Yakitori Ando

Unique and delicious Yakitori Omakase (when we went, Chef Ando finished the meal with a nabe hot pot!). Friendly chef (he used to be a sumo wrestler in Japan) and staff. BYOB. Beloved by locals. Street parking or park in the lot across from the restaurant in spots #15 to #28 and when you sit down, they have a QR code for you to scan to pay for parking.

This place in Kaimuki is an amazing culinary experience! I'd marked it as a place to try while on vacation, didn't realize that reservations are often months in advance to get in here! We were extremely lucky anyway as we just did walk in not knowing, but they had a cancellation and were able to accommodate us, which is rare. Chef is super friendly and wait staff explained everything and answered any questions. We sat counter and enjoyed omakase style dining, bacon wrapped quail eggs, wings, chicken hearts which were super tender, bacon wrapped mochi and many others with Hakata-style motsunabe as the finale. It was simply amazing tasting! It's BYOB just so you know.

If you know, you know. A true hidden gem in Kaimuki serving up some incredible Yakitori in a lot of fun. The omakase menu is a winner and it’s BTOB. Bring extra for the chef and the staff and get ready for a great night out….if you can get a reservation. They are hard to come by, but worth the wait. BTW, the nabe at the end with beef intestine is broke da mout. Enjoy! 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

Yakitori Ando is the best! We have an amazing experience every time we dine there. The food is delicious, specially the motsunabe. Chef and the staff make everything perfect.

Aside from the fact that the food is absolutely AMAZING, the atmosphere is great and cozy, and the service is 10/10, I would like to tell how kind and nice Ando has been to me when he didn’t even have to! I had parked (my mistake, not his) in the parking lot of the bank across the restaurant, and my car was towed because I was not supposed to park there. When he found out about this, after my dinner, he stopped cooking, got out and came to help me. He not only instead to pay for my uber to the towing company, he also handed me the money to get the car back from the towing company!! I could not accept the money but he insisted I would keep it and kept apologizing.. even if it was my fault, not his!! Amazing food but especially UNBELIEVABLE people here! You will NOT regret eating here, the best in Honolulu!

nd a half year old restaurant is worth trying! They also have a few parking spots in front of their entrance area but street parking was easy to find as well. After the initial appetizers, the omakase consisted of 7 dishes plus their popular motsunabe for about $64 per person. If you are a pescatarian or vegetarian they will make special accommodations as well. Personally I think the motsunabe here is better than Rinka's :) Our table's fav were the bacon wrapped mochi's and the chicken meatballs. I wished they had bonjiri too. (Forgot to ask if they had but next time) We had - chicken wings, heart, thighs, chicken meatballs, bacon wrapped quail eggs, and bacon wrapped mochi, and US Wagyu beef skewers. Tip for next time - make your reservations for your next dinner when you are there already!

Very delicate taste, loved all the skewers. I wish they have chicken skin and cartilage as part of the omakase! You can bring your own beverage to this place, and there is a parking lot right across from the plaza, very convenient👍 It was ~$50/person. If you don’t eat guts, make sure to tell them in advance so they can make accommodations!

A Great little hidden gem. The food is great, and the service fantastic. Food is served omakase style so you just inform the waitress what you DON'T eat and they'll send you everything else. I love this style as the food keeps coming until you tap out and say "no mas." One unfortunate thing, the group I went with wasn't too adventurous so no Cartilage or Offal, which to me are some of the best things grilled. The great thing is that our waitress brought me a couple of dishes of these after our group was done with skewers and starting on the nabe. A good way for me to end on things I wanted. The price is also very reasonable for the quality of food. I'm a heavy eater but was accompanied by four ladies and a late guest but the bill still came in under $200. Our waitress and the chef were nice enough to make individual skewers of what our late guest missed to make up and catch him up to us. I can't say enough about the taste of the food. The flavors off the grill can't be beat. I even missed taking pictures of half our food including the nabe (soup) and Japanese noodles because I was enjoying the tastes. And, as a bonus, the place is BYOB with no corkage fee. Parking is conveniently across the street in the Bank of Hawaii lot and is a reasonable flat rate after hours ($2.00 on 7/3/19). This place should be on any foodies list of places to get to.

Yakitori Ando was an amazing experience from start to finish. The food was incredible--each course in the omakase menu builds on the previous. Skewers were perfectly grilled by Ando-San himself behind the counter. Watching him work added to the whole authentic vibe--it really felt like being in a little yakitori spot in Japan. There was plenty of food too--way more than I expected for the set menu--and everything came out at a great pace so you could actually enjoy each course. The fact that it's BYOB is a huge bonus; bringing your own sake or beer just makes the evening that much more fun and relaxed. Highly recommend Yakitori Ando if you're looking for a genuine, delicious, and unpretentious dining experience. I'll definitely be back soon.

