4. Restaurants

Yanagi Sushi

762 Kapiolani Blvd, Honolulu, HI, 96813
  • (808) 597-1525
  • Store is closed

Yanagi Sushi Menu

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Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Terry O.

    It's been a long time since I went to Yanagi, certainly well before the invention of online reviews! Just went there again yesterday, and forgot how flavorful the food is. I had the teriyaki chicken/tempura lunch special. Yum. I noticed that their "A" Sake sampler was the cream of the crop: Hakkaisan, Kubota Manjyu, and Senshin. Gottta go back when I can do that sampler!

    (5)

  • Steve D.

    Five stars. This is a classy and delicious establishment. That being said, I have had better sushi, but not in Hawaii. Yanagi is located in the downtown area of Honolulu, near Waikiki and Pali Hwy. It's on a busy street surrounded by larger buildings and auto dealerships, so you'll have to keep your eyes open and look for it. We would not have found it without the car GPS. We arrived right when they opened. The valet was VERY polite (and free) and he told us a few things about the restaurant. Apparently, you can wait outside until the 5:30 opening time, and they regularly have large parties so you may need to eat quickly if you don't have a reservation. We sat down and had a server almost instantly despite the fact that the place was fairly packed. She took our order and brought drinks in a friendly and quick fashion. Everyone at the restaurant was dressed well and worked with an air of professionalism that I don't see at many sushi places. I think they know that they are the best spot in town, but they aren't all pissy about it. The nigiri was fresh and flavorful. The portions were a bit smaller than I am used to, but these things vary from place to place. Also, the salmon and tuna are better at TGI's Sushi in Campbell (back home in California). But don't let that sound like I'm detracting from the quality of Yanagi in any way. The food is fantastic. Their king crab california roll is a tasty treat. I'd suggest it as a starter if you are into that whole appetizer thing. It's REALLY tasty! Everything on the menu is reasonable priced and a GREAT deal for the quality. I am used to paying $60 for 2 people, but we paid only $40 here. I was very surprised! All in all, a remarkable establishment. I'm glad we went, and I'd return. Don't forget to tip the valet! -----------------S

    (5)

  • Keala P.

    +amazing atmosphere, super "traditional", i see so many cool people here... it's just an amazing place +GREEN TEA ICE CREAM OMG. best ever. +sake +suuuper big variety of rolls/etc +BEST SASHIMI GAHHH -pricey -waitresses are bitchy (some of them) -some of

    (5)

  • Dawn S.

    I have been a fan of Yanagi Sushi for many MANY years now...the extensive menu, the great service...I don't know where to start! :) A note to those who don't like to valet (*ahem*, Ian G.): Hell, I don't like to valet my car either. It is usually returned to me with the driver's seat WAAAAY to close to the steering wheel (hey, I'm tall for an Asian). But there are certain places where I will just bite the bullet and hand over my keys. Yanagi is one of these places. I have been there at times where there is absolutely no space left in that tiny triangular lot of theirs. And they are double parking cars just to get patrons in the door. Anyway, I digress... I've had various types of sushi, pretty much all the donburi, udon, butterfish (YUM!) and plenty of the "box" dinners. Everything was tasty and the menu is big enough, so there should be a selection for everyone. If you haven't been...try it! Onolicious, I tell ya! 4 shakas...one star removed, only because I HATE valet. Nothing personal, Yanagi...I still love ya!

    (4)

  • Joy V.

    My friends hyped this place up SOOO much i thought it was going to be great, but it was just average. I think i would like this place more if i had no expectations. Pros: My friends and i came during peak dinner time, the wait wasn't to bad since we had reservations. Cons: And yes the sushi was good but for the price it was whatever. I'd rather save my money and by a supermarket bento and stay away from loud drunks.

    (3)

  • Lynn T.

    Returned here at the urging of a friend after a long absence (years!). It has not changed much-pictures on the walls, owners at the entrance greeting you(they look like they haven't aged!) and the fresh sushi. I'm not jazzed about this place because while the service is attentive it borders on feeling rushed to have your dinner. Regardless of the quality of the sushi and food in general, I don't like feeling rushed to have dinner.

    (3)

  • Sean V.

    Great nigiri sushi. Perfect temperature and serving size, cut very nice with great shape. I like regular sushi, no crazy rolls or whatever. And this place does plain sushi well. If you want innovative or creative, zenshu or imanstei are great.

    (4)

  • Russel M.

    $31- OMAKASE (good quality) , enough said...

    (4)

  • Jessica B.

    One of the best sushi places I have been to in Hawaii. I have traveled a lot to Japan and have lived their for a little while in Hokkaido where the sushi is supposed to be the best due to their fresh fish. When I came back to Hawaii, I was disappointed by the lack of fresh fish and sushi made right. But then my mother brought me here for my birthday and it was the best. The prices were not bad for such delicious food and I am definately coming back here again when I have the chance.

    (5)

  • Kayla A.

    I recently had dinner here and it was during the late-night special. My boyfriend and I got seated in one of their separate rooms with another couple, which was sort of weird because it was encolsed and there were the four of us in there. I had the combo with teriyaki beef and chicken katsu. For the price, I was satisfied. Not only did it come with the two entrees, it came with a bowl of rice, miso soup, and a salad. Their chicken katsu was okay, I've had better. Their katsu sauce is more on the sour side and i'm more of a sweeter katsu sauce lover. The teriyaki beef was awesome. Not knowing how big the portions were, I ordered a spicy tuna roll also. I ate only 2 pieces because I was full from the combo, but it was yummy! Overall, I recommend this place. The ambiance is a nice, but parking may be difficul to find if it's busy because their parking lot is small.

    (3)

  • lamar b.

    A definite for their late night specials. But c'mon man sushi is so good here. I love the specials, but also go for sushi, like the chitoro and toro. I probably wouldn't pay regular price because I'm cheap and also go there after going out. Hmm I wonder if the food tastes good because I'm hungry at this point. They have a couple of very good deals on their late night specials, like teriyaki beef, salmon, chicken katsu, chicken wings and soba. Try this place around this time to save and if not, then not. Good luck and happy eating.

    (3)

  • Ian G.

    Tried to come here for early dinner cause I was in the neighborhood but F@#&! this place...there were only two cars in the parking lot and the valet insisted that he valet the car so I just sped off. This place is a total joke. Smell my smoke off my Borla exhaust A-holes!!!

    (1)

  • Jessie D.

    This is kinda hard to review, only because I'd like to review two different aspects of the restaurant: dinner and late night. Now, up until tonight, my experience with Yanagi has always been for the late night variety. I even texted my friend that I haven't been there before 9pm. Now, as far as late night is concerned, they're top notch. The menu is expansive and there's tons of things to have. I've always been a fan of their katsu, it's light yet flavorful. I'd easily give them a 4.5 on the late night option ALONE... HOWEVER... if you decide to drop by during dinner... and you DON'T have a reservation... basically, they give you a time limit (ours was out by 730... thankfully, we got there at 5:15, tons of time to eat) and you just get slung into some random booth. The waitstaff basically hovers over you the entire time and, although they're quick to refill drinks and remove empty dishes from the table, it is kinda off-putting to have someone constantly around. Somehow, I don't think it's the same way when you do the late night thing... at least, I haven't noticed if they did. The food is still the same as on the late night menu... just in more of a dinner set up. I had the Volcano roll and I'll end the argument by saying that their sushi is good, but not spectacular. It falls into a middle ground that you can pretty much blind fold someone and they couldn't tell the difference between different sushi spots. I do have to say that the ingredients do seem a bit fresher than most spots... but then again, it's good, but not spectacular. The waitstaff, even though it was a bit overbearing, was very courteous and attended to all of our needs. But, I guess they have to be in order to balance out the harsh opening you receive from the door. Last gripe I have is the "valet." I mean, I understand they want the experience to smooth, but I could easily park the car there and retrieve my car, considering the car is parked RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE ENTRANCE. if it was in another lot, I'd understand, but to move my car approximately 30 feet... c'mon man! So, I'm gonna give the dinner experience about 2.5. it's pretty bad, with the saving grace is the katsu don I had and the helpful, yet overbearing, waitstaff. So, average it out and you get a 3.5. it's slightly better than good, but just AVOID dinner unless you make a reservation first. Otherwise, wait until 10pm and head in for the late night action. it's a heck of a lot better.

    (3)

  • Glady O.

    Had the omakase sushi special for $35. Everything was tasty except for the toro. I think I've been spoiled since my first taste of toro was at Morimotos in Waikiki and the otoro there melted in my mouth. For the price though, that definitely can't be beat. Huge platter as well. Have been here numerous times and still love the taste of most everything on the menu. Next time though, I think I'll just select what I want. :)

    (4)

  • Zoe M.

    Delicious! Sat at sushi bar, and the sushi chef was funny and super nice. Great family style atmosphere here and everything we ordered was prepared beautifully. Love it that they're open on Sunday nights, great location too. Can't wait to go back soon!!

    (5)

  • Chris B.

    I went to this place late at night after a long day at work. Really good place to go for sushi. Parking is not that great, really small parking lot. The walls in the restaurant are lined with pictures. Service is pretty good. I had some steak but this isn't the place to get it. The sushi, on the other hand, was really good and fresh tasting. I also really liked that oyster dynamite. I definitely would go here again.

    (4)

  • Tiffany K.

    yanagi was just okay to me - not great, not bad, just eh. which makes me sad because when i get sushi, i want it to be damn good! anyhow, some of our friends chose the restaurant when we were meeting up for dinner. of course before going anywhere that other people reccommend, i usually have to get onto Yelp and check it out beforehand to prepare myself - it's pretty much a habit now. after checking it out on Yelp, I saw that yanagi had 4 stars, so i thought, okay, this place has got to be good. first things first - i don't really understand why they have a guy in the parking lot valet-ing your car. the parking lot is in the front of the restaurant and you can easily park it yourself. when we got there, there were a few open spaces, and we parked the car ourselves then the valet guy came over, and pretty much just took our keys.. hmm, could have just kept the keys ourself cause the car never moved. the service here was friendly - no complaints about that. i liked that they give you a appetizer plate - with bean sprouts, edamame, and friend shrimp. unfortunately, i wasn't too impressed by the food. i ordered a chirashi box, and also split a couple of rolls with the bf. the sashimi in my chirashi box were all just okay - they really weren't as fresh as sashimi should be when it comes by itself. i also tried a spicy tuna roll and dragon roll, and both were just eh... not the freshest fish, and the rolls weren't even very tasty. the one good thing we had however, was the oyster shots.. mMmmMm. but other than that, the sushi was really just okay. i really wished it would have been better since I always hear about how fresh sashimi is in Hawaii. overall, okay place. i'm big on having awesome sushi, and I didn't get that here.

    (3)

  • BAJIBU K.

    Great place to eat late, especially when you're not in the mood for Zippy's or Sorabol. What I appreciate the most about this place is that it is always CONSISTENT. I'm never disappointed, but sadly, I'm never 'blown away' either. The staff is friendly, the sushi chefs are entertaining (except for the fat one.. him, not so much) and they have plenty of parking on the street or valet. Would definitely recommend it to people for a late night dinner or fourth meal, and since it's one of the only sushi places open on Sundays, it gets 4 stars from me =)

    (4)

  • First Name L.

    We tried it twice just in case and it's unanimous, Yanagi has good Kirin on draft unfortunately it's not a bar )-; Overall, the food presentation was excellent. Everything looked very good. The food unfortunately didn't taste good. From fresh sushi to their bento's and desert. The only reason it gets two stars is their convenient hours and their cold Kirin on draft. The beer hit the spot, ice cold and refreshing. Judging from the reviews, there's something wrong with me or I don't know how to order good food. Oh well, I'll just eat at Imanas and forget about this place.

    (2)

  • Jesse C.

    Affordable sushi dinner. Hurray! Sashimi deluxe, sushi deluxe, or omakase for thirty-something dollars. Great deal + good fish = happy tummy!

    (4)

  • Reagan G.

    Great Food! Great service! Great atmosphere! Populare place for dinner so I recommend making reservations or the wait could be quite a while. Lunch time set menus are a deal!!!

    (5)

  • Andee L.

    Whenever my extended family goes out to celebrate we always look for places with private rooms because it makes it easier since we have four little ones and 6 adults. The private rooms are not very big or spacious so it was still a bit challenging but we made it work. It's not "tatami-style" either - like you expect at Japanese restaurants - so if you want "tatami-style" seating this is not the place to go. The food was great and the portions were pretty decent. As previous reviews have stated, you can't go wrong with the combos. I love the chazuke so I ordered the maguro chazuke. I also got to try a piece of hamachi sashimi - it was soooo yummy - fresh and flavorful! The ahi teriyaki was tasty too. And to top it all off - green tea ice cream of course!

    (4)

  • Love A.

    My boyfriend and I were looking for "Emerald City", but my phone's GPS led us both to Yanagi. Thank goodness, because I found a place that's open late and serves good good food. I mean, there's other places that could probably get me full and satisfied but this one is quite different. Perhaps, the atmosphere inside?!? IDK. Anyway, I was surprise with the portions of the food. Oh and I'd suggest you to go there by 10:30pm or later (at least before they close) and check out their cheap eats in their separated menu. If you're just hungry, then I suggest you eat only the main entree. I'm telling you, the portions are big. No need the appetizers. But, if you're feeding a crocodile in your stomach, then go ahead, get a starter as well. But then you might be full by the time you get the entree. If that's the case, send me a message, I'll be happy to take that leftovers from yanagi =D

    (4)

  • Bonnie O.

    My favorite pastime at Yanagis is looking at all the photographs of past visitors. The food is good though I think a bit overrated. Love the teeny tray of pupus they give. My favorite dishes are the salad with the cold, shelled crab and sushis. There's this waiter who I swear has not aged and still looks like 22 even after 9 years of seeing him there! He's super nice and always patient with me as I decide on what I want to eat. Two thumbs up on this nearby sushi bar!

    (3)

  • Tom A.

    Based on the number of pictures on the wall, I'm guessing this place has been there for 20 years at least. It's a little overpriced for what it is, but because it's got such a long history and a following, they're obviously not losing business from the prices. Limited parking, but open late. The places was lively, with a party atmosphere drifting from table to table. I had the Sashimi Deluxe, which was serviceable but nothing to Yelp 4 stars about. Best part of the restaurant is it's near my homey's work so we can go there easily once he's done late.

    (3)

  • Dave K.

    I've been here twice and the food and service have both been completely unblemished. The people are great. The fish is fresh. The sake is hot. The beer is cold. Despite the rumors, this place isn't that expensive. I just took 8 people here, we didn't finish everything, and beer flowed like the River Ganges. The tab came to $220 with tip. My favorite was the Rainbow Roll but the Spider Roll was a close second. People even raved about the Miso... which was good, but shadowed by the fish completely. Killer spot. Auf.

    (5)

  • E L.

    Ahi Poke - 4 stars Spicy tuna roll - 4 stars Katsuo Tataki - 4 stars Tempura - 2 stars Teri chicken - 2 stars Service - 4.5 stars

    (4)

  • Ninja H.

    We were desperately seeking a sushi restaurant to celebrate my cousin's birthday as she requested. Whatever the bday lady wants, right?! So we went to a few places and then made it to Yanagi's. Thank goodness...it was after 10p and they only requested that we wait a few minutes so they can put a table together for our party of eight. We had a small private room. The staff was incredibly patient considering how loud we were...we were celebrating!! Sorry Yanagi's!! LOL That may be the reason we had to call them over a couple times to get their attention. But otherwise they were pretty attentive. Honestly, the company was so great, I'm not sure I would of noticed if the food was bad, but I'm pretty sure you don't forget something like that. The sashimi was fresh and, unlike some restaurants, they didn't provide me with the meat by the skin so it wasn't all veiny. All enjoyed their food. And they even provided my cousin w/ a birthday green tea ice cream...candle and all. We enjoyed ourselves and I would come again!!

    (3)

  • Sang Yup K.

    hands down one of the best sushi places in hawaii they have late night specials so great place to go after drinking

    (5)

  • aLLy S.

    super cute place...awesome fresh fish and we had the sweet sake...awesome!!!!!!

    (4)

  • Arpineh K.

    We asked around what the best sushi place in Waikiki was, and everyone said this place. Maybe they just hyped it up way too much. It was a cute little place with pictures of celebrities all over the walls. It was kind of cluttered but interesting to look around at. The sake was pretty good, but the food was very average. Nothing special at all. Maybe I'm just used to L.A. sushi but I wasn't crazy about any of the 4 rolls we ordered. I just don't get it...

    (2)

  • Larry B.

    After the Boyz II Men concert last Saturday, my girl and I didn't want to wait for a cab, so we made our way down to Yanagi. The place was packed, but we were able to get a very small table in the middle of the restaurant. I ordered the $20.95 assorted sushi, and the baked oyster. She had a couple pieces of hamachi, and maguro, and we shared a large sake. For the price, my sushi was great. Basically everything you want, the fish was fresh, and the uni was the money. The baked oyster was a little weird with the chopped up mixture of oyster and mushrooms, but I enjoyed it, and I'll order it again. Overall, not a bad choice for a post concert snack. By the time we finished, our taxi was rolling up ready to take us back home to Chinatown.

    (4)

  • Jordan S.

    Haven't been there in a while and the parking still sucks if not worse. But the salmon with Maui onion makes up for it.

    (3)

  • rusty r.

    This was the best sushi I've had in a long long time... and definitely the best ahi I have ever had in my life! The ahi just melted in my mouth. It was kind of ridiculous. I'm pretty sure I had to excuse myself after that first bite, because something was going on. It was that good. In Hawaii, the ahi is never flash frozen... it's fresh every day. So unlike most other parts of the world, this is the freshest. I can't really say anything bad. Great service, Japanese chefs, extreme freshness, great cold sake... it was all too perfect.

    (5)

  • theresa s.

    ok. ok. i know i am an outlier with my previous 2 star review. i thought i was going to get slaughtered by the yanagi lovers out there, so i had to give it another shot. i was in the downtown area today, and was craving sushi. there are NOT many sushi bars open for lunch on saturdays! thank goodness for yanagi. i arrived a little past noon after almost getting into a car accident trying to turn into the parking lot! hmm. one disaster averted. the parking lot was packed as usual, but the valet guy said i could self park in the last spot!? weird, usually valets are pretty territorial and wont let you park anywhere, even if the whole lot is empty. i had my little mini cooper, so i was able to maneuver over the tree roots to the available spot. this is looking like my lucky day! [i forgot to mention that earlier i had just gotten a mani/pedi, and when i went out to my car, i had thought i had lost my garage ticket, but found it on the ground next to my car. would have been $37 for being there only 1 1/2 hours.] go me! let me ride this. i sat at the sushi bar. i was the only loner diner at the bar, but there appeared to be alot of patrons at the tables. another yelper suggested the butterfish, which i was craving. but i also wanted the sushi, since i was unimpressed at the previous visit-- and had to give it another go. the misoyaki butterfish combo was $20 and the sushi deluxe combo was $24. chef said no worries, he would just add a piece of butterfish to my sushi deluxe order for an additional $12. score!!! the sushi deluxe was HUGE, and came with 10 pieces of sushi including uni, ebi (love the fried ebi head) plus 1/2 a tuna roll and 1/2 a cali roll. seemed way bigger than the picture-- maybe he gave me the "nice face" discount. the butterfish arrived crispy and hot, and i was thinking it was going to be a little unagi sized piece, but it basically looked liked a chicken breast! OMG, it was sooooo good. there were some bones, but for butterfish, the bone-content was minimal. the food in front of me was daunting, but i prevailed, and just had to take some of the sushi and rolls home. everything was super fresh and i loved it all!! there are times when orders are placed at the bar awaiting to be delivered. i think it makes a difference sitting at the sushi bar, and food is delivered as soon as it is prepared. i am so happy that i had a better experience this time. yanagi is so convenient to my place, so it is nice that it is now back on my list of go-to places!

    (4)

  • Shannon L.

    It was so hard to find a Japanese restaurant in this area that was open to a little later in the afternoon but luckily we made it in time (before 2pm)! We just got rolls and they were all okay. I can't even remember which ones we ordered. What I remember being good was the udon. Although I didn't order it, I noticed that they had butterfish on the menu! I seldom see that and it's one of my favorite fishes. Service was a little slow. Parking sucks.

    (3)

  • n p.

    The food is good and never fails to please. The menu is pretty extensive and has everything from soba to udon, tempura... you name it they probably have it. Their volcano roll is really good with the warm scallop topping, I love it. The service is good and the waiters are friendly. The valet parking is a definite plus but there are also a few street parking stalls right next to the restaurant if you want to skip on it. The restaurant gets pretty crowed so I would make a reservation in order to secure a table.

    (4)

  • Dragon D.

    Like their night specials. Their california sushi reverse is really good. I also like their spider roll deluxe. Green Tea icecream is a must. Their Green tea icecream has strong green tea flavor. Overall ono!!

    (5)

  • Gypsy R.

    I would have given Yanagi Sushi ZERO star if Yelp let me, that's how bad it was. I just walked out of there & came straight home to write this review. Unfortunate for me, I was craving sushi on a Sunday night & Yanagi Sushi was one of few sushi places that open on Sundays. (Most sushi place close on Sundays because they can't get fresh fish delivery on weekends.) I was looking forward to Yanagi Sushi because of the good Yelp reviews. **Lesson 1: ALWAYS sort Yelp reviews by date & not the default Yelp order which puts the highest reviews on the top (My fault, it's my 1st day on Yelp). Let's talk about the food 1st. I walked in by myself requested a seat at the counter & Omakase sushi (Chef's choice). The "sushi chef" proceed to make this assorted plate with about a dozen sushi pieces. I've had omakase at some great places in town (Sasabune, Sushi Masa, Yohei), but I've never seen Omakase served on a big plate instead of single piece at a time before! So, while he was making it I thought it was for someone else! I am ONE person & he gives me a long plate! You may say, "oh but that's just how Yanagi Sushi does theirs, you should have read the menu." OK, fine, I'll give you that, although I thought the whole point of Omakase is so the chef does the choosing so you don't have to look at the menu . **Lesson2: As soon as I saw the unappetizing assortment plate I should have just walked out of there. But I was hungry & wanted sushi & figured maybe it tastes better than it looks & since I was there already might as well try it... BAD mistake! The fish pieces were not cut nicely though the portion was pretty generous, but more of a bad thing is... well... just more of a bad thing, doesn't make it better! Both the Uni & Ikura sushi pieces were sloppily made with the seaweed wrapping unraveling before I even got to it, and those were the 1st pieces I ate because I didn't want them to completely fall apart on me. It tasted so-so, looked yucky. As if that's not horrific enough for a place that's known as a sushi bar, the next plate the "chef" gave me was a sloppily made plate of tuna roll & California roll. Yes, as 1 person, the "chef" gave me more food... & WHO SERVES CALIFORNIA ROLL AS OMAKASE??? Omakase is suppose to be Chef's Choice where he chooses the best ingredients available that night & create something that's normally not on the menu (so it's usually more expensive than the menu items). Is the "sushi chef" at Yanagi Sushi telling me that the best ingredients they have left tonight is avocado & imitation crab meat with mayo??? They have GOT to be kidding me! That was the last draw, I got my bill & walked out. My bill tonight was $34 plus tips, the food was barely worth $10. It's not the price tag I have a problem with, I paid $250 for Omakase (for 2 people) at Sushi Sasabune & it was worth every cent! But with the quality of food tonight, I could have just gone to Genki, at least the food matches the price & I would only get what I can finish & not waste food (I didn't touch the tuna roll & California roll plate at all). Oh by the way, Genki Sushi in my mind is the McDonald's of Sushi. It's fast, cheap & edible. I only go there when I'm really hungry/broke/lazy, it doesn't happen very often. And that brings me to tonight's **Lesson3: No sushi is better than bad sushi. The service from the wait staff was good, I was seated right away & my tea cup was topped off without me having to flag down the wait staff. My problem is with the "sushi chef" and for a restaurant, that's BAD for business!

    (1)

  • Timtum B.

    One of the Best Establishment to Enjoy Sushi.... My favoorite is the Hamachi...and don't even ast...How muchi is it... I realllllyy....like the Tonkatsu.... Always FRESHHH,,, fish........and good Miso soup... Only COMPLAINT......Service SUCKS,,,,, Quite inattentive staff....and can be downright LOUSY.... BRING A dATE Here....She always enjoys...the sushi... and She don't Mind being a Bitch and calling staff over for Service... You can do thaT iF YOU ARE pRETTY.... Yeah..!!!!.... always have a Sapporo bear or Kirin.... Fits the mood...

    (4)

  • Michelle M.

    LATE NIGHT. OMFG. set e = chicken teriyaki and shrimp tempura for $10? salmon with maui onion for $6? a pitcher for $13? screw dinner time...i'm all about late night. it's quieter, none of that valet annoyance and ridiculous cheap prices.

    (5)

  • Troy L.

    A solid, good tasting and open-late sushi joint! Their Sashimi Trio is the best on the menu.

    (4)

  • James T.

    It started fine , seated 10 min after our reservation . Promptly greeted , water , bean sprouts and soybeans were brought . Order taken , food brought out staggered for 10 min , no problem . Party of 7 food was decent . Then nobody came by once throughout the whole meal . Flag the busboy down for tea a couple a times . They cleared some of the plates , then we waited and had conversation amongst us for at least 15 min . We asked for the check from the busboy again . Still nobody came . Four in the party had ice cream coming with there meal , never came . We all got up and walked up to the door . We had our 25th anniversary here previously and it was my idea to come here again . My brother paid the bill and I let the lady up at the front know what happen , that nobody came and never brought the check . She said oh sorry , I will they tell the waitress . I will not be back and I look forward to finding other japanese restauraunts on the island .

    (2)

  • Spidey S.

    good late night japanese food. get the baby tako.

    (4)

  • John K.

    This restuaurant is one of my All-Time Favorites. Great for super special occasions and family. I usually order the 3 Combo special for $27. The first and best is the Misoyaki Butterfish, then the Kobe Steak, then last the Shrimp & Vegetable Tempura. I feel like Terry Benedict after when I leave with a satisfied and full stomach.

    (5)

  • Kacy L.

    Love the SPIDER roll and misoyaki butter fish. Great for a late night meal. My favorite sushi place in Honolulu!

    (5)

  • Charlie G.

    Certain items are lacking, for instance, the Ikura and Uni. Ikura is usually a little to briney (is that a word?) and the uni sometimes has that urinal flavor, more so in the summer months. The Hamachi is a 10. The Toro is a 10. The Clam Miso Soup can be a 10 when the clams don't have dishwater element. The mirugai is usually very good. They have the best scallops from Japan, just ask Nakayama san. The Salmon kama is freakish as is the butterfish misoyaki. One of my favorites is the Natto handroll, so darn ono with the fresh yamaimo. All in all Yanagi is very good...pretty much my favorite sushi bar on Oahu. The quality of fish is excellent, the cuts are generous and the Kirin is cold.

    (4)

  • Wing L.

    Yanagi is great. The quality of their sushi is actually good for a price range of $$ . Except for one thing. There's wasabi in my sushi. And I didn't know that. Baby octopus is really crunchy. Love that part with the tentacles. Fried gyoza is really good and the dipping sauce too. The volcano roll is really good. I mean its not spicy. I thought it was because the word "volcano". Spicy or not its still good. I love the little scallops on top. Their Kona Coffee ice cream is really flavorful. I can most definitely taste the coffee and its not heavy at all. However I wish they could have refilled my tea...................... I only had one cup and one cup wasn't enough. Their green tea is so flavorful its fantastic!

    (4)

  • Christine C.

    I wanted to have a great sushi/sashimi meal while on O'ahu. No such luck, this place was not that great. The rolls were OK, but nothing spectacular. I had the Spicy Hamachi roll, which was not spicy and the Tempura roll, that too was just alright. I think I'll have to find myself another Japanese restaurant when I come back to O'ahu. Disappointed that it didn't live up to the reviews.

    (2)

  • Brian V.

    There is no place I would rather go to for a late night dinner. Their late night menu is such a bargain, perhaps the best on the island!! Nothing can compare to their Fresh Salmon w/ Maui Onion and side rice, Soft Shell Crab Maki and California Roll. The Mussel Dynamite is also really delicious. You can't really beat the prices on this menu, especially for such great quality fish -- definitely try it! 1/13/09: don't order their oysters (at least not in the near future), our server told us that they had recently run out of their usual New Zealand oysters so they replaced them w/ frozen oysters from Daiei!! And if you've shopped there, you know what you're getting. Maki, rolls, fresh salmon w/ maui onions, chicken teri plate off the late night menu are still money though...

    (4)

  • Winnie P.

    The quality of the food here is quite good. I particularly enjoy the hamachi here, but perhaps that could be simply because Hamachi holds a special place in my heart. Particularly fatty juicy pieces of it. As mentioned, generally the quality of the fish is very good here, however, I always find that their service is very subpar. And for the price you pay here, I expect the service to be at least good. However, I find that the staff here have a rude demanor to them EACH time I've come here. I think this is because they've developed an undeserved arrogance over the years. BTW if you're white, they will give you a less quality piece. I'm asian. My husband is hapa. We sat at the sushi bar one time and ordered Otoro. The waiter thought we were tourists so he gave us a partial maguro piece, thinking that we wouldn't know better. Hello?! I ordered and am paying for OTORO, the expensive good stuff. If I'm paying for quality, I expect this. Anyway, my experiences on all the occasions I've come to Yanagi's has been disappointed by the poor service and my wallet pays a hefty price whenever I come here too. So I don't think I'm coming back anymore. It's too bad too because I live nearby.

    (3)

  • Devon S.

    Man, i tell you what. This is by far one of the best sushi places I ever gone to. In fact, i have only had better sushi in Tokyo Japan. Not only do they nail the basics (tamago, rainbow roll, toro, etc), but they have a number of items unique to Yanagi. For example, they have this dish called an oyster dynamite that was so very delicious, and i don't even care for oysters very much. All i can say is WOW. Parking? Not a problem. They valet for you. Done and Done. The sushi chefs were quite friendly and informative. I was bold enough to ask one of them to just make a roll for me, like create something off the top of his head. He took the challenge and handled it thoroughly. All i can say is WOW. Service was excellent, i mean excellent. I don't think i ever got to the bottom of a cup of green tea. Top notch for sure. Its only flaw, if you can call it a flaw, is that if you don't make a reservation, you probably wont get seated. Yeah, its that busy. And once you eat there, you will understand why its that busy. If you don't eat at another sushi joint this year, go here. This place sets the standard. WOW, WOW, WOW.

    (5)

  • Glenn N.

    Been here 5x. I consider Yanagi Sushi the 3rd best sushiya in Hawaii. Atmosphere is authentic but kind of feel cramped. The toro is really delicious as well as the amaebi and others.

    (4)

  • Victor Y.

    yanagi sushi is a stable as for japanese food. great quality and great food! as alot of people have mentioned it's very very consistent! wish there was specials to make us wow. the late night specials really is attractive with the same quality but great price! my favorite is the hamachi on the cheaper side, but the toro is the fricken bomb! charged by the piece, man it's so worth it! we usually drink way too much sake and eat way too much food. but it's never a disappointment when we come here. staff is friendly and food is great. it's always busy on the weekends and weekday dinner times. parking is great and i'm glad it's valet because after a bottle of the huge bottle sake, it's awesome not needing to reverse lol overall it's a great place, great food, and you always get what you pay for!

    (4)

  • David M.

    Have had sushi and izakaya here before but never dinner. Don't know what took me so long! This place has the best complete dinners! You can pick 2 or 3 entree choices including butterfish, tempura, sashimi, and other great choices for under $26! Dinner comes with appetizer, salad, and ono ice cream. What a deal and it was alllllllllll good! Portions were large and service was excellent. My gf and her mom both had the Chirashi Deluxe and it was a work of art! A must have if you love sashimi. Will be back soon!

    (5)

  • Norm Y.

    Looks like Japanese but tastes like cardboard. Korean own. Shrimp tempura tasted premade and was from a frozen package. You can tell it was not made with the other pieces of tempura. Try the tempura and you will see. Food was not bad, but had no taste. Sushi and sashimi was just fair. For the price, Foodland supermarket or Shirokiya are much better and cheaper. I can't figure out why the Locals line up for this place? Look around there are much better places in town.

    (1)

  • Noa H.

    Went to Yanagi Sushi or the first time in eight years and had a great night again. We went early 6pm and pulled right into the free valet area and received a friendly welcome, entered the restaurant and was seated immediately at the sushi bar. We were approached by our waitress and had Miso and waters almost instantly. Then the sushi blitzkrieg began, we started with a reverse California roll (modified rainbow roll) and after a great 2 hours we ended with the last two pieces of Toro we could get down, then we were done... We truly enjoyed everything we ate. Very consistent... Ok a few things, if your at the sushi bar, beware it's a limited menu, not the same as the one you get when seated at a table. Although the sushi is consistent, the Sushi Chef's personalities are not as consistent. We got the Portuguese looking guy who spoke Japanese but wasn't very friendly, while the bar across the way had a very funny and personable Chef. Role of the dice I guess. Over all we really enjoyed our selves, and will go back... Enjoy... TIPS: Go early, and if not make sure to call, If you want more than sushi you have to get a table, 10:30pm to 2am is almost half price

    (4)

  • Wade H.

    We decided to go here since we had already parked close by. This restaurant only has valet parking and it doesn't make sense because the entrance to the restaurant is about 10 steps away from the parking lot. Go figga! This USED to be a favorite of my families about 7-8 years ago. We used to bring the aunties and grandmas for special occasions. Good thing they were all small. If you're bigger than average, forget about sitting in the kindergarten chairs. The whole restaurant is very cramped. Okay on to the service. We get there at 6:10pm. I ask for a table. The owner says that we need to eat and get out by 7:30pm because all of the tables are reserved. This was also the same tactic they used to use when we used to go for dinner. We're fast eaters so it's not a problem. I had the 2 choice combination dinner which consisted of teri chicken and assorted tempura. The teri chicken was the worst I've ever eaten. Boiled and then seared chicken with teriyaki sauce smothered all over. The chicken had absolutely no taste whatsoever. Bland as can be. The tempura was okay and came out hot. The vegetables didn't have much taste though. The other half had the oyako donburi. (chicken with rice, egg, and vegetables). They must've used the same boiled chicken since it was also bland and had no flavor. Had to put shoyu in a container and dip it since it had no taste. The rice, egg, and vegetables were also very bland. I will not be going back here again ever. Maybe if I loved sushi (sashimi) then I would think about it. But, for the regular food, I can find other Japanese restaurants around town that serve better quality food and lower prices. See my other reviews for Japanese restaurants. Yuck!

    (1)

  • Liz S.

    Delicious food and awesome service! Reservations recommended. Try the lunch specials, they are a good deal!

    (5)

  • Jannet L.

    the 4 star average is a little surprising. it's not terrible. it's just okay. took the in laws there for lunch and had the 20 dollar combo special. salad, miso soup, rice, nigiri sushi (4 pieces egg/tuna/salmon/squid, 3 cucumber maki) with WAY too much wasabi, mini tempura udon and ice cream. telling when the best part of the meal is the green tea ice cream - which was really good by the way. I wouldn't go out of my way to go here. I liked looking at the pictures of the famous people on the wall.

    (2)

  • Ryan D.

    Hate to do it, but I gotta knock one star off because Yanagi is kinda sucky on Sundays. Quality control on the food goes down the drain, and everything gets overcooked. The nigiri neta ends up being smaller than usual, and the shari seems, like, drier. Service is a little too laidback on Sunday as well, usually leaving us wanting when it comes to tea refills, napkins, and whatnot. So, Yanagi's kinda like the hot girl that you're dating in that once a month, you have to put up with a completely different person -- at Yanagi, once a week, you have to put up with a completely different restaurant. Remember kids, AVOID Yanagi on Sundays unless you're like, a masochist or something. And if that's the case, I have a friend in Chinatown named "Mistress Belladonna" who I'd like to introduce to you...

    (4)

  • Milton D.

    Awesome Late night sushi spot. We are regulars but only after 10:30 pm and not on Sundays. Ice Cold Kirin and great sushi rolls! Our server Jean is tops as well and always takes great care of us!

    (4)

  • Jessica L.

    She used her finger to wipe off my soy sauce dish. The pieces were cut way too big Service was terrible Too much wasabi hidden under my maguro nigiri! Extra star for excellent Maguro in general

    (3)

  • Sunny D.

    Ate lunch here recently with a friend and the only downside is that there is not enough parking so you're forced to use the valet OR drive around to find street parking somewhere. That said, we enjoyed our lunch very much! Ordered the full lunch which included pickled veggies, miso soup, green salad and for my entree i picked tempura and miso butterfish. Good size fish and tasty as well. The tempura included sweet potato, carrot and green beans as well as two shrimps. All very good and couldn't finish all my meal. Dessert was included so i had the azuki bean ice cream, great choice! So glad we choose to eat here since it had been years! YUM!

    (4)

  • beth c.

    Yanagi sushi has certainly gone downhill. I used to love Yanagi sushi in the early 2000s and in the late 90s. Now it seems the sushi is mediocre at best. The servers and owners are not very friendly. The only plus about Yanagi's these days are that they are open late when everything else is closed.

    (2)

  • Jon L.

    ALL YOUR SUSHI ARE BELONG TO US: We went for dinner, it was nicely crowded. The ambiance was very "old school Japanese restaurant" style. Random Asian things on the walls, old lacquered furniture, etc. However, this is usually a good sign. A lot of modern/chic sushi spots I've been to that look great, have mediocre sushi. I made a reservation just in case, and it was a good call (and I never eat anywhere without a res, BTW). We were seated immediately, and the two chefs that were helping us were great. I got the combo nigiri for about $32, rather than ordering individually because it came with a good variety, not just your usual tuna, salmon, yellowtail trio and some ginger. Their uni was fantastic, very fresh - ironically it was from California. They had a special, which were fresh sea scallops from Japan - I had it as nigiri, and it was great as well. The fish quality here was top notch - pricey, but you get what you pay for. I would definitely go again.

    (4)

  • Stacey K.

    3.5 stars. The otoro and uni are delicious and fresh but not the best I've had. The portions were really big though. Surprisingly the shrimp tempura hand roll is good, something about their batter.. it's really light and airy. I would go crazy with the rolls though- they were just okay, I only remember the volcano roll which was alright but better at Rock n Sushi. The service was really attentive- there was no specific person serving my table. I'd like to go back just for the sushi (otoro + uni) and try some other stuff. Didn't have a problem with the valet... yet.

    (4)

  • Grimeater A.

    Well I told myself I'd never choose to eat at Yanagi unless someone chose it. Well that day came last week. They wanted sushi and suggested Yanagi so that was that. I tried to keep it positive and didn't bring up any of my bad experiences. I figured it couldn't be bad every single time I eat there. I was wrong! We got there and our reservations didn't exist. No record of it at all. They had no seats but offered us a seat at the sushi bar that had just opened up. We sat down and chatted about what to order. Since I haven't been to Yanagi since 2008 I had no idea what to order. My dining companion asked where I normally eat sushi so I said Genki, Sasabune, Hakone etc etc. The chef must have heard me say Genki so he started muttering Japanese out loud and started laughing. I knew he was talking crap since I heard Genki come out of his mouth. It didn't stop there. He muttered some other crap for a while which include Sasabune and Hakone etc. If that wasn't rude enough the service from the sushi chef was total crap. The person I dined with ordered a California roll and was then asked Alaskan crab or snow crab. She politely asked for the regular one they use. He then went on to repeat in a rude mocking tone "What regular?, Snow or Alaskan I said." I jumped in and said snow crab just to shut him up. We then ordered a spider roll and a volcano roll. When he heard volcano roll he paused and asked us if we were sure we wanted that. I said yes. He then went on to tell me that it's just like a California roll and that we some order something else. I wanted to order it because it had a warm scallop topping thing on it. I had to explain this several times before he would take my order. What is going on here? Remember the disappearing servers from 2008? Still here. Took quite a few tries to finally wave someone over so I could order a beer. My water sat empty for quite a while before being refilled. The list just goes on... I really don't want to come back here again.

    (1)

  • J. F.

    Mention Yanagi Sushi to any local and they will know what you're talking about. An undisputed destination for the discriminating taste and celebrities. As being my number two spot the sushi here is good. The cuts are precise and the selection is fresh. You cannot go wrong by going to Yanagi. Although for value, I believe you may be better off to go somewhere else. If it's quality you want then stop no further. Pros * Selection * Quality * Presentation Cons * Not as congenial as other places * Value

    (4)

  • Jeanie B.

    We always do sushi bar... Rules: 1) Always ask for the Special of the day... Don't try anything adventurous like Toro (Tuna belly) or Mirugai (King Clam) unless the chef voluntarily recommends it. Because the more expensive they are, the less chances that they get ordered by customers, and the longer they stay in the fridge... You get the idea. 2) The Hamachi is always good here... and they always give you nice thick long slices of them... Yum! 3) Get the ice cream to cap the meal! They use Dave's Ice Creams. Flavors I recommend: Azuki bean, green tea, Kona coffee, and macadamia nut. 4) Make compliments about the food if they're good, the sushi chefs like that. 5) If I'm drinking, I prefer the Asahi beer.

    (5)

  • EK B.

    Great sushi place for out of town guests to take in the local flavor and delicious foods. Guests always seem to enjoy spotting their favorite celebrities on the wall. Whenever I bring family from Japan here they always point out the Japanese celebs on the walls that I would otherwise have no idea who they are. Parking is cramped so they always insist on valet parking your car which isn't bad. Once again, the go to spot for great sushi for me.

    (4)

  • Joshua C.

    The "Old Reliable" place to get sushi or Japanese food. I've never had a bad meal here, but have had better. Love the traditional decor...especially the little private rooms....feels like a Matrix movie set....could do without the wall-to-wall-famous-people-ate-here-pics (yes, of course I'm just jealous). Combos are always good choices or get the omakase if you like sushi, but can't seem to decide. I'd eat here rather than Gyotaku (Yes, knocking it again) or other such mediocre Japanese restaurants, but if given the choice would be at Sushi Izakaya Gaku yelp.com/biz/sushi-izaka…

    (3)

  • Melissa P.

    It's 10:00 pm on a Friday night. Why not head toward Yanagi. Parking is limited and sometimes the wait may be long, but it is worth while for the late night specials. If you are looking for a good size portion of unagi and fresh salmon come here.

    (4)

  • erik w.

    ...bordering on 3.5 stars. Been to Yanagi enough times now that I can honestly say that the Sushi is hit and miss. Last few times more so on the miss side... bummer, because I decided to take visiting family out for sushi, after raving about how great sushi can be in Honolulu, and I felt that there was nothing great about any of the fish we had. Everything was fine, except, a few if the cuts looked messy- salmon looked like we got some scrap pieces, and nothing stood out as great. Don't bother w/ valet - there's usually street parking nearby. I

    (3)

  • Kam Kel B.

    Awesome food. Great specials after 10:30pm parking sucks cause it's "valet" but after a certain time the valet boys come around & ask if any of the keys in their hand are yours & when you tell them which one is yours, they stand there waiting for tip when they never even bring your car to you or open your door! It's best if you can find street parking! I really don't mind to valet, but if that's the case, don't close your services before the restaurant is closed... RUDE! Other than that, food is very good!

    (4)

  • Andrew E.

    1 star because cant go any lower. 2 of our parties food came after everyone else was finished eating when we asked to see the manager we were told she is to busy finally one of our party (the youngest he was the most upset his food came last) went up to talk to the manager the manager treated him like crap telling him he only wanted a free meal when that wasn't the case at all. talk about discrimination of age. we finally got the manager to our table and she was arrogant and refused to apologize until we shut down any excuse she had then she became apologetic and offered to comp our food but thats not what we wanted we wanted a solution and for her to realize she cant treat people like crap and get away with it. From a pleasant evening it turned out into a nightmare we paid for our meal and left very dissatisfied the food was mediocre at most the uni tasted funny and the fish was mushy

    (1)

  • mike d.

    great local spot. sushi was excellent and thought it was reasonably priced considering the prices we may on the West coast. The Unagi Platter was awesome, the butter fish was the best.

    (5)

  • Kamesuke Y.

