Komakata Restaurant

Lots of my friends that live from Kahala to Hawaii Kai have recommended this hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Aina Haina shopping center. We went there for dinner on a Saturday night. We were lucky that we had reservations because the place was packed – but I don’t know why. After placing our orders, it took at least ten minutes before our first beers arrived. It took another 15 minutes for our entrées to arrive, and it took another five minutes for them to bring us our first bowls of rice. As for the quality, I ordered the butterfish misoni, which was a thick miso-like gravy over fish. Notice that I didn’t say butterfish, because the cut and quality of the fish was not good. I prefer larger chunks of butterfish, which is usually firm and moist, but I seemed to have the tail end of the fish, which was mushy. The tempura was also in a heavier batter, not light and flaky. The only saving grace to this experience is that they took the Entertainment card. Is this the only Japanese restaurant in the area? Maybe that's why they are so busy. more

There's nothing fancy about this little Japanese restaurant--the only Japanese restaurant convenient for East Honolulu residents--but the food is solid and the value is great. You have the standard Japanese fare of teriyaki, sashimi, yaki-zakana, etc.--nothing fancy but tastes ono and you don't have to pay any premium. There is no sushi bar so there's no emphasis on pricey sushi or sashimi--but on the other hand there is also no variety and the quality, appropriately, isn't something to write home about (what little offerings they do have is still better than those awful rotating sushi joints in town). Items of note though are their Chanko Nabe (a hotpot made famous by it's being the staple of big sumo wrestlers) and the Unagi Yanagigawa (imagine Unagi bathed in egg and a shoyu-laden broth). During lunch they also sell great bentos in various sizes--none more than $6.50. The large bento (containing beef teriyaki, tonkatsu, salmon, tempura, rice and tsukemono) can be ordered at dinner time. more