Kiibo Restaurant

Ate here on our last day before flying out that evening. I was hesitant about getting "plain" Japanese food in Kauai, but this place is great (anything but plain). Prices are reasonable, portions are generous and we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner - flew home full.

Excellent food. The minimalist ambience was relaxing. Service was prompt and kind. Food portions were very generous. You'll leave full and content I guarantee it. Try the matcha IPA and the agedashi katsu, it's delicious.

Another highlight from the trip. The first night we tried to get a table and it was too full. We returned the next day and got dinner and it was definitely worth it. I enjoyed my dinner. The cabbage, salad, and entree was fantastic. The portions were great. My husband loved his ramen. I will definitely be returning.

Great authentic Japanese restaurant in Lihue area. The grilled mackerel was very fresh, and prepared perfectly. Reservation recommended.

Lunch here was excellent. Had chicken katsu don. Service is good and the inside is a gem. Would recommend for lunch or dinner. Lunch prices are fair. They also take to-go orders. Edit 2/18/20: Went back & had Chicken Ginger dish. Picture below. Parking - a few parking spots located right in front. If full, find a place down the street.

Great Japanese food here. The waitress was super helpful and even though they didn't have everything available, the food we ordered was delicious! The tofu and shrimp was great and my companion loved the teriyaki beef.

I had sushi for years in California and Japan. I can assure you this is the worst sushi of the world. I write my review here at no cost. I am trying to save you from becoming another victim like Me suffer from fake censoring reviews of yelp. I ordered sukiyaki and sashimi but the sashimi only has tuna what are ripped off to the customer. Please come to this yucky place and suck with disgusting food and wasted time and money for this place.

Kevin and Dean are wonderful! I would highly recommend going to Kiibo Restaurant. It is a beautiful atmosphere with amazing staff.

I had been to Kiibo a few times before their recent remodel. The food and service were always great, especially since authentic Japanese food is hard to find when we visit Kauaʻi (from Maui). I was back on Kauaʻi last week, and I remembered that their social media said they were now open for lunch. So, we decided to go... ...EXCELLENT CHOICE! The remodel is absolutely stunning--well-lit, chic, with an authentic and welcoming feeling. Something you'd expect to see in Honolulu or even Japan. The food was also excellent. Something as seemingly simple as good zaru soba and tempura are amazingly difficult to find in Hawaiʻi in general (the soba is often mushy, and the tempura is more thickly battered okazu style). But, at Kiibo, the soba was perfectly chewy...it, along with the tempura, was basically identical to what I often eat in Japan. My dining partner ordered the katsu and said it was basically the same what he has gotten in Japan...just a little larger. If you're on Kauaʻi, and you're craving delicious authentic Japanese food, I highly recommend Kiibo!

I appreciate this spot so much, because they accommodated our huge party of 20 people flawlessly! We had a lot of dietary restrictions as well in the group. The owners and staff are super sweet as well, and food is fantastic. I got the tonkatsu teishoku and it was super flaky and juicy.

It is always a good sign when you see Japanese people eating at a Japanese restaurant, or Mexicans at a Mexican restaurant, etc..... you know what I mean? That was the case at Kiibo and although there were many people waiting to be seated before us, we only had to wait for 10 minutes to get our table for 4. The space was clean and very zen. We ordered the kids tempura meal, the agedashi tofu, fried chicken, lots of sashimi and rolls... It didn't take long for our food and drinks to arrive. Everything looked beautiful and tasted so fresh and delicious (mouth watering as I write this). It was hands down one of the best restaurant experiences we had during our stay in Kauai. Our kids loved everything and so did we... I wish my stomach was bigger so I could try more of the dishes. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to come back during our vacation but now I know where I'll definitely visit next time I'm in Kauai. If you're visiting Lihue definitely stop here.

It's a Monday but also Labor Day and this restaurant was open. I had called prior to their opening but they called me back which was super thoughtful! They let me reserve and we showed up a few hours later. They really treat everyone like Ohana and the service is amazing. Really comfortable environment and cute decor. Many great options, we went with the curry katsu and the combo tempura and tonkatsu. The combo pick two comes with miso, salad, and ice cream and totally worth it! Also matcha IPA is amazing. Highly recommend to locals and visitors! :)

Restaurant Kiibo is our favorite restaurant on the island due to superb service, great atmosphere and wonderful food. Our favorite is the unagi. Fresh and expertly prepared traditionally over coals, each and every time. So rich and decadent it needs to be savored. It is a perfect dish. We also enjoy the tempura. Prepared fresh when ordered. The batter is light and crisp and perfectly fried. We love the mochi tofu appetizer. So unique and perfectly prepared it covers many tasting profiles: crunchy, chewy, salty and sweet. Delicious. If you get the opportunity to try Restaurant Kiibo, you must.

