Teshima's Restaurant

After a long day of driving and exploring the island, my husband and I were lucky to have found this spot that offered such delicious and comforting food! We both really enjoyed what we got. I’d be eating here all the time if I lived on the island!

Nice little place with good food. We got the Deep sea trio dinner and teriyaki beef dinner. Both were great. My wife usually says Miso soup tastes like dish water but this Miso soup has a good flavor and we both liked it. Good service and free parking.

There were 7 of us here for breakfast and everyone enjoyed what they had! I loved their pancakes!

Was a modest Japanese home style meal. Kind staff. Expect a bit of a wait though. The place itself isnt busy but they only allow a few people in at a time.

We got the Loco Moco and Saimin bowl. The Loco Moco is one of the best I've had so far. The patty is grilled to perfection and the gravy is on point. The Saimin uses dashi kombu broth and it's so delicious. The Loco Moco comes with pickled cabbages and green tea. We were pleasantly surprised to find they serve us a whole pot of loose leaf Genmai-cha! We got the hot sake as well and everything warmed our tummies pleasantly. There's a line outside the restaurant but they move pretty fast. Be sure to use bug spray because at night there's a lot of mosquitoes outside. They have their own free parking lot.

Not many authentic jap restaurants on the big island. I was not super impressed with the food but not a bad experience. Their tempura is good, other items are average. The service was a bit slow. The wait outside was about 30 mins during lunch time.

Lovely food and friendly service. Feels like stepping back into old Hawaii. Came with hungry toddler. Owner welcomed us, despite being busy. 5th generation ownership and the pride and heritage just shine. Food came out quickly. Lovely noodle dishes, excellent tuna and veggie tempura. Such friendly service. One of the best meals we had on Big Island, and worth every penny.

Not sure if we caught this restaurant on a bad day; but the food wasn’t what I was expecting based on all the other reviews / aggregate score. However, our waitress was so polite and the venue so charming that it wasn’t a big deal. We all have our off days and mulligans in this life… and unfortunately for us I’m willing to bet we caught this beloved local spot on one of them.

Family owned Japanese diner. Considering most places close early on island, we were surprised how busy it was but happy we didn't have to wait for a table! The food also came super fast (within 10 min of ordering). Everything was delicious. We ate it all: My husband got No 2 Teishouka (tray) with miso soup, sashimi, sukiyaki, friend fish, sunomono, tsukemono, and rice. I opted for chicken sukiyaki also came with miso soup, sunomono, tsukemono, and rice. Yum! Both came with hot tea!

Definitely recommend this place for travelers (like me) that just want something a little different, a little nicer, and a little off the main road. Staff were cordial, food was hearty, and ambiance was cozy. Got the Steak & Shrimp Tempura Dinner Combo, and I definitely recommend it. I like my steak rare, and this place definitely delivered without compromising taste or texture. I was pleasantly surprised as many places overcook their steaks (perhaps for health & safety concerns?) despite me asking for it bloody. This restaurant has perfectly crafted and mastered their sets and combos!

A wonderful old-time Hawaiian / Japanese restaurant - a throwback to another time, and really good. The ambiance is right out of the 1950s, but it suits the character of the restaurant. Located a few miles south of Kona, it can still be busy and hard to get into - I finally managed to get a table by going off-hours rather than at prime dining time. For the most part, the staff has been there for many years -- they are practiced, friendly and helpful, but down to earth - there is nothing fancy about Teshima. This is a really good all-around Japanese restaurant, with some good Hawaiian things too. They also happen to have many non-Japanese and non-Hawaiian items (at least not what I think of as Hawaiian) on the menu -- pass them by, and get the good stuff. I had a margarita to start - a concession to the fact that tourists like their drinks and alcohol sales are where the margins are in a restaurant - it was quite good, though their drinks aren't the reason I'd visit. I ordered the No. 3 Teishoku -- like all meals there, it came with green tea. The meal, served only at dinner time, consisted of miso soup, tuna sashimi, sukiyaki, shrimp & vegetable tempura, sunomono, tsukemono, and rice - a wonderful combination. The soup was flavorful and full of umami, the pickles were tasty and crunchy, the tempura generous and light, the sukiyaki flavorful, the salad crisp with that wonderful sweet/sour crunch - and of course the maguro sashimi was very good. The next time I'm on the big Island, I'll be going back. This is a place not to be missed.

