Sushi Sasabune

Fantastic high end sushi restaurant. Worth the price tag, but be prepared for it if you have never been. We paid $200 per person when we went. I've had high quality sushi and sushi with great flavors before, but this is the best I've ever had of both worlds. Extremely high quality fish and really well played out flavors in the offerings. Highly reccomend this place.

My wife and I were excited to try this restaurant, lured by the promise of an Omakase experience, which traditionally means a chef-curated meal where each dish is a surprise, tailored to the diner's preferences and the chef's creativity. Unfortunately, what we encountered was a stark departure from the Omakase promise and more of an ala carte experience. The price mark-up on beverages was astonishing; a bottle of Kubota sake, typically $29, was priced at an eye-watering $120 here. While the meal began on a mediocre note, it wasn't until the fourth dish that we began to see a glimmer of quality. However, any semblance of a fine dining ambiance was shattered by a disruptive argument between two servers in the kitchen, complete with a two-minute tirade of F-bombs and a final, resounding "you're done, bro." This was not the serene, focused culinary experience we anticipated. Our quest for an alternative to our favorite sushi spot, Sushi ii, led us here. While Sushi ii offers an exceptional selection of exotic and delectable seafood, where each dish feels like a curated journey, this place fell dramatically short. If you're in search of a local spot that delivers on the Omakase experience or even just a high-quality ala carte menu, I wholeheartedly recommend giving Sushi ii a try instead. In the end, our bill totaled $512.00—a sum we wouldn't mind parting with for a memorable experience. Sadly, this was memorable for all the wrong reasons. While we always champion exploring new culinary landscapes, this experience was a stark reminder that not all journeys end in delight.

Oh man, this is my favorite place I have been for sushi ever. When they say “trust me” you should! We had about 14 courses and the rice was properly seasoned, warm, and the fish fresh, and innovative! There’s one dish where they peel the tuna apart layer by layer so each bite is just the most tender, buttery tuna you’ve ever eaten. Everything was amazing and you should just go. Cost was around $120 or so for 14 courses, and I’d happily pay that price again and again and again.

Having had omakase in NYC and other places, I found this to be just ok for the price. Most of the servings were good, but unlike other where we have been wowed with every dish. They do keep bringing plates out one after another with no time to breath which I did not like. 2 pieces per serving is fine but they literally bring another plate before you can swallow the previous serving. Atmosphere has much to be desired given the price. Next time in honolulu we would try a different place.

My wife and I were let down by the experience, as well as the taste of the food. Oily and fried do not equal an upscale Omakase experience. I should have left when I noticed the toaster oven placed prominently in the chefs workspace. Many guests stopped the courses early as a way to save money, as the total cost exceeds $250 per person. Some of the sushi was well prepared but overall the lobster and oysters received in tinfoil made me feel like I was on an episode of hells kitchen... I recommend Sushi Sho for an amazing Omakase experience, I would have happily paid $60 for my experience at Sasabune. Lastly the staff recommend miso soup to end the meal and "settle the stomach". It was one of the more flavorful parts, but the idea that we need to settle stomachs after 14 courses is evidence that the menu should be reconsidered and focus on the raw fish.

Alright, Sasabune was great. Delicious even. It was also quite expensive but worth it at the time at nearly $500 for the both of us. Reason for the 3 stars? It was the only meal my wife and I shared this week because she works all the time. Every other meal I had with my kids and we are both sick today on a Saturday after eating at Sasabune on Thursday night. It could be just us for all we know, but we're both uhh... going #1 and & #2 at the same time.

This place is totally overrated. Food is good but the chefs are too stuck up. When my bf tried to ask a question, head chef just gave us a stern look with impatience, he waved in silence to brush us off. I mean I am an Asian tourist visiting Waikiki from Asia. I know Japanese foods very well and been to too many restaurants. This service obviously sucks. They think too highly of themselves. Maybe because there is little competition thus the bad attitude. Usually we go to a fine sushi bar for a great conversation with chefs behind counters and appreciate the refine delicacy they prepare with their hearts. This experience just sinks to the bottom especially for a cheerful couple who’s celebrating our 10th anniversary in Honolulu. We both flew a long way cross the countries and states just to see the long faces of chefs. Sure that’s memorable. My bf has been here once, and he thought he’d bring me to try again. Food wise, I would give it 4 stars, not 5 stars. Everything is super fresh but nothing stands out. Seasoning is spot-on. . Ambiance and room decor is very mediocre. For the big money we paid…. We were totally not impressed. My bf will return to Honolulu many times for meetings, I for sure will advise him not to retunr and his banking industry friends or clients as well! Not a happy place to dine.

We try to plan a dinner at Sushi Sasabune whenever we visit Oahu. Having dined at some excellent sushi-ya in Tokyo, I think Sasabune delivers a very authentic Japanese dining experience. The price is in line for what you expect from a sushi restaurant that uses high-grade ingredients. The omakase menu is always a pleasure as you never know what the chef has planned for that evening. It is a little pricey but worth it. The quality of the fish used and the techniques employed are truly excellent. The pacing of the dinner was good. I never felt that things were coming too fast or too slow. Service was excellent and it was nice having each dish explained in detail. As we were leaving the restaurant I approached the chef to let him know how much we enjoyed our evening. He was very friendly. I told him I thought his restaurant was even better than XXXXXX, a famous, hard-to-get-reservations sushi-ya in Tokyo. He laughed and humbly said, "Thank you. It's just different. Just different."