    Haven't been here as often as we'd like to but everytime it has been a heart warming and tummy filling experience. Yes, it was full of hungry and happy patrons as usual and luckily we got seated at the counter. OG.. their Tamago is so delightfully sweet and savory. Shiro-mi, ika, toro.. were so well served and perpared. Everything we ordered we enjoyed and left satisfied! Sure it might be a bit crowded and noise for a few but.. the ambiance of such a popular and busy establishment and many return customers is simple to comprehend. The food is good! service was not shoddy at all oh well sitting at the counter you can't complain having a front row seat!

    (5)

  • Jame K.

    sushi, Sashimi, Green tea Ice cream. Yes this place will do you good! Sahimi deluxe plate and a chirashi and a pitcher of beer. will hit the spot. So fresh and good! I Love this place...

    (5)

  • JoAnna G.

    Miso butterfish!! Sooo freaking good! Spider roll was rockin and came out pretty quick. Good service. Not a lot of parking but good for town. Coffee ice cream at the end was perfect! Heard the green tea ice cream was refreshing too!

    (4)

  • Jesse R.

    We sat at the sushi bar, very cozy place. We had dragon roll, volcano roll, poki, unagi, lobster tail, and lobster miso soup. We really enjoyed ourselves. We're definitly going back soon.

    (4)

  • John B.

    Arrived today at 1:17pm, just in time for my wife and I and two teenage daughters to enjoy lunch. We were promptly seated by a no-nonsense hostess, and the beverage server was quick to take our drink orders. Our daughters needed lots of extra time to review and digest everything on the lunch menu, but our waiter was very patient and allowed us all the time we needed to make our decisions. Sushi rolls, udon miso, short ribs, green tea ice cream, kona coffee ice cream, and a pitcher of Kirin later, we were pleasantly stuffed...nothing but crumbs left on our plates. Everything was served fresh and fast, and our waiter was a really nice guy about us staying and leaving after they had already closed for lunch. We'd definitely eat here again when we next have the taste for sushi.

    (5)

  • Pierre L.

    I've been waiting to come to this Yanagi Sushi for a long time. Last time I came to Hawaii I came in and walked out because there were no tables available. On the wall there are many pictures of celebrities which reminded me of Benihana that I used to go to. The restaurant has an old feel. For some reason keeps on reminding me of Karate Kid. Is that racist? I ordered several nigiri (saba, hamachi, and salmon) and a nabeyaki udon. The salmon nigiri was not too good. It felt dry and had a piece of seaweed that wrapped it which made it a no go. The other two pieces of sushi were average, I was expecting a lot more. The nabeyaki udon was very oily and again felt like I could have had better elsewhere. Probably am not going to come back again.

    (3)

  • Katlyn M.

    After my friend recommended this place, I called to make a reservation, and the woman over the phone was quite rude as if she didn't want to make the reservation for me. I didn't care that 8:45pm was the last reservation time available, but she didn't seem to like that. She ended up just telling us to come in without a reservation??? Whatever. When we got there, the ladies at the front weren't very nice as expected. However, our waiter was quite nice and recommended a sashimi combination for me that was a better deal than the special. They don't have a lot of different types of roles, just more traditional stuff and even some Korean dishes like Kalbi on there. I think the owners are Korean. It's the freshest sashimi I tasted and their saba was sooooo mouth watering good, probably the freshest I've tasted and not fishy whatsoever. I've been hooked on saba ever since, but very rarely find another place that has it as fresh. As far as decor, it looks like an old restaurant with cheesy pictures of the owners with movie stars from the 70's on the wall, lol. Anyway, my mouth is watering as I sit here thinking about their sashimi as I write this review from California *sigh*. I'd definitely go back again the next time I am there just for the food. As for the grumpy old ladies, I know how to throw back attitude.

    (4)

  • Jared K.

    Outstanding! Went to Yanagi on vacation with my fam (party of 9), and had a fabulous meal. Two of us vegetarians, several veteran sushi eaters accustomed to the best sushi from around the world (new york, la, san francisco, new zealand, tokyo) and every single person (including the 3 and 5 year olds) absolutely loved it. they put us in a traditional private room (which there seemed to be many, many of) that was great. not fancy, kinda kitschy even, but private and fun. the fish was (reported to be) outstanding. every single dish. the service was fast and helpful (they got one of our orders wrong that had 4 rolls in it, and they redid the whole thing in about 6 minutes and comped us all of it). the atmosphere was fun and inviting without being too loud or chaotic. all in all, really a great, low-key, affordable, fun sushi joint. bravo.

    (5)

  • Jonathan N.

    came here for the first time for a late nite snack and enjoyed every bite of sushi and especially the oyster shots. they have a special menu for late nites.

    (4)

  • Kelli G.

    I'm not a huge fan of Yanagi. It's ok, but I feel like there are other better sushi options in the same price range. I've never been to late night, but that would be a plus.

    (3)

  • John L.

    After everything I've heard about this place, all good btw, I left disappointed. The sushi rolls were so-so, pay less at Genki and get same quality. The butterfish was ok but too many bones. The BBQ beef was almost all fat. Way better places to eat on Oahu.

    (2)

  • JD S.

    Talk about rude. The hostess wouldn't even look up at us...no greeting. Totally did not feel welcomed at all. Must be nice to be able to turn business away in these hard times. I will never go here based on that alone. I refuse to spend my hard earned money on their elitist sushi snobby attitudes. Good luck getting good service people. Psh!

    (1)

  • Satoru Y.

    After all the hype, it's like sitting on a whoopie cushion. I've been passing this place for years, and I have never eaten here yet. There was a lot of build up going. I read all of the wonderful reviews on Yelp. More build up. Then, I finally have a meal there. Boo. Nothing that spectacular to be enthralled about. Determined to get a full spectrum of the restaurant I have always heard about, I ordered one of the Platters of Sushi, Uni Rolls, and a Spider Roll. The freshness of the rolls was seriously lacking. However, the Toro I had was simply delicious. The Uni wasn't as succulent as I expected. My girlfriend that I was sharing the sushi with agreed. The Spider Roll was pretty good though, and the sauce was a great touch. But then again, how can you go wrong with fried soft shell crab. I also ordered an Entree of Teriyaki Chicken and Tempura, which was just alright. The meal was a few hits and a few misses. I feel that Tokkuri-tei, or maybe even Sushi King, is better Yanagi. Yanagi is good, but nothing to live up to the hype I've heard.

    (3)

  • Ray G.

    Sat at the sushi bar. Food, service and ambiance were excellent but without alcohol the bill for two was over $220. This place is $$$$+

    (4)

  • Olivia D.

    This is one of my favorite late-night options when I'm out with the girls. Yanagi is another one of those Korean-owned Japanese restaurants, so it has many Korean influences in the food. Everyone has commented on the great sushi, but I love getting one of the combos with meat. The tonkastu, bulgogi, and teriyaki steak are great choices. The fish is always very fresh, and my friends love the poke. Don't order any noodle soups here or you will be disappointed. Late nights specials are available from 10:30 until 3am.

    (5)

  • Eiich O.

    long time to seat. food was good for price at happy hour

    (3)

  • John M.

    Horrible service. Older sushi chef is a real a-hole. Horrible service! Never will go back to this place. Many other great places to eat sushi in Honolulu. This is the worst.

    (1)

  • Mr Blix E.

    This is where my wife and I go for our "special" sushi nights. It's a little odd since it's a sushi place and the first person to greet you are the myriad of Korean hostess (I believe there's typically a triumvirate). That not withstanding, we enjoy eating here mainly due to the consistency of the food. It might be a little overpriced (heck, we live in Hawaii don't we? Gas AVERAGES $3+ here), but the flavors are typically fresh, and most definitely succulent. My wife and I normally opt for a combination platter of sushi that usually includes ahi of some sort, some roe and my favorite, UNI! My wifes main reason for coming here (aside from the charming company she keeps, yeah, that's right, me) is the DYNAMITE. Vass es dis dynamite you wonder? Well, it is a seafood concotion on a clam shell with mushrooms, onions, and minced clams in a wonderful slathering of what may be just Kewpie mayonnaise. Did I mention we were health nuts? Healthy stuff makes us nuts, anyway...One word to describe the Dynamite, AWESOME. As I said, the food is consistent, we've never had anything that's failed us miserably (although they did change up the Dynamite a little, no friends lost though, it's still AWESOME). The only thing that may have been inconsistent is the fact that out-of-the-blue they've required reservations on more than one occasion. Believe me, the triumvirate can be very scary sometimes. Anyway, if you're in the mood for some decent sushi in a cute little Japanese restaurant atmosphere where everybody looks like they should know your name (it's cozy) than Yanagi, most definitely is where you should roll to. - Hah, Roll, get it? Uh, anywho...

    (4)

  • Mia F.

    Good sushi but expensive...small dining area....usually pretty busy.

    (3)

  • Micah P.

    Good sushi a little bit on the pricey side but I'd recommend the omakase special for 32 bucks. You get 11 nigiri and 6 rolls plus miso soup. Not the best sushi I've had but definitely good and fresh. Unagi was excellent and the staff was friendly and attentive. I would definitely go back.

    (3)

  • Barbara F.

    Loved this place for years, then the bugs moved in....so sorry

    (2)

  • J C.

    Wow! This is great sushi. The service is awesome and they really do have innovative takes on sashimi and rolls. I always order toro at any sushi restaurant I go to. This is my barometer of how good a restaurant is. If the toro tastes good, chances are the restaurant knows what it is doing. Me: "Do you have toro tonite?" Waiter: "We have two toro tonite: one caught locally and one flown in from Japan" Me: "Wow...I'll take both" Now that is what I call a sushi restaurant. You've got mad skills if you can fly in toro from Japan. Although honestly, I loved both with the Hawaiian type actually outduelling the Japanese one. Just as impressive is their innovative rolls. The waiter recommended a seared Ahi with garlic. This was great! The combination of flavors really was divine! Another interesting dish was salmon sashimi over Maui onions with a ponzu sauce. I was thinking "Huh...onions with salmon...not sure" But man was I impressed. The salmon, and Maui onion "which is really quite delicate in taste" with the ponzu was awesome. They also have an impressive sake list. Nice variety. I was expecting to walk out with a $100/ a person bill. But was I shocked to see that it was half of this. Yanagi The place to go. We were so impressed with Yanagi's that we aren't sure if we would rather go to Alan Wong's or Yanagi's. That's a good peer group to be in.

    (5)

  • Emily F.

    My husband and I went there to try their late night menu. We were really happy with our meal! We ended up getting two rolls, spicy tuna and the toro roll (i forget the name and this one wasn't on the late night special). We also got the Nigiri Sushi / Zaru Soba combination platter. Oh, and an order of Gyozas. Oh and also the Ahi Poke :) (we were saving our appetite for our late night meal) Let's start from the beginning. They gave both of us a starter of a fried shrimp thing, a pickled bean sprouts salad and three edamame. We both finished all 3 items so they were pretty alright. Next we got the Ahi Poke and the Miso soup (that came with the combo). Now my husband loves poke and orders it everywhere. The tuna was so smooth. It was firm yet buttery, really great fish. The miso soup had great. Next we got our two rolls. The toro roll was fatty tuna with scallions and the spicy tuna was just good ol' spicy tuna both delcious (yes, i know, we got a lot of tuna) While we were eating our rolls, we got our Nigiri plate. I'll try my best to remember the fish it came with. I believe it was salmon, tuna, egg, that white firm thing (with the lines going the long way, i don't know what it is) and one other thing. We enjoyed them all. Salmon doesn't usually impress me much but the salmon here was real good. Oh, I forgot about the gyozas. They were good. Nothing special but they were fine. Then last we got the soba. It was a plate full of kinda cold wet buckwheat noodles served with a soy-mix sauce. We had never gotten soba before and probably wouldn't get it served that way again. We ate it but enjoyed our sushi a lot more. We also got a house sake and the a 20oz of kirin. Both wonderfully priced at around $5, can't beat that!! We are definitely planning on going back. Next time we're sitting at the sushi bar and trying everything. You can see their late night menu at: yanagisushi-hawaii.com/h…

    (5)

  • Joshua Y.

    Keeping this one short. We stumbled upon this place when our GPS found this to be one of the closest sushi houses as we were rollin' down Kapiolani. When we pulled up, we saw a crowd out front which I took as a good sign. The very polite valet asked me if we had a reservation, I said no, then he asked how many we had and I told him two. He ran inside, then returned and asked, sushi bar ok? We said sure and headed into the restaurant. I got the sushi Omakase (sans Uni) and was quite pleased with what I was presented ... large, but perfectly thin slices of fish so that you didn't feel like you were chewing a whole pack of gum. Everything was very fresh to me. My colleague ordered a few nigiri and rolls a la carte which were all tasty as well. I would definitely return to Yanagi and suggest you try it if you're looking for a different place to try. BTW - the Valet service was free and I saw the Yelp sticker in the window, so I knew it was definitely worth a try!

    (4)

  • Barry R.

    Great, fresh sushi at any hour. Try the abalone, hamachi and kama. Enjoy.

    (5)

  • dara L.

    sit at the sushi bar and order the omakase sushi...you won't be disappointed!! the fish is extremely fresh, and they do not skimp on the selection - at $35 i got 11 nigiri (everything from hamachi to salmon to tuna to uni to ikura to unagi ... you get the idea), 4 toro makis, and 4 california rolls w/ real crab! i was insanely stuffed added bonus: the pitchers of beer are very reasonably priced

    (4)

  • Eric B.

    I never wrote a review yet on this place? Maybe because I'm usually busy stuffing my fat face here to write a review. So, just go after 10:30PM. Like everyone else in Honolulu. It's too damn expensive before then. Why after 10:30PM? Because that's when they have their after-hours specials. You can get some great food for under $10 a plate. Like sushi. And seafood. And katsu. And it tastes pretty good. Plus, they're open late. Like until 2AM. We've all been to Zippy's, but sometimes, you need more. Your stomach deserves more. You deserve more. And sometimes Yanagi will give it to you. When they don't have a wait of over one hour for you to be seated. Because almost everyone else in Honolulu agrees, this the place to eat after hours. So you wait. For 20 minutes. Then 30 minutes. Then 45 minutes. Then an hour. And then you eat and you're happy. Or you give up and go to Zippy's. But I like the food here better than Zippy's. Plus, it's close to my apartment. And just park across the street. The parking lot is small and cramped. You'll thank me later.

    (5)

  • Chris F.

    To be honest, I don't think I've ever been disappointed by Yanagi Sushi. As far as the menu goes, this place is pretty standard Japanese fare but I'm always happy with the quality of the food I am served. The fish always seems to be above average in freshness and quality and the portions are fair. I can't speak to too many specific dishes since I enjoy it all but I love the Dynamite and their Volcano Roll. There's a small lot out front with valet available but street parking on Kapiolani or Cooke ought to be available as well.

    (5)

  • Andrea R.

    We went here with some friends of ours who frequented this place. You have to valet your car which we prefer not to do (not a problem if you're within walking distance which our friends are). The service was alright. They weren't that attentive and didn't come back to fill up water etc. The food itself was very good. We tried a lot of different things and liked them all especially the spicy salmon rolls. The atmosphere is pretty cool with pictures of famous visitors to the establishment all over the walls! Overall recommend giving it a try

    (4)

  • Little D.

    Used to visit here every month for Deluxe Chirashi $22.95 for Lunch. Pretty good deal if the quality is consistent. For me it is not consistent enough. I still come here maybe once a season. The recent visit was ok. Overall, I rate 3.5 for this place. Lunch set is a great deal, but when you come to sushi place, you want to have sushi, not cooked food, right? Valet parking: You need to give the key even when you see your car being parked in front of you. YELP 365 - 84/365

    (4)

  • Malia F.

    Everything was OK. You get quite a bit for your money, if you order the dinner specials, but don't expect everything to taste great... just lots of food. The most hilarious part is that they have valet parking, a literally the guy parks your car right where you stop it; perhaps it is necessary for the busy times. The shrimp tempura looks like a tempura bullet! Won't be back, so many good places in HI.

    (3)

  • Leila K.

    Good quality sushi. I loved the hamachi!!!! I liked the uni as well, as it was fresh.

    (4)

  • Takashi H.

    "Voted the No. 1 sushi restaurant in Hawaii by many celebrities." -- Yanagi Sushi You don't have to be famous to experience the fresh fish and seafood at Yanagi Sushi, but who doesn't relish in the opportunity to dine among the stars? It takes a certain "it" factor to make it big in entertainment, and the same could be said about sushi restaurants in Hawaii, the land of many delectable options. After serving locals and visitors for nearly four decades, Yanagi Sushi has recently upped its sushi game to deliver fresher, tastier options. As a college student, I fondly remember my first days as a 'big kid' who graduated from sushi at a popular diner on the West Side to a hot spot with townie friends. Watch out, big man on campus! Joking aside, Yanagi Sushi's owner-chef Haruo Nakayama shows off his guilded training in Tokyo in the beautiful arrangements he puts together. Drop in for lunch if you feel like splurging and experiencing an escape from your typical work week lunch. Combination lunch options is a great way to make sure your guests will find what they're looking for. For those who are sushi-shy (is that even a saying?), misoyaki butterfish, katsu and other local favorites can be mixed and matched by two- or three-option combinations. Private rooms are available toward the back of the restaurant. You never know which famous athlete, actor or other loyal customer whose foot steps you will be following. One thing is for certain: you'll get a tasty meal which will have you coming back for more.

    (4)

  • Tab S.

    Basic Japanese food. Good for drinks or sake with friends. Open late. Good cuts of fish :) waiters are super slow and pretty unprofessional. We were eating around 9 pm which I guess must be their slow time ? And they were like breaking something down really loudly behind the wall next to us. And it took for ever to get our second round of sake. And the adzuki bean ice cream isn't as good as it sounds. Go for the coffee !

    (4)

  • Benhur B.

    Not just great late night Japanese eats served here but lunch too.. A little outdated compared to some other Japanese/Sushi spots popping up in the area. This establishment should always hit the spot though. Soo much on the menu to choose from. That's a good thing when you're hungry though right? Mix & match a combo w/a beer or wine. Sample their vast array of sushi. Or just order Katsudon (pic posted) and enjoy! Service & parking is ok. Prices are reasonable. Outcome is satisfying. Just don't write this place off for your Japanese food craving needs.

    (3)

  • Bj D.

    close to perfection in fresh fish, generously proportioned, properly presented, pricey, but a good value. 'yanagi sushi' has orchids in the entry, a welcoming staff, and traditional, cozy, warm ambiance with lots of wood. they graciously turned down the glaring spotlights, when asked. the 'hotate' scallop was outstanding, so sweet and fresh from the sea. the combo special dinner provides good variety, and each choice comes plated separately, followed by terrific mac-nut ice cream and complimentary hot tea. their tonkatsu and salmon are exemplary. our server Eric, was there at just the right times, with professional aplomb. it's a Yes! for exceeding expectations.

    (5)

  • Niccolo L.

    Hmm...conjuring the memories and tastes Yanagi has to offer! Had the pleasure of dining here on more than one occasion. Both at the bar with a skilled itamae directly in front of me wielding his Japanese steel, and at tables which put you at the mercy of your servers. The Good: The quality and variety of the menu is exceptional! Some of the best sushi I've had the pleasure of indulging on. The cuts are generous, the taste is glorious, the presentation is what you'd expect from a peerless sushi purveyor! I absolutely fell in love and am crushing on the salmon skin salad (I'm a known salad dodger too, but this one is amazing). Adored the Omakase sashimi! His choices varied from sweet shrimp, scallop, yellowtail, and other cuts which were all divine! The Hokkaido Uni was melt in your mouth heaven in a bite! Quite a difference in taste from the Santa Barbara variety of Uni which I became accustomed to enjoying in my old hometown. Shrimp tempura is crispy and delicious due to the panko they roll the shrimp in. Had various other sushi here as well and nothing fell short on taste and texture. The service is fantastic when you sit at the bar. Your itamae are friendly and true masters of their art! Sushi came swiftly as they prepped and dished them out to us! I highly recommend sitting at the bar if there is space to accommodate. The Bad: Service is great at the bar! Sitting at the tables on the other hand is another story. Now, I understand that when you're at a table with a larger party that sushi can come out slower. No problem! My issue is that when you're waiting to pay your $400+ check and you have to wait 15 mins to do so...that's a slight problem. The servers are frantically running down the aisles to get sushi from the bar, food from the kitchen, and drinks out to their tables. It's cool that you're busy, we know your challenges. Just know that we like having our empty beer bottles swapped out for some full ones, water glasses filled, and have some kind of attention every once in a while. The Ugly: Their parking lot is postage stamp tiny! You can valet or park on the street. If you're here late, they actually come inside with your keys to let you know that they're off for the night. I was lucky to have a $20 bill because I pay for everything with plastic. Didn't bother to break the bill because I come to this place on the regular and don't want my car thrashed when they see it again. A little bribery goes a long way sometimes especially when it comes to personal property and service! The price of admission is hefty, but what else would you expect from a top notch sushi joint! It's like going in to the Ferrari dealer next door(it really is a few doors away) wanting and driving a Ferrari and only wanting to pay Porsche prices. Not going to happen, but you get what you pay for! The Recap: Yanagi is an excellent sushi bar! A place that discerning sushi lovers will more than happily be satisfied in their cravings. The seafood is very fresh and delicious! Service at the bar is awesome! Table service is hit and miss! Parking is tough, but doesn't detract from what makes Yanagi special. Which is the food. They do it astoundingly well! Coming back again for a solid 4.5 star experience! (At the bar...) Aloha and mahalo for the read, Nicco

    (4)

  • W M.

    Yummy, fresh sushi with great happy hour prices (late night). Also, that time of night, there is rarely difficulty parking as you can find a spot right ouside on the street.

    (5)

  • Jou Y.

    My family comes to this place regularly. We are sushi lovers and we always leave feeling good, happy, and satisfied. The owners treat us like special guests and its great to have a place like that. Just to be clear yanagi is not one of those sushi nirvana type places and I think thats where some of the negative reviews are coming from. Its no Sushi Sasabune or Kona Kai. I've been to Kona Kai and Sasabune and its amazing, sushi just melts in your mouth, but in the end I leave hungry and broke. It's incredibly pricey. At yanagi you always get decent quality sushi, with great rolls, sashimi, great udon (hard to find) and you leave satisfied and not broke! Another thing about yanagi, the food aside from the sea food is whatever. The katsu is bleh and I think the combination bento's are whatever. Don't go there for the hot food (except the udon which is lovely and the fish). Your best bet at Yanagi is the sushi and all things seafood. Have the right expectations for what you are getting, order the sushi, and you won't be disappointed. FYI There are two main people who are in charge of the sushi, the Owner and the owners brother. One of the waitress explained to me, "The boss has bigger hand", the subject came up when we got the sushi delux $42. Sometimes the pieces were soo thick and sometimes they were really thin. The waitress explained that if the Bosss does it, its thick and if the assistant does it its thin. I've noticed Mondays and thursday and saturday are the best days to get teh delux platter, for some reason the Boss seems to do it more those days. Maybe just me but that is what I have noticed.

    (5)

  • Megan W.

    Sat at the sushi bar. The food and service was amazing!! We had a ton of different types of nigiri; aji, hamachi, and ahi was so delicious!! The sushi chefs were super cool and nice and our waitress was awesome!

    (5)

  • Juliann C.

    A place my boyfriend and I love to eat. It's a treat when we eat here at Yanagi's. We ate the Katsuo Tataki... OMG it was Beastly Delicious. I would recommend that to everyone. The server also said that this specific dish runs out all the time because everyone orders it. Luckily, it didn't run out on us! The buttermiso fish is also delicious. My BF always orders just the sashimi platter, oh, their tamago is soooo good. so simple, but so delicious.

    (4)

  • Tracey O.

    Decent late night special but nothing to write home about. I ordered the nigiri sushi and udon combo, which included 4 pieces of nigiri sushi (maguro, salmon, ika and tamago), 4 pieces of cucumber maki, and a mini udon. The service was good, and the beer was fairly cheap.

    (3)

  • Gladys F.

    LOVE LOVE LOVE their sashimi!!!!!! My boyfriend and I love coming here. Their salmon and onions DO NOT DISSAPOINT... The service is alright, not the best but you cant go wrong with the food here.

    (4)

  • Cy C.

    Happy Hour Review (Review based on experience of HH) HAPPY HOUR TIMES: Monday thourgh Saturday: 10:30 pm - 2:00 am DRINK SPECIALS: $5 Kirin Lager, $5 Large Sake, $10 Korean Soju, $3-$13 For Midnight Special FOOD SPECIALS: $5 Rolled Sushi, $10-$14 Combo Meals, Other Menu options This is one of the places I know I've been here before. Don't know when I did come here, but when I do go its 2 times in one week. Parking is the biggest issue if you come for Happy Hour. Good luck in parking in the lot. Usually for happy hour my focus is alchohol but seems like I go here for food. Don't get me wrong $5 Large Kirin is a pretty good deal. However the specials of food is what I'm happy about. I've been here twice and ordered the combo. $10 combo meal (Choice of 2 entrees, miso soup and salad) is a welcomed site. Yanagi Sushi is a ol time favorite. One of the places, sometimes you forget is there but happy you realized its still open. Obviously I must not be the only one because this place is always crowded.

    (4)

  • Monique G.

    Great sushi. When I 1st started going here I'd have to say I didn't like sushi after finding this place I love it. I love trying new things here and so far haven't been disappointed.

    (5)

  • Nicole S.

    Hands down great sushi! The fish is always fresh and of great quality. The service is good too with Young and Anna being my favorite waitresses. I recommend going for their happy hour, which is from 10:30-2am because the items on the happy hour menu are at even cheaper prices! I'm a regular here and this is definitely my go to sushi place. It is a must try!

    (5)

  • Rex C.

    Always a happy customer!!Fresh fish and great quality of food. I usually go during the happy hour times which is between 1030 pm till 2am.. The hamachi and uni is a must try..

    (5)

  • Stephanie M.

    Met my girlfriends here for dinner on Friday night and we were seated in the back area that's a little more private--which was great! We each ordered sushi and my dragon roll was the BEST one that I've ever had so far. Each piece was really thick and the unagi was fresh and delicious! We shared 2 pitchers of Kirin (yum) and had a great time catching up and reuniting. The servers were quick and friendly. I did order Tonkatsu to go, which was kind of expensive ($15) for the amount of food, but it held well until the next morning. I think the best way to eat here is to get a dinner special instead of ala carte items. With each dinner special you get salad, appetizer, miso soup, rice and dessert.

    (4)

  • Fred W.

    Love this restaurant for consistent great sushi at reasonable prices. The dynamite oysters are awesome if you like mayo like I do. Went there yesterday and went crazy with 2 other friends in ordering. Didn't care much for the $118 bottle of sake, but maybe I don't know good sake. The otoro was super good.

    (5)

  • Nicole C.

    I like Yanagi a lot more than the other places I've tried. The first time I came here was much, much better than the most recent time in every single way, however. The service the first time was decent. The service this time was bad. The male server who refilled our waters and took away dishes was obviously not paying attention and had a friend in the corner he was just chatting with when he wasn't serving. Every time I said, "Thank you" to him for refilling water, etc, he completely disregarded me. The main server was no better. She hardly checked up on us, ignored several attempts to call her over, and did not know which dishes we had yet to receive, coming over instead to ask us what we had not received. She just was not on top of it. Recommended dishes: Salmon skin salad - I really, really like this dish. I hate vegetables, but I'll eat this. The salad dressing is perfect! Seared Hawaiian Otoro nigiri - Something different from the usual. I'm a big fan of this even though they did more than sear it this time. Saba nigiri Sake nigiri Negitoro hand roll My suggestion: Go Monday-Thursday. It seems that the quality of the sushi, fish, and service are not good when they are busy, which makes sense but is not appreciated, considering that this isn't a cheap place.

    (4)

  • Clay Y.

    Great dinner. we had the combo dinner, fast service. reasonable $$ I know it will cost a pretty penny if you want to order the exotic sushi.. Can't wait to come back to try the happy hour specials.

    (4)

  • Rupert L.

    I tried this place out of nowhere two years ago. Parking was not that bad if you go around ten. I had the dinner combo which I already forgot. I do remember this place had good service. To be honest the portions were not ok for the price. I am a big eater after all.

    (3)

  • Julia O.

    I haven't been here in forever and the other night I was craving sushi but it was getting pretty late and not much was open. Thankfully Yanagi is open super late so I decided to get some take-out from here and it's better than I remember. Can I just say that the BUTTERFISH here is amazing? It is among the best I've had on the island. They also give a nice healthy piece for the ala carte portion. Oh and the rice they use for their the sushi is very nice and moist and great quality. That's all I had to say :).

    (4)

  • Angela K.

    Plenty of food. Wonderful. Always a pleasant time.I like this place for being "vegan' and going out for Japanese food. I'm sho-jin ryori though tough to accomodate in the USA so "vegan" The Sushi chefs make the best vegetable rolls, sushi, and enokis. The taste and texture is wonderful compared to all the other places I have tried natto rolls at on the island. And they improvise vegetable rolls well, without debate and with clean tastes. No added fishy flavors ... Great lunches here too for the hungry person who isn't vegan. One friend I brought here loved the dragon roll compared to other places he's eaten in California and Japan.

    (5)

  • Steve L.

    It was day #4 of our 10 day stay on Oahu, and yes, we have been eating pretty well. Big hearty breakfasts in the morning, snacking around mid-day, then some good local places for dinner. Good food, but we needed something different. After an afternoon of swimming in the hotel pool, and hanging out the at the beach, we were ready for dinner. Years ago, my buddy Jeff W. ( yelp.com/user_details?us… ) and his family introduced us to this place, we liked it then, and I thought it would be a good place to take my family and my folks. I remembered this place does get crowded, so I made reservations. Parking is pretty limited around the restaurant, but fortunately there is complementary valet parking. It may not initially seem so, but the restaurant is relatively large. There are lots of larger dining rooms, and smaller rooms with shoji partitions for privacy. We were seated in one of the smaller rooms, just enough for the six of us. The intent was that we would eat a little lighter that evening. After looking through the menu, there were a lot items that looked interesting, and we wanted to try as many as we could. So much for keeping it light: -Rainbow roll ( yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9… ): Very toro, hamachi, and sake. Almost buttery with each bite. -Spider Roll ( yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9… ): Warm, with the softshelled crab crispy with each bite -Volcano Roll ( yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9… ): A Reversed Calif. Roll with scallops, then baked altogether. Different, but very rich because of the mayo. -Broiled Salmon ( yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9… ): Also part of a platter. Teriyaki marinade, well broiled, and also not overdone. -Various Sushi: ikura, hamachi, tekka maki -Family Roll ( yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9… ): Salmon, Avocado, Cucumber & Crab Eggs, then topped with ikura. -Miso Butterfish ( yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9… ): ordered as part of bento, but we shared with the table. So good, the fish was moist and not dry. Miso and sake marinade were not over powering. Nice char on the edge. A favorite of the table. -Tempura ( yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9… ): Not greasy or soggy. Good! -Plain Udon: for the youngest Since we had three plates, it came with ice cream, so we let the kids eat them. Very friendly and prompt service. Our booth was right next to the bar, so I was able to get refills on my Sapporo very quickly. Like my Mom, we never order "just enough." Yes we ate very well, and we came out very full. We did have some leftover sushi, and we took it back to our hotel room's refrigerator (finished the next day!).

    (5)

  • Caryn W.

    HC and I went to Yanagi tonight to check out their late night specials. We were actually on our way to Sansei, but as I was looking at the Yelp app, I realized that we'd be just in time for the start of Yanagi's specials, so we decided to try there instead. It was actually HC's first time ever dining at the restaurant so he took a little bit of time to look at the regular menu. We eventually found the late night specials section and decided to order the following items: mini udon/nigiri combo, spicy tuna roll, fried gyoza, ahi poke, fried tako, and fried maguro. Out of those items, I enjoyed the sushi selections and fried tako the best. They looked like little octopi. Super cute! I didn't have my camera though...but I'm sure someone else has already posted up a pic. Service was good and we didn't have to wait long for any of our dishes. Everything was spread out and our table never seemed to crowded. However, the tables are extremely close together and you can hear people's conversations loud and clear. We kept our talking to a minimum and just focused on eating. I thought Yanagi was a welcome change to our late-night eatery choices. I can't believe that we didn't try it sooner. We're looking forward to going back again.

    (4)

  • Teresa L.

    So I was here a couple weeks ago for their late night specials. It was a friday night and the wait was about 5 minutes. It wasn't too crowded but I probably saw my server only 3 times throughout the meal. I would rate her service as borderline rude. If we had a question she did a really horrible job at explaining or answering. Later when our food came we asked for some hot tea but it never came. When we were done eating and wanted our check she asked us... "Do you want your tea now?" We told her that it was okay and we didn't want it now as we were pretty much done and ready to pay. I looked at my sister and we laughed at the fact that she would ask us if we wanted some hot tea now that we were finally done. The three stars is mostly for the service. Food on the other hand was great. My sister got the zagu soba and it took a while (which is expected). All the nigiri sushi was really nice and fresh. I got the Katsuo Tataki which I enjoyed also. The shrimp&vegetable tempura/chicken teriyaki combo was okay. I liked that their combo meals came with miso soup. They also gave us some edamame, bean sprouts, and fried shrimp as a mini-appetizer. I would describe the atmosphere at this restaurant more on the authentic japanese side. It's not like one of those genki sushi knock offs. Ultimately I would come only here if I was craving fresh sashimi after 10:30. Parking can be difficult if it's really busy. There's street parking along Kapiolani or near BMW.

    (3)

  • Casey O.

    Made reservations for 6, but they were more than willing to accommodate one more person, though we did come about an hour and a half before closing and they did rush us a bit near the end of our dinner...which...wasn't that cool. The parking here is pretty junk too, ended up parking a block away on a side street. The inside is reasonably Japanese, but definitely not as neat as you would expect, it looks like everyone is kind of just thrown around. The room we had however, was very nice and spacious enough for our party. Now onto the food! Ordered the Sushi Super Deluxe. Which had Ikura, Ama Ebi, Tamago, Uni, Unagi, Negitoro, Hamachi, and a couple others along with a fried shrimp. The appetizer plate was nice too, with Ebi, Edamame, and sprouts. The sushi and fish quality was decent, better than a cheaper sushi bar but definitely not on the same level as a place like Sushi ii or Izakaya Gaku. For around 30 bucks, I expected just a tiny bit more in terms of quality. Some pieces of fish were a little tough and I think they added a bit too much wasabi. The rice quality was good though. My favorite pieces are definitely the unagi, tamago and amaebi...sadly, these were somewhat forgettable. The Ama Ebi was a little slimey and oily...kinda gross. Will probably not be coming back here. I do remember when lots of people used to come here and like it...but I guess things have changed a bit, at least for me. I'll stick with the plethora of better sushi bars island wide.

    (2)

  • Audrey M.

    Oyster shots...OMG. Get them. So delicious. The ribeye was also really good. Tasty, juicy, and just yummy! Customer service wasn't excellent, but the food definitely was! Will be back :)

    (4)

  • Jenn G.

    PROS: --Best late night sushi I could find in Honolulu! --Beautiful, Japanese style atmosphere. --Good service. --I came for the sushi rolls. They're well portioned and made with top notch quality! CONS: --Tables, depending on which room they place you in, are placed a little too close to others' tables. --Unless you want the valet to park your car, street parking is a bitch. I can't wait to come back!

    (4)

  • Andrew D.

    Came highly recommended by a friend for their Sashimi. Definitely did not dissapoint. We started with a round of Uni Nigiri with Quail eggs, my favorite. They're like an explosion of flavor in your mouth and so rich. We followed that with two Sashimi Deluxe platters and two Chirasi Deluxe Boxes and a four hand rolls (Tuna, Fatty Tuna, Salmon, Eel). There were only five of us and we were going to order more but the waiter stopped us and said we already had a lot coming. He was right and we probably could have fed another person or two. All that came out to just under $200 before tax+tip which is super reasonable for sushi this good. We came back a second time with the Bride's family (visiting from Japan). I was a little worried it might not live up to the quality of sushi they're used to but they enjoyed it as well. This time we also tried the Karage (Fried Chicken) and Oyster Shooters and some of the sushi rolls. Everything was great, again. Don't forget desert!!! They serve Green Tea Ice Cream from a local shop called Dave's which was amazing.

    (5)

  • Lindbergh B.

    My gf & I came during late night happy hour this is what we ordered: Gyoza (A-ok) Salmon skin sushi roll (not good) Fried baby octopus (delicious) Fresh salmon w/ Maui onions (appetizing) This was our first experience eating here. The meal started great but towards the end, we decided to not continue due to the terrible service or lack of. We really had to get out of our seats and call our servers over to re-order more items! We left unsatisfied and a bad first time experience. The next time we do decide to come back, we will notify our servers to make sure they do their job, if they expect any tip. I will make it known! And for those patron, who have experience the same experience, make sure you complain to the manager or else nothing will change.

    (3)

  • Denise K.

    Disclaimer: I've only been here for late night happy hour. I really like this place cuz it's open late and their reverse happy hour is a great deal. I LOVE the salmon sashimi with sweet maui onions. The baby fried tako (octopus) is also a must order. I think both items are only $5. If you are going to eat here during normal dining hours, I'm not so sure this place would be 4 stars... the sushi looks pretty generic.

    (4)

  • Kazuo O.

    I simply can't leave four stars up there while I give the same to some of the better sushi alternatives in the area. Positives: Location great, food decent, maybe slightly elevated prices for what you're getting except for late night happy hour. Negatives: feels a little rushed sometimes. Not exactly fine dining

    (3)

  • Ellison U.

    Yanagi Sushi The only good thing about this place is they are open late! Quality of the sushi is ok, not great. Usually visit Yanagi Sushi after a night of bar hopping or if a friend was craving sushi late night. I like ordering for the combination sets menu... usually the chicken katsu & seared Ahi and side spicy Ahi maki. Meh. Okay so Yanagi Sushi is located right across BMW. Parking can be a hassle due to it's tiny lot right in front of the restaurant. Street parking is best but be aware of where you park because I had a friend's car towed once! Service was ok. Price was ok. Overall Meh. I'd eat there again.

    (3)

  • Yuko A.

    Ever since I can remember, I have been coming to Yanagi to eat sushi. My grandma knows the owner so we always sit at the counter and order what we like. The owners are the head sushi chef and his wife who is the main hostess. During my most recent visit with the family, we sat in a room since there were 7 of us. I ordered the sushi deluxe which came with amaebi, uni, ikura, tuna, mirugai, tamago, eel, and hamachi. I also got and an order of hotate (scallop) and anago. It was all very fresh and tasted great. I especially liked the uni and hotate. The service is usually spot on, especially when we sit at the counter but our waitress was only okay. She forgot our drinks, and I think she may have forgotten to order my sisters' sashimi entrees because they came out way later than everyone elses.. My mom ordered the fried baby octopus which was my first time eating them there, and they weren't bad. Not at all chewy like tako can sometimes be. We always get their ice cream and tonight was no different. (even though we were all pretty stuffed). I love their azuki, its not too sweet and is the perfect serving size. YELP 365: 059/365

    (5)

  • Raych D.

    I've been coming here for a few years now whenever me and my bf wanted good sushi but was to lazy to drive since his building (Imperial Plaza) was right across from Yanagi Sushi...and one good thing is that there open until 2am! Normally we ordered different types of sushi from the salmon, ahi, hamachi, uni and yanagi with rice. I love that they give us steamed peanuts and/or soybeans as appetizers and wet towelettes to wipe our hands when were done eating. I just recently came here last night on VALENTINE'S DAY to grab a quick sushi dinner and take some sake shots before going to the BABYFACE concert...and I was sooo happy that they could take us in on Valentine's day WITHOUT reservations!! We ended up sitting in the back sushi bar so it was a little more of a casual experience. We ordered a sake bottle which was really good and smooth and it was only $14!! And we ordered a couple pieces of Hamachi sushi...there sushi is so fresh and soooo yummy and its handmade from OG experienced sushi chefs. Just wish they would cut the slices a little thicker tho hehe ;P I took one star off if it wasn't for there small parking lot and tight small tables, it makes me feel a little claustrophobic in there. And this place can get busy so the wait is usually awhile especially after 7pm.

    (4)

  • Claire M.

    Since I've seen a lot of people raving about this place, I thought I'd give it a try since I love sushi! When we got there, I noticed that it's a very busy restaurant and parking is limited. You do have the option of parking on the street when it's available. My friends and I went around Happy Hour time, 10:30 PM - 2:00 AM. The menu had a good selection of sushi and they had a variety of custom made rolls. I ordered their uni, oyster shot, and grilled oyster. My overall was that the uni was not as fresh as I had hoped for, maybe I got a bad one. The oyster shot was delicious and refreshing, however the baked/grilled oyster that I had ordered barely had an oyster. It was drenched with the mayo sauce on top. I've also tried their spicy ahi and I've had better. My overall favorite dish would be the oyster shot, you can' t go wrong with it.

    (3)

  • Matt C.

    We all know the price of fish isn't cheap but Yanagi sushi provides customers with good quality fish for a decent price. My girlfriend and I came here multiple times and with each visit we tried different dishes. The best time to show up is during happy hour which starts at 10:30pm (not including sundays). They serve all sorts of pupus which is a plus because my gf cannot consume alot of food. After work I usually get the late night special. I tried most of them but I prefer the chicken katsu/ahi teri combo. For pupus we usually order the fresh salmon with maui onion with tobiko on top, spicy tuna roll, fried baby tako, and shrimp ball with hot sauce.For all the sushi lovers I recommend on your first visit to get the super sushi deluxe which includes spicy ahi and cali rolls with assorted nigiri sushi (ahi,salmon,unagi hamachi). They also had 2 gunkan (uni and ikura). I tried uni here for the first time and I was surprised how good it is. The only downside to this place is when they seat me in rooms with other customers,the room is small and the seats are close to each other. At times customers can be loud and it ruins my time with my date. Request a booth to prevent this. My bill usually ranges from $30-$80 depending on what we get. If your wallet isn't heavy then I suggest the late night specials with pupus. Overall I am satisfied with each visit and I frequently come here after work. 4 stars for being a fan.

    (4)

  • Joshua Q.

    Excellent food, especially the sushi. Everything was fresh, well prepared, and well presented. The staff wasn't particularly outgoing, but they were efficient and professional. Make Reservations, it can be very busy and they seem to just turn you away if you don't have reservations. There are plenty of vegan options and my daughter found options that were small for children.

    (4)

  • Helen C.

    Maui onion salmon and fried baby tako seem to be the two items that stand out in all these reviews. I was completely prepared to order both but doi, I forgot about the tako. There's a reason the Maui onion salmon keeps getting mentioned though...it was flippin good. It led a good start to dinner, but everything after fell less than stellar. My friend and I ordered a two choice combo with sashimi and nigiri + rolls ($21.95). There were so many options to choose from. The combo seemed like the best deal. You get salad, miso soup, rice, and ice cream with it. I was not feeling the sashimi though. Their tuna was especially blah. Salmon was again my favorite, followed by tamago. My boyfriend got the two choice combo with broiled salmon and shrimp tempura. The portions were tiny and left him still hungry at the end (and he's not that big of an eater, either). Between 3 people, our bill was already at $100...didn't want to splurge more. Green tea ice cream tasted like ice cream...but not green tea... Valet is available is you come at peak hours. All it costs is whatever tip you want to give. If I come back, it would definitely have to be during happy hour. I don't think I could justify spending what I spent for the food that I ate. It was average. I'll be sure to order the fried baby tako though!

    (3)

  • Jenifer G.

    I'm sorry but I really don't ever want to be invited to this place again. I've been here YEARS ago and went again recently, and now remember why I never come here. The service is horrendous and the food is so bleh. The sushi was not memorable and it really perplexes me as to why people think they have good sushi. NO NO NO. We were so sad we were even looking at the sushi chefs and asking ourselves, "Where's Sushi Masa?" The mama-sans eye you when you first walk in (mama-sans not in the Japanese sense), and we were not even thanked for our patronage after spending a grip of money. I pray I never have to walk in here ever again. Sorry if I sound so bitter but hey, that's the taste it left in my mouth other than their disappointingly sad food.

