Kenichi Pacific

I preface this review by saying that I'm not a fan of sushi or other Japanese cuisine. However, I was in a group that throughly enjoyed their meals. I had a Seafood Trio -- which seemed safe for me. It had 2 shrimp & 3 scallops & something else. A suggestion for future diners: I debated with myself over whether to bring a seat cushion, and I wish I had, as the chairs are of hard plastic and uncomfortable over a period of time. The drinks were prepared well, though the service of them was not done well -- you'd expect a restaurant that makes money on drinks to deliver them promptly. My dinner companions would give high praise for their meals, which is why I gave a 5-star rating on the food.

Our flight landed late at night and we're surprised to see this place still open. Their fish was so soft and delicious. It was pricey but too good to not order more. Dessert was also very delicious. It was a good start to the trip.

The restaurant is great, boasting truly exceptional service. Our dishes arrived promptly, including a variety of rolls and appetizer: World Famous Dynamite Shrimp, Hawaiian Roll, Eel Roll, Crunchy Six Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, and Yellowtail Roll. All the rolls were enjoyable, featuring simple yet fresh fish. While the Crunchy Six Roll is listed in the 'Specialty Roll' section of the menu, I did find it to be slightly overpriced. Overall, we had a pleasant dinner, and while I can recommend the place for its service and ambiance, I can't say the food left a lasting impression.

We went to happy hour time, didn't have to wait, excellent service very friendly employees. Always someone comes around to check on you,take away your empty dish on your table,refill your drinks, or if you need anything else. Exceptional food thumb 👍 👌 😋 .

Awesome Japanese restaurant in Keauhou. Worth the drive. Despite a 40 minute drive from the hotel we were staying up in Waikoala…it was WELL WORTH IT, and would absolutely go again! One of the better Japanese restaurants I have dined at anywhere, with good variety of menu and quality of fish. Good ingredients, executed well. Maverick was our server, he was friendly and efficient. It was quite busy when we came in around 6:45, most of the tables inside and on the patio were occupied. We quickly received water, and ordered our drinks, which came quickly. We ordered the Kenichi 45 (very sharp with the yuzu) and the Geisha martini (very good). For food - we absolutely overdid it, and quite happy we did: miso soup, clam and regular (wonderful broth, flavorful and deep); Spider roll - with soft shell crab (yummy, wish we ordered more); world famous dynamite shrimp (very tasty, not over battered); manupua duck (basically a Peking-duck inspired appetizer, duck was a tad dry but still good); daily catch (Mahi served on top of creamy mashed potatoes - exceptionally fresh fish) A ton of sashimi: - bluefin toro (actually O-Toro - very fresh and buttery - generous slices) - Yellowtail - served in ponzu, again wonderful - Salmon - very fresh, fatty, generous - Uni (sea urchin) - very sweet, fresh - Unagi (eel) - again, fresh, cooked perfectly Dessert was the tempura fried ice cream. We needed to be rolled out of the restaurant!

Server Kacie T and crew made for a fantastic early dinner experience! Happy hour until 6pm. Place was hopping. Great service and deals on rolls and draft Sapporo. Highly recommend!

Went during Happy hour so 50 percent off, the prices listed are still the same. So a roll is still $6.5 not $3.25 Didn’t try any drinks or appetizers so this is soley based off the sushi. I got the hawaiian, spicy tuna, yellow tail, and salmon skill roll with grated wasabi. The rolls had more rice than anything. The spicy tartare was decent. Yellowtail was fresh. For $30 including tax this place isn’t half bad if you want affordable sushi on the Big island. Get here early all the boomers love to come here!!!

Damien took good care of us, gave good recommendations for food and drink, the specials were incredible! Sushi was great, had an assortment of different rolls and each was yummyyy, For two different rolls, the sashimi dinner, appetizer, and alcohol it came in just under $150. Very pleased!

