Yanagi Sushi

I might have to try this place again based off of everyone’s great reviews. Our party ordered an assortment of food including sushi rolls and dinner entrees and while the rolls were great I was disappointed with the tempura and teriyaki chicken. The tempura wasn’t hot and inside the shrimp one was just really soft with no bite. As for the teriyaki, was way too sweet. As for the sushi rolls, I really liked the soft shell one as well as the caterpillar roll.

Expensive for okay sushi with bad service. For context, I have visited many kinds of sushi and Japanese restaurants across the world. Came here in a large group with a reservation. Some of us arrived a bit early and were forced to take a seat at the table, even though we had rather waited (and said so many times). Once we were seated, the waitress seemed very rude about even filling up our water and taking our order. After a reasonable time, we started getting dishes -- but not all at once. Later, we noticed that about 1/4 of the dishes were missing. I mentioned it to a waiter who said he'd double check. At that point, most of our table had finished their plates while some didn't even receive their food. We told a different waiter who didn't say anything and just walked away. After 5ish minutes, they came back and said they lost the ticket or something. Eventually, after many plates were already cleared, the last dishes showed up. No amends were made. Food wise, it wasn't very fresh. It felt precut and dry. Additionally, their rice was the prepared incorrectly. It broke apart when one tried to pick up nigiri. This made it very difficult to eat the sushi without making a salad accidentally. Aesthetic wise, the place looked like a traditional Japanese restaurant. But without the service to match, it felt wrong.

Our family has been coming here for multiple years, and my dad has been coming since he was a baby. One of the best Japanese restaurants in Hawaii. I highly recommend Yanagi to anyone that visits Honolulu. I love coming here and ordering my regular, a kids udon portion with a Shirley temple. I love how whenever I come here my dad has a new story to tell us from the times he was eating here at Yanagi. I absolutely love this place and come here at least once every time we visit. Our family definitely love coming here and eating all the delicious food they have here, we absolutely think you should come here and we hope you will love Yanagi as much as we do.😋😋

There's a reason this place won Honolulu's best of sushi award. The staff is freaking ridiculously amazing and the food is just sublime. Really the best sushi in all of Oahu.

We had dinner with several friends here tonight. The private room was tight, but acceptable. The sashimis were very fresh, the butter fish was well prepared. The raw oysters were fresh as well and small as we’d ordered. All dishes were fairly traditional, but lacked creativity and proper presentation.

Food was no doubt very fresh and flavorful. The ambiance was very welcoming and warm, great for family and friends to catch up. Only problem is the service. We waited for one butter fish to be served as part of the meal but was never served ton one of our party members when others already had theirs ahead. We notified the staff but and had it to go but still never came.

Food was only ok. Sushi was average but not great. Waitress was rude until she messed up our order and became a lot nicer (which felt fake) Did not live up to my expectations

Institution, one of the best more classic sushi spots in town, love the vibe and menu offerings!

Best late night happy hour I've seen on O'ahu. They have an enormous menu, but luckily there are so many pictures posted around (probably for tourists), that it's easy to get a sense of what is being offered. Entering is like entering an izakaya in Japan, where everything seems brightly-lit and friendly. They have someone greeting folks at the door. Food was good. We got a sushi/udon combo for a great price. Drinks were also good. Food and drinks arrived promptly. They have a good amount of parking. They have a bit of a tight lot, but we also found street parking not far away with ease. Definitely my new go-to for late night.

We had 6 people in our group. Been at this restaurant previously but not with 6 in party. Same great food and drink selections available. Lots of staff around our table with assistance for any questions and great suggestions for dinner. Service was great... food arrived hot / cold as indicated and all very tasty. Will return for sure.

Always a fine visit! Great sushi, great hours, fine staff, excellent service, parking out front, very now atmosphere. Good food Good drink Good friends Good times!

The hubby and I came to have dinner at Yanagi without reservations and the waiter told us it would take about 45min, our table was ready under 20 minutes, and the wait was totally worth it. The sushi was fresh and beautifully presented. The walls were literally covered with sooo many framed photos featuring celebrities, athletes, and entertainers including Michael Jackson who have dined there over the decades, which added a cool vibe. A great spot for sushi lovers looking for something special.