This restaurant is only Course style. Yakitori is so good. Last Motsu nabe is the best!! Every Food cooked by Mr Ando. Service also amazing. The staff work efficiently and it's a pleasure to watch.

My favorite Yakitori omakase on the island. Food is simple and delicious. It is BYOB establishment and it's always a treat to share a drink with the chef and his team. To make a reservation - no walk ins. Best advice I can give is to call 10 minutes before they open to get connected with someone

The omakase is great. Ando-san selects high quality ingredients that vary day-to-day, lightly seasons them and grills them to lightly charred (not burned) perfection. Most people don't like or even know how uniquely delicious chicken skin, heart, tail area, cartilage and cock's comb are, so those delicacies unfortunately are not offered. But if Ando-san had them on a secret menu, he'd make more $ and use more interesting parts of a chicken. It is also incredibly difficult to get a reservation here, which ensures quality control. But, I still wish I could take more family and friends there.

Second time here and it was AMAZING! Omakase style with some surprises of chicken heart but most were normal yakitori with chicken thighs , mochi wrapped with bacon...texture and taste was just presented with plate perfection! On top of that chicken wings were tasty. A must try and a special treat. We ended with the special mostunabe soup! That is the best soup ever, tasty & always taken home for the next lunch meal! Made reservations to go back but in several months! Love how chef Ando has some nostalgic photos of his previous life and some artsy and fun inspirational paintings with him in it! Cool, hip joint with counter seating to interact with him or have a party with minimal and quaint seating .

Ambiance: Hole in the wall, neighborhood Izakaya. BYOB plus for a great time. Parking: Across the street at BOH. First hour paid by Ando-San. Food: Great tasting, no frills Yakitori and more Service: Outstanding, efficient and friendly service.

I heard there was a "new" omakase in town and that it wasn't the traditional sushi omakase - it was a yakitori omakase with motsunabe! I was craving motsunabe as I recently came back from Fukuoka, the origin of the dish where I first tried it. I wanted my boyfriend and grandparents to try this specific dish because it left such an amazing impression on me back in Fukuoka. It's located in the same lot as a jiujitsu dojo and behind the Bank of Hawaii in the Franklin Variety Building on Center St in Kaimuki. There's a free 1 hour parking offered to customers (peep at pic) or many free street parking, especially after 6pm, around the neighborhood. Just an FYI, the omakase lasted at least 2 hours, so after that 1 hour parking, you'll have to pay. It was a reservation only restaurant with maybe around 35 seats. My boyfriend and I were able to score a reservation a couple months in advance for Christmas Eve. Highly recommend calling early before the night starts for them as there are only 2 waitresses and 1 chef. A huge perk as part of the restaurant was that it was a BYOB restaurant - the workers went to every party to ask if we brought our own drinks/alcohol as they prepared glasses for parties who did bring their own drinks. How nice! Unfortunately, my party didn't bring our own drinks and stuck to water/hot water. We were offered to purchase non-alcoholic drinks that they had, though! We started off with five okazu (side dishes): edamame, kinpira renkon (Japanese Lotus Root Stir Fry), hijiki seaweed salad, kiriboshi daikon (I believe), and okara salad (soy pulp). The okazu were soooo good. We were caught off guard, in a good way, by the okara as none of us have ever tried it before. Then the yakitori rounds began! I won't be describing the taste as they're kind of "basic" yet everything was delicious and flavorful! - Bacon wrapped quail eggs - Grilled shrimp - Chicken wings - Chicken meatballs - Bacon wrapped mochi - A5 Wagyu - Chicken liver - a childhood favorite of mine as my mom cooked this a lot. If you've never had it before, definitely give it a try! My boyfriend tried it for the first time ever and didn't hate it - love that! Lastly, the "main" course/star of the show - motsunabe (Japanese hot pot with pork or beef offal)! Our pot was HUGE in comparison to all the other parties. We were already starting to get full from all the yakitori and seeing this was insane (peep at pic). While waiting for the dish to boil, I had asked one of the waitresses if the chef was from Fukuoka as the dish originated from there. Turns out the chef was a sumo wrestler from Yokohama who loved making this dish. Would have never guessed! What a fun fact. The motsunabe smelled soooo good and honestly the smell did not do it any justice because the broth was incredibly amazing. It was really addictive and flavorful that I could not get enough of it (could be the potential MSG but omg so good). The nabe had soooo much offal which I loved. They were also cleaned well and didn't have the strong stinky intestine smell that could stop people from trying. Just couldn't get enough of this at all! We were all getting very full that one of the waitresses informed us that noodles were also a part of this dish. Thankfully, we didn't need to eat the noodles there and was able to take the motsunabe and noodles home! The chef came by to all of our tables and apologized for the wait (to be expected!) and offered us 2025 calendars, showcasing one of his friend's artwork for each month. It was so cute! Overall, a really great place to experience. Especially for those who have never had motsunabe. The price we had was $72 per person for all the food we received. It wasn't too bad especially the last few items practically paid for 1/3 of the meal. Definitely enjoyed the motsunabe and quite sad I can't just order that as takeout in the future.