Sasabune never failed to amaze me every single time we went! It is definitely on the pricier end of omakase, but it's definitely worth it! I love how they served both a local Japanese style sushi and a Hawaiian-Japanese fusion style sushi. The servers also explained in detail how each sushi is made and the ingredients they got it from. The seafood were just so fresh and it was definitely one of the best omakase experience I've had. We also got the sake and they served really good sakes too! The restaurant is pretty small, so definitely get a reservation in. If you're looking for a great omakase experience, then definitely check out Sasabune!

This was one of the first omakase I ate ever. It was quite a few years ago now, and I have had many more since then. I was such a novice at the time that I didn't know that I could tell them when I wanted to stop, so I just kept eating. I was really close to a medical emergency from overeating, lol. Well, fast forward to Thursday night. My girlfriend was craving sushi and I started the research. I checked out an article that listed a few of the best sushi restaurants on the island. One was closed for good, while a few others didn't have reservations available. Only two places had spots for us, one I had gone to a few months back. Feeling nostalgic, I decided on Sasabune. My girlfriend chose seats at the bar, which was a great idea. We got to see the sushi being prepared, and one of the sushi chefs always explained what we were eating and how to best enjoy each course. From amazing appetizers and sashimi, to masterfully prepared nigiri with a variety of flavors, textures and accents - it was an amazing experience. Uni from Hokkaido, lobster and oysters prepared two ways, toro, squid, mackerel, king salmon roe, yellowtail. . . it just went on and on. We finished with a delightful handroll and miso soup. We were treated to a variety of ocean delicacies from around the Hawaii and Japan, each course tastier than the previous one. Smoked shoyu, salted papaya, yuzu, ponzu, shiso. . .We tried tapping out when we felt we couldn't eat anymore, but hung in when we were told that there were only two courses left. While I enjoyed everything, my favorite was a lightly broiled lobster topped with a mild mayo-based sauce. I don't even like uni and it was really good. I guess you can ask for substitutions, there was another couple at the counter doing that, but we didn't sub anything out. Service was exceptional. Our water and tea were constantly refilled. And, our dishes were cleared as soon as we finished each course. At the end, we were treated to refreshing hot towels and offered dessert. I would instantly come again for any special occasion. Omakase isn't inexpensive and is a treat. It will be hard to go to another sushi place after experiencing Sasabune.

Out of all the meals I've had in my lifetime, this takes the cake for the most expensive yet rotten. I honestly think prepackaged nigiri from Nijiya tastes better. We aborted our omakase experience after tasting the bitter, mushy uni and our server muttered a racial slur when we asked for the check. Come here if you want to be served by arrogant, racist staff. They are laughing at you all the way to the bank.

We went there for a mentor dinner date. The sushi quality is incredible and beyond what we expected. I was under the impression that it was an 8-9 course meal but it was actually 15! We were so full after leaving. I hope to return here again soon!

Bring your appetite and do not ask for any condiments lol. This was a real special dinner and we were so full. The chefs prepare the sushi in front of you and they give you detailed directions on what to expect when you put the sushi in your mouth. Just close your eyes and enjoy the moment! The restaurant is super cute and has a lot of character. There is parking in the back or you can opt for street parking. It's very intimate! The chefs have their own character. Just go in person! The pics don't do justice! Just my opinion!! Domo Arigato!!

My husband tried their omakase and really enjoyed the way all their sushi had a unique flavoring or something that embodied the island. They have homemade ponzu and soy sauce they use on their fish which made it very special.

Food was unique, fresh, enticing flavors-----execpt for one raw oyster I had - told the waiter and he was like "sorry it hapens and i will take it off your bill" - Family thought highly of the food -celebrities frequent this spot- the wait staff did their jobs to serve and explain each course - nothing more, nothing less- azuki bean ice cream was kinda bland -

While in Hawaii we wanted to check out Don Quixote . As we drove by, I noticed this sign that said "Trust me". Immediately I was intrigued and searched up this restaurant on Yelp. After reading the raving reviews, we decided to cancel our reservation that we had for that night (another popular sushi restaurant) and called in for a same day reservation here. Some reviews warned about strict rules while eating here so we were nervous coming into the experience; however, the servers were nothing but amazing and quick when serving and cleaning up. There is no menu when you sit down, only a drinks menu. And your courses almost immediately start after you sit down. You don't know how many courses there are but every single bite was amazing. One of the best sushi's I've ever had. Each piece of sushi had a unique flare to it that sets it apart from the regular nigiris. The wasabi was super fresh as well. The restaurant is rather small but it has a different vibe i can't really explain. The total came out to $200 per person before tax and tip. Which from reading online reviews, I expected it to be a bit cheaper but this price point is still worth it for the food and experience. Next time, I will definitely book this restaurant earlier to get bar seating as I feel being next to the chef makes it a completely different experience for omakase especially. Highly recommend!

This was crazy lol. Decided to have a special dinner for bf's birthday. We love omakase so we were excited for this experience. I love sushi and sashimi so the creative courses were delicious and very filling. I liked how you could kind of keep going with the courses until you decide to stop. Though it was on the pricier side, we still really enjoyed ourselves. The waiters were really sweet and the inside was intimate. Lots of cultural decor and quiet music. One thing I would suggest is to be a bit clearer when describing each course, it was pretty hard to hear / understand the components of the dishes as they came out.

Amazing food, professional and friendly service, and a quiet Serene atmosphere that made this a delicious experience. This was the first time I had tried Sushi Omakase style and I cannot wait to do it again! The chef spoke clearly and gave us the significant details of a dish and really added to the overall satisfaction of my meal experience. They were flavors I had never had before in sushi and I will admit it has spoiled me from my usual sushi spots back home. I will be sure to come back on my visit to the island and reccomend it to all my sushi lovers.