    (1)

  • Melissa K.

    I've been back to Yanagi a handful of times since my last review and I'm still not impressed. I really don't understand why people seem to love Yanagi so much. The ambiance is indeed very nice and I do like the back room because it feels like you're in Japan. But the food itself and the service is so-so. Yes, the food of a higher quality than Genki Sushi, but I'm still not impressed, especially at these prices. I understand that this is a Japanese restaurant but it seems like everything is super tiny-- as if they went to the supplier and asked for quality that was just "ok." The food here is adequate but definitely not outstanding.

    (3)

  • Cindy T.

    The three of us walked over to check out Yanagi Sushi tonight. We are sushi lovers, and we were not disappointed. We did not have a reservation on a Friday night, so the sushi bar was fine with us. Double thumbs up for the fantastic toro (fatty tuna) from spouse, excellent salmon skin roll and seaweed salad from me, and teenage son ate like crazy and loved it all. The three stars is for the service. Our chef served us well; the waitstaff kept our drinks filled, but we had trouble getting what we ordered from the kitchen. We did not receive one dish we ordered (the chef told the waitstaff what to get when we ordered it and they basically ignored him) and another dish showed up shortly after we reminded the staff. After reading the other reviews, I agree that the wait staff is not the best. If it is a kitchen thing, they need to notify the patrons of the delay at least. We will go back, hoping to up the rating next time...and remembering to make a reservation!

    (3)

  • Matt H.

    Always top shelf! Dinner was great, sushi awesome. I ordered 3 choice teishoku, shrimp tempura, nitsuke and miso butterfish plus 1 one order spider roll deluxe and one order Philly roll. The wifey had 3 choice as well and house salad. Nothing bad to say about this place!

    (5)

  • Tina S.

    Truly AMAZING. Get the Omakase Chef's Choice, sit at the counter and be amazed. This was one of my best meals in Hawaii. Everything was fresh and delicious, and I was able to try some things that I have never tried before. I was able to sit at the counter right in front of the chef, so it was very nice to see his skills in action. I still don't even know what all the dishes were called! I had to be daring, adventurous even, to try some of the dishes, but I took it like a champ and ate everything handed to me. If you've never tried sea urchin, or have but did not like it, try it here and you will LOVE it!!! My favorite fish is anything white or anything tuna, and I was pleased to try several different kinds of tuna.

    (5)

  • Kelly H.

    I cannot believe I haven't been to this place before...It.Is.Soo.GOOD! I came here for the first time a coupe weeks with my sister and have already been back three times since, haha....yes yes I am an addict now. So far I've tried the Salmon Sashimi with Maui Onions, Ahi Tataki, Spicy Ahi Tsunami, Spicy Tuna Roll, and the Salmon off the HH menu. Every person who orders gets the sides, SCORE. The sides include a small portion of bean sprouts, soy beans, and a shrimp (eww, never too fond of shrimp because their beady eyes just LOOK at you). Nevertheless, if you enjoy shrimp this is a great little bonus. My favorite dishes are the Salmon Sashimi with Maui Onions and the Spicy Ahi Tsunami. The Salmon Sashimi w MO was orgasmic because of the quality of the fish. The fish was definitely smooth, not stringy or super FISHY, and tasted like FOB!!! It was definitely not the highest quality I have had before, but it was super quality considering the reasonable price of around $14 and came with about 10 pieces!! My second favorite menu item is the Spicy Ahi Tsunami. This dish was around $7 and came with a huge DOLLOP of spicy ahi and several pieces of nori to wrap the ahi in. For those of you who are weird like me/not a true asian because you eat NO RICE AT ALL, this was super bombskies. However, for those of you who LOVE rice, you would probably also enjoy this dish as my sister is a normal asian and she enjoyed it. The service was excellent and the HH menu is super deals and runs from 10:30-2:00am. However, the reason why Yanagi gets four stars and not five is because of the parking and waiting sitch. I have always gone to Yanagi during dinner or HH times around 7pm, 1030pm, and 1230am and there was always a wait. Also the parking is scare, however, we always managed to find parking down a sketchy ally two streets past the restaurant. Overall, I love this restaurant and will continue to come back regardless of the parking and waiting sitch...It is definitely a great/tasty alternative to zippys when you have the munchies nom nom nom

    (4)

  • Zar A.

    I have only come here for for the fresh sashimi!!! One plate of Yanagi's sashimi deluxe order and I'm satisfied! Fresh sashimi, the only way to eat it! Yumm! My only thing with Yanagi's is the parking situation here. There is very limited parking! And whole valet deal is kind of weird.

    (4)

  • Chie F.

    If you're really hungry during lunch time, go to Yanagi! I always get the 2 combination (pick 2 main dishes from their list) meal for $16.95. There is a 3 choice combo too but 2 definitely fill you up! With this combo, you get salad, Japanese pickled vegetables, the 2 main dishes, and your choice of assorted flavored ice cream (I always get the Coffee ice cream!) The tempura is so good! The Shrimp tempura is good, but the fish tempura is definitely something different! It's a huge piece of fish! Try the lunch if you havent!

    (5)

  • oliver k.

    Great late night spot to go to after work, good selections on the late night menu, combo L is my favorite chicken katsu / Ahi combo, all for like 10 bucks, and pitchers of kirin hit the spot!!!

    (4)

  • Marc T.

    Pro Tip from my Hawaiian bros Ryan and Ian: Go for Happy Hour They had a good deal for beers but I already had a few in my system and Peter was feeling sick. We picked up Janette (night flight) and went straight here. Very unassuming place as it next to luxury car dealership. I spent under 20 bucks for the following: Tuna Poke - huge chunks of fresh tuna, this is more of a cleaner poke in the sense that there isnt sauce and it is mainly focused around wakame and tuna. This was a good welcome meal and intro to poke (we had a goal to eat poke every day). This was good and better than most of the poke here on the mainland, but given what we had in hawaii, I would rate this as OK. Maui Onion Salmon - get this... freaking insane... a nice light maui onion shoyu sauce, fresh salmon all on a bed of maui onions. Probably one of the most delicious salmon appetizer I have ever had. I would recommend just ordering this repeatedly. Salmon Skin Salad - I honestly thought this would be crispy. However, I did like their use of daikon sprouts and their dressing was very refreshing. I think that I should honestly stop ordering salmon skin salad because I always expect it to be crispy skin. Price point was great for happy hour, and they give you a good amount of food for the price. This fed 3 people and we went home satisfied. All in all the food was decent, though that salmon was nuts. Get that at the least.

    (3)

  • Doris D.

    I think this is a good lunch place with a combination plate menu. Their freebies include a smattering of pickled cabbage and ginger, bean sprouts, edamame, and a shrimp. The menu was fairly extensive so there is something for everyone. I got the sushi deluxe ($23) because I wanted to try their fish and I love nirigi. The deluxe came with tamago, ikura, white fish, salmon, unagi, uni, maguro, slightly more fatty maguro (but not quite o-toro), hamachi with shiso leaf. The fish was fresh and I particularly liked the fatty maguro and hamachi. The unagi was quite meaty. I didn't care for the white fish (it could have been snapper) and salmon (ok but not fatty enough). The uni was a good batch but I've had far better. I noticed that they put a fair amount of wasabi in the nigiri per their style so you might want to ask for less if you're not into wasabi. My husband got the 2 option combination with saba and tempura, which comes with dessert (1 scoop ice cream), rice, and a small salad. He liked it. My mother in law had the tempura udon which she enjoyed. Service was friendly and prompt and we had our tea refilled a few times which was nice. The place seems crowded for the lunch hour and I'd recommend reservations to secure a table if you are on a schedule.

    (4)

  • Alysha K.

    Yanagi sushi never lets me down. Fish is always fresh and prices are average. If you don't know what to order, the sushi super deluxe is a go-to. It includes 10 pieces of nigiri (including uni - my fav!), plus tobiko california roll maki, and spicy ahi maki. I usually like sitting at the bar and ordering from the sushi chef. Sometimes he makes you "special" things if you tell him what you like. They often have a lot of fish fresh from Japan and the mainland. There are so many sushi restaurant competitors out there, but Yanagi Sushi is consistently satisfactory. If you need a quick, good quality, reasonable sushi fix, this is the place to go!

    (4)

  • kyyyy Y.

    Usually my experience here is always pleasant, however, this last time was a disappointment...I ordered the sushi omakase, but was told that there wasn't any uni that day, so I asked what was going to be served in place of it, the server seemed unsure so I suggested otoro, which the server agreed.., so when I get my platter, I notice a few things, first the otoro looked awesome, second, the sushi rolls were maguro instead of the normal negi toro that they serve with the omakase...at this point, I thought they mistakenly have me the sushi "super deluxe" which is about 7 bucks cheaper... The servers noticed the mistake as well and went to tell the sushi chef (the one that looks like a hapa version of frank delima) That the order was wrong.... He then tells them "no more negi toro today" wtf?! I pretty much got the sushi super deluxe at the omakase price.... In fact, my platter looked exactly like the picture in the menu describing the super deluxe! In fact I was shorted one piece as well! Even the server felt bad and but couldn't do anything.... I basically got less than what I would normally get with the exception if the toro, which was nicer than usual.... Again, the food is always pretty consistent and delicious, I just felt ripped off that day.....i do think that the frank delima look a like sushi chef was having a bad day and was getting very busy at the time of our order...maybe that was to blame, I do know that the main Japanese chef wasn't there that day....

    (2)

  • Jenn L.

    I came here during a vacation and was jones-ing for some sushi. The staff were friendly and the sushi was fresh and delicious. Parking is definitely an issue; the night we went there was an event at the BMW dealership across the street but somehow we lucked out with street parking. The menu was a bit pricey but probably no less expensive than most sushi joints in the Honolulu area. All in all a good experience.

    (4)

  • Tupu S.

    I came here a couple weeks ago with my cousin after a late night of volleyball practice. At 10pm, I'm not looking for an expensive complete meal; rather I am looking for an appetizer or something of that sort. I ordered the spicy ahi roll and the chicken katsu off the late menu. Whhhat?! SUPER filling and SUPER good food! Just at the right price. $10 + tax was my total and I left a happy camper! There are lot's of options to choose from on the late menu and each is good and easy on your wallet! The wait staff are friendly too!

    (4)

  • Brett S.

    When I come here its for late night sushi. Its open pretty late... 2 AM I think and they have late night specials that I'm usually too drunk to remember. I also get the hot saki which is awesome. Every time I've been here there has been a drunk customer outburst, one of them being my girlfriend, but the staff is able to diffuse the situation quickly. There's usually a line outside so be prepared to wait 20-30 min if you go on the weekend.

    (4)

  • Norman L.

    This review is for the late night happy hour only. Starts after 10:30 where the prices become very low. I just finished a long day of post-work workouts so this was my first meal since lunch and was very hungry. We tried to hit up a couple bars known for food at first but it was super crowded so we decided to eat at a place with food that served liquor. My friend suggested here and that's where we obviously ended up. To start, 22 oz. Kirins for five dollars is always a winner. California roll, salmon skin roll and spicy tuna roll - These were the three sushi rolls on the happy hour menu. These were pretty good and well worth the $5 price. The salmon with sweet onions is one of my friends' favorite dishes and we ordered two dishes. Came with about 6-7 salmon slices over a bed of sweet onions and ponzu and whatever else they put in it. A very good dish. The sweet onions make this dish great. Also got the katsuo tataki which used aku and very similar flavoring with the salmon and was just as good. Got the salmon skin roll which was pretty good with a nice sweet and salty taste. The best dish was actually the Hamachi kama that unfortunately was NOT on the happy hour menu. The hamachi collar was fresh and cooked perfectly, with a crispy exterior and soft buttery interior. The bill for four came out to $100 and most of us were satisfied. I say most because after running, tennis, AND basketball right after work, I was simply too hungry and given that the food ordered was so clean, it simply didn't fill me up enough. It's a good thing though. Healthy eating and I avoided overeating. The service was a bit slow at first, but once we ordered, they were very diligent and friendly. We were checked on at a good pace and even helped us seat a latecomer quickly. Great service. I definitely will be coming back for happy hour specials. I will probably try the regular menu one day for dinner, but for now, the happy hour is too great a deal to pass on.

    (5)

  • Jenn T.

    This place has some awesome sushi. They have a great happy hour, which gets really crowded, so go early. They have a wide variety of dishes, with some of my favs being the sushi rolls, the udon, the tororo soba! The service here has always been great and fast. The downside is that it's kind of expensive here, but the happy hour prices are definitely a good bargin.

    (4)

  • Sarah B.

    I am perplexed by the good reviews for this place. Most of the sushi was mediocre at best, and I had a piece of uni nigiri that I almost gagged on -- there was something very, very wrong with it, not that vinegary taste you usually get with too-old uni but rather an undertone of... garbage? Really terrible. I spent the next 24 hours worrying I was going to get food poisoning. We will not be returning. For whatever it's worth, the salmon nigiri and the other piece of uni were both pretty good. The rest of the fish was not fresh, including the ankimo, which was bland and muddy -- a big disappointment. The service was so insanely fast that it was clear all the sushi had been cut and assembled in advance and had been sitting on plates for a while. All of the sushi was also very poorly assembled -- the nori was peeling off and falling apart, and several of the pieces were stuck to one another and had to be torn apart. My quest for a good cheap sushi place in Honolulu continues. I don't understand how the expensive sushi in this city can be so incredibly good and the cheap sushi so incredibly bad.

    (1)

  • Darren N.

    Parking: They have a small lot out front. Surprisingly have a valet section as well. Though given the space, it's probably better to walk. Ambiance: Local style Japanese decor and rather small establishment as the seating is packed with little walking room but the seating is comfortable and the establishment is clean. Service: Polite and fast service and they accommodated us quickly despite not calling in for a reservation. They're also open very late. Food: Despite the name of the restaurant, I didn't feel that their sushi was the star of the show. Some of the dishes our party sampled were the family roll, spicy hamachi roll, and a crab roll. These non-traditional dishes were stellar. On the other hand, the small roe they served (not sure which type, similar to tobiko), was good but the nori was stuck together making it difficult to eat. Small things like that affect the dining experience (or maybe I've just gotten critical in this modern foodie culture). Overall the prices were fair for the food that we got. They have a large menu and include many cooked dishes to choose from. Verdict & Takeaway: Maybe they just had an off day. 3 stars for the good service and good rolls. To judge this place fairly and totally, I'd have to try their other cooked dishes.

    (3)

  • Linda C.

    So...I'm in Hawaii. The very first thing I do is yell: "I HONGRYYYYY!!!!!" Then, we rush over to Yanagi because my friend thinks I'm going to mistake her for a big juicy piece of salmon. --- AHHHH ---- Salvation! Yanagi is absolutely delectable and is a great place to visit to get your sushi fix. The ingredients are fresh and is comparable with restaurants in Japan. The fish is amazing. The menu is pretty big and they are open until 2 am! I think happy hour starts around 10:30 pm. Maui Onion & Salmon - I have to say that this was my absolute, absolute favorite. The maui onion has such a delicate, fresh, crisp taste and it did not overpower the salmon sashimi at all. The cuts were thick and fresh - no slime! I could not stop eating the onion after the Salmon was devoured. For $11 its actually a pretty big portion! LOVE. Omakase Sashimi - abalone, uni, squid, toro, hamachi, tamago, sea snail. I was IMPRESSED by this omakase as you don't really see all these ingredients usually especially the abalone, sea snail, and uni. Out of the plate, I have to say that I enjoyed the toro and the uni the most. The Toro was so buttery and sweet and the cut was thick - almost like eating a steak! :) The Uni was also out of this world! No bitter taste, melt-in-your-mouth good. By far one of the best uni I have ever consumed. However, I really did not care for the sea snail and was a bit upset that one of the two pieces included was inedible. Ikura Oroshi - always a favorite and this time was no exception. The Ikura was huge and juicy and had a nice little salty taste against the daikon which balanced it out well. The portion was big! Kaki Nigiri - Oh how I love my oysters! Fabulous! Not too much rice and not overly slimy. The oyster was definitely fresh, but I thought it was a bit expensive. However, I don't regret ordering this at all! The only sad point is that this place is kind of expensive to make it a regular joint. That being said, I'm looking forward to trying the Happy Hour. All in all, definitely worth it's rating and the money!

    (4)

  • Marisa A.

    We LOVE this place. Not only is it right across the street from where I work, but it's conveniently located. We went there on a wednesday night. I thought they were going to be busy, but they were suprisingly slow. That is, until after we sat down. We must've beat the crowd. As soon as they seat us, they ask us for our drink order. My boyfriend ordered a Asahi bottle. They bring the appetizers. Some soy beans, moyashi(bean sprouts), and a fried shrimp. My daughter devoured the soy beans, so we ordered a side order of it, and it was on the house. The customer service is terrific. They are on top of things. We ordered...I had the combo...tonkatsu and shrimp/vegetable tempura. My boyfriend ordered some hamachi sashimi, and some sushi . My salad came, then the miso soup which I gave to my daughter. The tonkatsu was out of this world...perfect. They used a thick cut to make the tonkatsu, it was perfectly cooked. The shrimp/vegetable tempura was cooked to perfection. Very authentic Japanese food. If you get the combo dinner it comes with miso soup, salad, dinner, tsuekemono and dessert. For dessert my daughter had the macadamia nut ice cream. She loved it. Our dinner came out to $100. Not bad since my bf had 2 beers. I would definitely recommend this to kamaaina and tourist. When people hear Yanagi they automatically think expensive, but when you compare it to other Japanese restaurants, they're very competitive. A great place for families, couples and groups.

    (5)

  • Amanda G.

    This restaurant was recommended to us by a friend who works on the industry, He raved about it, and told us this was where all the area chefs ate. We had dinner here on our last night in Hawaii. They were slammed when we go got there, but we only waited a few minutes for a table. The misoyaki black cod was fantastic, the sashimi was incredibly fresh, and cut really well. You could definitely tell the sushi chef knew what he was doing. Prices were surprisingly reasonable, and service was great. My husband's non-fish dishes weren't as good as at some other places we had been, but they were still good. I would recommend this place, and would return.

    (4)

  • Ninja N.

    ok

    (3)

  • JC C.

    One of the few Japanese restaurants where you feel completely full after a meal. Generous portions, good food, fresh sushi/sashimi, great selection, and very fair prices. The only negatives are those cramped seats and very close tables and parking.

    (5)

  • Ria K.

    Can I say loooove?! Where else can you get reasonably priced, quality sushi in the wee hours of the super early morning? I recommend the volcano roll (California roll with mini scallops on top).

    (4)

  • Shannon C.

    Always good, but sometimes they run out of hamachi kama. Their food is consistantly good. I have never been disappointed. I've been coming here for over 10 years now and plan to keep coming!

    (5)

  • Derek N.

    To Yanagi Sushi. My star, my perfect silence. I can't believe I haven't written a recent update to this place! This place is my go-to place for late night eats! My most recent visit was on a Friday night and there was a definite wait. However, I was alone, and I had the option to be immediately seated at the bar, which I took! Yay for no wait on a busy night! I always get the F combo, always. The chicken katsu is really good; my friend Erik says it's the best in the state. I'm inclined to agree, as long as we're talking about normal katsuretsu and not, like, Kimukatsu. The Teriyaki Beef is delicious; tender fatty pieces and range from rare-medium, which I like! Your F combo not only comes with these awesome things, but rice, miso soup, and a "salad." Sometimes when I'm hungry, I get a spicy tuna roll, a salmon skin roll, or the fresh salmon with onion. If they haven't run out of it, the katsuo tataki is another good side, especially if you like ponzu sauce as I do. This visit I got the spicy tuna roll and because I was at the bar, I got it that much quicker! Perfect nights like this are why Yanagi Sushi is my go-to spot for late night eats.

    (5)

  • Edge N.

    I haven't been here in awhile. Nothing has really changed inside or out. I don't remember the valet parking with such a disclaimer. I don't like the clause of not being liable for missing items from your vehicule when the valet already has your keys and could basically do as he/she wishes. It also states not being responsible for anything happening to your vehicule. So the valet could ram your vehicule into a tree and not be responsible? Or run another car into your car? Anyways I know I would rather go someplace else than take the risk of leaving my car with the valet. (Not anything against the valets just the policy seems like a big risk only on our part) Okay now to the food. The food wasn't real cheap nor real expensive and the quality and taste was good. The best deal being the 2 choice meals which included small japanese type appetizers (edamame, shrimp etc) in small portioned dishes (just tease size) small bowl miso soup with seaweed and tofu, the meal consists of picking two choices ( I had the steak and teri beef..both were good but a bit fatty) and desert (your choice of a scoop of icecream)..overall a good value. Would I patronize Yanagi's again? Just as long as I find decent street parking. :)

    (3)

  • Tai M.

    Between the two of us, we ordered some rolls and a tempura dish, but I stuck to the rolls only. Yum! Spicy hamachi--really good! Perfect balance of everything and just the right amount of spice. Negitoro--really tender fish. Salmon skin roll--came out a bit warm in the middle. Haven't had it like that before and I really enjoyed it.

    (4)

  • Jensen S.

    Came here for the late night special. Waitress took a long time to serve us, but I guess they were really busy. When you sit down, everyone get a platter of one shrimp, bean sprouts, and 3 soy beans (edamame) Spicy ahi is a good deal from late night, I think it was around $5 for 8 pieces. They also have Kirin on draft. A pitcher was $14. they have extra parking in the back if you no like valet. Overall, this place was okay, nothing amazing, idk if I would come back here again.

    (3)

  • Ryan M.

    Came here for dinner and got the combination dinner, i chose Misoyaki butter fish, tempura, and Kalbi ribs. It came with salad, miso soup and dessert. The Butterfish was a very large portion, i was surprised because usually when you order butterfish its such a small portion. (thats why i ordered the 3 item combo) 2 items would have been good, i guess it depends on which items you order. Tempura was okay, the shrimp was large and the batter crispy but the shrimp was well done inside. Shrimp gets that rubbery texture when overcooked. The Kalbi was thin cut, but tasty non the less. Dessert was a choice of ice cream, Best part is its Dave's (Made in Hawaii) Ice Cream, which means you should get the green tea! (even if you don't like green tea) Dave's Green Tea taste kinda like chocolate! very mild green tea flavor. If you like coffee, the (Kona) coffee ice cream has a very strong coffee taste, and is also very good. im told azuki is also very good, but then again almost anything from Dave's is good.

    (3)

  • Kim M.

    My family loves eating at Yanagi Sushi. I'm guessing it's because of the consistency and quality; the food quality (+ taste) and customer service have been great every single time we've eaten here. The servers are really accomodating. And I really give them credit for not kicking out the crazy people in my family... Especially when they've had a little too much to drink! As for the menu selection, it's got a little more to choose from than other Japanese restaurants. The combinations are a hit with the Japanese side of my family, young and old. I love that the combos come with ice cream. Green tea please! I will most definitely be back. Probably for someone's birthday dinner or something... Looking forward to it! Yelp 365 - #045/365

    (4)

  • Nathan N.

    For all you foodies out there, you need to know two things. First, the late night special is from 10:30pm to 1:30am (last order). And secondly, parking is atrocious so if you see street parking close by, I'd take it. The food is pretty good, but not spectacular. Order the Omakase Sushi. At $35, you get a great selection. Our plate had nigiri maguro, saba, sake, uni, ikura, hamachi, toro, ami ebi, tamago, California temaki, spicy ahi temaki and miso soup.

    (4)

  • Aldora K.

    George Clooney. Two sweet words when I think of this place. I ate dinner here on my birthday the same time George Clooney was having dinner with a few people. What more can I say? Good sushi, great company and good tea! :)

    (3)

  • Michelle M.

    Yelp 31 Challenge: 13/31 Stopped by for a little over priced sushi with one of my friends. I have been here a few times before however since we live in an area of the world where sushi is EVERYWHERE...this place does not really stand out to me. I must admit, the late night hours do make it convenient for a last minute night time jaunt but otherwise, for the quality of food, service and price, I would opt for else where if I can. The late night happy hour menu is a far better deal...so I guess it's safe to say that if I come backl, it will definitely be after 11pm.

    (3)

  • Jade T.

    On one of my most recent trips to Oahu, I was having an overwhelming craving for some "Good" Shrimp Tempura. I was browsing the reviews on Yelp and saw that Yanagi Sushi was highly rated and many reviews had mention how good their Shrimp Tempura was. So, I called and made a dinner reservation for 6:00pm. We arrived on time pulled up and noticed that their small private parking lot was for valet parking only, there was an open stall, so we parked our car ourselves, and as soon as we step out of the car, the lot attendant comes over and take our keys, ok? Maybe just in case we run out and not pay for our bill, lol, joking! Street parking is available too but we didn't want to fuss with that. Upon entering the front door, we were greeted and seated immediately at the end of the sushi bar. There were 3 Sushi Chefs working at the time and a funny thing struck me that one of the Sushi Chef resembles our Local Comedian Frank De Lima, I kid you not! We looked over the menu and of course my mind was already made up before hand (no brainer "Shrimp Tempura) but had to browse the menu anyway. I tend to eat the same thing at every Japanese Restaurant, lol! I know what I like and don't want to have any Surprises, haha! Now, it was time to order some Sushi, yay! Again like my food , I always order the same type of Sushi, 6pc. California roll with tobikko and 1 California handroll, the first Sushi Chef (very friendly, slender, older Asian that complemented me on my Pink Glittery nails) that made my 6pc. did an excellent job, he is the real deal, as for my handroll made by the 2nd Sushi Chef ( no smile or personality) the one that resembles Local Comedian Frank De Lima (BTW, who spoke fluent Japanese), you think that was funny, whats more funnier is how he made my hand roll, it was sooooo loose that it fell apart, yikes! The ambiance was that of a, traditional family style Japanese restaurant. One with a few too many dated Asian celebrity photos on the wall, drabby ;-( Yanagi is a decent sushi restaurant but, I didn't find anything particularly special about it. The only drawback was the parking, from what I could tell, it was all valet, aside from a very limited number of spaces of street parking. In the end when we did retrieve our car keys, we tipped the lot attendant for holding on to our keys, nice touch i guess, just in case you get loaded with Sake, they'll just hang on to your keys and call a cab for you, I'm guessing? Yanagi was just okay to me, not great, not bad, just ok ;-0 Unfortunately, i wasn't too impressed by the food (Shrimp Tempura batter was lacking flavor & my hand roll that :-( fell apart). However the service here was friendly, no complaints, but not sure if I'll be back?

    (3)

  • Lin L.

    Another average Japanese restaurant. The parking is bad. The pluses are they are open late, with late night specials. The sashimi was ok and service relative to price was ok. I would only go here only because every place else is closed.

    (3)

  • Meagan M.

    Great food and super fresh sushi. Just always busy so you have to wait or call in advance

    (4)

  • Heidi P.

    How can you not give Yanagi Sushi a 5. The quality of the sushi has always been top notch. I recently went there with family and was instantly taken with the fact that over the years it has still remained relatively the same. All the celebrity pictures on the wall remind the diners that there is history there and a long one. To still be around after so many decades and still be packed most weekends is a testament to their commitment to quality. I also love that they still have those little rooms to the side for slightly bigger parties or a nice tucked away dinner with some privacy. I can say those are great if you have kids and you are worried about people being bothered. The sitting in the main dining area is close quarters so being able to reserve on of these side rooms helps when you have a family. I really enjoy the spider roll, dragon roll and I tried a new roll call the I love u roll - it was really good! It is a little pricey so we only go for special occasions but you certainly do not leave disappointed. There is some parking in the back of the restaurant if you do not want to valet and there is usually always a spot open. Make sure to make reservations! You can't go wrong!

    (5)

  • Tamra P.

    This is a favorite of mine for working lunches, and my out of town corporate coworkers that enjoy sushi love it. Service has been consistently good, and even when we have been languishing over business we didn't feel rushed out which is a HUGE plus. Lunchtime favorites include spicy tuna tsumami, salmon with maui onion bowl (not sure of the official name but they know when I ask for it), interesting seaweed salad, sashimi combo always has fresh, thick, quality cuts. I have had many a delicious lunch pretty carb-free and left very satisfied.

    (4)

  • Rissa M.

    Okay kind of late on the Yanagi Sushi train.. but how have I passed this place every day on Kapiolani and never noticed it? Beats me! A friend brought me here after a long night of $4tinis at Indigio. Needless to say we were still hungry, and were completely over chinatown (aka. china town is dead on a tuesday night). Lucky us, twas the happy hour time at Yanagi. YUMMMMMMMMMMY. We indulged in a pitcher of Kirin (or was it asahi?) I cant remember, and i don't really care. Tired + Tipsy = Brainwash. All I know is that the sushi was pretty fresh, decently affordable, and the service did not mind how obnoxious we were being. Sooo in that case, we had amazing service. We lucked out on parking, although I can see this place as being a pain the butt during peak traffic and eating hours. Not too mention, this place is not exactly cheap. I will say that it is "Affordable" for decent sushi--and late night sushi at that! But whatever, sushi served til 2am? GENIUS. Better than Jack in the Box and you can't deny that. I will have to come back here for a proper dinner-- & will definitely provide a re-write.

    (4)

  • Johnathan A.

    Rolls and tuna are superb! ! Knocked me off my feet because it's different from California. Good all around!

    (5)

  • Chris K.

    The food was very yummy. Spider roll was exceptionally good. But service was good at the beginning, then poor towards the end. We wanted to order more but the waiter only took our plates away and didn't take our order. It was like they were insisting us to leave.

    (4)

  • Jacky P.

    Holy crap this place is good. We'd been scouring Honolulu for a good sushi place to pop into post-snorkeling, and we had already turned away from 3 other places. We followed this lead on yelp for a good 20 minutes, and knew we hit up the right place when we stepped inside and the hostess asked if we had reservations. Luckily, we were able to sit right at the sushi bar, which was a great choice anyways- getting to see the masters at their craft is totally worth it. I've gotta say, this place makes some of the most beautiful sushi I've ever seen. Now to the important part: the food! This stuff was amazing. I went boring and ordered a Philly roll (very good, but I wish I ordered one of their specials), while my family got the bluefin sashimi, California roll, and shrimp tempura roll. They were all excellent. I think my favorite was the sashimi- lightly seared around the edges and seasoned. So savory. Absolutely delicious. The reason I'm not giving this place a perfect review is the unfortunate context of our arrival. This place strives to be classy-casual. That's their demographic, their target. I can understand that. They seem to be really popular and almost always completely reserved - therefore, they can afford to be classy. What I'm getting at is that my large, beach bum-esque family dropped in and got seated front and center at the sushi bar. I feel like they didn't really want us there, as friendly as we were, because we didn't fit the business casual setting of the restaurant. But, hey, at least we got fast service! And the sushi chefs were really fun and friendly. And much too humble for their amazing sushi. If I actually lived in Hawaii and wasn't a howlie tourist this place would definitely be my regular sushi place. They've got amazing food, great atmosphere, and what seems like a long and strong culture. Next time I'm in Hawaii I'll definitely hit this place up- business casual, of course!

    (4)

  • Adrian B.

    I had the three choice dinner - comes with salad and miso - the Kalbi was very good, the Tonkatsu also. I give the place 4 stars because it has a good vibe to it and it is open late. The place is also excellent value - $28 for the three choice dinner. My wife had the sushi deluxe and was very satisfied.

    (4)

  • Jhoren C.

    I recommend you taking advantage of their late night happy hour! Sashimi Deluxe platter was pretty good, and yes that was the most "raw" I've ever eaten - I like to just stick tyo my spicy tuna and shoyu ahi. when it comes to raw foods I'm quite picky, but surprisingly I enjoyed everything on that platter! I like the Hamachi the best!

    (3)

  • Mark C.

    We had sushi here, prepared by the gentlemen in my photo, in 2003. I still dream about it. It was the best traditional sushi and the best, most classic atmosphere I have encountered anywhere. I understand that Yanagi Sushi is a longtime favorite in Honolulu, and that it can get very busy some nights. We went early in the afternoon and had the place pretty much to ourselves. Great people, fresh and excellently created sushi.

    (5)

  • Kit W.

    My friends and I were supposed to meet up for dinner at La Cucina (across the street) at 5:30. Two of us showed up right on the dot and waited patiently outside the restaurant for our third friend. We didn't have a reservation because La Cucina doesn't take reservations for parties under four people and we didn't think our friend would take too long so we foolishly did not grab a table. By the time she arrived, it was 6:02 and La Cucina was out of open tables (two were reserved). I was a bit disappointed but perked up when someone suggested we go to Yanagi instead. Yanagi was also very busy but the host agreed to fit us in if we finished by 7:30 (the table had been reserved). Well, that gave us an hour and fifteen minutes for dinner so we gratefully nodded our consent. I went with the two-item dinner combo ($21.95) and chose the fried chicken wings (I know, I know...this is a Japanese restaurant so what was I doing ordering wings...well, I really wanted wings at that moment, okay?! And my tummy had been prepping excitedly for Italian food all day...so if I can't have amazing Italian food, at least give me some amazing wings...) and broiled saba. Both were simple but delicious and the combo came with rice, miso soup, salad, and ice cream. My friend also went with the two-item dinner combo and got the saba and vegetable tempura, which she said was wonderful. The other friend got the chirashi deluxe, which was also awesome--sashimi was incredibly fresh and tasty. Yanagi can be considered on the pricier side for dinner but I think you get what you pay for--guaranteed quality! I can't wait to come back and try more things on their menu!

    (4)

  • Krissy M.

    YUM! I had not been here since I was a kid, so when we made a big reservation for our whole family (14 people) I wasn't sure what to expect besides the information from previous Yelp reviews. Since great sushi is hard to find in my neck of the woods (Central VA) I opted for the deluxe nigiri special - WOW. I don't know if I can go back to my Harris Teeter grocery store sushi anymore now ;) Other members of our party enjoyed their meals as well - some favorites were pork katsu, the miso-yaki butterfish and of course, sashimi. Service was friendly and efficient. Also, the valet parking staff was nice, too.

    (5)

  • Jeffrey D.

    This is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Hawaii. Reasonably priced food and excellent service. The menu is very well stocked with lots of choices. I have never had the same thing twice and I have eaten here often. You know it is good when friends from Japan say it is. Parking is limited but they have valet service at the door. I would highly recommend anyone in Hawaii going here for their Japanese delights.

    (5)

  • Daniel C.

    This is a restaurant I dine at often and always bring guests from out of town to. The food is really good here and the service is great. Decor is pictures of all the famous people who have dined there. They have a great late night special menu that offers a wide selection of items for a discounted price. The Spider Roll is fantastic here!

    (4)

  • Sarah C.

    Yanagi sushi is alright. I can't say i am extremely impressed with this restaurant at all. I do like their combination meal options, but I think a lot of their meal options are way overpriced for the quality and the portion (especially their chef combination sashimi and sushi plates). There has to be better places for amazing sushi rolls in Honolulu. (I have a pretty high standard for sushi rolls, taste, texture, and of course portion.) I definitely would not come here for their sushi, but for their cooked food I would consider it. In terms of the restaurant itself, the several times I've been here with family, Yanagi Sushi is always packed. They do have group private rooms which i like, but sometimes servers forget to come check into the private rooms for water or tea refills. I think out of the three times i've been here, what made the biggest impression on me that would make me come back, is their misoyaki butterfish and their eel options. I do want to try different things on their menu, but their prices are pretty unreasonable. I just want to point out, that for the volume of customers that frequent Yanagi, I was surprised and unimpressed by the taste, texture, quality and portion sizes. I'm pretty iffy on coming back, but I might consider it depending on the circumstances. Still looking for my go-to sushi restaurant.

    (3)

  • Sherylynn S.

    Two Hands down with 2 feet down. I keep forgetting to check in here as I came more than 10 times probably. I love their happy hours after 10pm. I admired the best of all, the famous Oyster Shooters! No kidding, any other japanese restaurants, they didn't have them and I was really surprised! San Diego have plenty of there, almost everywhere. I still need to explore more restaurants though. Anyways, this place have plenty of room to dine with friends and family. They opened til 2am and that is awesome for anyone who crave for late meals ;) Cheers

    (5)

  • kristine f.

    Consistent. Spicy Hamachi over the Spicy Tuna Late night happy hour.

    (4)

  • Florence K.

    So, I've already told you about the good food they have here, with the pretty damn cheap prices. But on my most recent visit, I must rave about the service. It was awesome. Our server was on it, and she was really nice. And once we ran out of beer in the pitcher...a guy came INSTANTLY, as if he had magical psychic powers to know we ran out of beer. (Or maybe someone put the pitcher down a little too hard on the table, but still, he came by quickly to refill that pitcher...) Yeah, okay. It was pretty awesome.

    (5)

  • Steven F.

    Everyone i know likes this place. Their pieces are good sized and fresh because it is so popular they can constantly restock their raw fish. The sushi set is around $24 and it is a good amount of food. Chawan Mushi - pretty over priced at $6.50, it tastes good but pretty small in quantity. Everytime i've even here it has been satisfying or great. Never bad

    (4)

  • Tiani B.

    This was my second time here and I must say that I enjoyed myself. The waiters were attentive, and friendly. We met with friends from out of town so there was lots of chatter to exchanged and we were not rushed out or urged to complete our meals and carry on. Very nice vibe in there. I did not eat this time, (I was late) but definately enjoyed some tea and talk.

    (4)

  • Michele M.

    My oh my. One night after watching the movie Jiro Dreams of Sushi at Kahala Theaters, we just had to find a sushi place immediately!!! Never mind Kurukuru that is located steps (literally) away from the movie theater. We wanted quality sushi after watching the omakase-style sushi shop dish out straight up authentic sushi!!! Yanagi Sushi is one of our favorite places to get tasty fresh sushi!! Even the rest of the Japanese food here is ONO!! Husband usually orders the Sushi Deluxe while I sway between the soba set, combos and whatever else I may be in the mood for. Great service. Consistent flavors. Parking on the street when you go late-night. We try to avoid spending extra $$ on valet parking. Private rooms in the back are awesome for larger groups. Be sure to make a reservation. I've been with my family and with coworkers. There's a sushi bar, too. We always get a cozy booth. =) Think they've been in business for quite a while, too. So you know there's good stuff here!!!

    (5)

  • Gina B.

    I've eaten here a number of times but never before 10:30p.m.....because that's when you can order off the late night menu! I always order the Fresh Salmon with Maui Onion, spicy tuna roll and salmon nigiri. Oishi!!

    (4)

  • Anthony L.

    best value to quality for sushi on island. always consistent and great for lunch just wish they didnt close in the middle of day so i can get my fix if running late for lunch

    (4)

  • Nina H.

    This is one of my favorite places to visit during happy hour. They offer many discounted dishes from rolls to set meals... And it's open late to feed my late night sushi cravings ! (: Parking is never a problem when I visit, but then again I go at the wee hours like 11PM. :p There's parking in front of the restaurant and there is also some street parking on the side. One of my absolute favorites is the maui onion salmon; it's freshly cut salmon slices marinated in this ponzu like sauce, topped off with sweet maui onions and tobiko. I always get that dish to share, and a set meal such as teriyaki chicken and butterfish for myself. Service is ehhhh, alright. The servers take your order and fill up your water, but it's just not the personable service that earns the five stars. I've only visited Yanagi's during happy hour, so I'm a bit biased with their happy hour menu. I'll surely be back to try some regular menu items though ! (:

    (4)

  • Jenn Y.

    Drive on Kapiolani at night and you see a long line of cars in front of this Japanese Restaurant. You think, "damn this place must be good, look so busy." Well that was what I always you to think till I came here. This is what I thought after I tried this place: - over price Japanese food - inside is small/tight - food is ok, sushi, ie the raw taco i did not care for so much but the fried taco was really good, saba was good and the miso salmon was good too - they give extra ice cream for everyone since we were here for a birthday - waitress was nice, but messed up our order, but we were a big group and last minute ask her to split the check. - not enough parking, so we parked outside So maybe it is worth a try if you wanna break your wallet. Did I tell you the most of the cars outside were like BMW and Mercedes. Maybe I was thrown off because the BMW and Merecedes sale stores are along the same street...

    (3)

  • Rob F.

    Being a big sushi fan, trying out Yanagi Sushi was a must try at least once for me. We were able to get early dinner reservations at 5:30 p.m. so it was not busy and we had seats at the sushi bar. The sushi orders were prepared quickly and handed directly to us. The sushi chefs were pleasant and carried on conversations with us. Our sushi dining experience there was a good one. We also tried the shrimp and vegetable tempura as a side. The prices are fair and the quality of the food is good. The only bad point for our dinner there was that the cashier had problems with the credit card machine. So we waited for about 15 minutes before she could process our payment. Other than that our overall dining experience at Yanagi Sushi was ok. I'll give it another try.

    (3)

  • Nam K.

    After going to so many different sushi restaurants in Hawaii during my visits there, there have been a few good places but mostly I have been disappointed. Sometimes it is just the lack of quality, presentation, service, or simply... just ridiculously overpriced for what you get. However, I realize that whenever I am disappointed with those other places, I always say to myself after the meal, "We should have gone to Yanagi's!" For the quality, price, and service - I believe there is no better sushi restaurant in Hawaii than Yanagi Sushi!

    (5)

  • Kelly M.

    Food quality is very good. Sushi is exactly what one would expect for this price point. Misoyaki Butterfish was fantastic. Lunch specials - choice of two for $21. A lot of food. Parking is valet and always seems like the lot is overflowing. Service - They put the food down on the table, but little else.

    (3)

  • Shuji K.

    For some reason I always miss the Yanagi entrance. Probably cause there are so many cars parked there. Anyways, I always valet but I'm sure you can find street parking around the area. This review is for dinner/late night dinner only. Okay. First of all, the chicken wings (it's on the pupu menu) is super good. I mean it comes out hot, it's oily and salty, and meaty and just...dang...good for eating wit your beer. Edamame of course is another thing to order with your beer--but any japanese resteraunt is gonna have edamame so i mean it's nothing worth mentioning--but i just did. I mostly just order the sashimi or sushi here. Sushi--yea, it's okay. Not bad but not eye rolling to the back of my head good. But order the sushi is easier to share with your friends than the sashimi--much harder to share. Anyways--the food here is good and I haven't eaten anything I didn't like. And i've never had to wait long for anything and the service is good.

    (4)

  • Jeremy H.

    I've had sushi here many times and it's one of my favorites. I've mostly eaten at the sushi bar- their sushi chefs are talented and serve up some good fish. My favorites here include the amaebi, sake, ahi, ikura with quail egg, and the spider roll. I also highly recomend their salmon skin salad. If you love ahi, try their toro if they have it. So sweet and it practically melts in your mouth. Their chefs were the ones that actually recommended the amaebi and salmon skin salad, which have become staples for my sushi dining experience. Parking can be bad, but they do have valet. Reservations are recommended for larger parties.

    (4)

  • Erica A.

    Lobster sashimi and Chawanmushi.

    (3)

  • Derek K.

    Came to Yanagi the other weekend with a few friends, Lyssa O., Moda and Kac. We decided to grab a late dinner and some drinks here. Now, this was my first time here, and I've heard about how good Yanagi is, so I was very excited to try this place. Late night happy hour was at 1030. When we got there and they sat us immediately. The happy hour menu is not too big, but we ordered a hand full of stuff, particularly, the chicken katsu, california roll, spicy ahi roll, and salmon sashimi with onions. Okay so first off, Yanagi gives you free food (3 edamame, korean style sprouts and one shrimp). FREE! COMPLETELY FREE! Out of all the things we tried, everything tasted very good and had a lot of flavor. The one thing that impressed me the most was the freshness of the fish. The salmon and the ahi were so fresh, it could have come straight off the boat. Being the full Japanese boy that I am, I am an instant fan. I need to come back for just the sushi bar. 4 stars...for now. I feel like Yanagi could get 5 stars, but I need to explore their food more. I definitely recommend Yanagi, so much so that if you come here, please take me. KThxBye!

    (4)

  • Anhtuan L.

