Restaurant Kenichi

Our family was craving Japanese food, and after checking online reviews, we decided to give this place a try. The restaurant was packed with locals, which felt like a good sign — we waited about 20 minutes for a table. The food isn’t exactly traditional Japanese; it’s more of a Hawaiian fusion, which made for an interesting twist. The grilled beef was extremely salty — like, really salty — probably due to over-marination. On the bright side, the grilled salmon inside was tasty and went okay with the rice. The fried chicken katsu was pretty good too. Portions were huge! If you’re not a big eater, you might find yourself stuffed halfway through — which, honestly, is a good problem to have.

After a few days of researching, my stomach was set on this place to satisfy my ramen craving. Hilo has quite a few places that serve ramen, but these folks had the tastiest-looking pics. ATMOSPHERE: It's an older space but kept very clean. Windows abound let it lots of natural light. Seatings are booth and low tops. Their sizzling platters can make you coming out smelling like a cook. MENU: Local style plate lunches, fried rice, gyoza, salads, ramen, desserts. FOOD: Gyoza (7 pcs.) I've never had homemade gyoza before. The filling had cilantro-like notes but were a bit bland. The tangy shoyu dipping sauce helped out a bit. The bottoms could've been seared a bit more. Shoyu Ramen Easy choice as I am a shoyu ramen fanatic! The noodles were thin, straight and chewy. The transparent broth needed a swish of shoyu to bring up the flavor. I expected the half egg to be hard boiled but was surprised at its medium gooeyness; great job by the way. The toppings of bean sprouts, green onions, seaweed flakes and fish cake tied in perfect. For the meat topping I got yakibuta which were thinly sliced pork belly. While the dish came out hot, it wasn't searing so it got cold fast. I have a good appetite but I'm glad I chose the regular size which was perfect rather than opting for the "Kenichi Size" which is double of everything. Spicy Miso Ramen My spouse's dish. The spoonful of broth I tasted was good and not overly sweet like other versions I've tried. DESSERT: Brookie I'm not a dessert fan but my spouse is. This is a layered square served warm, with a chewy cookie bottom, pressed and chewy Oreo in the middle, and a brownie at the top. For the ice cream we chose Tahitian vanilla. Tasty and popular dish. SERVICE: We walked in on a Saturday morning and got seated immediately. The place filled up a bit. Our female server was friendly and checked on us, along with another female associate who may have been a manager that came around to all the tables. OVERALL: Very good ramen and service. Who'd have thought?

The steak was too dry and charred even though I ordered medium, ramen was a little too salty and too fishy for my taste but probably because we ordered miso. The best thing about this place was the service with quick, friendly, and attentive servers.

It doesn't smell really good when you walk in-smells kind of old and stinky...but don't let that fool you. Kenichi restaurant has pretty good food! We got BBQ chicken and pork cutlet, ramen, and the mahi katsu. The only plate we didn't like was the mahi- it wasn't fresh. Everything else was yummy!! And great value for Hawaii.

Consistently great food every time. Wonderful pleasant low key casual atmosphere. The ramen is next level good. I like the tonkatsu cuz I like spicy. Customer service is great, they are very friendly.

The food was ok. Kalbi was too salty. Mandoo was really chewy. The pork chop was a bit dry. The best part of the meal was the Brookie Ala Mode

I can see for sure many local people love this restaurant. The majority of customers are local, which as a traveler like me do need to taste and feel why and how famous the restaurant is. Waiting time during rush hours is usually less than 30 minutes. For the food, they are perfectly awesome. The restaurant looks dated, family owned, and full of history. Many stuff I believe they have been in the restaurant since its grand opening. I am not complaining, but I actually like it too. Something original should keep its original. Nor their price is crazy expensive too. I ordered the Kim chee fire rice(appetizer), which costs me about $10, and I got a big plate as surprise. I thought it was two orders' quantity. If come at day time, parking maybe bit trouble, but in the evening, parking shouldn't be a problem. Just to be fair, they are not 6 stars Michelin restaurant. Please don't expect they must have 6 stars customers' skills for tourists. Overall, 5 stars. For culture, history, and awesome food. Thank you.