This is probably our favorite restaurant in Lihue and definitely one of the best sit-downs on the island. My family came for dinner after looking for a meal a little different from Hawaiian BBQ and sushi. Our Katsu and Tonkatsu were tender with a light, flaky, well-seasoned crust. Butterfish was just flaky enough and rich; it was simmered in a light sweet soy-based sukiyaki sauce that was a tasty change from the typical miso marinaded black cod I've had. I've had Tofu Agedashi plenty before, but here I tried their concept of a Katsu Agedashi as part of the two dish combination with Butterfish -- dashi broth is sweet, lightly salted, and a nice light alternative to ordering Katsu curry or Tonkatsu. Both the authentic food, portions, and friendliness of our table service impressed us a ton. Might just be back for a second visit this trip.

We're finally back again.We came for dinner.As always we were greeted with a smile n hello welcome!.No problems with service e.Always good but,The food always didn't disappoint as well!.This time I got the 2 choice of Teishoku.The beef Sukiyaki n teriyaki chicken.I was blown away of how much food there was!.It took some time n I finally finished the beef sukiyaki but I could not finish the teriyaki chicken so I took it home.Everything was so tasty n good!.So my girl friend got the Chicken katsu Donbori.It was good size bowl.She couldn't finish it as well so she took the rest home for her lunch for the next day.She enjoyed it.Great taste n filling.We left happy!.Can't wait to come back.Maybe next pay check??.So if want some good food?Good service?enjoy a nice n cool place to have a meal?.Come here!!.You won't be disappointed!..

Food was amazing and service as well. Kevin was very helpful and accommodating with our large party. Definitely recommend it and will be back.

Probably one of the best places and best Japanese places to eat on Kauai. The food is really authentic. The service is also really good like you would expect from a good japanese restaurant (wink to our server Natsumi). Parking in front is limited but you should be able to find parking in the area.

Restaurant Kiibo is a small dining venue.....Reservations definitely recommended. We have dined here on several occasions and the food is a hit or miss. This time it was a miss. My girlfriend and I were disappointed with the beef sukiyaki. The flavor was good...but the sliced beef was cooked wadded up in a ball and overcooked. . Another friend said the Goma (sesame) ramen was tasty except he couldn't taste the sesame flavor until he was almost at the bottom of the bowl. He thought the top was basically chicken broth(?). Last but not least, hubby had the chicken tofu. His dish was probably the best. I only wish it had veggies. The chicken was tender and the broth was flavorful.

We were in the mood for some home style Japanese food and read that this would be a good place. Since they don't take reservations for small parties we took a risk and drove down to give it a shot. It was about 7:30 and there was only one party waiting so we got seated after waiting for 15 minutes. The restaurant is quite small so seating is limited and tables are pretty close together. The menu had a good selection of traditional dishes but they only serve sushi during certain hours so I would advise calling if that is what you are craving. I ended up with combo with a deliciously grilled saba and vegetable tempura. The portions were very generous and included rice, salad, miso soup and even dessert. Everything was prepared well and service was friendly and efficient. The restaurant closes at. 9pm and by 8:45 it had emptied out. So we felt we needed to rush. Since it's Kauai and everything closes early we were forgiving and laughed it off

Went to Kiibo for a family dinner and our whole experience from beginning to end was great. Hostess was so friendly and helpful and our server was great too, checking on us making sure we had what we need. The food was so good too and we can't wait to go back again! Mahalo Kiibo

Hands down the best chicken teriyaki I've ever had. So juicy! And really generous portions. On top of it all, the staff were incredibly friendly.