This was one of our favorite meals on the big island. While we were at first intimidated by the long line of people waiting outside on the bench, it moved quickly and we were seated in about 15 minutes. The restaurant feels imbued with history and tradition. The staff were extremely friendly, like we were welcomed guests in their home. While everything on the menu looked delicious, we went with shrimp tempura teishoko #3 and the pupu weekend lunch special. Loved the bites of everything. The sashimi was so fresh and tempura so light and crispy! Truly an art form. I'd never seen shrimp tempura prepared this way. Def recommend.

We went back for dinner Monday night after a day trip to Hilo and couldn't have been a better choice. Both of our meals really hit the spot after this long trip. Good food in combination with good service. Many thanks to the Teshima family for keeping this business alive and many thanks to the servers in providing good quality service to the many patrons that stop in to eat.

The service was amazing here with the waitress being attentive to our food allergies, kind and polite throughout the meal. The ambiance furthered this kindness with a peaceful environment. The food was excellent with the best shrimp tempura I've ever had along with the freshest tuna sashimi you can imagine. The rest of the side dishes were true to their flavor leaving nothing lacking. Definitely come here for great Japanese food in Big Island!

Food and service are always great. Had another fantastic lunch at Teshimas today. Husband had the homemade corned beef hash and eggs and Inhad the pupu platter. Always fresh and tasty. Mahalo for all that you continue to do. The consistency is greatly appreciated.

Local Japanese restaurant serving home style food. Food was good but not sure it's worth the price. Saw menu prices a few months ago and the set I wanted (set 2) went up by a few bucks. The fish, soup, and side dishes were good but not sure it's worth $25. Expect to pay about $20-$30 per dish excluding the udon which was the most reasonable priced at about $14. Our party of 5 ate here for dinner and although most of us got our orders in a reasonable time, they forgot to put in an order and my boyfriend didn't receive his food until very late (we all basically finished eating). The waitress was really nice though, I have to say that she came over to check on out and gave us green tea for the wait: maybe she put in the order but kitchen forgot to make it? Not sure. Either way, it's a decent place for comfort Japanese food if you're willing to spend more than a few bucks. If not, I'd check out other local spots for a better value.

I really wanted to try Hawaiian saimin noodles and I'm glad i tried it here. The taste was very plain, subtle and comforting. The fried fish was really good (would get again. Macaroni potatoes salad was alright. The restaurant very beautiful from outside and homey and clean inside. Staff was friendly

Best spot for local and authentic Japanese cuisine! Love the teishoku set meals. Everything is always tasty and fresh. The tempura and sukiyaki are delicious. Definitely recommend!

You MUST visit this place if you're in Kona. There will most likely be a line, and you just jump in and sit down. The line moved quickly in our experience, and the service is lovely. There's so much history with this family-owned restaurant. You can see the place is lined with family photos, and it's very reminiscent of a diner. Grandma Teshima worked until she was 104 here, and some of the staff are her descendants! The food was spectacular. You need to get the sunset dinner combos, which came out on trays as big as my forearm. I particularly loved how the shrimp tempura was breaded; it's a big piece that's so crispy and different from what you might expect. The girls get a flower placed in their ear, and overall, this was one of my favorite dinners on the trip for Japanese food.

Amazing food and amazing vibe with great staff! The food came out so quickly! This restaurant is an institution!

Great people running a Kona family institution for generations. This time I had the Sukiyaki, which was to die for!

Our favorite meal experience on the Big Island and we've enjoyed a lot of great food here. A long history and recipes that stand true. We both agreed it was the best tempura we've ever had. He also had excellent beef teriyaki while I also had fried fish and sashimi- so good!!!!

