Tonkatsu Tamafuji

The tonkatsu here is absolutely insane — seriously, one of the best I’ve had. It’s done proper Japanese-style, super crispy and perfectly cooked. I live in New Jersey, and honestly, it’s hard to find something this good even in NYC. The rice and miso soup are unlimited too, which is a nice bonus. I’m definitely coming back the next time I’m in Hawaii. Just thinking about it makes me crave tonkatsu again.

This place was a great experience. Service and food was great. My daughter brought us here and reservations were fully booked. We came here about an hour before they opened and was able to get seated. Once they open, they were full. A quiet restaurant which is nice. We had different kind of Tonkatsu and they were cooked nicely. As an experience, we made our own sauce by grinding the sesame seeds and pouring the sauce. Overall we enjoyed the meal.

I’ve been here on three different trips and I’ve never been disappointed! The crunch on this tempura is truly like no other, and the oil flavor is very clean. I’d recommend dining in over getting takeout (pictured), but if you have limited time/don’t want to wait 1+ hour during peak wait times, takeout is a good option. The only con is that the crunch quickly gets soggy in the takeout box and you don’t get the special rice or soup that’s included in the dine-in experience. It’s definitely worth it to wait if you have the time. Another pro to dining in is the sesame seed grinding for your tonkatsu sauce. The aroma is very fresh and unique! You can choose between the sweet and savory sauce to dip, and I liked a combination of both. We ordered a 5pc shrimp katsu set (pictured), 1pc pork katsu, 1pc oyster katsu, clam miso soup (seasonal), and the seaweed rice. The shrimp tempura is a shared favorite between my mom and I, but the pork and oyster are great too. For drinks, I’d recommend the grapefruit shochu as a fresh, fruity cocktail to enjoy alongside the katsu. It’s manufactured in California so you can probably find it on the mainland as well, but I think any fizzy drink will complement the fried tempura nicely. Staff and atmosphere are friendly, clean, and pleasant. While dining in, the servers walk around with a basket of shredded cabbage and were kind enough to give me 3 extra handfuls to enjoy with their delicious sesame dressing. I will be coming back for my 4th visit soon!

If you're looking for a restaurant that transports you to Japan, Tonkatsu Tamafuji is the perfect choice. From the warm welcome of the upbeat staff to the fragrant aroma of bamboo upon entering, it truly feels like you’ve stepped into Japan once again. While the service and ambiance are excellent, the food is what truly sets this place apart. We ordered the Pork Loin Katsu, the Oyster and Tenderloin Combo, and I opted for the Cheese Pork Loin Katsu with a side of Menchi Katsu. You can clearly appreciate the quality of the pork and the oil used for frying. Interestingly, the panko breadcrumbs they use are far superior to those found in stores. Additionally, the Red Miso soup that accompanied the meal was rich and comforting. Securing a reservation can be quite challenging, but you might find a chance to be seated after the initial rush by adding your name to the waitlist. Overall, this is yet another outstanding restaurant in Honolulu.

Friendly and attentive staff. I was initially hesitant about the price since meals were around $30, but that concern quickly disappeared once the food arrived. I ordered the mixed katsu, which let me sample a little bit of everything. It came with three choices of rice, miso soup, and a small assortment of pickled vegetables. They also provided sesame seeds for you to grind and use as a dipping sauce, which added a nice touch. Overall, a great experience and a delicious, satisfying meal.

if i could rate a 10 i would One of the best places on the island for sure. Went on a Thursday night and only had to wait less than 20 minutes. The food was amazing. I got the mixed Katsu and I loved every single bite. normally not a fan of rice, but I got the seaweed rice and it blew my mind. I am obsessed. Would definitely recommend this to anyone coming to Oahu The staff is so sweet very helpful and amazing

You can eat the best tonkatsu in the world here. I visit regularly every few months, and every time, I am very satisfied. The prices have gone up quite a bit in the last few years, but I don't mind. Crispy tonkatsu, three types of rice and cabbage that you can refill, miso soup, and side dishes. Everything is delicious and very satisfying. Online reservations are fully booked, so first-timers can only get in by walk-in. You may have to wait 30 minutes to an hour, but it's worth it. It's my favorite restaurant in Hawaii

You will have to wait if you don’t have a reservation. But no matter how long the wait is, WAIT! The food was amazing and the staff were so incredibly helpful explaining the menu and how to mix the sauces. I just can’t express how amazing the food is and how much we enjoyed our time.

I hear online reservation are pretty hard to score. I showed up for walk-in well before they opened and had no issues securing a table for 5 (and we even got seated immediately). The rush seemed to come 5 mins before opening (on a Sunday). Things move slow inside. Maybe its the small kitchen and/or all is made to order. But damn, its worth it! Tenderloin melts in your mouth, perfect crisp. All the accoutrements are excellent, as well as the unlimited cabbage and rice. If you're able to get a seat here, the wait is well worth it.

