When you visit Hawaii, you want to experience everything the islands have to offer. The gorgeous scenery. The amazing culture. But mostly … the delicious food.
It’s no secret that Hawaii has a large Asian population — and this connection to Asian culture enables you to sample some of the best dishes from Asia in Hawaii. From multiple Japanese restaurants to Vietnamese eateries, you’ll be able to broaden your palate with some of the best sushi, pho, dumplings, and noodle dishes you’ve ever tasted.
Do you love trying different foods? Then you’ll want to use a GiftYa electronic gift card that can be uploaded directly onto your debit card and let you eat at all the restaurants below. This amazing e-gift card can also be used at other Hawaiian restaurants, shops, personal services, or popular attractions. There are literally hundreds of places you can explore with this gift card — including the following top Asian restaurants in Hawaii!
Sample the best of Okinawa style cuisine
2700 S King St. | D-104/ naru-honolulu.com
Specializing in Okinawan and Japanese cuisine, Izakaya Naru offers a variety of delicious dishes including Okinawan soba noodles, Hamachi sashimi, and shoyu pork belly. Guests can expect to taste many new flavors and experience a friendly atmosphere. It’s a very popular eatery for both tourists and locals, so reservations are highly recommended.
“Loved the Osaka-inspired menu which gives a chance to try new flavors and combinations.” — Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa for Izakaya Naru
Fresh attractive Japanese cuisine
2586 Kalakaua Ave | Waikiki
Enjoy traditional Japanese breakfasts, bento lunches, delicious sushi, and more. Located in Park Shore Waikiki Hotel near Waikiki Beach, Yoshitsune Restaurant offers a wide selection of fresh fish, salads, and miso soup. Guests can expect homestyle Japanese cooking and hand-crafted dishes with authentic, natural flavor. Try the refreshing taste of the cold silken tofu noodles or the delectable Misoyaki butterfish set. With so many choices, you’re bound to come away with some new favorite dishes.
Given how popular Yoshitsune is, it’s a good idea to reserve your spot in advance. An excellent restaurant for Japanese food lovers and people prepared to fall in love with Japanese cuisine.
“There are lots of other sushi restaurants, but this humble restaurant is the real deal and great value.” — Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa for Yoshitsune Restaurant
Enjoy restorative and refreshing Vietnamese cuisine
3624 Waiakae Ave | Honolulu
Do you like Vietnamese food? Then you’ll definitely want to pay a visit to Saigon’s Restaurant, one of Honolulu’s best Vietnamese restaurants. Be sure to try their pho (a restorative Vietnamese soup with a flavorful broth, noodles, beef, and other refreshing ingredients). Spring rolls with vermicelli (fine rice noodles) are another popular choice. Or try their delicious ox tail soup or curry dishes.
“This is our family’s favorite Vietnamese spot in town. Run by a husband and wife couple that are just delightful and the food is delicious at a fair price.” — Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa for Saigon’s Restaurant
Order from a healthy and tasty selection of Korean dishes
911 Ke’eaumoku St. | Honolulu
Offering a wide variety of Korean dishes, including both vegan and vegetarian options, Ireh Restaurant provides many traditional meals. Promising tasty and healthy meals, Ireh offers different types of rice porridge (jook), seafood, and noodle dishes. Diners who enjoy meat can sample the meat jun while dumpling lovers will want to try the fried mandoo or pan-fried dumplings. Stop by for some authentic Korean cuisine!
“Ireh offers all my favorite comfort dishes like kalguksu (knife cut noodles), kimbap, sujebi, dduk mandu guk (dumpling & rice cake soup) etc.” — Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa for Ireh Restaurant
Try a variety of Japanese soba noodle dishes at I-NABA
1610 S. King St. | Honolulu/ inabahonolulu.com
Be sure to reserve a table at I-NABA, a Japanese restaurant that specializes in soba noodle dishes (cold and hot) and tempura. Enjoy a Japanese breakfast or reserve a lunch spot at their sushi bar. Guests with dietary restrictions will appreciate that I-NABA offers both vegetarian and vegan options.
Dress is casual but reservations are required. I-NABA does offer take-out options, though, so you’ll have plenty of options to try their food.
“The tempura has been the best we’ve had on the island!” — Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa for I-NABA Restaurant
Authentic Japanese and Okinawan cuisine await you at Sunrise Restaurant
525 Kapahulu Ave. | Kaimuki/ thesunriserestaurant.com
Established in 1999, Sunrise Restaurant is a family-owned establishment specializing in Japanese and Okinawan cuisine. Guests can expect attractive and flavorful sushi dishes, along with Okinawan soba noodles, tebichi soup, champuru, spare rib soup, pig feet and more.
