushi/sashimi....lots of MU sake too! Staff is very nice also!
(5)
Lynn S.

My favorite resturant by far, somewhere I can always recommend to a out of town guests and in town alike, and be sure to know they will enjoy themselves. Small hole in the wall joint, you walk in and while you sit literally arms length to the next person, it is what makes the place special. Walls filled with guests who visit or have frequented the place (if you look I have one too!) What's good? You should ask yourself what isn't and I dare you to find something on the menu that would qualify. Still, my fave's are: Ikayaki Spicy Cori Tofu Creamy Tofu Stuffed Portabella mushroom Wasbi Chicken and the sushi with the little capt'n crunch like crumbles on it. Say hi to santa san and the staff for me! Save room for the Nigori!
(5)
Rita L.

Just came back from dinner w/a bunch of friends! Pretty good! The menu has soo much to choose from! I would love to go back and try more! The miso sauce to me is a little bit too sweet, but still tasty! The tempura looked tempting but I just wasn't in the mood for something fried! I did like the clam soup even though I thought it was overpriced for like 8 clams, it was yummy! The boys love the sake! The server was very knowledgeable about the sake! Great izakaya place!
(4)
Peter A.

This is a great neighborhood spot for great food and good energy. The place is always bustling with activity and the expansive menu provides options for every mood and taste. The sushi from chef Kazu and his associates is exceptional and always very fresh. The rest of the dishes range from noodles to small plates (Japanese tapas) that can be ordered in succession to satisfy any hunger. They removed my favorite - the small plate of kal bi short ribs - but others I like are shishito (sweet hot chilis), rib eye steak, spinach gomaae, and a petite portion of zaru soba. The ambience takes some getting used to. The young ladies who serve always seem frantic and uniformly speak in a loud comically whiny tone, but they work their butts off to take care of their customers. Santa-san, the stoic manager, doesn't seem to crack a smile for anyone or any reason, but he runs a tight ship and food and drink get where they're supposed to be. I can't imagine a visit to Honolulu without stopping in at Tokkuri-Tei at least once. Parking is all valet and the security guards aren't very forgiving if you arrive and take up one of the spaces reserved for the other businesses. The valets are courteous, friendly and efficient. Reservations are only accepted until 7pm, after which you could end up with a long wait outside in the parking lot before a table or sushi bar spot comes available.
(4)
Sofa K.

My Haiku to the waitress at Tokkuri Tei Oh amazon asian waitress no bra and nipples so pert Eye contact impossible Wife kicking - shins hurt Five stars for the Hamachi and the nipples.
(5)
Morgan R.

The food was good, but the service was terrible. The poke was truly amazing, my sushi roll was good. It is unfortunate that the waitress was so rude.
(3)
Susan F.

Gets really hot... I was sweating. But the sushi here was really fresh, service was pretty good, it is crowded sitting in this little restaurant, but I thought it was worth it.
(4)
Retired B.

Extensive menu, too bad Im not familar with all those items. I tried the hyotan teishoku ($19) with came with yaki tori, sashimi, ebi tempura, rice, soup, salad and sakura mochi. I was so full eating it all! Couldnt take it back to the hotel, ya kno. ^__^ The yaki tori needs some improvement though. My sushi was good. Didnt care too much for the sakura mochi. Service is good. A lot of Japanese customers- a definite good sign.
(4)
scot o.

ugh! terrible! new space sucks! no intimacy. the amazing salmon they had is so-so now. so disappointing. the lights are too bright, the room is tooooo big, and the set up is TERRIBLE. what a bummer from our favorite to probably never again. :( bigger is not better.
(2)
Derek T.

All I can say is WOW! Awesome food. I had a simple dinner of Maguro Nigiri and Kake Udon with some recommended Sake and it was awesome. Something so simple tasted so good.
(5)
Alyssa K.

The best dish I ordered was the portobello stuffed with rice. Great service. Super busy, and the waitresses work really hard. The following tasted too sweet for my liking: - Japanese style salad - dressing too sweet - nikujyaga - sweeter than my grandma used to make it I have an aversion to sweeter than necessary food (of course, according to my standards). I think I gotta give this place another shot and order food that's no where near the sweet side of flavors.
(3)
Shannon L.

Their new location isn't as cozy, but the food remains fabulous! The small deep fried nori chips with the sweet spicy chili sauce... wow. And the sake... get the chef's favorite!
(5)
APRIL R.

I went here for lunch about a month ago.. Based on the reviews I wasn't as impressed as i thought i would be. It was ok.. Nothing to rave about. I wouldn't mind coming back but wouldn't go out of my way. The restaurant itself isnt much to look at. I went for lunch, the seating was horrible. It wasn't very busy and I swear they were closing at the 3 pm on a wednesday. Wtf? They rushed us out. Idk. It was dark. If your going to literally be a hole in the wall typa restaurant, atleast serve amazing food And make ur location more enjoyable for people to want to go back. This place was also not easy to find.
(2)
Denise T.

Salmon skin salad was amazing! I don't like raw onions and my first instinct was reject. Glad I didn't. Will definitely be back for that salad (*sigh* now i'm craving it). With sake of course. :)
(5)
Sean M.

