Aburiya Ibushi

Must get the oxtail soup! The meat is tender and the soup is light but still has a good amount of flavor. We also ordered the potato salad, the sweet corn, the cold tofu with spicy sesame minced pork, the beef flank and the aburiyaki chicken thigh in shio koji. I thought everything was pretty good! The only thing is the restaurant is a very short staffed so service is a bit slow. It took them 30 min to give us water after we asked 3 times. If you sit at the bar, you can see the chef grilling the meat and it’s pretty cool watching him.

Cool vibe. The food is great, and all cooked over the charcoal that enhance more flavor. Portion not too big, more like the tapa’s size for bistro. It’s little bit pricey.

The food was so good, but they advertised that the food was way bigger portion than it was and it was quite expensive for what it was. They still showed out on the window and everywhere. I thought they had the ongoing set dinners with miso soup ans tofu and everything part of the reason we went and we are so excited for that but then we asked for it and they said they don’t do that anymore which we were super bummed

Good place to hang and drink. Food quantity small. Everything is ok. Worth the try. If I need a place to talk and not too hungry and want some drink, good choice.

Humble but terrific aburiyaki (flame-seared) izakaya joint. Pork belly & oxtail porridge were hot & tasty! Friendly staff, homey decor (including fan letters from kids), & very reasonable prices. Fun Japanese pop music - great place to chill when taking a break from fancy tasting menus :-)

We heard about Aburiya Ibushi from a friend and decided to check it out. The restaurant was welcoming and lively, with a lot of action going down at the bar counter where the yakitori are grilled. We ordered a range of appetizers and dishes, with the Oxtail Soup Ramen being the standout. The broth was rich and full of flavor, and the meat simply melts in your mouth. Great experience, but note that finding parking is difficult and we had to find a random lot across the street.

We visited Aburiya Ibushi on 1/18, excited to try their highly recommended yakitori and authentic Japanese small dishes. Unfortunately, our experience was disappointing due to poor service. We arrived around 5:15 PM, shortly after the restaurant opened, and only two tables were occupied. A staff member saw us at the door and asked us to wait, which we understood at first. However, instead of seating us or giving us any further instructions, the staff began serving drinks and cleaning glasses, seemingly ignoring us as we stood there. I tried making eye contact to remind them we were still waiting, but they continued chatting among themselves and cleaning. Eventually, someone who appeared to be the manager asked if we had a reservation. When we said no, we were asked to wait outside. We did as instructed, but after waiting another 5 minutes without any acknowledgment, we decided to leave. It was a frustrating experience, especially since we had planned ahead and my daughter was tired and hungry after a long day. We had hoped for a warm, welcoming dining experience but were met with indifference. I understand that restaurants can have busy moments, but a bit of courtesy and better management of waiting guests would have made a big difference. I hope the management takes this feedback into consideration.

Found this spot through TikTok where someone was raving about its mashed potatoes. Reservations are recommended; it was hard to find an open slot. The restaurant was packed the whole time on a Sunday night. We got seated at the bar. There was enough space between all the diners. I liked looking at the drawings of the food on the walls and watching the Japanese news on TV. I enjoyed watching the chef make the meats on the grill too. We each got a chu-hi to drink with our meal. So refreshing. Jellyfish salad: Tiny, crunchy, flavorful! I could eat so much of it. Beef tongue: Portions were quite small. This was thin and delicious though. Tasted great with its accompanying sauce. Sirloin top: This was small as well but tasted high-quality. Went so good with just salt and some wasabi. Mashed potatoes: This is what we came for. Its texture was good and the star of the show was the curry salt on top. If I can figure out how to make it at home, I'd eat it with my mashed potatoes all the time! It was reminiscent of the mashed potatoes you'd get at KBBQ but with less mayo and less cold. Cabbage salad: This was sautéed (?), cooked in some way where the cabbage was soft but still had crunch. However, it lacked flavor. We ended up sprinkling the mashed potato curry salt on it. Oxtail soup: We ordered this last to end off our meal. It was hearty, the meat was soft, and overall a nice experience. I've only had Korean oxtail soup before and Vietnamese oxtail pho, so I was interested in trying the Japanese version. The service was super friendly. The meal lasted around almost 2 hours since things slowly came out one by one. We were still hungry afterwards though so we hit up the izakaya next door lol.