5/13/2024 Teshima Restaurant 79-7251 Mamalahoa Hwy Kealakekua, HI 96750 We went there for dinner just after opening on a Tuesday evening. It is about 8 miles south of DT Kailua in the rural village of Kealakekua. Parking was available at 5:30 PM but may be tough when it is busier. The interior was clean and dim with a booth and table aisle arrangement and vinyl upholstery. We were seated promptly with the available area half full just after opening. There are 3 separate dining areas with another perhaps on the second floor for busier times. Service was friendly, informative and efficient throughout our experience. I ordered the No. 2 Teishoku and Wifey had the Beef Teriyaki. All my Teishoku dishes were authentic and excellent, excepting the Sukiyaki which I never liked especially my Mom's which was way too sweet. The Miso soup had a nice Miso flavor, the fried Ahi and pickles were tasty and the 5 generous slices of Ahi sashimi were fresh and excellent. The wife did not like her ample serving of beef because it was too sweet and a little chewy. A word of warning then, local style Japanese food is sweeter than many other locales due to the addition of sugar and Mirin to the dishes. A good value for authentic Japanese style local food, good service and apparently popular for locals. The exit was opposite to the entrance, presumably to facilitate efficient flow. Very repeatable.

Great family owned business. Definitely worth the wait. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Makes you feel like family.

This place is legit, period! Definitely recommend showing up on the early side because it gets busy for dinner. Old school ambiance and super friendly service. And, most importantly, the food was AMAZING!!! I definitely recommend the deep sea trio for dinner (shrimp tempura, fried fish, and sashimi) which was of course served with rice, miso soup, and pickled veggies

Stopped by here after a LONG day of driving and exploring all of Kona. All we wanted was something comforting to eat after we've been out all day and it was getting cold. Teshima was the perfect find. We were greeted with a traditional Japanese / Hawaiian menu and immediately gravitated towards the 2 kettle dishes. Both were absolutely delicious and perfectly hit the spot for both of us. We shared a mini sashimi as well and that was just the cherry on top.

The best restaurant in the Kona area and top 3 on the entire island. Been coming here for 20 years and it never fails to satisfy. I nearly didn't write this review out of fear it will become too popular.

The food here was pretty tasty for Hawaiian, Japanese-style takeout. My only nit was we felt like we got two of the same dishes with just the cut of meat being slightly different. Same taste though... Our bad, but the taste got on our nerves afterwhile...

Ridiculous atmosphere, unfriendly reception, standing in the street before they let you in. Food is not even mediocre. We enjoyed bugs in the lamps. God for people who like American schemes.

Wonderful old fashioned local Japanese restaurant. Menu selections are timeless. Service very friendly. Be prepared for walk-in seating only, but since there's typically a line outside they have a long bench to rest on while you wait. If you want a quick but forgettable bowl of ramen and gyoza, head to those generic shops at the strip mall. But if you're in the mood for a taste of old Hawaii, lovingly prepared and served in an out of the way locale, this is it. Worth it!

This place feels like home! They serve local Japanese cuisine and everything tastes great! My favorite is the nabeyaki udon. The ahi is fresh as well. I also really enjoy how crispy their tempura is. Staff here are always very kind. I've been here for lunch and dinner before. There's a short wait time, unless you're coming for dinner on a Saturday. The inside gives a retro vibe and I absolutely love the ambiance.

My mother was one of the best Japanese cooks. I ate at Teshimas last night. It wasn't much on atmosphere but the food was just like Mom's. The waiter was great, treated us like family. I highly recommend shrimp tempura or the No. 2 combo. Everyone in our group loved their meal. It's a little out of the way so it wasn't crowded, mostly locals. It's well worth the drive.

Loco Nico was very good and the patty was cooked on a grill that has that charred taste that made it even better. The egg omelette was also amazing with added fried rice inside made it even better.