Tonkatsu Tamafuji is one of the only restaurants I go to every time I'm in Oahu and I make it my mission every time to either try to secure a reservation online or wait in line. This restaurant has been consistently delicious while upholding the highest quality of ingredients. Cheese tonkatsu (5/5)- Decadent, crispy and cheesy. The katsu is always perfectly fried where each bite is bursting from the juiciness of the pork. Minced beef ball (5/5)- This is a must get because the beef is succulent and jam packed with flavor! Fried oysters (5/5)- juicy and very meaty. One of my boyfriend's favorite dishes here. If you haven't already checked out Tonkatsu Tamafuji, I highly recommend you change that.

Booked reservations the day reservations were available and still was only able to get a 4pm slot! We planned for it though, and just did a brunch and made it an early dinner day. Tonkatsu Tamafuji is probably one of the best tonkatsu places you'll get to try outside Japan! The katsu here is perfectly cooked with the light and crispy coating over a perfectly cooked pork. You grind your own sesame seeds for the sauce, and then pour a sauce of your choice (spicy or non-spicy) to blend. They also start you off with some pickled veggies which pairs well with the Katsu. Service was polite but unmemorable. Overall, worth trying while in Oahu but I don't think I'd wait hours here if I couldn't get reservations.

We decided to order take out on a Sunday afternoon. Food was delicious. We got our food right away when we go there. Service was excellent as usual. Great place to go to when you want tonkatsu.

I've visited Japan several times, and Tonkatsu is hands-down one of my favorite Japanese dishes - I even named my dog after it - so I had high expectations coming in. I read all the rave reviews about how this spot is a must-visit for Tonkatsu lovers and how tough it can be to get a reservation. On our last day in Oahu, we decided to take a chance and showed up 30 minutes before they opened for dinner. There were already about seven parties ahead of us, but luckily, we were the last ones seated. I'd recommend arriving at least 30 minutes early - especially if you're in a larger group. The service was incredibly efficient and attentive, and the whole experience transported me back to Japan. They were very generous with sides and sauces (multiple miso soup options, which I've never seen before), and I really appreciated the unlimited cabbage salad - it's always the perfect balance to the richness of Tonkatsu. They also offer two types of rice, which is a nice touch. Personally, I prefer the simplicity of Japanese white rice, but I can see how others might enjoy the variety. I ordered the 180g Jyukusei Pork Loin Katsu Set. It was solid, but just okay for me I like my pork loin with a bit more fat and texture. While it wasn't the best I've ever had, it was still a respectable option, especially outside of Japan. Overall, it's a good spot. Well-executed and worth trying if you're nearby. I wouldn't necessarily center your itinerary around it, but if the timing works out, it's definitely a great option for a satisfying Tonkatsu fix.

This place was phenomenal! I love how from the moment you step in, you are transported straight out of Hawaii and into Japan! The service was fast and efficient and I love how they spoke Japanese to us and then translated in English. It's a small touch but it made the experience that much more authentic. The decoration was authentic as well! Ok now the food! They started us with a pickled veggies and salty plums. I loved the veggies, the salty plum might be an acquired taste. It was quite salty. The tonkatsu pork was the star of the night! The outside was light and flaky and the inside was juicy and perfectly cooked. They give you a sesame grinder and sauce to use with the pork. I'd highly recommend the place but the reservation system is 2-3 months in advance. Book early!

Tonkatsu was scrumptious along with every delicious part of our meal. Staff was friendly and courteous. We made reservations online and were promptly seated for our dinner when we arrived. The restaurant was cozy and great for a date! Thanks!

When people talk about tonkatsu in Hawaii, Tamafuji is usually the first place people will recommend. It's difficult to get a reservation though and I was lucky that a friend had gotten one and invited me :) The tonkatsu here is of good quality and cooked perfectly. It's fried but you don't get that greasy feeling after eating fried food. There's refills on the rice and cabbage, and they have different rice you can choose from (all really great). Hands down my favorite tonkatsu on the island.

Beware - this place is popular and wait times can be up to 1.5 hours without reservation!! I randomly chose this restaurant without reading reviews. I came with my husband late on a weekday night. There's some street parking available but looks like there might be a paid lot available. The restaurant is on the top floor of the building and there's a clipboard to add yourself to the waitlist. I was surprised watching everyone come out with lots of leftovers in big brown bags after eating. I cannot get over this experience. I've had katsu before but not at this level! First you decide which katsu entree you want then you decide what rice and soup combination you prefer. I didn't know what rice to pick and the server offered to get me one of each kind of rice. My husband and I picked one of each kind of miso (white & red). After the order was placed, the servers provide a hot towel to wipe your hands. They then bring the pickled veggies and sesame seeds to grind. When the food came out of the kitchen, the table side service from the servers was so friendly and professional. The attention to detail these servers give was top notch. Just the gesture of the server putting a napkin over you to prevent the sauce from splattering you really impressed me. The rice & cabbage salad were refillable which the servers were very observant when you were getting low. Now I understand why people were coming out with lots of leftovers when there's so much to eat! Luckily my husband & I came hungry and ate everything provided to us. Overall a great experience to have! This definitely sets the bar high for future katsu experiences.