The staff were friendly and welcoming, and they were fluent in both Japanese and English, making communication smooth. The restaurant environment was pleasant--although the space is small, it is very clean and well-organized. Having been to Japan three times, I feel that the food here is somewhat adapted to American tastes, but overall, it still retains a fairly authentic Japanese flavor. Would definitely recommend for those looking for a good Japanese dining experience!

Hands down the BEST Japanese food I've ever had in my life. I don't normally rate places a 10/10 but this was absolutely 10/10. Everything tasted amazing. All dishes felt high quality and you can absolutely notice the difference in the way the foods been prepped and made. Though some food tasted a bit more average than others, it was still delicious. It was so good we had to come here twice during our trip. Ambiance was great, service was good. I loved the intimate and coziness I felt during our dinner. For how the food tasted and the price point, it is worth every single cent. I can't wait to come back when I'm back in Oahu! Potato salad: 11/10 Chicken karaage: 10/10 -best karaage ever Agedashi tofu: 9.5/10 Beef tartare: 9/10 Sweet corn: 9/10 Seared ahi: 7.5/10 Oxtail soup: 7/10 Cucumber salad: 7.5/10 Beef tongue: 7/10

Service, ambience, food all around 5 stars! Honolulu undoubtedly has some of the best food in this part of the world and our experience at Aburiya Ibushi was better than we expected (we had high expectations). As we were seated in the bar area, we enjoyed watching the food prepared in front of us. It really reminded of us of our time in Japan, particularly in shinjuku where yalitori stalls are prevalent. Everything and I mean everything that we ordered was absolutely delicious. The cucumber salad was refreshing, tangy and mildly spicy. The cold tofu was abundantly flavorful, savory and a beautiful umami balance. The mackerel was juicy, with a generous amount of meat. And the seared steak bowl was incredibly tender with the most delicious mushroom pilaf/risotto rice. My fiancé and I have agreed this was our favorite meal this trip and will become one of our must-eat destinations going forward. Also, shoutout to the servers and cooks for the amazing hospitality!!

If you're missing Japan, this is the place to go. Reminded me of being in a Shinjuku izakaya, minus the all you can drink (iykyk). Unagi bowl, mackerel, jellyfish, wasabi tako, and potato salad were all amazing. Can't wait to go back.

Haven't been to Aburiya in a long time, pretty much since they opened and only for lunch! Decided it was time to brave the lines and try dinner there! Went on a weekend evening and the wait was about 20 minutes at around 7:30-8PM. Since the restaurant opens til midnight, I wasn't stressed about not making it in time. A good mixture of locals and tourists there. They are short staffed on waiters so just be patient. Dinner time is great for parties or date night. Alot of pupu options to share over drinks, izakaya style. I ordered the potato salad (excellent! With kernels of corn and turmeric spice), grilled sweet Ewa corn (excellent!), beef tongue (my favorite of the night), cucumber tataki (excellent!), oxtail and egg soup (not bad), Aburiyaki - marinated and grilled beef flank (juicy but a little too sweet, tastes like kalbi with less fat), agedashu tofu and Kamameshi - grilled Shima hokke (fish with ikura and beans). I will say the last two menu items were my least favorite. I think they add too much corn starch on the tofu so the fried skin gets a little mushy. I would have preferred the beef or unagi kamameshi dishes. The fish and ikura was a little underwhelming. I would go back for the beef tongue and other small plates! Would definitely try the pork or chicken Aburiyaki (grilled) menu items. Might be more to my taste! I didn't really care for their oxtail soup either. The tender oxtail is braised well and the soup is nicely salted but the flavor is a little one note, not too much depth where you can get a little tired of the taste. Solid 4 stars.

The food was okay...nothing spectacular. We made a resy at 5 and were promptly seated. Their speciality is charcoal grilled meats. We tried the chicken thigh, which they are known for. It was tender but tasted similar to regular grilled chicken. The grilled unagi was the highlight of the meal, which was delivered in a beautiful wooden bowl with rice. I would recommend trying the ikura (salmon roe) with the grilled unagi. Salmon roe is much larger than masago and has a texture similar to popping boba. The oxtail soup was tasty, and I enjoyed the addition of egg to the broth. It had two large pieces of oxtail and a very mild flavor. None of the appetizers stood out to me. We tried five appetizers. The cold tofu with miso was silken and had a nice consistency but was a little salty. The tsukemono had very little flavor and not the traditional vinegar that I am used to.