    Came here on a late night when I was on vacation with my cousin and aunt whom were locals to Honolulu. The late night deals were very attractive based on prices and quality for a late night sushi restaurant, which I've never seen before living in California. The customer service is average, the ambience was homey since we had a side room with enclosed walls, minus the entrance to the room. The food was amazing from what I can remember before I got inebriated since it's been a month and a half since I've had it. The oyster shooters were unique, the squids were good, the sashimi was excellent, the sake/beer was emptied bottle to bottle. All I can remember was it was a good night. Besides that, the parking is limited to a small lot in the front only.

    (4)

  • George M.

    We recently went to Yanagi Sushi after my son's graduation from Preschool. We were actually going to go to another Japanese restaurant, but they were going to open too late. When someone mentioned Yanagi, my wallet began to weep as I thought about how expensive it was going to be. But it's family so what are you going to do? Well when we got there and sat down, I was pleasantly surprised! Upon looking at the menu, I found the prices to be VERY reasonable! So much so that I splurged on 2 different kinds of sashimi platters for everyone to share in addition to lunch. If you don't mind the preset combos they have, and I believe their selections will cover about 90% of you, get it. For $10, you get an awesome combo. I had the teri chicken and tempura combo. To tell the truth, for $10, I wasn't expecting much. Again, pleasantly surprised! You get miso soup, tsukemono, and lots of entree! And of course what sets it apart from other places is the quality! Honestly I don't know how they do it...but I'm glad they did! I noticed as we were leaving, they also have a late-night special similar to another Japanese restaurant. From 10:30pm - 2am, they have awesome specials! They've always had a reputation for being good but pricey. I don't know if because of the economy they had to rethink their philosophy, but I'm very pleased to report that now they are one of the best bargains in town! Took away one star only because the wait for the food was a little long. On the other hand everything was fresh so you can't rush quality!

    (4)

  • Jon H.

    Yanagi is bomb...legit...one of the best places to eat in Honolulu and not touristy at all, which is nice to get away from the bustling shopping areas and overcrowded beaches (I prefer the north shore hands down). My gf had never been to Hawaii before, so I took her to Honolulu for a day, spent most of the day on the beaches, eating at Dukes, and seeing the sights. Wanted to grab a bite to eat before heading back to the North Shore, but didn't want to get stuck eating at the touristy places (Senor Frogs, etc). Yanagi popped up and we were pretty excited. Parking was a breeze, plenty of street parking and even valet if you want. Walked into the place...needless to say it was PACKED. Luckily, right when we walked in a couple left the sushi bar, because the lady looked at us and said "reservation? no reservation???" with an incredible look on her face, and we were saved by the sushi bar. Nice hot towel to wipe off the beach / outside and freshen up for dinner. Getting attention is a bit tough, they had 2 sushi chefs, and we had to wait a while for them to finish the regular restaurant dishes and the regulars at the bar, we got the quick look over to us about 10 mins after we sat, and ordered as quick as we could. Spicy tuna, salmon, tuna roll, eel, and tamago. Nice touch on the banana leaf. Watched with expert precision as he sliced and rolled up everything. The sashimi here is top notch, mainly because they do it the right way: giving you a nice huge slice of fish, and a small amount of rice. Know how in pictures the sashimi lines up with the rice underneath? Not here, you get a huge piece of fish...and its delicious and fresh. The salmon was buttery and beautiful, the rice was just a hint of sweet and packed nicely. Tuna was delicious, with just the hint of wasabi. Rolls were all well balanced, not too much rice, perfect amount of fish, and not overly packed with veggies. Even the tamago was huge (my gf was surprised how large the egg piece was and it almost put us over the top). Eel was sweet and bone-free, delicious. Lots of regulars here, as the owner lady seems to know most of the faces who walk in, and gives them a lot of special treatment. I saw people sitting down while chatting, while she gave a server a nod to pour wine for them. Seems like a cool neighborhood spot for locals. Tons of pictures of celebrities and seemingly normal people taking pictures with the owners. Best part? We filled up with sushi and rolls, ordered pretty much what we wanted, and it was less than $30. I couldn't believe it....the prices were really amazing for top notch sushi. Even some of the chef specials (where they give you a variety of sashimi pieces) were under $30 each plate. Definitely a legit ass price. Go to yanagi if you are craving sushi. Go there to see locals enjoying good fresh seafood, solid service, and a cool atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Rachel P.

    Great sushi. we ate for under &100. Small authentic. We had a rainbow row and then an awesome yellowtail sashimi and salmon sashimi meal, edamame, tempera vegetables. Super fresh and clean!

    (5)

  • Chris L.

    Ok, ok, ok I have been to this establishment way too many times to not write up a review. I have been coming to Yanagi Sushi for a quite some time now. It is a popular destination for my in-laws since they love to eat Japanese food. Service wise, this place is a hit or miss for me. Sometimes the service is impeccable with water/tea refills, clearing of plates, and bringing food. When you first sit down they always bring a complementary appetizer dish that has edamame, sprouts, and a fried/grilled shrimp, they also bring you tsukemono (Japanese pickles). On a bad day though, waters are rarely refilled and the biggest issue that I have had are the bussers being really inconsiderate of people who are dining in close proximity. For example the last time we went there, the bussers where banging chairs, hitting walls, and literally throwing plates/glasses into their bussing containers. And there we were eating, in awkward/concerned silence. What can I say about the food? The food is not that bad. I'm actually torn about the food. The food is not the greatest Japanese food I've eaten but nowhere near the worst. The food can be a little pricey so the best thing about Yanagi's is that they have a late night happy hour. Late night happy hour has really good deals on set dinners (teishoku), sushi, and alcohol. They also have some pupu style dishes that are very reasonably priced due to the late night happy hour. For example you can choose from a variety of 2 choice combination set dinners that range from about $10 -$14. This includes two types of entrees, rice, miso soup, salad, and dessert. The pupus can range from about $5 -$10, which choices that include things like chicken wings, ahi sashimi w/ natto, and ala carte choices like chicken and pork katsu. As far as the alcohol they have a pretty extensive bar and you can get cocktails, beer, and even blended drinks. But if you go for the happy hour the Kirin pitcher is the best bang for your buck. Yanagi Sushi can get a little pricey when you go during the regular hours and if you go there for the late night happy hour, the place gets really packed. If you do plan on going for the late night happy hour, the best strategy is to get there around 10:15 pm and get seated. Then when they come for your order hold out until 10:30 pm to get the late night specials. The wait staff understands this so they usually know what's up. If you're looking for a late night bar with good food or just a place to get a late dinner, you can't go too wrong with Yanagi Sushi. Dookster OUT!

    (4)

  • Tania L.

    You have to give props just for being consistent. I've been going to Yanagi for almost 20 years (yeah, that long) - and several times a month - and their quality has been just as good each time I've gone. Their sashimi is great - quality, pricewise, consistency. Their rolls are not bad, but I've never been a huge fan of rolls so I'm no expert on it. Their lunch/dinner sets are great to share. The nabe/shabu is standard and there are other places that offer better, I think... Some of my favorite things about it are the small things, like the rice =D and that they are almost always on top of the water/green tea bit (as in, never empty). Idk... I've been going so long that I don't really want to go on about all the food they have there. It's a good experience.

    (5)

  • John M.

    I have limited experience with the service in the actual restaurant,since we usually just order take out for lunch. Regarding takeout, I have one word for you...chirashi!!! You get several different toppings over a bed of rice. Basically, a sushi bento. Lately, I've become a little disappointed though, because the last couple of times we ordered, we didn't get any "uni" or sea urchin. Aside from that, the quality and flavor is top notch.

    (4)

  • Bure Chan s.

    Fresh, well prepared, and absolutely a must if you like sushi! Atmosphere is everything a sushi establishment should be! Oo toro was excellent, the Unagi was perfectly seasoned and grilled... what can i say but YUM!

    (4)

  • Lynn K.

    I went to dinner there last night w/ my parents and we had a wonderful time. Everything we were served was delicious! The sliced salmon with Maui onion, the katsuo (skip jack tuna) tataki, the clams with sake broth, shishamo, salmon skin salad and the sushi were the highlights. I thought the fish was excellent in grade and extremely fresh. The rice quality in the sushi was also good and made just right. I had not gone to Yanagi for a while and it didn't disappoint! I will definitely be going back the next time I am in the islands!

    (4)

  • Tracy C.

    One would think that with Hawaii being surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the island would have some top-notch sushi. After having seen numerous 5-star ratings for Yanagi, we decided to make a stop at Yanagi during our stay in Oahu. We're not into dinner combos/plates, especially at a sushi place. We go strictly for the seafood. There really wasn't anything special about the food we had here. The rolls were just OK. The biggest turn-off about this place is how incredibly overpriced the sashimi is. I don't care if it's blue-fin tuna ($7 for ONE PIECE of blue-fin tuna sashimi). The fancier sushi places I've been to charge about $24 for one order, which consists of 6 pieces. On top of that, there was no albacore! I never realized that albacore doesn't exist in Hawaiian sushi restaurants until we came here, but it's not Yanagi's fault. The atmosphere there is pretty nice, and the walls are decorated with pictures of celebrities and other important people. That's probably the only cool thing about this place. We even asked some of our friends (who actually live on the island) where we could get some good sushi. Nobody mentioned Yanagi. Now I can see why.

    (3)

  • Angel L.

    I thought it was alright not the best but they have good deals on late night dinners though. I wish they have good entree` on the menu. The food I thought was alright!

    (3)

  • Kenji O.

    I would say this is an "ok" sushi. None of the pieces I ate the other night were really "melt in your mouth good" or "just out of the ocean" fresh. Having said that, nothing I ate overly disturbed me either so it's an average sushi restaurant in my book. One negative, parking sucks and the valet's don't have a large lot to work with.

    (3)

  • Jocelyn L.

    "Used to go there all the time for late-night sushi...esp after being picked up from airport! great spicy ahi, donburi and dynamite"

    (4)

  • Pelle Y.

    I LLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEE this restaurant. Words can not express how much I love this place. I love sushi in all its forms but when I tried the sushi here, I literally saw stars. Afterwards I vowed to make a pilgrimage here at least once a year, even if I was halfway across the globe. I've memorized the route from the airport and I have a dog eared copy of the takeout menu just to remind me of the meals I have had here. Oh, the thought of the hamachi, the ikura, and the saba just makes me salivate. The salmon skin salad and the broiled butterfish also puts me in a daze. Yanagi's has actually ruined all the sushi anywhere else for me, including SF, which has some of the best sushi around. So sad that I am not close enough to go at least once (okay, twice) a week but that makes it all the more special.

    (5)

  • Ange M.

    First impression - valet parking (only choice when parking on their property) or street parking. Lots of street parking but valet parked anyway. 30 minutes later the valet came in and gave us back our keys b/c they were closing. What?! Was brought into a little private room, which I loved. Feels a little strange b/c the tables and seats kind of feel like they belong in a pre-school classroom. My little boy loved it. He felt "in his element" I guess. I thought it was kewl.... The are one of those places with too many menus and they come right away to take your order. Which is good if you know the menu and not so good if you have no clue. We had no clue....so felt a bit flustered even if I am sure they were not rushing us and just trying to provide good service. All the food arrived fairly quickly which was great. And everything we had was tasty. Dynamite was great. Had baked oysters...just okay. Saba was wonderful and all of the sushi we had was good and fresh. All in all, great place to eat, good service, and decent price. I will go back.

    (4)

  • takeda s.

    yes, I will jump on the bandwagon and say that when you are doing the walk along Kapiolani and crave a good sushi spot -- go here. I even asked them to salt and broil the shrimp heads and they accomodated...excellent crispy flavor....also, very nice karakuchi sake selection, and for a warm climate place like HI, surprisingly good fresh fish. Gochisousama! Thank you. TS

    (4)

  • Steve Y.

    Took my parents here for dinner. We all ordered the omakase at the sushi bar after a couple of pieces in they said they were out of uni and gave us something else. After a while a couple sits down and gets an order of uni. WTF! The sushi was not even good. The fish was not that fresh and definitely not worth the price. Go to "Trust me" instead.

    (1)

  • Tess G.

    For those who love sushi, definitely a must eat place when you are in Honolulu. We ate there twice on our last trip to Oahu (Oct.29 to Nov.2). When I like the food, I order the same thing and can eat the same kind of food over and over again. So I ordered the sushi deluxe on my first and second visit to Yanagi, while hubby had the shirasi (sp?) again also. The hamachi and the shrimp were so fresh they practically melt in your mouth. yummy, can't wait to go there again. I wish I had known about this place before, since we were in Oahu also in September.

    (5)

  • Mr P.

    We stopped by Yanagi without a reservation the other night thinking the bad economy has affected ALL restaurants. Wrong, the place was packed but we were lucky enough to get a table without much of a wait. We used to eat here often, but have not been here for about 6 months. Their sushi/sashimi is still very good as is their ny teriyaki steak. Their tempura though, disappoints. I remember their tempura batter being one of the better ones in town, but not anymore. Anyone else noticed the change? It arrived nice and hot, but was not light and crispy. Off night maybe? They seem to be using cooked shrimp for their shrimp tempura and the coating was different for the shrimp as they use for the vegetable tempura/ Other than that, everything was very good. I will have to go back soon to test their tempura, to see if the tempura guy was not having one of his better nights.

    (3)

  • Pat S.

    I love this place. It's THE choice when I want to spend a bit on lunch. It's also the only Japanse place I've taken my parents to when they visit. My dad especially isn't easy to please, since he does much business in Japan. The sushi is always super fresh. Hamachi and Saba are my favorites, though I hear that Saba nigiri is an acquired taste for many.

    (5)

  • Christine E.

    I thought this place was OK. Originally, I wanted to try Genki Sushi, but they close early! What's nice about Yanagi is they close late, so fun late-night hang out with friends. I had a late dinner here with a good friend and some other locals and we got to sit in our own private room. Service was okay, and the food itself was average.

    (3)

  • Y C.

    Food is decent, lots of room so little wait, but what's up with the attitude from the servers? Is it because I didn't drop three digits? Too many good sushi restaurants out there in this economy - lighten up, folks!

    (3)

  • Meep M.

    I like the fact that they offer a lot of unusual dishes that are not widely popular along with the typical japanese food/sushi. This place was good, but nothing special.

    (3)

  • mami u.

    Food isn't THAT good. Okay. My advice is to make sure you are closely located by the bathroom after eating. My husband I have gone there about 20 times and we both have had terrible bathroom issues about 5 times. 1 of out 4 chance is pretty bad. After spending $100 and flushing it down the toilet, we stop and think now about going back. By the way, make sure to check your credit card statement. They charged more than we authorized after we signed. They will rip you off. Be careful. All I wrote above is the truth, but after going to Sasabune, I need to add to this review. After all, Yanagi sushi is the best place in town. They serve the most authentic sushi by real experienced Japanese sushi chefs.

    (4)

  • Patrick T.

    this place was very good. all i had here was sushi and some of my brothers misozuke butterfish which was very good. sushi cuts on the nigiri were not as thick as sushi king, but still good and fresh. the prices seemed a little bit higher $1-2 for the rolls and combo, but the menu seemed more extensive than sushi king? ie shabu shabu sukiyaki, donburi etc. maybe i my memory is drawing pictures in my head and misleading me. i would be equally happy feeding at either here or sushi king and i think you would be too. :)

    (5)

  • Patricia C.

    I've eaten sashimi & sushi the country-over & still find Yanagi's to be the best. Sit at the sushi bar and be treated to efficient service, friendly chefs (you have to strike up the conversation, then they're chatty) and excellent fish. Esp. love the spicy tuna handroll, salmon w/ onion, hamachi & uni (by far the best uni we've had in the U.S.) Have never had a problem with parking (pull up, valet takes keys, walk in, eat. Walk out, valet brings up car, drive away) and were told from the start to always have a reservation. Play by their rules & the rewards are amazing!

    (5)

  • mk k.

    this is a korean run "japanese" restaurant. it doesn't have the "japanese" subtleties of food or service. food is bloated, not reserved. oyako-don was tasty(as are all donburis) but soaked in juice. there was no respect for the gohan. yellowtail was rubbery. tamago sushi was poorly made.

    (1)

  • Colleen P.

    Went to this place on a business trip with my husband tagging along. we LOVED it. The butterfish misoyaki was to die for, and the seared ahi tuna with garlic nigiri was outstanding. We will be going back for pleasure next week and will be hitting this place at least once.

    (5)

  • Paul L.

    food was okay. sushi was fresh. had the ankimon, was probably my fav of the evening. i ordered a dragon roll and the eel was just cut into odd shapes and just placed on top. i wish i took a picture but it was def the lazy way to roll a dragon roll. the only problem we had was that we made a reservation but they told us we HAD to be out by a certain time. and valet parking staff took our car and then after we had dinner we tipped, then and they asked us if we wanted to pull the car out ourselves. expensive and overrated in my opinion, it was good but i didn't feel appreciated as a customer. i guess that's what happens after you reach a certain level of success.

    (3)

  • Christine G.

    Personally, I have had the same kind of Sushi at Genki for way cheaper. Avoid!

    (1)

  • Jesse W.

    11/23/07: Dinner with a group of friends, they seated us in a private room towards the back. We ordered several sashimi plates including a separate hamachi plate - delicious! All of the fish tasted great and melted in our mouths. Service was superb, the wait staff was very attentative. Since parking is difficult, the restaurant provides valet service for all its customers. I would recommend reservations as this place can get very busy!

    (4)

  • Mark a p.

    The staff was very polite. This, as I have never been to Tokyo, has the feel of Japanese restaurant. Two sushi bars, American and Japanese seating. It looked like a semi-private room, very good selection of wine and sake. We ate at the sushi bar. The fish was fresh. Unlike some yelpers, I am not as knowledgable. We had a good warm sake. The green tea ice cream looked good. Unfortunately, I had my fill on hamachi and a roll or two. The only thing that one might feel uncomfortable is seating is close at the back sushi bar. The price is reasonable. *to that young woman. I hope your fiance gets over being so insecure about your relationship*

    (5)

  • Lee D.

    the food is decent but nothing to rave about. Having gone to this establishment only once and will be my last, due the blatantly obvious rude and lack there of service. The only way I can describe the behavior was racist. my colleagues and myself had a long wait for a seat at the sushi bar all though having checked in before other patrons. The three on us order the same dish and waited over 30 mins. for two of the three orders to be served, and another 10 mins. for the third one to come. although the parking lot is very small they have valet parking only, we had to stand in the pouring rain to have the valets conveniently misplace our car keys......rude, racist, and plain WRONG!!!!

    (1)

  • Trvlr W.

    Went to this place on recomendation from a co-worker. The portions are big as far as sashimi. It was very expensive - for 2 of us the bill was $180. We had sashimi, nigiri and a few rolls. I \was impressed because I've been sushi deprived the last month.

    (3)

  • Ray K.

    Used to be one of the best Japanese restaurants years ago, but has been steadily declining. I took some colleagues there the other day. The service was very poor. When the waiter finally took our order, we waited another half hour for the food to arrive. Although all three of us ordered the same thing, only two of us got our order. The third person had to wait another 10 minutes. This happened, despite the fact that another party who ordered after us received their food first. The food was cold and unappetizing. Unfortunately, it was obvious to my colleagues that service seemed good depending on one's racial background. I had experienced this at the restaurant before, but figured it might have just been my perception. Wrong. Without saying a thing, both my colleagues mentioned it as we left completely befuddled by the obvious discriminatory practices.

    (1)

  • R C.

    Yanagi! I miss you. I love their late night specials, which are little pricier than that of Sushi King ,but once in a while it's worth every penny saved. The service may not be the best . Often times we would go with a big group and our server would forget us, but it's okay. The food is superb even if it's at 11pm at night. My friends and I used to love to eat and talk for hours. I miss those days and those perfect delicious salmon katsu set menu, spicy tuna, chirashi/sashimi -sushi combo,mouth watering ika geso karaage, house hot sake- large, I could pass on their miso soup! How about a pitcher of beer for dirt cheap? It's one of those restaurants that belongs to the working class people, especially, for the service/restaurant workers. The owners or the hostess are always cool with their retro -old fashioned hair dos. :) It's always busy there, so you know the food is worth the wait. Much kudos to Yanagi Sushi for it's food and accommodation over the years!

    (4)

  • Mark G.

    I was browsing the reviews in Yelp and saw that Yanagi was very highly rated and I had to beg to differ. Yanagi is a decent sushi restaurant but I didn't find anything particularly special about it. They don't have any particularly unique menu items, the service is average and at least one time a bit surly to say the least. Yanagi might be living on it's reputation but it is seriously just ok.

    (3)

  • Sherry T.

    me and the hubs wanted to splurge on some sushi christmas lunch so we went to Yanagi's. back in the days when we were not house poor and living out in Mililani Mauka, we would frequent this place 1-2x a week. this is still my favorite place for sushi. I was actually surprised to see the poor reviews. the sushi is always fresh and they are always generous with their cuts. we sat at the sushi bar and just ordered what we wanted: unagi-yum, harami-k dis wasn't dat fresh, hamachi-buttery goodness, spicy tuna handroll-yum, kani-husband ate this cuz i was too full and he said it was good but not worth 9.95 for two small pieces, uni-husband only eats this said was good, i took a lick of it but I don't love it so I don't bother especially with the cost of this stuff, ama-ebi-husband only appreciates this, salmon-yum. that was it. very full and very content. i think the total was like $76 w/o tip or something like that. oh i forgot we also had the volcano roll which is california roll baked with scallop/mayo/tobiko-yum-oh!

    (5)

  • Carol L.

    The best place for sushi! Absolutely hands down! Wanna impress your outa town guests. Combo dinner meals less than $20 with soup salad, rice, 2 choices, AND dessert! Get the spider roll for starts awesome!! I tried the sashimi and miso butterfish combo.....melts in your mouth! If you come here you must make it a stop. They also close late also, they have a discounted menu @ night..went after work one night @ 1130 pm with some co workers...beer and sushi and pupus! What else can u ask for!!

    (5)

  • Marcy M.

    Excellent Japanese food, great sushi, good drink selection, efficient service. The atmosphere reminded me of an izakaya-- crowded, noisy, lots of folks kicking back, eating and having fun. (And we went around 5:30 on a Monday night!) A bunch of us, young and old went, including grandma, an amazing cook, as well some little people who are foodies in the making (read: "picky eaters"). Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the food here. (If that's not five stars then I don't know what is.) The tempura was the best I've had since leaving Japan-- crisp, light and not greasy at all. Horenso ohitashi (wiltted spinach with sesame seeds) was tasty-- I was pleasantly surprised by the black sesame...gave it a bit of more peanutty flavor. I didn't taste the miso butterfish, but the young 'un devoured it before any of us could sneak a taste, so it must've been good. And the sushi! Oh, the sushi! Sigh. It's not called Yanagi SUSHI for nothin'. The most fun for your tastebuds is ordering in true izakaya style-- everybody orders whatever they want and share. With little people, I recommend booking one of the private "rooms." They even have high chairs, which is a nice thing. Servers are friendly, helpful and efficient. I would give it 6 stars if I could because they have Kirin Ichiban on tap. Yeah! The only drawback: parking. From what I could tell, it was all valet, aside from a very limited number of spaces of street parking. Carpool if you can and bring some cash so you can tip the friendly valet folks properly.

    (5)

  • Cindy J.

    Been coming here for years. Food is pretty good. Never had a complaint but no dish in particular that I would highly recommend. Convenient location to downtown and Blaisdell.

    (3)

  • Frank H.

    I've eaten at Yanagi Sushi for 25 years. It is a definate favorite and a good value in or near Waikiki. True it has grown over the years, but it is a great family run operation. I am going back tonight with my wife's family and our children. Reservations needed.

    (5)

  • Gunnar V.

    Okay, I am giving Yanagi a 5* review, with one caveat. I'll get to that at the end of the review, because it was really good and you should check it out. We got all set to order a omakase plate and a sushi regular for lunch. Our waitress actually told us to order less! Wow, you don't get that very often. So, we nixed the sushi regular and got a rainbow roll. The sushi was very good. Good but mild wasabi. The one disappointing thing was that the omakase did not seem to be very much different than a sushi deluxe. It had pretty standard tuna maki, a handful of pretty standard nigiri, and two roe gunkan. Highlights - the service, the rainbow roll. They are open late. I'd say don't bother with the omakase but do bother with Yanagi.

    (5)

  • Robert L.

    Ate here in early October after trying 2 other Sushi places that were closed for lunch (Chiba Ken and Tokkuri Tei). Well we didn't go wrong with this one. Sushi was fresh and the service was excellent. If you want to skip the valet you can go to the next corner and see if there's a meter open. The fish was very fresh in our sushi deluxe. I do hate it when they give that tamago (egg) sushi instead of fish. Price was probably on par or slightly more expensive.

    (4)

  • Francine S.

    Love, love, love this place for sushi! We were on our way to find someplace to eat and asked the cab driver for a good sushi restaurant. Lo and behold he drove us to the best damn place in Honolulu. We have some great places here in the bay area.. but oh Yanagi! The fish is so fresh and tasty. My favorites are hamachi and sake wherever I go, and here it was the best. We went on a weekday afternoon so it wasn't crowded at all. I definitely recommend Yanagi!

    (5)

  • Reina M.

    yanagi does not have the best sushi or japanese food. it does not have the best selection of sake. but for some reason, i keep going back. perhaps it's because it's reasonably priced. perhaps it's because of its central location. perhaps it's because i like to keep up tradition and patron a spot i've been going to since i was 5. perhaps it's the never-aging korean lady owner who is always seemingly busy but always says hi. whatever the case, yanagi is a place i always end up going to. lots of celebrity pictures on the wall (albeit old), but this isn't the first place i would recommend for visitors or tourists.

    (4)

  • Kione E.

    Really really really good sushi. Some of the best ever. Of course it's Hawaii. The service is alright and I think the decore is cheesy. So what, that all these famous people go there. Do you gotta have a picture on the wall for every one? But maybe thats the what draws paople to Yanagi. I thought it was the food. They have a pretty good selection of scotches and Japanese beer on tap. That was cool.

    (4)

  • Berna T.

    My dad's office is a half block from this extremely popular sushi spot, and he says it's always busy. So, we made reservations for 8:15pm (late for Hawaii standards) and went to Yanagi...it was PACKED! We ordered two combination meals: my mom ordered broiled salmon and mixed tempura, my dad ordered nigiri sushi and mixed tempura - both of the meals came with rice, salad, and miso soup. I ordered sushi ala carte - spicy tuny maki, Hawaiian toro (fatty tuna), and hamachi nigiri, and shared their tempura. The fish slices on top of the nigiri were really thick and fresh, the tempura was perfect (not too greasy). The only complaint I had was that I had to flag down the waitress to get refills on my water - partly not her fault because she was slammed with customers - but other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am definitely coming back the next time I'm in town!

    (5)

  • Annette D.

    Being new in town I wanted to eat some of the best sushi yelped about so I called Yanagi on a Sunday night to ask how late they were serving. A woman answered the phone and stated how late they served, 9 or 10 PM I don't remember. I politely thanked her and showed up at the restaurant about an hour later. After valet parking I walked in the door only to be quickly dismissed, "No reservation, no table", she quipped at me. Taken aback I clarified, "Just one, for the sushi bar..." "No reservation!" she hissed as her scaly tail whipped and snapped. Stunned by the fire breathing dragon in the corner I backed out of the restaurant and sorely retrieved my car from valet. As my new $1000 car stalled on the way out of the drive, I scorned the dragon for not encouraging a reservation at the time of my call. Low on gas and lost in the maze of downtown I circled the vicinity and filled up on gas then tried in vain to find a H-1 exit home. Hungry and defeated I found myself forced onto the highway in the wrong direction! Since I was heading back toward the restaurant, I picked up my phone, dialed the last number and the dragon answered. " I would like to make a reservation for one at the sushi bar", I stated. " Okay come on in, sushi bar is clearing up" the dragon replied. " I was just there and you turned me away!" I cried. The dragon defended herself staunchly stating how busy they were at the time and how much time had really lapsed since I was there. Okay I did get lost for quite some time, so I quietly resolved to be in shortly. Frustrated with the service thus so far, wondering why she didn't give me an estimated waiting time the first time I was there, I pulled up to the restaurant and found there was ample parking on the street. The valet was so unnecessary. To sum it up, I got in, I sat down and the sushi was incredible. The toro was top notch, the hamachi was awesome; long endless buttery pieces that melted in my mouth, and the mirugai was fresh and crunchy. I smiled in delight as the trauma of the dragon became a distant memory - with the occasional flashback that is. But the PTSD was worth it.

    (4)

  • Tyrus L.

    food is all right... tasted better and tasted worst

    (3)

  • Darcie N.

    the shabu-shabu is a must. if you want a more sweet option, get the sukiyaki which comes with a raw egg too. they have dave's green tea too. yum. the only reason i give 4-stars is that you pretty much have to have a reservation since they get too busy and turn people away. valet only.

    (4)

  • Isy E.

    I came here on a night that wasn't so busy. We sat right up at the bar, and what an experience! Basically, we did some items off the menu, and some as we saw it pass us on the way to other patrons. "Ooh, let's try that!" was a common theme of the night. Presentation is stellar: very simple, no frills, which is how I prefer my sushi... Skip all the sauces and garnishes, please. The chef was very friendly and joked with us the whole time. I got put on to live abalone, which is a delicacy I haven't found at home, even though sushi is pretty quality where I live. So fresh it was still squirmy! Delicious! Their amaebi also is the freshest I've ever tasted. And the last stand out was the butterfish... I think we had them run that back three times at least! Everything was flavourful and fresh, and in the case of their cooked foods, not overwhelmed with sauces and salt. The service was super friendly and prompt as well, despite us being overexcited with the parade of fish and which to sample next. Definitely will be back!

    (5)

  • Rachel K.

    Good quality sushi. The bill was scary but the price was worth it!

    (4)

  • Karine L.

    Very good sushi and great service. I would go back!

    (4)

  • Brian K.

    I have to admit that my girlfriend likes this place much more than I do, so we come here often. As for the service..., this place is constantly Jam packed so a walk in is out of the question. My first experience waking into a crowded restaurant, standing in front of the hostess, while she skillfully avoided eye contact with me while talking on her phone, writing things down on recipes, and doing basically everything you could imagine. When I was finally addressed, she asked "reservation? " which we did not have... After being quickly shuued away I hated this place. Luckily we gave it a second chance, with a reservation, and to be honest the food is quite good. Nothing too special, but the sushi prices are quite reasonable for what you get. Overall I don't really like this place, but my girlfriend loves it, do i will be returning soon.

    (3)

  • Jodi T.

    Thank you Yanagi Sushi for being open late. My friends and I went after work around 12am and the place was packed. We waited for about 5 minutes then our table was ready. We're normally a fairly loud/talkative group but its so quite in Yanagi Sushi so we didn't talk too much. Most of us ordered from the late night happy hour and the boys ordered pitchers of beer. The baby tako is super cute and super tasty. Those were my favorite for the night. A few other things we ordered was the spicy tuna, unagi, california roll, shrimp tempura, and a few others. I highly recommend this place for consistently great food and service.

    (5)

  • Shay K.

    I love Yanagi sushi! It's one of the very few sushi restaurants on the island that ALWAYS has good quality uni on hand, and considering my great-grandma's picky taste, is a big thing for me. You can pre order food by faxing it to them the day before if you have a big party, and this helps a lot considering the wait can be long since everything is made right there. I usually get their assorted nigiri meals since I love fish but recently tried their rolls. The spider roll and dragon roll were amazing - and I'm not usually such an Unagi fan. Even the honeymoon roll was delicious. Four stars for consistently good food. One star minus for the super tight seating.

    (4)

  • Shawny S.

    I come here mostly during their happy hour which is from 10:30 to 2:00. It's a good late night place to have a few drinks & appetizers at. The prices are reasonable & the food is yummy. My top three favorites is the salmon with maui onion, oyster shooters & the sashimi deluxe. The service is good. I always leave this place satisfied.

    (4)

  • Kathy A.

    I had the opportunity to have lunch today with an old friend, my treat, my choice. She actually suggested a place on Dillingham but I said "nope, I'll take you to a better place and we will enjoy it more". No reservations so we sat at the sushi bar which I love anyway. My friend started with the Deluxe sushi plate and I ordered ala carte off the Nigiri menu. Who got the best of that deal....me of course. The Otoro was absolutely an awesome, fatty delight that just slid down my throat melting all the way. Oysters, served nigiri style were tender, slightly salty and superb. Hamachi, Ikura, Uni with quail's egg. So heavenly, do they serve sushi in heaven, I sure hope so! Not that I'm going soon (I hope). After the above we were both looking at the sushi chef with hungry eyes so Do asked for a Tempura roll which we split. Not much of a roll fan as I am a bit of a snob and usually do sashimi or Nigiri only. Oh well, a guest is a guest so we split that roll and then ordered a rainbow roll LOL! it was really fantastic. The rice is silky and perfectly cooked, you almost don't notice it's there. The fish is so fresh and I assume it is so because the place is always so busy they must move a ton a day. The price is not cheap but it is worth it for a great lunch or dinner. I splurged and took home four California Rolls and 4 double Maguro Nigiri for the kids for dinner since I'm not cooking tonight! Parking is valet and only if you can get in the crowded lot. I'll be back soon and hopefully will know in advance so I can make reservations but for two the sushi bar is doable.

    (4)

  • Kelsi C.

    Yanagi Sushi is a great combination of traditional Japanese-upscale dining. Their Happy Hour starts at 10:30, so me, my boyfriend and my friends ordered some beers. What was off-putting about the menu was the fact that we saw the shabu-shabu list, and were impressed with the prices. We then found out that the prices were PER ORDER, and that a minimum of 2 orders were needed. We were upset, but we figured that we should have asked and inquired deeper. Also, a LOT of meat and vegetables were brought, and it was quite good. So, we didn't feel a need to complain. However, their sushi platter was quite good. The sushi was of nice quality, and the presentation was beautiful. The ahi didn't have much cartilage, which was good. It was nice and pink. The sushi was also nicely assembled, we could tell it was professionally-made. I have also had chicken katsu donburi here. The chicken katsu donburi is delicious. The chicken katsu is flavorful, the sauce is not too salty, and there's not an overflow of onions. They also have private party rooms, which are good for special occasion dinners. They do allow BYOB in those party rooms, but there is a corkage fee, and it cannot be a beverage they already have in stock. I recommend Yanagi for late-night ventures, but it is definitely not a casual hole-in-the-wall place, so be ready to spend.

    (3)

  • H Q.

    Yanagi Sushi is the place we celebrate special occasions - starting with our wedding reception over a decade ago. Tonight is no exception... the service here is great, Eunice is fantastic and attentive. And we love Kathy, at the front, always with a warm greeting and genuine welcome! They are two big reasons why we keep coming back. In one of the private dining rooms, our family feasts... and I mean feasts (just take a look at the pics). The fish is always fresh and never fishy. But the best thing is celebrating special events/occasions with my family! The food just adds the finishing perfect touches to already fantastic company! Ps - the Tempura Tenzaru Soba takes a little longer to come out... just FYI. Don't be surprised and no get upset... I just schooled you on it.

    (5)

  • Krista J.

    I have mixed feelings about this place.. The sushi was good.. Although way too much unagi sauce, my dragon roll was doused. And horrible presentation.The philly roll was good. But not the greatest service.

    (3)

  • Sheenarose A.

    This was my first time at yanagi and we went at happy hour so around 10pm, the staff seemed meh but the food really made up for it. Parking sucked and the wait was an hour to get seated :(

    (3)

  • Ashley D.

    You can tell its a serious sushi place when they don't use mayonnaise in their rolls. I ordered one of the lunch combos with sashimi, nigiri, and short ribs. The fish was to die for. So good! It hit the spot. I could barely finish everything. The cuts were thick and generous. Short rib was just alright - I would recommend the butterfish. My friend ordered that and it was a better alternative than the short rib.

    (4)

  • Amber F.

    I don't really eat sushi, but I picked this place for my bf who's a big sushi fan. I called in to make a reso at 8pm on a Monday, and it was super packed. We finished around 10, and the restaurant did not seem to die down. They have valet parking, but there should be some street parking available. I had the tonkatsu since I'm allergic to seafood. My bf had their trio sashimi...which included white tuna, tuna, and salmon. He loved it! He kept saying that the fish was not seasoned, but it tasted so buttery and fresh and they just melt in his mouth. The tonkatsu I had was a generous portion, and it was good. It's not mind blowing or anything, but the place is known for its sushi. So...there's that.

    (4)

  • Blayne Y.

    My friends and I went to Yanagi expecting good service as usual and always good quality sushi... Did not expect what happened next. During the whole night, the only time we got service was when we called for it. The server only came by our table to take our order, never after that. (Not even to top off water or to see if we were ok) On top of that, when I ordered Ama Ebi, I actually had to ask for the fried heads. It appeared at the earliest, 25 minutes later and it was cold. Then to rub salt in the wound, they double charged us for some salmon that we ordered. Good thing we looked at the bill otherwise we would have gotten screwed (on the bill & the tip). Then I call the manager and tell her about our poor experience and all she says was "sorry, it was a busy night." Poor service, poor management, I probably won't go there again if it were my choice. So sad because I really enjoyed going there...

    (1)

  • Maria T.

    I'm sad that I have to give them three stars. I used to LOVE eating at Yanagi. I came here for all of my birthdays, Christmas, and any special occasions. I'm just so disappointed from the recent services & so I'm writing this review. Not because I dislike them, but because I love them. Hopefully this can be their wake up call. To start off, I love their Uniyaki. It's absolutely delicious! I always get Uniyaki and rice, that's my main course here basically. However, they didn't have it three times in a row. After the first two times, I really wanted to avoid that from happening again. So I asked them when making reservations if they have it & they said yes. That was a lie. I didn't see it on their menu anymore, so I asked our waitress if I can order it & she said yes. So we ordered two. Later on, she comes back saying that they don't have it today. When I asked our waitress why they don't, she replied, "Uni costs a lot". What the heck does that supposed to mean. I'm the one paying for it?? Why don't you just raise the price then??? That answer just made me really confused. Like, I understand if they didn't have Uni that day. But no, she said it costs a lot. Is she making up answers, like wth. Even if they did run out of Uni, they should've told me on the phone when I asked. So I felt a little upset, since my main course is gone. If it was just that, maybe I wouldn't be so upset. But no, it doesn't end there. The server who brought our sake samplers was holding it with one hand and kept spilling sake all over the place. Not a little, but A LOT. Literally, our table had sake all over. He didn't even bother wiping the table or apologizing. We ordered sake sampler A & B and he spilt both of them. Why. I believe quality service is required and expected for restaurants like Yanagi. This server obviously didn't care at all about the customer's drinks. The quality of their food went down as well. The sashimi was great, very fresh and delicious. But their rolls and sushi... Did the chef change or something? The rolls and sushi were so messy! They fell apart and looked ugly. I uploaded a picture of one of the rolls so look at that below. You'll see... Overall, I was just so.... Disappointed. The food and service made it look like they did not care at all, and did whatever. I'm so damn disappointed! They weren't like this before... The quality of their fresh fish is still great, I give credit for that. But everything else just... Sigh. You used to be a 5 stars restaurant to me, now you're not... I know they can do better. Please, let this be your wake up call Yanagi!!!!! I'll return again, one more time. Hopefully, I'll be able to update this with a 5 star review. I really do hope so...

    (3)

  • Holly B.

    It's been over 20 years since the last time I've dined at this restaurant - can you believe it?!! I won't wait so long for my next visit! We had a family dinner here and it was wonderful! 1. 5 stars - because they take reservations! 2. 5 stars - for the FRESH sushi! Oh, so melt-in-the-mouth good! 3. 5 stars - for the delicious tonkatsu, thick and juicy! 4. 5 stars - for the delicious teriyaki steak, medium rare, tender and juicy! 5. 5 stars - for the spider roll; the soft shell crab was really good! 5. 5 stars - constantly refilling our water glasses 6. 3 stars - bringing out bowls of rice for the complete meals about 20 minutes before the entrees came out. They were cold by the time the entrees came out - boo! 7. 3 stars - my sushi order was forgotten, then brought out wrong... Overall a great dining experience notwithstanding the small gaffs. My family enjoyed it and were happy and full and that was most important to me!

    (4)

  • John F.

    I've been a fan of Yanagi sushi for decades. Although recently their dinner prices are a little expensive. Their lunch is very reasonable but my favorite is the late night specials which happens after 10:30 pm. It's a great place to go when you have the late night munchies. Among the specials are California roll, spicy tuna roll, salmon skin roll, kaiware salmon skin salad, and my favorite the salmon over raw onion. I went there with two other people a few nights ago and we ordered about 7 dishes and our bill came to about $50. Really reasonable for late night delicious snacking. The only problem is their parking lot. They have very limited parking but there is a valet parking attendant. If you're going late at night then simply park along Kapiolani Boulevard for free.

    (4)

  • Katy T.

    PROS: They are open late! It's hard to find a place to eat after midnight. Also, they have a pretty good late night happy hour menu. The food is usually really good quality and the prices are excellent on the late night menu. We had the blackened ahi, the salmon cutlet, spicy ahi roll, philly roll, a beer, 2 diet pepsi's and green tea ice cream, all for $46. CONS: TERRIBLE, unfriendly service. There's usually a wait late at night. Luckily, the late hours and good food make it worth it. I also don't like the decor, but it's perfect for a (Korean) Japanese sushi restaurant. It's usually really cold in there too, and the chairs are tiny! Pray for a booth.

    (3)

  • Sasha L.

    Oh Yanagi, whenever I finish work late or need a late night bite, you're always there for me! Their late night happy hour is amazing! Food and drink specials on all the good stuff! I love getting their salmon and Maui onion appetizer, salmon skin salad, fried gyoza, katsu, spicy ahi roll, salmon skin roll, California rolls, oyster shooters and dynamite oysters! The servers are always working late but they are always so polite and attentive and my drinks are never empty.

    (5)

  • Peter C.

    Five stars for the service and food. If you are looking for some ono kine grindz, I recommend coming here during the late night happy hour, The late night menu is available 10:30pm to 2am, Monday through Saturday. Last call is at 1:30am. I tired the salmon skin salad ($4.25), fresh salmon ($6.95), California roll ($5.25), salmon skin roll ($4.75), spicy tuna roll ($4.75), New York teriyaka steak ($8.25). See my pictures. My favorite is the salmon skin salad. It's simply made with kaiware sprouts and salmon skin over ponzu sauce. Parking is available on the street after 6pm on weekdays or you may utilize their valet service.

    (5)

  • Crissy K.

    I was going to give this place 3 stars . . . but let's just say I found out the hard way that someone in the kitchen at Yanagi does not know proper hand-washing procedures. (You're on Yelp, so you're probably hungry, so I'll spare you the details.) Somehow, even though I live in town, I had never made my way to Yanagi until today. I guess I was not missing much. The food was OK, but just that. The only dish we had today that I'd consider specifically going back for is the blackened ahi sashimi with their special ponzu sauce -- and then only because the ponzu sauce had great, great flavor. The ahi was just good, at best. The impact of the sashimi was not like that at other Japanese/sushi restaurants, where it leaves you wishing you could have more or where you would really notice the difference a good cut of raw fish makes. Again, there was nothing wrong with it, really, but it just wasn't of the quality I was expecting. My mixed tempura was all right. I believe it came with two pieces of shrimp, two pieces of ahi (not sure, I didn't eat one), one piece of tako, one kabocha, a couple of string beans, and one of what I think was squash. I will complement the cook on the texture of the kabocha: Some places don't cook it right, and the kabocha ends up being too tough, but Yanagi's was just right. The other pieces were all right. Tako was a bit difficult to bite into as a tempura item, though I do give them credit for trying. Prices are all right. Definitely not cheap, but reasonable compared to other Japanese restaurants. I would say they were a bargain if the food quality had been better. Where Yanagi is really lacking is service. The greeter at the front of the restaurant was nice, but everyone else was curt at best. There is a cultural component to that, sure, but if you're going to be in the service industry in the U.S. and you don't bill yourself as Angry Korean Lady, you might want to be, I dunno, not rude? The servers (yes, multiple) asked us at least three times whether we were ready to order (we didn't take THAT long), but when it came time to refill our waters and bring us the check, no one came by -- oh, except the busboy. And he was running, literally. Probably because he was the only one doing anything at that point. Parking at Yanagi is valet only. I don't really care for valet parking, but it's understandable that this is so, once you've seen their odd little parking lot. It's a good thing, then, that I probably won't be going back here any time soon.

