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Start a Top 5 for JapaneseEditor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in Honolulu Magazine. Updated August 2026.
Tonkatsu Tamafuji · Kapahulu
Tonkatsu fried to order, a specialist kitchen: perfectly crisp panko around juicy kurobuta.
Sushi Izakaya Gaku · McCully
A reservation-only izakaya beloved for its precise sushi and seasonal small plates.
Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro · Waikiki
A Tokyo tonkatsu export turning out refined katsu sets in Waikiki.
Izakaya Naru Honolulu · Kapahulu
A cozy Kapahulu izakaya with a deep menu of sake-friendly Japanese plates.