Izakaya is a must if you're visiting Honolulu! Oahu has so many Izakaya places, and we've probably been to at least six by now in our short time here! For dinner, we stopped by here and they specialize in charcoal grilled meats such as steak, chicken, and pork belly. There's such a nice char and flavor to it that you can only get when it's cooked this way. Besides that, they have a bunch of smaller plates with my favorites being their jellyfish, tsukemono, and okra with ume sauce. Of course they have beer, shochu, highballs, and other drinks to enjoy to pair with your meal. They're located relatively close to Waikīkī, right off of Kapahulu, and I would definitely recommend trying it out! We came right when they opened at 5pm for dinner, but I would recommend making a reservation since they do get busy. Just one of the many Izakaya places to try when you're in Honolulu!

Came here on a friend's recommendation and DANGGGG IT IS GOOD! I don't think there's a single thing on the menu that I wouldn't order. I got the NA Melon Float having no clue as to what it was and I loved every second. It's basically a root beer float but with honeydew soda. Be warned that it's a spoon, not a straw! The potato salad was no joke. I wish I was eating it right now. I'm tofu neutral but the tofu appetizer made me a super fan. I wish I was eating it right now. If you're with a group, I'd recommend doing it family style. The service was fast and the restaurant had a good ambience which allowed for conversation without straining to hear. 6/5 stars.

We came here for a light dinner and some drinks and everything was great. We love everything we ordered. Our server she was so sweet and smiled all the time. Love the vibes! Love the open kitchen and the ambiance. Felt like we were in Japan

Aburiyaki... It's all flaming hot here and it's smoking hot! Aburiya Ibushi isn't easy to say but you'll easily fall in love dining here. Located in heart of Kapahulu parking is the luck of the moment if you're able to find one though we decided on a side street next to Taco Bell which we luckily found easily. As we dine on the whim we just stopped by and was happy they were able to take us though it was an hour wait which was very worth it and got a cute and cozy table...though if you're able to get the counter you can see the chef at work which is pretty cool. As this izakaya is filled with so many savory dishes I couldn't decide on one and got a few...Grilled Kurobuta Sausage, Round Eggplant with Grilled Ground Pork, and Ewa Sweet Corn. Yup ordered so I can take it home for later lol! The corn was the best I've ever had so flavorful and the char was done perfectly, Kurobuta Sausage was so savory and served with a scoop of potato salad and whole grain mustard, the grilled eggplant was something I've always enjoyed growing up and having it here was so nostalgic and topped with the grilled ground pork gave it that kick as it had some spice. Reservations here is very recommended which you're easily able to do directly on Yelp with a simple click on the time and fill out the basic information though a credit card is required to hold the reservation and as they're very busy and a small space but would definitely want to bring mom. Thank you!

Dinner in Honolulu, Hawaii... We texted each other: What you doing now? Are you hungry? Wanna go to Aburiya Ibushi? Now? How about 7pm? Where you going park? And that's how we finally got a chance to dine at this popular izakaya-styled restaurant on Kapahulu Avenue. We parked across the busy restaurant (on Hunter Street) for free because it was so late in the evening... and the street was empty. This is the street where Taco Bell is closed for renovation. I went in and asked if we needed a reservation. We got on the clipboard for 8pm. We wandered around for an hour until I was called on my phone. We were seated between parties. The cozy place was packed and kinda noisy and smokey... from the grilling of the open kitchen. I don't remember it being like this when I was here for lunch a few years ago. Daytime and nighttime vibes are very different! I ordered the Ikura Uni Bowl. It was cute and just right with some sesame seeds mixed into the rice. The green onions not only added color, but also provided a bit of a crunch. The Ikura was fresh and briney while the Uni was smooth and earthy! I ate everything happily! This was a unique, cool foodie experience with polite, efficient service!

If you guys are in Kapahulu roll up here for some delicious and authentic Japanese food! They got everything you would expect from a Izakaya in Japan and all the flavor profiles were on point! My favorite items were the beef tongue, Karaage chicken, and pork belly. We will definitely have to come back to try it all! Parking can be a little tight but if you're lucky you can find parking in front of the Izakaya or further down. The people and service were excellent.

I was referred to this place by a regular. So he gave me all the recommendations of how to have a good meal. We ordered the beef tongue, chicken karaage, cold tofu, house potato salad and the jellyfish. For two people it was plenty! Parking is on the street but it's not too bad since there's a paid lot at the beginning of the block if you need it. Inside it was nice and the servers were really friendly.