We were there to celebrate a major birthday at Yakitori Ando and it was a most delightful experience! Each course was even more delicious than the last. The nabe at the end was a great ending. We brought home the broth and made more noodle soup the next day!

What a unique and special experience. After visiting I get why it's popular with the local chefs and I had to make reservations months ahead. We had the privilege of sitting at the counter and watching chef Ando work. I'm having trouble describing the experience because on one hand it simple, but also elegant. The best I can explain it is the balance in the flavors and each skewer cooked to perfection is the experience. The restaurant is on the smaller side and it's byob. The parking lot is across the road and you pay nominal fee with a QR code at the restaurant. 2 hours was sufficient for our party of 2.

Amazing food and had a great time! Staff and Chief were top notch! One of my Local favorite eat spots.

First time for me with a full table of regulars who have nothing but great things to say about this place and I'm happy to report that I agree. There's one seating a day with very limited space so I recommend getting those reservations in early. Plus if you enjoy it, make your next reservation before you leave. I appreciate that every party arrives on time as the fun doesn't begin until everyone is seated. I also recommend to get there somewhat early as there are limited stalls available that are paid stalls across the street otherwise you need to find your own street parking. Payment for parking is secured via QR code once you get to the restaurant at a crazy affordable rate of $1/hour up to 3 hours. Not long after everyone is seated, the service begins. With just one chef and two waitresses, they flow seamlessly throughout the evening. All the food served was tasty. My favorites would have to be the chicken wings, bacon wrapped quail eggs, juicy chicken thighs, and I loved the lamb. Very happy that I enjoyed what was served as not every night is the same with slight variations. If you're not full after the 3 appetizers and about 7 or 8 small plates, the Motsunabe will definitely fill you up. First pot full of meat and veggies and they even come back with a container full of noodles. Overall, I enjoyed myself. I'd like to try sitting at the counter so you can watch the Chef in action. He appears to love what he does and interacts with those sitting at the counter. Don't forget to bring your drinks other than water. They can provide a bucket of ice and glasses if needed. Note that it can get a little warm in there since it's a small space but especially at the end when all the hot pots come out. I feel pricing is fair for the entire experience and there's no other like it on the island.

Located up behind the Bank of Hawaii on Waialae Ave, Yakitori Ando is a small gem in Kaimuki. They are usually reservation only and are packed. It totally feels like you are in Japan there. It is omakase style where Chef brings out multiple types of skewers (yakitori). We received a variety, ranging from shrimp to mushrooms to chicken hearts. I also LOVE that it is BYOB! My friends brought sake for us to eat with our meal. Oishi! What is possibly the best way to end the meal is the huge pot of motsunabe. A piping hot bowl of broth, veggies and meats soothes my soul and my stomach (we must always save room for this nabe)! Cheers to Yakitori Ando, a Kaimuki staple!

What an amazing feast. We've been living here for 26 years and my wife and I both agreed that this was one of the best dining experiences we've ever had in Hawaii. B.Y.O.B. with good friends in a friendly and relaxed setting. A really great evening in every way. Thank you Chef Ando!

The last time we ate there was before the pandemic--so over 4 years. Last year when I called for a table the wait was over a month. I had wanted to take my son and dil there but they were only going to be here for a couple of weeks Today when I called I was told the next available opening was mid January! 3 months!! But the woman answering the phone was polite (not hurried like the last year). And she offered to put us on a wait list during their stay. So here's hoping. Can't wait to have those chicken dishes.

Amazing!!!! Can't believe I didn't know about this place. It's a small place but the food is amazing! We even made reservations to return but couldn't get it for a few months! Service was good. If you think you will walk out hungry....think again.....we were stuffed and it's BYOB!

I came because my friend said she needed an additional person for her long awaited Motsunabe hot pot experience! Experience wise, we got seated at a side table and served at a normal table so it really lacked the omakase experience. Everyone was super nice and fantastic and we did share drinks across the restaurant, but definitely didn't get the experience everyone raves about. Food was really good, emphasis and kudos to how well prepared it was, but it did feel like I wasn't full. It was yummy but I don't necessarily think I could come back again with such a high price tag.