I must be the only person that thinks the quality went down while the prices went up! It is always packed!!! I got the combo with butterfish, tempura, oysters - batter was sooooooo thick no the tempura of yesteryear! Normally love miso butterfish but this time- not tasty at all -service is good tho and as I said maybe i am the only one thinking this way cause the place is always jam packed! The sashimi and sushi is probably better! I used to love Yanagi-

Yanagi Sushi has been around for sooo long and has consistently provided great service and food quality! I like to have our family celebration dinners here because there is something on the menu that every person will enjoy. It is never a compromise! My parents will always order a combination dinner, my husband and my order will vary depending on cravings at the time, my son is in love with the pupu menu's fresh salmon and sweet onions in a ponzu like dressing and also orders from the kids menu. Take a look at there menu on there website, they have so much to choose from! I recommend making reservation!

I love going to Yanagi at least once a month. I always make sure to call a couple days to a week before, so i can secure a table. The employees are always so nice and efficient, I always get either their 2 choice combo or 3 choice combo. My favorites are the sashimi (a couple dollars up charge,) shrimp & veggie tempura, and korean short ribs (couple dollars up charge.) The sashimi is so fresh and delicious. The star of the show for me is the shrimp and veggie tempura. I crave this the day after i've had it because it's that good! It's perfectly battered, not oily at all and crispy and delicious. The korean short ribs are also a MUST. So good!! Can't forget about the dave's ice cream afterwards as well. I'm already dreaming about the next time i come back!

This place is a Honolulu classic with the celebrity photos from the 70's and 80's to prove it! Michael Jackson, he's the man near the mirror at the front entrance. Mr T? I pity the fool who doesn't spot at least two pictures of him playfully scowling beside the owners. Now for the food...very authentic with super fresh fish. There are some nice set lunches to be had, including the sushi deluxe which includes several pieces of nigiri and comes with miso soup. Service was excellent too.

Picture this... You are living in Hawaii and you've needed to celebrate. There is no other celebratory dinner other than Yanagi Sushi for me. Great value with the three choices, I always opt for their teriyaki steak and Misoyaki butterfish. Dragon Roll, amazing quality and always a staple. Spider roll, crunchy, fresh, and soft. If you're in it for a celebration, definitely get their omakase sashimi or sushi (my preference is definitely the sashimi for the amazing variety). Yanagi always provide an amazing service consistently as it's been my childhood favorite, the people are amazing and they are always fully booked so be sure to reserve in advance! It's a great family dinner, date spot, or business meeting :)

Whenever I drive by, I think fondly of my dad who hosted many a dinner here. Haven't been to Yanagi Sushi in years. Why you may ask? First off, the parking was always so horrible. Although valet parking is available, the lot is so tiny that I was always concerned about getting my car dinged. Entering the restaurant felt like I was back in Japan with many tables crammed in and many turns through narrow paths to get seated. Yanagi sushi gets an extra star as they accommodated my group of 5 without reservations after enjoying The 40th Anniversary Honolulu City Lights! Maybe I wasn't expecting much because I was prepared to be turned away. I would recommend bottled drinks, wine or sake as the bar made drinks were not very good. The menu options are plentiful. We assumed portion sizes would be on the smaller side and over ordered . We had plenty of leftovers. Service was on point as we never had to ask for water refills and waitstaff constantly checking in on us. I don't know if the 2 hour dining limit is enforced, but there is a sign posted at each table. When we left, there were a lot of diners waiting outside. Sorry not many pics as my phone died after snapping a lot of pics & videos at the Honolulu City Lights.

Haven't been here in years but came for lunch and it was great! Service was good, food service fast with large delicious portions. Why haven't I returned sooner? Their menu was extensive. Started off with a small appetizer bento of edamame, grilled shrimp, and bean sprouts. We had the tonkatsu don, a saba/miso butterfish combo and fried oysters/broiled eel. All were delicious with large portions of fish. Will definitely be back!