This place was amazing! I already have gone here and the food ceased to amaze! Sadly, I could not capture enough pictures before the food was devoured. We went here a second time and received the same amazing food. Luckily, I was able to capture some photos. We ordered the ramen, boneless Korean chicken, and the bone-in too! Service is great as well and the bathrooms are fairly clean. Overall, this is a must go place and we will definitely be returning again.

I can't say enough good things about this place! Kenichi has quickly become one of my favorite spots to go in town. The menu is a fantastic fusion of Japanese and local flavors, and everything I've tried has been delicious. First off, the Korean Chicken is a game changer--crispy, flavorful, and just the right amount of spice. If you're a ramen lover, you absolutely have to try their Spicy Miso Ramen; it's the perfect comfort food. One thing that always impresses me is the portion sizes. You definitely get your money's worth here! The Sizzling Ribeye is a crowd favorite and perfect for sharing (if you're feeling generous). And don't skip the fried pork chops--they're simply mouthwatering! The atmosphere is laid-back and inviting, making it a great spot for families and friends to gather. The staff is super friendly and attentive, which adds to the overall welcoming vibe. Check them out

Chicken katsu was great and the amount of food was more than I expected Service was fast and efficient Ambiance was kinda drab Doggy bag was big enough for another full meal Would go back

I remember being sad about something, but I wasn't sad about it anymore after eating here. Restaurant is super home-y in a way and it was pretty lively when we were there. It was pretty packed, but the vibes were chill. Don't remember what the plate is called, but definitely get their katsu. Anything with katsu in it will most likely be delicious (and worth it). Juicy cutlet with a nice breaded crunch. We also ordered a bowl of ramen - soup really hit the spot. Would be more than happy to order either again.

The service was very good. We were seated quickly and our server greeted us right away and explained the menu and specials. One order came out wrong but they apologized and made a new order without additional charge. Our server checked to make sure we were enjoying our meal and if we needed anything else. We were there at the peak on lunchtime so noisy level was a bit much. But everyone was pleasant and food was great.

We love the Chicken Katsu and the Mahi Katsu combo plate. But if you ask me everything on the menu is super good. Once it's 5 they get super busy even the phone lines is super busy to order. They sell bentos everyday at 10am. Don't forget to order the blueberry Cheesecake Crumble that's a must so onolicious.

Went possibly just before a lunch rush. Big portions delicious and we had a good service.

Always a delight to have dinner here with my family. Food is always delicious timing on a weekday is fast, evening might be a little wait but it's worth it. Price is very decent, my favorite is the prime rib steak, hot sizzling and everything else on the menu is a must try. If you catch the chef on a good day they serve bomb ginger fry chicken but you have to ask for it!!Our waiters are very nice space is a little tight but it works. We love going here as one of our hearty family dinner night on t. Thanks for having us.

I went as soon as they opened. I was seated and waited on right away. I was told the Pork chop and Kalbi was really good! I did try both. I also had the shrimp spring roll appetizer. The pork chop was very tasty! The Kalbi had great flavor but it wasn't very tender. The spring rolls weren't my favorite but overall this place isn't bad.

So after sight seeing, Merry Monarch festival and some family business it was time to eat. Kenichi came up on my list. So ono and so local. This is da kind I remember growing up on. The Kali marinade was solid. The fried pork chop good. Korean fried chicken was bomb. But da Buttah fish is broke da mouth. So hard to find on the mainland, and when you do it's so small. The buttah fish plate is not only ono but good size. Service was good. Our server was local, polite and informative. Good talk story with. If my travel brings me back to Hilo, I'll see you. Stay pono. Mahalo.

My family and I were visiting Hilo and wanted something fried! Of course I went with Tonkatsu while my brother ordered the Chicken Katsu. Both were very hefty portions especially for the price. Very crispy and delicious. Service was very nice and attentive!

Great local restaurant. Many entrees can be combined to make your own 2 choice mix plate. I got Korean chicken + Furikake salmon which were freshly made and satisfying. The miso butter fish was very flavorful but a tad salty. Reasonably priced. Would like to return to try other dishes like Ramen or Tripe stew.