Sasabune has been the best sushi I've ever had since the mid 2000's. My son is finally old enough to appreciate it and after I took him for some Omakase, he said flat out how it was the best he's ever had. You can't be disappointed at Sasabune or something is wrong with you. Arigatogozaimas!!!

We returned to this restaurant after 3 years, filled with excitement due to a fantastic first experience. However, my second visit left much to be desired. My pre-dining experience was disappointing. I booked a reservation a month in advance and inquired about vegetarian options since one person in our party is vegetarian. They initially said they had none but agreed to book for four with the understanding that the fourth person would only have drinks. On the day of the reservation, when they called to confirm, we reminded them about the vegetarian guest. Shockingly, they informed us that the chef's policy required everyone at the table to eat. This was news to us, and it was frustrating to learn of this policy only on the reservation day, not during the booking process. We explained the situation, but the restaurant remained inflexible and even rude. In the end, two of us had to make alternative dining plans, which was disappointing. Now, onto the food. It was a significant letdown compared to our previous experience. The Omakase had become more expensive, and the food quality had declined. The fish dishes were hit or miss, with some being tasty but an equal or greater number tasting mediocre. I must reluctantly agree with the negative reviews regarding both the attitude of the staff and the declining quality of the food. Sadly, there seems to be no compelling reason to return.

My go to place for Omakase! The food is always fresh and the service is attentive! It's on the pricier side but well worth it! their restroom is very clean and nice and they have lots of parking behind the building. So if you want a special night out and craving sushi go to Sasabune! You will not be disappointed!

Their signature omakase course consists of 13-14 courses, ranging between $160-$180 per person. You can stop at any given time and will only be charged for what you have eaten. Everything tasted amazing but my favorites of the meal were the bluefin tuna, salmon, and signature toro - the fish was so fresh and would literally just melt in your mouth!

It's been a week or so since I went to Sasabune and I still don't know how I feel about it. The first two dishes (my pictures) scared me because 1. The fish was not fresh 2. I didn't like it. To go to an omakase and not like the first 2 dishes was a bit concerning. Then came the nigiris- pretty good (except 1) so I was going back and forth. Oysters were not good either. Thing is... I got full fast (ate too much during lunch) and so we ended it half way or so. They do let you stop when you want. In the end, we paid $350 (got a sake about $50) tipped $50/60 I forgot. For the few pieces we ate to be about $125 each kind of bothers me because it really was not that good. As for service, the woman who was helping us was kind. What left a bad impression, was the male in the front. He just didn't seem too friendly and it showed when we asked about parking at the lot behind the restaurant. I would assume a restaurant would know more about their surrounding and the parking lot right behind them... Probably wouldn't recommend to others :/

We got in because there was a cancelation. I was recommended to try this place while on vacation. I was intrigued by the "stop when you're full" omakase meaning you let the chef know to stop serving you pieces or they will continue and your bill will be out of control. There were a couple of appetizers before the nigiri started coming out in pairs. I've never had omakase with 2 pieces at once.. There is no list of the fish that will be served. The chefs will tell you the name of the fish as they serve you the pieces. There is one chef who was difficult to understand so I couldn't remember the fish. I was told reservations were booked for 2 weeks, however, the dining area only had 2 tables seated, we sat at the bar. So maybe they're limited capacity because they're weren't packed. There were some good pieces, the squid stuffed with blue crab was my favorite. It was one of the appetizers. I felt like there were some repeated cuts of tuna for the nigiri. I could remember any particular nigiri that was really good. There is a small lot behind the complex for (paid) parking.

Great experience, went for a birthday and it is definitely a splurge as it is pricy but worth it. The flavors are great and some of the courses are really inventive. Definitely worth a try if it's in the budget.

This all-omakase is a true gem. We love sushi but are often stuck in a rut of ordering things we know we like. Here the chef chooses for you and you are certain to encounter new and different bites, and even those familiar to you will often have a different twist. Hands down, our favorite was the Hamachi and Ahi sashimi which was served with ponzu. Reminder to let them know when you're getting full-otherwise it will keep coming! Pricing is a la carte.

Sushi Sasabune never disappoints! I have been here twice now, and both times have been quite memorable. The (quality) food, service, and the experience is always impeccable! Note: I have to be honest, there are some Omakase course where I finish and I am still left hungry. However, after finishing Sushi Sasabune's Omakase course, I am always leaving with a full tummy of happiness.

I try to do an omakase every Hawaii trip and Sushi Sasabune has been on my list for a while. I was a little intimidated by the reviews stating that you can't have soy sauce and that the sushi master will get mad if you eat the sushi the wrong way. I'm a two bite kinda girl, so I was a little nervous at first. There was none of that! No! You don't need soy sauce because each fish is seasoned and prepared how it should be eaten. I think Americans are a little guilty of not knowing the "proper" way to enjoy sushi. I know I was. Everything plate was delicious, interesting and just well done, overall. There was nothing I was on the fence about though my husband had a hard time getting all the salmon roe down (LOL). We were full when we left, which honestly is a bit rare for us at an omakase. It is all sushi. The price was appropriate for what we had. It's a small place but comfortable and the service is inviting. I'm still doing the Omakase Tour of Honolulu, but I definitely would go back to Sushi Sasabune.