My experience here for lunch was super disappointing. This place is always so crowded for some reason which surprises me after our experience. The servers were rude and short to me and my mom. We ordered the lunch special with the soba and nigiri and was told the soba takes extra long to cook around 30 minutes. I asked them if they made their own soba because that seems super long just to boil noodles... they said no, it's packaged. Weird... she was right, however... it actually did take 30 minutes after we got our other items for lunch for the soba to come. It was nothing special... it's just boiled noodles. Wonder why it took so long. Service was super slow after that where we had to wait forever to get our tab. The place where they sat us was dingy and had a sushi shower curtain separating two tables. It's quite tacky so if you plan on impressing some people with sushi... the ambience is not impressive for the amount of money you're paying. When I was leaving out the door, I overheard the server telling the customer in a rude tone yelling for her to wait outside. Felt bad for the lady... Lastly, the valet service they have was such a mess when we were leaving. It took us another 20 minutes to get the car out because cars were being blocked in.

We were seated quickly for our party of 2. The servers were so quick and attentive. The food was delicious. We ordered a sushi dinner, additional toro, and a oyakodon. The oyakodon was so delicious with a sweet, but savory, sauce. The sushi was all very presentable and fresh. The tables were seated tight, but you still felt like you had enough room to be intimate.

I've tried many menu items and every single thing has been delicious and high quality. Pro tip: make a reservation and get seated when the restaurant opens for the day for the freshest seafood. We order the sashimi and it is so fresh and thickly cut every time. I also love the miso butterfish, hamachi collar, udon, and unagi. This place is a classic in Honolulu for good reason. Our out of town guests are also always impressed by the food here.

Lobster Miso Soup Dynamite Oysters Spicy Ahi Donburi Shrimp & Vegetable Tempura Tekka Roll Service is great, Waiter was nice and friendly. Will definitely come back again.

This is my all time favorite place. Real Crab meat in the California roll! Dining feels like being in Japan. It's crowded but wow it's wonderful.

Amazing Japanese restaurant and authentic! I always enjoy coming here. Sashimi was great and fresh each time with their authentic wasabi. Misoyaki salmon and butterfish are both very tasty and rich, and one of my favorite dishes here. Green tea ice cream was also smooth and very creamy. I highly recommend! Service was also excellent and it's a nice and cozy place.

I finally tried Yanagi sushi recently, and it was worth all the hype! [Location] Yanagi Sushi is located on Kapiolani, and consequently offers limited parking. I visited on a rainy Monday evening, and struggled to find a close by parking sport. If you're lucky, you can find a spot in the lot behind the restaurant. Or you can opt for valet in front. You might also find street parking. Just know there are options--but it could be nice to Uber over and not worry about parking at all. The restaurant has restrooms. [Ambiance] I loved the ambiance of Yanagi. It felt homey yet impressive at the same time. There are photos of celebrity guests on the walls, and the restaurant has a Japanese-inspired aesthetic. Perfect place to catch up with friends/family or go on a date! [Service] When I called to make a reservation, the staff was very kind and helpful. I even got a reminder of my reservation via phone call, which was appreciated. The waiting staff were very nice as well. Everyone was patient and accommodating. I felt well cared for! [Food] The food was amazing! The sushi was fresh, and I loved the oysters. The butterfish was buttery, not fishy. The rolls were fun to share and delicious! Miso soup was standard but lovely. Family style is the way to go, though they have deals that are worth checking out. Overall, I had a positive experience at Yanagi and will be back again!

Always a solid go-to for special lunch bentos. We typically share a 3-choice combo, and one other option from the menu. The staff are quick, ready to top up your beer, and ready to get the job done. Don't come in expecting service that panders just to getting tips - who really wants that? They are friendly but don't lay it on thick like a lot of places. Another bonus is the aircon is strong! Bring a light jacket if you're sensitive to it. An amazing respite.

I came here for a family birthday dinner on a Thursday night. We made reservations for 6:30 pm and when we got there, there wasn't much parking left. We were quickly seated, ordered, and were given the complementary starter which is the edamame, shrimp, and bean sprouts. Each dish came out right after the other and we were overwhelmed with all the plates we had ordered! Everything was fresh and tasted absolutely delicious. I highly recommend the fried baby octopus since it was not only delicious but fun to eat! The omakase set came with a free ice cream which was perfect since we were celebrating a birthday! They were kind enough to even bring us a candle in the dessert! We had a great time and meal here! I'm not sure if they raised the prices or they were always this pricey. Make sure to make a reservation if you're going to have a large party since it can get busy!