Honestly, I'm not quiet sure what the hype is about. The food is okay, not amazing. Flavor is good and portions are decent. Server was very polite and attentive, although the entrance chain at the sign was interesting and made me think the restaurant was closed initially.

I was super excited to try this place when we were in the area a couple weeks ago on vacation, but I agree somewhat with other reviews - the 3rd generation didn't seem to care as much about quality control. Service was great all around - particularly impressive given that after we'd ordered, the whole block suffered a complete power outage due to the rain. (They closed to new guests, but everyone was super communicative and friendly even while scrambling to check to see if we could still get the food we'd ordered. Answer, obviously, was yes. Had an accidentally romantic dinner by candle-light. That obviously wasn't their fault, and they handled it well.) I ordered the oyakodon, which for $19 with a side of 5 pieces of great, fresh ahi would be a pretty good deal, if the oyakodon hadn't been super bland. (The ahi was quality, though.) My wife got the steak and tempura shrimp combo for $30 - I tried a bite, I agree with her that the tempura shrimp was decent but not the best we'd had, and the steak was pretty chewy and kinda gristley, definitely not steak you'd pay that much for (she also ordered it medium and got it quite well done, though that could have been power outage related). Both orders also came with soup and pickled cabbage - the soup was great, the cabbage was so salty, it *literally* just tasted like a plate of salt (we didn't touch it). I also agreed with my wife, at least when we were there a couple weeks ago, there was something off with the ice they used. I know it's weird to complain about something you didn't have to pay for, but at the same time, as a restaurant, how do you mess up tap water? (Answer, in this case: I think by letting your ice sit in the freezer until it starts smelling stale?) My wife asked for a glass with no ice; I just drank plum wine. (Though I was also not surprised that the menu was wrong - it says $7.50 for a half-carafe of plum wine. It was actually one glass, which is still totally reasonable. Good plum wine, too. Would've been better if it'd been a half-carafe like it says on the menu though. :p)

Ordered the shrimp tempura meal and fried ahi meal, both were very tasty. Shrimp tempura was super flakey and juicy.

Someone said "best udon on the island" and that was enough to get me over here. I actually couldn't really find many udon options elsewhere on the island, so I was elated to enjoy the nabeyaki udon here. The price is fantastic (under $14) and they serve it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Of all the places we ate at on our Big Island vacation, we came here the most. My fiancé loved the variety of bento-style dishes they had, and I couldn't get enough of the udon!!! In 10 days, I probably ate the udon 6 times for different meals on different days hahaha Now that I'm back in California, I miss Teshima and can't wait to go back. The staff was friendly every time we went and parking was easy right outside the restaurant. If you come during prime dinner hours, there's often a wait but the line moves relatively quickly. If you don't want to wait, come right when they open at 5 PM. OH! And there was one morning, I guess the owner was working there, and right before we left, she offered to put a flower in my hair. What a nice gesture and fun way to spread aloha for visitors :)

I want to give Teshima 6 stars. We came on two separate days and had breakfrast and dinner. The service is terrific, quality is awesome, and a good value. Breakfast. We had one conventional breakfast with Portuguese sausage with pancake and a Japanese breakfast. The pancake that is included is awesome, fluffy, and light. The rest of the conventional breakfast is good. The Japanese breakfast is awesome. There are few places where you can get such a breakfast without a long plane ride westward. The fried Ono was light, uber fresh, and wonderful. The hot rice topped with bonito furikake was glided by the over easy egg. On another day we came for dinner. We did arrive a few minutes before they opened at 5 pm. Early for dinner, yes. We didn't want to risk not getting in. We both picked #2 Teishoku with fried Ono, sukiyaki, Ahi sashimi, sunomono, tsukemono, rice, and miso soup. The Ono was fresh and sweet. The coating was light. The Ahi sashimi was amazing. Large slices that were fresh, tender and buttery. I nearly asked for an order of the sashimi since it was soooo good. There is parking right in front and in the lot between the restaurant and the Shell station. They do not take reservations and the waiting area is outside on the benches. This is a terrific restaurant and you'll be happy if you come to eat here.