This is not your walk up, dine in restaurant. This is an authentic Japanese Sushi Heaven! This is for those who appreciate the art of sushi and like surprises. This is not a first date kind of place where you're trying to impress someone with their palate or a picky or finicky eater. The moment you walk in, you can see the sushi chef busy at work. You need to make reservations. This is not your typical sushi place where you order from a menu. As a matter of fact, there is no food menu. They only provide you with a drink menu. You eat what chef serves. There are a total of 14 courses served which is called Omakase. You get charged for what you eat and you can tell your server to stop anytime. We did not stop because although we were full... we wanted to experience more wonder and surprises! This is a place where you'll be taken on a journey and experience the different flavors of Japan! Everything is so fresh and prepared delicately beautiful on individual plates for each guest that looking at it is divine art! The raw fish has a buttery fresh texture delicately placed overlapped on just enough rice so that you are able to taste the burst of flavors at the first bite. Shoyu is not required when eating this sushi because they add just enough sauce as to not take away from the experience of freshness and deliciousness of this piece of art! It is a pricey place which cost us $1,100.00 + gratuity for five of us but you convince yourself that you deserve it! Losing so many family and friends from cancer and the pandemic since 2020 has given me a different outlook on life that I've convinced my husband yes honey... we deserve it! It is so delicious and worth every bite! There is nothing I didn't like! I loved all the surprises the chef sent to our table! DELICIOUS! おいしいと優れた味 Oishī to sugureta aji If you're looking for excellent wine, I'm your 808 Wine Wahine. Follow me on Instagram at @wine_wahine

I had been following Sushi Sasabune on Instagram and was intrigued by their sushi box bento for $30. It almost seemed too good to be true. It showed 10 individual pieces of nigiri (a good variety, and primarily fish on top) along with a sushi roll. The photos of the sushi looked mouth-watering. The Yelp reviews seemed promising. Yet unfortunately, this was a disappointment for me. I called in my order and they asked what time I wanted to pick it up within a 1 hour timeframe (12-1pm). They only take pre-orders for lunch, and they're closed on Sun. & Mon. They're located off of the busy S. King St. and parking is limited. I was fortunate to find metered parking on the street nearby, but good luck with that. There weren't any dine-in customers inside, but they seemed to have a few bento orders ready for pick up. They had a sushi bar along with some tables inside. The atmosphere seemed decent enough, but just old. I took my sushi box bento home and was excited to dig in. I wish they would list what each sushi is on the box so you know what you're eating. I had to refer back to one of their IG posts to get that information. They claim to use fresh, local fish from the island. The sushi consisted of: tuna, snapper, clam, amber jack, skip jack tuna, salmon, scallop, shrimp, mackerel and mackerel skad. The roll was Canadian albacore. After the 2nd piece of sushi, they kind-of all tasted the same. They season the sushi for you so that shoyu is supposedly not needed, but I still used a little. The fish seemed fresh, but there was just nothing special about any of the nigiri, and certainly not the roll. At one point I had considered trying their Omakase sushi dinner, but after tasting their sushi bento box for lunch, I'm glad I didn't make reservations for dinner. I would've been disappointed. The search for delicious sushi continues!

Sushi Sasabune was a wonderful omakase experience. The food and service were +5 stars, but I must dock a whole star because I was surprised and uncomfortable that NONE of the staff, including the chefs, were wearing masks, and the restaurant setting itself was very much indoors with no open ventilation. It was definitely a "well, we've made reservations already and we're already here" type situation, so we had to roll the dice on our comfort levels with our dining experience. You have to tell the chefs ahead of time if you don't want any wasabi hidden in your sushi, because they will do that automatically unless informed. The entire experience is "trust me", each dish consisting of two different pieces with their individual flavors. There was an excellent variety, and a lot of paired ingredients that definitely made all my taste buds rejoice with the innovativeness and ingenuity of brand new flavors. Who knew lemon pepper would ever go with nigiri? We could definitely taste the heart and playfulness with the chef's creativity. Some of my favorite dishes include the minced otoro, which made the fish taste even softer and fattier, the blue crab hand roll, the hotate, ebi, and the uni. Our chef was on the more reserved side, but he was very nice. We ended up eating 15 different dishes between 2 people, and the cost of the dinner was $385 without tax and tip. Definitely a special occasion type of thing! You can stop the courses whenever you are full, and you can keep going, even after the allotted number of dishes. I did not think I'd be SO full from omakase, but we were stuffed! Parking is a bit difficult - seems like the only option is street parking.

So this place is NOT an omakase. An omakase is a set course with a set price. Otherwise, it would be a la carte and you get to pick what you eat. I reserved based on it being an omakase which we confirmed at the door. The waiter asked if it was our first time, and it was so we told him as such. We were seated and started getting served these courses drenched in sauce with 2 pieces per plate. At first, I thought that it was the style here kind of like poke. But I think the quality of the fish is not great so they need to cover it with sauce. I witnessed sauce and some kind of spray being used on almost every piece. The rice was warm/hot. I saw steam come out of the open rice cooker. Rice used for sushi is not supposed to be warm. The oyster was about to go bad. There was a weird ground up fish and it was just terrible. So we decided to leave before the end of our course. We asked for our check and we get a bill of a la carte pricing. Apparently, courses keep coming out at a la carte pricing until you are full and ask for it to be stopped. Nobody explained this to us. Otherwise we may have left after the third plate. I do not recommend this place at all. This is not omakase. It is a la carte that you don't even get to select. Trust us, it says. Please do not trust them. Take a look at that uni and roe. It is not fresh and will get you sick. I ate a lot of ginger so I hope I do not get sick...