    (2)

  • Sungjin S.

    Went to Yanagi earlier this week and have been wanting to go for a long time. I was not disappointed but not Wow-ed either. Atmosphere: As soon as you walk in you realize this place had a lot of japanese decor. Sushi bar is clearly visible with sake bottles above the cashier. Along the walls are pictures of what I assumed were famous people. Although most were old and I did not recognize anybody in the photos. Service: Seated promptly without waiting. There is plenty of seating in the restaurant. Waiters were very attentive and polite. Food: Fish says it all in a sushi restaurant. We ordered the sushi omakase and sushi deluxe with some cold sake. The initial appetizer looked like it had been sitting around for a while, which we found out was true when we saw a tray full of premade appetizers compete with shrimp, edamame, and bean sprouts. The sushi was fresh and very tasty. See my pictures. I distinctly remember the fatty ahi melting in my mouth. But the fish wasn't as fresh as Mitch's. Learned that wasabi is the name of the plant that the paste comes from. Intangibles: not really but the parking is limited but its great they offer complimentary valet parking. Good sushi place would come again.

    (3)

  • Mikey H.

    He: Late night HH...we go Way before I was a Yelper, I had come to this quaint little joint years ago. On my last night before coming to the mainland, this was my last meal. It was a little after 10 and they have late night specials that start at 10:30. And it's not just a few items, but a great selection of food! Since it was late, parking was self-service and not a problem. Waiting was also not a problem. So I suggest coming at 10:30 or right when they open. Friendly greeting when I walked in to get a table, and all the servers were efficient. Depending where you are seated, it can be a little cozy...kind of reminds me of New York City. Since we were hungry, I just had my bud order for us with a nice big pitcher of cold beer! The seared ahi was perfect! The spicy tuna roll was great! The tempura and chicken teriyaki were perfect but my favorite was the salmon skin salad with pnzu sauce. Overall, this is a great place to come to. I'm sure it's busy on the weekend and parking can be crazy. I'll definitely be back next summer! (yeah, I'm on Hawaiian time with my reviews, but this is the last one)

    (4)

  • Robin S.

    Late night is the best time to go to Yanagi. Unfortunately, I was too hungry to wait after 10pm. We order their Omasake for two, which came on a big plate and consists of Abalone, Yellowtail, salmon, uni, Ponzu Oyster, Snapper, Squid, and Ikura, Tuna, and another type of sushi I couldn't identify. Loved, Loved the Abalone and squid! We also order deep fried Octopus and their special salmon dish that came with sauce and a lot of onions. Most locals come here and I can see why. This is the one place I have to go back to if I'm ever in Oahu again.

    (4)

  • Joanne V.

    Spontaneity led me to drive down from Waipahu to town with my girls for the sole reason of dining in at Yanagi since we were all Yanagi virgins & were all craving sushi (We also didn't want to waste our Saturday night!). We arrived at maybe 12am & were seated in a private room, isolated. At first, everything was pretty great so we didn't mind our seats. Service was quick (up until it wasn't) staff was friendly & helpful. After we got our food, we felt pretty invisible. Maybe it was because the diners at the table next to us were taking shots & we weren't (so we didn't seem so fun.. Whatevs). Waited forever for water refills & my friend didn't get a drink she ordered (although we had asked twice), but it still showed up on her check. I ordered the deluxe chirashi & it was good - fresh & tasty enough, but with no water refill throughout my meal, I just found myself getting way too thirsty (not good!). I intend dine in again to order off of the late night special menu & I sure hope that service is better for me & my friends!

    (3)

  • Erica D.

    Was recommended by a bartender at the Hilton to check out this spot and it was great. The sweet shrimp was delicious as well as he salmon and other items we ordered. The service was good and fast. Would definitely come here again if I was back in Waikiki

    (5)

  • Ashley V.

    Two days ago my co-workers decided to half kidnap/half force me to eat dinner with them after work.. In town.. After I worked a 10 hour shift.. & I live on the Leeward side.. And this took place at roughly 10:15pm... Welllll.. I grit my teeth & half-heartedly went along for the ride.. (I would like to note that I love my co-workers & time spent, but it was just a looooong & exhausting day. & I really missed my bed).. Anyways, our original plan was to eat at some ramen joint in town that is supposedly a really great ramen spot. We got there too late & they closed along with majority of the restaurants around the area. Soooo.. One of my co-workers suggested Yanagi Sushi since it was the only place that could cater to both meat lovers & vegetarians. Yes, one of my co-workers was vegetarian.. Which made our hunt for a great eating spot to be very challenging! But! YANAGI FOR THE WIN!!! We arrived there around 11:15pm and had about a 15 minute wait. [Yanagi is a veryyyy small sushi spot near McKinley high school & Ala Moana.] We we're seated & within minutes we had are drinks and menu's. We ordered off the late night specials menu since we all are a bunch of broke foodies (lol), & I'm glad we did! I ordered the (M) Teri Chicken & Fried Ahi combo along with a few pupu's: fried baby tako & blackened ahi sashimi in ponzu sauce. My total was roughly about $30 (tip included). The baby tako was a first for me, but it was fried just right and tasted pretty good! I had trouble eating it at first due to the fact that it IS an entire baby octopus about the size of a ping pong ball.. & actually seeing the whole sea creature, I was quite turned off.. But getting past the sight of it, as I said, it was good. The blackened ahi sashimi was pretty good as well. I reallyyyy wanted regular sashimi (hamachi, ahi), but the prices we're really pricey for my budget at that moment. As for the combo; the chicken was typical Teri chicken (the sauce was goooood on rice) and the fried ahi was more of an ahi Katsu versus actual pan fried like I was thinking. But it was good. My friends ordered the tonkatsu, chicken katsu, steak, gyoza's, & a few vegetarian sushi rolls. All my co workers we're very satisfied with their dinners! We also ordered hot sake, which is stillllll an acquired taste for me. But I must say.. As much alcohol as I drink, just ONE shot of this stuff makes me feel warm and extremely close to a buzz. Service here was good. I have no complaints. The only thing I had an issue with was the parking! Yanagi is literally on the corner of a street with veryyyy little parking. It was somewhat hard to find parking, but luckily for us somebody was leaving and let us have their stall. But all in all Yanagi is a very nice, chill sushi spot with great food. I would definitely recommend this place to people, & I will be back again!

    (4)

  • Justine Emily M.

    Happy hour makes me happy Except when they try to give me a tiny ass table smushed to the corner by two big tables seriously...the table wasnt even big enough to extend my elbows from end to end..how was it going to fit alllllllll the food I order ANYWAY, I asked the waitress for another table and she had me sit back in the front for another 10-15 min. Atmosphere is nice. It's clean. Staff is friendly but they tend to disappear for a bit. Food was good as always.

    (4)

  • Youngsoon P.

    Everyone knows yanagi is the best! So I don't have to go into detail. If you don't think so maybe you have mirugai as brains If no seating or line is to long sit at the bar with the sushi men

    (5)

  • Jay P.

    After working a night shift, my friend and I decided to hit up some happy hour specials to eat (and preferably not drink). We went to Yanagi's. Worst. Decision. Ever. First off, parking is hard to come by. It's either complimentary valet parking or finding parking on the street somewhere nearby. Good luck. We called in to tell them that we were coming in and were seated immediately. That's basically the only great part about our experience. After we were seated, we both ordered separately and waited...and waited...and waited. I ordered the unagi donburi and it came within twenty or so minutes. The rest of our food? It came about half an hour later. No joke. I was holding off on eating my food because I felt bad for my friend, but then my friend started feeling bad for me because the long wait resulted in cold food. My friend ordered a donburi too so I have no idea why her order took so long. The rest of our food came all at once a few minutes after my friend's donburi came in and we went straight to eating. The one item we both did not enjoy was the salmon skin salad. It had a pungent taste with a dry texture...not a great combination. The service was terrible. Not only did our order take forever, but they also got our order wrong. When we told the server about the mistake, he claimed that he punched in the right order and that the kitchen is at fault. Do we really give a shit who is at fault? Stop playing the blame game and please just correct the mistake? My friend then asked for extra sushi ginger and we instead got grated ginger. When we asked our waiter to switch the grated ginger for the ginger that is usually paired with sushi dishes, he claimed that WE asked for grated ginger and that WE were at fault this time. ...I just can't. Just...never again.

    (1)

  • Dwayne Y.

    Fresh fish and seafood. Nice servers and clean joint. I like the sushi deluxe. It comes filled with delectable treats such as Uni, Mirugai, and Amaebi. If you want something different, the Teishoku and Sukiyaki is great too. The seafood dynamite was great. It was very savory and the flavors of the seafood came through the dynamite sauce. Tempura is always good here. The shrimp is moist and has a nice crisp exterior. This is definitely a good place to get your Japanese fix on!

    (4)

  • Yuki W.

    Had pretty good service. I had my boyfriends birthday dinner with friends. They helped us to keep the birthday cakes. I really like their food since the taste really good. There are many interesting Japanese food too.

    (5)

  • Kade M.

    Visited this place based on a local recommendation. Sat at the bar but larger parties can be seated in private booths that give it a secluded feel. Sushi was affordable for Hawaii standards and very fresh. Some of the best negitoro I've ever had and would highly recommend trying the roll. Location also has complimentary valet parking, which is another perk for this location. Definitely check this place out if you're looking for an authentic local sushi joint and want to avoid the overpriced and commercialized tourist traps.

    (5)

  • Krysten I.

    I like Yanagi Sushi for its Happy Hour food and late night hours. It does get very crowded, so even at 11pm on a weekday, you may have to wait. The hostess was a bit unfriedly when we walked in for a late night bite. The owners are Korean, so the set up is like a typical Korean restaurant with the hostess at the front with a big book and all the checks. There is also a sushi bar and then plenty of smaller tables and more private rooms in the back. The walls are also covered with "famous" people who have come to the restaurant. I don't recognize a lot of them, but we sat at a table with Stephanie Kono smiling at us, which I thought was pretty cool. The happy hour specials are a little hit or miss. I like the sushi and the fresh salmon with onion and ponzu. We tried the NY steak, it came with teriyaki sauce, but was a little charred from the grill. The boyfriend hates charred things, but I don't mind, so I guess it's a matter of preference. I liked the oyster shooter (without egg), but for $4, idk if it's worth it. I'd much rather go to sushi king for oysters. The service was alright, nothing exceptional. They did come by to apologize that our food was taking so long, but the apology didn't really sink in due to the fact that my boyfriend and I were freezing our butts off waiting for our last dish. Late at night, street parking is easy to find. Come for the Happy Hour specials. Although I don't drink beer, the beer specials are very good. I do wish they offered other happy hour beverages aside from sake/soju and beer. -___- I'll keep coming back for that salmon/onion dish alone....

    (4)

  • Tammy L.

    Seaweed salad was amazing, and all sashimi was fresh as can be. Seemed like a locals favorite -- definitely recommend!

    (5)

  • Sam F.

    CHECK YOUR RECEIPT ALWAYS BECAUSE THEY TRIED TO CHARGE ME AND LIKE TWO OTHER PARTIES $50+ MORE THAN OUR ORIGINAL ORDER. They fully tried to pull a sneaky thing there! Thy didn't itemize what I ordered and put food I didn't even order on there. I honestly could not believe I ordered two rolls of sushi and it was like $60 and I could not believe it! So I told him to itemize what I ate and he came back and the bill was $23!!!! HOW ON EARTH?! the only reason why I gave two stars instead of one was because the food was delicious. Too bad this service totally killed it for me.

    (2)

  • KP H.

    Delicious, great presentation of food, clean & simple decor, attentive service. I ordered the combination lunch special (choose 2 items, $23), which comes with salad, miso soup, white rice, and a choice of ice cream. I chose the nigiri and fish tempura as my two items. I finished everything (except the white rice) and was stuffed! The quality and fish/rice ratio/shape was ok. Parking was challenging. You can valet park in the front, or try to find parking at the back of the restaurant (limited). Reservation highly recommended. Local works and Japanese nationals come here to eat.

    (4)

  • Peter T.

    Giving this place three stars but mostly for price. Sushi was excellent, atmosphere great, and service solid but $35 for a sushi plate is insane. Would repeat but only if solo or one other person so we could sit at the bar and ala carte. Only thing unique here BTW was the tempura sauce, theirs was thick which I've never seen before. Was pretty good but got cool too quick.

    (3)

  • Jon H.

    It's always the right time for sushi. This hold true at 12:00 pm and is still just as true at 12:00 am. I came here last night after catching a movie with a friend, and I'm glad I did. What really elevates Yanagi Sushi and solidifies their 4 star rating for me is that not only are they a late-night (and I'm talking midnight and later) option, but the quality that goes into their sushi and chirashi is legit. Prices are fair, but expect to spend around $30 for a sushi set. I ordered the sushi deluxe set for $26. And for those wanting a more true sushi experience, they have multiple omakase types, which you can do for as low as $35. And although it might not be as extensive and glorious as the omakase from some of the other expensive sushi places on the island, you're only going to pay a fraction at Yanagi comparably. Late night happy hour also makes Yanagi an extremely attractive spot. Although the items on special are relatively small in number in contrast to their normal menu, you're bound to find something for everyone. I'm a pretty big fan of the natto maguro, but I know that might not be a unanimously popular choice. Haha. Parking is really the worst drawback here. It fills up nearly immediately. And although Yanagi Sushi might never be the first place I think of when I'm trying to get my sushi fix, I have yet to leave disappointed with my order.

    (4)

  • Katie M.

    Not gonna lie, my friends and I have made this hole in the wall Japanese restaurant a regular stop just for their Happy Hour (late night from 10:30PM to 2:00AM). Everything on their Happy Hour menu I like - Shrimp Balls delicious. Fried Baby Tako - aww so cute... and delicious. Fresh Salmon with Onion - delicious. California Roll & Spicy Tuna Roll - plain, simple & delicious. You get the idea. Their regular menu selection (sushi rolls are bomb!) varies but the prices are pretty high in my opinion. Other helpful stuff: -They take reservations -Gift cards are available upon request (came in handy for a friend's gift!) -Parking is limited and can fill up fast especially on weekends. They have valet parking, but street parking along Kapiolani Boulevard is free (after 6PM)!

    (4)

  • Ariel A.

    I've been coming here for years now and this is one of my favorite places!!! They also have a late night happy hour which is great when you have that sushi crave!!

    (5)

  • Cyndy K.

    Cyndy's Bottom Line: Fresh generous cuts of sashimi nicely plated. You know it is fresh when you see the owner outside accepting an order of freshly caught tako. Love the combination dinners offered. The combination dinner plate with a choice of (2) or (3) entrees to select. There is a large list of yummy items to choose from It is served with a salad and miso soup. I ordered the ahi & vegetable tempura with sashimi. The miso soup is served piping hot the way it should be. Delicious white miso broth with pieces of aburage. The salad is offices greens dressed with a French style dressing. The ahi was very moist, tender and delicious. The tempura batter light and combined with a light golden crispy panko. The vegetables are string beans, carrots, and pumpkin which are nicely fried golden covered in a light tempura batter. The tempura dipping sauce is so flavorful and compliments the tempura well. The sashimi was so fresh and delicious. Generous pieces of ahi, salmon and tako. Great selection of Japanese beer. The only downfall is the spotty service.

    (4)

  • Rockne H.

    For my final evening in Hawaii, my family and I wanted to eat at a sushi restaurant and enjoy each other's company. After much research on Yelp, we decided on Yanagi. It was close to our hotel and seemed to be reasonably priced. Yanagi is located close to the Blaisdell Arena on Kapiolani. It's not really a good place for parking. In fact, this restaurant only offers valet, which has it's perks as well as disadvantages. When you enter the restaurant, it seems really small, but that's only because there are many different rooms and nooks making for a very intimate setting for you and your party. Wooden finishes, tiled ceilings, pictures and other art in the area makes it seems a little busy. We got sat right by the bar which also had a lot of foot traffic. The staff was nice enough, but wasn't really as personable as we hoped for. At times, he also wasn't as available as we would have preferred. Aside from that, here's what we had for dinner: Salmon Nigiri, 2 pieces for $6 - Kind of steep of a price for that, especially since the nigiri was small. Thank goodness the salmon was fresh and super creamy. Salmon Kama (Collar) for $8.75 - This is probably THE BEST deal of the joint. The collar is HUGE. Lots of meat, the salmon is perfectly grilled. The meat is flaky and juicy. The char flavor is not overpowering and brings a smokey and earthy flavor. My favorite dish of the evening, HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Salmon Skin Roll for $6.95 - Crispy salmon skin, onion, kaiware daikon and dry fish on the outside. Everything was good with this roll except the dried fish flakes on the outside. It was too much and really made the roll salty. Spider Roll for $14.50 - Soft shell crab, cucumber, avocado, lettuce, daikon, sesame seeds, mayonnaise and special teri sauce. This was a great roll! The crab was fried lightly and gave a nice crunch. Lots of different flavors and textures from the veggies. Dragon Roll for $13.50 - Unagi (eel), crab meat, avocado, cucumber and mayonnaise. This was also a great roll! Each sushi had a huge piece of sweet unagi on it. I loved the balance that the avocado and cucumber brought. Tonight was a great success. At the end of the day, the Salmon Kama will keep me coming back again and again. This was a great restaurant with good food. A wonderful way to end my last evening in Hawaii. If you're in the area, check this place out! Get the kama!

    (4)

  • Sean D.

    Authentic Japanese dining experience w/ sushi bar & private rooms for bigger parties. Open late w/ a late night dining menu that starts @ 10:30pm until closing. Good quality Japanese food for a reasonable price. It gets pricy depending on what you order, but you get what you pay for. Check to see if they have Japan Toro in season, it's worth the price.

    (4)

  • Stephanie L.

    The only reason why this is a 4 star and isn't a 5 star rating is because of the parking and service. Service is always so slow whenever I go and the parking is miserable. Other than that, the best omakase ever! Thick slices of fish and the ratio of fish to rice is perfect. I saw some reviews comparing this place to Katz Sushi. Are you serious? Like, get out of here! Even my boyfriend who only eats beef enjoys the fresh sashimi and sushi rolls here. I always get the sushi or sashimi omakase. It has always been a melt in the mouth experience to me and I just don't see myself eating sashimi at any other sushi joints around this area (Katz, Doraku, Izakaya Gaku). The latter have awesome rolls and sauces on their food. But strictly sashimi, I will always pick Yanagi!

    (4)

  • Mamie K.

    Was in Oahu vacationing. One of the cousins had mentioned this place as an option for lunch one of the days we were out doing the touristy thing visiting Pearl Harbor. This place happened to belong to the auntie of the cousins friend. So we thought, why not let's try it out since we gotta eat anyways. Our group was a party of 15. So a little difficult getting in to places without reservations ahead of time. We were able to get a table. So we headed to the restaurant. Place is located in the heart of Honolulu. Very busy and not much parking available. When we arrived at the restaurant, there was a very small lot in front of the place. Only VALET parking offered - COMPLIMENTARY (even better). We go inside & our table is waiting for us. We were seated in a special room off to the side. It is a very cute little japanese restaurant. Like many are decorated with traditional flair. The servers who helped us spoke with a strong japanese accent. One thing they mentioned to us they closed at 2:30pm. So last orders were being taken up to 2pm before the kitchen closed. My family ordered sushi to share. Sushi was okay, nothing spectacular. The other family members ordered bento boxes which looked good & were of good size. It was nice to try this place. Something different. Service is good and food is good. A little on the pricier end.

    (3)

  • Christa B.

    Love the late night menu! I got a ton of food for under $50! Okay, so they start your meal with a small tray that included edamame, a shrimp with it's head on, and some sprouts. I know there's not much to miso soup, but it was some of the best I've had! The kurobuta sausage tastes just like a hot dog, but I love hot dogs, so I was more than happy! The deep fried ahi was very mild, so mild for a fish that at first I thought it was pork! Best shrimp tempura I've ever had! Salmon on rOund onion was just like butter. The uni was different than uni I've had elsewhere. It was still creamy, but almost had a floral after taste to it rather than a horse radish after taste that I've had before. Service was slow when we were there, but the place was jam packed at 10pm on a Monday night! Love that they're open late! There's not too many restaurants in Waikiki that are. Also nice that you don't need reservations after 9pm, otherwise, you need to call to make reservations for dinner.

    (4)

  • Terry L.

    This is a great place for late night. We like to go here after 9 or 10pm. Although the valet ends around 10, you can park in the lot (it's very crowded) or on the street. Ironically, I believe it to be Korean run but retains it's Japanese authenticity. The teishoku sets are reasonable and very filling. They do have combination sets where you get two choices of main dishes. My favorite is the tempura donburi or ten-don. It's shrimp tempura (deep fried) over rice. The presentation is very Japanese, in a nice box with a lid. I highly recommend reservations if you decide to go to Yanagi during more traditional dinner hours as there is usually people waiting outside. For me, this will always be a preferred late night dinner/pupu and drinks kinda place. Food=4 of 5 Atmosphere=3 of 5 Service=3 of 5 Value=3 of 5

    (4)

  • Rasia O.

    Great service, great food & clean ambiance:-) I totally love their lunch set meals (I usually order sashimi with tempura comes with rice, miso soup, salad and dessert). They also give yummy appetizers!:)

    (5)

  • Dave F.

    Okay, I know I hardly give five stars when writing a review, but Yanagi Sushi IMHO deserves them. Have you ever wanted to go to a particular restaurant, but every time you call to make reservations they're booked? Well, if you want to dine here, you BETTER make sure you call ahead and don't just "show up" on their doorstep (unless you're a regular)! They may not look busy from first glance, but that parking lot and restaurant fill up VERY fast! I would like to mention that it had been some time since I had dined here, so it was almost like dining here for the first time. No disappointments whatsoever! On the night my dining companion and I were in here, I started out with the customary bottle of Heineken, yes, can't enjoy my dinner without one! Then, after carefully looking over the menu and wanting to order just about everything in it, we put in our order. Mind you that after we ordered, I politely asked our server if he could kindly leave a menu with us "just in case" we decided to add to our already good sized order. Note to self: The mind plays funny tricks on you when you're hungry! :p After munching on our appetizers which included, namul (bean sprouts), soy beans, deep fried shrimp and a dish of oshinko, we were ready for our dinner! Item #1, Salmon with Maui Onion Sunomono, which if you've never had, you must have it on your next visit. Fresh Sake sashimi with sweet Maui onions in a vinegar sauce is an awesome combination! Very generous portion of onions! Item #2, Asst. Tempura. Crispy battered servings of carrots, pumpkin and large shrimp. A winner! Item #3, Super Sushi Deluxe, generous sampling of asst. nigiri and handrolls, Ikura, Unagi, Ama Ebi, Maguro, Tamago, Mirugai, Uni and half a Cali Roll and Ahi/Cucumber roll. Freshness! Item #4, Ah... Ribeye Steak! A tender slab of ribeye in it's finest, served on a sizzling platter with a bed of onions and mushrooms. A slice of house butter comes on top of it. I thought this steak was very well prepared, not overdone, very tender. A winner for us ribeye lovers, nothing can be more disturbing than a nice piece of ribeye not prepared correctly. A+!! Well, we sure didn't need the menu because we were content with our meal and the portions we were served. The service we received was prompt, informative and friendly. It was a meal that was not only memorable, but one that makes you want to return. Parking was easy since we arrived early, the valet service, which is the only way you can park in the lot, was easy. Complimentary, but tip the guys, they do a great job. All in all, we truly enjoyed our dinner at Yanagi Sushi and hope to return soon!

    (5)

  • Jhay B.

    My review had changed! I love coming here because a certain employee knows us as regulars I like the fact that she asks how my day is going and that she takes care of us even when it's busy I think her name is jean or Jeanie but she is awesome which changed my review of this establishment.

    (5)

  • Henry F.

    The food is good, and this place is busy - so be sure to call ahead. Parking is valet only.

    (4)

  • Alex T.

    This will be my third time visiting Yanagi and the third time receiving disappointing service; prompting me to finally write this review. Let me start off by saying that I'm in the service industry, so I know how ordering off the late night menu and how late Friday/Saturday night parties get on most servers' nerves, but you would think that they'd at least pretend to be in a good mood. This particular time, my girlfriend and I joined our friends who just finished work. We arrived 15 minutes after them (12:10), so beers were already on the table. A guy came around and offered us extra glasses and my friends were ready to order. "Hold on let me get your server." My friends thought he was our server since he had previously taken their drink orders, but 15 minutes later (12:27) an older woman who hadn't touched the table the entire time arrived and asked us "Are you ready to order?" No greeting, no introduction, and it sadly got worse We were checked on ONCE by our server, who never gave us updates on how much longer we'd be waiting for our order. The last item (some salmon tataki w/onion thing) two friends ordered took 40 minutes. The busser however was good at clearing our empty plates and getting us more alcohol. Honestly wished he would just be our server. Then around 1:30 the older woman came by again to tell us they collect alcohol glasses at 1:45, but we were ready for the check by then. She may have said "Thank you" but it's hard to remember because she had practically no face time with us apart from taking our food order. At least the check came fast Positives: -FOOD is decently priced and portioned -They are on top of ALCOHOL refills -OPEN LATE Negatives: -POOR SERVICE Everyone looked visibly tired and unhappy, minimal table checks/interaction with our server Hosts don't greet a good number of the walk ins (I was watching the front and noticed this happen a number of times) -PARKING is frustrating during main dining hours -If you're not drinking alcohol, make sure to ASK FOR WATER, and note that they CHARGE FOR REFILLS on soft drinks tl;dr Decent food at a $$ price range, cheap alcohol, but pretty bad service Oh and they also serve Pepsi products, no refills lol

    (2)

  • Conan T.

    Still the best Japanese food and sushi restaurant we've been to. Great food and awesome service always make eating here a wonderful experience.

    (5)

  • Goldie L.

    This place is quite good--worth the wait. I love their spicy ahi bowl. Their katsu is quite good too. This place gets packed so be prepared to wait.

    (5)

  • Veronica C.

    This was probably the best sashimi I had in Honolulu, and although it's a short drive out from the main Waikiki area it was worth it, and it was nice to get away from the bustling crowds and tourists. The service was prompt and helpful when we were unsure of how many dishes to order between four of us. We ended up sharing the sashimi and combination sushi platters, planning to order more if we needed to afterwards but that was enough for the light lunch we were after. There are a range of seating options - booths, and also small private alcoves separated by traditional sliding doors, or up at the bench where the chefs are preparing the food. We were there in time for a late lunch so it was fairly quiet, and I wish we'd had time to come back for the dinner menu and to try some of the hot dishes. If you're feeling peckish after a night out there is a late night menu with a decent range of selections too.

    (4)

  • Tony Y.

    Apparently, Yanagi Sushi is one of the more popular sushi restaurants in Honolulu. The Sushi and other food we ordered was worth 4 stars. The sushi was not the best I have ever had, but it was tasty and reasonably priced. The complementary starter is a nice touch, and the Miso soup was excellent. I took away one star because the parking is insane. Cars and cabs were back up out onto the road, and several cars were double parked and blocked in. After seeing that mess, I decided to park around the corner on the street, which I strongly suggest for any first time visitor. I also took away one star because the service was below average. A few people in my party were inexperienced when it came to Sushi and tried to ask the waitress questions; however, she was sort with us and said she would be back and that we needed to be ready to order. Are you kidding me... telling us we need to be ready to order. We had already ordered a bottle of Saki and an appetizer; we deserved more assistance with the menu. In all, if it wasn't for the great sushi and the prices, I would probably give them two stars because of the insane parking lot and poor service.

    (3)

  • Rel M.

    "Meh...I've experienced better" definitely summed up my last visit to Yanagi. Got there around Friday midnight; wait time was about 5 minutes (two of us). Score! Then we order from the Happy Hour menu. Double score! (Items ordered: Spicy Tuna bowl, Chicken katsu, chicken wings, Spicy hamachi roll...and two other rolls...don't remember cause we didn't get them :\) It was about 15 min till we got our first dish, then maybe 5-10 minutes for the other ones to trickle in. We didn't realize until we were almost finishing the last dish that we didn't get ANY of our rolls yet. We had to flag down our busser because our waiter couldn't be found; and asked if he could check on it. We didn't want it if it wasn't made yet. MINUTES later, he's filling waters at neighboring tables and we STILL didn't hear from our waiter. Another waiter finally comes by and we ask her to just bring our tab...and of COURSE all of our rolls are listed on there. I kindly told her that we didn't get those foods and to take it off and she says "well they're making it right now, sorry we ran out of sushi rice earlier" *face palm* I told her to take it off....keep in mind this is over an hour after we initially ordered. Even the table next to us didn't' receive their rolls. Smh. Basically, our waiter failed to mention this important fact to anyone and assumed after an hour and 3 small dishes later we would still want it. So, yeah, this was the experience. Yanagi's does have great food but they really need to work on service.

    (2)

  • Christey C.

    Late night combination with salmon katsu and chicken teriyaki was my go-to meal here. Until... I discovered a whole other dimension to their late night specials. Don't be like me and order the same dish for years. Do yourself a favor and look over the entire menu.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth D.

    First time coming here for my father in laws birthday. Heard only great reviews about this place. Location is right across BMW on Kapiolani. Parking is supah tight but it's ok because they have Valet. Inside is very small and felt claustrophobic. We had the private room which was long and slim but enough for about 30 people. Ambiance was cozy nice, decor was a little outdated but not at all tacky. Since it was a party, menu was already set. Chicken was ok, shrimp tempura and butterfish was a winnah!!! Sushi was good. Staff was average. Got our food very fast and prompt. Very attentive with checking our water, beer, and food. The only thing that could've been a disaster was staff brought out wrong birthday cake, the lights were out so everyone couldn't really tell until I let my hubby know, that's not our cake!!! Lol, that was a hilarious mistake. Anyhooos Happy Birthday Keylin too, whoever u are?!?

    (4)

  • Brandy W.

    All my super cool local friends always praise the omakase, but I'm so afraid! I've received too many snapchats of moving lobsters and other sea creatures still alive while being gobbled up! I mean, I like raw fish, but I have to draw a line somewhere. But as part of the Hawaii bucket list, we had to cross this off our list. In order to properly celebrate watching Godzilla, we picked yanagi sushi for dinner. I was very lucky to find a reservation at 530 a few days before, but was told we must leave by 7... okaaaaay. We arrive a little after 5 and park to walk around before they open. When we come back 15 minutes later (luckily we weren't towed) but they put up a sign that self park was prohibited. Valet only! We gave our keys and they moved our car two spots..... okaaaaay. A long line of patrons began to form in front of the restaurant. Is this first come first serve? Do these people not have reservations? Why is there a line? I'm so confused. Eventually the valet tells us the restaraunt is open and since no one else is moving, we walk past everyone and proclaim our limited 530 reservation. Service is slow. There is no good reason for this, as they sat us by the waiter station, we watched large groups of waiters standing around talking story, instead of delivering drinks and explaining the menu. In fact, one guy was delivering all the drinks for the tables near us. What happened to our waiter? Is this conversation that good that he just passed the drink order to this other guy? Deciding to finally buck up or shut up, we ordered the omakase and was pleasantly surprised. Nothing moving! All reasonably normal and tasty. The set seemed small but for around $35, I guess I should not have expected anything more. The fish was fresh, generously sliced and each piece had its own special flavor to it. I loved the hidden wasabi in some of the nigiri pieces. We ended our meal with kona ice cream, which as others have mentioned, is delicious but incredibly limited. Maybe sushi people don't like dessert? I doubt that... fseriously.

    (4)

  • Michelle T.

    call us "regulars" and catch us here on the weekly. we love love love this late dinner spot. definitely a place to hit up if you are looking for an Asian fusion, mixed menu restaurant. everything is awesome, food, drinks, atmosphere and customer service. our regular waitress, Jean, is the bomb and we always ask for her. She's on it with the orders and the routine check ups. she treats us as family and not as customers which is what keeps us coming back. some menu items to hit up are soft shell crab ala carte, sashimi deluxe, oyster dynamite and salmon with maui onion. take my word for it, GUARANTEED, you won't be disappointed. we will be back, no ifs, ands or buts.

    (5)

  • Randoll C.

    Last time I was back home, the first stop for me, after picking up my rental car was Yanagi Sushi. Thanks to fellow Yelper, Emy - who recommended Yanagi, I enjoyed some really great Sushi to kick off my short visit. I arrived just before their reverse happy hour which to me, was fortunate because I was able to find seating right away. The place filled up and there was a decent wait outside from what I could see of the crowd. Before the crowd starting filtering in, service was awesome. The staff was friendly, helpful and attentive. Towards the end, as the place was packed, service started sliding a little however, I didn't want nor need anything except the check. I love Sashimi that melts in my mouth. I love Sushi where the rice isn't dry and crunchy or sticky and wet. I remember thinking as I was enjoying my Chef's Special and a side of Tako - that there was a chef standing there inspecting every piece on every dish before it left the kitchen because I felt that everything was pretty good and fresh. I enjoyed my meal and I will definitely return as I tend to go home to visit family a few times a year, every year.

    (4)

  • Jenifer H.

    Yanagi is my go-to late night/dinner spot. Their fish is great quality for a great price. I go so often when I'm home with my parents that they recognize us even after being away for months while at school. Perks of being a regular customer: free ice cream, free kimchee/edamame!! They treat us so well every time we go. Most of the waitresses are korean here, ironic, right?! Anyway, here is a list of favorite dishes that I have ordered in the past (and I've probably ordered the whole menu) OMAKASE Sushi/Sashimi: What most people don't know is ordering the omakase sushi or sashimi is exponentially better than ordering the sushi/sashimi deluxes. The selection that comes out is by far better and it is only a few dollars more than the deluxes. Salmon Sashimi/Onion: they recently took off the "Maui" part of the maui onion dish which had me a bit confused, but it still tastes great as they use sweet onion. The quality of the salmon is alright - but who would want to waste excellent sashimi on something that is covered in ponzu sauce? It's still good quality and a hefty amount of salmon comes out!!! What really does it for me is eating it with the tobiko. SO good. Fried baby ika: so crisp and yummy! Not mindblowingly amazing but still so delicious. Teriyaki steak/misoyaki butterfish combo: I am not a fan of sauce drizzled all over steak, but Yanagi's teri steak is great! And it is a good deal because it comes out with salad, dessert, miso soup, etc. Their butterfish is delicious as well. Fried nicely and not too sweet! Their miso butterfish is my new favorite. Nabeyaki Udon: Yanagi hands down has one of the best nabeyaki udon's in Hawaii. Ever since I was a little kid, I would always get this here and slurp every bit of soup, the broth is that good. They also serve your tempura on the side so it doesn't get all soft like other places do!! Nabe: Their nabe is pretty great, I must say... but at a price. It is quite expensive but very authentic and delicious Japanese nabe! Green tea ice cream: Probably the best green tea ice cream here on the island. I think they order from Daves but seriously no where else can compare to how good it is.

    (5)

  • Ele G.

    Thought we'd catch dinner before heading to the Blaisdell for a show. We got seated right away, which was awesome. We asked our server (which we thought was our server) what was some of their popular items being it was our first time. He suggested the combo and rolls. Ok, fine then another server (an older lady) took our order. She never refilled our waters or even come back to check on us. Not only that my family got their food first before mine. Let's just say they were done eating by the time I got my food. Then I asked if I could get a refill on my ice tea. She waved her hand in the air and said something very foreign, because we couldn't get what she said and walked away. ..... ok, so a busser come to our table to refill our water (we had to flag a few times to get refills of water) So, getting back to the ice tea.. I found out later that they DO NOT REFILL any of their fountain drinks... wth? it pretty much turned me off .... and the bad service. ... Never going back...

    (1)

  • Angela M.

    Dear Yanagi Sushi, You're open till 2am on Mondays! You win. You win the privilege of my pack (We roll in 2s and sometimes even 3s, yo) coming in for your late night specials. You lucky duck, you.You have a tendency to seat us in that little tiny room in the back. We don't mind, but I think the couples that are always dining in there probably mind. Or maybe they don't. Maybe they like to listen to women discussing the whole rainbow spectrum of sex. Maybe they even feel blessed. Your late night specials rock! Your food is awesome. Your little dish of tsukemono is awesome. Your little complimentary appetizer tray is awesome except for the shrimp that reminds me of a cockroach that has perished with its disgusting legs all askew. But I'm sure there are people who like that shrimp a lot and don't correlate anything small and leggy with their overwhelming phobias. Right. Might I suggest you offer more desserts than just ice cream? As you are in Hawaii and catering to, I suspect, a highly Asian customer base you may want to offer something that does NOT have milk in it. It has been said that up to 90% of Asian-Americans are lactose intolerant. I am not. I am milk intolerant. Take out the lactose and I am still completely allergic to it. We all have our crosses to bear. Perhaps a zosui or some mochi or a sorbet (Your mango sherbet has milk!). If not, I'll just grab a candy from the bowl by the door (I tell myself the milk in a snickers bite is negligible). Is there always candy by the door? Because we just noted that the last time we were there. You should perpetuate the candy by the door. I support it. We like you a lot. We wish you had more parking. Is there parking we don't know about aside from your little lot and the street? Because once we couldn't find any parking and wound up going to Sushi King. I know, right? Sincerely, Angela

    (5)

  • Kelsey T.

    Food is always awesome here. Late night specials from 10:30-2am. Start off with edamame, shrimp, and bean sprouts. The udon and fresh salmon w/ sweet round onion are my favorites. Service is usually always fast & efficient in the beginning but after you get your food, they are nowhere to be seen. Minus one star for the younger guy that seats you with no personality and walks around w no smile ever and says absolutely nothing to you. He even delivers food sometimes and just drops the plate. At least act like you like your job!!! Shame on you. Why don't they wear name tags?

    (4)

  • Tina L.

    I used to go to this place all the time, but after several experiences of me chipping a tooth on a rock in my oyster shooter, the server dropping my food on the floor but STILL serving it to me, and a huge cockroach falling from the ceiling, I have never ever gone back. So here's what made me never come back: I ordered ama ebi, and when the guy brought out the deep-fried heads he DROPPED ONE ON THE FLOOR. What did he do? He PICKED IT BACK UP brought it back to the MEN'S BATHROOM AREA and brought the SAME two heads back out to me. Thinking I wouldn't know....really??? And how can anyone like this place? The sushi quality is absolute crap! The late night special is a good deal, but Doraku Happy Hour is way better. Much better quality sushi and the oyster shooters are way better. OH and the oysters at this place??? I ALWAYS get rocks or sand in mine. No thanks. I've been going to Doraku for months now as my go-to sushi spot. I haven't been back to Yanagi since that guy dropped my food, but I still get angry every time I pass the place, so I had to write this review, because I obviously haven't cooled down from when I was so utterly disrespected by the extremely unsanitary practices of this place. ALSO there was a GIANT cockroach that dropped down on the table of this couple sitting next to us when we were there. Go to Doraku (on Kapiolani I don't like the Waikiki one). They're cleaner, have better food, and give excellent service.

    (1)

  • Brian H.

    My buddy brought me and my girlfriend here last night for the late night special. Everything was great but I especially recommend the ahi poke. The tuna was the freshest tasting I've ever had and in very generous portions. If I lived in Honolulu I'd be a regular here for sure.

    (5)

  • Adalia L.

    This is the real deal sushi My husband really enjoyed it Me personally i am not as into the real raw sashimi as he is so id rather have rolls basically my fish with rice or something mixed with it thats just my preference so if ur new to sushi go for rolls overall good experience

    (4)

  • Chase N.

    First time coming here after hearing good stuff. Food was really good. Service was horrible. We waited forever for food. Bad service = never coming back here again. Ever. I'd rather starve during the wee hours of the night than come back here. Yanagi tonight? PASS.

    (1)

  • Khara Grace M.

    One of my go to places for late night, after movie cravings. Awesome volcano sushi (baked scallops, etc..) and the baby Tako is really delicious!! I also love their combo set D which is salmon katsu..Sooo yummy!! Good for groups and casual meal.

    (5)

  • Teresa G.

    Great sushi!!! The place is a dive but the food is wonderful!!! Prices are reasonable and the people are friendly!!!

    (3)

  • Yoselyn F.

    I think reviewers are right about happy hour being the time to go. Our group had some unimpressive items, maybe because we didn't do sushi? I had a katsu dish and the pork was really tough. The flavor was semi sweet but the dish was not impressive. I ate half and didn't bother with the leftovers. Overall ok but not mind blowing. I would go back but do all sushi.

    (3)

  • Kari T.

    My favorite place for zaru soba and baby octopus! Great place to eat late night if you get off work late.

    (4)

  • Linda M.

    It's more of a 3.5 review bumped up to 4 stars. I loved my deluxe chirashi. Very nice cuts of sashimi with my favorites uni and ikura. 5 stars for the chirashi. But my mom had the tempura tendon and that was bad. It was lukewarm when it arrived and heavy batter with bland flavor. 1 star for the tempura don. Service was good though and prices very reasonable. Will definitely go back for the sushi.

    (4)

  • Philip T.

    Good place for lunch / dinner if you want to have a somewhat quite place to talk and enjoy Japanese food. Service was excellent and the last time I was there I said the donburi was too salty, too much shoyu which the cashier promptly comped that meal to my surprise.

    (4)

  • Hawaiian G.

    I'm very confused as to why this place is getting such raving reviews?? First off, parking area was totally EMPTY, and yet we had to have some valet dude take care of our car. Yeah, I can park and take 10 steps into the restaurant without having anyone do this for me? What's the deal? The restaurant is outdated, messy and the walls are covered with photos and odd decor, lighting is dingy and dark - like some kind of nightmare Benihana wanna-be. Went there for lunch - was taken to some strange private room-like room. The service was slow. Any question we had, we had to repeat and rephrase because our waitress spoke very little English and had no idea about the items listed on the menu when we had questions. Service was slow. They overcharged my friend's drink and we had to ask them to fix that on our bill. The soba noodles were overcooked (what dark noodles - I know they were some type of special noodles but I wasn't impressed) and food took forever until it was ready. The chirashi that my friend ordered - the content wasn't impressive. Each piece of seafood on top of the rice looked dry. I'm not a big fan of seafood and "I" could even tell that they didn't look all that good/fresh. Very expensive for the quality of food. Just nothing special, and the food wasn't all that good. After our "meh" meal, we had to pay the valet guy tip, literally walked 8 steps and got into our car and drove away. Nope - not coming back.

    (2)

  • D L.

    I've read good reviews on how great the sushi is but the fact of the matter is that it doesn't matter how great the food if I don't get greeted or seated! Went there for me and hubby's anniversary dinner on a week night. Although we didn't make prior rez, we were willing to wait. However, stepping in the door we got glances from the cashier as well as the sushi chefs including a couple of servers that walked past. But NO ONE greeted us! NO ONE serviced us! We walked out after standing and waiting for 5 minutes and still nothing.

    (1)

  • Victoria A.

    What can I say, I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this place!! I've missed it since moving to the burbs so when I get a chance to eat here, I literally JUMP with glee to go. I guess what I love most about this place is that their food is CONSISTENTLY awesome!! I was never a huge fan of sashimi but since eating here throughout the years I've grown to crave it. It's the freshness of the fish and way it literally just melts in my mouth with goodness. If you've ever had a bad experience with sashimi - you really should make a trip out here to try their cuts out. You'll definitely know the difference from good sushi/sashimi and terrible, fast-food like sushi/sashimi and once you've tasted the difference you'll be a little snooty about the kind of fish you eat. I'm a victim of habit. Once I find a favorite food, I tend to order the same thing every time I go. Such is the case with Yanagi! I order their shrimp tempura (actually - anything TEMPURA) along with their spicy tuna rolls. Their sushi deluxe is a very generous sampling of handrolls, nigiri, uni and maguro and cali-rolls. I can honestly say that I have NEVER had anything bad from here. It's a little pricey but I usually go for lunch and more often past 11pm. I used to work late into the night and sometimes dinner happens past 11 pm - not too many places open past 9 pm - that's what makes YANAGI even more valuable. It's open until 2am! It's just the perfect place to grab a great bite to eat and kick it with your co-workers and friends. Awesome vibe and even more awesome food! Win-win!

    (5)

  • Christine C.