Yakitori Ando is a hidden gem off a Waialae that specializes in yakitori sticks ranging from chicken hearts to mochi. They are booked out months in advance so always be sure to make another reservation while you're there. The restaurant is fairly small. There is a countertop that sits around 12 and around 6 tables as well. There is a paid parking lot located across that street. This place is BYOB so don't forget to bring your own booze! They offer glasses as well as ice buckets to accommodate, whichever drinks you decide to bring. Ando-san also loves to partake in sharing a drink with his customers, so please offer him a few for all his hard work and amazing service! My friends and I sat at the counter right in front of Ando-san. It was interesting watching him work his magic and was great having a drink with him as well. Our omakase consisted of three sharable appetizers, tsukune, bacon-wrapped mochi, chicken heart, bacon-wrapped quail egg, shrimp, chicken thigh, and chicken wings. The star of the show was the Motsunabe, a hearty and flavorful hot pot. Yakitori Ando's version of Motsunabe was nothing short of a culinary masterpiece. The ingredients were fresh, and the broth was packed with umami goodness. The melt-in-your-mouth texture of the intestines, combined with the vibrant flavors of the vegetables, made it a dish to remember. We were all definitely very stuffed after our meal. The tab came out to around $80 per person including tip, which is cheaper than I thought it would have been. I will definitely be coming back. This is a high recommend on my list for you to try!

Had so much fun with a group of friends at Yakitori Ando. Plenty pics already posted of the great yakitori and motsunabe, here is a pic of how we felt at the end of the meal, so happy!!

We made reservations a few months ago after a few calls. Currently their next opening is in February. Ambiance is warm and the walls are filled with art works featuring Ando-San. But this tucked away 5 and a half year old restaurant is worth trying! They also have a few parking spots in front of their entrance area but street parking was easy to find as well. After the initial appetizers, the omakase consisted of 7 dishes plus their popular motsunabe for about $64 per person. If you are a pescatarian or vegetarian they will make special accommodations as well. Personally I think the motsunabe here is better than Rinka's :) Our table's fav were the bacon wrapped mochi's and the chicken meatballs. I wished they had bonjiri too. (Forgot to ask if they had but next time) Tip for next time - make your reservations for your next dinner when you are there already!

Never a bad experience here! 100% love this place and all their Yakitori! We decided to come back again and honestly everything is soo good! I'm glad that they change their omakase, so far every experience has been different a unique. Just a reminder: they only take reservation and they do have parking! :) I will definitely be coming back again soon!

Bruhhhhh, if you're in Kaimuki, check out this spot for some tasty eats! They offer omakase style skewers which will leave your taste buds happy! The omakase ends with a filling and very delicious motsu nabe! Soo freaking good! Everything costs only 60 bucks ish per person and it's BYOB. What else more can you ask for?! Making a reservation can be difficult but keep calling and you may get lucky, or pop in and make the res if you have the chance

Yakitori Ando - the exclusive Japanese restaurant where you need to make a reservation MONTHS in advance (at least 2-3)! It's Omakase. No prices, no menu. Chef Ando-san decides! Dinner only from 6-10pm, closed Wednesdays. For reservations, call BEFORE 6pm because no one will answer as the chef and his two assistants are already busy. Yes, it's just him and two assistants that do pretty much everything besides cook. This is my first time here and made this reservation a little over two months in advance, and wow what an experience! Chef Ando is a character, and it felt like I was in an episode of Midnight Diner in Tokyo. This place is located in Kaimuki, on Center Street, behind Bank of Hawaii. There's no big sign that you can see from afar except for a small one imprinted with "Yakitori Ando" and "Anjiu" in Hiragana on a lantern next to the back door--that faces the street. After checking in, we were greeted happily by the chef and staff, and got our seats next to the grill. Nice! We started off with a few appetizers (edamame, kiriboshi, hijiki, and shiraae tofu). They were all so good!! The kiriboshi/daikon/radish was prepared and marinated very well with a good balance of savory and sweet. The hijiki/seaweed was the same with a nice pop of umami. Our favorite was the shiraae tofu/mashed tofu. It was smooth and packed with flavor that's further enhanced with the sliced shiitake mushrooms and onions. Edamame was good too!. Nice start! Time for the skewers. Started with the Tebasaki Chicken Wings. Can't go wrong with crispy skin, tender and tasty meat with an amazing sweet and savory sauce. Bacon Wrapped Quail was good. Crispy and salt bacon with a soft and creamy quail egg with a nice hit of wasabi on the side. The Grilled Kauai Head-on Shrimp was perfectly grilled. Crispy and softened shell with tender and juicy meat. The head was the best part. Sweet! Chicken Hearts were amazing. You wouldn't even be able to tell it was hearts because the meat was so tender and tasty, and it didn't have that irony/gamey taste. Chicken thighs. Juicy, tender, fresh, and tasty. The Chicken Tsukune was freshly handmade by the chef. Boiled then grilled. Prepared exceedingly well. The chicken was soft and tender, and juicy and flavorful. Next was the Chicken Tail. Grilling is probably the best way to eat this part of the chicken. With the fat rendered, cartilage softened, and skin to a crisp makes for an amazing bite. Of course, it is better when an experienced chef prepares it. The last skewer of the night was Bacon Wrapped Mochi with nori. Prepared so well! Bacon grilled to the perfect amount of crispness. Mochi grilled to a nice crunchiness outside and just the right amount of softness inside. That's a master right there. You wouldn't want the mochi to be super soft inside because that'll be gooey and sticky and unappealing. To end the meal, we were treated to Motsunabe with beef intestines. The server asked us beforehand if we were okay to eat that as I'm sure they've had some customers freaked out by intestines. Yes, I'm okay! You can throw anything in there! The nabe also had cabbage, chives, beech mushrooms, dried chili pepper, garlic, tofu, and tofu puffs. First taste was the broth, and wow, the dashi broth was sweet, rich, and clean. Full of umami. Everything was excellent. The beef intestines were fresh and cleaned very well. With these, you always worry they'll be tough and chewy if they're not cooked long enough, but this wasn't the case. They were actually tender with just the right amount of bite, and it never had any that "gamey" taste or scent. You might think the meal is over, but nope. The final item is Okinawan Soba to add to your broth after finishing most of your nabe. More broth can be added if yours reduced to low. This hit the spot. The firm, chewy noodles were so delicious with that flavorful broth. Overall, wow, what an experience. I can definitely see why you need to make a reservation months in advance. The food, the atmosphere, the service, the quality, the experience, and the price are all exceptional. I didn't mention the price, right? The meal was $60/person. That's it. No tax either. What a great deal! I was honestly expecting a lot more. All the food is fresh off the grill or just cooked. Food is best when it's still fresh and hot. The service was just top notch. Servers were very friendly and attentive and had a pleasant demeanor. Everyone greeted you as you entered and left. It's BYOB as well, and it is encouraged too. Also, it is encouraged to share some with the chef. Can't wait to go to Ando again!