If you don't have a reservation, but don't mind waiting, you can get in!! On Memorial weekend, Sunday, I had a party of 5. We arrived at 5:10 PM and put our name on the list. There were about 8 smaller parties ahead of us, and we waited 1 hr and 45 minutes to be seated. Parking in the lot below is $4. Honestly the wait is worth it. If you don't mind waiting, don't stress about reservations, and just do walk in. In my opinion, Tonkatsu Tamafuji has better katsu than places I've had in Japan.

Came here on Sunday for lunch. I was able to get a seat after a 15 min wait without a reservation. I think weekend lunch is best bet without a reservation. I heard otherwise you have to reserve 6 months - 1 year in advance.... I got the pork loin Katsu Teishoku and the homemade minced pork Katsu. Both were delicious with a crispy outside and the meat was very soft and juicy. You get a variety of picked food which included burdock root, pickled plum, and picked cabbage. It also comes with miso soup and rice which you choose the type. I got the seasoned mixed rice and akadashi miso soup with seaweed and tofu.. The inside was clean and spacious. The waiting staff was very friendly.

FOOD: 3 SERVICE: 4 AMBIANCE: 3 VALUE: 4 Honestly, this place is OK, the tonkatsu was good (not great) and the service was good. We arrived just before 4PM, put our name down for a table of 2. We were number 9 on the walk-in waitlist. When they opened at 4PM, they let all the "reservations" in plus "walk-ins" up to number 7. We, #9, had to wait 2hrs before we were seated. Honestly, there were several empty tables for 2 available 1/2 hour before we were seated. We both ordered their Jjukusei Pork Loin set (6.4oz/180g) set. You get unlimited pickled set (plum/cabbage/combu), your choice of rice, miso soup and unlimited shaved cabbage. The pork tonkatsu itself was a little thick, which required a little more frying time to beyond golden and a little more brown. The meat was neither tender nor tough, but also nothing special. The beading was not particularly memorable, not too thick. Overall, the tonkatsu was good, just not spectacular and definitely not worth waiting 2 hours for. Try to score a reservation or come early enough to be waitlist #6 or lower.

I never like Japanese pork chop before I came to try this Tamafuji. The outside coating is light and fluffy . Inside the pork tenderloin is juicy and flavorful. We tried their fried oyster too and it is absolutely delicious! I wish I could eat more ... but I couldn't! Reservation was made 6 months ago cause we have a big table for 8 people . The pork loin is not as tender and juicy as the pork tenderloin. The process of grinding your own sesame and added the solution to make a paste are very different experiences. The meat comes with unlimited supply of rice ( 3 kinds to choose from ) . Soup is white miso with seafood ! We were in heaven !

My family loves this place. Their online reservations can be hectic where they are booked up for 2 years. We recently were able to snag a reservation for dinner. Their tonkatsu are good and fresh. However they did got noticeably smaller in size. The portion got a little smaller and the price for a dish did raise up quite a bit. The wait for our order was also pretty long, around 30+ minutes.

Had the opportunity to try Tamafuji fresh as opposed to take out like last time and well worth the effort. Parking underneath the building after 4 pm is $4 flat rate. Service was excellent. Incredibly attentive without being overbearing, when I dropped my chopsticks, a new pair arrived immediately. Consistently checked if we wanted more rice or cabbage. Tonkatsu was perfectly fried--delicious, dark and crispy. The tsukemono (Japanese house pickled vegetables). Inside the restaurant, the decor is simple but gives you a flavor of what it's like to eat in an authentic Japanese restaurant. Debating making a reservation soon. If you don't have one, it can be over a two hour wait. Would absolutely go back.

One of my favorite stops in Oahu. Luckily my friends made a reservation, but they take walk-ins as well. For the quality, details, and overall experience - the price is very fair! This place must be on your Oahu plans. It was ~30 per katsu set. I got the Shrimp and Oyster option, and traded a piece of tenderloin for an oyster with my friend. 100/10 option for a seafood girly. The sauces were perfect pairings and the katsu was amazing. Our group was too happy about the unlimited cabbage salad as well, I'm always sad about skimpy vegetables when dining out.

Food is amazing but the waitlist system is pretty inefficient. We had 4 parties ahead of us when we arrived and waited 3.5 hours to eat. They left a lot of tables empty for good periods of time just to be available for reservations and they also seemed extremely short staffed. The tonkatsu was really tender and juicy and I loved the katsu sauce. I enjoyed the white miso more than the red, and felt the portion of rice they served was really small even for someone who eats less than average. I probably wouldn't wait 3.5 hours again for this although it was a very very good katsu. Reservations otherwise are extremely difficult to get.

The wait was a little long so we to go ordered and the quality was still really good. A classic and simple meal, but hit the spot. The katsu wasn't dry, it was crispy, and in my opinion, a good thickness. It came with a katsu sauce and a mustard. A small dip in the mustard then katsu sauce was the ultimate combo. Came with some pickled veggies, miso soup, and cabbage salad. I loved their cabbage salad! Their dressing for that was really good and it helped balance out the meal.