    We have been to this restaurant for the last 15 years and I cannot believe I never drop a review for them! Honestly, every single time, their food is high quality and consistent! Always make sure to have a reservation on the weekends. My favorite here is their fish tempura (fried Ahi tuna); butter fish; Maui onion salmon salad. Everything else is also delicious! Their green tea ice cream really feel like its home made - it's that good! Another restaurant we visit every time we are in town.

    (5)

  • CJ G.

    Yanagi offers some of the best raw fish in Honolulu. Located on a busy block of Kapiolani, parking is a challenge. Options are complimentary valet or fighting for the few street spots available. Once inside, diners will enjoy a large sushi bar and multiple dinning areas separated by shoji screens. The walls are filled with photos of the many famous people who have eaten at the restaurant. With traditional style sushi featuring local fish as well as fusion-type sushi and other dishes, there is something for everyone. The high quality toro, maguro, and hamachi sashimi came in large slices and were all delicious. The mirugai (king clam) was also fresh and tasty. With shrimp tempura, cucumber, lettuce, avocado, crab eggs, and aoli, the tempura roll ($8.50) was a crowd pleaser. Available after 10:30PM, the late night menu is a great deal. While not all options are available, the chicken katsu, spicy tuna rolls, teriyaki chicken, oyster shooters, and gyoza are sure to please. Yanagi seems to be always busy (At dinner, reservations are a must.), so the service can be slightly slow. Enjoy your sushi and be prepared to wait a little. Sushi at Yanagi is a bit pricey, but you will be rewarded with well-presented, delicious, fresh raw fish.

    (4)

  • Kelli L.

    There's quite a few good deals after 10:30pm on their late night menu. Ordered the chicken katsu, spicy tuna rolls, teriyaki chicken, oyster shooters & gyoza. The cooked food came out really hot so you know it's fresh! The chicken katsu was probably one of my favorites because it was so crisp and light. The food also comes with a mini side salad on each plate. The service is also pretty good. They were constantly filling up the waters and the food came out once it was ready. The atmosphere is cute and traditional Japanese with a sushi bar, tables, and rooms behind shoji screens. The late night menu does not have everything, but the full menu is available too. I think the late night specials have the best deals because it is kind of expensive regularly. I would definitely check this place out if you want traditional Japanese food.

    (4)

  • Qiwen L.

    love yanagi！ we always go there for late nite and lunch authentic japanese food, love their oyster shooter, fresh oyster and uni sashimi！！combo is a must- have, reasonable price！

    (5)

  • Liz C.

    Loved the shoji looking rooms & decor of this place. The sushi was also really good. Best I've had. Reason not giving this place 5 stars is because the service is really slow. They forgot a few items that we had to remind him about & it took forever to get our check & then when we finally got it, it took even longer to get it back. Ugh! Come for the sushi but have patience as you will be doing a lot of waiting. Oh! And since this place is super busy, there is almost always a wait to get a table. On our night, we waited 1/2hour. #moopees

    (4)

  • Courtney Y.

    For a person who doesn't really entertain raw fish too well, I am a fan of Yanagi Sushi (as indicated with surpassing the 4 stars, "Yay! I'm a fan.") Sadly enough, though there seems to be much talk about their happy hour menu (and prices), I have yet to experience it. However, the focus here is their sushi. As I've mentioned before, I'm not a fan of the straight up raw fish (I am a fail Asian), so I kept it to unagi (eel) sushi, tamago, and an exception to my no-raw fish rule, spicy hamachi rolls. (Yes, exception the the rules: spicy ahi/hamachi). As far as the unagi sushi goes, it's probably one of my favorites, and Yanagi Sushi has been my favorite to date. They don't scrimp on the shoyu/sugar base sauce like many sushi joints do (or unagi pieces, not "slivers"), which makes their unagi sushi pretty exceptional. Next, their tamago (egg) sushi. By now, you're probably discrediting this review thinking, "WHAT? Tamago? That's so plain." But never underestimate the power of the tamago, especially Yanagi Sushi Tamago. Perfectly sweetened, fluffy, and slightly chilled atop a mound of rice perfectly hand-molded and wrapped with nori. Who would have guessed? I'm usually no fan of tamago. The spicy hamachi rolls! Talk about delicious stuff, and no food poisoning either! (Don't get me started with my food poisoning run in with Kuru Kuru Sushi.) Perfectly spicy, and the perfect ratio of spicy hamachi to rice grains to some fancy greens, this hamachi roll is winning. Therefore, Yanagi Sushi, go there. It does not disappoint. Can be a bit pricey if you throw in shochu in the mix, but overall, great eats! (Don't forget to make reservations on prime days like Fridays and weekends to insure you get seats!)

    (5)

  • Liana F.

    I come to Yanagi at least once a week, and they have a nice selection on their happy hour! We order the same thing over and over again every time we come. Here's what we order regularly: Salmon Kama + Sashimi Deluxe + Oyster Shooters + Fresh Oysters + Sushi Deluxe + Maui Onion Salmon && once awhile we will get the lobster sashimi. I can't say how much I love this place. BEST salmon kama i've had in my life! I've never been disappointed with their food or service, and hope it stays this way!

    (3)

  • Diane K.

    Woohoo! for the sushi ONLY. I celebrated my birthday here with my family and had the usual spread of sushi favorites--hamachi, salmon, ahi. All was delightful until we decided to try the teishoku items. I've dined here for years and never took a detour from their nigiri selections. Yanagi has EXCELLENT sushi, but their cooked items (specifically butterfish and salmon) were bland. Lesson learned, ordering butterfish at Yanagi is a lot like ordering chicken at Ruth's Chris. It's just silly. Also not recommended: udon and agedashi tofu.

    (4)

  • Kyla W.

    Went here for lunch. Didn't get drinks since I think the drink menu is limited for underage people. I wish they have more variety of drinks for underage to choose from instead of mostly sake and wine. We try the lunch combination and two rolls. I think the combination bento is a good deal, price is range from $11-$14 depend on which combination you choose. We have the teri chicken and tempura combination, as the other reviews are saying, the tempura sauce is pretty good and the tempura is not so greasy. However, the Teri chicken is hard to chew... The dragon roll and the volcanoe roll are good but I like the dragon roll more. Also we didn't get to try their ice cream so I think I probably come back for that and try their sushi deluxe. Service is good too!

    (4)

  • Kainui S.

    Used to love this place. Went a few weeks ago and I swear they used previously frozen ahi for our sashimi. May try again because I have fond memories of the place but definitely was put off by my last visit.

    (2)

  • Lin K.

    Worst experience here ever!!! But I'll give them 3 stars. I love yanagi's. BUT there was a party in the next room, and they were SOOO LOUD you could hear them from the bathroom. The people who work here are too nice.. They warned them a couple times but after every time they just kept getting louder and made loud remarks about it afterwards. Me and my friends couldn't even hear each other, even if we yelled. Honestly they should've have just kicked them out instead of giving them all those warnings that didn't do anything AT ALL...

    (3)

  • Joan A.

    Great place for late night sushi! They have a late night special menu which starts at 10:30 pm. Be prepared to wait because they do get busy because of their late night menu especially on the weekends. I usually order their salmon skin salad, spicy ahi and California roll with tobikko on the outside which are all on the late night menu! I like to order their chirashi as well.... So yummy! As for the staff and customer service... It's been a hit and miss.... Half the time it's good but other half of time you don't see your server for a while... Maybe it's because they get so busy because of their late night menu! Still will be coming here no matter what.... It's worth it... If we get bad service we just won't tip as well! Make sense right!? Lol

    (4)

  • Christopher B.

    First timer. Awesome customer service. Quick service. Food was alright. Not excellent.

    (4)

  • Dom R.

    This is my go-to sushi spot on the island. The place looks a little dated, but the fish is fresh. I personally think that the nigiri is some of the best on the island. I am not a huge fan of the rolls, I feel like there is too much mayonnaise. I recommend to start with the clam miso, and a big Sapporo beer. I always order the amaebi (sweet shrimp), and it never disappoints. The shrimp is so delicious, and they put just the right amount of wasabi. They also give you the heads all fried up. I think they are delicious, and you can gross out your friends by having the legs stick out of your mouth! The Tekka roll is out of this world, and it always assures that I will leave full. You really cannot go wrong with any of the Nigiri, be adventurous. Before I forget, they have ice cream for dessert. I wouldn't have thought they did, but my friend had a taste for the stuff the last time I ate here. They brought him some Macadamia nut ice cream that was straight delicious. The place is filled with photographs of customers going back to the early 80's, almost to the point that there is no bare wall space. I am assuming the pictured people are all famous? I don't recognize most of them, but I do like to come up their backstories. My all-time favorite is an early 90s Damon Wayans wearing a trashy tank top. He does not look like he wants to have his picture taken. I like to imagine he just wrapped a season of In Living Color, and needed to take a Hawaii vacation. If you have the forethought to make a reservation, definitely ask to sit at the bar. It is way better than getting jammed at one of their smaller tables.

    (4)

  • Amanda T.

    I come here for the late night specials regularly, primarily because of their quality of the food!! Not only the fish, but the even the hot dishes are mouthwatering and always made perfect! I really like the ambience of the restaurant, also. It's not formal, but very traditional. My boyfriend and I go there so often that they treat us like valued regulars. I have never been disappointed! However the other night, I just found an eye lash in my sushi. However, my past experiences in this restaurant trumped this really minor mistake. They took it away and I didn't have to wait very long for another. You'll know when they rushed your order because it is often really busy everyday after 10:30 PM and the food might take a little long, depends. Still so worth it because also, the service is always great. They really cater to your every need as best as they can! You can really see their effort when having a really busy night and it is much appreciated!

    (5)

  • Corey B.

    I like to come here for their lunch specials. For about $11 you will get various choices of 2 item teishoku which includes miso soup, 1 small shrimp, 3 pieces edamame, bean sprouts, tsukemono, salad w/ dressing, rice, hot tea! The ambiance is really nice and service is great. Great bang for your buck and it's generally healthy!

    (5)

  • T. L.

    If you like sushi, and great Japanese food, this is the place. My all time favorite place to eat, everything is great. Took a friend from japan and she was very impressed.

    (5)

  • Dung N.

    I love this place! Nice and quaint with great food. The seafood is fresh. The oyster shooters are amazing. Fairly fast service. A nice assortment of choices for happy hour. Loved food items: - salmon and onions - dragon roll - fried baby tako - oyster shooters - etc! Cons: - Didn't care for their steak though. Probably won't get that again. It's sweet and not worth the price. - Parking is kind of difficult. Better to find street parking.

    (4)

  • Kimo K.

    Classic Sushi House. Went to Hawaii 5-0 to audition try to get a role as an Afgan Vet who who comes home, gets drunk with crack whores on Kuhio, PTSD and alcohol kill so 5-0 shoots him dead on the Ala Wai. True story. I dont have a military look so I walked across the street to first time grind sushi at Yanagi. Authentic, famous old style sushi bar 30 years ago when there were not many in Waikiki. Walls covered in photos of owners and celebs, Elvis, Jack Lord, Don Ho to Ginza Kabuki stars... like what is that place on Broadway with all the photos on the wall? yeah.. Sardi's - this is the Sardi's of Hawaii. Except there is no theatre district or celebrities worth a hula dance in Hawaii anymore. Auntie Yanagi runs the entrance.. like in Japan, you must ask permission to come in cause if she no like your look, you no get seat.. depending upon your status you get a good nice cozy booth or a table for two next to 4 very loud Chinese wahine yapping about their kids and money which is where da Hawaiian gets seated with guest (who is FYI ohana to the Emperor and Yoko Ono) but no introductions were made or offered. Two big rooms.. two elegant sushi bars Ginza Style, a fish tank with a sting ray fish they do not intend to eat today. No not like Sushi Zanmai @ Tsukuji fishmarket where they net fish out of the tank and chop off the head and tail in two strokes on the cutting board in front of you or the owner pays $1.85 mil for one Tuna....but it is lunch on Kapiolani Blvd... I just want a bowl of rice and some warm meat.. for $9.90 - 3 course pupu.. organic edamame, bean spouts and one cockroach sized shrimp .. not the prawns you get in the lo'i mind you but Onodelicious come pickled cabbage, ginger ( ginger it is so good for your heart and cleanses the palette like lemon sorbet between courses) An elegant table service for lunch mind you... and beautiful Okinawan music.. or maybe it was Kabuki trance I dont know but it was perfect auditory ambiance .. walls covered with pictures of the owners and local celebs from the day it opened.. a few private rooms for geisha service or maybe a nap.. a huge flower display. All unique for Hawaii that now has invasion of invasive sushi and ramen franchises from mainland Japan. Hot Tea, organic miso soup.. Americans are obese and have heart disease, fat kids and cancer should eat more soup .. instead of fried red meats, tater tots, GMO bread that impact bowels and kill people. Japanese live so long eat brown rice, fish, miso, sake, soy and Hawaiian pig. Menu choose 3 tiems combo lunch for $20.00 or if you are get two items enough already... Salmon Katsu, Beef Teriyaki $10.95 Tempura, Chicken Teriyaki $9.95 Beef Teriyaki, Chicken Cutlet $9.95 Salmon Katsu, Chicken Teriyaki $10.95 Broiled Salmon, Chicken Teriyaki $10.95 Nigiri Sushi, Zaru Soba $13.45 Nigiri Sushi, Mini Udon (Miso Soup not included) $13.45 Ahi Teriyaki, Chicken Cutlet $9.95 Deep Fried Ahi, Chicken Teriyaki $9.95 Ahi Teriyaki, Deep Fried Shrimp $9.95 unlike the Korean BBQ, Thai or Vietcong restaurants a few blocks away in K-town.. Sans alzheimer causing MSG - very clean the food. less is more healthy - I was impressed and filled totally. The sushi was 5 pieces .. comes big plate soba noodles. The teri beef and chicken filled the katsu box with bowl of rice (ask for brown rice if like) bean sprouts, shred cabbage salad .. no dairy in anything vegans *. I almost dont want to write about will not get a valet parking spot in the VIP lot anymore. Service was best I have had at any restaurant in Waikiki.. not too much as to be bothersome and just enough to impress not a empty plate is left on the table .. not "trying" to give great service like some French cafe, never had to ask for more tea or to clear a plate.. excellent service not just to get a tip, I hate tipping culture - made me laugh how bad in Waikiki.. no idea about good service or gourmet food only worries about 15% or 20%. Professionals do not work for tips. Aloha or whatever the Japanese word for love is in the food.. but even more.. elegant, traditional, people pride in being perfect from chef to waiter. Definitely not local not Hawaiian or Haole. Japanese food and hospitality from a time before time when perfection was its own reward. I wanted to go in one of the empty private rooms and sleep on the floor and watch sportscenter and take a nap but I went to the beach to lie down under a tree and appreciate how a simple lunch made me appreciate food again.

    (5)

  • Hokulani C.

    Come here a lot with my family. The type of restaurant where its not casual, but it isnt extremely high class. Love love love the hamachi kama. Typing this as i stuff my face with the food! Brb!

    (5)

  • Jenny S.

    My mom loves the rainbow roll here, and I have to say, it's the best rainbow roll I have had on this island. Their sashimi is fresh, saba cooked to perfection, and the fried chicken wings were a great hit with the kids.

    (4)

  • James P.

    Wow! I came here on my birthday and it was the best birthday present ever. I love sushi and I have to say that this is quality sashimi and sushi. The chutoro was epic and melted in your mouth. The hotate (scallops) my favorite just soooo good. I'll come back very soon. Wow!!!

    (5)

  • Connie M.

    For some reason, my dad is totally in love with this place. We made reservations before hand, so we didn't have to wait long for dinner. Galbi ~ Charred nicely on both sides. Marinade was a bit sweet, so if you like it salty skip this. Sushi Deluxe ~ Really fresh and totally delicious. Most were raw fish, so beware of that if you can't eat raw seafood. The uni was incredible! A+ amaebi! Spider Roll~ Skip this. Crab was cold and it was a bit too overdone, so it tasted burnt. I don't care much for alfafa sprouts. This roll was also hard to eat since it was stuffed too much Honeymoon Roll~ Yummy! Every one I was dining with agreed! Simple, yet delicious. Fried Shrimp/Ebi Fry~ Two on a plate, but fried to golden brown perfection! Shrimp & vegi tempura~ Standard. Not much to say. The batter wasn't too thick. Green tea ice cream~ Strong match flavor with a hint of milkiness! Price wise, it's not that cheap, yet not extremely expensive.

    (4)

  • Karen T.

    My family of 10 took me for my birthday in November and we went back again in January. The food is great and the service is almost great. The first time we misordered something so it came, we figured out what the problem was and my son tells the waiter "We actually wanted the salmon one can we get the salmon?" The waiter started arguing "I repeated what you said, I got you what you ordered!" I was about to say something but luckily my husband told him can we just get the salmon? We did not tell him to take the first order away, we already figured out that we ordered the wrong item. We were just trying to order the food we wanted. We ordered $300 worth of food and drinks and he got a $50 tip. Will I return? Yes, I already have but I'll just hope I don't ever get the same waiter because I will not hesitate to tip accordingly.

    (3)

  • Lisa G.

    Free valet parking in their lot. Yanagi has some of the freshest sushi that I have ever had. It's amazing. We went for dinner, although I've heard that their late night happy hour is the best. We tried a lot of different rolls and each one was delicious. They also have an extensive sake list.

    (5)

  • Kasey C.

    One of my favorite sushi places but the service is terrible. If you ask for something they either forget or take their time doing so. I usually go later in the evenings for their late night specials when they're pretty slow so there shouldn't be an excuse for such poor service. But ultimately I enjoy their food so much it doesn't bother me. Their Maui onion salmon salad as well as their salmon skin salad is pretty amazing. I love their spider rolls as well. But more than anything else I LOVE the kimchee.

    (4)

  • Michael Q.

    Went here with my friends who got us reservations. The best sushi I have ever had!!! Service is great and the food is even better. The menu is great and it has a late night menu. I believe the late night menu starts at 10 or 10:30pm The butterfish is amazing!!!! Definitely get that if you get a chance!!! It is quite the spot apparently a lot of celebrities come and they have hundreds of photos of them on the wall. If you are visiting or you love in honolulu you definitely need to come have sushi here!!! Oh and get the kona coffee ice cream it's a great way to end the meal!!!

    (5)

  • Johanna M.

    Yanagi Sushi is good to go to during their late-night happy hour. I would say it can get pretty expensive otherwise. They do have pretty good quality sushi and the atmosphere is pretty cool. It is super outdated, but in a fun way. It is filled with locals on a nightly basis. It is pretty dark inside and there are lots of photos of celebrities who I am assuming the owners have met. It gets pretty crowded and the seating is not the most comfortable with the tables being pretty close together. My hubby and I are pretty tall, so legroom is a bonus if we can get it. The sushi bar looks really cool. I've never been to Japan, but I would imagine that authentic sushi bars look like Yanagi's sushi bar. It is a fun place to go with a group to enjoy their happy hour. They also have those really cool private rooms, if you have a large party. Those are always fun, if you don't mind sitting on the ground. I am lucky that we are able to just walk over because the parking at this place blows. They have late hours, which I really like. Those late-night cravings for sushi can be satisfied here. They have a pretty big menu with lots of options. Our service was alright, nothing extraordinary. I will likely be back, but only for their late-night happy hour. That is when I feel I am getting a good value out of this place.

    (3)

  • Gil M.

    Awesome experience. The sushi wasn't the only thing great. The steak was tender and delicious. As well as the miso soup. Everything was great. Service was awesome.

    (4)

  • Aiko M.

    Poor customer service! After waiting 45 minutes we were finally seated. Then they told us it was mistake and we have to wait outside. Then they say go back in there was mistake! Why they do that? Rude! Why they not let us stay at table? Lost mood for sushi not coming back! I come here over 5 years! They no appreciate return customer!

    (1)

  • Megan S.

    Excellent fresh sushi. Sit at the bar so you can watch the chefs work their considerable knife skills. Order the oyster shooter with quail egg and ponzu sauce. Freak out your fellow diners and then send it down the hatch in one shot. Stick with the nigiri. Very good eel, shrimp and tuna. I had a chilled glass of reisling with my dinner and it was the perfect accompaniment.

    (4)

  • Edward I.

    In the event I buy a Ferrari or BMW in Hawaii, I'll head over to Yanagi to celebrate as it's right next to the dealerships. Had a few things, like the spicy tuna with extra spice, gyoza, some cutlets, I forgot a thing or two since I was too busy chomping down whatever was brought on the table. In the end we concluded it with the mac ice cream. We stayed in the little area to the right when you walk in, it had it's own little bar with pictures of celebs who visited along the walls, the tables make it an intimate setting, even with a lot of people around you, you can't help but focus on the people you're with, and the food of course.

    (4)

  • Jill K.

    This is the only place to eat sushi! Every time I am visiting Oahu, this is a staple. They have melt in your mouth sashimi and the Omakase is worth every penny (not that it's that expensive to begin with). I always come with my boyfriend's family and we get a private room that is comfortable and attended to well. Their Shabu Shabu is great, only to be outshined by the Sukiyaki. You must come here for sushi.

    (5)

  • Ariana M.

    Made last minute decision to come here last night. Mainly because we were about to drive by it and saw that there was so much parking! Couldn't pass that up for a minute Ha-Ha. Parking here is limited. It can be frustrating if you want to come here and you have to drive around and around because the front lot is full. Service is good here. Can't complain :) THE GRUB! Tofu Salad: wasn't all that great Oysters: YUM! Uni Nigiri: Really good Amaebi Nigiri: AMAZING! Super nice pieces Sausage: Good just like most places

    (3)

  • Jeff Z.

    The sushi is great here, one of the freshest on island. service was a little slow but it was expected as the place was very busy.

    (5)

  • Karlie R.

    I've been going here at least once a week for a couple months now for late night happy hour. It is the only good affordable Japanese open late (till 2am) in Honolulu that I have found. Very good food especially for the low prices. My friends tell me it's way overpriced for regular dinner, but again I only go for late night happy hour after the gym. I don't particularly like it when they stick me in one of the tiny rooms to share with two other tables. I'm assuming this is just a Japanese style but i believe i talk and flirt with my man way too loud to be in a tiny quiet room with strangers. My only complaint would be that the hostess never asks what kind of table i would like. But you live and learn and now I know to ask for a booth in the open dining area. I really like the servers. They always remember us and say hi to us with friendly faces when we are seated. I'm looking forward to my next visit.

    (4)

  • Cindy L.

    Yelp 31 days Challenge: 6/31 It's been a while since we came here. Since we had our little girl, we just can't sneak out at night for some good sushi. Yanagi's midnight special offers a variety of appetizers, maki sushi, and sets. We had the spicy ahi roll ($4.95), salmon sashimi with maui onion ($6.45), and sushi and mini udon set ($13.95) and oh large Kirin ($4.95). Their spicy ahi roll is the best on the island, the sushi rice is soft with the right amount of rice vinegar, the ahi is fresh and melts in your mouth. I used to enjoy the salmon with maui onion, but this time, they marinated it too much and it was a bit salty. The sushi and udon set was the worse choice, since they totally cut back on the sushi. But this is still my all time favorite midnight sushi fix, but I would recommend ordering the appetizers and sushi instead of the sets.

    (4)

  • Mika M.

    There are many sushi places in Hawaii but yanagi always stands out. I had a dragon roll (crab, mayo, avocado, with eel on top- 14$) and it was delicious. There were 9 rolls in total and it was very filling and super rich. Their short stack ribs were juicy and and incredibly tasty. The service was friendly and the fish was prime. The parking is minuscule and they only do valet there is a ramp near by but expect it to be busy around the weekend. Reservations are recommended.

    (5)

  • WS J.

    I was invited by my aunt and her husband. Sashimi, sushi and even ribeye. Great selection of fine cold sake. Fish was excellent and very reasonable prices. Very crowded and worth the wait. Will go there again.

    (5)

  • Evander M.

    Dinner here was fantastic and the service was great! I was never left with an empty cup of tea or water. The food tasted very fresh and came out quite fast. The only minor complaint is that the sashimi deluxe we ordered came a bit late (almost after we finished our current meals) but the waitress was very apologetic and gave us a free ice cream for it! The only reason I took 1 star away was because parking is bad and you are forced to valet your car unless you get lucky and find street parking. Also the prices are a bit high for some of the more simple menus. Other than that, everything was fantastic and I would keep coming back. P.S. There is also happy hour at night but I haven't had a chance to try it yet. Prices looked great tho so I wouldn't be surprised if I did soon!

    (4)

  • Vivian H.

    Must Order: Spicy Ahi Nigiri, Unagi Nigiri, Honeymoon Roll, Tempura Roll First of all, although I enjoy Japanese food, I actually don't like raw fish. I know I know! BAD local girl! But before you get all worked up and kick me off the island, I have to say that Yanagi sushi is helping me adjust my palate towards raw fish. The first time we went to Yanagi, we were wandering around town (literally walking and wandering) and I pulled up my handy dandy Yelp app (who leaves home without it?!) and found Yanagi sushi fairly close by. We walked over and clearly I didn't realize what a local institution this place is. It was packed! Luckily they were able to seat us at the sushi bar as long as we were out in an hour. No problem! yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9… Tempura Roll [4 belly rubs]: I ordered my beloved Tempura Roll but had asked for it without crab eggs (I'm allergic to crab) but they forgot to take it out! Nonetheless, I love my Tempura Rolls enough to slowly and painstakingly take out all of the crab eggs so I can eat my roll. I really enjoyed the Tempura Roll and has ordered it again the second time I went, luckily that time they remembered to take out the crab eggs! Philadelphia Roll [3 belly rubs]: Whoever thought of putting cream cheese into a sushi roll was genius! I love my Philly Rolls at Sumo Sushi, so being that I'm usually limited to sushi options, I ordered the Philadelphia Roll here. I thought it was OK. The salmon was raw which was fine. I know that I wasn't blown away by it which was why I didn't order it the second time we went. Spicy Ahi Nigiri [5 belly rubs]: The BF ordered this because he loves his spicy ahi! Spicy ahi is comprised of two things I don't like--- raw fish and mayo. However, Yanagi Sushi's spicy ahi wasn't doused in mayo (like other places are) and I was willing to give it a try. I was SO glad I did. The way that they chopped up the ahi made it a lot more palatable for me (I think the raw fish texture weirds me out). It was lightly mixed with mayo and overall this piece of nigiri has singlehandedly opened up my taste buds to be a little more willing to try ahi (and even just a touch of mayo!). We made sure to order this again the second time we went and although there was just a bit more mayo in it (it was definitely more visible), it was still very delicious! I even crave this sushi now! (But only from Yanagi Sushi!). Unagi Nigiri [5 belly rubs]: yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9… Since we were being so "adventurous" the first time we visited, we decided to give unagi nigiri a try. I have avoided having unagi for a really long time and the BF had up until this point, eaten just a little. So we thought, let's give the nigiri a fair try! We did and since we sat at the sushi bar, we were able to watch them make it with a blow torch. Yes that's right. That wonderful char on the unagi was created by blow torch. How can you not like it?? They bring it out to us with this delicious BBQ caramelized glaze on it and we were hooked! We loved the unagi nigiri here! Honeymoon Roll [4 belly rubs]: The second time we went, I wanted to try something different. I saw that the Honeymoon Roll had all the ingredients that I liked (and could eat!). It had unagi, shrimp, avocado and cucumber. I really enjoyed the roll but I have to say that you really don't get a strong taste of the unagi so if you're craving unagi, I would suggest going for the nigiri. Combination: So they have 2 or 3 combination meals and the BF ordered the 3 combo with kalbi, nitsuke butterfish and chicken wings. From what I tried, I would suggest getting the kalbi and nitsuke butterfish and pass on the chicken wings. Green Tea Ice Cream: I unfortunately did not like this ice cream but the BF really liked it. He said it was like eating green easy mac ice cream and to be honest, of what I tried, I have to agree with him. He liked it a lot though so there must be something to it! Overall: I love love love Yanagi Sushi and if I had a fatter wallet, I would go much more often! It'll definitely be my restaurant of choice for my bday coming up!

    (5)

  • Harry K.

    Nakayamasan continues to rock it @ this authentic local Sushi Bar going strong after 35 + years. The Hamachi sashimi melts in your mouth! Don't miss the salmon skin salad, scallops w mayo & masago/tobiko, poke broke da mouth, spicy tuna...spider roll deluxe. Mahalo Nui Loa for filling my tummy with the freshest of fish & phenomenal service for 30 years! Harrysan

    (5)

  • Stephen H.

    Than Brand "A" (see my review of 2/25/13)---misoyaki butterfish bigger, and shrimp tempura more crispy and flaky in 2-combo dinner for same price ($24.95). Service better too. Evaluating Yanagi on its own---the butterfish could have been marinated more as miso taste weak, and outsides seared to be something more than just okay. Shrimp tempura among best I've had here on Oahu. Gene and Eric C. ably serviced our party of 15 adults + 2 kids. I also ordered an order of kaibashira/kaniko (bay scallops with mayo and crab eggs), and toro sushi. I really enjoyed both. Although cliche'd, "melt in your mouth" accurately describes the buttery, silky toro that quite literally "..........". Wow! I highly recommend. I think Yanagi is better for its sushi than its other Japanese foods. I think Yanagi's specialty is sushi, and it should be evaluated primarily on that to be fair. Otherwise, it's like evaluating Michael Jordan as a professional baseball player. As a basketball player, Michael Jordan is unsurpassed. (Yeah. That means you too Lebron.) As a professional baseball player...meh. Does that take anything away from his great sports career? I think not. It's combo dinner may have been just a base hit, but its sushi was a last-second, game-winning shot. Yanagi is alright in my book.

    (4)

  • Melody M.

    Second time going to Yanagi Sushi and I always have a good time. Food always taste good. We ordered the Rib Eye steak, volcano sushi roll & spicy tuna roll with a side of Heineken beer. Overall the food taste real good. Definitely going back.

    (4)

  • Duke J.

    One of my favorite sushi places on the island and my favorite happy hour spot. Favorite items are the salmon & maui onion, baby tako, salmon kama, and their combination sets are awesome too. The sushi is excellent quality for the price as well. Lastly, if you like oysters, the oyster shooters are a MUST.

    (5)

  • Ira J.

    Dear Mr. Yanagi Sushi Chef, I'm not really looking to build a personal relationship with you when I sit down at your bar to eat. However, I do expect more than what I got from you during my dinner the other night. You served me the two sushi portions I ordered as I was seated. Then you got busy making orders for the diners at the tables and I disappeared from your sight and mind. I mean I completely disappeared! Even though your face and my face were just a few feet apart and I stared directly at your eyes for more than 15 minutes, you never once made eye contact with me. I was trying to communicate with you telepathically, "Look at me! I want to order more sushi!" ...but nothing... Finally, I had to "hey you!" you to get your attention. I hated having to do that. The sushi you made for me was good, but not good enough to overcome the feeling that my presence in front of you did not even rise to the level of me being an annoyance to you. If I come back to your establishment, I will only do so if I can get a table away from your permanently diverted eyes. Respectfully, Ira J.

    (2)

  • Shanisse I.

    Being the weirdo that I am, I can get a mean hankering for sushi late at night while gallivanting with the bf and what convenience it is that Yanagi is open till 2am everynight.. except sunday. The must have for Yanagi is the Salmon with Maui Onion. Take the two things that I love, salmon and onions and throw it in a bowl and that makes me a very happy camper. I'm always happy getting salmon nigiri but the boyfriend always orders spicy tuna, uni, maguro and some other stuff. What I have to remember is that they put onions in the salmon nigiri, throws me off since i dont expect a crunch in my sushi but I easily adjust. Service is pretty good. Like Alice C. said, when its busy, they can forget some things or take a while getting around to you but the bussers I guess? well, they are on it with the refills and taking away our empty dishes. We usually come an hour, two hours before they close and if anything, we wait about 5 minutes while they clear the table for us. Great food, great service At the moment February 2013, there is road work on Kapiolani Blvd. literally right outside of the restaurant.. where you would park on the street, it is completely dug up and it also looks like the restaurant is closed since the right side of the road is coned off, but not to worry, they are still open, they have their valet service/the few stalls that they have and you can just park across the street or around the corner. Hey, if you really want Yanagi, you'll find somewhere to park.. but be careful..some places can be super sketch.

    (4)

  • Janet F.

    I eat here all the time. The fresh salmon w/ Maui onions, salmon katsu, oyster shooters, lobster miso soup are all amazing! Customer service is great, I'm always getting my water refilled and I get seated as soon as I get there with or without reservations. However, i do feel that some of the dishes are overpriced (which is why I love coming here around 10:30 for their late night specials). But overall, I think this is a great place to go to no matter the occasion whether it is spending quality time & catching up with a friend, a date or coming with a bunch of friends or family.

    (4)

  • Jonn D.

    Rating: 1/5 Date(s) visited; 11/02/2013, and 2 other times. Again, as you can see, you don't have to dine anywhere in order to give a rating. My most recent visit, was with no reservation and just seeing what they had available. However, the Hostess (An old Japanese Lady who resembled a Mamasan), didn't bother to stop what she was doing and give the common courtesy to look us straight in the eyes and say, "I'm sorry, but the next available reservation is at 7:30pm." Instead, we just get a no look answer of "7:30pm is the next available reservation," while she was continuing to do what she was doing...being rude, having no manners, and having no customer service skills what-so-ever. So I walked out, never to return. Initial contact and/or initial visit through the front door and first impression from the Host/Hostess is very important. Hopefully someone will tell the "Dragon Lady Hostess" that there are other better Sushi Restaurants in Honolulu with far superior service and etiquette. Also, if you are in a service industry, there are always eye on you, and god help you if the person you encounter is a yelp*er. This restaurant just made the "Bar Rescue, Kitchen nightmare and Hotel Rescue" List. Great Job! Food: TBD Service: Read above. Atmosphere: Price: Willing to pay for outstanding sushi, but never made it through the door. Parking: Only valet on their property, but street parking is available. Hit or miss.

    (1)

  • Dharma W.

    I have always loved the food here and the lunch bentos are hard to match, as it is so reasonably priced. However my family and I just experienced the worst service ever! we got there around 1:15pm knowing they close at 2pm so the service started out a little slow (took a while to get our order in). I was warned that the salmon kama I was ordering was going to take about 15 minutes and I was fine with that. My son had the kids lunch, which is a complete meal with dessert, and my husband had a lunch bento. I ordered a Chawanmushi and amaebi, with the heads, to hold me over. Once my husband and sons food came out the server told us it was last call for food, and i reminded him of the kama, the ebi heads and the Chawanmushi, and he reassured me they would be coming out. Seems like he forgot the Chawanmushi cause once i mentioned it, it came right out. At about 1:40 the kama came out. And we ate it fast! 2:00 rolls around....no servers in sight. Mind you we are the only table in that entire section. 2:20 rolls around....still no dessert for my son or my ebi heads. Finally 2:30 comes and I've had it! I stand up and announce that I'm just going to leave, since no one seems to care about us anyways...all of a sudden 3-4 workers appear in front of me. Jeesh. Thats what it takes?. They then bring me a check and i tell them im not going to pay for food i didnt get. And then they ask me if i want it now!? Are you kidding? So we can sit here for another 30 min? No! I just want to leave! Ugh. Next time I'm taking my food to go! Service was horrible!

    (1)

  • Nadine L.

    Really fresh! Get the salmon and onion small plate! Everything is so good. The rolls are mostly fish and a little rice, u like a lot of mainland sushi restaurants! Make reservations if you come for dinner. Sit at the sushi bar to watch the magic!

    (5)

  • Anna F.

    Eating raw fish/sashimi can be quite pricey but I think the variety at Yanagi Sushi is reasonably priced. I've been here lots of times for lunch and once for dinner. My favorite dish on the menu is the salmon with maui onions. They are very generous on the salmon and it's in this delicious sauce. Every time I go, I order it. They offer a late night special but I've never checked it out yet. If you go early for lunch, you can just park in their lot. But if the valet person is there then you have to give your key. Their lot is not very big so if you can find free street parking, I'd prefer you do that instead of the valet.

    (5)

  • Alice C.

    My ultimate favorite place to go for late night munchies. So lately I like to avoid bars and clubs and I've been coming here quite often almost once a week for the past month and half. I definitely always come during happy hour and service is most of the time on top of it (with refills and quick ordering) Sometimes if they are super busy, they might forget a thing or two. This place got a lot of history. its all over their walls.. literally. Now heres a couple things that I ALWAYS order: -Fresh salmon with Maui Onion -baby fried Tako (must try) -spicy Negitoro and then I always get dessert which for me its green tea ice cream. I know they have Mac nut and one other flavor as well. They got great combos and beer for happy hour and its a great deal. Parking gets kind of complicating when its busy. they only have like 8-12 stalls and everyone else gotta look for street parking. So if you're hungry late at night or even need a chill place to drink, come here and check it out!

    (5)

  • Mel G.

    Very good sushi and its always busy, which always is a good sign! We've been several times of the past few years and the only thing that can be hit or miss is the actual plate food, not the sushi. Sushi is always good here. I always end up getting the spider roll and some miso soup, so ono! Sashimi is good here as well, and also the volcano roll. Make sure you sit at the bar and you can watch the guys make up your sushi and don't have to wait as long to get your order. Now that I do paleo I will have to try some more variety in the sashimi, meat and veggies dishes... but heck, eating the rice may just be worth it. I mean, white rice isn't as bad, right?? Prices are decent, and as I said the service is good but way better at the bar. Place is darker inside, but clean as far as I can tell... though some friends that have gone have reported a cat pee smell that I've thankfully never experienced. Parking is very limited but they do valet for like $5 if its full up. If you love sushi, (and c'mon, who doesn't?!) give it a go!

    (4)

  • Kayla R.

    It has its ups and downs. I love coming to yanagi, especially during their late night deals. But sometimes I just feel so un-welcomed. And they make a huge deal if you don't make reservation (even if hardly anyone is in the restaurant.) Also every time I come in they look at me like "oh great shes back" like they know me as "the girl who doesn't make reservation" But I understand if it was busy then act that way towards me, but if it's a awkward time and no one is in the restaurant don't give me your attitude, mmk lady?! But the food is what keeps me coming back, so I guess food wins all.

    (4)

  • Ray S.

    Been there several times - excellent consistent value! One of Honolulu's best sushi restaurants. Really fresh fish! Great knowledgable staff. Easy access with valet parking! Follow us to find the 5!!

    (4)

  • Marjorie C.

    Love their late night specials ^__^ My ordered items are pretty consistent: *fried baby tako (x2) *spicy ahi roll (x3) *kurobuta sausages (x1) *Kirin or Ichiban By the end of the night my wallet and stomach are very happy!

    (4)

  • Anthony R.

    Service and sushi were both amazing. Definitely a recommended Japanese and sushi destination.

    (5)

  • Dylan R.

    Awesome, fresh food at a reasonable price. We came here right after landing at the airport, pretty late at night. There was really friendly service at the sushi bar; the chef had us try a bunch of different things we never had before, and it was all delicious and affordable.

    (5)

  • Kim S.

    My favorite place to get misoyaki butterfish & hamachi kama. Great quality & not super pricey. Been pleased because they have recently had katsuo - which can be hard to find. Best to book a reservation to avoid the wait. Big plus - open late w/a special late night menu. #14/31 Yelp Review Challenge

    (4)

  • Julie N.

    + Love the late night hours + Workers remember you if you come a lot =) + Miso Butterfish is the best here. As good as it gets! + Late night special is a good deal! + Nice atmosphere + Free edamame, shrimp, and bean sprouts + Free pink pickle / mustard ca

    (4)

  • Lauren A.

    I've been meaning to write this for quite some time now. Yanagi does have great food for late night and good sushi but...If it is late night and you've had a bit to drink and think to yourself, "Fruits combination sounds excellent to soothe my drunken soul" think again!!!! My friend and I order the fruits combination and were extremely disappointed. I know that this restaurant specializes in sushi but come on, how can you mess up fruits? This fruits combination costs $7.25. I was expecting a beautiful bowl of maybe some fresh melon and pineapple and maybe some oranges. Here's what you get: Four green grapes, four purple grapes, four slices of orange, and I think it was four slices of melon. #1 what a rip off. #2 the fruits were extremely mushy, probably ready to be thrown out. Do not order under any circumstances. Sorry Yanagi. -Edit*** I visited again since and did not order fruits combo but I did have sushi and it was good. Especially the dynamite sushi so for that I will give one star more. But still not having any fruits combo :p

    (3)

  • Andie H.

    Pitchers of beer, sake, and pupus, all consist of late night happy hour with my friends practically every time I come back to visit Oahu. The happy hour (after 1030pm) is great. The baby shrimp, the baby tako, and the poke are all great choices to eat with some good beer. I hear the salmon with maui onions is pretty ono too, but I've never really tried. Parking is a nightmare, because they have like 10 stalls in front of the restaurant, and then you are on your own to find street parking, and if you go on the weekends, even the streets are crowded, and then you have to park a mile away. I'm grateful to the people who work there for never throwing us out for being too noisy and rowdy. Yeah, I'm sorry for bothering your own time here!! :) If you are looking for a pretty decent happy hour with sushi, and japanese foods, I would definitely stop by here.

    (4)

  • Evan Y.

    One of my favorite places to go for late night food. The fish quality here is quite good so the sushi and seafood is tasty. The plating of dishes is very pretty. They have a great late night menu. Lot's of items at a reasonable price. I do recommend the Fried Baby Octopus and if you are willing to drop some cash the Japan Toro Nigiri. Service here has always been friendly and welcoming to me. They have valet parking as well as street so parking usually never is problem (that I have noticed).

    (4)

  • Scott D.

    Had lunch here yesterday. Ate the Tempura and Chicken Teriyaki double combination, which at $9.95 was an excellent value. Service was very prompt considering that I was there in the middle of lunch hour and the restaurant was crowded. The food was also at the proper temperature and a good quantity. The only fault of the restaurant is that they have crowded as many tables as possible into the space, the tables on either side of me were only about a foot a way, and narrow isles created a somewhat congested environment.

    (3)

  • Camille A.

    It's all about the late night menu. My bf and I only come after 10:30pm for their late night specials, which we LOVE. This place is authentic Japanese, no yuppy fancy ish. Just good service and good food. Sometimes you'll find yourself feeling a bit cramped being in close quarters with the party next to you, but that's my only complaint about this place. It's also calm and quiet so you can enjoy a nice meal with some beers without having to yell across the table. But now to the food. We always get the salmon maui onion. The onions and sauce make a great combo for the tender sashimi. Their spicy tuna rolls don't have mayo! Thank god. Their tempura is crispy without being overly battered. Miso soup is delicious. My bf always gets the tatsuo tetaki (sp?) if they have it, which has nice big pieces of fish with daikon, wasabi sprouts and sauce. Their gyoza is very crispy and fresh. Their late night menu has lots of combination options, not just sushi so there's something for everyone. I would not come during normal hours because it's a bit pricey but Yanangi's has our heart for favorite late night eat.

    (4)

  • Christina T.

    Since I was in my mother's womb I was eating yanagi sushi. My favorite place for everything. From fresh fish, miso soup, ikura, to sushi rolls. I always leave Yanagi Sushi satisfied and full until my next sushi craving which often comes within a week. Everytime my boyfriend comes back from school on the mainland, this place is on the top of his list of places to eat. When it comes to choosing a spot for dinner or lunch, I will never say no to yanagi.

    (5)

  • K B.

    The late night menu rocks. This is a great little spot! But parking is a b*tch. I found the fish to be very fresh. I live for salmon sashimi and this place has got it going on.

    (4)

  • Leah H.

    Discovered this place off of yelp when my bf and I were searching for a place to eat late night! Food was great, service was great, even have good specials after 1030pm! Highly recommend!!!!

    (5)

  • Jamie T.

    I know people love this place, but every time I go, I just feel "meh" about it. The food is decent, but nothing special. The lunch combinations are a good deal. I got a tempura and teriyaki chicken teishoku for about $10. I know this sounds petty, but the biggest disappointment on my last visit was the fruit punch I ordered. It came in a small stemmed glass half filled with ice. I thought for sure it came with refills because it was so small, but nope!

    (3)

  • Scott G.