Had a great time at this little local gem. We loved every single thing we ordered, from the crushed cucumber salad to the fanciest grilled steak. Had a great little evening sitting at the bar watching the folks cook. They delivered the goods and put a spin on some favorite dishes, such as karaage chicken in what I'd call a Japanese chimichurri sauce. While our large chunk of juicy steak took a half an hour to cook, rest, and serve, we were amazed that it turned out perfectly. Will be back as soon as we can!

I initially liked to call this place a hidden gem but frankly it's so good that the word about this restaurant has spread like wildfire. The food alone will feel like you're in Japan. Quality, presentation, and flavor are definitely things they excel in. Every dish I have ordered is top notch. I love that they are open late! Not too many late night spots that are actually good anymore. Parking can be tricky as there's only street parking but trust me it's so worth it. Service is friendly and very attentive. They can get busy so I recommend making a reservation.

Aburiya Ibushi **** RECOMMENDED **** Food: **** Value: **** Menu: **** Ambiance: *** (feels like Japan) Service: **** Parking: * (street parking only) When driving on Kapahulu Avenue, I often saw a line outside Aburiya Ibushi, so it peaked my interest. After my wife went with her friend, she said the food was good and the prices were cheap, so I decided to try it. I recommend that you make reservations through Yelp. There were 30 seats, 2 servers and 3 cooks on the night that we went. Approximately 60% of the patrons were Japanese nationals, speaking in Japanese, so I know I was in the right place. This is not a fancy Japanese restaurant - it is more like a neighborhood Izakaya bar-restaurant like the ones I frequent in Tokyo. The food was good and we enjoyed all our dishes. Those with the sparks on the video were my favorites. We will be going back, so stay tuned for more dishes. RATINGS & RECOMMENDED ORDER: Agedashi Tofu = A Beef Tongue = A Oxtail Zoshib(porridge) = B Potatoe Salad = B Aburikyaki Pork Belly = C Yelp: https://yelp.to/DS2K1bck07 YELP: Milton K Sorry! They allow only one 12 second video & the remaining to 3 seconds. The full video and pictures of the entire menu can be found on other platforms/apps: MiltonIn808 RATINGS KEY: A = Really Good - one of the best B = Good - would order again C = ok - similar, nothing special D = Not very good - wouldn't order F = Terrible - avoid

Random find last night while going for donuts. Very cute small place and great service. We loved our food . Would definitely come back when in town.

A must, must, must try! The food here was absolutely delicious! I enjoyed every dish that my group and I ordered here. This place opens up until midnight so it's a great place to stop by for a late night snack. The staff is super friendly and helpful. The place is always filled with new comers and plenty of regulars. There are table seatings and a bar seating (where you can sort of see the kitchen staff prepare your food). My favorite dish I got from them was the golden potato with mentaiko. My friends and I loved it so much that we placed a total of 5 orders of it! I also recommend their chicken dishes! Every chicken dish I've tried was super tender and flavorful. If you enjoy drinking and snacking, this place is the spot for you! Their chu-hi drinks pair so well with the food they offer. I recommend the yuzu chu-hi!

I arrived here with two friends via Uber from our hotel. It wasn't too far, but it was definitely easier than taking public transport. This small izakaya had a great reputation and we were looking for something still open late at night! Service was friendly and overall ambiance is very chill vibes. I wasn't feeling my best, so ordering the oxtail soup was really comforting. The only downside was that it came with just one piece of oxtail. Still, the flavor was hearty and yummy and the oxtail was fall off the bone tender. I'd recommend coming here for a light snack rather than a full dinner because of the portion sizes. Everything is individually ordered, so you can fill up, but be prepared to spend a decent amount to do so. I also got the highly praised potato salad to share at the table. It was decent but felt a bit overhyped. When I took my first bite, it just reminded me of a regular potato salad with bits of corn, topped with some sort of dry pico de gallo powder/ California mix seasoning that you could find at NY Fries. The other two ordered the ikura salmon don (delicious but super small like a regular rice bowl size) and the oxtail ramen (similar to the soup with 1 piece of oxtail, ramen egg and noodles- not too heavy). It's definitely a nice spot to try!