3.5 hours...thats how long we stayed at Tokkuri-Tei this past Sunday, our last night in Hawaii. I don't think words can adequately describe how incredible this meal was. Andrea G and I walked in around 6:30 not knowing what to expect. We picked this place based off of Yelp reviews - our culinary experiences in Hawaii center around local spots only. Chain restaurants will not get my vacation money. We mosied on over to the bar and pulled up a chair directly in front of who I'll refer to as the "roll chef". The plan was to go balls out - drinking copious amounts of sake and Kirin while sampling the best Nigiri available along with the occasional specialty roll. I expected to spend a fair amount of time propped up on my stool but what followed was decidedly unexpected. After surveying the menu briefly and scanning the room for a white board for some tasty treats (fish listed there is usually the best) but found a rather basic selection and no white board. What we did find was an award winning Spider/poke roll which we promptly ordered. Our attempts to stray far from the most basic Nigiri were flatly denied as the restaurant had no Hirame, Aji or Butter fish. Disappointed but undaunted we went with the basics. I figured that maybe the lack of specialty fish was a good thing. We would be forced to order the most standard Nigiri - Maguro, Hamachi and Sake - allowing us to truly test the merit of Tokkuri-Tei. If you can't serve up solid Tuna, Yellow Tail and salmon you're SOL in my book. Our spider/poke roll came out in seconds. Very flavorful and original, it was a winner. For some reason though, the nigiri was MIA. Scracthing our heads, we wondered what was going on and decided to go with another standby - a spider roll (mistake #1). I assumed the nigiri chef was just slow and incompetent (mistake #2) and that we would be relegated to eating rolls all night. Now don't get me wrong, the spider was solid. I have a penchant for recently fried soft shell crab and even though this had been out of the fryer for a few minutes, it was delicious. The real problem is the fact my stomach has limited capacity which I really wish I'd had later in the meal. This is where things got interesting. As we polished off the poke roll the nigiri chef started popping his head up now and again asking if we liked certain items - chiso leaf, salmon roe and onions. We were a bit confused because we had anticipated some basic run of the mill sushi (mistake #3 which ties into mistake #2) but went with it - I like all 3 of those things. I must apologize for the lack of pictures - Andrea G will post them soon - but I'll continue anyway. Simply put, wow. The wait was explained when we received a custom plate of nigiri. Shoyu marinated maguro and hamachi, sake served two ways - sprouts/onions/lemon zest and another with thin avocado slices and salmon roe. Test passed - bring on the motherload. What followed was an orgy of special orders. Toro topped with quail egg and uni, mackerel served Osaka style with chiso and lemon zest. Monkfish liver wrapped in tuna and cucumber, Uni and tomago (egg good o rly? YES) on and on and on it came. Again, pictures are necessary to do it justice. Now, this isn't your typical experience. I don't think anyone in the restaurant was having nearly as much fun as us (I'm sure sharing the sake with the chefs had something to do with it). Over the course of these 3.5 hours we formed a bond with our chefs that can only achieved under the most optimal circumstances. We cracked jokes, exchange annecdotes, learned about their goals and devoured their creations. I truly believe this was a once in a lifetime experience and I doubt that it will happen again. Neither of our chefs will be working at Tokkuri-Tei much longer and tracking them down is a challenge I look forward to - the food was that good. Conditions may change but, ultimately, the fish was excellent. Freshness and quality are the backbone of every sushi joint and Tokkuri-Tei passed the test with flying colors. So, even though you might find two different chefs standing behind the counter, go. Sit at the bar (tables are for suckers..or large parties), take a chance on something new and enjoy the ride. ...and don't forget the sake.
(5)
AhLin C.

Def. not as good as Mitch's. Their salmon sashimi tasted super salty. Didn't know what was it, but def. didn't taste as fresh. Mitch's is def. better. Their other items were pretty good, esp. their cooked items like the wasabi chicken skewer, their steamed egg and the firecracker salmon was pretty good too! Unfortunately, you can prob. find many restaurants like this in the SF Bay Area. The only difference is that they have a lot of cooked items here that are quite traditional and can't find it unless you are in japan. If you are looking for a sushi place in Hawaii, this is it. Solid, good food, and medium pricing.
(4)
Noel W.

Basically, the perfect gourmet hole-in-the-wall. Vast selection, quirky menu/wait staff/owner, malleable experience.
(4)
Alma I.

Very good food. Just a little tight for a party of 8. It gets really crowded.
(4)
Kaili N.

omg, i can relate to olivia's review. i've been here once w/2 of my friends. we ordered 3 draft beers. our server came back w/just one beer and said that the glass he was holding was the last of it. first of all, wtf? i seriously said to him, "you're joking, right??" unfortunately, he wasn't, so i asked him to bring a bottle of beer and 2 glasses for my friends. but who does that? why not bring back zero draft beers and just let us order bottled beer or something? aaaannyway, the food was pretty good from what i remember, but the beer incident is more memorable. it was funny because i was talking to my auntie about this place and she says, "oh, i didn't like that place...i went there and they were out of coke. how can they not have coke??" she drinks a lot of coke to say the least. the food was good enough so i'm willing to go back again to see if they have improved their beverage situation. but they only have one more chance!
(3)
Steve D.

Definitely a local favorite, you could tell as soon as you walk in. Lots of locals and staff know each other on a first name basis. I've been here once before a few years back but did not recall too much about that visit. We decided to give Tokkuri-Tei another try due to all of the positive reviews here on yelp. Dinner time was pretty busy so I recommend making reservations. My gf and I each had Tenzaru Soba (cold soba with a side of Tempura), fresh Sake Nigiri (Salmon), and spicy scallop handroll which came out to $38.74 with tax. These are some of the usual dishes I order when I go out to eat Japanese food so my taste buds know this kind of food. The food was not bad but a little over-rated in my opinion. Likes: The tempura was good and was fried nice and crispy. The spicy scallop roll was good, fresh scallops, nice balance of hot sauce and mayo. On the other hand, the fresh salmon nigiri was okay, it was a nice size cut but not much flavor. Soba was okay, a little overcooked and bland.
(4)
Tara C.

A tiny gem with amazing Japanese food! I love izakaya food and this place has a HUGE menu! BTW, for those who don't know, izakaya are the Japanese equivalent of pubs- casual bars with fast, fairly inexpensive food (usually of the fried variety ^_^). I only add that because neither my sister, who lives in Hawaii, nor my Japanese-American friend knew what they were. Anyway, I went here on my last night to meet up with a friend from high school who now lives in Honolulu. After researching all the reviews of izakaya places, I chose Tokkuri-Tei and I hoped it wouldn't let me down. To start, the place is easy to miss and rather nondescript both inside and out. Its in a tiny mini-mall with almost no parking, so there are guys out front who offer $3 valet. I went with the cheap and sneaky option, and parked in the lot behind Starbucks nearby. Don't be confused when you open the door- if you are right in front of the cash register, you really did go in the right way. The place is small but cozy and the staff is friendly and helpful. I wish we could have tried more items off the huge menu but there were only 2 of us... ^_^ Some must-try dishes are: the salmon-tofu salad, the mixed tempura, and the squid pancake. The salad is ginormous so be prepared for leftovers. The tempura is perfectly crispy and generous. Lastly, I absolutely loved the ika yaki (squid pancake). It was sorta similar to an okonomiyaki- chunks of squid fried in a savory batter, and topped with giant bonito flakes, teri sauce, and some sort of spiced mayo. Fun hint: watch the giant bonito flakes move and dance on the hot pancake right after its delivered to you! I didn't think the prices were bad at all, especially considering the quality of ingredients and the amount of food we received. So come prepared with a big appetite and you will be a happy camper!
(5)
BLT T.