Had dinner with my boyfriend at Tonkatsu Tamafuji and the food never disappoints! We made these reservations about 5months in advance and just hoped the date would end up working out. To make reservations you just need to check their website randomly. Without reservations expect to wait at 1-3hours on any given day. The restaurant is pretty small so the walk-ins are pretty limited. Food- katsu was tender and juicy. Panko is super flakey. Very comparable to what you would get in Japan. You also get unlimited cabbage and rice. There are also picked veggies as a starter that gets placed on each table. Two different katsu sauces to choose from and you get to grate your own sesame seeds. Service- there are a lot of servers and food came out pretty fast. This wasn't my first visit and will definitely not be the last!

From the two Tonkatsu-specialty restaurants my girlfriend and I tried on our trip to Oahu, Tonkatsu Tamafuji was by far better in terms of taste, service, and price. Located on the second floor of a small shopping center, Tamafuji is a small and quaint restaurant that seats ~12 tables. We came in on a Monday at 4:30 and luckily were seated right away. By the time we finished our meal, there was a large crowd outside so I suggest coming early if you didn't get a reservation. Before the tonkatsu came out, we were given a suribachi (pestle and mortar) with sesame seeds to which we grinded them and added a tonkatsu sauce of our choice, either the sweet or original. Small sides (tsukemono) of pickled plum, cabbage, and roasted burdock root were set tableside, with the burdock root being our favorite. We ordered the Jyukusei Pork Loin Katsu (300 g) and the Sizzling Plate Miso Sauce Loin Set. Each set came with a choice of rice and miso soup. I chose the red miso clam and shiso/seaweed rice while my girlfriend got the white miso clam and Nanatsuboshi rice. While the soups were excellent, the highlights of the dinner were of course the tonkatsu. The juicy and refined aged flavor of the pork, with the contrasting crunch from the perfectly fried panko, to the slight sourness and nuttiness of the sesame-tonkatsu sauce worked together in harmony to give each bite a flavor explosion. This paired with the fresh cabbage, rice, and tsukemono made each bite more irresistable. The miso sauce wasn't as heavy or salty as I expected it to be; rather it was a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and slight smokiness from the sizzling plate. This was easily the best tonkatsu I have ever had in my life. 9.8/10 The service was amazing as well. We were seated immediately (since we arrived early) and were given a detailed explanation about how to order, what the suribachi was for, and what the tsukemono options were. I loved how frequently they came to refill our cabbage and rice during the meal. 9.5/10 This is one of two places I will 100% come back to if I'm ever in Oahu again. Overall: 9.6/10

It's nearly impossible to get a reservation because they get booked out months in advance BUT if you get there ~1 hour 15 min before opening to put your name on the waitlist you'll likely get in the first wave of seating! My boyfriend and I were #2 on the walk-in waitlist we barely made the cut for first seating. Might feel a little crazy for going that early until you see all the other foodies who didn't get a resy also waiting :) Not to be dramatic but the oyster katsu changed my life wow. The tenderloin katsu melts in your mouth like no other. Better than ginza bairin. You can choose different types of rice and red/white miso soup with the sets. Comes out to ~$30 per katsu set before tax/tip. Go here!

Friends have suggested this place and hyped this place up and it is totally worth the hype. They release reservations about a month in advance so I tried my best to snag one when they were released. I managed to get an 8:30 pm reservation for two. We arrived there earlier than our reservation time, checked in with the hope of being seated earlier, and thankfully we were seated after five minutes. I was under the impression that they only did reservations, but it looked like there were people walking in and waiting outside to be seated. The restaurant is small and the service is spectacular. We loved the experience and it was so similar to the hospitality in Japan. We ordered the mizore pork loin katsu with white miso and mixed rice and the oyster/shrimp katsu set with red miso and mixed rice. The food was delicious and we enjoyed the sides before the meal was served. The prices are also pretty affordable for what you get. We were stuffed by the end of it. We definitely would go again.

This place absolutely lives up to the hype! I made a reservation here months and months ago, there were a few walk ins I noticed but this is a place where I would want a reservation! The katsu was light and perfect, came with miso soup and rice. Also came with some fun pickled vegetables! Service was super quick and efficient! We parked in the small parking garage, $4 cash or there is a QR code to pay for parking if you don't carry cash.