Homestyle Japanese cuisine are within my top favorite meals so I was stoked to eat here. What stood out to me was the service! Everyone working there was super friendly and sociable. We were seated by an older gentleman who spoke a little about himself to us and explained some of cultural norms in Hawaii. Shortly after the conversation and ordering, a waitress went over and immediately started clipping a fresh flower into my hair haha! She was super lively and sweet about it when I was fumbling with the flower in my hair. Food was equally wonderful with my partner ordering the Teishoku and me ordering a beef yakisoba. My partner loved his meal and clean everything off! Unfortunately, I was suffering from a stomach bug so I couldn't fully enjoy my meal and had to bring it to-go. My beef yakisoba was super delicious when I took bites at the restaurant and the quality didn't diminish even when I finished it at our place the following day. The beef was cooked to perfection with a great noodle/veggie ratio. It was honestly such a big portion for a great price in addition to the sides.

History and home cooking. Family run, locals and visitors come for tasty food and warm hospitality. Try the butter fish Host is a family member of original owner/operator and went out of her way to make our dinner special, explaining the history and showing the photos of her Auntie. Made this more than just dinner out.

Going to go from the best to the worst about this place. The food is EXCEPTIONAL, the curry was tasty, flavorful and rich. The meat was so tender! The number 3 teishoku meal set was well proportioned and very traditional. The tempura fries were good, I probably wouldn't order them again because I was obsessed with the curry that the fries seemed bland in comparison. And now onto the strange things, I don't know if the chain at the entrance and exit are really necessary. It felt like the entrance to a theme park ride. Surely a sign saying wait outside until a server comes would suffice. The staff member we got was fast and efficient but there was something cold and stunted about the service that made me feel strange. It wasn't that she was mad at us or didn't want us there, but it was just a vibe of lack of warmth.

Pretty good. Good service and decent food. A little more expensive than I expected but that's okay. I took my haole wife there for dinner and breakfast for nostalgic reasons. I hadn't been there in about 50 years! LOL! We spoke with our waiter (who is a member of the Teshima family) and told him that the last time I was here at their restaurant, he wasn't even born! Our dinner was Japanese food and it was pretty good. Our breakfast was American style breakfast -- I had Portuguese sausage, eggs, and fried rice. Wife had eggs, bacon, and sweet bread French toast. Our breakfasts were very good.

Got there when they opened for dinner at 5 pm and was seated right away. Large dining area, plenty of booth seating to choose from. Hot roasted green tea came out right away...so good. First time to eat here and was told to try it. So glad we did! Everyone enjoyed their food...no complaints at all!!! Definitely will go again when we're back in the area

The service was great. The waitress--maybe one of the owners?--was joyful and appeared delighted to be serving us. Food was delicious. We ordered a combination which came with more than enough food. Highly recommend!

Teshima Restaurant was on my bookmarks to try when visiting Kona, here for the day and happy to cross it off the list and of course would be back again when I visit. I wish I could stay on the islands longer than a day. ( when we retire) Don't forget, they close for lunch opens up for dinner at 5. Luckily on our way there, the other half checked his google app and mentioned they are closing soon, it was about 1:15 pm. We made it, found parking next to gas station. There were about 3 couples in front of us. No need to check in at front, wait in line and the staff will get you in table in the order of line. The restaurant is old school, nostalgic, hole in the wall. Grandma Teishima sounds like an amazing person, from reading the reviews and the history on the wall. This is the 5th generation running Teshima per wait staff. I enjoyed looking at all the art work and family photos while waiting for our order. Glancing at the menu and photos on Yelp on the way to restaurant, I am ready to order. Got the Teishoku #2 ( comes with sashimi & fish) and Nabeyaki Udon. Love the presentation, as the food came out. Took our photos and we are ready to eat! Ive never had Nabeyaki udon for the longest time, miss eating that! I ove the broth, there were lots of veggies and udon noodles, really firm and chewy. Perfect but I miss the fresh made udon noods and shrimp tempura. Forgot it didn't come with this. Loved everything on the teishoku set, just the fried ahi was a little overcooked. Never had Japanese food for the longest time and this is def. comfort food. The complimentary green tea was so good, the finale! Overall, the other half and I enjoyed our first time dining experience here at Teshima, now on the bookmark list again, I need to try Teshima for breakfast, & Yay Teshima accepts credit cards now! Can't wait to be back!