    I love this place. I have eaten more times here than I can remember and I never tire of it. Always live and hopping, it has a wonderful atmosphere with friendly service. The sushi is always fresh / fantastic and it is reasonably priced. Of course, if your in the mood for something beyond sushi they have a very wide selection. I will continue to come here until they revoke my island privileges. Though I may sneak in even then.

    (4)

  • Alyssa A.

    Seriously my favorite place for amazing late-night Japanese food! I mean, you can't beat authentic Japanese food for such a good deal! I've never had to wait long (or sometimes at all) for a table and although the parking lot is small, there's always street parking available. The late night menu is about a full-size page filled with plenty of options. My favorite has to be the broiled salmon kama, which is two perfectly moist pieces (complete with the skin and fat) served with ponzu sauce at only $6. Super good! I'm also a huge fan of the fried baby octopus, even though the tiny octopi aren't so easy to bite with chopsticks. Mmm, but their chicken katsu and ahi katsu are really good. I've had their tonkatsu once and it was just too chewy for my little mouth. My boyfriend comes here just for the salmon and Maui onion ($6). It's comes in a bowl lined with slivers of onion topped with perfectly arranged salmon pieces in a light sauce. He's in heaven with the combination! I always forget about the combination meals, but they're pretty good deals as well. The only reason I don't get them is because of the teriyaki chicken that I think is too saucy. My friend had maki sushi and mini udon for $14; she's from Okinawa and loved it, especially since it's less than a fourth of what she's used to paying for a meal like that in Japan. Besides the food, I've always had great service here. Tiny water cups are refilled all the time and once seated they give everyone a little platter of edamame, bean sprouts and a shrimp. I feel like I wanna bust out my small Japanese vocabulary when I'm there, but I'm often too embarrassed haha. Daijobu! Needless to say, Yanagi is definitely my go-to place for late-night grinds. I'll be back! Hai, bye bye!

    (5)

  • Shay F.

    I haven't been to this place in ages! I think since I was a little girl...I think. Anyways, I landed upon here the other night because we were looking for a quick, good eat. We both had some sushi and shared the morokyu appetizer. Everything was good, but nothing special. I was looking for a WoW...but it never came. LoL. Maybe I gotta try non-sushi items next time? Or maybe an exotic roll or something, huh? Well...I don't mind going back~ Yelp 365 Challenge #23/365

    (3)

  • Richard H.

    This isn't the newest or coolest Sushi restaurant in Hawaii, but no one can argue that they provide consistent, premium quality sushi and great service! I frequent this sushi bar, and feel compelled to share my recent experience on Yelp. By the way, they have an outstanding lunch menu and we normally order the double combination bento, broiled salmon and chicken teriyaki for $10.95. This also includes miso soup, rice, and pickled vegetables. The dinner menu also offers several great deals: sushi deluxe for $40, which includes maguro, toro, fatty salmon, ikura, uni, hokaigai, abalone. This is enough for two people to share with a large bottle of Kirin beer. Top quality toro, well marbled and melts in your mouth! :p We also ordered the sushi deluxe combination platter for $35, and the assortment was similar minus the abalone. Well worth the price for top notched, traditional style Japanese sushi!

    (5)

  • Brandon L.

    I came for two birthdays within the past two months. Our party had about 10 people and we were able to get a private room in the back of the restaurant. The only parking options are street or valet. However, I noticed that some of the cars that went to valet ended up on the street as well. There was ample parking on Kapiolani Blvd. across the street of Yanagi when I came on a week night. Everytime I've eaten here, I've always ordered the combination teishoku. The two item teishoku is $22 and includes miso soup, salad, and ice cream (mac nut, coffee, green tea, azuki). During the first birthday dinner, I chose ahi teriyaki and tonkatsu for my two items. For the second birthday I ordered the ahi tempura and sashimi. I enjoyed the ahi tempura and sashimi more. Service was great and we received our food quickly. I think the food is good for the price. I heard the happy hour here is pretty good, but I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

    (4)

  • Debbie A.

    This sushi place is definitely one of the better ones I've been to. The parking is not too desireable. There's either valet or you just have to tough it out with street parking. I went on a Sunday night, so there were tons of street parking nearby. Since we didn't have reservations, we sat at the sushi bar. The sushi chefs were absolutely adorable! They were also fast and efficient with our orders. The place has a nice ambiance to it - not too loud, but not too quiet either. The sushi was on point and so was the service.

    (5)

  • Mary Q.

    What's there not to love about Yanagi?! The Sushi is awesome, and I'm so hooked on their Dynamie,! Butterfish just melts in your mouth, Honeymoon rolls, caterpillar rolls,Shrimp tempura roll, and my favorite, The Dragon Roll! And great Spicy Ahi! If it's your 1st time, you can get the lunch or dinner special where you can choose 2-3 different entrees , pickled kimchee and appetizer. miso soup and salad, and ice cream for under $20! Gotta try the Green tea or Azuki bean ice cream, they put honey on top of it, oh so yummy! The seating arrangements- 2 SMALL Sushi Bars, a table for 2 or 4, or sit in the back for a group, small but quaint. Clean environment, servers &owners are friendly, and they remember you. Only drawback is they close from 2-5pm, parking is limited, but you can park across the street for no charge. If you're a late nighter, they have Happy Hour from 10:30pm to close. It can get pricey, if you start ordering alot of Sushi, but that's normal right? Thumbs up for Yanagi Sushi!!

    (5)

  • Denby R.

    I love this place. It is the most consistently awesome sushi place in Hawaii. Never been let down here. :)

    (5)

  • Troy T.

    ugh, just short of the 5 star if it wasn't for the last time I've been here, but hey, EVERYONE has an off day....(i'm speaking of Yanagi, off day meaning blah service). so let's call it, 4 1/2 stars okay? This is the place I go for the late night happy hour (1030). The sushi here is awesome at the price. It is always pretty busy in here and the decor is pretty cool. Though there are a lot of pictures taken with whoever it maybe (Japanese movie stars? Japanese models? I guess you'd have to be from Japan to know who these people are to be put on the walls; yet, it could just be random Japanese nationals, i don't know). Pretty much anything you get here is good. I recommend starting off with the happy hour menu and build your base from there. Better find street parking, their lot is tiny.

    (4)

  • Bryce A.

    I really like the layout of Yanagi. There are two sushi bars (which is more like 1 big one with a wall in between), a bunch of booths, and several rooms with a couple of tables each and separated from the rest of the restaurant by dividers. It feels like you are eating in a tiny place, though if you walk through it all there is a decent amount of seating. You probably still want to make reservations, I don't think that I've eaten there without one. I usually order one of the dinner sets where you can pick from a list of possible dishes and also get salad, miso soup and ice cream. If you eat raw fish you should try the sushi (or sashimi) - the sushi at Yanagi is great. The fish is very fresh, with great texture. I haven't been disappointed by any of the options so far, but the teriyaki (NY Steak or Chicken) and tempura (either shrimp or fish with vegetables) are very good. Prices are decent considering the quality and type of food. I've never gone after 10:30, but there is a late night menu which looks very reasonable. There is a small amount of street parking, so if you don't get lucky you may have to use the valet or walk a bit.

    (4)

  • Edwin Jr. D.

    After the movies, my girlfriend and 2 of our friends decided to eat here because they closed late (it was 12:10am when we got out of the theater) and we were craving sushi. Once we got there, we were seated right away in the back area where you need to step up to go in the room. We ordered our food and the waiting game begins. We chatted and had good conversation with each other. Their food(chicken teriyaki and shrimp tempura combo, sake, salmon onion, and tempura roll) came within 7-8 minutes. I was patiently waiting for mine(Dragon roll). Enjoying each other's company, I didn't really pay too much attention about how long my food would take. Our waiter came to us twice (about 3-4 minutes between each refill) refilling our hot tea without telling me about my order. My friends were telling me that they would have complained for waiting this long. Our waiter came the third time and I asked him about my Dragon roll. He looked puzzled and told me that he'll be right back. I seen him talking to another employee which I thought that they were talking about my food and if it's coming soon. By this time, my friends were already finished with their food and I'm still waiting. My patient grew short and I literally waited close to 10 minutes after everyone got their meals and at least a total of 17-20 minutes since I ordered my food. Our waiter that supposedly took our order, didn't comer back to our table and another waiter came to us. I ask him for the bill and I didn't want to pay for the Dragon roll and guess what??? They just brought out my order. I could understand that if your stress. I work in a restaurant too. At least tell me what is going on with my food. He literally had 2 chances to tell me. I gave him another chance to get my food when I asked him, but he ignored me. What kind of customer service was that???

    (1)

  • Pam H.

    This is one of my favorite places to go late nights. Sushi & Sashimi is awesome. Oysters are always sooooooo delicious. Serivce is pretty good I love the Sake they have !!!!

    (4)

  • Nicole S.

    When you work in the restaurant this is one of the best choices for a post work meal. Might want to send someone ahead of the rest of the party to get you checked in, wait time could be long. They have their own parking but you're probably better off trying for street parking first. Late night menu from 11:30pm, perfect specials for a big appetite.

    (4)

  • Tammy T.

    Based purely on dinner experience. (I will have to try their late night specials; I have a feeling it may rate higher) Parking is hard! but if you are willing to walk, just park on the street. We parked on Cooke St. Reservations is important if you wanna eat dinner (we went at 9). The place was packed. Thank goodness we had one. Combination meal; which includes salad, miso, 2 choice, and dessert was $20.95. I got Tempura & Ahi Teriyaki. They came out separately. Tempura and rice, then about 15 minutes later the Ahi Teriyaki. Thought maybe it should come together, but I would rather eat something hot and wait for the second one, then get both; one luke-warm the other hot. Know what I mean? I wish I paid more attention to the way the Tempura looked, cause if I did, I wouldn't have gotten it. It looks fake. Not that it is. It looks like the drawing on the bag of that Shirakiku Tempura Panko mix. Or the kind you see in cartoons. Perfect and cute looking. I like my tempura batter asymmetrical and all over the place. I ordered a Jack and Coke but they were out of Jack so the server suggested Suntory Yamazaki. I rather enjoyed it, and might invest in having a bottle at home. Over all, dinner was OK, nothing really stood out. We had the hardest time trying to get our check cause our server was MIA, but that was about it.

    (3)

  • Arturo G.

    I had high expectations of Yanagi's but I was 50/50 with my satisfaction with my dinner. First off, I didn't like the walls all covered with photos of photos of, I guess, celebrities. It makes the place seem tacky, to me at least. We ordered the Seattle roll, Salmon skin salad, The Dynamite, and a spicy tuna roll. The Seattle roll was really good with fresh fish. The Salmon skin salad was not good. I have had salmon skin salad elsewhere and it was great with the skin nice and crispy but here it is not at all. And they should call it Onion Salmon skin salad with all the onions that were in there. The Dynamite was really good but very rich. To top it off the spicy tuna roll was really bad. I don't know if it was ours only but our spicy tuna roll had a funky flavor to it.

    (2)

  • Leona C.

    I'm from California, and we get pretty fantastic sushi out here. So when we visited Waikiki, I'm thinking - "where better to get the best sushi than smack in the middle of the ocean." I guess I was imagining streets lined with restaurants and sushi bars... Fortunately, we knew some locals in town and they all pointed us here. It was MARVELOUS! We came with a party of six and had a nice quiet private area. Our server was pleasant and patient between my dads corny jokes and indecisiveness. Finally, I took over and with his help we ordered and within 7 minutes food started piling in. Everything raw was so fresh and crisp! Everything cooked was flavored perfectly and not over cooked. The seaweed salad was different than I'm used to, still good! But the lobster miso was... underwhelming. My favorite would be the agedashi tofu and the uni. Make reservations!

    (5)

  • Carolyn P.

    I came here after work one night..i had the teriyaki ahi and chicken katsu late night special. The presentation was all nice, but i didnt really care for the taste. It was good, but probably not gonna eat it again. My first time wasnt bad it wasnt great, maybe another try next time.. Updated Review(05/04/13): Came here again, late night specials, tried the baby tako appetizer this time, it was good. And had the tempura and teri chicken set..i didn't enjoy the tempura here, all the veggies was still hard even letting them soak in the tempura sauce, i'm not a fan of teri chicken so I was surprised I enjoyed the chicken more than the tempura. I don't what it was that night but it was not that busy, but workers disappeared as we were waiting to get the check. Never sit in those party rooms unless your having one yourself..it was very rowdy in the other rooms the doors kept hitting our tables..and yelling into our room...

    (2)

  • Chris M.

    I came here last week and left speechless. The sushi was so fresh and tasty. Like kissing an 18 year old Hawaiian girl on a white sand beach. I sat down at the sushi bar and watched as chef Kotani meticulously crafted each piece of sushi. It looked like he was dancing or playing a musical instrument. He stared intently, almost apologetically at the Unagi as he sliced it, then baked it, then broiled the top of it w a butane torch. I then ordered the salmon. He sliced large but thin fatty pieces of fresh salmon and carefully placed some Maui onion underneath. I ordered the Ika. He carefully sliced it and placed a shisho leaf in between the rice and squid. The maguro was so fresh and tender I wondered if Kotani was out fishing an hour before work and wrestled the tuna from the deep sea just for me. This guy is a pro. There were pictures of the owners all over the wall with the celebrities that frequented the place. I saw a picture of Kotani with several action stars. They probably have the same picture of him on their walls. He is my hero. They are open till 2am. I got there at 12 am and it was full of locals eating after a night out.

    (5)

  • Ruben M.

    Authentic sushi & atmosphere. Valet parking & it's wise to make reservations. They have a nice variety of Sake & beer.

    (5)

  • Shea H.

    Best sushi on the island! You get more of an authentic Japanese sushi meal here; not the American interpretation. I always judge a sushi place on the quality of their toro; hands down my favorite on Oahu. Great service and fresh fish!

    (5)

  • Daria W.

    Love with a first bite! Real good place, not expensive and taste! It was lunch, catsu salmon and terri beef was amazing. Ill come back for dinner,for sure!

    (5)

  • Mary B.

    Yanagi Sushi is a great place to eat Japanese food. The dinner menu may be expensive for some, but there are reasonable prices for lunch. As a college student, it's not easy to find a place that offers you a ton of food for nearly $10.00. However, you can find reasonable meals at Yanagi Sushi during lunch time. I enjoy their tempura and chicken teriyaki combination lunch, which comes with rice, miso soup, and a side dish. The service is pretty good there! Service is quick. It's clean and comfortable inside. It's always amusing to look at all the pictures of famous people on the walls too. The parking there isn't the greatest though. There isn't enough parking at all, so you may want to walk or find street parking.

    (4)

  • Desmond H.

    Poke! So good... CLEANLINESS: 5/5 SERVICE: 4/5 FOOD: 5/5 + Poke (Salmon and Tuna) + Combination Dinner (Fried Ahi and Chicken Teriyaki) My friend recommended this place for the best poke in the world. I wasn't really sure if that would be true. How good can sashimi get? We ordered the salmon poke and tuna poke to try it out. After eating the poke here in Hawaii, I have to say it was the best I've ever tasted. No joke! The consistency is super smooth and slides down your throat. Sashimi in California is a bit grainy at times, but the fish in Hawaii is really really fresh. Now I'm spoiled with poke in Hawaii. *sigh*. The combination dinner was pretty good. It was just the right amount of food. The chicken teriyaki was a bit cold when they served it, so that was the only downside to my meal here. Service was mediocre. It took a very long time for them to take our order and to get our check. Parking is scarce, but manageable. I would definitely come back here! Pricing is also very reasonable!

    (5)

  • Kristen T.

    My co-worker who used to live in Hawai'i told me that Yanagi Sushi is the ONLY place to get sashimi. I suggested this to my raw fish loving friends and we headed over here during happy hour. I'm not a huge fan of raw fish because i think it tastes like the sea, but since I was in Hawai'i and at the 'best sashimi place' I gave it a try and sure enough, I'm glad I did. We ordered the ahi poke and salmon on top of maui onions and we were all amazed at how smooth and fresh the fish tasted! All of us kept saying, "wow!" "this is amazing" "best sashimi i've ever tasted!" After eating here, I have to admit..they converted me into a raw fish eater! =) Tips: Parking is pretty tight, but we were able to find parking across the street Make reservations, even during happy hours..it gets pretty busy Go during happy hour (after 10:30PM), prices are a bit cheaper

    (5)

  • Nicole R.

    I've given Yanagi a try a couple of times now, and after this last visit, it's unlikely that I'll ever return. Here's the deal: the sushi isn't bad. It's not great, but it's certainly not inspired. I looked around the restaurant at what other people were eating, and several things looked pretty good, but honestly - everything we ordered just fell flat. Meh. It's the service and the ambience that I really have an issue with. The women that have greeted me at the door both times I've been been to Yanagi are just plain rude. Which I find totally unnecessary. Because I'm friendly and always walk into a restaurant with a smile on my face. So it's hard to understand how they can be so grumpy with me for doing something so audacious as to walk through their front door. During our meal, I had to actually tap a waiter on the arm as he sped past so I could order another beer...and this is after many failed attempts to politely get someone's attention. We were positively ignored through our entire meal. The walls are covered in photos of some famous people (some not so famous) from at least the last 25 years -- which could be cool I suppose if the food was up to snuff...but it just isn't. I also question the cleanliness of the place because we had to keep shooing away fruit flies the entire evening. Pretty gross. If you're looking for some quick take-away sushi, this might be okay, but there are plenty of other options in town that are sure to be better.

    (2)

  • Brandon K.

    Reliable good Japanese good! Great service! Good late night menu!

    (5)

  • Bernard N.

    Just OK, especially considering the price. Now if you are there for the regular happy hour or late-night happy hour, prices are much more in line with the quality of the food. We ordered the Super Sushi Deluxe (18 pieces of assorted sushi) and a Butterfish/Tempura combo. I judge a sushi bar on their uni (or rather what uni they consciously choose to put out) and the uni that night was Just OK as you could taste the "deep blue". All the other sushi was good. The butterfish was a bit overcooked but the tempura was spot on. I will definitely be back to Yanagi . . . during a happy hour.

    (3)

  • Jay K.

    I seriously want to shoot myself whenever friends suggest meeting up here. The food quality is TERRIBLE and so overpriced! How can this place be so popular? Makes me think something is wrong with people's taste buds....

    (1)

  • Marc L.

    LATE NIGHT SPECIALS!!! They have good and filling combo sets under $10 i recommend the shrimp and vegetable tempura and chicken teriyaki combo set. :)

    (5)

  • Karen D.

    Yanagi Sushi is hands down our favorite sushi restaurant because it offers the best overall value of quality food, attentive service, and reasonable price. It's not upscale fancy like some places, but I'm extremely picky about eating only very fresh, good quality sashimi, and Yanagi consistently delivers. I like their combination meals, which are a complete dinner for a set price of between $20-30, depending on what you order. You get an appetizer of edamame and tsukemono, garden salad, miso soup, entree(s), and dessert. There is a decent selection on the combo meal entree menu, including sashimi, nigiri sushi, miso butterfish, and tempura shrimp. Yanagi Sushi is open late, until 2:00am six nights per week. (They feature a late night menu.) They have private dining areas situated around the perimeter of the restaurant that accommodate groups of various sizes, available upon request. Yanagi Sushi is always busy, so I highly suggest reservations. They offer free valet parking, too. Hours are Mon-Sat 11am-2pm, 5:30pm-2am; Sun 11am-2pm, 5:30pm-10pm. Yelp 365 Challenge #055/365

    (4)

  • Christie G.

    I've been a regular at Yanagi Sushi for years, that the food and experience is always good! Whenever I eat there, I can tell that the chefs cook with pride and enjoy what they do. The fish is very fresh tasting and sliced right, and the tempura is not too oily. The food is always delicious! Their menu selections are always a nice sight to see. The service there is always good, and the waiters and waitresses are always checking to see if there is anything else needed. I also like the fact that I can view the pictures of famous people on the walls that have eaten there, such as Michael Jackson. They have valet parking, but I like to park on the side streets. They also have private party rooms for a group. Always a classy place to eat at almost anytime. Just writing this review, I'm starting to get a craving for Yanagi Sushi!

    (5)

  • Hydra H.

    Seriously, probably my favorite place to eat! Love that its open late and somehow I always manage to get my salmon and Maui onion fix before they run out for the night! Service is always good and quick!

    (5)

  • Sharon D.

    We just tried Yanagi's for the first time as we were invited to our friends birthday. There were 7 of us at the sushi bar. Our friend made the reservations. We started off with a very friendly valet parking attendant and were quickly seated at our reserved seats. Our waiter quickly took our drink order and then everyone started ordering sushi. I honestly have never seen plates appear so quickly. The sushi chefs were spot on and the sushi was extremely fresh. We tried the oyster shooters. Wow! And the deluxe sashimi plate was amazing. So was the spicy tuna and this crazy volcano roll that they took a blow torch to. Service was awesome and super attentive. Cannot wait to go back!

    (4)

  • Steph J.

    Yanagi Sushi has great, authentic Japanese food. Don't let the Japanese speaking Korean Hostesses make you think any different. This place has great combination meals and if you're craving specific items like sushi or shabu-shabu, I'd recommend other places. But if there are a bunch of people who just want to eat Japanese food but don't know what they're craving, this is a good versitile restaurant to dine at. Yanagi's is actually one of the few Japanese restaurants that serves Dave's Green Tea Ice Cream...my favorite. So after a nice meal, I always make sure to get dessert. Check it out!

    (4)

  • Waiki C.

    On two recent dining experiences at the tables, not sushi counters, the waiter we had was pretty bad. During our 2nd visit the only interaction we had with him was: he picked up the check with my credit card. Not even a hello, thank you, or goodbye. the food was good. Conversely, at the sushi counter the food and service is always excellent! Mr. Yanagi needs to train their young waiter boys at the tables much better.

    (2)

  • Kelly B.

    Yanagi Sushi taste like Mc Donalds compared to Gaku. I don't know why everybody keeps raving about it. I used to like this place a lot before there was Sushi Izakaya Gaku. The Salmon Sashimi smells fishy, the quality compared to Gaku is extremely dissappointing. And costs more, too. Interior decoration should have been overhauled many years ago. Outrageous prices for mediocre food ... what's wrong with you people??

    (2)

  • Sergio V.

    Late night sushi is the best!!!! Really great price for the quality of sushi, not to mention the beer and sake prices are hard to beat. I love the Ahi Poke. It is probably the freshest Ahi I've ever had. My other favorite is the Spicy Ahi Sushi, great portion. A meal for 2 and a couple rounds of sake and beer only cost us $25!!! Talk about a deal!

    (4)

  • Peter H.

    Great sushi. Very fresh. It has many specialty fishes and delicacies you don't normally find a other sushi venues. Make sure you call in advance for a reservation. It is a little expensive compared to other restaurants but it is well worth it. Parking is also easy by using valet services. I'll certainly come back.

    (4)

  • Jennifer S.

    We went to dinner so this was before the late night happy hour and there was about 4 other tables besides ours. Drinks are all mainland imported beer nothing special about the beers or sake. We ask the server what he recommends, his response "ummmm, well, there's the toro but it's $8 a piece." Ok, they did bamboozeled us into getting us the overpriced fish which was good. We also ordered: - dynamite oyster- oven baked, tasted more of the mayo and cheese, where was the oyster? - sashimi - ok, tasted like nothing... - Philly roll - nothing special - Alaskan California roll- ok, used imitation crab and so real Overpriced sushi, kind of dissappointed. Gave it 3 stars because the waiter was nice and he checked up on us a few times during our dinner.

    (3)

  • Dev C.

    Lunch Plate "G" is always good. BBQ Chicken and Salmon Katsu plate. The chicken is super-tender and the breading on the salmon and light and surprisingly not as greasy as you'd expect a normal katsu would be. I'm a fan of the oyster shooter... if you're not squeamish about swallowing a raw egg, at least try it. Another notable dish is the unagi on rice. A large order is almost laughably large (2 slabs); it's comparable to a huge plate lunch. But the way the sauce seeps into the rice and the melting effect it has on your palate is just awesome. I swear this thing is like the godiva of fish. Lunchtime has lower prices than dinnertime, and almost the same menu.

    (4)

  • Mandy Y.

    This place is always FULL!! Come late and you will get a parking and table. Sashimi deluxe & sushi super deluxe are always my favorite!!!!!!! Good for 2-3 people. Dinner combo is a good choice too (but I don't like most of the food item need to charge extra, ex. butterfish, tempura, etc.) It comes with salad/miso soup, rice and ice-cream.

    (4)

  • Nancy H.

    This review is ONLY for the sushi bar at Yanagi. I would only give the main fare in the restaurant 3 stars for food quality. The sushi here is incredible! We love to sit at the sushi bar and watch the sushi chefs prepare our meals. My favs are the spider roll and the rainbow roll. I get one, or both, every time. Hubby also likes the spider roll, but also frequently gets the volcano roll. Our son absolutely devours all the various sashimi. The ingredients are so so fresh and delicious; everything we've tried, we've loved. The atmosphere is intimate, but the place is usually very busy. I highly recommend reservations, especially if you want to eat at the sushi bar. They also have a late night menu that is quite good. Definitely a local favorite; however, a lot of tourists eat here, as well, and they have pics lining the walls of all the famous Japanese who have dined here. This is a regular favorite for us.

    (5)

  • Andrew D.

    I've heard such great things about this restaurant, and I must say that Yanagi didn't disappoint. It was my first time eating there and I went with a group of friends(3 total) and we ordered a bunch of items off of their latenight menu. Crispy fried shrimp, salmon with Maui onions, salmon skin salad, sauteed enoki mushrooms and the deep-fried baby octopus. I have to say that for a latenight menu, it was one of the best selections I've ever seen. The fried items came out hot and crispy, the salad and raw dishes came out cold and fresh. The highpoint of our latenight adventure came in the form of Yanagi's salmon with Maui onions....delicious! Overall, great restaurant for dinner and latenight. I'll definitely be going back again and again.

    (4)

  • Janet K.

    I've been coming to Yanagi Sushi since I was a little girl. I love this place and it would've gotten 5 stars if the parking lot was larger and if you didn't feel like sardines in a can all cramped up sitting next to people. The chairs are kind of uncomfortable too. Sit in the booths if you have an option. Sushi is fresh and cut perfectly by experienced sushi chefs. Love the toro and mirugai. The combination sushi and sashimi platters are good too. I'd pass on the sushi rolls though. Stick with the original basics, they do it oh so well! Teishoku combination lunches and dinners (2 or 3 choices) that come with tsukemono, miso soup, salad, rice and ice cream is a great choice for people who want to try a couple of items on the menu. They have a great late night menu. It's cheap and I believe it starts at 10pm. Don't forget to get the green tea ice cream for dessert. It's the besssssstest! They use Dave's Ice Cream and Dave's has the best green tea ice cream! Tip - You can order a side order of kimchee here. Not the fake kind either. The real deals! You're probably thinking, "why would I want to order kimchee at a Japanese restaurant?" Well, because kimchee is great with everything! The servers are all Korean too. I believe the owner's wife is, but I'm not too sure.

    (4)

  • Cassie T.

    My boss took me to Yanagis to celebrate my recent hire. Very good food and nice on the inside. The parking is valet only and the lot is tiny! We had several different items. Loved the butterfish.

    (4)

  • Traci H.

    Extensive menu -- way more than just sushi (they have tons of nigiri, rolls, and all that!): donburi, noodles, butterfish, salmon and tons of other so there should be food for everyone. Food is pretty good. Nothing spectacular but good food and lots of it. They have some private rooms if you have more than ~6 people. It's a loud restaurant, so don't go there if you want a quiet evening. Parking is a bit of a pain as it's all valet or you have to hunt for parking. (They may "valet" your car by just putting the key away since the valet is the lot right there - so I'm not sure why it's valet, other than for money). It's a social place with decent food. I'd go back. Oh and some meals come with ice cream! that was a surprise!

    (4)

  • Mz S.

    My family has been coming to place for YEARS (always late night) and without fail, we always order the same thing. Sashimi Deluxe Nabeyaki Udon Tempura Soba 2 choice dinner with misoyaki butterfish and saba Fried Tako Salmon Maui Onion If we're feeling super hungry, we'll add in a sushi roll. I love love love their sashimi deluxe. It's a great assortment of fresh seafood. I think if my sisters had it their way, they would have one each. If you eat here with my family, have your chopsticks ready when the waitress plops this bad boy on the table. I love this butterfish and saba. i do not think I ever had a bad meal here. Love this place!

    (4)

  • Kimberly L.

    I like this place. I really like it. I used to work across the street, and thus ate lunch here at least once a week, plus all the late-night after-dancing dinners, and I ended up getting sick of it. Don't get me wrong--you get a great lunch teishoku for under $10! But the tsukemono is always the same and the choices are always the same--i like variety! I just went back for the first time in about a year and I was pleasantly surprised. I think I was just tired of the lunch menu because I always ordered the same thing, but the food is actually pretty good, they give you a lot of it, and the prices aren't bad, either. One thing I don't get to eat much anymore is Japanese food. My permanent partner in eating grew up (and still loves) distinctly Mediterranean flavors, so I only get Japanese on special occasions. We went to Yangi on a Tuesday around 9:30. We were all starving because the boys had just finished work and no one had had dinner. Parking really isn't as bad as other reviewers say--just dig a little deeper back into the small street behind the restaurant. We entered. It feels cozy in there despite the largeness of the place. And the menu is actually pretty extensive. We were sad that it wasn't late enough for the late-night specials yet (try the fresh salmon with maui onion and ponzu dressing. I had it b accident once and loved it! $8.75 regular hours, only $5.50 late night!) I remembered the HUGE portions for the combination dinners, so me and my big eater guy shared a 3-combo of shrimp/veg tempura, chicken katsu, and nigiri. Just what I wanted! It's been at least a few months since I've had Japanese food. The rice was short grain and just tender enough, the pieces of fish on the nigiri were pretty big, the katsu sauce tasted right, and the tempura dipping sauce had plenty of daikon. And the kona coffee ice cream at the end was creamy and great, too. The dinner also comes with miso soup, iceberg salad with thousand island dressing, and some little appetizer tsukemono, pink ginger, edamame, sprouts, and a fried shrimp, which was new since last year. We went with another couple, who had recently arrived from another country. They said they'd been to lots of "sushi places" but never a Japanese restaurant. I guess I take it for granted how much I know about the glories of Japanese food beyond dynamite volcano cali roll maki stuff served elsewhere. They had a combo dinner, too, with teri steak, shrimp/veg tempura, and also a spicy tuna maki with extra avocado. They were pleased. I was pleased. My guy was not thrilled, but he was filled. I wanted to tell them all that the people who ran the place were actually speaking Korean (I think...It wasn't japanese, at any rate), and that sushi was barely eaten in certain parts of Japan (like Okinawa), but I refrained. I enjoyed dinner. I love this place for the big combo dinner and the late night hours, but my favorite place is still Maguro-ya in Kaimuki. Thank you for being open late (I believe til 2), yanagi sushi!

    (5)

  • Sara T.

    The fish is always fresh, and I love the Sushi Matsu and the Sushi Super Deluxe. The Tenzaru Udon is not as good as Jimbo's, but decent. The staff here seems to be made up of retired Korean/Japanese barmaids with immaculate hair and makeup - if you can get past that, service is fast and polite. It's pricier than other sushi places, but the consistent quality of the food is great, and they have a huge selection of food to try. Definitely a go-to lunch or dinner place.

    (4)

  • Carlos Kaukahi S.

    My wife and I were looking for a nice place to eat Saturday night after a Halloween party in Wahiawa. We called Yanagi on the road at 12:45 AM and asked what time they were closing. They responded that the last order goes in at 1:30 AM, that we don't need reservations and we said we'd be there. So we drove past Zippy's, Anna Millers and a couple hole-in-the-walls to Yanagi and finally arrived at about 1:20 AM, hungry for good food. We're greeted by one of the owners with an interesting comment: "I'm sorry, were all sold out". Dumbfounded, we respond, "we drove for 30 minutes to get here! And we called you! And you folks said the last order went in at 1:30!" She said with a very unwelcome and emotionless face, "I'm sorry, it's 1:30 and we're sold out of food." Couldn't she (Cathy might be her name) have offered us take out? Miso soup? A simple maguro? Tea? A conciliatory coupon or discount for our returned patronage? Well, bad business is bad business, and through yelp, I at least get some sort of justice through this bellyaching review.

    (1)

  • Manda S.

    (+) GO for the late night specials! They start at 1030 PM. Otherwise, during regular business hours, I'd say the prices are ok. A bit higher, and the food is pretty good, but its not really a "deal." This makes Yanagi just 'alright' to me, because I love deals. :) (+) The sushi is super good here! The fish is very fresh and the portion size is generous, especially for the spider roll. (For some reason, all the other rolls were pretty much regular size. The spider roll was HUMONGOUS.) (+/-) The rest of the menu is pretty good too, but I'd say its standard Japanese. Nothing that stands out as amazing. BF likes the steak but friends who've gotten the tempura wish they had ordered something different. (+) The service is good but be sure to keep track of what they bring you. They tend to forget an order of rolls here and there. Otherwise, they refill your water often and take away finished plates quickly.

    (4)

  • Joey T.

    This used to be one of my favorite restaurants in the Honolulu area until the multiple instances of rude service. The rudeness seems to originate from the Korean ladies who I presume are the managers/owners. The last straw was when we had a private room and the waiter (not even bothering to come inside and place the check on the table) flung the check in our general vicinity. I sincerely hope the service has improved as I will not be going back to find out anytime soon.

    (1)

  • Emily L.

    I first discovered this place when I was in dire need of food. I was tired of turning to McDonald's and Zippy's for late night food and my friends recommended this place since they open late. Now, I'm not the biggest Sushi fan (sorry guys!), but man...their sushi was GOOD. The restaurant is small and can be easy to miss. Inside, you will see that it's incredibly busy and their walls are plastered with pictures of famous people from all over the world. I saw famous people ranging from Steven Tyler to even Andy Lau on the wall! Small place....but popular! I liked the Anaga Roll the best. I believe it was BBQ Eel with cucumbers, other misc stuff, etc etc. I saw "eel" and I had to order it. I like Eels. :D! The Udon was also amazing. I like my noodles soft, which was how they made it. The servers were very attentive and nice. After we paid our bill we continued to sit and chat. Maybe a little too long. Many restaurants by then would've given you the hint to get up and leave, but they held their ground and even asked us if we wanted some tea. That is good service right there.

    (5)

  • Kasey T.

    My fiance and i had a tradition of coming here after concerts. Ever since sushi king started their ridiculous prices, we sought out Yanagi as a wonderful replacement. This last visit might just be our last. We waited on our second dish for more than 20 mins. Our server came buy a few times and asked us if we had received our salmon yet. After watching her consult with the cooks, it didn't seem to do doing much. So my fiance and i decided to leave. We generously paid for what we ate. Walking out on the tab did cross our minds.

    (2)

  • Brendon D.

    Yanagi want any other Japanese food after you eat lunch here. Seriously, folks. In LA, it's tricky to find legit Japanese food in most areas other than the highly concentrated areas like Little Tokyo, Torrance, Gardena and Hawthorne [read: non sushi joint or joints doing other stuff in addition to sushi]. I've been so desperate for some normal Japanese food. I found it here. I got one of their low priced box lunch combo meals and was so stoked. Everything from the miso soup to the tempura was super tasty. Can't wait to go back for dinner! Don't half step. If you get there after 1pm there is a high likelihood that the valet will have to bail.

    (4)

  • Sara H.

    I can't believe I've lived in hawaii for so long and have never been here!!! The serving sizes are good. I ordered the salmon sashimi which I think was about $14 and it came with about 10 pieces of fish-- what a deal!! My sister had the ahi tsunami which was on the "new stuff" menu and she said it was really good. It was basically a mound of spicy tuna and it came with nori and you wrap your own sushi (however it doesn't come with rice). It was about $6.95. It came with a pretty good amount of fish and I think you could order that and some tempura and you'd be good for your meal! They have happy hour from 10:30 - 2 am which is awesome!! The happy hour menu also had a lot of stuff on it. I really want to try the Salmon Sashimi w/maui onions. This is a great local sushi joint with excellent service, but make sure to call ahead and make reservations!!

    (4)

  • Johnny V.

    Excellent sushi. Toro roll is a must and so is the Seattle roll. Fish is fresh and the staff is friendly.

    (4)

  • Steven R.

    This is another tough one. For one, I think I've always liked their food... I mean they know what they're doing, do it consistently every time but I'd say: Price: Fair... to be expected Parking: 2 stars Service: Sometimes 3 sometimes 4 Food Quality: 5 stars but then again... I get the same thing each time. Maui onion and Salmon Skin Salad. OMG... just thinking about makes me wanna go right now!! Oh, I almost forgot... they're open late. Sometimes if you're hanging out late with some friends and you need a place to go eat... it's a stand by in my book. Go Yanagi's! Woot woot!

    (5)

  • Kanae K.

    I'm from Japan. And meals here are not traditional Japanese. They are Hawaiian Korean Japanese meals. Happy hour after 10:30 deal is ok. But I probably can cook better than them. And the lady at the front desk is not nice enough to call a cab for u. She said you have to call by yourself. How nice!

    (2)

  • Christy K.

    First of all, if you're going for dinner, make reservations! I went at 8 once and they told me I wouldn't get a seat until 9. If there are openings at the sushi bar, take em! Second, I only recommend you dine here if you're looking to eat sushi. Personally, I love the hamachi, uni, amaebi, and ikura. The rolls are all just alright-- definitely nothing to write home about. The nigiri is where it's at! Always super fresh and delicious. I give four stars because the sushi is really all that's good at this place. Even their salmon skin salad (it's still only like $5) has wayyy too much onion in it. If you're looking for good sushi, come here! It's pricey, but it's good, and as the maxim goes, "you get what you pay for!"

    (4)

  • Pauline W.

    I like to come here when I'm in a Japanese set menu kind of mood. Actually, it's the only place I'll go if that's what I want (it's not very often). Tonight, I tried the oyster shooter with ponzu sauce and quail egg. It was alright, nothing spectacular. I don't think I'd jump to order it again. For dinner, I always get the two-choice with miso butterfish and shrimp/vegetable tempura. This has to be one of the only places where I don't look at the menu (perfect for those lazy, can't be bothered to read kind of nights!). The sets are pretty good and consistent here. You know what you're getting and what it will taste like each time. Tip: Happy hour is a good time to come, the food is cheaper, you can try different things, and the menu is pretty extensive as far as late night happy hours go.

    (4)

  • Grand Master J.

    Still don't know why everyone thinks Yangi is (still) the best sushi in Honolulu. Maybe it was back in the 80's, but its is far behind now. The parking sucks, valet only. The whole place needs a mogot make over, inside is very dated and smelly . Even all the pics of famouse people are all faded now. The service is about the same as zippy's (very rude and slow) and the food is about the same any cheap local restaurant

    (1)

  • Kendra O.

    I would actually rate this 3 1/2 stars if the rating system allowed for it. I went to Yanagi for the first time last week, and while it was good, I think my expectations going in were high, so the food wasn't as good as I expected it to be. The service was good and I liked being in a private room (we had a party of 7). I also appreciated the drink selection and the variety of food on the menu. I ordered a 2-choice combination with shrimp/vegetable tempura and sashimi. The combo meals were served with a trio of small appetizers (one shrimp, soybeans, and bean sprouts), miso soup, a salad, rice, and ice cream for dessert (choice of kona coffee, mac nut, green tea, or azuki bean - I had the azuki). The main dishes were hit and miss for me. The sashimi was definitely a hit - good quality fish and generous portion. The miss was the tempura. While the shrimps (2) were big, the portion was generous, and I liked the types of veggies that were included (green beans and kabocha, which I love), I didn't care for the taste. There was nothing special about the batter or panko or the dipping sauce, so it seemed a bit on the "meh" side for me, which is unfortunate because the shrimp was otherwise cooked very well - not overdone like some places tend to do. I would go back again, particularly now that I know they have private rooms, but I think next time I would stick to the sashimi, sushi, or other fish entrees. I'd also like to try their late night menu sometime.

    (3)

  • William L.

    Great sushi. My favorite was the order of fresh oysters. The order of raw oysters came out fresh and clean. The green tea ice cream at the end of the meal was a great treat to top it off.

    (5)

  • Jerico P.

    Eat. Good. You're welcome.

    (5)

  • Yoshi G.

    My usual sushi go to, thanks to some friends who took me here on several occasions. I have become quite attached. I like the late hours, the tasty sashimi platter, the special prices late at night. The parking lot can get pretty full around 8-10. Try to park on Kapiolani along side Benz. You can look at the pretty cars as you walk up. Then after dinner you can walk up just a bit more and ogle at the Ferraris, Bentleys, and Lambos.

    (4)

  • Kevin D.

    Good sushi, not amazing. Big menu. The toro was fantastic. With all the Japanese residents and tourists in and around Honolulu, I was hoping for an incredible sushi meal. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it, it just wasn't amazing.

    (3)

  • George R.

    Very good Maui onion salmon great, big taro taste fanatic! Exceptional Unagi. Great sashim Happy hour after 10pm is a plus :)

    (4)

  • Meghan S.

    The sushi is delightful. Everything we tried was melt in your mouth delicious and totally fresh. And the atmosphere is exactly what I've come to expect with authentic Japanese sushi spots. Great service too. Definitely would go back.

    (5)

  • Hyunny P.

    It really is the best Japanese Restaurant in Honolulu for it's vast menu and quality. What restaurant has live lobster, shabu shabu, sushi, sashimi, soba, izakaya style food, and teishoku all at one place??? My favorite is lobster sashimi that they pick out of the tank for you and present it before getting the ok from the customer before they fillet it. It is so tender and delicious and they make miso soup with the shells after for you. It is a real treat. I also love all their izakaya type of food. My favorite is oyster on the half shell, salmon/maui onion in sesame/soy sauce, live sea cucumber in either ponzu or the korean style gochujang/vinegar sauce, hirame(fresh halibut) thinly sliced with green onions w/ponzu sauce, and their grated yam that is so thick and gooey w/a quail egg on top(you mix in some shoyu and mix, mix, mix-supposedly much nutrients and very good for the body and soul)....mmmm~~~ We also get some sashimi of amaebi(they fry their heads for you after), uni, abalone, king clam, fresh toro, and raw scallop...mmm~ ...(at about this time, they bring out the lobster miso soup from the left over shells from your lobster sashimi)... We usually end the meal with some chawanmushi... Yum, yum~ It's a lot of off food, but still really healthy and fresh and deeeee-licious~!!!

    (5)

  • Sarah G.

    Went to Yanagi after a failed walk in attempt at Izakaya Gaku. Again, there was surprise that we had no reservation. WTF, Honolulu? Is it not possible to walk into a sushi joint on a Monday night at 6PM? The only available table was one in the way back - apart from the main restaurant and en route to the bathroom. Eventhough the table sucked, we decided to stay. Having been relegated to Yanagi's version of Siberia, I thought we would soon be forgotten. But the service was quite attentive- perhaps the only real plus of the evening. The food was nothing to write home about. I have had better Japanese at my local joint in NYC and at half the price. Not impressed.

    (2)

  • Sharif B.

    Great deal if you can eat late. 10:30PM I recommend any of the fried food especially. Spicy Tuna roll.

    (5)

  • Norm G.

    Shucks! Too bad I didn't read Ryan's review of Yanagi before coming here for wife's birthday on a SUNDAY! I've heard that in most restaurants, Sunday is not a good night to go because: 1. There may be a different chef, and 2. some of the food may not be as fresh. The fish definitely didn't taste very fresh on this particular Sunday night. It was not very flavorful, and it just didn't have that zing that I have come to expect from a place specializing in sushi. Maybe I'll give them a try on a Saturday night sometime. Thank heaven, my wife was satisfied with her deluxe sashimi dinner, so at least I don't have to sleep in the doghouse!

    (2)

  • Howard K.

    This place is always #1 for tasty Japanese food & sushi. We ordered the lunch special with 3 choice's. I took the sashimi, chicken katsu & miso butter fish. oh so juicy and tender on the chicken....butterfish melted in the mouth and the sashimi.....heaven (maguro, salmon, hamachi & tako). Friend treated me to the O-Toro nigiri WOW!!! just melted in the mouth you gotta try it (with your friends $$$$).