I did a take out order prior to the hilo parade. Got 2 orders of gyoza, 2 furikake salmon and 1 sizzling NY steak.... one of the gyoza was BURNT and didnt realize until after.

I LOVE KENICHIS! one of hilo's top spots for the best local food and more. We ordered the sizzling ribeye steak, fried pork chops, and chicken katsu/ton katsu combo. The food was a 10/10. A tip I learned is if you're getting the ribeye id ask for it rare/medium rare depending on how you want your steak cooked. Since it comes out on the hot pan it's still cooking. I've been here multiple times and would also recommend the korean chicken. The service was exceptional and the food came out fast. The portion sizes are very generous and price is pretty reasonable. If you're looking for good local grinds come to kenichis.

A friend recommended this place, saying its where locals go, so we decided to try it. When I looked at their yelp page, the dish that kept coming up was their ribeye and butter fish, so we had to try those two. It did not disappoint! The ribeye came in two sizes and I wish I got the bigger one. It comes in a hot sizzling skillet; its one of those dishes that everyone looks at while they bring it out because the sizzling sound is so loud. It was tender, full of flavor and we enjoyed every bite. MUST GET. The butter fish was also tender, flaked off easily with a fork. The portion isn't that big, though it also comes with rice.

Looks like I'm not the only one who noticed the PM host is a little cranky. Aunty I work restaurants my whole life. If you listen to your customers instead of jumping to conclusions and talking over them you might find they actually all aren't that bad. Anyways I get it, work sucks. /rantover On to the review. Big party, we had to sit separately, no big deal. Our server was friendly and helpful when it came to ordering. The place almost filled up completely in the first half hour of being open but food came out fast. - Kimchee fried rice 3/5. Nothing special. - Curry Ramen with cheese (seems like they using saimin noodle not ramen noodle) 3/5. Same as above - Boneless Korean Chicken 3/5. Ditto. - Sizzling Ribeye 4/5. Steak cooked perfectly, seasoned right, but again nothing too special or mindblowing. Hits the spot if you want steak though. All in all for a diner-like atmosphere the value / portions were fair and service quick. Recommend for a easy, inexpensive dinner to fill the opu.

Came for the food. Stayed for the playlist. Left with a heart break. Definitely coming back and recommending for all to grub at.

Can't believe that after all my many visits to Hilo I have never been to Kenichi's which is a 4 min walk from my uncle's house! When we went at 6:00 on a Saturday night, it was full. We didn't have to wait in line which was nice, but we did have to wait quite a while to order and get our food. I wasn't hungry so I ordered an appetizer of fried iidako which was good but personally I would have preferred a lighter batter. Uncle got a heaping plate of tonkatsu which I tried it and gave a thumbs up. Aunty got soba with tempura which I didn't see on the menu. Service was friendly. Typical Hilo style feel, popular with the locals.

Menu of Kenichi on 2/9/2024 Pretty solid service, great grinds, and they got our order right.

OMG! This place is the best place in Hilo! The Ribeye steak tastes better than a $62 steak at any hotel resort on Island! ... and the sizzling plate kept my steak hot until the last bite. It didn't just broke da mouth, it broke the whole damn face!! So worth the drive from Kailua-Kona! The Kona coffee was great! The shrimp egg rolls are tasty and crunchy and full of flavor. I wanna eat here every night if possible!! Service was great, and the staff was hard working and very friendly.

My first time at the iconic Restaurant Kenichi! It was like stepping back into time in a good way. Seems like the place that everyone goes and kinda knows one another. My friends and I weren't super hungry so we ordered some saimin and the shrimp rolls that were one of the specials. The small saimin had a good flavor and was pretty big! I didn't even finish it. And it was less than $10!!! The shrimp rolls were crispy and cooked to perfection. They came out piping hot. I was wondering what they used for the wrap. It was crunchy yet delicate. The service was ok. Nothing special and not bad either. Next time I would like to try the Korean Chicken they're known for.