Great fresh food. Service terrific ambiance authentic. Must go for epic Japanese food

This is my cousin's favorite sushi place. Every time I visit the island for sure we'll be coming here. To be honest I just think it's ok, pretty consistent. With so many good sushi places on the island I'd rather go somewhere else. But it's not bad just nothing special. Everything across the board is pretty good. It is very popular with locals and is open late as well. The service is good and it's a pretty big place. They do valet parking and there is also street parking..........

A banger since as long as I can remember.... If you can get a seat. Excellent service, reasonable price, and that feeling that you're home!!!! I especially love the late night special deals. We went at 8:30 on a friday night and the wait was 30 min.

So we had to stop by Yanagi sushi Jean provided awesome service I got the following Misoyaki Salmon, Chicken katsu Tendon

Another amazing dinner with some fantastic people in my life. Everything was exactly as good as I've heard and I would highly recommend coming here. There's a reason they've been around for 30+ yrs.

Parking - Small parking lot in the front. In the back get some. After 7pm, street parking. Service - Been coming here forever and the staff have been the same as always. Usually come here for their late night menu. There is always a wait. It starts at 9pm til 2am I think. Food - Every meal - comes with shrimp, bean sprouts and edamame. Salmon onion - 100% gotta get it. This is the dish they are most known for. Nobody else even comes close. Salmon Katsu and Chicken Katsu - one of the best on the island. It's light and crispy. Both were juicy AF. Teri beef and Teri Chicken - both are good complements to the Katsu. Always has been my go to spot for late night eats and always will be.

impatient hostess poor service great sushi Too expensive for a poor experience Never again

Always wanted to try here! 1st timer and quite impressed! The variety of sashimi was fresh and delicious! Had the salmon with round onion (recommended) and was not disappointed! Ate practically the whole plate myself! We did a walk-in at around 5:50p on a Saturday and were sat right away. The restaurant was filled with customers but the noise level very welcoming and not too loud. Customer service was wonderful and the mama-san that took our order was funny and cute. Would definitely come back again!

My expectations of Yanagi Sushi were high based on upon recommendations from friends and reviews. The service was friendly, but spotty. After paying the bill through our server and telling them no change, the rest was for the tip. The cashier came and asked if we paid cash. I felt like they were telling me that my $28 56 tip for my $126 44 bill was not enough. I had the two choice lunch consisting of Tonkasu and fried chicken wings. The pork was dry and a little overdone. Fried chicken was better. Juicy, and crisp , but the coating was lacking.in flavor. My wife and I ordered the salmon skin hand roll. Both of us didn't eat it all. Tha Salmon was chopped, and their was no crisp to it. I've had this hand roll at other places and always get a strip of salmon and crispy skin. The $32 00 for the set wasn't worth it. Maybe it was an off day for them. Rnjoy5

One of my favorite meals in Hawaii is when we sit at the sushi bar at Yanagi! The fish is so fresh and high quality, and the sushi chefs are so nice and funny. I love how they always treat us like family here. My faves are the hotate and amaebi, but we also like ordering fish skin/bones and salmon skin salad. Definitely need to make reservations ahead of time, and be prepared to valet!

Yanagi sushi is the place locals like to be, especially since most places aren't open late or offer a late night happy hour menu Yanagi is a small unassuming Japanese spot from the outside, but once you walk past the wooden doors you'll see a bustling team of sushi chefs at the counter making rolls, and expansive too sided restaurant of booths with pictures plastered all over the wall of international and local celebrities alike It is popular so parking is sometimes tough to get, but you should able to find something nearby on the street The small sushi platters always hit and are very consistent, I like the spicy ahi, the chicken karaage, and salmon onion even if it has gotten expensive over the years

We have been here before but was over 5 years ago. Reservation for 5 at 6pm on Friday. Every table was full by the time we finished (about 1.5 hours). Time limit was 2 hours which seemed to be OK. We had a private room, ambiance was nice and the food overall was OK but the quality of the food overall was average. Maybe they were full and too busy to details (such as sake and hamachi nigiri were not fresh). We thought our first time here in the past was much better. Just want to suggest not to sacrifice quality over being too busy.