My friend made reservations for 8 of us back in December 2023 for April 2024! Last night was the night! Walking in the place is small with minimal bar/counter seating and about 6 tables (hence why you need reservations months in advance). You are greeted warmly by staff and Chef yelling "Irasshaimase!" Seated, we were brought waters and ice buckets for our bottles of sake and soju (fyi it's BYOB). They also have a small refrigerator for you to put cans or other beverages in to keep chilled. I've never been to a restaurant that was so considerate of their customers' byob needs. First course is edamame, followed by green beans, tofu and what seemed like sukiyaki onions with tofu skin. Then the yakitori starts making an appearance!! Glazed Chicken Wings, Bacon Wrapped Mochi, Chicken Hearts, Bacon Wrapped Quail Eggs, Prawns, Chicken Thigh, Beef, Chicken Balls... To be honest I was initially worried this was going to be one of those situations where I leave hungry... but I was wrong. The meal is completed with a large pot of nabe hot pot! Filled with intestines, tofu, mushrooms, and assorted veggies, it's impressive. Not to mention the stock is incredibly rich, smooth and hits the spot at the end of the meal. One of my favorite things is hot soup at the end of a meal (it's the Asian way). They will also bring fresh ramen noodles too put in the broth once you've mostly finished the vegetables. This was just an amazing meal and definitely worth the wait and $70 cost. Yes, it's a flat price for an omakase experience. We already made another reservation- Can't wait until the next time in August!

literally RUN DONT WALK to try this place. Service: Impeccable, it's intimate seating and they are so attentive and sweet. You will learn VERY full, as it is plenty of food! I literally had been dreaming to come back for their nabe, and so we returned 2 years later and it tastes as good as we remember! Also I bought one of his shirts and it is one of my favorites, Ando San is such an icon!!

Cozy, BYOB, with the best Mosunabe ever! They are always very busy , so keep in mind that you need reservations way in advance.

AMAZING! This yakitori omakase ends with the most delicious motsunabe nabe and is well worth the $60pp. And it is BYOB! Make reservations ahead. It can be difficult to make reservations over the phone as they have limited staff and are generally busy, but do not give up. It might even be easier to stop by during business hours to make a reservation. There is a small paid parking lot across the street, with only a few that is available for free after a certain time. There is also street parking up the street that is a short walk. I highly recommend!

Second time here.. and a third reservation coming up in March! The trick is to make your next reservation when you're already there lol. I can see how they don't answer the phone since it they are so busy all the time! Yakitori Ando offers omakase style skewers! I love how we get to try a little bit of everything - my favorite bites included bacon wrapped quail egg & also chicken heart! But the reason I keep coming back when I have the chance... is the motsu nabe. The broth is so rich & tasty, I could probably drink it if I wasn't so embarrassed . Before Ando, I'd only ever tried yakiniku style motsu so this was completely new. I tried to recreate it at home using the leftover broth but.. it's definitely nowhere near the same. Cant wait for the next time I get to enjoy this gem!