Love that they offer delicious sushi for lunch, now Their new hours are more convenient for us

Absolute gem of a place. First of all, the restaurant was spotlessly clean, beautiful wall deco and nice music. Service fast and with care. Agedashi tofu - (4/5) Brothy savory sauce. The tofu itself was delicately fried and had a great texture. Wish there was more though. Katsu curry - (5/5) BEST katsu curry I've ever had. The katsu was fried with fine panko and just had such a refreshing crispness to it. The curry itself was rich and the perfect addition to the rice. Ramen - (5/5) The chicken broth was balanced and delicious; ramen noodles were cooked to perfection as well. Side note: their napkins are of such good quality.

Visit date: 7/25/24 I finally made it to Kauai and made this my first stop! There's plenty parking in the back if not in the front. The outside was clean and well put together. It's very private when you enter as there are curtains separating the entrance from the dining room. We had a reservation and were seated right away by Kevin. The inside had soft light which was nice and made the experience feel more intimate. It's a good sized restaurant with around 15 tables (don't quote me on that lol). Our server Natsumi came to our table and explained the menu. She was very helpful and even ordered me her picks for my main cuz I couldn't decide Everything was done in a quick and professional manner. Our order: Tamagoyaki- slightly sweet and topped with daikon. I wish I had gotten two cuz I didn't wanna share;p Agedashi tofu- very crispy bite sized tofu in a delicious broth. Great for sharing. Teriyaki mochi- dang this was so good lol. I'd say this is for sure a must try! Ton katsu teishoku- TWO big tonkatsu for the 1 choice teishoku. Very generous portion and delicious. Beef teriyaki + miso butterfish teishoku- my servers choices for me. The beef teriyaki was thinly sliced and tender. butterfish I LOVED because it wasn't slathered in miso like some other places. It was so soft and easy to find the bones cuz they fell right off. Also came with 3 pieces of delicious eggplant. Coffee ice cream- lapperts coffee ice cream was a great way to end our meal! Hot tea- the brand of hot tea they use is spectacular. If I wasn't so full I probably would have had a third pot lol Definitely recommend this place and can't wait to return to try more items! When I was looking around the tempura also looked very generous so I'll probably try that next. Oh and the fries! Hehe.

Delicious! We arrive a little after 5 pm on a Thursday evening. No res, no wait. We were lucky! Reasonable prices and good food. We had the Tendon Donburi, Chicken Tofu, and Agedashi Chicken Katsu. We also had agedashi tofu and agedashi mochi!

Great service but a bit overpriced for what it is imo. The agadashi mochi was great, so dinner started on a good note. I was looking forward to an authentic Japanese meals similar to my experience on the other islands, but I guess i shouldn't compare, or expect such a thing...everything else we had seems to be on the sweet side...all in all it is a good place, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it...

Everything went well. Yummy Japanese food and great customer service! I highly recommend. Check hours as they open at later times.

Absolutely delicious food, friendly service, and great atmosphere/ambiance! Would definitely return!

Food and service were great!! The only thing I wish they had was more pictures of the food in the menu, but I love it!!

The food was excellent with a few things I've never had, like the chicken Katsu in age dash I sauce. The service staff were professional and friendly and the restaurant itself is very cozy.

Visited for a day and had a whirlwind of a time. Ended up our escapade with a nice dinner at Kiibo. Although this was my first (and certainly not my last) time here, we were met with hospitable staff and the warmest aloha. As many have mentioned, this restaurant is a staple for the local community and continues to shine on through its' refresh. We shared the agedashi tofu and mochi to start. I ended up getting the agedashi chicken katsu with some shrimp tempura on the side. All of the dishes left my stomach grinning immensely. The flavors here are quite authentic and it was giving motherland realness with the decor and ambiance. Pricing is as expected for the quality of flavor and offerings, especially coming out of the pandemic. The nice thing is that they also offer take out for those who want to experience the good flavors to-go. However--it is strongly recommended to dine in to experience the food in real time. As the indoor seating is limited, be sure to call ahead and make a reservation. You will be glad that you did. Will be back for more the next time I'm in town. Thank you again! ご馳走様でしたー！

Service is great, always smiling and friendly. Food is great and just the right portions.

Me and my husband got married less than 24 hours ago before eating at Kiibo and meeting the amazing owners and staff! Great ambiance, vibe, clean, and most importantly, AMAZING FOOD!!! We got curry ramen, one with shrimp and 2 with chicken katsu, beef teriyaki, fried mochi, agedashi tofu miso soup and salad. Everything tasted great! So flavorful but not overbearing! Staff was the best!! Recommend a thousand times!