Diners looking to indulge in popular meat dishes should try the oxtail soup or shoyu pork. Sushi comes in several different options, including combo meals and platters. You can also order vegetarian options and order takeout.
“This restaurant reminds me of summers home learning about Okinawan culture and cuisine.” — Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa for Sunrise Restaurant
Eastern Paradise Restaurant offers Honolulu Chinese cuisine
1403 S. King St. | Honolulu/ easternparadiserestaurant.com
Eastern Paradise Restaurant has been serving the Hawaii community with Northern Style Chinese Cuisine for over 35 years. Make a reservation to dine in and order their sweet and sour pork, spicy garlic chicken, Mongolian beef, or Mapo tofu. Eastern Paradise also offers a full bar.
Takeout options are available, enabling everyone to enjoy their spicy seafood noodle, pot stickers, mushu pork, and more.
“The hospitality we were shown at Eastern Paradise is beyond measure. Aside from the friendly service, each dish ordered was outstanding.” — Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa for Eastern Paradise Restaurant
Sushi, wafu steak, and chicken karaage are just the beginning at Matsuri
1436 Young St. | Honolulu/ matsurihawaii.com
Sushi, tempura, and tofu dishes are just some of the options available to Honolulu diners at Matsuri. Fish dishes are fresh and sushi includes favorites such as dragon rolls, thunder dynamite rolls, kotobuki rolls and more. Diners also enjoy the wafu steak and chicken karaage.
Guests should make sure to secure a reservation before dining in. Takeout and delivery options are available, however. Diners with dietary restrictions can expected vegan options and limited vegetarian options.
“The food here is amazing and I am so glad we went!” — Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa for Matsuri Japanese Restaurant
Family and friends will find something to love at Mr. Ojisan Neo Bar & Sushi
1785 S. King St. | Honolulu/ mrojisan.net
Be sure to reserve a spot at Mr. Ojisan, a trendy Japanese restaurant in Honolulu. Guests can enjoy a flavorful lunch menu and multiple dinner options. Try the wafu steak, always a popular choice. Or sample multiple tempura choices from tempura teishoku to the assorted tempura plate.
As its name indicates, Mr. Ojisan Neo Bar & Sushi offers a nice sushi menu with classic favorites such as unagi avocado and spider rolls. Or if you’re in the mood for something a bit lighter, try the ten zaru soba noodle lunch option or chicken katsu sandwich. Whatever you happen to be hungry for, Mr. Ojisan will have something to fit your palate.
“Very impressed with all the accompanying small dishes I enjoy about Japanese style dining” — Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa for Mr Ojisan Restaurant
Flavorful bento box lunches await you at Akira Japanese Restaurant
1150 S. King St. | Honolulu/ akira-japanese-restaurant.com
In the mood for a traditional Japanese bento lunch? Then pay a visit to Akira Japanese Restaurant and enjoy the offerings from their menu. You’ll get to sample several tasty items in their bento boxes, which come with cold appetizers, tamagoyaki, rice, and pickles. The AKIRA bento box is also a nice option that comes with a choice of miso butter fish or miso king salmon.
Akira offers a takeout bento menu that lets you avoid long wait times and crowds. However, if you’re interested in dining in, be sure to make a reservation and sample the sashimi, sushi, and soups from their tasting menu. Dining times can vary, so be sure to call in advance.
“Great take out bentos at really affordable prices” — Yelp Review
Purchase a GiftYa for Akira Japanese Restaurant
Sashimi, bento, and donburi are just a few of the popular options at Yagura Restaurant
1655 Liliha St. | Kalihi
Enjoy takeout and dine-in options at Yagura Restaurant, a popular Japanese restaurant for both the lunch and dinner crowd. Choose from tasty bento lunch boxes, zaru soba, or refreshing udon soup. Or, if you’re in the mood for something fancier, try their deep-fried oysters served with soup, rice, tsukemono, macaroni salad and toss salad.
Yaguara also offers donburi (with soup and tsukemono) as well as ahi sashimi combination plates. Meals are attractively prepared and provide many flavorful options. If you enjoy dining at small neighborhood Japanese restaurants, you can’t go wrong with Yagura Restaurant.
“I’ve been to Yagura over the years and [they] have always had consistently good food here.” — Yelp Review