Difficult reservation spot which requires a few weeks advance planning from what im told. Luckily a family member local has this spot on auto refresh w the reservations to which one of the staff remarked to her, cya tomorrow? Advice: If you do score a reservation, dont show up in your best dressed fits. The frying oil for the tonkatsu tends to stick in the air and your clothes. The format is basically setup to order in 'sets' which range all over from pork, chicken to even oysters. You can fry almost anything so why should this be limited? Each set has a selection of rice type (shiso, plain, etc) and miso soup (red or white w adds) Before your set comes out you get a small bowl and pestle to smash up the sesame seeds to desired granularity. I got the vibe of a group cooking class through this meal w these side activities and choices. Add in one of two sauces to your seed bowl and your dip is ready, set and go The bonus: Unlimited rice and cabbage refill so if you were on the fence before maybe this pushes you towards. ;) Verdict? Cost to experience is worth the try if you can get the reservation but idk i would be trying to walk in and wait. I was told they fill walk ins from any reservations that dont show up so you are rolling the dice on that front. These days alot of premium dining options and experiences are cropping up in the Honolulu food scene. This hits that mid spot for cost and is an interesting enough experience.

Service is great and fast. Every one is friendly and helpful. There are plenty parking spots on the street or under the structure so you don't have to worry about parking. The ambience is great and makes you feel like you're dining in japan. Just be mindful there might be a long wait if you don't have reservations. Couple of times that I've been here I got lucky and went like an hour before closing so I could get seated relatively quickly. Food is absolutely amazing. I think it would be the closest to what you can get in Japan here in US. I'm a big fan of shrimp and their shrimp Katsu is great they give you 5 pieces and it's crunchy outside but very light and throughly cooked inside. Also can't go wrong with any of the pork Katsu dishes they have. You get to choose your miso soup and rice they have few options. The cabbage on the side is just a perfect match with the main dish. They also give you a tea after your dish. I would definitely come back and highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for Katsu in Honolulu.

Wow, best tonkatsu ever! I ordered the 2 pork loin with 2 shrimp tonkatsu meal. The tonkatsu was crispy and light. Both the pork tenderloin and shrimp were moist with every bite. The meal came with a choice of rice (Ume, white or brown, or an Edamame mixture. The thinly shredded cabbage salad was delicious paired with their house made miso dressing. They also serve burdock root (gobo), a mild type of kim chee, and ume plum to add to your dish. The fun part was mixing the sesame seeds in a little bowl to create your tonkatsu sauce. This place is a must try if you're in the Waikiki area. Try to make a reservation or you will be waiting a while. Or do what I did, arrive a little before they open and add your name to the waitlist. Cheers!

Ok, the hype was justified. I was lucky to get an invitation to a group dinner there so I didn't have to wait for months to get a reservation. The restaurant is relatively small, but has a nice Japanese decor. Service was great. I ordered the tonkatsu and oyster combo. Soooo good. The oysters were fresh, the coating light and crispy. This was the first place where I had a choice of 3 different types or rice and miso soup. I'm excited to come back again.

Artisanal.... That's how I would describe this restaurant, The panko is freshly made, the pork is aged, the copper pots and in house oil blend used for frying come together to create a masterful tonkatsu experience. The accompanying rice, miso, sides and sauces brings the whole experience together. Reservations are recommended to be made in advance. Street parking. Casual. Good service. Please come and create your own experience.

This place is a must visit! So good we gave thanks to the chef, literally 100/10. It's worth the wait. Me and my boyfriend did a walk in on a Friday evening. We were lucky to get in, so the earlier you get there the better. Inside can be very loud. I don't recommend bringing parties over 10 bc it's a slightly small place. I wouldn't say anything tho bc it's just that good to want your friends and family to enjoy. it's The servers explained the menu and were so kind and attentive. You get to smash the sesame for ur sauce and provided some side dishes. My boyfriend got the Pork Loin katsu set 8.4oz. "You'd think it would dry bc it's thick, but it was so juicy and tender" -BF He was so full by the end of it that when he went to thank the chef, the chef noticed how full he was hahaha. I got the oyster/tender loin katsu set. Tender loin was really good and oysters were a good size. The panko they use is top tier and their miso' soups balanced everything out.

I have been to tonkatsu tamafuji one other time many years ago when they only had a walk in option with minimum 2-3 hour wait. Well this Wednesday, some friends remembered they had made reservations over 6 months ago for four and we got to bypass the line and res queue! We had the 7pm slot, and were seated around 7:20pm once all the 5pm reservations were cleared. Aside from our clothes smelling like fry oil upon the end of the meal, the ambiance and small cozy eatery feel was awesome. The tonkatsu plates are not cheap, but they do offer 3 different pork sizes, and the bottomless salad and rice make the largest (300g) loin a great deal--I took home half my meal and sides for lunch the next day! As always, the mortaring your own sesame seeds for katsu sauce is a great interactive activity. Prior to our meal, we were also served a variety of pickled vegetables, miso soup, and a diverse beer list. The tonkatsu itself was crispy, juicy and flavorful--allegedly because of their copper woks and oil--but you can be the judge. My understanding is you can make reservations now 2 months in advance, which will help to not misplaced them!! Or walk in and wait like the rest of the peasants lol.

Undeniably, still one of the very best tonkatsu restaurants in the area. It deserves five stars, but I gave four because of the "very long" wait time to dine there, even after being seated; honestly, the undesirable wait probably worth it. Perhaps, one of the best way to beat that is go there after 2110, but before their closing time at 2130. Just like everything else, prices have noticeably increased; however, the quality is still there and services unchanged (very good!), notwithstanding its extremely busy traffic.