I have to say, this place was amazing for omakase! Took my boyfriend for his birthday and the restaurant was fully seated. When you walk in, the door automatically opens, and head to the left to check in. Once you sit down, they will ask if you have any allergies or don't like eating any kinds of fish. All dishes were so good. They do a great explanation of what type of sushi it is. After eating one plate, another comes and the another. There are some that you have to eat right away for the best taste. Honestly, we were really full afterward. If you love sushi, want an omakase experience, and somewhere that isn't too loud, then this is the place for you. Reservations are recommended!

OVERALL: 6.8/10 (Yelp Converted Score: 3.4/5 == 3/5). My partner and I snagged an 8pm omakase sushi bar reservation on Wednesday, August 17th, 2022. We probably didn't need one - given that the restaurant only had two tables seated - a boisterous party of 5 and a quiet party of 2 (both at tables). We were the only ones at the sushi bar, and we were off to the side in the corner. Verdict: Definitely the worst omakase of my life. What shocked me was this guy sitting front-center of the sushi bar (previous seating), claiming this place should have a michelin star... I've had michelin star sushi, bud; this ain't it. It's not even close. The highlight of the night? The automated door at the front of the restaurant; felt like something out of a futuristic movie / TV show. 1) VARIETY/SELECTION: 7/10. Overall we had 14 courses, if you include the appetizers. Given that this is a Chef's choice "omakase" ("trust me") menu, you're going to get the same things! The only two highlights overall were the appetizers (the 2nd one was nice) and the lobster tail. The rest was too salty (according to my partner, but I didn't notice as much), or were overseasoned (especially with regards to wasabi usage) and over-sauced. It makes sense that they're trying to be creative and take a new spin on omakase, but this is slightly too adventurous. My partner docked a point because the handroll counted as a course at the very end (it was ok, but she was already very close to full). 2) FRESHNESS: 6/10. The ikura almost made my partner throw up (due to how salty it was). Some of the fish pieces were definitely at least 1 day old (or approaching there) - which might make sense, considering our timing (8pm arrival). Besides the lobster tail, I don't really remember a lot of the other fish being fresh. The uni was definitely at least a day old, but given that it was coming from Santa Barbara, California, that makes sense. Additionally, one theme I noticed throughout: The rice was too hot for nigiri sushi - it's supposed to be "body temperature" (Kashiba taught us this, it's basic omakase 101), but here, the heat of the rice usually overpowered the sushi itself (and in the case of one piece, made it completely fall apart due to being unstable). If you see heat coming off the sushi, you f**ked up. The miso soup we had at the very end (after all the food was done) was actually pretty nice, though. So it wasn't all bad. 3) VALUE FOR MONEY: 5.5/10. My partner ordered green tea ($3 USD, unlimited refills), and I ordered the ever-elusive Asahi black ($8 USD). For both of our omakase and drinks, it came out to $369 USD. Not cheap (also more expensive than every other omakase I've had so far, except Kashiba - but that was a stratospherically better quality experience)! After tax and tip, it came out to $442 USD - so $221/person after tax and tip. You decide if that's worth it for you! 4) SERVICE: 9.5/10. Service was actually pretty decent - we never came close to running out of water or green tea, and generally speaking each "course" came quickly. It probably helped that there weren't more than two other parties total in the restaurant, with two wait staff constantly rotating about (clearing plates and refilling glasses). I also appreciated the complete explanation of what we were eating (as we were being served the corresponding course), and with what garnishes it came with. 5) CONSISTENCY / FIRST IMPRESSION: 6.5/10. As a mantra, "trust me" works well if there's a strong, consistently high-quality track record; given this places' more recent neutral reviews, maybe this was an off-day, or the main Chef's in a slump. Given my experience, though, I can't say I'd come back until there were significant improvements. Also, compared directly to another omakase in Seattle (sushi kappo tamura) - this in the same ballpark, but Kappo Tamura wins by a hair.

Honestly do not remember what each pieces of the sushi were called but it was absolutely one of the best experience I've ever had. Some VERY unique and memorable dishes were blue crab wrapped in squid, the two tuna toro pieces in the beginning (literally melt your mouth), lightly seared octopus piece and juicy scallop. With alcohol came out to ~$260 pp but you will be EXTREMELY full and amazed at what you just ate. Highly recommend if anyones looking for quality food and experience in Honolulu.

Expert, sensitive handling of fish, especially island, and tasty, thoughtful complementary toppings. Service is attentive and caring. Prices are equivalent to the extra fine food. Selection of sake is extensive with fair pricing. I have dined here for over 20 years and have enjoyed every meal, a culinary event indeed!

It's omakase only and you can stop anytime if you don't want to continue eating. The food has good portion, and each comes with two at the time for each person. We are impressed by the food up until the oyster dish. The fish is tasty with the sauce. But the raw oyster doesn't taste that fresh and the cooked one is even worse. Then our taste bud is not that surprised with the rest of the dishes anymore. So we stopped at course 9. Overall we think the place is good. But if the sauce can be lighter and the fish taste can standout more, it can be better.