    (5)

  • Sejika J.

    open late, excellent hamachi sashimi and oyster half shells, try the late night special salmon & maui onion dish!

    (5)

  • Chi N.

    Good place for late night sushi. I felt that the staff was attentive and constantly checked up on our table, which was nice. We ordered the omakase. The quality kind of varied between different nigiri, so it was not too consistent. To me it was a bit pricey for what it was, but not too bad.

    (3)

  • Sonny L.

    Just ate at Yanagi Sushi. The raw oysters were so fresh, clean and succulent. The uni was like soft sweet butter. I have eaten at some of the best and most expensive sushi places throughout the west coast. The freshness and quality at this place was amazing. The temperature and texture of the sashimi was just spot on. I will be back the next time I'm in Hawaii.

    (5)

  • Kimi L.

    Street parking along Kapiolani Blvd or they offer valet parking. Perfect spot to eat after an event at the Blaisdell. Their tempura udon and bbq shortribs are great. They frequently stop by to refill your hot tea (love that - hate when your server is a green tea nazi and won't refill your cup). They allow reservations, so make one. They get busy.

    (4)

  • Caron O.

    Yanagi was recommended to my husband and I by a friend who grew up in Honolulu. Today, we were finally able to get a table, after trying TWO other times prior. Granted it is Christmas/New Years so it's busy, and we were expecting a wait, but what we didn't expect was the experience we had. Especially after our friends' recommendation and the various reviews on Yelp. Our experience started off with a horrendous greeting at the hostess station. I actually would not call it a "greeting" at all to be honest. When I asked her if there was any availability for two, I was told "only if you can be done by 730pm." Um, well, sure. It was only 530pm at the time, so 730pm was more than enough time. Funny because as we walked to our table, the restaurant was practically empty!! We were seated in a room that had two tables, one for 2 and one for 4. We were given the table for 2. And we were immediately welcomed to the room by a STRONG moldy smell. At that point, we should have just walked out. But we decided to stay with it and hope for the best. Another couple came in right behind us, and was seated at the table for 4. I find this relevant to mention because this same couple who came in after us, got the larger table, ordered before us, ate before us and left the restaurant before us. We ordered the spicy tuna sushi, spicy tuna roll, spicy hamachi roll and the king crab california roll. It was OK. Nothing to write home about, but definitely edible. Until both my husband and I chomped down on something that WAS NOT FISH. He had a piece of SHELL in his king crab roll and I had a piece of paper (you know, the paper that comes on the bottom of burger to absorb the extra juice!?) in my spicy tuna sushi. GROSS!!!!! Makes me wonder what was in the sushi that we couldn't see. We immediately stopped eating. Thank goodness we got out of there only spending $60 or else I would have been more upset. We then topped the night off with tipping the valet guy when we left only to have him hand us our keys so we could get the car ourselves. We also parked the car ourselves. Overall, we were both so disappointed with everything from the valet, to the hostess, to the sushi itself. I WILL NOT RETURN nor will we recommed Yanagi to anyone else. I'd rather spend my money somewhere else.

    (1)

  • Anya R.

    I was so excited to go to Hawaii and eat some amazing sushi but.. came to realize that HI sushi is all about the fresh fish and not the fancy stuff that I love. The rolls seemed pretty simple and very basic. There was a lot on the menu but with the scallop handroll, Rainbow roll, Volcano Roll nothing really stood out. I did enjoy the Korean type free appetizer at the beginning of your meal that included edamame, shrimp, and sprouts. Its probably one of the better places in Oahu based on the highly rated reviews and the fact that I had to make reservations.. oh oh and also because of the all the celebrity pictures in the restaurant that seemed like they were done in the 90's.. But I've had better in Cali for sure.

    (3)

  • Stacy H.

    The best sushi i have ever had. Try the nigiri sushi deluxe combo and the misoyaki butterfish. The sushi chefs are friendly. Make sure u call ahead for reservations!

    (5)

  • Monthakan B.

    My family & I have been coming to Yanagi Sushi for years.... The food is always good.....the service was decent. But this year, the price went up a lot! I remembered paying $9.00 for an order of Uni last year.....but last week, it was $12.50! For that price....i rather go Sasabune. But Yanagi is still a good spot for late night happy hour.

    (3)

  • Shaun V.

    We were in Hawaii for a week, and decided to give Yanagi out. We were recommended Sasabune, but decided we could eat at Yanagi 2x rather than ball out at Sasabune. One time we had a table, and another we sat omiksa (style). The quality of the fish is top notch. The pricing seems very in line with the quality and service provided!

    (4)

  • Roger J.

    Very Good quality.... the Suhi Chef was really nice man.... just be carefull with the door lady ....

    (5)

  • Nate M.

    my favorite sushi place on the island you gotta love the late night happy hour. And the food is always good

    (5)

  • Joanne S.

    This place makes me want to cry. Out of overwhelming happiness. Been here many times for late happy hour. If you're willing to drive down Kapiolani late at night and eat, it's possibly the only place around to satisfy your late night Japanese/ sushi cravings. Anywho, I know this place is awesome because of two instances : 1. Took college friends from school in LA (met in LA, but they are born/raised Waipahu and Wahiawa, never been to Yanagi's, unimpressed with my navy baby life by Pearl Harbor). They freakin' loved the food! One almost cried over the beautiful, glistening tasty katsu pork fat! 2. Took half of my cousins bridal party, 80% of whom he lived and grew up with for six years in Yokosuka. I was really nervous of what they'd think of the food, but they were very impressed! Food: Ahi Poke Salmon sashimi Any nigiri They run out of the ahi poke during late night happy hour though. It's that popular, and I'm not disappointed because I know they must get it on a daily basis. Freshhhh! I literally ache for this place.

    (5)

  • Trish P.

    their late night specials are SO GOOD! 1030pm - 2am (actually, its more like 130am) Kurobuta sausage - (4 pieces) 4.95 Gyoza - 5 pieces (3.95) chicken wings (5.25) have you tried this sausage? this Kurobuta sausage? its FREAKING FANTASTIC! its smoky, juicy and delicious.... order this. its good. the gyoza was your standard gyoza. it comes out hot, and has a nice sauce on the side. the chicken wings are CRISPY and good. but i got this weird midget piece possibly from a gimp-legged chicken...... O_O my friend raves about the hamachi here. RAVES about it. she looked like she was having a out-of-body experience while eating. i guess this means you should get some when you go, huh? also, if you're searching for parking (and its late), just park in the BACK of the building. get plenty kine ova there. but, only late night, i'm pretty sure thats parking for other businesses in the day time.

    (4)

  • Conrad G.

    What did we order? 1 Grilled Ahi and Chicken Katsu 1 Chicken Teriyaki and Salmon Katsu 2 Salmon Skin Salad 1 Gyoza 1 Unagi Donburi 2 Hamachi Nigiri 1 Oyster Shooter 1 Large Asahi 1 Large House Hot Sake How was the taste on a scale from 1 through 5? 4 How was the service on a scale from 1 through 5? 2 Did we feel it was worth the price? Yes Will we visit Yanagi Sushi in the future? Yes

    (4)

  • Melody M.

    Great selection - pages and pages of plates and sashimi, nigiri and maki. Fast service. Affordable. I loved it. I do wish they'd use the fresher (non-pink) ginger for the sushi, but we can let that slide.

    (4)

  • Brent K.

    I've gone to Yanagi for years, Never had a bad experience, food was always good and good service. It's Better now because they have specials late at night after 10:30 PM. Another good place to come if your out late.

    (4)

  • Hannah K.

    I love love this place. Their sashimi is so amazing. I got to try an array of fresh clam, hamachi, and various other seafood, and it was so amazing! The quality of this place is top-notch. We also ordered shabu shabu, and the quality of the meats were so great as well. I was so pleased with my dining experience. Yanagi Sushi is one of my favorite restaurants in Hawaii, hands down! I don't mind paying lots of money to dine here, because what I put down in money, I get back in quality!

    (5)

  • Patrick S.

    I been here a few times, and the sushi is ALWAYS great. They have valet parking and you can just tip the driver whatever you feel!! I would say the "toro" sushi is probably the "best" one. I believe its the belly of the fish 2pc. is like $9.....but it's sooo worth it. The saki is also good too.

    (5)

  • Hideki K.

    My uncle, who's a Kama'aina, first took me to Yanagi Sushi in 2000. I really liked it and was surprised that sushi could taste so fresh in Honolulu. I'm guessing that despite the warm weather, it's its proximity to Japan that gives Hawaii access to good fresh fish. I returned to Yanagi Sushi again in 2005 and had the butterfish entree and really enjoyed it. Yanagi Sushi isn't too far from the Ala Moana Shopping Center, and was not hard to find. It's a real Japanese establishment run by Japanese issei folks.

    (4)

  • davis k.

    Awful. We had reservations for 5:30. (My grandma was there, hence the senior-citizen dinner time). The restaurant itself doesn't open until 5:30, so us, along with like 10 other families, hung out in the middle of their tiny parking lot, trying to not get run over by the crazy valet dudes. There were a few benches along the building, but not enough for all the old Japanese grandmas / grandpas who were waiting. Promptly at 5.30, they opened their doors, and sat the entire restaurant. Unfortunately, it was clear that their kitchen could not handle this as: 1) It took 70 minutes for our first main dishes to be served. 2) They didn't serve the entire table at the same time; my cousin's dish came out 10 minutes after mine. Oh, and the food sucked. Maybe this place is good for late night sushi. But dinner, definitely not.

    (1)

  • Kate Y.

    After 10pm happy hour is one if the best place to go, sashimi is really fresh, big toro is must try...

    (4)

  • Chris S.

    love this place. quick service and awesome food. the price is always reasonable also. recommend that you make reservations though especially around 7-8 pm

    (5)

  • Jill D.

    For my 30th birthday we went here because I love sushi and now I live in one of the world's sushi meccas. Oh.My.Sushi-Loving-Delicious-Fishes.Loving.­Goddess. Let's play the game "Never Have I Ever". This will be less interesting than you think because I get to start. AND finish. And the only alcohol involved is strictly by passive participation. Never have I ever... Eaten Hamachi Belly sashimi so thick and fresh. Eaten Butter Fish so melt-in-my-mouth delicious. Eaten Japanese Toro. A-Maze-ING! Eaten a softshell crab handroll that was GOOD. Eaten Uni with raw quail egg that tasted so rapturous that I rolled my eyes back in my head like an orgasm (as seen by my boyfriend). Experienced service so fast that words were scarcely out of our mouths before items appeared before us. Yanagi blew all kinds of doors open and now I have more things I can take a shot over while playing "Never Have I Ever". Which is good for anyone I play against cuz now there's probably NOTHING but traveling questions that I can rule out. As in: "Never have I ever been to Africa." Yeah. Cuz those are TOTALLY the line of questions that you guys go with.

    (5)

  • Eunice F.

    This is my 3rd favorite sushi place in Honolulu. We go here all the time! Great sushi (fresh and good size pieces of fish over not too much rice) and reasonably priced. And their cooked food is pretty good too. Reservations are recommended. Parking, they have valet, so that's a plus. And service is usually decent too, overall great sushi place!

    (4)

  • Katie K.

    Yay! Another good eats late night spot! I was starving last night around, oh, 10:30ish and so happy my friend suggested this place! Yanagi was definitely not packed at this time of time, but there were plenty of people there, including a couple of large parties. It was nice to not be in an empty restaurant this time of night! My friends and I ordered Fried Gyoza (off the late night Happy Hour Menu, 10:30-1:30 I believe; that's last call, they close at 2am), a Dragon Roll, a Volcano Roll, and 2 orders of miso soup! Everything was very tasty! Sushi was fresh, and the eel on top of the Dragon roll was tender and delicious! To go with dinner, we ordered a pitcher of Kirin, only $12.95 at this time of night! Food was good, beer was cold, and prices were very reasonable. I think it came out to about $52 for everything above. I left full and happy. Happier especially knowing I have a new option for non-fast food late night cuisine!

    (4)

  • Lee M.

    My visit to this quaint, cozy, sushi restaurant conjured up images of a young geisha dashing through the tea house like a gust of wind... Err, getting back to the topic Lee... I went to Yanagi for lunch and ate in one of the private rooms. I had the salmon katsu and teriyaki chicken combination plate. It was my first time trying salmon katsu and I was excited. I don't know why I waited so long but the payoff sure was great. I really liked Yanagi's salmon katsu, it was borderline orgasmic... in a figurative sense of course. The teriyaki chicken was very juicy and had just the right amount of sauce. True, there was a lot of fat and skin on the chicken but I kept telling myself, "This is why the chicken tastes so good." I want to go back for dinner or late night style to check out the vibe. Also, on my next visit, I do plan to hit up the sushi bar. After all, it's Yanagi Sushi right?

    (3)

  • Megan G.

    I was not as impressed as I wanted to be! I had heard such great things but nothing tasted that fresh... the uni was OK, the chu-toro not buttery enough and the chef's omakase shashimi platter really was a low point in our meal! Nothing on it really was that great.... one item, the clam was absolutely nasty, SO not fresh. I am a lover of all things raw and oceany, but this was not good in the least. the best part of the meal was the hamachi kama (at 10 bucks it was a steal!!) Maybe it was an off night, but I am going to stick with other places for now...

    (2)

  • S S.

    I enjoy going to Yanagi Sushi, but maybe once a month is good enough for me. It's spacious, good food, alcohol available, and service is good enough. Lots of interesting pictures to look at and they also have a sushi bar. A little pricey, but totally worth it! They also offer toro sushi, so don't forget about that! Try it if you haven't! It's a must!!!

    (4)

  • Noa L.

    I like Yanagi's. My first time last night. Poke and Salmon is bomb.com

    (5)

  • Bow C.

    They're open until 2am and on Sundays, enough said. Not many sushi bars open on Sunday. Always crowded, tells you alot. Menu selection is huge, you can't go wrong here.

    (4)

  • Scott C.

    So I used to go to Yanagi over 10 years ago when I was working in Honolulu. I didn't really know how to tell great sushi from just good sushi then, but friends said this is a good place. So I went maybe 2-3 times a week because it was relatively healthy. Over 10 years later, I ask a friend and Hawaiian where to go for sushi and sure enough Yanagi was one of the first suggestions. So, 10 years and tons of sushi consumed later, I thought I would revisit. I was not disappointed. Sat at the sushi bar and was served plate after plate of amazing super fresh fish. Places in NYC and CA will claim freshness, but more likely than not, most of the fish was frozen at some point. In hawaii, some of the fish will be frozen but a good amount of it would be fresh caught. From the sushi bar, I was watching the chef break down local fish for slicing in to sashimi or nigiri. Most place just have the blocks of fish in the little fridge (sitting there god knows how long). It was exciting to see the chef break down the fish as the dinner unfolded. We even ordered the pork katsu just to get a sample of the hot dishes. Also amazing. Has so may varieties of fish and all were go, so I would suggest getting a nigiri or sashimi sampler and just experiement and try stuff with sushi a la carte. Book ahead, but place fills up fast.

    (5)

  • Brad Y.

    For a late-night drinking/snacking spot.. THIS IS IT! Usually places open for late-night specials (like Sushi King) just have mediocre, if not crappy sushi. And a lot of times the menu is really limited. I was so surprised at the incredible selection, quality of the food, and nice ambiance - all for such a reasonable price! Walking in, I really thought I'd be paying a lot more. My group got an array of things and I didn't hear a single complaint. Oyster shooters, salmon and chicken karaage, ahi katsu, salmon skin salad, couple of rolls.. oh and specials on beer pitchers too! I recently moved to San Francisco.. and this was my choice for my final two nights at home. CHECK IT OUT!!

    (5)

  • Marcia L.

    Sushi bar...nuff said.

    (5)

  • Susanna H.

    The sushi is fresh and the ahi tempura is to die for. Reasonably priced and the waitress remembers you after only a few times.

    (5)

  • Matthew K.

    After living in japan for half a decade I have become very particular with my sushi. This is the first place I have ever gotten sick from sushi. I order octopus sushi every time I try a new sushi restaurant. One could call it my barometer for every new sushi joint. Or maybe it is the control. Whatever you want to call it, the parenthetical documentation is always made in regards to the octopus and then judgement is passed. It arrived to the table looking like night of the living dead. Grey. Dry. The outside layers obviously showed the specimen had been deceased for quite some time. Then, when I attempted to indulge my pallet, I was rudely interrupted by a dry beef jerky like texture and a very gamey taste. Mid chew, I informed my friend to leave the other piece, it was for their own safety and well being. This is all very disappointing after eating great sashimi. The salmon and the tuna were both incredibly fresh, savory and flavorful. The sashimi salad looked more inviting than the variety of rolls I had on my plate. Overall, the sashimi is great. As for the sushi, the loose rolls are loosely based off the true story of good sushi. Having to say the ill-fated words "I think I ate some bad sushi" were embarrassing enough for them to loose my patronage.

    (2)

  • Jack C.

    A great place to hang out late at night with friends and family. Order from a selection of appetizing Japanese and Korean dishes that will make your mouth water. On a budget? Don't worry about it with Late Night Specials starting at $4, you'll find something scrumptious for you and your friends. For a preview of Late Night Specials just click on the link below... yanagisushi-hawaii.com/h… Yanagi, Best served with friends, family and alcohol. ^.^

    (4)

  • Tracy M.

    I like coming to Yanagi for the late-night specials. I do, however, order off the regular menu as well. The late-night is from 10:30pm - 2am. Great place to eat after work (especially when you're getting off at midnight and there's only a few places open). The late-night has a few rolls, and a good selection of small cold and hot dishes as well. They also have sets which are probably the best deal. I like getting the ahi poke and spicy tuna roll. From the regular menu, the baked oysters and fried oysters are excellent. And the enoki sautee (Enoki mushrooms in a garlic butter sauce) is another really good one. The service here is a little...meh...inconsistent...but oh well. Sometimes we get really awesome attentive service, and other times we have the people that just don't care about us. It's your prerogative to tip well or not.

    (4)

  • Sheryl G.

    what: a sushi/grill place that satisfies both local and american tastes :) something good: so good! and the sushi chefs are all so polite and nice! everytime i try something new here i am never disappointed! it's always packed (even on mondays!!) something not so good: so busy here! there is even a wait at the sushi bar!! so make reservations! :) something to try: shrimp tempura roll (8.50)

    (4)

  • Kevin R.

    it was cool

    (3)

  • Shannon C.

    Pretty good Sushi. Sashimi was fresh, tempura good, quantity decent. The chirashi had a lot of variety too, including sea urchin, octopus, shrimp, and other usual fishes. It's a nice place to eat Japanese, but not the best I've had. You're pretty much limited to street parking, if you don't feel like dishing out for the valet.

    (4)

  • Dan F.

    I would actually give 3 1/2 stars rather than 4 since I am not a fan of this place. It's nice how they are open late night and there's a late night special. But the dishes are okay. Nothing spectacular or memorable. I had the Broiled Salmon/Chicken Teriyaki set. The salmon tasted fishy and the chicken teriyaki had a lot of fat on it with lots of skin. It almost felt like I ate only half of the chicken that was there. Miso soup was salty. Salad was okay, didn't really eat it all. I didn't touch my rice either, somehow lost my appetite after eating the chicken. My cousin ordered the Toro for us and all I tasted from it was fat. It was good but not the best. If you have to try Toro, goto Mitch's. Service was okay. I guess they were a little busy. We had to tell one of the waiters to refill our water and tea. Actually, only our tea was refilled.

    (4)

  • Kimmy C.

    At least once a month im here. Consistently good. Make reservations, park on the street (valet sucks), and know what you want. Butterfish is awesome and the selection of sushi is vast. The tempura is JUNK. Green tea ice cream from Dave's is a necessity.

    (5)

  • Steven C.

    All the sushi is good and fresh, rainbow is the best specialty roll, sweet potato tempura, the ribeye is extra good, dynamite oysters, lobster miso soup, fried shrimp (different from tempura), abalone saute, fried ahi (like ahi katsu), ahi tempura, fried oysters have a nice very light breading, hamachi kama and salmon kama (collars) i guarantee u will find these selections so tasty and delicious like.

    (5)

  • Tyler K.

    If you like sushi you'll like Yanagi. No over the top presentation or platings here. Yanagi shines at is no frills, delicious sushi. With a great selection of rolls and fresh ingredients this is my go to spot when sushi's on my mind.

    (5)

  • Kobu K.

    Something about this place doesn't rub me right. The food is OK but isn't as good as Imanas Tei. It's really weird to go into a sushi place where all you hear is Korean. I lived in Korea for a while and ate at some sushi places there and it was super good. Here on the other hand has a dark vibe to it. The staff always looks mad and is always running around with their heads chopped off. The food isn't gross, but I can find other places for the same prices except with a better atmosphere. Try it for yourself. Maybe its just me.. BTW Is there really a need for a Valet for a 8 car parking lot???

    (3)

  • Alyson W.

    We decided to spend a Saturday in Honolulu checking out the Art Museum and wanted a nearby sushi place for lunch. This was one of the only that was open for lunch and with all the great reviews, we thought it would be perfect. To say we were underwhelmed would be and understatement. We walked in and were seated in a booth surrounded by super dated decor, underneath a dust-caked ceiling, with water-spotted dishes on the table in a very dim room. Not a good start, but we didn't mind since the menu looked great and we're used to finding hidden gems on the island that look like this. We ordered 2 oyster shots, 2 sushi rolls, and 2 pieces of nigiri. The shots were pretty good, but nothing to come back for again. Everything else was subpar to horrible. The seaweed in the sushi was so chewy it was like having a mouthful of fish scales. The texture of the fish was mush. We piled each piece with ginger and hot sauce just to get some flavor out of them. They could've somewhat redeemed themselves with a little bit of customer service, but we sat for about 15 minutes with empty glasses of drinks and counted 8 different servers who walked past, clearly saw they were empty and on the edge of the table without anyone refilling them. There were probably 2 other tables in the place at this point. Once we were finished, we had to wait another 10 minutes for someone to return with the check. Bottom line: Dated, dim, tasteless. It was slightly cheaper than some nearby sushi places we've been to before, but we will definitely not be returning. Very surprised by all of the glowing reviews. Maybe night time is a different story here.

    (2)

  • Jesse K.

    My wife likes this place because they had a sushi plate (negiri deluxe) that was about 25.00. She also really loves uni. Uni used to come on that plate. Now it doesn't and the plate now costs 27.95. So she said I better Yelp them. So there you have it: less value for more money. I had California roll and the spider roll. Both were pretty good.

    (2)

  • Tiffany L.

    Late night happy hour specials are the best! $5 Wakame Udon Teriyaki Steak Loving the new menu items!

    (5)

  • Charlotte V.

    I wish servers were friendlier. They just seem to go through the motions of everything. But come here for the late night happy hour. I always come with my friends after a late night study session and we get sake sashimi which is great because they give a lot and its fresh. The salmon kama and dynamite is pretty good too. Bill wont be cheap but fish is worth it but I do feel that their nonfish items could be cheaper..we love it though!

    (4)

  • Darin H.

    One thing that stands out about Yanagi is the passion. Especially when you sit at the bar. Their sushi chefs work with an incredibly quick speed, yet each piece is left with that attention to detail that only a passionate chef can pass on to his or her product. Passion is everywhere on the walls of this place, as they're plastered with the photos of former patrons, each one a portrait of love for the place. The sushi is fresh and unique, with spectacular, rich flavors. We had the 'Volcano' roll: roasted scallop, avocado and crab that's been lightly toasted on the top. Totally delicious. You simply have to try this place when you're in Honolulu.

    (4)

  • Phillip H.

    Literally took 25 mins to get my one scoop of green tea ice cream for dessert. That's all I gotta say.

    (1)

  • Mikey K.

    10/5 the best. Every single time I come here I get the best service hands down. Quick friendly and very confident service gets an easy high rating from me as in hawaii there always seems to be a lack of respect. But this place is a haven for a refined sushi experience. Always coming here for a late night sushi fix.

    (5)

  • Mik G.

    Yanagi Sushi is a great late night dinner choice. Their late night menu is very reasonable. I went last night with some friends and had to wait 30 minutes to get a table so be prepared for that. They get very busy. The menu is quite large with many sushi selections as well as more conventional Japanese food for the non-sushi eater. The late night menu is separate from the regular menu. Drinks came out at a regular speed but they forgot one of mine and I had to remind them later. I ordered sake which was very good. For dinner, I ordered the Shabu Shabu deluxe which brings a huge plate of meat, vegetables, noodles and fish that you cook on the table using a burner they bring out for you. One thing about this dish to be aware of is that it's 33 or so dollars but there's a MINIMUM ORDER of 2. The meat was extremely good as was the broth that you cook everything in. Very filling and very tasty. The other people with me ordered an assortment of sushi rolls and some other things but the waiter forgot one of their orders. It wasn't even on the check. In the end the Shabu was so big they didn't need the order the waiter forgot. It also brought some ice cream at the end which was pretty good. The check itself took quite a while to get to the table and also to be picked up but it wasn't that big of an issue. Overall, the service was decent. It's one thing to forget a drink but to not write down a food order as its being said to you is another. I'd come back again to try the late night menu. Just make sure you specify what you want and don't be shy to ask when it's coming out as they may have not written down.

    (4)

  • Raven S.

    I absolutely love their late night specials (which starts at 10:30), it's probably the only time I come here. Pros: Speedy service, unless you come right smack dab at 10:30 when everyone and their mother places their order. I normally get the salmon with maui onion, california roll, and spicy tuna roll. All of which is delicious. Sometimes the spicy tuna roll isn't as fresh, but the freshness of the salmon with maui onion makes up for it. Cons: Service. Though they were very quick to take my order, it took them a while to serve me my drinks, even though they popped by our table twice before saying they were coming with our drinks. Other than that, I'll be coming back again to enjoy their late night special!

    (4)

  • Karen C.

    5 start worthy!!!! The service, prices, food and atmosphere was perfect!! I felt like I was in a quaint town in japan eating fresh tuna! The pupus are great-- spicy tuna, tofu kimchee, and the edamame were perfect. We got the deluxe sashimi platter. The portion sizes and quality of food is SOOOOOO AWESOME. Would recommend making reservations-- fill up fast on a Friday or weekend. Will come here over and over again!

    (5)

  • Amanda D.

    This is my favorite sushi place on island! We always get it to go, but are never dissatisfied. The Dragon Roll, Rainbow Roll and Volcano are among our favorites. I love that they stay true to the actual rolls instead of putting weird spins on them. The fish is always fresh and great quality. Not necessarily the most convenient location, but they have valet parking.

    (5)

  • Beverly N.

    I love yanagi . I love sitting at the sushi bar to see the chefs work up a masterpiece. The sushi is quite expensive, but its really fresh and I love it anyway.. the other foods are okay.. I usually js like the sushi. They also have oyster shooters that are a must get every time ! Service is good, but not great. Parking sucks

    (4)

  • Bobby A.

    Omakase was perfectly done. Hamachi is still best I Waikiki. Arigato Chef for the great arrangement of sashimi.

    (4)

  • Dawn L.

    I REEEEEEEALLLY wanna go with 2.5 stars here but I'm doing a good deed in hopes of buying my ticket into heaven before I blast this place. Just kidding...kind of. I don't understand the people that say the *LOVE* Yanagi's. I've been here four or five times in search of something to love. The only thing I've found are oyster shooters. I do *LOVE* those oyster shooters. Nothing else. First of all, the women...they are bordering on rude or at least very shallow. I have a strong dislike for establishments ride the coattails of their reputation and feel like their name is so big they need not treat people nicely. Booboo, you in the the service industry. You need to be nice to everyone that comes through your door, whether you are too busy to seat them or not...turning your nose up at someone like "WHAT? You fool, you don't have a reservation? The nerve...." doesn't do anything for making people want to come back to your entitled establishment. Second, your fish. It ain't all that. Someone told me the toro here would be the best thing to ever touch my lips. I call BS. I've had toro at Suntory that would scoff at Yanagi's. I almost choked on it...I couldn't bite through it so I had to pretty much swallow it whole. Yup. That was a waste of $15. One night I ordered the $45 Sashimi Deluxe. I couldn't eat almost half the plate--not because I was full...because it was NOT EDIBLE. So I gave it to my Hungrier Half...he eats ANYTHING. Not this. Even he had a hard time with it. He swallowed most of it since many of the items were again, not chewable. The best way to describe it would be to say that I think they served me the plastic display sashimi from the window. We had one experience that wasn't horrific there. I ordered a sushi deluxe and Hungrier Half had the chirashi deluxe. I gave him all my fish since I don't trust YS anymore and just ate all the uni, and amaebi from his and mine. I ordered a couple oyster shooters and called it good. Our servers have been ok. Nothing fabulous but I get the feeling they work for slavedrivers so maybe they aren't all that happy. Oh, wait and $5 valet for parking thats right in front of the restaurant is asinine. I'll park on the street and save the $5 for an oyster shooter, Thanks.

    (3)

  • Chyanne O.

    I've been here couple of times before and it wad ok.. except last night where I GOT SICK!!! Totally ruined my night. I think it was either the egg that was in the oyster shooter or the uni that I had since those were the only items that were different from my party. NEVER going back.

    (1)

  • Maruko X.

    Ambiance: traditional Japanese sushi house, with lots famous ppl photos hanging on the wall. crowded at night, make sure to reserve seats before you go Service: patient, attentive and friendly Food: delicious! Sashimi Deluxe - ***** variety of fresh pieces of sashimi, highly recommend Tempura Roll - **** shrimp tempura, cucumber, lettuce, avocado, crab eggs and mayonnaise, recommend Spider Roll - *****soft shell crab, cucumber, avocado, lettuce, kaiware daikon, sesame, mayonnaise special teri sauce, best ever! highly recommend Edamame - *** average taste, chewy Kimchee - **** house made, recommend Hawaii Poke - *** tasted fresh with seaweeds Price: slightly over priced, but considering the good quality, it's acceptable. by average $40 each ppl

    (4)

  • Y M.

    Always have been delighted with this place. Except this past Sunday evening. Food was good but attitude of one of the young sushi chefs at the counter near the entrance was less than friendly. Not sure what was up with him but started frosty then turned belligerent by the end of our dinner. We were asking for a last quick sushi as we had to take our son to the airport but not much of a response. I asked again and he just smiled back. So cancelled the order and asked if there was a problem. He slyly looked back and said "we have other customers too. Thank you". Not the best feeling after a relatively expensive meal. Commented about this to the person at the till but did not get much of a response. I guess when you are successful...temptation to cut the corners on staff? I hope not as I like having a nice sushi place in town.

    (1)

  • Ray U.

    My friend recommended Yanagi Sushi and I tried it on a Sunday for lunch. It was very good food and value. Fortunately they're open on Sunday for lunch till 2 PM and you can park on the street in front of the restaurant. Pros: Great authentic Japanese food, very fresh fish, and good value. Con: Very limited parking except on Sundays.

    (5)

  • Pataya X.

    Late night happy hour!! Same foods you could eat during regular hours, but at a discount? I'm there! I often come to Yanagi Sushi for either lunch time for their lunch specials or late night for happy hour. They have a nice selection for their happy hour menu, however I always eat the same dishes: Teri chicken/tempura combo, spicy tuna roll, and fresh salmon with Maui onions with a pitcher of Kirin (to share). YES, that is considered a lot of food for one person, BUT what can I say...I have a massive appetite LOL! I always grab a hand full of bite size candies on the way out :) The service is always friendly, the fish is fresh, the food taste good...what more can you ask for???!?

    (4)

  • Alia C.

    Good food & nice prices (late night specials), but our experience this time around was awful! We found a piece of left over candy in in one of the appetizer trays. We kindly sent it back to the waiter, & didn't even get an apology. Then, when we got our meals my boyfriend's bowl of rice had a hair in it (the curly kind). At that point I was just annoyed. So, again, we sent it back. We didn't get a genuine apology from the waiter or even the manager! You would think that they would some how make it up to us with a little discount or a simple "sorry" but we didn't get either of them. Needless to say, we reluctantly paid the bill but left no tip. Very disappointed.

    (1)

  • Kat D.

    My parents received a $50 gift certificate to Yanagi Sushi, but they never eat out together so of course it was offered to me which I graciously accepted. With the aid of Google Maps, my friend & I found the place, and surprisingly I've passed this place all the time when driving down Kapiolani Boulevard. Anyways we walked in for lunch, waited 5 minutes, and was seated at a two-person table so small I could practically touch elbows with the lady seated next to me & too close to the table on my other side that I didn't even have to eavesdrop to listen to in on their conversations. For more roomier seating, request to sit at a booth beforehand. Aside from the small seating accommodations, the food and customer service were excellent--with the exception of the Korean lady at the front desk who seemed irritated that we didn't make a reservation. Anyways I ordered the Teriyaki Steak with the sauce on the side, and my friend ordered the BBQ Short-Ribs, but requested it in a take-out box and not brought out until I was close to done with my meal. It was a short wait & the thick, juicy steak was smothered in sweet and savory teriyaki sauce. Mmm! Our server pointed out that the chef forgot to put the teriyaki sauce on the side, and would ask to get it re-made, but I said it was okay, and he offered me a complimentary bowl of rice instead. My reason for ordering steak at a sushi restaurant? I wasn't a big fan of sushi at the time. If I loved sushi and I had money to drop, I'd come back to Yanagi Sushi to actually eat sushi, but I'll tell you now, try their Teriyaki Steak.

    (4)

  • Cherí F.

    Best sushi restaurant on Oahu! I will never go to those fast-food type sushi restaurants where you wonder if the fish is fresh... Look no further, Yanagi Sushi is always fresh delightful to dine at. Highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Arlene A.

    I don't care what ANYONE says about this place. After 20 years of eating here, they have ALWAYS have had quality, consistency and value. Portions are not huge but they are average for the price. Our salmon sashimi is always fresh, spider roll portions are HUGE and their combination dinners also have a decent amount of food. Plus it bones with ice cream! How can u beat that?? If you've ever noticed, the waitstaff is always the same and sushi chefs are veterans. This place should never ever close! Oh and the wait is never too long, they know how to turn over their tables.

    (5)

  • Kelly G.

    Came here on the recommendation of late night sushi and good shabu shabu. . Parking is a touch strange, but for being so busy we were still able to find a spot. Since they were also so busy, the lady said she couldn't seat us right away.....if unless......we agreed to finish eating within an hour so the reserved party could be seated. So we agreed. The chef was pretty attentive to us. All the rolls were made nicely. Prices were a touch high for my liking, but I guess that's the price you pay for wanting sushi at 2am. Otherwise I would recommend somewhere else for sushi. Overall a great late night place to grind, if you don't mind the price tag. Need to come back for the shabu!

    (4)

  • Cat P.

    I've been here twice in the past two weeks, and it's b/c I reallly like it here. Everything I've had here was of great quality and tasted really good. My faves would have to be sashimi and sushi, as each time I ordered these they tasted super fresh and delicious. I also ordered the butterfish which was also really good, but then again you can never go wrong with butterfish. Another neat item was the lobster sashimi, which came with the lobster still moving even after it was served to us! That was super trippy but the meat itself was very fresh and tasty. The only reason I docked a star off was because of the service from my last experience. When I called the restaurant to make a reservation, I was trying to inform her that I was celebrating my boyfriend's birthday that evening. I guess I was hoping that she would say something like, "Yes, we will make a note of that..." or "yes, we can offer a complimentary dessert" etc etc. I wasn't expecting anything free, but just for them to acknowledge that it's a special dinner and they will make sure to make it special. But instead, the woman responds, " okay, well what do you want me to do about that?" in a very rude way. I then answered, "umm, well, maybe if I order a dessert that you can bring it out with a candle or something nice like that, or just say happy birthday to him etc." Perhaps I was expecting too much? I dunno. Anyway, she said, "okay, just tell your server that it's his birthday and they can give you a candle to blow out with your dessert." And i was just thinking, omg, okay, I was letting you know that it was his bday so YOU could tell the server that, so that I wouldn't have to discretely inform the server while I was with my boyfriend. Anyway, she was just totally rude about it, but maybe they're not used to having birthday celebrations at their restaurant... Also, the guy that served us during the birthday dinner just seemed so unhappy like he didn't wanna be there. Even after I informed him that we were there for my bf's birthday, he made no effort to make the evening more exciting or enjoyable. He didn't even say happy birthday to my boyfriend until he actually brought out the dessert for us. And there was no singing...=( haha. Once again, maybe I'm expecting too much, and maybe it's not customary for them to sing happy birthday in a sushi restaurant. Either way, both times I've been here, I thoroughly enjoyed the food but the service was sort of disappointing. I'll probably be back, but I really hope in my future visits that the service will be a little better.

    (4)

  • Tyler C.

    Sushi late night!!! There isn't anything wrong with that. The quality of fish is pretty decent, and their menu is seemingly endless. The service was great, and it didn't feel like I was waiting forever for food. Fried Baby Tako, Spicy Hamachi, & Oysters in the raw!

    (4)

  • Gary L.

    The best sushi in town with excellent customer service! My favorites are Salmon w/ Maui Onion and the Dynamite.

    (5)

  • Kacey C.

    Ok, Yanagi, i love you but i hate you. I never understood why people love this place when there are so many other japanese restaurants with better food, better parking and better service. And why so many "famous people" went there(even tho I don't recognize any of them)? But late at night, after movies and drinking, yanagi happen to be the only place you can get sushi at midnight. So I do appreciate their hours.

    (3)

  • Belle B.

    This restaurant is all about my husband's nostalgic need to remember his youth. This is a place he used to visit with his cousins late at night (early in the morning) after hitting up bars around Honolulu in the 90's. He started taking me here when we started dating (not anywhere near the 90's). This is a place where reservations is recommended. Once we showed up without reservations at dinnertime and the hostess acted like we had just asked her if we could get free food. They were able to accomodate us that night at the sushi bar, but we have been sure to have reservations every time we go after that. I do like that they have late hours. I also like that they have fresh sashimi. I also appreciate that they don't serve their sushi on revolving platforms. While their prices are not cheap, they do have a good variety of sashimi, sushi and food items. I do love the old pictures of different famous people or public figures taken at the restaurant from throughout the years. Their plates, combinations and platters offer generous portions with enough to share. I'm sure there are probably nicer sushi bars with better food or better prices, but the happiness it brings to my husband is completely worth the visit to the restaurant every time.

    (4)

  • Joseph A.

    Love the late happy hour. Awesome specials.. beer and sushi. Late hours.so we can go for a midnight snack.. good.service and relax Japanese decor and feel. Parking is a little hard but other than that... becoming a regular here

    (4)

  • Kenson K.

    OK, so it might be expensive here. But Oh Em Gee, this place is so ono. Ok , so it was good that my company was picking up the tab here for a business dinner, so we went fricken bonkers. Ordered mirugai, awabi, ankimo, ootoro, chutoro, countless orders of uni, amaebi. I died and went to heaven. Ok so the bill came to about $300 for 3 people but I if I died right there, I wouldn't have cared. I love this place. Everything was just so good.

    (5)

  • Fern C.

    My first time dining at Yanagi was 2 weeks ago with my co-workers. I liked the fact that they have this private room good for 2 people and then it will open up or roll the sliding door if there's more people on your party. Late night menu prices were really cheap. I was amazed when I ordered the philadelphia roll on a big plate. I was really contented with the price. But, when I came back after 3 days, I totally forgot it was the late night prices that I had, so looking at the menu they were all pricey to me specifically I am not into sushi lol. Oh boy, I just have to order tempura udon which I can't deny it was really good too. Cons: Really pricey.

    (4)

  • Kiyomi I.

    We had visitors from out of town so we came for dinner. Items Ordered: Salmon Skin Salad California Roll Sushi Chirashi Deluxe Chicken Teriyaki Miso butterfish & Tempura Dessert: Azuki Bean Ice Cream Taste: According to my husband, this is his favorite place for Chirashi. Food here is always delicious. Sushi is very good quality. Service: OK Atmosphere: Sushi bar, dinning area and private rooms. Lots of pictures of famous people who have eaten at the restaurant on the walls. Experience: The restaurant was a bit busy tonight. Service was okay. Value: Its not cheap, but for the quality of the sushi it is worth the price. Dinner (meal) orders come with ice cream. Would I come here again? Yes. This is a regular place for special occasions.

    (4)

  • Ramfis B.

    Happy Hour at Yanagi Sushi is definitely a hit here from 10:30 to 2:00 a.m Monday thru Saturday and i can see why. There are a lot of items here that are fairly priced and is a great place for large groups to just hangout and drinks pitchers of beer and pick on appetizers and have a great time amongst each other. But in the same terms, cheap doesn't necessarily mean good and the food during Happy Hour at Yanagi Sushi just didn't do me any justice because the wow factor was just not there and the subtle flavors and unique combinations that make or break Japanese food were just not there when i tried a variety of appetizers during Happy Hour. I will not hold them hostage for this because once again, this was Happy Hour and for the price, i can't complain, but the true test for me is when i sit myself on the Sushi Bar or have the chef make me an Omakase menu to indulge in. Then i can truly make an honest assesment of this place. What came as a disappointment for me here was the California Roll with Tobiko outside ($5.25) and the Spicy Tuna Roll ($4.75)... yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9… yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9… Both of the rolls did not taste fresh at all as if it was sitting around waiting to be cut as soon as there was an order for it and the California was just doused in too much mayonnaise which masked the true flavor of the crab and tobiko. All i got was a Kewpee overdose. As for the Spicy Tuna Roll, it just didn't pack a punch that a Manny Pacquiao jab would normally deliver. Both just didn't live up to any of my expectations. Another disappointment was the Ahi Poke Hawaiian Style ($6.45).. yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9… The Poke looked incredibly delicious but after digging in to it, the poke came in all different shapes and sizes like eating a bowl of Mochi Crunch. There were cubes and slices of Ahi which threw me off as if they used the last scraps of Ahi and threw it into the mixing bowl. Now i wouldn't mind if the fish would at least have a wonderful texture to it, but was stringy and chewy at the same time. It was like eating a raw piece of meat and i just couldn't eat another bite of that stringy fish. I probably could have flossed my teeth with the stringy parts of the Ahi. The Fresh Salmon with Tobiko and Maui Onions ($6.45) on the other hand was a very well prepared dish. I loved the combination of the Salmon,Onions, and Tobiko. The saltiness of the Tobiko, the flavor of the Salmon along with the crunchiness of the Onions with the Oriental Dressing made this dish a wonderful compliment to the Kirin lager which i washed it down with. yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9… The Fried Chicken Wings 6 pieces ($5.25) is what you would expect. Nothing to rave about, but for the price, there is no arguing that this is definitely a great deal. yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9… Also, the Kurobuta Sausage 4 pieces ($4.95) was incredible. I loved the smokiness and juicyness of this sausage and it was cooked to perfection as you can feel the sausage explode right in your mouth. Ok that sounds somewhat like a porno movie or a little TMI, but it was downright delicious. yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9… The Beef Teriyaki and Chicken Katsu Combination ($9.95) was another letdown. Once again the Teriyaki Beef was a little on the tough side and the Chicken Katsu was somewhat dry. It defintely looked better than it tasted .http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9PsmDml1­ATLLVns3svw?select=msgTWmn5GKS6DrYEpGJ_Jg And the highlight of my meal at Yanagi Sushi was.........Drumroll please........ The Oyster Shooter with Quail Egg ($3.75) It wasn't on Happy Hour but this shot with an Oyster, a Raw Quail egg, and the Ponzu was simply an amazing combination of flavors going down my throat. Once again another porno movie moment but swallowing this shot down the shoot literally made my night. I could have had a least a dozen of these with the same reaction each and every time. yelp.com/biz_photos/PHc9… Once again, would i come back to Yanagi Sushi? Hell yeah, you cannot go wrong with the Happy Hour Specials here and i can see why they pack this place in everynight. It is a great place to go with a group of friends and i have to say that the service here is very efficient here. There were at least four servers who came to our table so it was a bit confusing who my server was, and the food here came out relatively quick. What also put a smile on my face is after ordering all this food to go along with a couple of beers, my bill came out to just under $60 which is a steal!! I'll be back

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner, Late Night
    Parking : Valet
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Yanagi Sushi

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