My wife and I decided to try Kenichi Pacific because it was close to where we were staying. Wow, am I glad we did! It was a nice clean place in a nice location. We sat at the sushi bar and our sushi chef was Jacob. He looked way too young to be an accomplished sushi chef, but looks can be deceiving. He was very friendly, and offered suggestions as we went through our dinner. His sushi was top-shelf, and every recommendation he made was fabulous! Can't say enough good things about this restaurant! The entire staff was very friendly and accommodating. Will definitely return the next time II am in Kona!

Dining at Kenichi Pacific Restaurant is a wonderful culinary experience. The menu highlights the freshest local seafood and ingredients of the Big Island of Hawaii. The chef and entire staff create an ambiance that is welcoming. A true Hawaiian Ohana experience that makes this restaurant a "go to" spot. The kampachi - both the sashimi and seared dishes were buttery and luxurious. The steak was beautifully presented on a hot plate with a delicious truffleyaki sauce that highlighted the delicate shimeji mushrooms on top. And - the risotto was creamy and provided a delicious base to the whole grilled prawns. A must order item. We just missed the shokupan bread pudding as it was a popular dessert item. We will definitely be back at the restaurant to try more items on the menu - and hopefully the special shokupan bread pudding will be a special on the menu again. Meeting Chef Chris as he presented the dishes allowed us to thank him personally for a delightful dining experience. Mahalo

I just have to say I won't go to Kenichi's as they are going through some pains in staffing this severely reflected in their service. We live on island and have been going to Kenichi's throughout the years. Each time we go with wide time gaps in between visits we hope that service will be better than the last. Well LAST NIGHT was the worst and we won't ever go back. The seafood is fresh but the new sushi chef's are not experienced. For example one part of my order included salmon sashimi and what I got was a mound of salmon piled up high and chunks of fish what...! Our res was at 6pm and we didn't get out of there until 8pm as it took one hour and half to get our mains. DON'T GO!' JUST DON'T DO IT TO YOURSELF!!! Ps; it wasn't just our table it was everyone and they weren't even that busy. MAYBE that was a sign.

I always look at the reviews when I am travelling to a new place. This one had some good reviews so I booked it. We had reservations but we came when they opened so no problem getting seated right away. I should of known that the place would be sub par from the sushi rolls being half off for happy hour. That was a sign. All the tourist came here for the cheaper happy hour. You don't get that price when sitting in the dinning room. That is for the bar area which all the people were waiting for as the doors opened. I went to a place like this before in Modesto and the food was sub par too. The server was really nice and explained the menu and the specials. We looked over the menu. I had seen that their duck confit was one of their specialties and I love duck. I ordered that. We got the BBQ ribs and the salmon sashimi. Duck bun, sea bass and the Agedashi tofu. My duck was dry and over cooked. I mentioned it to our server and he brought a menu back for me to get something else but I just didn't see anything. I didn't finish the duck. The duck bun was also dry. The sea bass was overcooked as well. The Agedashi tofu was ok. The salmon sashimi was not that fresh. Being on the island I expected better. TO top it all off , when we got our bill the waiter didn't even take off the duck which I had complained about. I didn't catch it till later and I was going to ask for a manager. I was pissed for it. But my wife saw that he was talking with the manager and they took off my duck from the bill. Wow this was our only bad meal of all the restaurants we went to on the Big Island. What a disappointment. I over heard some customers behind us saying that they were under a new owner so maybe that was it. Who knows. Everything was over cooked. So I would pass this place.

Location was excellent...super close to Kona Coast Resort and Na Hale O Keahou condos in the Keahou Shopping Center! The owners of the restaurant were really nice and friendly, and we got the opportunity to meet the Chefs which was an honor and a treat because the food was so delicious and beautifully presented! My entree was the Mahi Mahi with a Ponzu Pepper Sauce, and OMG...the tempura was so light, crispy and tasty with the fab sauce! It was delicious! And so was the Lava Cake--I wish I could have another Lava Cake now! Such warm, tasty goodness! My family celebrated my birthday at Kenichi Pacific, and it was a wonderful memory! Perfect dining experience for sure!!