I can't remember the last time I ate here, maybe back in the 80's after clubbing? The place looks the same and hasn't changed much since back in the day. The only difference I saw is they installed some kawaii curtains between some of the tables (maybe from covid). Parking is in-house valet so you only need to tip, there is NO self parking anymore, or maybe we went on a weekend so was busy. Suggest to make reservations, I've tried to go there before without reservations and they will not take you or you have to wait over an hour or more, so make reservations before going. Our buss help was so helpful and nice, our server was all business, not much personality (luck of the draw), but she did what her job was, so it was fine. Forgot how big the menu is and took some time for us to figure out what we were ordering, etc. We ended up ordering Omakase Sushi, this was delish, accept was not familiar with some items on the platter not problem hubby will eat it, The Dynamite it was okay, mixed tempura was okay, didn't like the batter, karaage chicken this was standard nothing special, and grandma had a nabe this looked good. Next time we will ask for some suggestions, don't think we selected the popular or best items on the menu, first time in ages so rusty on ordering from their menu.

We visited Yanagi for lunch for the first time and it was a wonderful experience! Parking is valet only. The front lot gets busy and crammed as a FYI but I was told they sometimes park cars in another area. Upon entering the restaurant was busy as waitstaff walked back and forth and there was plenty of chatter from diners. The walls are filled with photos of visitors - many whom I assume are famous. They were very kind to give us our own room as we had an infant in our party. Didn't get a chance to look at the other dining area but they were decently full around 1pm. We were given each a wet wipe towelette and small sectioned dish of bean sprouts, edamame, and something else I am blanking on. We ordered the teriyaki chicken and chicken katsu combo, nigiri lunch omakase, calamari, toro, california roll, baked roll w/unagi, and marinated fish. This was plenty of food for 4 adults and we left with a to-go box. All of the seafood was fresh, dishes were flavorful, and we were all satisfied with our meal. My husband and I really enjoyed the lunch omakase nigiri! We would happily dine in again.

Yanagi has been my absolute favorite sushi restaurant in hawaii! Been coming here for at least 25 years now and it's always been consistent, delicious, and customer service here is amazing. I like sitting at the sushi bar, I've seen some long time sushi chefs here come and go but I did see ONE that I've known forever on my last visit. There is a small parking lot in the front of restaurant and they do offer valet or you will have to find nearby street parking - do yourself the favor and just pay for valet as parking can be hard in this area. Prices here is not cheap - not horrendous either but do know this is not genki or likewise restaurants. The food and sushi is amazing!!!! I no longer live in hawaii though I frequently visit - I'm hoping yanagi will be around forever!

Food: Yanagi has been a staple for families in Oahu for over a decade at this point and been going here since I was a little Kid. The Quality really depends whos your sushi man for that night and I still feel like its worth it for for a late night sushi spot dinner or if you have a big party. Also the Koreans all know that Yanagi secretly has some of the best kimchi on the island. The Maui Onion Salmon which was one of my favorites growing up isnt the same anymore I'm not sure why.. Service: Great service the staff are super efficient here. Ambiance: Great spot for families or if you need a late night spot for some dinner and drinks.

Yanagi Sushi is a popular sushi spot, open kate, and conveniently located on Kapiolani Blvd. There's only a tiny parking lot in front, and you'll be lucky to get a spot. But there's also lots of street parking in front and around the corner in the evening. The first time we dined there it seemed like we were walking through a maze! There's a lot of pictures on the walls and decor. Lots of tables available, and spots at the sushi bar too, which I have yet to experience. The service is very fast, as soon as we sat, we were able to order drinks, which came almost immediately after we ordered! There's soooo many menu options, we got to try a huge variety of sushi, and it's really good too! My one and only gripe is that I feel like their sushi rolls are kinda small for the prices they charge. They are very good, and I understand prices of fish and other ingredients, but I've also been to other sushi spots with just as good ingredients and bigger rolls for similar prices. Otherwise, Yanagi sushi has become one of my top sushi spots to eat at. Also, did I mention that they've got a pretty good sake selection as well? I haven't tried any I dislike so far, and we enjoy getting the sake samplers, there's 3 to choose from.