6/13/2023 Restaurant Kenichi 684 Kilauea Ave Hilo, HI 96720 I went there for dinner on a Wednesday evening. There is some parking next to the building and I suppose you could also use the lot on the other side after business hours. It's a local Japanese/Fusion style diner and popular with local folks. It used to be Kay's if you're old enough to remember. I was seated promptly and ordered the Grilled Saba which came with rice and a house salad with Oriental dressing. There were two large juicy grilled fillets which I had to use a little salt to enhance the taste. Service was fast and attentive throughout. The prices were a good value with lots of food, many diners were leaving with take home boxes. I give it 5 stars for the value and diner venue. Definitely repeatable.

Back again and they still have it going on. Local grindz that are sure to please. Live that they did some remodeling as well. Great staff. A must stop when in Hilo!

Not a fan of the old lady with glasses and short hair. Asked if they had kama'aina discount bc a lot do. She gives me an attitude and says "what not cheap enough fo you?" First time here and last time ever.

Great spot we checked out our first night in Hilo. Really liked the Korean chicken salad. The chicken was crispy and dressing was so good. BBQ beef had good flavor. Portions were quite big.

It was a...very...BUSY day...LONG day and TIRING day! Therefore, we were too lazy to go out to dinner, so we decided to pick up from somewhere. My sister in law and my husband mentioned...RESTAURANT KENICHI, so we phoned in our take out order. Ordering and picking up was a breeze. Here is our order: 1. KOREAN BBQ chicken: tasty but not as crispy. Just a tad disappointed because the chicken was kinda' soggy. I like fried chicken...CRISPY. 2. BBQ BEEF: I really enjoyed this dish! The meat was...VERY TASTY and VERY TENDER! It was nicely marinated beef! Yum! 3. SHOYU RAMEN: my niece ordered this so not sure how it tasted? 4. MISO RAMEN: I thought the miso ramen was your typical bowl of noodles. It was good. So, if you looking for home cooked local foods, go to RK! You'll thank me for that!

I was craving local food and soo happy i found restaurant kenichi! We had such a lovely dinner. Make sure to come with an appetite because they have generous portions! Lots of wonderful menu options to choose from. To start we had the gyoza and miso soups. Most flavorful miso soup ive ever had. They have everything from local food, ramen and salads. I ordered the chicken katsu and the panko furikake salmon - YUM! despite the huge portions, i finished all my food! It was that good. It came with a side of rice and mac salad. My friends ordered the grilled kalbi and the korean chicken - everyone was happy with their choices! Good vibes, amazing food, and friendly staff. What more can one ask for?

Their food is delicious and also love their dessert. Decatur to a lot of people that I know, and they enjoy their service as well.

Friendly staff and delicious food... what else do you want? I will visit this restaurant again when I'm back in Hilo

The best butterfish on the island! So ono! Fresh, flaky, buttery and moist! The first time we came here, we had to come back the next night . Now it's a must when in Hilo. Service is nice and feels like you're at your aunties or uncles house. I also like the Korean chicken salad, soloing streak, and galbi. Everything is fresh and flavorful, plenty of parking in the back.

Not many places are open on Mondays in Hilo, so it was nice to find that Restaurant Kenichi is. We placed a phone order for three plates, and it was ready for pickup when we got there. I ordered the mini furikake salmon plate. It came with white or brown rice and tossed salad, Mac salad, or kimchee. The mini was a good size for me, which came with one piece of salmon. The salmon was flavorful and came with two sauces, which I think were unagi and a sriracha-Mayo one. The salmon was a little on the dry side though. I also had some of the kalbi from a friend, which was very flavorful and a perfectly tender texture. I also liked the kimchee that came with my mini plate.

Went twice for dinner. Nice, casual dining. Good number of options, really nice salads! It wasn't too busy the first time we went there but we did have to wait awhile to get our entrees. The next time we went it was busy so we had to wait awhile to be seated. Food came out quickly. Overall good food and great service!

Food, great flavor simple old fashion local style. We had chicken katsu, kalbi, pork chop, hamburger steak and ramen. Everything was satisfying! Our waiter Jontae a few awesome qualities that stood out happy, welcoming, kind and caring. His energy and smile makes you feel how we embrace the aloha spirit. We live Oahu and it's really comforting to see local places still flourishing made me miss my grandma great place we'll be back

Ordered the Korean fried chicken wings and Miso soup. The chicken wings were huge, tender, and juicy. Service was quick and attentive. Definitely recommend Kenichi if you are in Hilo!