Kenichi has Happy Hour when they open at 4:30pm, but only in the bar. It's a substantial discount on rolls and drinks. So, people show up as early as 4pm to stand/sit on line to get into the bar area. We did that again, and had some great sushi rolls at a great price. The rice is tender, the rolls are well made and the fish is exceedingly fresh. This is a deal that can''t be beat. On top of that, the bar staff at this place are top notch and keep up with the happy hour crowd as a matter of course. If you want an elevated experience, the dining room is very nice, as is the sushi bar. For a bargain though, the happy hour is the bomb.

I've been going to Kenichi for three years and it has been in my top favorite sushi restaurants. However, Mr Kenichi recently retired and there's a new owner. Also new, younger sushi chefs with little experience. At first, the change wasn't noticeable, but now it feels like the sushi specials aren't all that great anymore. We used to get them everytime, but now they contain odd things like celery or cream cheese. Also, it's never good when rolls are slathered in runny "aioli" that her no flavor profile. Even my favorite New Style Sashima dish was disappointing. Like the specials, there's just no flair. The restaurant now feels like you're eating at an Applebees. Where's the creativity??

Had another great happy hour meal at Kenichi Pacific. This night made up for the recent turn away closure of a night of happy hour the week prior. Excellent service as always. Food was spot on and the sushi crowd was lively. We had a different bartender today and he was engaging and enthusiastic. We had the hamachi kama colllar, new style sashimi, sunomono with tako, 2 eel rolls, a macadamia nut avocado salad and a few Sapporo's on draft. Only two items are on the happy hour menu as we like to order from both.

Decided to check out this place for dinner. We arrived during happy hour!!! OMG!!! The sushi was delicious and what a great deal ! Probably the least I've ever spent on any dinner! lol Happy hour is Tuesday thru Sunday from 4:30 - 6:00 pm. They take up to 50% off sushi rolls, some appetizers and some beverages. We ordered edemame and the following sushi rolls... Avocado roll, Tempura shrimp roll -tempura tiger prawn, scallion, spicy aioli, teriyaki California roll -snow crab, avocado, cucumber They were busy but the server/ bartender worked hard and made sure we were able to order in a timely manner and we received our food fairly quick. They were very kind too and worked as a team to make sure we continually had beverages! They also have a regular menu too and a lot of choices. The sushi was great! I would definitely come here again!!

2nd visit: literally the next day we came back. We did a manta ray snorkel (highly recommend) and asked the captain where to eat. He said Kenichi Pacific and we laughed since we just ate there the night before. I asked him what he orders typically and he said he always eats the same: carpaccio - the meat and seafood, the miso black cod and the macadamia nut crusted lamb. We did all but the seafood carpaccio and loved it all. The tenderloin carpaccio was my fave. Maverick our waiter was great! 1st visit: We really enjoyed the food here. We got the special sushi roll with lemon and yuzu, and the die hard roll. I love anything with yuzu, if you haven't tried yuzu flavor, give it a go! Also tried the cold yuzu sake which was refreshing. We ate outside which was nice and quiet, and not too hot. The waiter was very attentive, and kept us up to date when the dessert would be out. We got the fried icecream which honestly I would skip, not a lot of flavor, and hard to cut.

Favorite sushi place in Kona and this is our 3rd time here. We try to visit each time we come to Kona. We have ordered the noodles before and they are my daughter's favorite. The Sushi specials are always the way to go. The sushi is fresh and is usually my favorite to order the specials because they are not the same each time. The ube Mojito was wayyy to bitter and I could not drink, so I wasted $14. Everything else from service to being greeted with the Aloha spirit is wonderful. The restaurant is in a grocery shopping plaza and has nice outdoor patio eating but prefer inside booth.

Amazing dinner at Kenichi. Everything was incredible and the service was awesome. We had a cozy table for 2 which was so nice and quiet before the big dinner rush. We had so many delicious things. We had the best edamame which was so tasty. The fried calamari, spicy tuna roll and the New York strip steak with hot truffle oil poured over tableside were all amazing. We had sashimi that was so fresh! And they even sent us a beautiful dessert since we are newlyweds which was a sweet surprise. I hear the happy is awesome too and I can't wait to go back and check that out.