Our lovely friends brought us to this very special place after we asked them to share their FAVORITE local food with us!! They are EXCELLENT foodies, but I wasn't sure what to expect. This little gem is very unassuming yet ALWAYS PACKED!!! Traditionally, pork is the their main dish, but our friends LOVE their chicken. I am here to tell you, it was HANDS DOWN the VERY BEST chicken I have ever eaten!!!! I am a chicken lover, so I KNOW good chicken!!! This place makes ABSOLUTELY the BEST chicken on the PLANET!!! There is NO OTHER PLACE that comes anywhere CLOSE to their food!!! So, Hui and Brandon- THANK YOU FOR SHARING this DELECTABLY, DELICIOUS place with us!!! Next time I'm gonna try the pork!!!

Another amazing dinner at Tonkatso Tamafuji. we were lucky to score reservations for this day on the online reservation system. And , that is not an easy task. Those waiting for "walk up" were there for about 2 hours to get a table according to them. When we were seated, we got a hot towel for our hands and an introduction to the menu. Service was nice, unpretentious and very Japanese formal. The condiments were explained and served as well as the sesame seeds which you personally hand grind at the table. Side salad and rice (3 choices) were unlimited if you want more. The tonkatsu was excellent and this time I ordered the Sizzling Plate Miso Sauce Pork Loin Katsu Set. About 5 pieces of pork on a super hot sizzing platter. the taste was so wonderful and cooked perfectly. No need to add any sauce really, but there were two kinds of sauce to add to your liking. Again, service was great, and the place was super reminiscent of the traditional places that we have been in Japan so you feel like you have been transported if at least for a few hours. Highly recommend if you have the chance to score reservations.

A two hour wait worth waiting for...the oyster katsu was SO worth it. We arrived Monday night around 6pm, and didn't expect the wait to be 2 hours but there were lots of reservations & take-outs which extended our wait. Service was great but busy - free refills on rice and cabbage salad. The miso soup (choose out of 4 options), tonkatsu sauce and pickled sides were delicious to enjoy with the main meal - the oyster and pork loin combo was delicious! The tempura is fried to perfection, SO crispy and hot ..and the katsu sauce adds a sweet and sour tang! We were STUFFED , esp w the cabbage refills, but so satisfied!

So we were on our annual trip to Hawaii and decided we wanted to try a tonkatsu place that we had not been to. We had heard about Tamafuji for a while but had never made our way so we finally bit the bullet and showed up 45 minutes before open time (because of the lines we heard about). Parking can be done on the street and they also have a parking lot under the complex that offers discounted parking when you get a stamp at the restaurant. We made our way to the second floor and saw a sign in board where we were able to put down our names. We were not first on the list but it wasn't nearly as bad as i thought. The line certainly did pick up exponentially each 5- 10 minute increment so probably still a good idea to show up at least 30 minutes before open time if you want to be seated in the first batch. The service was friendly/efficient and the moment you step in you can smell the delicious katsu smell in those large copper pots. The menu is pretty vast and broken down by cuts of meat, seafood and even styles (cooked in dashi or having grated daikon on top). We ordered the tender loin 4 pc set and the pork loin katsu 240 g set. the joint provides Japanese pickles (delish) as a part of the meal and each set comes with rice and your choice of miso soup (we chose red). The Katsu is so fluffy and the batter so light while the meat being so tender. honestly insane. the rice is also crazy super quality rice and absolutely delicious with the red miso being deep in its flavors and contrasting well against the katsu. honestly words will not describe how delicious this place is. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this joint for anyone looking for proper katsu. skip Ginza bairin and come here to check it out. One item on a side note... whatever you wear will smell like katsu for the day :). not a big deal but just for those who are sensitive to smell! Check it out!

If you can't make a reservation 6 months out, then I definitely recommend coming right as they open to our your name down! We put our names down a little before 5pm (they open at 4pm) on a Thursday and it was about a 2hr wait for 5 people. So we went and did some shopping and then came back around the time they told us to. They don't give you a phone call or anything, they just give you a 15min time frame for when to check back in. We planned ahead knowing it was going to be a long wait time and thankfully still ate around a reasonable dinner time. The service was super quick and friendly and the food was delicious!

They sure are busy! And it's hard to snag a reservation. Should you still try? Yes! Eating in allows you to order oyster katsu and make your own fresh sesame seed sauce. So plan ahead, and I mean really ahead, and save your spot or else, it's a long line. Why the 4 star instead of the 5 stars this time? All the katsu bento we had was good, except the big jyukusei pork loin 1lb katsu. The katsu was dry and it was just so underwhelming. Compared to the other sizes of tonkatsu, this was the worst and I won't be getting this 1lb again. Will be back to try to snag a spot to eat in next time. Just wasn't feasible to do so this time since I had a party of 13.