I finally got to go here after successfully booking a reservation through phone! Wow. What an amazing experience. 5 stars for chef Ando and his staff of workers. They were all extremely efficient and our waters were never empty and always full. The food was incredible. The side dishes at the beginning were so flavorful and brimming with so many different flavors that we all finished it in one go. The yakitori skewers were all to-die-for. I never knew I would enjoy eating all the parts of a chicken grilled but here we are and it was so wonderful. He is so skilled at what he does because the preparation to get it charred just right to where it is tender yet crisp on the outside with the right amount seasoning takes lots of experience. The motsu nabe. Holy sh*t ya'll. I will forever be dreaming about it. Just when you think you are finished with the yakitori they pulled out the big ass motsu nabe. So in love. This whole experience felt like a dream. A dream that I do not think I would ever wake up from. A dream where the food just keeps coming and then my stomach would explode. I think my dreams are going to consist of that now. I will be just keep getting fed dish after to dish from chef Ando and then black out. LOL. I absolutely love this place. Come with an empty stomach. I also need to come back. This is definitely not something I could eat every week but once every other month. The food is incredible. Props to chef Ando. 5 stars all around for Yakitori Ando.

Update Dec 2023. Visiting Oahu from the 9th Island! Yakitori Ando is on my list of favorite restaurants for dinner and the food and service did not disappoint. This hidden gem hole in the wall is also being your own beer/wine/champagne! No corkage! Can't beat that w the best Yakitori on the island. Ando san is grilling bomb azz Yakitori over perfectly cured charcoal. Amazing and worth the visit every time.

Aloha, Yakitori Ando is the best kept secret in kaimuki. Get your Rez a couple months in advance as Ando has a major following. Great Omakase for $70 and byob. Wow what a deal. Love this place. Will definitely be back. Mahalo

Wow! What an experience to taste the delicious talent of Former Sumo Wrestler and Yakitori Master, Ando-San! Reservations only - Call when the store opens for best chance to reach them. I made this reservations about 2 months in advance as there is very limited seating. Small gem tucked away in Kaimuki. Located near Bank of Hawaii and lot across the street to park. Street parking available if lucky. Casual spot, so feel free to dress comfortably. Expect to be here 2-3 hours for the entire foodie experience as Chef Ando is the only cook and there are two waiters. We got there 6pm and stayed till almost 9pm, so sit back, relax and watch Chef's magic! "Omakase" style, which means CHEF'S CHOICE and made with fresh ingredients. Many courses that included a variety of yakitori specials and if you want to end the meal with Mostsunabe. Highly recommend if you think you'll have room! Stars of the show: -Bacon Wrapped Mochi -Bacon Wrapped Tomato -Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatball Skewers) -Chicken Wings -MOTSUNABE (Japanese stew with tripe) with the noodles (offered near the end of the meal if you are still hungry) Other tasty ones were shrimp, gizzards, chicken etc. Ended up leaving very happy and full at $60/person. Another plus is the BYOB! Bring libation of choice and they have fridge and bucket of ice you can use. Water and cups provided.

I called and made reservation in January 2024 for 4 people with table seating for any Sat evening. Nothing was available until May 2024, but the wait was worth it. The environment was cozy, low key, and intimate. The amount of food was decent for the cost. The quality was good. It was BYOB, but we forgot. Master Ando and his two staff were friendly and welcoming. Everyone in my party had a good time and was so full after :).

omakase yakitori? yes please. be sure to make a reservation by calling, as it is a smaller location with few seats, but definitely worth it! we sat at the bar so we got to see the chef work. we also brought a small bottle of sake as a gift to him, and he had a drink with our party. some of my favorite sticks were the whole prawns, the aspara-bacon, and the tsukune. the chef noticed i liked to dip all my stick into the shichimi on the table, so he also offered me a very very spicy pepper to dip. that attention to detail was very much appreciated. as others have said, the motsunabe was quite spectacular. i'm not usually a fan of tripe, but i'd have this soup any day of the week. the broth is so flavorful and it felt like the perfect ending to the meal.

Excellent experience hidden in plain site. The meal was satisfying, varied, and the BYOB with the chef was fun. Reservations are far out but worth it. Will return, hoping to have more beef than all chicken, next time.