Found this spot through TikTok where someone was raving about its mashed potatoes. Reservations are recommended; it was hard to find an open slot. The restaurant was packed the whole time on a Sunday night. We got seated at the bar. There was enough space between all the diners. I liked looking at the drawings of the food on the walls and watching the Japanese news on TV. I enjoyed watching the chef make the meats on the grill too. We each got a chu-hi to drink with our meal. So refreshing. Jellyfish salad: Tiny, crunchy, flavorful! I could eat so much of it. Beef tongue: Portions were quite small. This was thin and delicious though. Tasted great with its accompanying sauce. Sirloin top: This was small as well but tasted high-quality. Went so good with just salt and some wasabi. Mashed potatoes: This is what we came for. Its texture was good and the star of the show was the curry salt on top. If I can figure out how to make it at home, I'd eat it with my mashed potatoes all the time! It was reminiscent of the mashed potatoes you'd get at KBBQ but with less mayo and less cold. Cabbage salad: This was sautéed (?), cooked in some way where the cabbage was soft but still had crunch. However, it lacked flavor. We ended up sprinkling the mashed potato curry salt on it. Oxtail soup: We ordered this last to end off our meal. It was hearty, the meat was soft, and overall a nice experience. I've only had Korean oxtail soup before and Vietnamese oxtail pho, so I was interested in trying the Japanese version. The service was super friendly. The meal lasted around almost 2 hours since things slowly came out one by one. We were still hungry afterwards though so we hit up the izakaya next door lol.

So tasty! Everything was so tasty! Even the onion with miso (who knew?). The staff was very friendly, and there were lots of regulars there, so lots of laughing and hugs. Great atmosphere. They have a variety of Japanese dishes in a variety of cooking styles, but the best things come off the grill, which is located front and center behind the bar. For such a small restaurant, the menu is really extensive, and includes several specials, along with sake, beer, wine, and shochu. The only downside was that it's noisy.

I recently started to eat a more pescatarian diet and found it very difficult to eat here. I thought there would be more choices. I am doing 4 stars because the choices were limited and my favourite, salmon, was off the menu. They said the jellyfish isn't cooked, so that was a no no if pregnant. I do still love this place, but today I was a bit sad.

Aburiya specializes flame searing foods and cooking over open flame to get nice charred, juicy meats and veggies. The food here is pretty solid and I really enjoy the chicken, tongue, and beef dishes. I also really enjoy their oxtail ramen and oxtail porridge (definitely my go to) Not a lot of places have Japanese aburi places in the US, so def give it a try if you love bbq style foods.

We came here and had a great experience! The potato salad was so unique with the powder seasoning they had, I'm not exactly sure what it was but it was salty and maybe had a curry taste? The agedashi tofu was great, very soft and the sauce was delicious. The beef flank was my favorite, so tender and easy to bite into! For drinks we got a ramune + alcohol drink (I'm sorry I forgot the name) and it was a yummy! Sweet and refreshing :) We had a reservation as I think it may be reservation only! The service was great, everyone was kind!

I heard MANY good things about Aburiya Ibushi and people raving about it. So maybe I had too high of an expectation but in my opinion it did not live up to the hype. Don't get me wrong, food was good but it tasted like your typical Japanese izakaya restaurant. I will say though, I really enjoyed their fried potato with mentai sauce. Both my mom and I raved about it. Probably the best thing we had from our order lol. I also enjoyed their oxtail soup and cabbage salad. We had their whole chicken leg which was alright and a few other dishes that were mediocre. Parking is only street.

Most people would characterize this place as an izakaya, since they see this as a common, casual dining and drinking shop. It's pretty close. Aburiya Ibushi is comparatively reasonable compared to a regular restaurant. The theme here is items that are grilled over flames and smoke. Always check the day's specials and don't wear your nice clothes. The appetizers, like House Potato Salad, Crushed Spicy Cucumber Tataki, and Shuo Konbu Cabbage Salad are made to accompany heavier items and clear your palate. There is charcoal grilled beef and vegetables - the eggplant w ground pork and Yukon Gold potato w mentai butter cheese are very hearty and worthwhile. The shio koji marinated beef flank or pork belly are also good. There is fresh seafood (stick to the specials) or deep fried goodies if you're craving, but grilled over big flames is the way to go here. Most of the main proteins can be upgraded to a set w rice, pickles, and soup. The drinks are the standards - highballs, chu-hi, shochu, beer. A shochu bottle w glasses and ice, or 300ml sake w ochoko is a good choice for a small group. They have a few wines and a sparkling Spanish cava, but why come here to drink that stuff? Finish your meal w oxtail if you're still hungry. The egg drop soup or rice porridge versions are the best w the noodles a distant third choice. You didn't come here for the desserts so don't bother.