We have attempted and failed so many times at getting a reservation and finally decided to just try walk in. After arriving about half an hour prior to opening on a Monday afternoon, we were 10th on the waitlist. We barely missed the first round of seating and ended up waiting an hour and a half for the next seating. Was it worth it? Not really. Service is okay, I loved the refillable rice and how there's three options. The mixed rice was my favorite! The miso soup was also good but nothing amazing. They give you the bowl of sesame seeds to grind and customize the dipping sauces but didn't leave us with much instruction on how to make the sauces esp since it was our first time. We had to use some effort to flag someone down for refills on water and navigating the menu options. The lower rating was for their famous pork loin tonkatsu. We ordered different cuts and different styles including the sizzling plate tonkatsu pork and they were all so dry and overcooked. Reading the other reviews I expected the most tender buttery cuts of fried pork but ours was dry and the one that was decent was still pink in the middle and appeared raw. They showed it to the chef and then brought it back to us telling us it was "cooked" and offered to remake it which we declined since we had already kind of lost our appetites for any more pork at this point. What saved the meal was the rice and the tonkatsu shrimp and oysters which is a surprise since they're famous for the pork. This was def a one and done for us but perhaps we had an unusual bad experience? Overall, after waiting that long outside I would say that it was not worth the wait or hype.

My friend managed to book a reservation and I was thrilled to come! The food was wonderful as always. But I want to take a minute to rave about the excellent service - our waitress was sharp, quick and informative. Our miso soup and rice came out 5 minutes after we placed our order so we could start eating quickly. But what I'm really impressed with is the servers that weren't even assigned to our table. My friend put her purse on the floor when she started eating and when another waiter saw this, he quickly grabbed a box for her to put her purse in so it wouldn't touch the ground. And then I accidentally dropped one of my chopsticks, and literally within 10 seconds I had a new chopstick in my hand. Come here for wonderful food but also wonderful service. It's fun to hear the bustling of the kitchen in the back too!

My daughter made reservations 8 months ago here so finally got to go! OMG, it was worth the wait! The restaurant is busy and bustling with people. You are limited to 90 minutes but we were done in 50 minutes! I ordered the steaming hot miso soup with clams, 3 little clams in the soup made it delicious! There are 3 condiments: ume, Tsukemono and pickled cucumbers along with 2 tonkatsu sauces (sweet and regular) I had the Mix Katsu comprising of 1 fried oyester, shrimp, chicken and pork Katsu, an onion. The oyester was divine! Crispy and juicy, scrumptious! I think I will just order oysters next time as not many restaurants can make it as good! Everything else was good too! The Oyester was the Star!

For starters, I feel like this place was definitely over-hyped. The line was so long and waiting list a joke. We waited in line for nearly 2 hours and after we ordered our food waited about 30 more minutes. Once we were seated the waiter started us off with smashing sesame seeds for a sauce. I ended up not using the sesame at all. I also was wondering why they're making me work when I was literally waiting two hours just to come in. Meanwhile I saw plenty of empty tables inside and the tables not being cleaned up right away. I understand that they are busy but they should have staff for cleaning right away so that business can run more smoothly. As for the food, we got the miso soup katsu and the original pork sirloin. The food was pretty good but wasn't the best. I guess all the waiting made me not want to eat by the time I was seated. If they know they're going to be so held back, they should enlarge the restaurant of hire more people. Price-wise the total came to about $60 plus tips. Not an experience I would wanna pay for again.

This place has been hyped up by multiple people prior to coming. We decided to do walk in since the reservation times that popped up didn't work with our schedule. We waited 1.25 hours for a table around 4:30pm. The food was great and you can tell they prepared each meal very well. The pork and oyster were fried very well and had an awesome crunch to it but was still tender inside. The cabbage salad paired well with the meats. I honestly thought the red miso and clam was pretty salty but red miso is known to be saltier than white miso. I understand that the restaurant would prioritize reservations. However once seated, two parties of the same size were seated after us and were served their food before us (even if we ordered before them). Since the food was great, def gave a star bump for that. Would only come back here if I had a reservation tbh.

This was probably my favorite meal in Oahu on my recent trip. The tonkatsu is truly next level. The panko breading is so light and perfect and the meat inside (I had the tenderloin) was so tender and juicy. I got the combo meal with the pork tenderloin and the oysters and it was so good! I loved the fried oysters. The combo meals make ordering super easy. It comes with unlimited cabbage salad (LOVE the thin strands of cabbage and delicious sesame dressing!!) and your choice of rice. I loved grinding our own sesame seeds and choosing which katsu sauce to add too. BTW, I made reservations here at least 7 months in advance. I suggest you do the same if you don't want to wait 1+ hour or eat it to-go!