Came here for dinner after hearing great things from friends. Overall, was not impressed. Food was just ok, service wasn't excellent and the general atmosphere was lacking. Maybe it is the new location and transition, but I was disappointed.
(2)
Ryan M.

My favorite place for dinner in Hawaii...I love the sushi, hamachi kama, cori tofu, salmon skin salad, ichiko, and everything else.
(5)
Joy C.

I wish we didn't sit at the sushi bar because the sushi were sliced too thick and eh...it was alright. We ordered one izakaya plate, chicken with grilled onions and that was not really grilled enough. The Kare karage (deep fried fish...in this case a tiny flounder fish with 2 pieces of meat) was kinda ridiculous. Parking is very limited here but you can take The Bus to the restaurant. It's on the same street as Leonard's bakery!
(3)
Rob M.

Very disappointed in this place. Went in alone and was seated at the sushi bar. The glass on the case in front of me was so old and frosted over that I couldn't see the fish or what the sushi chef was making. The menu is so long as to be overwhelming. So I asked the server for a little guidance. She recommended the stuffed portobello. It didn't sound that good, but she seemed enthusiastic. So I went for it. I asked for something salad-y too, just to get started. She suggested the Nalo greens (which I had last night at another place) or the Japanese salad, so I went for the Japanese salad. What came out was an iceberg lettuce salad with a little seaweed and too much dressing. The stuffed portobello was awful. It was mounded with fried rice that had corn in it and then put under a broiler. The whole thing was enough for 4 people. By the time I ate half I was no longer hungry. What a waste. Take that thing off the menu! And tell the servers to be a little more thoughtful about their recommendations. Worse than the mediocre food was the service. Aside from the ridiculous recommendations, my server all but ignored me for most of the time I was there. She let dirty plates sit in front of me until the next course came out and I had to move the dishes. Then, to top it off, the lights went out. There was a huge storm. I must say the sushi chefs were very calm and kept the orders moving out. It made me wish I'd skipped the small dishes and just ordered sushi and sashimi. Anyway, I won't be back.
(1)
Sally T.

it's always a good sign when the valet guy tells you right away there's going to be at least a 30 minutes wait. valet was only $3 by the way. :) the menu is HUGE but if you've never been there like us, i would just ask the waitress to suggest a few dishes you should try so you're not ordering some rolls like you normally would at any other japanese restaurant. this is what our nice waitress suggested: (i don't remember any of the names on the menu but i'll give a close description) 1) spider poke with ahi, salmon, ikura, and masago. it was VERY good and definitely something i've never seen before. 2) seaweed nachos-- it's pieces of nori tempura with melted cheese, tomatoes, avocado, and some sort of sauce drizzled on top. the nori was super crunchy and it worked very well with the cheese. weird, but in a good and yummy way. 3) squid pancake--again, not sure of the actual name. this one was good, but not my favorite of the evening. it was sold to us as something similar to a korean seafood pancake but with just squid instead. however, this one was covered in a lot of some kind of sauce i don't know and bonito flakes. personally, the way the bonito flakes "move" around on the pancake when it arrived made it look like maggots and i was kinda grossed out. but, mind over matter. 4) beef tongue skewers- YUMMY! it tasted like beef. again, mind over matter. 5) pork and mushroom skewer- HANDS DOWN MY FAVORITE! it's grilled bacon wrapped mushrooms on a stick with some sauce (ponzu?) it was cooked perfectly and the sweet juices from the mushrooms combined with the slight saltiness of the bacon with the ponzu sauce was heaven! 6) sushi combo: fresh. delish. best yellow-tail i've ever had; it melts in your mouth. 7) steamed clams in sake broth- very simple. just a few clams in a clear broth. i'm glad the friendly waitress suggested these dishes because it was the best japanese meal i've had in recent memory. good food, good service, cool interior. it's definitely worth the wait. :)
(4)
Tai T.

Went to this place based on reviews of Yelpers. I got to admit, it was one of the best meals I had while in Oahu. Cool whole in the wall vibe and you can see the great local following. Make a reservation if you go to assure seating. They have the typical cast of nigiri and rolls, but I was really impressed with the cooked food selections. We had this Salmon and Tofu salad that was excellent. It doesn't look too difficult to make... I'll be trying to immate it soon. :) Thanks Yelpers!
(4)
Tyler D.

This place is good for the price, but I like other izakaya places better (gaku and nonbei). I used to think it was the end all be all of great food when it was on Sheridan, but I don't think it maintained the level of quality (or my tastes became more refined) when they moved. There are some original dishes here though, and it really does have the izakaya vibe to it. All in all, it is a good spot, and it is more affordable than most...I had to think hard about giving it a three rather than a four
(3)
Jayme N.

I love this place. In the izakaya style, their dishes tend toward the smaller side - but that just means you get to order more. I especially like their salmon skin salad and the chawan mushi. Their menu is quite extensive and has a sense of humor.
(4)
Hillary J.

great food - really great food, good location, easy parking. ok service and a bit pricey for my budget. but i will return for sure.
(4)
Tania P.

I keep going back trying to like this place... The food here is good, but I just cannot get over how dirty the place is! The walls... The table and seats... I dunno... It's not that much cheaper than gaku or imanas either...
(3)
Sher E.

Yummy sushi and love that they have iichiko here.
(4)
Donna K.

We've been coming here for years before it moved to its latest location. First time we've visited sinced they moved bcse heard that the service was lacking. Figured by now they had improved... NOT! We did not get 3 dishes that we ordered. finally had to call the waitress and ask about it. no luck, 30min later no dishes. so asked to take it off the bill. Waitress comes back with a adding machine tape with no detail or proof of what they're charging us. Were told if we "needed" to know what we're charged for we have to follow her to the cash register where she can go over our bill in detail Huh? Bad service, waitress never around, bad atmosphere, loud, noisy with a drunk woman yelling at the bar and loud drunk old people on the table next to us. Food is so-so. Our favorite dish stuffed portobello mushroom was just 1 mushroom and 3/4 of the size they used to serve. For the prices they charge and the service/ food you get, it ain't worth it! no quality control, too bad, it used to be a great place to go.
(2)
vanessa a.

the sushi here is good but not quite worth the wait. it might have been me ordering the wrong thing or the fact that we got there kind of late and and they had last call for food in the middle of our meal so we didn't have a chance to order other food options. the menu is huge so there are tons of different options. I'd like to go back when i'm in honolulu again maybe earlier so i can order many more dishes and really give it a go.
(3)
John B.