Our go to place every time on the BI!! Tempura Oreo is a dessert favorite. The food is memorably good hence it's a must for us every time on the BI

Really wanted to like the food here. The older gentleman that served us was so pleasant and nice. Food came out hot but super fast. Hubby wanted some vegetable tempura but it was the most greasiest tempura we ever had. Lot of tempura batter to hold all the grease too. The nabeyaki udon was so so. Tasted just like I make at home from a prepackaged udon. The noodles were over cooked too. Maybe we just ordered the wrong entrees but the only thing we enjoyed here was their hot sake and hot green tea.

Service was excellent and food was delicious. Very relaxing and serene ambiance. Would recommend going to

It is certainly a legendary establishment which has been around or a very long time. There is so much nostalgia, and the interior is decorated with photographs of the Teshima family. Its food is heavily Japanese, but with some local flavors and ingredients. The dinner menu primarily consists of "teishoku" or a set menu that includes soup, rice, and main dish, all served in a box: All quite typical of restaurants for the masses in Japan. The fish and mains were generally good, but one thing that detracts from the otherwise good dining experience was the sauce for tempura. It tasted as if it came straight out of a bottle, and it wasn't particularly good, either. A proper dipping sauce for tempura should be dashi-based, and not so sweet as it was. Perhaps the food reflects the food culture of the Japanese diaspora in Hawai'i and how it evolved here. Yet, the restaurant's history and atmosphere were quite remarkable and enjoyable.

Found Tashima on the way out from coffee tasting at Heavenly Coffee farms up the street a bit. This restaurant is an OG on the island. The founder lived till 106 and is now run by her family. Food is fairly priced and is ridiculously ono. Traditional Japanese flavors that are so good, you will notice. Fish is fresh, as expected and the local grinds menu is spot on. Will be back fo shua.

Enjoyed our dinner very much, great local atmosphere, and our dishes were tasty! The server was extremely nice and gave us more detail about the restaurant. Apparently, lines get very long in the morning as the pancakes are popular. Plenty of history to read about on this restaurant, so look it up if interested. I had the Beef Tomato stew, my partner ordered the #2 set. Food is excellent.

Fun vibes - cute, old Japanese restaurant that's been around a while. The service is really nice and we really enjoyed the butterfish plate. We also got a set lunch plate and udon which were good to sample and share. Tbh nothing to write home about necessarily but this is the comforting sit down meal you need after a busy day at the beach.

A very quaint restaurant located in Kealakekua, on Mamalahoa Hwy. There is parking in between the side of the restaurant building and Aloha gas station. As soon as I reached the entrance of the restaurant I was immediately greeted by a friendly face and asked if I was dining in or taking out. I Ofcourse wanted to dine in to enjoy the experience. I'm a local from Oahu, and come out here for work from time to time so was pleased to find a nice sit down authentic Japanese restaurant after long drive up from Hilo. As soon as I was seated I was shown the Thursday special which was a nice healthy portion of fish and vegetable tempura and spare ribs. Although, I would have loved to try it, I was dining by myself and there was no way I could finish it. I also have been craving soup, so I went to with the Nabeyaki udon and fresh sashimi. The only disappointment was that I didn't order everything on the menu to try because let me tell you even I ordered the smallest items on the menu, the dashi was perfect! The Nabeyaki Udon is cooked perfectly in a kettle topped with an egg with greens and kamaboko. It was the perfect touch to this dish. All the more to invite everyone to come in and dine when in the area or just to visit because I cannot wait to try both breakfast and dinner and all of what's on the menu. It seems as if that the preparation and love that goes into the food is still being passed down from Grandma Teshima (read history of this restaurant), which is the best type of food you can have.