Food was excellent ! Service was excellent ! The restaurant looks amazing, and wonderful Air conditioning -- we will definitely be going weekly !!!

Fantastic authentic Japanese home cooking. Great service. Miso soup was amazing, mugicha with desert a really nice touch. Wish they were open on Saturday & would have come back for lunch before our flight out.

Had an incredible meal last night. Wanted to eat outside of the resort and also stay in Lihue so read about the restaurant and also asked some locals who vouched for it. I had a 2 item teishoku with shrimp tempura (5 pieces) and butterfish nitsuke with eggplant. My dinner partner and I shared agedashi tofu. The butterfish was meaty and not bony, simmered in a delicious shoyu broth and the eggplant served on the side. Shrimp tempura were large and delicious. Teishoku came with miso soup, salad and small dish of tsukemono cabbage. AND a huge scoop of matcha ice cream for dessert. I tried a Kyoto matcha beer that was green but tasty and my friend had her favorite sake. So delicious!' May need to go back before I leave!

This restaurant has always been a classic for local people on Kauai seeking traditional Japanese food since 1976. The restaurant has recently remodeled with a modern interior. The Sata family that owns the restaurant is very passionate about their food and service and it shows! I came in for lunch and had the Agedashi Mochi as an appetizer which was crispy on the outside with a soft chewy mochi inside. For the main I got the Teri Fried Chicken which is fried chicken rolled in a delicious teriyaki sauce. Also tried the Matcha IPA beer. Everything was so Ono. I definitely will be coming back!

Very condescending hostess. Need some customer service training. Basic things like 'hey, I'll be right with you' and just not being rude go a long way..

Food: Amazingly delicious. And big portions. Authentic Japanese ramen bowls. EXCELLENT! Staff is adorable. Friendly and, of course, polite. Efficient and fast! Ambiance is of a local family oriented restaurant. You feel like part of the family. This restaurant is a true gem.

Small place in Lihue near the airport. Quite a busy place, highly recommended to make reservations. Freshly made tempura items may take a little time, but it's worth it. Also, good donburi bowls. No sushi at the moment, Hope they bring it back.

What I ordered: katsu-don with the fried katsu and egg sauce separate + additional Japanese curry sauce cup on the side for a $5 surcharge, pick-2 combo of beef sukiyaki and beef teriyaki We were also served complementary pickled veggies, cabbage salad, miso soup, green tea, and barley tea for our meal. Spent just over $80 without tip included, none of the accoutrements are pictured unfortunately as our table was smaller than our appetite. What I thought: the most amazing service & food experience I've had on Kauai thus far, I cannot recommend this place enough. We walked in an hour before they closed and had a complicated order and they absolutely nailed what I wanted on the head, our server was a very nice Asian woman who I can't remember the name of. Bf and I ordered so much food we'll have delicious dinner leftovers for breakfast tomorrow!

What makes a great dining experience? Food, service, atmosphere, and price. Kiibo exceeded expectations in all of these areas. If only we stayed another day, we would definitely come back here again. Food came out piping hot and was cooked to perfection, service was great, the ambiance was serene and inviting, and price was reasonable. Overall, it was a very enjoyable dining experience.

We have been visiting Kaua'i every year for almost 30 years and have been looking for an good Japanese restaurant for years. Kintaro has been our "go to" restaurant for years but Kiibo was a refreshing surprise. Their menu, though smaller selection than Kintaro, the dishes that we did try were excellent. I come from a Japanese American family who grew up on authentic Japanese cooking. Their dishes rival what I grew up on. Their beef sukiyaki, chicken tofu, and katsu chicken curry dishes were excellent. Their tempura was lightly coated and again outstanding. Service was excellent and food came out quickly. Smaller restaurant with about seating for about 40 people. A must try!!

Great Japanese restaurant without sushi. We went there before thinking there was sushi and was disappointed. However we realized that they had other delicious offerings to our delight.

Still the best place for Japanese food we are obsessed with their sweet potato tempura! Got two orders for our take out today but only one made the trip home

Perfect spot to have a Japanese meal in Kauai. Not too many great restaurants out there. The female server was so sweet and did a great job. The fact that she was surprised by how polite we were made me sad that anyone could ever be unkind to her. The food was pretty basic but done nicely. Apparently the restaurant was renovated a couple years ago so it was chic inside. I was excited to try the matcha IPA because green is my favorite color and it just so happened to be St. Paddy's Day. I rarely drink IPAs due to the bitterness. This beer honestly reminded me of the taste of NyQuil but I drank it all, anyway.