Wow, where do I start? I have been wanting to go here for SO long. It is pricey and a unique dining experience, so we decided to splurge for our anniversary. I had never had omakase before, but I read a bunch of the reviews so I knew what to expect. Someone described the outside as "unassuming" and that is the best description. You would not think a very nice sushi restaurant was located next to a strip club, surrounded by bums and drunks. When we got out of the car I was like "it's...here?" I got the "highly recommended wine" which was really smooth, crisp and paired perfectly with the meal. It was also a very heavy pour. The food was honestly the best sushi I've ever had. I don't love sashimi, which was our first dish, but upon the first bite, I was completely sold. It was actually a very nice experience not having to stress about the menu and what to order, and leave it in their hands. Their slogan is "trust us!" and it tracks. Trust them, they know what they are doing. I lived in Japan and I know that it is not customary to request alternations to your meal. It's considered offensive to the chef. I really didn't want to make a faux pas, but I cannot eat wasabi. It's just too strong/spicy for me. I was scraping off the wasabi from my sushi, which in hindsight is probably a faux pas in and of itself. But I felt more comfortable doing that than calling it out to the servers and potentially offend the chef. The servers noticed and politely asked if I want to request the rest of my dishes without wasabi. I was relieved and the rest of the meal was wonderful. There was something in the last handroll--I'm not sure if it was wasabi or something else that had a strong/spicy taste, but I couldn't eat it. They also noticed and apologized and deducted our last dish from the bill. Overall the experience was amazing. That's what it was--an "experience." It's not just about the food, but everything, the food, the ambience, the service. It was a fantastic meal, and I am so happy we decided to splurge for our anniversary dinner.

Holy mouthwatering wow! I've been to a few omakases on the mainland and nothing has compared to my experience here at Sasabune. We went per "MUST-HAVE" recommendation. You have to make a reservation for the omakase experience. From beginning to end, each course blew our minds! Each bite was so unique, flavorful, and tender! Our favorite was the baby squid with blue crab. Never had anything like it. Each bite is made to eat without soy sauce. The staff are friendly and each course comes out timely. You only pay as much as you want to eat so let them know 1 dish in advance when you want to stop. We had around 11-12? courses and paid about 120 per person. I wish I had a bigger stomach because I wanted to try more pieces. I will definitely be back whenever I'm in Honolulu.

This establishment has taught me for the first time, Omakase not being a set menu of however many # of courses and instead charged A la carte. Our first time there, even had a discussion of it being our first time, and no one made mention of how the service of food would be. If we had not asked for the check and stop the courses, I'm actually curious to how much more food would have come out amd charged for before anyone blinked an eye. The food: did not even taste any of the fish aside from the squid and oyster which tasted like it was shucked three days ago and left in a fridge. Too much sauce on everything...to explain, I am certain I had 10 different sauces and maybe 4 types of fish. To which I can't even confirm after not tasting any tuna in the tuna dishes. Squid was burnt with the hand torch and flipped so the "roasted" side does not show if you trustingly eat in one bite as they announce to your table as a rule. All I tasted was the butane from the hand torch. "Fresh from Japan" Uni and Ikura. Have never seen Uni destroyed in such a way that not only does it look like it was prepared without any skill, but definitely did not look in any form "fresh". Roe had a hue that I have never seen in fish egg before...it wasn't transparent and had an odd haze.

I read the reviews and had to come here to see for myself-- overall compared to anything in SF this is up there, with fresh fish and flavors, but overall experience and flavor didn't live up to what I'd expect in Oahu. They provide a nice juxtaposition of nigiri by serving multiple items in pairs. This provides a good contrast of both flavors and presentation. Portion size and cuts were very standard, and fish all precut in advance. They also use warm rice, which means the rice can sometimes fall apart, and it changes the flavor of the fish. Chefs and waitstaff are pretty friendly, but the overall experience felt a bit cold and lacking that connection to the fish or chef that I would expect in an omakase experience. If you came here first easily a 5 star place, but once you've seen all the amazing sushi Oahu has to offer, this place falls short of what's possible.

My girlfriend and I visited Sushi Sasabune for a night out for her birthday. We had seen the positive reviews and the omakase and decided to try it out. We were blown away by the quality and care of the preparations, and at the time we had been introduced to omakase before but with a different process. Coming back a year and a half later, we weren't sure if our experience was unique to that day, size of our party (we went from 6 to 2 the second time), or what. But chef Sasabune just wowed us again. The food quality and prep was once again spectacular and the service was quick. To top it all off, we were stuffed by the end. Love your fresh sushi, cannot recommend this place enough in Oahu.

I've heard of this place from many friends whom I consider "sushi-SNOBS" like myself. But, let me give you some quick background about us, before the review: 1) None of us really care about the ambiance of the restaurants we go to, since the best "GEMS" we've found are more often than not, a "hole in the wall" tiny restaurant. Service only matters slightly. 2) None of us really care about the prices, if we are getting good quality sashimi (or sushi). 3) All we care about is the quality & grade & type of sashimi / sushi presented. (4) I travel extensively (internationally and within the US) and I try Sushi restaurants whenever they are available. That being said... Sushi Sasabune is one of my TOP 5 SUSHI RESTAURANT in the US which include Jewel Bako (NYC) and Sushi Ran (SF). Sasabune, as most know before entering, is home of the famous "Na*i Sushi Chef" (Seinfeld Reference) Although this experience in itself is interesting and worth some entertainment value, it is the quality and grade of sushi that attracts me back here every time I visit Oahu (Honolulu). As many described, sit at the bar & order OMAKASE, and just start eating whatever the chef puts in front of you. On my first visit, I did this, and went through the entire 18 courses. (I later found out afterwards, that normally it is usually only 14 courses). Have been back many times after and can usually do 15+ Definitely go visit! (Expect to pay a good amount if you eat like me!)

Shiatsu massaged and sous vide tako (local Hawaiian octopus)... broiled aged south African (sweet) lobster tail.... this is one of the best, if not best omakase restaurant I have been to... comparing to restaurants in Seoul, Japan, California, NYC, & DC. The sushi chef(s) have created a menu that delivers everything you want in a world class omakase experience with the punchy flavors that you would only expect from Hawai'i. The chef also beautifully described every bite we were eating, and I sincerely appreciated how they shared where each of their seafood items were coming from. Location and where you source your food from matters! And these chefs really get that. I hope the Michelin team stops by your restaurant soon.