We came here on Sunday and put our name down at 4:15 to try and get a table at 5p opening. There were already 4 people ahead of me. When they opened at 5, we were the first table to have to wait for the second round of seating, so try to put your name down at 4! It was a great dining experience because of all the little steps before even getting to the meal. We enjoyed the table side dishes, the aroma and experience of grinding up fresh sesame seeds, picking between 4 miso soups and 3 rices, and the unlimited cabbage with 2 dressings. The choices are endless, just the cabbage and rice refills! That was honestly the best part The Katsus were also good. The pork loins were not over cooked and the breading wasn't overwhelming. I would not recommend the cheese just because if you're not a quick eater, the cheese hardens very quickly. We enjoyed their mixed combo plate as well, especially the shrimp -- it was huge! Given the time commitment it takes to get a table and a decent experience (we aren't huge fans of fried food), I probably wouldn't go through all of this again. Glad I checked this off the bucket list!

Just flew into HNL and didn't have a reservation. Arrived to queue at 3:45 pm, they opened at 4 pm, and they had 1 four person table left but they gave it to the party of 2 ahead and after us instead. Had to wait another hour before we could get seated and that honestly might be why I wasn't as impressed as I'd hoped - i was very hungry. Pricing was very fair - my mom and I ordered a 300g portion of pork loin for $30 and split it and that was more than enough for the two of us. I will say the pork loin was very moist and flavorful. TThe meat wasn't oily at all. I enjoyed the two sauce varieties (yuzu and sesame) for the cabbage. The free tea was already perfect in helping me absorb the entire piece of meat. Overall, food was great. I wouldn't wait an hour fifteen (especially after just getting off a flight and not having a real meal all day), but I heard reservations are made months in advance. If we got there on the dot, 30 minutes, we could've made it and waited less.

Oh so delicious! You have to give this place a visit! I was initially disappointed that we were unable to make a reservation for Tonkatsu Tamafuji but we decided to give it a chance by arriving ~3:20p for their 4:00p opening. We were 3rd on the walk in list and had no trouble walking in at opening on a Thursday afternoon. After being seated they handed out warmed hand towels which was lovely after walking out in the humidity and heat. They set out bowls of sesame in grinding bowls to be self prepped while we waited for our meals after ordering. The menu was a little confusing with 2 prices for each dish. The waiter explained to us the price difference is for the pork tenderloin (less expensive) vs the pork loin (more expensive) cut. I ordered the tenderloin + oyster plate, seasoned (fried) rice, red miso + clam. My friend ordered the pork loin, white miso + tofu, and side of shrimp. We were both preferred the cut we ordered after trying both. Both were absolutely delicious but the pork loin was a larger piece that is little chewier and juicier whereas the tenderloin was smaller, more tender. The rice was seasoned with veggies and bits of seafood and the oyster and shrimp were perfectly fried. The dishes come with shredded cabbage which they came around offering refills of. We were stuffed to the gills after finishing our meals. At the end they offered a lovely cup of hot tea to balance out the plate of fried goodness. Service was attentive, friendly, and efficient. This is a must visit place. You won't be disappointed.

We love Tamafuji! It beats a lot of katsu in terms of quality/taste, even in Japan. The only bad thing here is it is busy and you basically NEED a reservation, which can be months out. I usually have the toji katsu, which is basically a soupy version of a super tasty katsudon. However, I happened to have katsudon earlier in the week (bad planning), so this time got the shrimp and tenderloin set. It's amazing. The shrimp are so big and sweet, cooked perfectly. The tenderloin is so soft, you can almost eat it with no teeth. You get to choose your rice and miso soup. You are given a bowl of sesame seeds to grind yourself to your liking, and add the tonkatsu sauce in with that. I throw all of the hot yellow mustard in with that as soon as it shows up. Cabbage and rice are refillable (pro tip: even for takeout). They will even let you try a different rice. Service is great and so efficient here. We were in and out in just about an hour, but did not feel rushed. Although, we are veterans at this point. Already looking forward to our next visit!

This place was a great experience. Service and food was great. My daughter brought us here and reservations were fully booked. We came here about an hour before they opened and was able to get seated. Once they open, they were full. A quiet restaurant which is nice. We had different kind of Tonkatsu and they were cooked nicely. As an experience, we made our own sauce by grinding the sesame seeds and pouring the sauce. Overall we enjoyed the meal.

This place is a must if you are looking for good, authentic tonkatsu. The restaurant is booked several months out, but we were lucky enough to snag a last minute reservation after a cancellation. Parking conveniently located under the building and is only $1 with validation. The space is small, warm, cozy, inviting, and impeccably clean. I took my family and it was their first time here. The wait staff was friendly and accommodating, and they helped us order as well as guided us through how to grind the sesame seeds for the katsu sauce. Before the meal, we received a spread of pickled vegetables. We ordered the 180g pork loin katsu, the 3 piece pork tenderloin katsu, and the pork loin katsu egg toji. Each teishoku came with a choice of 3 different rices and 4 different miso soups. The tenderloin was the highlight, but all the katsus were a beautiful golden brown, and were crispy, tender, and juicy, while the egg toji broth was earthy, full-bodied and comforting. Perfect for pouring over the rice. The food was even better dipped in the hot mustard and katsu sauce. We also loved the endless servings of cabbage which we covered in their bright, tart yuzu dressing. Highly recommend and can't wait to go back.