My wife and I liked this place so much that we came here twice for dinner in our 1-week trip to Oahu (something that we almost never do). The place is packed with Japanese tourists; they must be doing something right. The monkfish liver/uni roll was to die for. Most of their modern/Japanese-bar food was seasoned right and very tasty; for sushi/sashimi, you can go to other places in Oahu for that. Overall, for what the restaurant is, it's as good as it gets outside Japan.
(5)
D K.

My favorite "fun times" experience. Can't go wrong with the beef tongue, salmon skin salad, enoki maki, bintoro with ponzu...the options are limitless. Sake, Beer, Santa-San Habushu and Kazu's delectable delights will have you in need of a designated driver on every occasion, be safe! Tutti-Frutti just opened up next door (used to be Dave's Ice Cream) and the best way to please a wife that's pissed off because I'm piss-drunk is Acai flavor Tutti-Frutti yogurt. OISHI!!
(5)
Leimalani F.

Break on through to the other side! aw-yeeeeaaaaahhhhh! Tokkuri-Tei history in a nutshell: Originally a teensy weensy snuggle with your neighbors sushi and izakaya joint on Rycroft known for fantastically fresh fish and traditional ambiance. Moved to a Kapahulu location that lost the ambiance, kept the tiny chairs, and focused on new-age sushi fusion with lots of fried menu items (boo). Fast forward to sleek modern location in the old Sam Choy's with ample space and a bigger sushi bar that has renewed their focus on high quality ingredients and thoughtful presentations. BEST TASTES OF 2011 (for realz): Seared Big Island ahi belly nigiri: Two huge pieces of torched ahi belly sitting atop perfect pin cushions of vinegared rice and dusted with Hawaiian sea salt. Love at first bite. No need shoyu. Please feed this to me before I die. Raw dragonfly squid with miso: Baby squids that are only served when in season. I was a bit worried about these little guys, but the squish of squid paired with sweet miso sauce were little bites of yumberry. Not at all fishy or overpowering. Kohada nigiri with homemade shrimp flakes: Kohada is a traditional marinated fish that Ryuji (sushi chef) makes. The fish is wrapped like a burrito around sushi rice, chiso, and homemade shrimp flakes. Vinegary and sweet, this was a refreshing change from typical nigiri sushi. Would definitely eat this again. On a most recent visit we were treated to: Fresh Hawaiian snapper with freeze dried lemon salt. No need shoyu, so unique and fresh tasting. Spicy tuna crunch roll decorated 4 ways: Spicy, sweet, sour and salty. GENIUS!!! Spicy included slices of jalapeno, sweet was topped with bonito flakes and a teriyaki type sauce, sour included some ume paste, and salty had ikura eggs. Check the pic! Natto and caramel sauce on ice cream: FTW!!!!!!!!!! Best natto combination of all time. Not on the menu, but should be added as a regular item cuz I'm eating this every time I come from now on. Other eats of note: Fresh snapper sashimi with diced konbu, green onions and ponzu. Delicate and fresh. Need I say more? Ikayaki: Pretty greasy for my taste as are all the fried poke varieties. I like to taste my high quality seafood please :) Hamachi kama: Can't go wrong! NOTE: All their nigiri sushi is right on the money and some of the freshest you can get on the island. Late night hours are less crowded (and more fun!) Skip the fried stuff and save room for the mouth watering fish. Good sake selection and cheap house sake. Valet park your car in the garage under the building. And most important: Trust your sushi chef and buy him beer!!!
(5)
nick g.

for the price, it was meh. I wanted to take my gf out for something nice, so we went here. Honestly, I'd had better for cheaper. My ratings regarding price are dependent on what you get. If I go to McD's, I know that for cheap, I'm gonna get crap. With expensive stuff, I expect a little more. The service was alright, you have to do the Japanese thing and call them over frequently, but other than that, very polite and friendly. Still recommend if you're looking for a nice place to eat.
(3)
edward k.

A pretty fun place for the young adults who have disposable incomes. This is not your traditional Japanese restaurant where you sit down for some sushi. This place is almost like Japanese tapas where you order a bunch of different stuff and then share over the course of beers and sake. They serve a wide variety of food here and it all comes out pretty quickly. The staff is nice and pretty friendly. If you are in the area for some casual fun then make your way here.
(4)
Jodi S.

I am a poser Japanese. According to many of my friends, my lack of love for seafood makes me less of a Nihonjin. Sad. Fast forward to dinner that one of those friends has promised me due his flaking on me multiple times for coffee. 3 flaked coffee dates = free dinner for Jodi. So he picks Tokkuri-Tei, forgetting that more than half the menu is lost on me. *sighs* Lucky for me, Pork with shiso leaf skewers, Gyu-tan, and pork wrapped enoki are delicious here. All cooked well and seasoned just right. The pork with shiso leaf was my favorite, really soft and flavorful. The gyu-tan was thin and peppery. Someone must've read my mind and knew how much I love pepper. I ordered some kind of teriyaki cream tofu dish, which was pretty mediocre, but was quickly forgotten once the pork wrapped enoki hit the table. Friend ordered some kind of special of the day fried fish of which he wolfed down in like 5 minutes. As I starred at his feeding frenzy in awe, he shruged and said it was good. Must've been. This new location serves alcohol. Yay for Sapporo! Izakaya is always good with cold beer. Boo to still having difficult parking. I'm nitpicky and don't like leaving my car with valet. But trying to park on Kapahulu during rush hour skyrocketed my blood pressure. Service was fantastic when we arrived at 6:30pm. One hour later, and much more crowded, our server became a bit of a stranger. Good thing I still had my beer to distract me. Nonetheless, Tokkuri-Tei has potential and is a pretty good place for seafoodies and non-seafoodies alike.
(4)
Kelly M.