Here's what we ordered: ⁃ Asahi on draft: I'm a sucker for a good Japanese beer on draft, especially at an izakaya and this HIT. ⁃ Beef flank: My fav, so tender, and perfectly seasoned. RECOMMEND! ⁃ Pork belly: My BF's fav - it had the most "grill" taste that he really enjoyed. ⁃ Shio-koji karaage: Classic karaage that is so authentic and juicy! This was my personal favorite. RECOMMEND! ⁃ Crushed cucumber salad: Refreshing and paired well with the meat dishes we ordered. Not overly vinegary which we both appreciated. RECOMMEND! ⁃ Assorted tsukemono: Also refreshing, but a little salty imo. Not as vinegary as I'm used to like how my grandma makes it. Just my personal preference. ⁃ Jellyfish: Came in a small saucer dish which my SO didn't really think was worth the price. Flavor was mild, and had a firmer texture compared to how it's served in a Chinese restaurant. Would probably not order again. Notes: ⁃ They no longer have the additional sets available, so everything is ala carte ⁃ Make reservations online ahead of time as it's always packed! - Servers speak Japanese and English - Street parking only (this was probably the most annoying thing so just plan accordingly) Will definitely be coming back to try their fish and egg drop soup with ox tail!

We went to Aburiya Ibushi when our son treated my husband and I to dinner. It's on Kapahulu, so parking was a bit of a challenge. The restaurant itself, reminded us of places in Japan. The blue curtains in front and the eclectic decorations and down home feel inside the place. The cooks and waiters seemed to all be young Japanese nationals. There is a manned grill in front of the restaurant and you can see the flames rising up now and then. Service was fast and the food came out in stages, as it was prepared. We had a drink - I think it was yuzu, very refreshing. We had flank steak, some kind of kama (fish collar cooked), sashimi, saba (mackerel), eggplant, agedashi tofu, grilled corn, and a bowl of the oxtail soup. Everything was delicious. We'll go again and order double of the agedashi tofu, grilled corn, and yuzu drinks.

i always come here when i visit oahu the food is full of charcoal grilled flavor i definitely recommend the pork belly and beef tongue along with the whole grilled onion! service is great and the ambiance is very clean and kept!!

always saw this place pretty packed and I understand why! opens till late and located in kapahulu. not sure if there is a lot but u always found street parking. Inside is clean and has nice lighting. You can also see the kitchen making everything as you're waiting. I haven't tried something I didn't like as all the dishes are great. My go to appetizers are the potato salad and the mapo tofu. I think I got the Beef tongue set and it was tender and delicious. My friend got the chicken set and it was yummy as well. Each dish had amazing flavors and I would definitely recommend checking this place out.

I had a great experience at this place. The prices were very reasonable, and all the dishes we ordered were delicious from a Japanese perspective. One of the things I really enjoyed was watching them grill the food right in front of us and tasting the charcoal flavor on the dishes. It's a great place for families as it's kid-friendly and they didn't mind that we didn't order any alcoholic drinks. My favorite dishes were the potato with mentaiko and yamaimo. If you're looking to try something different and authentic Japanese, I highly recommend checking this place out!