Delicious homestyle food! My favorite has to be the seared salmon Caesar salad. Friendly staff who know their stuff!

great banana cream pie. got the bbq beef and it was soooo good and huge portion. great price too for what you get. staff was very nice. wasnt crazy about the decor but we were ther fot the food and it didnt disappoint.

Ramen was really great! Service was wonderful! And we love the family oriented feel of the restaurant.

Amazing local/Japanese place! Large portions and delicious food! Spicy Miso Ramen was so flavorful, filled with just -right cooked noodles and yummy bbq beef! Butterfish was perfect and the Mac salad was just like Grandma's!

Wonderful local food. We stopped in for ramen and enjoyed it. Kenichi was recommended to us. We will be back on our next visit.

Best and most authentic ramen on the Big Island. The quality and taste is always consistently good, and the other Japanese offerings are always good as well. My go to place for Japanese food.

I wanted to make sure I stopped by at Kenichi on Tuesday to get their Tuesday special, Ginger Chicken. Before I get into food details, I wanted to mention the kind, patient, and helpful service we received. Okay, ginger chicken! This is like a marriage between Japanese style fried chicken (karaage) and finely grated mild ginger. It was so good I just wanted to eat this daily. Furikake salmon was also very delicious; subtle flavour of both furikake and salmon, with the combination of mac salad was perfect. Gyoza was good, but these paled in comparison to the entree. If you are used to Japanese gyoza these do not quite resemble in flavour, however, good on their own terms. Highly recommend Kenichi!

Came here on a visit to Hilo. All of us were happy with our food choices and that rarely happens. We ordered Korean chicken plate, seared salmon plate, mahi katsu plate, and shoyu ramen. And the service was excellent!

So we heard great thing about this place and had to try it before heading back home. Brada JB was our server and he provided excellent customer service and very knowledgeable about their food. We got the Kalbi & Breaded pork chops combo and miso butterfish. We ordered another Breaded pork chops to take back Oahu since it was so good. Will definitely be back when in the island

Love this place! It's my go to spot in Hilo. Great local place for great Korean chicken and desserts. Nothing fancy but very very good food and great service!!

Great local food at a decent price. Their ramen is the best in Hilo by far. I heard they frown on tipping. Just saying. I left 1$ Regards Beau Toichi

Amazing family dinner at Kenichi's...w/ a plethora of Japanese Fusion entrees: Curry Ramen, Butter Fish, Pork Katsu and Teri Beef dishes to name a few...couldn't have had a more perfect fellowship w/ Hilo fam! Thank you, Sir Mikey for a splendid dinner. Call them before coming, as hours may vary esp during Covid-regulations, which atm is back to take-out only.

Restaurant Kenichi is a must-visit spot and it's my go to restaurant in Hilo. The flavors of the dishes are always spot-on, and the staff is friendly and accommodating. My personal favorites at Restaurant Kenichi are the steak plate and salmon belly plate. Both dishes are cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor. The steak is always juicy and tender, with a perfectly seared crust, and the salmon belly is melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The staff at Restaurant Kenichi is always welcoming and friendly, making the dining experience even better. They're happy to make recommendations or answer any questions you might have about the menu. The prices are reasonable for the portion sizes.

Great local spot. SUPER generous portions. Tasty food. We went on a Wednesday night and they were very busy. Long wait for food. Seemed like they were understaffed.

Wow, is this place incredible! The whole family and I went to this Korean / Japanese / Hawaiian fusion spot for dinner and everything was a banger - we can vouch for the majesty of the chicken katsu, tonkatsu ramen, shoyu ramen, Korean chicken, Ube ice cream, banana cream pie, and the blueberry crumble cheesecake. They were all awesome; in fact, writing about it makes me want to go there again for my last meal before traveling back home. I'd give this six stars if I could! P.s. the portions here are big - the picture in my review is of the small portion katsu chicken and that was the perfect amount for me. As you can see, it's still a lot of food!

Delicious food good portions. Nice restaurant for families. Would reccomend their ribeye and also pork chop is yummy! Their dessert menu is awesome too!