Started by ordering sake. My BF likes dry sake. 5 minutes after ordering, the waitress came back to tell us they were out the one he ordered. So he picked a second sake. You guessed it, 5 minutes later, the same waitress was back to tell us they were out of that one too. Third time was the charm. Had numerous small dishes -pork and asparagus, squid pancake, chicken yaki tori, liver yaki tori, ahi poke, grilled eggplant. Squid pancake was my fav, pork and asparagus was his. Everything was good. Nothing was stellar. All-in-all a solid pick, but nothing to knock my socks off.
(3)
Audrey N.

*nori-chos *sakekawa tofu salad (salmon skin) [half order is enough for two!] *miso butterfish roll *Kilauea roll First time here and listened to reviewers. These are so good. Trust me. Everything had tobikko on it, I noticed. I'm not complaining though! I will be coming back.
(5)
Jenet Y.

So yummy!!!! Ankimo baby! And salmon skin salad! What?! Oh and you have to order their so very delicious salmon gyoza!!!!
(5)
Lyn C.

Called in and ordered to go so we could just eat it back at the hotel, so can't say much about service. The food though was delish! Salmon skin salad- First off, I LOVE salad, and this was my favorite dish here. The crisp salmon skins and silky tofu blew me away! You must must must get this!! Hamachi kama- Solid: fresh and delicious. Squid pancake- very interesting concept if you've never had it before. It's completely covered in bonito flakes and sauce. If you like squid, then good, you can skip this next part. If you don't like squid, don't worry because it doesn't leave you with an unpleasant seafood/squidy taste, but it does have a chewy texture... and if you like pancakes, then this isn't going to be what you expect at all. I read a lot of reviews saying to eat everything while it's hot. Since our order was to go, it wasn't as piping hot as it could be, but everything still turned out well!
(4)
Laurie P.

My cousins took me here for a girls' dinner out. This place used to be a Sam Choy's years ago and I kept thinking of the old layout while I was having dinner. Servers were moderately attentive and even though the restaurant was empty seemed in a hurry to take our order. We ordered ume-yaki, oyster shooters, miso yaki eggplant, miso butterfish, 1/2 order hamachi sashimi, 1/2 order maguro sashimi, salmon roe sashimi, uni sushi, some stuffed portabello mushroom thing, kaarage chicken, and amaebi sashimi. For three people we ordered a ton, but the portions were huge and well worth the $72 PP it ended up costing ( there were 3 of us). The half order was 4 large (~1oz ea) slices of fish. The amaebi was beautifully prepared, and they were generous with the uni. the butterfish was a new prep for me; tempura battered slices deep fried and served on a plate coated in the miso sauce. It was delicious, but I don't think that batter and deep fying really enables you to taste the inherent butteriness of the fish. The oyster shooters were delicious and perfectly balanced with the ponzu sauce. The food was really great and worth the money. Service was lacking, but the food really eclipses that. What is great is that this place seems to be able to handle large and small parties with ease. Even though we could have gotten more attention - there was a good 20 min stretch when all the servers just disappeared off the floor, or so it seemed anyway - the servers were really nice. We ordered hot tea after our meal was over and my cousin's mug smelled like a hot, wet rag. They were really nice and ended up bringing us all new mugs and fresh tea. Also, they really need to add dessert to their menu. Something more than mochi, especially since Dave's ice cream closed next door.
(4)
Cely H.

What's with all the hub-bub? I don't quite understand. Although I won't turn down an opportunity to come here (i.e., friends want to go), I have never ventured to this place myself and I haven't taken any of my military friends/friends and family from the mainland here. The old location was very cramped and my big booty couldn't even fit in the chairs. At least the new location is bigger and has big people chairs instead of the kind you would find in elementary school. The last time I came here I decided I should do my homework on Yelp to see what dishes were good. Maybe I was just getting that part wrong. I made sure to order the salmon skin salad and the chicken gizzards. While there, I tried the beef tongue, nori chips, bacon wrapped enoki mushrooms, and a bunch of other stuff I can't remember because it just wasn't that memorable. Everything was just "alright." The chicken gizzards I would not order again. It lacked seasoning and when I boil some at home for my cat, I bet it tastes better. When you're comparing a restaurant to cat food, I think it lost all chance.
(2)
Gail S.

I went for the first time because of all the photos of the food posted on yelp, it looked so delicious I wanted to eat them all! The service there is very good, all of the waitresses/waiters are very attentive. The food is excellent, I can't say which my favorite is yet until I go back for more but so far everything I ate there was delicious!
(4)
Malynne S.

oh, how i love tokkuri tei! I made another visit last night and, like always, I was not disappointed. Tokkuri Tei has plans to relocat to a new location. Check facebook for updates. But so far, word is they'll be moving to Ranch House's previous location (above Hee Hing). Perfect for me! After a fullfilling meal I can waddle back home!
(5)
Joy N.

This is one of my favorite izakaya places to eat at!!!! My girl friend and I treat each other to our birthday dinners here, and the occasional craving. My top three favorite dishes are: tanuki udon (tempura flakes floating in the broth is just heavenly), tan shio (how can you go wrong with this?!!!) and the sabi yaki (I love the combination of the wasabi with the chicken!!!! I like the new location, there is more room and parking. You don't feel claustrophobic here!!!! Service is always decent, and the hot tea is wonderful.
(4)
Zakary K.

My friend and I were out one night and wanted a bite to eat. I've always heard good things about this restaurant and decided that we should go here. When we entered, the place was PACKED with diners. Due to the fact that I forgot my atm card and most of my cash at home, we settled for a snack and ordered a few dishes. I ordered the Tofu Steak and Chicken Karaage. Let me say this, I would go back and have both of those dishes every single time! I love tofu, don't even get me started about the fact that it was deep fried. And the Chicken Karaage was moist on the inside, yet perfectly crunchy on the outside. The only downside to my dining experience was the decor at the doorway [a tad bit tacky]. Regardless of that aforementioned fact, I would definitely go back!
(4)
Justin H.

Great yakitori. Great drink selection. Very casual setting with good service. Their quirky food descriptions help add to the casual eating style. The food here really is great. I'm a big fan of their yakitori (epecially the ume and mentai ones.) Parking - they have valet parking downstairs whom are very courteous. But, street parking is free at 6pm so you can get a spot on the street at that time to save money...for more yakitori:D
(4)
Jessyca M.

Yuji is FABULOUS!! We followed him here from Zen-shu and he greets us with a hug every time we come in! Ask for Toroyaki and you will have the biggest food-gasm known to man. The Poke-chos are also really good! So sit at the sushi bar, make friends with Yuji, and thank me for suggesting the Toroyaki.
(5)
Krissy K.