This has been a while since I last came here. I was able to make a same day reservation early in the morning through Yelp and was happy to get a decently early seating. The menu and atmosphere have definitely changed in the past 3 years since I've been here, and I like the changes. Inside and lively and can be noisy with the traffic outside, music inside, and the happy guests. Take your time with the menu as there are many items, and everything can be ordered Ala Carte or as a Set (comes with Rice, Soup, Pickles, and another side dish. Side dish of the night was Japanese Potato Salad). Salmon Belly- 5/5. This was a special for the day that did not disappoint at all. The size, flavourful, and texture from grilling were superb. Comes with a shoyu daikon stack and lemon (but does not need either). There were no bones at all and I ended up eating the Fin as well. Grilled Mackrel (Saba)- 3/5. The Mackrel was freshly grilled and maintained it's juices and tenderness. It was nice to eat compared to the store bought or other generic pieces you tend to get at other locations. My only negative is that our piece had a lot of bones to slow down our eating tempo. Eggplant with Ground Beef- 4/5. One of my favorites from the night. The eggplant is grilled with the Miso Marinated Meat and it is always fun to eat. Beef Tongue- 3.5/5. This little gem is a cute portion of Beef Tongue lightly grilled then served poke style. Which taste and nice chewy texture- the price may dissuade you if you are trying to get full on a budget. It is a nice appetizer but do note it is a small appetizer. Jellyfish- 4.5/5. It's not often that I find myself craving jellyfish, but this one is quite good. Often, you get Jellyfish that is crunchy, over marinated in Sesame Oil, or with a bad aftertaste. This was none of the above. It had a light sesame oil taste, extremely nice texture, and was fun to eat. We were contemplating ordering another, but we already ordered 5 dishes and 2 drinks each. Drinks- 4/5. I like Chu-Hai and the selection of drinks you can get is great (or you can get the same options without Alcohol). The outstanding ones were definitely the Ramune, Melon Soda Float, and Lychee Apple. So, to summarize my second visit after a long hiatus, I was happy with how the restaurant has evolved and the food was great. You can easily make a reservation here on Yelp or event join the wait list. Come with friends and try several dishes to make it more interesting!

Very authentic and unique Japanese grill. The food here was my favorite meal from my trip to Oahu. Also very friendly service. Will definitely come again next time I'm visiting Oahu!

Such a great experience at this restaurant. Amazing service to accompany the delicious food. With an intimate setting the meal felt very personal and reminiscent of a traditional Japanese meal my grandmother would prepare.

The service was exceptional, from right when walked sitting us right away and always checking in on us. My girlfriend and I came in knowing what we were going to order and man it did not let down! Our favorite was the set we got and onion! We loved onion, especially sweet taste with the sauce. We've gone back since and highly recommend going.

Excellent food. Flame grilled good almostphere and excellent ingredients. One of tue best spits in hawaii from a foodie that has done a lot of foodie stuff.

My new favorite izakaya to go after work! Super friendly staff, last call is 12 and open until 1. I love their Yuzu chu-hi drinks! It's the best I've ever tasted paired with the mentaiko potato, chicken wings, shihshito peppers, jellyfish, and more! At the bar, you can watch Toru cook all the food on the grill and look at their various selection of alcohol. There's a cute Aburiya ibushi sign outside the izayaka so you can't miss it. I find street parking right in front. Absolutely love everything here and will be back! Also they have a matcha affogato to end your meal with, must try if you love matcha!

Best Japanese meal I've had in very long time. Best experience ever! Staff were so amazing and food was incredible. Beautiful on the inside too.

That rice bowl was fire. Nuff said. Plus a few more characters to make 85. Get the ikura rice bowl too.

This place was so good. Definitely a smaller izakaya but the food was on-point. Was a little overwhelmed with what to order but I tried the beef flank thanks to Yelp (woohoo). It was everything I wanted and more. Very flavorful and tender. The jellyfish was also a standout item that we tried. It tasted almost like seaweed salad, but seasoned even better. Beef tongue was excellent as well and gave me ahi tataki sashimi vibes, but with beef tongue. Really love this place and would come back. Highly suggest making a reservation since it gets pretty crowded.

Great food and good price point the skill of the chef was excellent and at a price you would expect

ABSOLUTELY STELLAR!!! my friend RAVES about this place so I decided to check it out. The waitress was very kind and attentive. We started off with some sake. I can't remember the bottle but it was good. I ordered the beef tongue and upgraded to a set so it came with miso, rice, cold tofu, and pickled veggies. The miso was flavorful and light. The beef tongue was NEXT LEVEL delicious! I want to say that it was just the right amount of salty. It had such a wonderful flavor that I have to come back JUST to try it again. My friend ordered the Oxtail ramen, which was his go-to and he of course enjoyed it. We got the matcha basque cheesecake to finish off the night. I personally am not a huge fan of matcha but I can appreciate how matcha flavored it was and the texture of the cheesecake. But I personally wouldn't order it again. I will be back to try more!

Once in a Blue SuperMoon... I enjoyed a hot sake Oxtail Ramen, jellyfish, eggplant, and the Beef Flank. Very delicious!!