We wanted to try a Japanese restaurant and tried this place. It's highly recommended to make a reservation because it's not that big of a place and it gets crowded. We loved the food and the service was fast! We loved the sukiyaki and furukake fries!

WOW! Some of the best food I've had in a while. I was visiting from NY and the food was so good we had to come back a second time prior to leaving. The environment feels more like a local restaurant rather than a tourist trap. Our waiting staff was so friendly and gave recommendations. The first time I tried the sesame ramen bowl which was amazing! The nuttiness of the sesame with the flavors tied in with the noodles. The second time I got the chicken teriyaki which had great flavor, and a perfect proportion of sauce and rice. For dessert we had Kona coffee ice cream and pumpkin crunch ice cream which was a great addition to the end of the meal. If you're in the area, you need to check out!

We had a great time dining at Restaurant Kiibo. The 2-choice teishoku offers exceptional food--and you can choose two items that you like from the menu. Also comes with a very generous serving of ice cream. The chicken tofu, misoyaki butterfish and beef sukiyaki are the real deal. Best restaurant we've tried on Kauai.

Visiting Kaua'i and friends recommended Kiibo as the best Japanese food in Lihue. It did not disappoint. We arrived and was greeted by friendly hostess. Restaurant was busy but seated quickly. Our server was very friendly also, made some recommendations, got our order in and our food came out fresh and quickly. The tonkatsu and tempura was both light and crispy. The teriyaki had great flavor and was soft. Salad and miso was good too. Highly recommend Kiibo! You can tell they take pride in food and customer service. Reminded me of visits to Tokyo. Go check them out. Authentic Japanese food!

5 stars all the way! It was that good. With the completed new renovations to the restaurant on the inside and out, the ambiance and decor o Lu added to the dining experience. Our waitress was spot on, the owner even came by to check on us. Even the other workers checked in on each other's tables, that was service. The food, ok the food. Was delicious. Quality and quantity. I had the shrimp tempura and Tofu pork. With ice cream. I went home satisfied and full. A high recommendation!

Cravings satisfied!!! I'd go here just to have their adegashi mochi appetizer, miso soup, and green tea ice cream. Everyone in our Ohana orders something different. I personally like their combo choices because you can get both of what you like!

My expectations was high but the outcome was subdue. Cons: 1. Sake for $25, another restaurant I drank the same one for $19 westside Japanese restaurant. 2. Butterfish I don't mind paying for it as it's one of my fav. The portion was perfect but the taste was such a disappointment- flat in flavor. Pros: 1. Staff were welcoming & attentive. 2. Loved the remodel. It was bittersweet returning to a restaurant that I loved to go b4 the pandemic. Last year they were short staffed so they were closed on the only available day I could go. I can say that they seem very busy as there are always ppl waiting to get in (not a very big place) because of that there is a dining time limit that they ask you adhere to. This is an iconic restaurant so I'm sure or I hope they remain open for business.

Super ono food with great customer service! Had katsu curry with cheese and shrimp tempura...Best meal I had on this trip

Small family owned place with no frills food. Frequented mostly by locals. Always packed but they provide excellent service. Pork katsu : juicy tender and crispy on the outside Tempura: they are known for their tempuras. Not greasy but super crispy. Ramen: noodles were cooked Al dente. I got the sesame broth and it was a bit heavy for me. Fried mochi appetizer: to die for. So good.

Haven't been in so long. We love the butter fish! It's soo good. So if you go you have to try it. The owners of this place is so nice and we just love them. Service is amazing and since their remodel it's just a nice place to be.

On the penultimate evening of our Kauai visit, we finally got to try cooked Japanese food. This smallish restaurant with a clean line wood exterior was recommended by a local we met during our morning walk. We ordered a takeout of basic entrees (teriyaki beef, saba, tempura, Zaru soba, and udon) on way back to our hotel after a long day of sightseeing and water activities. The quality of the Japanese standard meal was rather ordinary: the beef being too sweet for our taste and the saba with plenty of bones. While we're all for supporting local business, the additional 5% container fee and 3% kitchen service charge pushed our total bill pass $200, making it a pricey meal for 4 adults and three young keikis.