Recommend coming here for a casual lunch. The teishoku lunch sets are a great value. Food was great and our server was attentive and efficient.

Great food. Fast service. Friendly environment. The sushi was fresh and overall cleanliness.

Perfect for lunch meetings and late night happy hour. Service is good too. I suggest making reservations.

One of the best sushi and happy hours in the island! We also got the dynamite oyster which was so good. The servers are very attentive and were always refilling our water/tea. We came towards the later half of the day so it wasn't too crowded, but i reccomend making a reservation if going with a big party. The parking lot is small but they have valet during lunch hours which is very helpful!

Food was overall great BUT the service was absolutely garbage. We arrived at 6:30 pm (without reservation) and were greeted with utmost rudeness as if we were not welcomed. They were giving side-eyes to a point where we felt like we were homeless. We were told to leave at 8:10 pm without first welcoming us. And the host didn't want us to show the seats again and felt absolutely unwelcome and beside he constantly reminding us to leave by 8:10 even though their store has two hours seating policy. The waitress lady did not explain anything and whatever questions we had, she impatiently told us to just check the picture repeatedly. When we asked for a pair of chopsticks, the another waiter gave us a side-eye. Overall, the atmosphere was very terrible. Just giving two stars for the food.

I love Yanagi's. Quality sushi, great food, amazing clean atmosphere and service. Every time I go, Bryce (or Brice) is our server, and he is a great waiter. He gives us recommendations on what I should try next and is very attentive to our needs. There is a lot of parking in the front as well as the back of store. Wait isnt usually bad for walk-ins as well. Yanagi's feels as if you were in Japan. It is always a blast eating there.

This my go to spot for late night happy hour after 9p.m. It does not disappointed. I will always go to my go to order get baby tako and spicy ahi roll. I love looking around seeing all the celebrities and famous athletes on the wall seeing who came to eat here before. The service is awesome especially the chefs when we ordered otoro they gave us 3 extra pieces no charge! This will always be my go to spot to eat!

Yanagi surely delivers on the quality and freshness of their seafood. This review is long overdue, but I'm glad I remembered to stop in and rate this longstanding establishment. I've had the pleasure of dining at Yanagi 3 times in the past few years. Being that they're a bit out of my way of the usual commute, I know all times I've dined in, I had high expectations. Happy to report that each time I've visited, I left feeling full and satisfied! Few items we've enjoyed thus far (that I remember): Maguro nigiri Salmon sashimi Miso butterfish Shrimp & veggie tempura Lunch Omakase Spider roll Caterpillar roll The food was 100% on point on all occasions, but the main reason holding me at 4 stars is the service we received the last time wasn't the greatest. It was as if the few things we needed was an inconvenience to our server. She seemed RUSHED and would begin walking away before we even finished talking. Kinda weird.... and NO, we did not arrive near closing time. But! We'd still go back. While you wait for your food, enjoy the scenery of customer and celebrity? photos, as well as some lovely Yanagi food pics. My fave. Note: parking is valet Bring cash for tip!

This place is extremely unpleasant, with unwelcoming and rude service. They did not apologize for taking the wrong order and insisted it was our fault, claiming it was not their responsibility. We were very shocked that the waiter took our plates away without saying anything and did not check if we were finished, even though we left the food there. The service was terrible! This place should be closed down!!

After dining at over 10 other sushi restaurants here in Honolulu, we returned. The quality of the fish, the value and the service were all A plus and these past 5 times, the lady was much more receptive to us! Still our favorite..highly recommend! We recommend- oyster shooter (adding the quail egg, ponzu and a small slice of jalapeno separates this version from others) Chirasi deluxe! Great value for $35 Blackened Ahi Sushi Scallops with massgo

Food, service, and prices!! 52 years old and I have traveled the world. This the freshest, best tasting sushi I have ever had! EVERRR!!! Nothing else to say except, try them. Prices and portions are better too!

I love coming to Yanagi Sushi. They are always busy so make reservations ahead of time! We enjoy sitting at the sushi bar because you get to see them make the sushi and order from them. It is always fresh and delicious. The service is always great. I love going there! I also love their miso soup, the quality of the food is always great.