Ambiance was nice as we walked in. The lighting was a bit dark and we sat at he corner booth. The light above us kept changing bright to dark. Ordered the soft shell crab sushi roll and it came out different size cuts, didn't have any flavor, and it was quite messy on the plate. Hubby ordered the lamb, and he said it was okay tasting but not worth the price for the quality and seems like the chef lack skill to cook lamb. The waitress kept telling us to look by the sushi bar to see what the special was... she explained it but she wanted us to look at it (weird)? The Banana Foster came in as a soup not a glaze. It was so runny. The chocolate cake tasted like it was microwaved chocolate cake with ice cream. Calamari was chewy. I wouldn't recommend coming here if you want a delicious meal.

Came here with a Alaska Flight Delay meal voucher for happy hour. Be aware that people line up for this to open at 4:30pm. They open the door, and we all fly in. Waitress came round took our orders; I asked about trying to use this voucher and she thought it would work. Anyway, we ordered a handful of rolls. Food came our pretty quick; the rolls are 6 pieces each. We loved the eel rolls. I had ordered a Hawaiian roll with pineapple, ahi and jalapeno. If you dont like spicy food you should avoid, but I LOOOOVVVEEE jalapeno spicing, and these rolls tasted delicious with a vicious kick at the end as the jalapeno kicks in. Yummy. The waitress took a few tries on the vouched; she tried the 'blue tooth thing with my phone, which tried to use my Google Pay; I convinced here to just key it in as I read the numbers to her and that worked; she got a fat tip for that as I didnt want to leave money on the table for Alaska Airlines. Loved it. Will come back again.

Kinda expensive, food portion small. Still hungry after we spend more than $80 there. I don't understand.

Aloha , we have been going to Kenichi for years - we love Kenichi. We have celebrated many birthdays at Kenichi. My son is in the airforce since 11/2020 - everytime he comes home in September and in December , we go to Kenichi to celebrate his homecoming- Kenichi has a special place in our hearts - The owners are very engaging. I love their bentos for lunch- my favorite lunch place - miso.butterfish and salmon salad - yummy --. I love the dinner time ambiance -- The lamb is my favorite dish. I love the calamari - I love the wafu pasta - I love the Kauai shrimp risotto-- oh and the desserts are so yummy - My hubby loves the sashimi and sushi - I love this place bc it's near my home and parking is never full. Staff is very nice and accommodating--. Thank you.

I used to frequent this place weekly when I lived in Kona. The best Spider Roll I've ever had, and I live in Las Vegas now where the sushi seems to rely mainly on the fake crab, which is horrible. The only place I will go to in Las Vegas, after trying several is Blue Ribbon Sushi at the Red Rock Resort & Casino. I also miss the wonderful Absolut Vodka Martinis I used to get at Kenichi. His food was always delicious no matter what you ordered. I miss your food, Kenichisan!!!

I recommend and you must try the newly owned Kenichi Pacific restaurant under CHEF CHRIS MASSELLA AND JORDEN MASSELLA. Been eating there for over twenty years and it's never gets old to me. They have great menus!! Foods are delicious, price is reasonable, service is amazing!! They have great indoor and outdoor seating. Good place to have dinner with friends and family!

Intro: For our final day in the Big Island, I wanted to treat my family to a nice dinner and found this on a few recommended lists. I made a reservation a few weeks in advance and though there was space to change it up to a day in advance, on the day of the reservation, the restaurant was packed. It is located in a strip mall and parking is plentiful. Food: I ordered the Yuzu Saikyo Miso Salmon. It was cooked deliciously - not dry at all and well flavored. I liked the pairing with the grilled Ali'i mushrooms, which I was more keen to than the abalone rice. The other dishes my family tried include the Tuna Roll, Kenichi Roll, Hawaiian Roll, and the Black Cod. They said the dishes were not bad - and I agree after I had a taste - but I do personally think the price is a bit steep for the quality (even taking into account Hawaii's cost of goods). I agree the ambiance is nice and you are probably paying for the ambiance, but the food does not help the case. If I do come back, it might be for the happy hour deals. My rating: 6/10 Tl;dr: Not a bad restaurant but there are probably other places that are tastier for similar / cheaper price.