I would give this place 4/5 for food and atmosphere, but 3/5 for my overall experience from booking to service when in the restaurant. I planned my second solo trip to Honolulu just so I could visit Sushi Sho and Yakitori Ando, which were very high on my foodie tour list. I had my flights booked at least 8 months in advance. I called 6 months before my date of visit on 10/29/23 so that I could book a seat at Yakitori Ando because I knew that it is a very sought-after reservation. I spoke with a male staff member to book a seat at the counter at 7pm, and I was told about their omakase and BYOB policy. However, when I walked in on 10/29 at my reservation time, I was told I did not have one... I was quite disappointed at first, but they were able to last-minute arrange a seat for me, which I greatly appreciated. However, I realized as the omakase menu progressed that I was not given all of the meats that other guests had. I saw other guests getting pieces of chicken liver and heart, for example, so I was disappointed that I was not able to experience these. I also felt rushed through the menu, which may be because I was eating quickly as a solo diner compared to other guests who were with friends/family. Even though I was the last to enter the restaurant, I was one of the first to leave. The meal was only $60, much cheaper than I expected, to be honest. But I wouldn't have minded paying more for the full experience. For full disclosure, my menu was as follows: edamame and small appetizers, chicken wings, bacon-wrapped quail eggs, chicken thigh, chicken meatball, wagyu, bacon-wrapped mochi, whole shrimp, then motsunabe with beef intestines and veggies with soba added in the end. Everything fresh off the grill and delicious! The restaurant staff and Chef Ando himself were very apologetic when they realized they had missed a reservation on their books. They have a written bookkeeping system, rather than online/electronic, and they only take reservations by phone. I think I would have had a better experience had my reservation gone smoothly, as Chef Ando does a wonderful job on the grill.

I had to come back to update my review to note that Chef enjoys sweet potato shochu! We came back with my sister in law and had another incredible experience. We were worried about bringing the little one but they were so accommodating. The staff members were all so kind and helpful. Thanks for another fantastic dining experience!

Heard if Sumo & Sushi? Add yakitori! Hole in the wall location in Kaimuki! If you enjoy Japanese "Omakase " cuisine, this is it! Experience and welcome many delicious presentations & exquisite surprises! BYOB! Share your your fun dining with former pro sumo wrestler turned yakitori chef. Very popular with native Japanese and locals. Kamaainas can experience Japanese style dining without leaving home. (Reservations well in advance recommended because of demand) You may just find your next favorite "hangout"!

Well, what can I say? You just have to come here to enjoy the whole experience! Please remember to make a reservation well in advance - as others mentioned. :) Ando-san and two other staff members welcomed us, and we just had to sit down to look forward to what we'd be served! The course started with izakaya-style amuse-bouche, and continued to individual yakitori items. Yes, everything was so good! While we were getting full, we didn't say no to Motsu-nabe (+ Soki/Okinawa soba)...and we were so glad not to say no! The nabe was so flavorful. Everyone including Ando-san was so friendly and polite, so I did not feel like it was my first time there. Well, it won't be my last time for sure!

Best value in town! Fresh ingredients with a variety of items to keep you interested. Everything was grilled perfectly. The nabe was delicious and filling. The yaki onigiri at the end of the meal was one of the best I've ever had. Highly recommend if you can get a reservation.

It surprises me that I just only discovered this place just last year, and I'm really upset about that! First and foremost, you have to make a reservation for this place! My friends and I had to wait almost a month to be able to eat at this place and it was well worth the wait! Don't get me wrong, this place seems like a hole in the wall but it is some fine dining experience. It is omakase course - basically you're being served a certain amount of food until you tell them to stop. I believe right now it is estimated to be 40-60 $ per person. But it is worth it!!!! We started off with some appetizers, then skewers (Chicken thighs, cartilage, chicken heart, mochi bacon), chicken tabe, abalone, and lastly ended off with motsu nabe! What I also love about this place is how nothing goes to waste, so if you have left over broth from your motsu nabe you could request for noddles to end the day! It is also BYOB, and with a 7 eleven just down the street - How can you not resist? There are also some generous people that will leave some leftover beers/wine/sake. My friends and I also brought some sake and soju, which they kindly placed in an ice bucket! Talk about amazing customer service! I highly recommend anyone to come and experience this amazing place!

Located off Waialae Ave, Yakitori Ando is a hidden gem. You need to have this wonderful Yakitori made by Ando-san himself. He is very good at his craft and works very hard! His staff is also very attentive and helpful. The BYOB part makes it fun as well. Aside from the taste of the food, my favorite part of this place is that it is omakase style. This means you do not order off a menu. Instead, you are served whatever is being cooked by Ando-san. I appreciate this because it takes the thinking out of a delicious meal so you can just enjoy what comes your way! Part of our omakase included prawns, chicken thighs, chicken meatball, bacon wrapped quail egg, bacon wrapped mochi just to name a few. Everything was very tasty! Parking in the lot right across the way ($1 per hour) or street parking on Waialae Ave. One more tip is they don't serve dessert so go support the other local dessert businesses in the immediate area after your meal.

Finally we made a reservation and celebrate our best friend's birthday dinner at ANDO! It's only OMAKASE course. Started off "otoshi" Tebasaki Yagen Chicken thighs Bonjiri Bacon wrap tomatoes My favorite mochi bacon!!! And off course "motsu nabe" Broth was sooo good!! Okinawa soba for "shime" is perfect!! Definitely recommend to try this place!!

