Izakaya Pau Hana Base

Third update: stop by on New Year’s Eve without a reservation. Luckily we didn’t have to wait long. The candied taro root salad was excellent as we always get one of these. The chicken yakitori was tender and tasty. The food remained good here, but the service level has dropped quite a bit probably because there were only 2 servers and clearly they looked overworked. The owner should hire additional servers during the busy hours. Hopefully the service will be better the next time. Second update: we’ve returned again and the service was friendly as before, but the food seemed to have taken a step back, thus it’s a 4* now. I’ve raved about this place so much so it was disappointing when we took our son who’s visiting us in Honolulu. The salad remained good, but the steak and the pork seemed tasted too salty and not as tender as before. I’m sure we will return again and see if the food gets better. Update: we went back tonight and tried a couple of new dishes. One of tonight’s specials was simmered beef tendons. It was amazingly good. There are so many excellent dishes here, but we highly recommend the salad with candied lotus roots, the yakitori and of course, the simmered beef tendons. We love the Asian fusion food and as well as Hawaiian food here in Honolulu, but this is definitely our favorite eatery in Honolulu. You know this place has good Japanese food when you are the only person in the restaurant that wasn’t speaking Japanese. At the end, we liked the taste of all the items we ordered, including the tofu salad that was simple yet excellent. The sake selection was good and the service was very friendly as well. Hidden in the back, away from Seaside Street, so look at the name to make sure you are at the correct place.

Food was good, and the menu prices were reasonable considering the location right in Waikiki Beach. The food also came out fast, and overall everything tasted pretty good. Service was quick. They also offer parking validation for the Hyatt Centric hotel, which was nice. We came in as a party of two, and the restaurant wasn’t even fully seated at the time. The only issue we had was the mandatory 20% gratuity charge, which felt a bit unnecessary given the situation. Other than that, overall a good spot with good food, fair pricing, and fast service.

A cute little Japanese izakaya hidden in the back. The staff were friendly and the cozy atmosphere reminded me of Japan. The prices were reasonable, and the food was okay.

Another FANTASTIC hidden gem! Staff was extremely friendly, and when I say that I mean if you have zero idea what to order, ask your server what their favorite menu item is. I let the staff pick my meal whenever I go and they do not disappoint! Happy hour is good, get the chicken cartilage! Then the tofu soup is unreal, fantastic on a rainy day in Honolulu whenever you just wanna stay home or can't enjoy the beach, you can have the soup to brighten your day. Next, the squid eyesockets...you HAVE TO try at least once in your life. It has a caramelized sweetness to them when they cook them. Lastly, the Hokke is BEYOND anything you can get anywhere else. Hard to find, very traditional in Japan, so the fact they have this...just get it. You'll see what I mean.

One of my favorite places in Waikīkī! Been here multiple times. Great spot to go with friends on a weekend night. Highly recommend the loco moco, chicken yakitori, and crab coquette! Their take on loco moco is quite different from the typical plate lunch. The sauce is not the gravy kind, instead it’s like a thicken sweet cornstarch slurry sauce. Similar to the Chinese sweet and sour sauce, but it’s not sour. Second, the hamburger patty style is super soft and juicey. The style is more like the Japanese Hambagu. This was one of my favorite dish that I always get. The cream croquette was yummy dummy delicious. Crunchy and creamy in each bite. The chicken yakitori was tender and umami. Love sprinkling with the red pepper to add a nice kick. It can be a bit of a wait for the food to come out. As for parking, they have a two hour validation at the Hyatt Centric Waikīkī. I recommend placing a reservation as sometimes the wait can be a bit long during busy hours.

I came here because I’d researched it before our Hawaii trip and put it on my must-visit list—and I’m so glad I did. This is a small, cozy, super cute Japanese izakaya with a great local vibe. There was one woman running the whole show, so yes, she was very busy 😄 She may not be overly chatty, but totally understandable—she’s hustling! And honestly, the service was still satisfying. We ordered almost everything on the menu… and not a single miss. Everything was a win. The grilled dishes in particular were amazing. Also, I didn’t know Kirin beer could taste THIS good until I drank it here. The best part? The prices are very reasonable, so you can order freely without stressing—and that makes the experience even better. Oh, and after you pay, they give you sugar… so you can make cotton candy yourself! Such a fun and unexpected touch. Loved it so much that we’re coming back again on the last day of our trip. That should tell you everything. Highly recommended! 🍢🍺✨

Authentic back alley Izakaya in the heart of Waikiki. Don’t expect glitzy or top notch service here as it’s like a side street in Osaka-shi here. I’ve been here several times and always a good time. Best HH beer prices in Waikiki and everything delicious with the exception of the small and overcooked Ribeye Steak. One of those places you hesitate sharing because you don’t want it to get overcrowded sigh.

We went here during staycation Covid time so we know we need to make reservation. Food was still good. Portion is really small just like pupu style. Drink was good. One of the waitress looks so grumpy but lucky thing the lady who wait for us was nice. Not enough waiter/waitress. Lots of people waiting outside & empty table but not enough helper. Ambiance is casual. Too bad. It could be better. Won’t coming back anytime soon.

The wait time for dinner is about 20 minutes. You can make a reservation. It is a Korean restaurant. The fried chicken nuggets are not very delicious. There is a fried pig intestine that is like a rubber band that cannot be chewed. It can only be wasted. Choose carefully. There is a toilet. Take the key on the right side of the door. It is a good place for drinking, but not very comfortable for eating.