Fantastic dinner here. The service was spot on without being overbearing. The suggestions and specials that we had were definite tries. The spicy tuna roll with kanpachi and roe on top. The NY Strip with truffle hot oil. Even the edamame were and fired calamari which I feel are on every menu these days were jazzed up to make them stand out. Take a look at this place when you need somewhere to dine in the Kona area. They also have a great happy hour!

Kenichi Pacific, a bustling local favorite, was filled with long-time patrons on our visit. As first-timers, we had the pleasure of meeting the new owners, Chef Chris and his wife Jorden. They are dedicated to preserving the restaurant's beloved traditions while infusing it with Chef Chris's unique flair. No matter where you are on the island, this spot is worth the trip. We'll definitely be returning frequently.

Came in on a whim while on vacation in Kona with my family. I didn't realize they typically only accept reservations, but the hostess was super nice and found a way to accommodate my family and I. We ended up getting a table pretty quickly. The food was really good, highly recommend the scallop curry with udon noodles. My daughter loved the kids spaghetti and my son loved his chicken karage. Ambiance is a little dark inside I guess to set the mood, and volume is around mid level. Overall pretty nice find in Kona and the last day of our trip we ended up getting a quick dinner at Kenichi Bento Box which is right next to the restaurant.

Get ready to get your sushi on at Kenichi Pacific, a hidden gem of a restaurant tucked away in Kona's Keauhou area. From the moment you step into its sleek, modern interior, you know you're in for a special Japanese dining experience. My lucky tastebuds and I started off with two appetizers that blew us out of the water. The Miso Black Cod will make your mouth do a happy dance with its melt-in-your-mouth velvety texture and sweet miso glaze. And the New Style Sashimi platter is a work of art, with thin slices of Hamachi that made me squeal "oishi!" For my entree, the Ono Tataki sang like a siren song I couldn't resist. The seared ono practically melted on my tongue, sitting atop a irresistible sweet potato mash and sautéed veggies. With each savory bite I fell more in love with that ponzu emulsion drizzle, which added the perfect tangy accent. From first bite to last, Kenichi Pacific was a sushi experience worthy of a Michelin star. My tastebuds and I will be dreaming about that mouthwatering black cod for weeks. So grab your chopsticks and get ready for a culinary joyride - this stellar sushi spot never disappoints!

Kenichi Pacific is outstanding! I really found a treasure in this restaurant located in the Keahou Shopping Center just south of Kona 10 minutes by car on Ali'i Drive. Everything on the menu is incredible. There's a variety of foods on the menu. Walking through the restaurant, you can see the chefs create not only fantastic foods but a masterpiece. The presentation is outstanding. Top-notch fresh and local ingredients! The restaurant and the food preparation area are spotless! The atmosphere of the restaurant is incredible. You really feel the vibes the moment you approach and enter the restaurant. I met the owner, Jorden, who put her heart and soul into this restaurant and it really shows. Jorden and her staff are prompt, courteous and very professional! I am definitely going to this restaurant when I return to Kona! Thank you Kenichi Restaurant for outstanding memories that you created for me! Kind regards to you Jorden and your entire staff!

Great place for happy hour, but beware, a line forms up to a half hour before opening! A bit pricy for main entrees otherwise. We weren't super impressed with the sushi, didn't like the spicy (barely spicy) or smoked tuna on some of the rolls. I'm not a fan of the ground up fish look/consistency. Also it wasn't as cold as I like my sushi to be. But overall it was decent fish for a great price. Service was nice, albeit we were given the neighboring table's 2 rolls by accident and I told the girl as we were being served it so that she could still take it back but she wasn't sure so she told us to hold on and left the plate. After 5+ min we decided she wasn't coming back, and also she can't take back the food anyway after leaving it at our table.

Skimpy rolls. Small. Over priced. Stingy on the soy sauce and wasabi to go. I was unimpressed when I opened the box to eat.