A few months ago after a very satisfying dinner at Uncle Bo's, some of my fellow companions declared they were off to meet some other friends at the "snake juice bar." Intrigued by the prospect of Honolulu's very own Snakehole Lounge, I decided to tag along. The snake juice bar turned out to be Tokkuri Tei, a place I had visited frequently in its old location on Kapahulu. Since I had already eaten, I could not have any of the delicious offerings. However, I was easily persuaded into having a shot of habushu aka the "snake juice" with one of my girlfriends. If the cheers erupting from the males at the table (only one of whom was partaking) weren't enough to deter me, perhaps the waitress who brought over the jar of awamori with the snake should have been, with her declaration of, "Don't do it." However, I gamely (foolishly) downed my shot and then looked over at my girlfriend, who coughed while she clutched her half full glass. While I accepted fist bumps around the table, I wondered if I had made a mistake. At first, I felt pretty good. Then, I felt not so good. I ended my night in downtown where I felt...pretty good again! The habushu ultimately got the better of me, though, as I had committed myself to go tailgating the next day. I drank a beer in a pathetic hair of the dog treatment attempt, but it was no match for several hours of sun baking the cursed snake venom in my dehydrated system. I was unfortunately booked for yet another day of drinking the next day (the 12 step program is forthcoming), and I limped my way through that as well. I don't get hungover much in general and certainly not from a single shot of anything. A quick Google search of habushu at work the following Monday pulled up horror stories of people soiling themselves after consuming as little as 2 shots, so I suppose I should be thankful I escaped with something as innocuous as a little hangover. So fast forward a few months - I finally made my way back to Tokkuri Tei to eat! I met up with some buddies for a late dinner post Art After Dark. Thi L. and I stormed in quite starving and quite tipsy from all the wine we had been consuming on our empty stomachs. A brief rundown on the MANY items we (okay, mostly I) ordered: Enoki bata - Yum! I loved this. Thi L. and I monopolized it. Corn - I had a small nibble. It was good. Thi L. seemed to enjoy it. Kurobuta - Nice, crispy skin. Dragon Roll (?) - I don't eat sushi, so I can't comment on this. :p Agedashi tofu - I usually order this anywhere I go, but I've been disappointed with it a lot lately. Just okay, and I even left a piece behind. Tonkatsu - Just fine. Nothing special but well done. Yaki udon - Good, but not quite as hot (temperature wise) as I would have liked. It was also heavy on the won bok, which I like, but those looking for more noodles might be disappointed. Squid pancake - Everyone loved this but me. I give it a "meh." I think my friends were mostly enchanted by the quivering bonito flakes. Eggplant Dengaku - I did not like this and insisted it tasted like wasabi. Eric U. told me there was no wasabi in it at all. I'll blame all my pre-dinner wine for my taste buds misfire. I made him eat the rest of it. Portobello Mushroom topped w/Rice - This was just okay to me. I think there was some Sriracha artistically drizzled on the side, which I have to confess is not my favorite. Nori-chos - The winner. I would come back just for this. Everyone complimented my ordering skills, even though the waitress suggested it. I was honorable and did not take the credit. Okay, so 11 (12?) dishes for 5 people, one of whom wasn't that hungry may have been overdoing it a little, but we really didn't have that much left over. I wasn't drinking at this point, but I'd estimate that there were about 3 shots of sake and a few beers (NO HABUSHU) ordered; total bill including tax and tip was $180. I think that's reasonable. All in all, I still like Tokkuri Tei quite a bit. I think I had it a little bit more hyped in my memory, but the nori-chos alone are worth a repeat visit. Or who knows, maybe I'll go back and take another shot of habushu. ;)
(4)
Kristin W.

LOVE TOKKURI-TEI! They have a huge menu of sushi, japanese dishes and some random things. I swear once there was Rice Rocket for special. We got it just to see and it was rice on a stick. Idk. Random. The food here, pretty much anything, is so good!!! Cute, cozy restaurant. Parking is valet, even if they park your car like 2 feet away....valet. LOL. Oh, sooo good. So so good.
(5)
Janet K.

Updating my review since I tried more things. The Nick Jagger (stewed pork and potatoes), sushi (mirugai, toro, uni, and hamachi), prime-rib steak skewers, sauteed shimeji mushrooms in butter and shoyu, and of course, my favorite the NORICHOS were all so fricken delicious! When accompanied with an Echigo beer or an Iichiko oolong hi, the meal becomes perfect! Hence the five star rating. ^_^
(5)
Jacob N.

I first started coming here when they were at their old Kapahulu Ave location between Papa John's and Dave's Ice Cream, and have visited their new location on the second floor of the Hee Hing Plaza a couple of times. Although they now occupy the space of what was previously The Ranch House, with their spacious floor and paniolo decor, Tokkuri Tei has virtually redecorated the restaurant to look more like their previous hole-in-the-wall location with walls covered by all sorts of Japanese decorations and shikishi (paper autograph boards) signed by various celebrities who have visited the restaurant, but with all that extra space! On my last visit to Tokkuri Tei my friend and I walked in without reservations for dinner, and were promptly seated at the sushi bar even though the restaurant was bustling. It was a fun experience getting to watch the kitchen staff cook and assemble all of the various dished ordered by the restaurant patrons. It was even more fascinating to watch the sushi chefs constantly churning out all forms of sushi for the entire duration of our meal. I must admit that everything that I've eaten here has been delicious. If you're in the mood for sushi they have a variety of your traditional nigiri as well as your more fancy sushi rolls with names such as Rainbow, Tentacle and Caterpillar among several others. Some of my favorite things to order here so far are the Tan Shio (thinly sliced salted and grilled cow tongue), Any of the Sushi Moriawase (assortment of nigiri sushi), and the Asupara Buta Bata (asparagus and pork pan-fried in butter). I had also notice that they have natto ice cream on their dessert menu, but alas, they were out of it that night. I will have to wait for my next visit to try it. The only drawback to my most recent visit was that it took a while to get our bill after we finished our meal. It may have been because the restaurant was quite busy, and we were tucked away in the corner of the sushi bar area, but luckily after a little while the sushi chef flagged down the waitress for us, and we got our check. Parking is practically a non-issue here because there is the under-building lot which I think you may have to pay to park there, the First Hawaiian Bank parking lot next door, and ample street parking on Kapahulu Ave. Since you're probably going to be coming here for dinner the street parking will probably be free.
(4)
Alex R.