I had a very disappointing experience the first time I came to this restaurant which is always crowded with customers. 2 of us went for dinner and waited 45 minutes for my food to be served. I waited for a little while for my sons food to arrive, but it didn't, so I started eating. When I finished my meal, his food finally arrived. I was surprised at how small it was and how different it looked from the picture on the menu. I ordered the Washu Beef Tongue for $20.50. I waited an hour for it to be done, so I guess it was overcooked and had shrunk. The service from the servers was poor and we had to call out loudly for water, check, or anything else.　We were so sad after a very bad dinner that we stopped at Zippy's on the way home.

good food. the Pork belly grilled set was delicious, can taste the charcoal smokiness. The Jellyfish salad marinade is fantastic, need that sesame oil recipe. Oxtail ramen taste good. got 1 large cross-section piece of oxtail. Small parking lot in back for $3.

This restaurant is one of the best in town. Toru cooks up masterful dishes that are truly original and amazing. None of the dishes taste alike. If you feel like some authentic Japanese bbq and some fantastic Izakaya style dishes, come here for sure. Make sure you make a res on the weekends. Parking on the street or around the corner.

Overall this place was great! I really enjoyed the food and the service was great too. Very welcoming and down to earth/ friendly. The food was great! Very fresh ingredients and it seemed to be made/ cooked to order. I tried the beef tongue (amazing!), Ewa corn (yummy but salty and I wished it was more corn and not so cobby) and jellyfish salad (very refreshing and normally not something I'd order but I'd get it again). The chicken karaage was great. Crispy, juicy and had a nice dipping sauce with peppers and onions. The eggplant and pork dish was also delicious. The steak was perfectly cooked and I over the chimichurri dipping sauce. Their yuzu chu hi was divine. I could guzzle it by the gallon. I think this place should have 4.5 stars but since Yelp doesn't go halfsies (maybe they will change this up in 2024) I chose 4 stars because there's a few things that stop it from being a rave review. It's mostly because we went as a larger group (well, 6 people) and that's where the experience was lacking. The cooked food takes a while to come out and it seems to flow based on how the order is written down (instead of making sure everyone has something to eat. One person ordered the saba and it took a long time to come out. We asked about it twice because we thought they forgot. I think she waited almost an hour. The rest of the food was flowing for the folks who ordered first so if you go with a bigger group just keep this in mind and order some pupus for the table. They also can't split the check more than a few ways. Also bad for groups. To keep it simple we just split it evenly amongst us so I definitely paid a lot more than what I ate/ drank bc I had to split it with folks who ordered a lot of pricey items and several drinks (I was designated driver that night womp womp!). Finally, there's no parking so we had to circle like vulchars to find a spot on the street which fills up because there's a few restaurants in the area and nobody has parking. I was enjoying myself too much to get a photo. My bad!! Trust me tho it was great!

Came here for a late dinner. Forgot how good it was since I haven't been in a while! This spot will transport you back to Japan. If you're missing the izakaya-life, this is the spot to visit! It was packed even at 9:30 when we got a table. We opted for their set meals - I got the oxtail and my boyfriend got the flank steak set. The oxtail is so tender - perfectly cooked and falls of the bone. The soup is an egg drop style soup which is unique and packed with flavor! Would get it next time for sure! Will have to come back to try everything else on their menu.

Located on Kapahulu Ave. I guess street parking is the only option, not very easy to find street parking in that area. We have to park a bit far away and walk over. I made the reservation but arrived early, instead of let us sit down (they do have empty table) they ask us to wait outside the restaurant on a super windy day. Finally after 15 minutes wait, we got to sit down to the table next to the entrance, the entrance door can not be closed and the strong wind kept pushing the door open, we have to constantly close the door by ourselves at least 7 to 8 times during our entire dinner. Inside, looks like a Japanese restaurant, feels like a Japanese restaurant because everyone work there speak Japanese. Not all the staffs are very friendly except for our waitress. We ordered quit a bit of food. The dish we love the most is the potato salad, they put some kind of topping on it that makes the dish very unique. We also love the Agedashi tofu, big portion, 6 pieces of tofu. The grill eggplant is so so, we should have skip that, the grilled Kuributa sausage is good, but who can screw up a sausage dish?? We are very disappointed about the popularly dish which is the Buriyaki beef flank with miso ginger garlic, it is dry and lack of favor. We try the OX tail soup Japanese style, we know it will be difference from regularly Ox tail soup but we want to try, it is more like a Chinese egg flower soup with Ox tail inside. Overall, our dining experience is OK consider all the annoying things during our dinner.