What an amazing dinner! The sushi was so fresh and delicious! The ambiance was wonderful and the service was outstanding. We topped off the meal with molten cake which was to die for. Thank you Jordan and staff. What a wonderful evening. We will be back soon!

Everything as always was outstanding! They've added some new decor to the already chic space and the food from the Ono entree to the calamari to the tuna and spider rolls was exceptional .. the food is always inventive and delicious ...Malia our server was outstanding so kind and professional and a hello and thank you to the lovely new owner! The best! Go ! We do every time we're in Kona (at least twice!)

The food was really great. The filet mignon with the balsamic glaze was amazing. The only thing that was okay was the fresh wasabi. But everything else was great.

We have been enjoying Keniche since I moved to Hawaii 15 years ago, and my husband before that. When I heard Keniche had sold his restaurant, we were worried that the quality and service would change. It absolutely did not. Food was fabulous, as always, and service was great. We had family in from out of town and they lived it, as well. Bonus was meeting the new owners, husband and wife, Jordan and Chef Chris. They were so gracious and welcoming and open to my hope for brown rice sushi in the future lol. My husband is a holistic physician and chiropractor and I'm a holistic practitioner, as well, and we love referring patients and clients here. I'm vegan and theircare tons of choices for me for dinner, as well as my fish loving family. Wish I had a picture of the food before we ate it, but everyone was hungry coming from the beach. You'll see the plate of the Bolton lava cake, licked clean. That's what we call "good til the last drop!" LOL Happy we can still heartily recommend Keniche Pacific. Karen Russell and Dr. Tim Hendlin

The restaurant's overall ambiance was perfect with low light and candles on the table, some what romantic. The service was great. The servers were very attentive and professional. I've dined at many sushi places and appreciate good food. In my opinion I thought the food was ok and a little over priced but then again I am on the big island. Perhaps I'll give it another try since I really did want to like my food.

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Pretty good overall, but felt like it should have been better. While we'd made reservations for dinner in the dining room, we were caught up in the US Open and opted to sit in the more casual side at the bar so we could watch a game. We ordered a variety of rolls and nigiri, as well as drinks, and everything was good, but can't say anything was extraordinary. Our bartender kept the orders and the drinks coming, even though he was BUSY. It's a very popular spot, from the looks of things. My only real disappointment of the night was when I ordered uni nigiri, and the uni just didn't seem as fresh as it could have been. Everything else had been pretty fresh so I was hopeful, but alas. Best to stick to the rolls and more conventional items, perhaps.

Food same as previous owner. Menu should change. Not bad place to eat but seems a bit chaotic.

Absolutely fantastic food and service. Happy hour is great! Sushi rolls are a great value

My boyfriend LOVED the lamb like loved I've never seen him make these kinds of sounds while he ate and Maverick is the best server in Kona he gave great descriptions to every dish and much needed advice to an indecisive appetite! Ps the Salmon was amazing

Folks, no need to go out of your way for their Happy Hour so-called discounted sushi rolls. They may be 40-50% off, but they are also half the size of sushi rolls anywhere else. As for the dynamite shrimp? Just meh.

Food was awesome. We had mostly sushi but also had ribs and chicken karaage. Service was attentive. Ambiance nice. I will definitely go back. Wish I took pics but was so interested in tasting the food forgot about pictures

Great food! The sashimi was super fresh and tender with good size portions! During our getaway, we visited twice. One evening, we enjoyed the bar indoors, while the next, we savored the outdoor seating. The outdoor experience was particularly delightful, with the gentle Hawaiian breeze enveloping us. Despite the nighttime rain, it felt remarkably refreshing. The food was exceptional, and our waiter's attention to detail was impeccable. We're eagerly anticipating our return and highly recommend making the journey there--it's truly worth it.

Happy hour here is indeed a happy time. You gotta try the sushi. Real deal Japanese sushi, not the generic kine. Outdoor seating and service is great. Serving local seasonal brew, that's a plus.

We were fortunate to happen across this restaurant last night. The staff was very courteous and worked to seat us right away even though we didn't have reservations. Our waiter was Maverick. He was very knowledgeable about the food being offered for the day. He was fun to interact with during our meal. I ordered the crusted lamb chops and have to say they were outstanding. They were flavorful and the reduction sauce complimented the dish very well. We can't wait to come back to visit this gem.

