




About
A Handheld Slice of Honolulu Culture
Walking through the bustling streets of Honolulu, you might spot a line forming for Mai Musubi LLC, a local favorite that turned a humble Japanese staple into a convenient culinary art form. Instead of the typical heavy sit-down lunch, this spot specializes in musubi—compact, portable rice balls wrapped in crisp nori that pack a punch of flavor in every bite.
Crafted for the On-the-Go Eater
The experience here is all about efficiency and quality. You’ll hear the distinct pop of rice molds being pressed and the savory scent of seasoned nori filling the small storefront. It is the perfect stop for beach-goers or office workers needing a quick, reliable lunch. The menu sticks to traditional roots, offering perfectly seasoned rice that holds its structure without being overly dense, paired with fillings that range from classic pickled plum to savory salted salmon.
The Local Nuance
While the taste is top-tier, keep in mind that space is limited. Most patrons grab their musubi to-go, as seating is practically non-existent. It is a no-frills setup where the focus remains entirely on the craftsmanship of the rice ball. If you are exploring the local food scene, skipping a pre-packaged convenience store version for these freshly assembled, warm musubi is a decision your palate will thank you for. Whether you are a local regular or just passing through the islands, these small, satisfying bites capture the simplicity of authentic Japanese comfort food found right in the heart of our city.
Photos








Location
1636 Liliha Street, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96817
More to Explore
More cuisines in Honolulu
▼
Reviews
Showing 8 of 0 community reviewsMatthew PopescuGoogle Maps
Recently
Incredible musubi made to order. Kind of ruined any of the musubi from my home town because these were so good.
Sandra MatsumotoGoogle Maps
Recently
Wow I love this place!! They've got the best bentos! I love my seafood katsu with their yummy cream crab croquette! So good!!
RoninGoogle Maps
Recently
This shop makes musubis and bentos ahead of opening each day. I've visited this shop every Saturday for the past three weeks. Depending on when you visit the shop, the previous made musubis and bentos can sell out. At a certain time, you can order from the "made to order" menu. In comparison to Iyasume food is definitely reasonable. I highly recommend you visit this shop when they open for the day. - Lots of parking - Conveniently located in Kakaako - Friendly service
JoyceGoogle Maps
Recently
Cute take out corner for musubi and small bentos. I loved the unagi musubi and the nishime. There were other dishes in the refrigerator that had the nishime as well. My sister loved the mentaiko musubi and the fried tofu okazu bento. You can also get a combo ( 2 musubis and a small bento) for 12$
Cheryl HGoogle Maps
Recently
Got musubi sets A and C. Ordered online and was ready within estimated time. Both sets were delicious! Potato croquette, fried fish and karaage chicken were perfectly fried and crunchy. Kinpira and tsukemono were tasty too. The salmon musubi had surprisingly good amount of salmon inside. Overall excellent quality and well balanced sets!
Vinny TGoogle Maps
Recently
I've eaten a lot of musubis, and this is seriously the best one. Forget other musubi places. Go here instead. The musubi are fresh, and the rice is soft and firm enough that it holds well with the seaweed paper along with your protein. My favorite is the Karaage Chicken. The Spam Musubi you can't go wrong with. Great snacks for hikes. On a side note, that melon drink was refreshing.
Andrew EibGoogle Maps
Recently
Beautiful little Japanese deli. Their style of musubi is a little different than the normal ones I'm used to seeing but they are delicious. Their bento boxes are also delightful and everything is freshly made. There are some musubi ready to go but the bento boxes take about 10-15 minutes to order depending on how busy they are. Many choices like spicy tuna mayo musubi, salmon tobiko musubi, spam musubi, mentaiko salmon musubi, tamago musubi, natto musubi. Excellent quality and reasonably priced selection.
Kimberly kimGoogle Maps
Recently
Highly recommend this place to grab take out Japanese food. Bentos were super good and healthy. Musubi's were super fresh and a wide variety. I will be a returning customer. Located right across the street from "the peanut shop". Parking in the back of the building as well as street parking. Awesome customer service too.
Comments & Reviews
Please sign in to write a review.
No reviews yet. Be the first to write a review!
Frequently Asked Questions about Mai Musubi LLC
Common questions from diners about Mai Musubi LLC in Honolulu.
Nearby Restaurants
$$
$$