Best restaurant in Hawaii hands down! This is a family favorite for all special occasions as the food and service are always incredible! If you are looking for amazing sushi this is it!

This was our first time on the omakase tour for Oahu, which also included Maru Sushi, Sushi Sho, and Ginza Onodera. As stated in my other view, all 4 establishments are deserving of 5 stars. I will say that Sushi Sasabune is by far the best value out of the 4, and if you are on a budget, this is the place to go. However, don't expect ultra traditional edomae omakase; however, I don't think the chef intended for the omakase to be a traditional omakase either according to the Eater video on Youtube. Our omakase included big eye tuna and yellowtail sashimi, baby squid stuffed with blue crab appetizer, Nagasaki otoro (two types), hirame, pink snapper, katsuo, hamachi, Tasmanian salmon, Hokkaido scallop, oysters (two ways, broiled and raw), saba, blue shrimp, tako, chutoro, negitoro (two ways), Santa Barbara uni, ikura, gindara fish plate, and a hamachi temaki roll. Every dish noted was a nigiri with the noted exceptions. The Santa Barbara uni was by far the sweetest I have ever tasted, it was actually quite remarkable how good it was. Trust me, I have had uni many times before from different regions and seasons. The nigiri had very interesting neta toppings to give them some Hawaiian flair, which was different and somewhat unexpected (not in a bad way). Out of the four omakase establishments, Sasabune used more of the local Hawaiian fish; the other 3 establishments used primarily Japanese products. I won't dock points for this, but I found the two nigiri at a time pace to be a tiny bit confusing but from the looks of it, they do this because their volume of customers seem much higher than the other more exclusive omakase establishments. In terms of value and taste, Sushi Sasabune can't be beat. Just don't expect the perfectionist ethereal superiority of Sushi Sho or the traditional edomae combinations or tastes here.

Don't really like writing not so great reviews but hubby and I always like to try new omakase sushi places when we travel, our go to is usually hihimanu but we decided to deviate. We kind of wish we didn't to be honest. Sushi sasabune, is perfectly good as a normal sushi restaurant but as a omakase and the price you pay, we didn't feel it was worth it. We've been to many in japan , sf and nyc and this one has to be the worse omakase experience. The fish while it was fresh and mainly local was the star, the rice was a bit off and having it warm was an odd touch. It didn't feel like it was seasoned properly and tasted off cause it was still warm. Most places don't keep their sushi rice in a rice cooker usually in one of those wooden rice containers and it has cooled down. Definitely not on the traditional side at all. The faves were the uni, the toro, amberjack and the stuffed squid. While we loved the freshness of the fish, the rice really killed the experience. For us, it's highly unlikely we will be visiting again. Total $300

Went to RB sushi a couple of night before and this was just a notch below them. We did the omakase and you will not leave hungry as each course is two different preparations plus they offer more at the end if you still somehow have more room. The biggest difference was just the little things, a couple of courses with an unbalanced amount of wasabi or slightly over baked lobster (still an amazing dish). You will not be disappointed coming here.

Been coming here for over 13 years...until now. Won't be coming back EVER!!! Chef demands "you MUST eat all the rice". Well if I'm paying for the food I can eat and not eat what's served. It's the same price if I eat it or not. Why do you care if I leave some rice out. What if the sushi tastes awful. You MUST eat it? Are you kidding me. These guys think they are the only sushi spot in town?? There are so many places better than this place. 13 years ago was a different story. Now this place has not changed one bit. Continues to think they are the best. Far from it. Quality has decreased and the chefs demeanor got worse!!! Places like Sushi Que (former Sasabune chef), hihimanu, Gaku, Uosan , sushi II, Sho, etc etc. is much better than this crappy place. If you like to be controlled and told how to eat your food this is the place for you!!!! What a joke!!!!

We made reservations on a weekday to try their Omakase ($150 PP) and were very pleased with all the courses offered. In total, we were served 14 courses excluding the miso soup and dessert course (ice cream). Each course was generally two pieces of curated fresh sushi that would literally melt in your mouth. My favorite was the smoked tuna and toro - so delicious! One of the courses was also tako (octopus) which I generally am not a fan of, but Sushi Sasabune has made me a convert. The octopus was sous vide for hours making it so tender and amazing. As a note, the chef is a bit heavy handed with the sauces on the sushi, so this may not be the place for you if you prefer otherwise, but personally, I thought each of the sauces were so delicious so I can't complain. I was still able to taste the freshness of the fish and am drooling right now just thinking about it! Service was prompt and each course came out at a speedy but comfortable pace. Around the 13th course, our waiter did let us know we only had one course left, but we were free to keep going if we were still hungry (at an additional cost of course). I will definitely be coming back for more next time I'm in Oahu!

Definitely some of the tastiest bites of the freshest fish with the most perfectly matched touches of sauce/relish I've ever tasted. We were celebrating a very special birthday, so we had the omikase, seated at the chef's bar. I wish they had asked us or I had remembered to ask to skip the shellfish. The lobster is delicious, but very expensive. We are very cautious about eating shellfish, even lobster, and we don't like oysters. But we understand that many people love them. We had two draft Asahi beers each and the bill came to $485 for two.