This place was GOOD. Kind of old school, family owned feel, which I love. No frills. You do have to sit outside on the bench in order of arrival, no host. This is probably the best sashimi I've had since my trip to Japan. My grandpa also got the sukiyaki in a kettle, which he loved. The teishoku number two was also delicious. We had Elizabeth as our waitress, and she was the absolute sweetest. Can't say good enough things about her! Great experience!

We came here for dinner last night and overall it was a very pleasant dining experience. We arrived around 6:00 and had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated. They have long benches outside of the restaurant, so we were comfortable during our wait. Once we were inside we did notice there were a lot of open tables. I am not sure if they only let so many people into the restaurant at once, or what the story with this is. We started receiving service as soon as we were seated. Everyone was so nice and accommodating to us. I did notice the prices are on the higher side, so be prepared to spend some money here. We started out ordering some drinks which were delightful. They also provided a pot of green tea for the table. Our food came very quickly, I have a hard time believing it was cooked to order. But the food was piping hot and showed no signs of being reheated. You get a lot of food, the portions are large here. We ordered, steak and shrimp tempura, beef teriyaki and shrimp tempura and sweet and sour spareribs. With the exception of the spareribs all the food was delicious. The sauce on the spareribs was delicious, but the ribs themselves was full of fat and gristle. I picked through the ribs and found there was very little eatable lean meat. I would recommend staying away from this dish, definitely not worth the $19.00 price tag that comes with it. There was still a lot of delicious food left on the table so I didn't go hungry. I do recommend coming here for a meal, and we will return here again on our next visit.

We came and were first in line with my husband. There was a wait and we were a little bit on the rush but the food was promising so we decided to stay. As soon as we changed our mind and stepped out to the car the worker came and started calling people. She saw us trying to get in the car but she didn't say anything she just let people in who were behind us. Service wise this place definitely disappoint and was very unwelcoming. We will not be returning.

So let me start off by saying I was starving after a day of hikes from Kona to Hilo to the volcano park. That way you know that my hunger and appetite was a 10/10. Let's start with service: A - pleasant and kind people. Seated promptly. Took food orders and wait wasn't too long. Ambience: B+ - standard Japanese restaurant. Clean seating and utensils. Food: F- my cousin and I ordered three dishes to share. Let's start with the good. Fried tofu: unique taste that would go well with rice. I wouldn't exactly call it FRIED as there was no crisp to it at all. Nice flavor. Steak and shrimp tempura combo. This dish got good reviews from yelpers and redditors. They bamboozled me. We should have known the steak was going to be bad when the waiter asked if we wanted steak sauce when he brought it out. Probably to hide the taste and texture resembling something that would sit on the back of a horse. Ordered it medium well, and it had zero flavor. I've had better meat going at the dollar store. My cousin said his mouth was sore afterwards from the chewing. The tempura shrimp was great as advertised. No complaints. Delish. Panko shrimp: this was by far one of the grossest dishes I've had in the last ten years of dining out. Let me tell you how panko shrimp is supposed to be. You dip the shrimp in a batter, seasoned, then in panko fully coated and then you deep fry that baby up in oil. Comes out nice and crunchy on every bite. What was brought out to me was microwaved shrimp. How do I know it was microwaved? I'm a single guy whose electricity bill is through the roof because I use it too much. This shrimp was sitting around. Then doused in butter, then stuck in the microwave to nuke. It tasted like I was eating a stick of butter with shrimp texture. Oh and what about the panko? There were tiny morsels of soft panko that soaked up all the butter flavor. It's the oldest trick in the book. Douse it with butter and microwave it so that it doesn't dry up. I asked for a box to go just because I couldn't even swallow my food and I tossed it out in the back when I left. So here I am in my hotel room eating a slice of dominos pizza and it is fabulous.