Excellent ultra fresh seafood and creative rolls in a strip mall restaurant. You can't see the ocean but you can sure taste it! Service was attentive and informative. Food was very good and cocktails were tasty. Not a tiki tourist kind of place. Good food. Expensive because it's Hawaii. A solid choice for a very good meal.

We were looking forward to good sushi on the big island, and unfortunately this did not hit the mark. A few things (good and bad) to note.. The good: - We could make reservations which was nice. With COVID, there have been waits at other places. When we arrived, we were seated immediately. - Overall ambiance was nice. No complaints there. The bad: - The sushi was not great. It didn't have much flavor and some rolls didn't even have fish in every piece. Example: the aspen roll had 6 pieces, 2 barely had any ahi in it. - Our server had a mask on which you could tell was perforated; I could see her lips moving through it. This wasn't okay in our book. Wear a mask that does what it's supposed to do. The only reason I'm giving two stars is the dynamite shrimp was really good. Other than that, would not recommend.

Ordered 3 rolls that were small and flavorless. Ordered their world famous dynamite shrimp, and the single (one) shrimp was far from dynamite. Also had the bbq ribs-- again, flavorless. Tasted like they boiled it in water and barely sprinkled sauce on it. We won't be back..

You cannot beat the food at kenichi. It's always fresh and excellent and so delicious. The service is excellent. Everybody's so friendly. I've never had a bad meal here. I've been eating here for years. I've also eat at the one in Aspen Colorado it's just as good. The owner is a wonderful man. Do not miss this restaurant. If you're looking for some good fresh fish. Make sure and order the dynamite shrimp one of my favorite dishes. Thank you Shane for taking such good care of us. See you soon real soon.

Went for the second time last night. Ordered food to go: mixed green salad, added the fish (asked for cooked medium well) and several avocado rolls. We checked the food before leaving the restaurant and found the fish was rare and one of the avocado rolls had completely black avocado pieces. Took it back and asked for non-injured/spoiled avocado and to have the fish cooked more. We were told at that point the fish can either be rare or cooked through (we were fine with the latter). When we got the food home, we found much of the lettuce in the salad was spoiled (see photo) and all the soy sauce they gave us was already expired. Very disappointing quality/experience.

We are from out of state and looking for a good place to eat in Kona that was close by. We read reviews. And since this was the highest rated we chose Kenichi. The wait was only 20 minutes at dinner time. Both my husband and my daughter said the sushi was the best they EVER had. The server Maverick was very knowledgable. He answered all our questions about drinks, dinner and dessert. The restaurant is nice looking, the Food is great, and the service is great! I would Highly suggest coming here for a great meal!

Ambiance and happy hour for sushi rolls are perfect. Their dinner menu is wonderful too with a number of unique and delicious dishes.

* the staff: nice staff and accommodating -- they were able to get us in really quickly on a Friday night * dining area: tables spaced out appropriately due to covid precautions * what i ordered: - world famous dynamic shrimp [$8] - nothing "world famous" about this. it was was a singular tempura fried prawn with sauce drizzled over it... not worth $8 IMO - age'dashi tofu [$7] - heavily flavored with ginger so if you're not a fan, i would skip it. also you only get 4 slices. - kenichi special roll [14] - good tasting roll at a good price especially for a roll with snow crab - die hard roll [$18] - although this was a tasty roll, i didn't think it was worth the price - kona bananas foster [$12] - super delicious! this was recommended by the waitress and it was the most favorite thing i ordered summary: i appreciate that the staff was able to sit a table of 7 on a busy friday night, but i wish we skipped this place. it was overpriced for the amount of food that was ordered and it wasn't top tier cuisine. don't get me wrong, it was good, but there are many other places on the island thats way better, you wouldn't be spending an arm and a leg AND you'd leave full.

I had the steak the mussels and edemame from the specials and they were delicious! Steak was huge and perfectly cooked. Service is friendly and very accommodating. We keep on going back