Most expensive meal of my life. The experience was unmatched. Service was great. The guy there was extremely customer focused and catered to our needs as a family. I kind of wish they would have given us more of a heads up about the omakase menu. They asked if we liked uni or tobiko. I love it so I said yes to those! Whatever you don't want, they won't charge you for it. So glad I did them both. They were both sooooo good. But then they came out also with lobster and cooked oyster and I really don't care for those. And the lobster was a nice $40 on the tab. . All in all, if you're here to dine, this is the place to dine. Once in a lifetime sort of experience and Emmy husband and I and my toddler both enjoyed it (toddler only had miso soup - toddler approved, and 2 x surprise 99cent toys to keep him busy while my husband and I enjoyed our meal).

When there was a "sudden" cancellation for a reservation at 8:30pm that very night, I impulsively accepted the opening even though I had originally called about the $50 12 piece omakase for take-out (which apparently is only available for lunch time). I showed up promptly for my experience and was greeted warmly by the host. For $$$, I was able to enjoy a glass of shochu along with the omakase course which included sashimi, an appetizer, 20 pieces of sushi, and an ice cream dessert. In terms of the sushi preparation, it was a little less traditional. In general, very saucy. The yellowtail/ hamachi sashimi was drowning in a yuzu/ ponzu sauce, for instance. The appetizer following that also had a sauce poured over it too but the clam stuffed with Louisiana crab was enjoyable. If it were possible, even the sashimi was saucier than normal, but at least the soy sauce they used wasn't salty and a little more traditionally sweet. My favorites were the smoked (in-house) aku skip jack, the salmon with lomi lomi on top, the toro (of course), and the two types of negi toro. The uni from Santa Barbara was also tasting splendid; buttery, soft, and slightly briny. I was not a fan of the baked oysters with a home-made mayo; it about seared my tongue off. This was during the pandemic where indoor dining was extremely limited in seating. All dinner patrons at the bar were physically distanced and nigiri was brought out in pairs by the server. No interactions with the sushi chef due to these times, so while everything was fresh and prepared expertly, it was still difficult to connect with the flavors without that interaction with and explanation by the chef. 20 pieces of straight nigiri though was very much appreciated!

Last night I went for my fourth time. Every time I've been it has been incredible until last night. I have an allergy and they served me two dishes that included my allergy. Caught the first one, but didn't catch the second one and had to leave immediately. They made no adjustments to the bill and, barely apologized. Will never go back.

Sushi Sasabune is an Omakase only sushi restaurant that ranges in price, depending on how many courses you end up eating, i.e., it is not actually priced in full but by the item. I found this to be a little deceiving since (at least in my experience) omakases are a typically a set menu with a set price (e.g., 10 courses for $100). In other words, you can stop after 2 items and just pay for those 2 items if you wish. But ultimately, that was only partially why I gave it 1 star. The sushi and nigiri itself is solid; the fish taste fresh and the items are done with care. But there were two major issues: 1. Wasabi on each item is over done. Some of our pieces were completely smeared with a thick layer of wasabi between the rice and fish which can over-power the taste of both fish and rice, masking all other flavors. 2. The specialization and curated sushi was, honestly, a bit "cheap" or gimmicky. It was mostly a piece of sushi with some type of sauce or flavoring on top. For example, salmon with a lomi lomi on top or tuna with jalepeno on top or scallop with yuzu on top, etc. It was rather repetitive. Combine that with point #1, it can be difficult to taste the full combination of flavors. Overall, Sushi Sasabune was not the omakase nor sushi experience that I had expected based on the reviews and price point. I think if it was half the cost, it would be more reasonable for the culinary experience that it was.

Absolutely amazing! Truly an experience! Get the $140 sake bottle not on the menu. Trust me!

We went for a quiet night out. Easy to find parking and pay it virtually. It doesn't print out a ticket or decal so no worries on that. Easy to find the restaurant after you walk out of the parking lot to the front (cannot enter from the back). Beautiful artwork and not too brightly lit inside for a cozy experience. The Omakase was wonderful and they kept it coming as soon as we were done eating. On the reservation I listed that it was for our wedding anniversary. There wasn't anything done that was special nor did they wish us happy anniversary so I'm guessing the notes are not read on the openTable reservation. But it was amazing!

I had such high hopes but this place was disappointing. We've eaten at the Sasabune in NYC and couldn't remember it so we came back based on reviews. The feel of the restaurant isn't warm nor friendly since Chef Kumagawa-san sets the tone with not speaking and not wearing a mask properly (it sat below his chin the whole time). Overall looking gruff. The new Japanese style of sushi isn't something we enjoy. Amazing pieces of fish from Japan and the U.S. are covered in either sauces, garlic, or onions. It hides the flavor of the fish. We also don't like the warm rice idea and it makes it harder to eat since it falls apart and warms up the fish a bit. Our favorite pieces were the raw oyster, ikura and uni since they just had soy sauce on them. The service was just okay. Sometimes them were attentive and friendly. The one young male server needs training since he talks to you in a patronizing tone. For example, I asked after 12 pieces how many more in the omakase and he proceeded to ask me again if I knew what omakase was and "true" omakase has no set number. I told him there's usually an end and then we can add more if we are still hungry and he told me again this is "true" omakase and there's no end and I can eat till I'm full. He was obviously not listening nor being polite about and I'm not into being mansplained/patronized that I don't know what I'm talking about. You can google it and see that it's generally 10-20 pieces depending on the restaurant. We usually know after 10-12 items that it's ending or winding down. There's a progression of types of fish and flavors. The miso soup at the end was way too salty and I couldn't finish it. They gave me a free ice cream for my birthday. I got the red bean ice cream. It was a disappointing experience and birthday dinner.