Yummy morsels on sticks Famous samurai pig guts soup was amazing too Flavor was so rich and fatty. Aloha spirit from the chef to the servers So ono Delicious in Hawaiian ! Everything is paced slowly No ordering Chef's choice for everyone!!! Great sign: all local Japanese people except for me and my Ohana (family)

Motsu Nabe = perfection. My friend said that it was one of the best things he ate this year. I can't disagree. Broth rich but not greasy. Tripe chewy and not gamey. Veggies plenty. Okainawan soba noodles perfect toothsome ending. It was difficult to get through on the phone to make the reservation but somehow makes it seem all the more desirable. My faves were the starting veggies and the ending nabe. The skewers were all good the best is of course gizzard. We got full fast and stopped before we got to bacon wrapped mochi. Maybe I should fast the whole day before going next time. I saw people at the counter giving chef their booze offerings. I wasn't sure what the etiquette was since we were further away at a table. Next time ima bring him his own small bottle of sake bc he works so hard and has created a great atmosphere. Felt like I got a little taste of Japan again after having been away all the years of the pandemic. Have another reservation for next month. Wondering if I should just call and make another for every month after that...

The owner chef Ando makes the experience at this restaurant remarkable. He is a retired sumo wrestler turned master yakitori griller, who is originally from Yokohama Japan and has been living in Hawaii for over 30 years. He is the star of the show - cooking all of the dishes by himself and entertaining the guests with his stories. He appreciates good alcohol, so be sure to share a glass with him if you'd like! The restaurant is in a very unassuming corner of town with no large signs that lead to it. There is very limited seating and with how popular this place is, I recommend calling for a reservations a week or two in advance. Be sure to bring any alcohol or drinks that you want to pair with your meal, as Ando is BYOB. They will supply the drink wares and ice. Yakitori Ando is omakase style which means that the chef chooses the menu on the fly. However, if there are any allergies or preferences you can let them know. I cannot eat chicken liver or heart, so they took the items off of the course and replaced Siri others. The meal started out with some edamame and small appetizers such as okara, hijiki, green bean gomaae, and spinach ohitashi. We had 7 skewers each and some chicken wings, all of which were absolutely amazing. - white shrimp - bacon wrapped quail egg - chicken thigh - tsukune chicken meatball - pork belly - marinated beef - bacon wrapped mochi The meal ended with an epic Motsu nabe. I was already pretty full by the time we finished the skewers, but when I took a sip of the soup, my appetite was back! The intestines were so rich with flavor and the variety of veggies were very unique. The aburaage (tofu pouch) soaked the soup up nicely as well. They wrapped up the hot pot by adding soki soba noodles! The meal ended up being around $70 per person for ALL THIS FOOD. Worth every penny and if I were here for more than a week, I'd probably come back again.

First of all: WOW! Pro tip: make reservations months in advance so you can secure a spot! You have to call during business hours to make a reservation, so that's the only tricky part. It's also BYOB, so make sure you bring your own beer/drinks! They do provide glasses and water for your. This felt like a local spot because the majority of people there were familiar with chef Ando, so I'm guessing they're regulars or have been a few times. We were still treated with respect by all the staff members, and didn't feel left out at all! Chef prepares everything fresh so you're getting the best quality of foods. Everything was delicious and we wish we had the option to repeat dishes, like the shrimp and chicken thighs. My favorite dish of the night is probably the motsunabe, which was a hot pot served at the end of the meal (they'll ask if you want it before they prepare it) and I highly recommend it! Everything fit so well together, with fattiness but also freshness from the vegetables and the broth tasted super clean so it felt healthy too! After you're done and if you're still feeling hungry/want to have the full experience, they'll offer Okinawan-style noodles to finish with your broth. Overall, it's fairly priced for 12 courses, and the skewers might not feel like a lot but you'll end up leaving full and satisfied! We asked if they had any openings so that we could come back before we left the island, but they were fully booked at least a week out.

Excellent service, great food! Perfect place for family and group get together. w/BYOB option, enjoy your favorite beer or wine

Superb excellent customer service! Chef Ando is amazing at all the dishes he creates! I absolutely loved dining here with friends! It's a great place to have a social gathering over drinks and good appetizers! We had ordered his omakase. So the chef chooses what to make for us! I can't wait to come back here again soon!! So good!!!

My favorite yakitori "hole in the wall" place to dine well and be charmed by Chef Ando, retired sumo wrestler and expert at grilling and making the motsu chanko nabe at the end: hot pot filled with broth made from delicious organ meats, vegetables, fresh made soba. You'll leave happily stuffed. BYOB. Persevere in getting a reservation. It may take months, but be flexible and open to dine on a weekday instead of the weekend. Phone 808 739 5702 exactly at 5pm or between 11pm-midnight (yes, that's how late Ando's open) to get through to the hostess who'll look at the calendar and tell you what's available.