I will definitely be coming back here the next time I visit Honolulu. This place has an extensive menu, full of really good eats. You can think of any type of Japanese foods you'd like (or like to try) and most likely they have it. From izakaya style to udon, everything I tried was delicious I had a the hamachi kama (which took a little while to come out) which was DELICIOUS and perfectly cooked. The salmon skin salad was good as well, but I really enjoyed the hamachi roll, which I dont remember the name of but it had no rice. The udon was well done and didn't seem like it came from a box, and the beer on tap came in a cold frosty mug. I think they have valet, but you can drive around and find street parking as well. Service was VERY helpful, and very friendly.
(5)
Tuco A.

MY hands down Favorite Sushi place in Honolulu, Kaz & his Wife remind me of the little Japanese Mom & Pop owners in Japan who place freshness above all else. Love all their Food from the Sashimi to the Yakitori , and the Portabello Mushroom , obscenely good food here !!!
(5)
Esther Y.

Expect to spend quite a bit here, but fill your tummy with yummies! The menu is hilarious. They made random comments like "Caterpillar -- it tastes better than worm" or "Bicardi 151 -- Yikes! Do not sleep on floor." and more. I was so amused just reading the menu that I forgot to determine what to order. Luckily my friend was reading the menu and ordered for us. However, he was starving, and his stomach caused him to order a ton of food for us... Ahi Katsu (sweet & sour...pretty good) Eggplant Cow tongue (a bit too tough for me) Portabello mushroom (reaaally good, one of my favorites) Yaki udon (loved this too, great consistency and loved the shrimp in it) 4 different kinds of sushi nigiri including unagi, umi, roe (all the fish was super fresh, the unagi was my favorite!) Yes. All that for just the two of us. Pretty insane huh? And yes, the bill was pretty hefty. And yes, he paid (thank you!!!). =) Overall pretty good, some items are hit or miss, but if you know what to order, then you'll have a great time!
(4)
David C.

Honestly, if this restaurant was in SF it would be the best izakaya in the bay area. Ok maybe not the best, but seriously in the top 3. Salmon skin salad is one of the best things to eat in the world. Didn't try a whole lot of sushi, but we ordered some hamachi sashimi and it was quality! Also checked out some specials like salmon gyoza which was more like salmon ravioli. Not what we expected but still delicious. Menu is a little overwhelming, ask for help if you're unsure. Super casual and easy for kids and families.
(5)
Mei Hsin L.

All their skewers were nasty. Quality did go down. Sake sushi not good. But saba was good. It was cool of them to let me in 10 minutes before closing lunch time but after having those skewers, I wish they had just locked me out.
(3)
Kevin W.

A plethora (yes, plethora) of menu items, I'll rate them on a Yelp scale: 5 - Norichos. Nachos made from nori seaweed. So unique it's a must try. And gives illusion of healthy eating. Needs quality control as second batch lacked cheese and enough unagi sauce drizzle. 5 - spicy tuna on California roll. Love their spicy tuna. 5 - rainbow roll. They put alternating fresh salmon tuna and yellowtail on top, not bad whitefish or sad limp cocktail shrimp that you find on rainbow rolls elsewhere. 5 - portobello mushroom stuffed w sticky rice. Loved their sticky rice 4 - bacon w enoki mushroom skewer 4 - hamachi roll w truffle oil. It was good, but truffle oil is cheating. And I'd prefer the hamachi separate or without the truffle oil and alfalfa sprouts. 4 - chicken karaage - standard good. 3 - salmon skin roll - didn't like as salmon was cooked which I don't like. 3 - potatoes - fine but waste of space given other items.
(4)
Andrew D.

Great Izakaya! I came with one of my friends at around 10pm. We walked into the restaurant and were greeted by the staff and we were seated promptly. We had a couple of 'Elephant' beers, which btw packed quite the punch. We ordered the soft-shell crab, salmon skin salad(amazing) and oyster shooters. We wanted to try more menu items....but, we were full. I will definitely to be back to try the rest of the items on the menu.
(5)
Kim Y.

We sat inthe corner of the sushi bar, not our first pick of seating, but it ended up being the best spot. The sake menu was extensive and the scales fit the tastes. I love how they pour the sake glass in the square and let it over flow. I ordered my typical himachi yellowtail sashimi. I'm usually not a fan of salmon, but it jusy as butterly and flavorful as the yellowtail. of all the sushi I ate in 2 weeks in HI, this place was the best. Note: the bathrooms are outside and down the hall
(5)
Derrick V.

Had the Tokku-Joe combo with ameabi, otoro, hamachi, *uni, and a roll. Uni ran out so the chef gave us melt in your mouth sake and sake roe. All the nigiri were excellent. We also had hamachi kama, which was very tasty as well. This place is still top notch. House unfiltered Nigori sake came in a generous portion.
(5)
Rupert L.

Pretty good place good selection of seafood. Food was awesome. Good thing I can park at the bank.
(4)
Hmm G.

Omg, you have to eat here. It was recommended by a local and she was spot on. We ordered three rolls - I can't remember exactly which but they were SO amazing. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The ambiance is not the best but very authentic Japanese setting. Try it. So good. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
akiko c.

Love LOVE LOVE LOVE AISHITERU Tokkuri Tei! After months of finding this sushi Gypsy, we finally found him standing in front of us at Tokkuri Tei. I grew up eating Ryujisan's Masterpieces. From Yohei to Zenshu, Ryuji's charisma and his good taste in compiling different textures of sweet and salty goodness always adds an element of surprise into his food. I respect his hardwork and his strive to place his customers first before anything else. His passion transcends through his creations, and for people like me in the customer service industry can truly appreciate the amount of effort he puts into the restaurant. Love you Ryuji San!!!!!
(5)
Sheryl G.

what: one of the first izakaya-style restaurants in honolulu! something good: the food is phenomenal here! they have the best japanese food!! the sushi chefs are super cool and they make sitting at the sushi bar fun! i love watching the sushi chefs make all the sushi :) !! the service is really fast and the food comes out pretty quickly too~ i love this place! something not so good: it's a small place and this place gets seriously busy! get there early :) !! something to try: misoyaki butterfish & miso butterfish roll!
(5)
funopher c.

3.5 stars really. This place fills up fast. Seems like reservations are a must. We got lucky and there were a couple open seats at the sushi bar. Had grilled eggplant over miso sauce - OMG this was sooo good; it melted in our mouths! The sushi rolls were big - more rice in them than I'd prefer and wrapped too loosely (it shouldn't fall apart en route to my dipping plate and mouth), but the fish was fresh. If I had a bigger stomach, would've loved to try other items on their menu. Lots of choices. You get a nice view of all the action in the kitchen sitting at the sushi bar.
(3)
Steph L.

I love this restaurant! Fresh, tasty, and authentic Japanese food. The menu is extensive and a hoot to read. (Case in point: You can make your own sushi rolls. "Just tell our staff what you want. We are not Nazi") The service was friendly and there was no shortage of cute petite Asian servers in short shorts and tank tops ;) I came here on my second-to-last night in Oahu and was so amazed with the food that before I left the restaurant I made a reservation for the next night - I wanted this to be my last meal in Hawaii! Over the two visits I got to try the following dishes: The ANIKMO ( yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ ) was one of the best I'd ever had - so flavourful and melt-in-my-mouth! The requisite ponzu sauce was the perfect complement and helped cut the richness of the liver. My favourite dish was the IKURA ZOSUI ( yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ ), which was rice and egg in dashi broth topped with a buttload of ikura. The broth was light but flavourful and the egg added some substance to the dish. The ikura tasted very fresh and not fishy at all. (In fact, they were so good I ordered the ikura sushi the next day, yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ ) I loved the way they popped in my mouth and their brininess was the perfect addition to the dish. This was my kind of comfort food! The CHAWANMUSHI ( yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ ) was also amazing. The egg custard was flavourful and had the perfect silky texture. It also had a few ingredients (like bamboo shoots, enoki mushrooms) that I'd never seen in a chawanmushi. Out of the two eggplant dishes I had, the NASU DENGAKU ( yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ ) was by far superior. The menu describes the dish as "miso painted dish with eggplant" and the plate was literally painted with white, red, and dark miso - a gorgeous presentation! The miso was intensely flavourful and had the perfect balance of sweet and savoury. (A similar dish was the MISO PORTABELLO, yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ , which was incredible as well.) The GRILLED EGGPLANT ( yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ ) wasn't as good, mainly due to the very salty-but-not-much-else sauce it was covered in. Ditto for the GRILLED OKRA ( yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ ). The HAMACHI MISOYAKI ( yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ ) was pretty tasty, but the fish wasn't as silky and buttery as a black cod would've been. The STUFFED PORTABELLO ( yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ ), stuffed with sticky fried rice and mayo, was a little too heavy for me. Other dishes that were solid-but-so-so were the grilled MACKEREL PIKE ( yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ ) and YAKI TORI ( yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ ). I was disappointed the MISO BUTTERFISH MOUSSE ROLL ( yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ ) tasted like any other tempura roll with loads of mayo, tempura bits, avocado, and masago - the miso butterfish completely got lost. I also wasn't a huge fan of the grilled stuff on skewers. The BEEF TONGUE ( yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ ) was tough and sliced so thin that I didn't get much of the fattyness I love about beef tongue. The CHICKEN LIVER skewers ( yelp.com/biz_photos/3EH8â€¦ ) were the most disappointing - way too hard and didn't have much flavour.
(5)
Kimberly L.

Yelp pumped me up to the point of going into a frothing ordering frenzy. After two times walking out with my stomach pumped full like pillow batting, I declare Tokkuri-Tei a knockout winner. Ok, the ambience isn't romantic, elegant, or what anyone would describe as other than decent and down brown Japanese, but the little dishes of nose-twitching, eyebrow-lifting food leave at least one person at the table with one eye on the menu at all times. They have Japanese katakana quirk puns like the Mick Jagger (sounds kinda like the way to say meat and potatoes in the "foreign" Japanese way), dish names that make no sense, and a lengthy enough menu for you to just point randomly, hope for the best, and not be disappointed. I recommend anything fried (duh) and anything that sounds even remotely fun or intriguing. A chirashi named "Joe," anyone? Overall, surprising value (in a good way), and a yummy place to come with pals who dig on izakaya-style Japanese food. Get four people full for about a hundred bucks here.
(5)
Robert C.

Rating: 4/5 Date(s) Visited: 9/18/10 Food 5/5 Service 3/5 Atmosphere 4/5 Price 4/5 Everyone I've talked to had nothing but praise for Tokkuri-Tei and I must say that it doesn't disappoint. Their food is original and fresh, their atmosphere very casual and relaxed and their prices are reasonable for the quality of product you receive. However, their "only average" service felt me with a sense that something was missing from my experience. Food: Top-notch quality all around. The sashimi is the freshest I've had in a long time with a nice texture that melts in your mouth. When you bite into a piece of sushi, you know it was made only minutes prior because the rice is still warm and the fish is still cold. Tempura is light and fluffy, rather than heavy with the "crunch" overly battered foods typically take on. Their fare is also original, as I've never encountered most of their specialties before. Service: The service here is par. It's not terrible, but it's not terribly good either. They're attentive and patient and more than willing to explain things on the menu and maybe crack a joke or two, but other than that they certainly don't seem to go above and beyond. I guess this is due in large part to the fact that they're constantly packed, so giving individual attention to each table would be a headache and a half, but I feel like if they put a little more effort into this area, the whole dining experience would be greatly improved. Atmosphere: The atmosphere is very relaxed here. You could come here in shorts and a tank top and blend right in with the group next to you in business attire. The noise level varies depending on who you're sitting next to. If you're sitting next to the weekend crowd with beers, expect the waitress to ask you to repeat your order a few times. The dÃ©cor is an interesting mix of items from Japan and little square cut outs of autographs from famous people plastered on the wall. You could spend your whole night reading the tiles and never get tired of it. Price: The bill for two people ended up coming to $140 with tip, but since me and my friend eat buffet-quantities of food, you can certainly expect your bill to be significantly lower. The quality of the food certainly justifies the price, though.
(4)

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Address : 449 Kapahulu Ave
Honolulu, HI, 96815
Phone (808) 732-6480
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :10:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

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

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Tokkuri-Tei

449 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI, 96815

Tokkuri-Tei Menu

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