Tanaka of Tokyo West

5 stars purely thanks to John, the lead chef. Request to dine with him!!!! Went there on Mother's Day with the whole family and it was definitely the highlight of our day! We dine here fairly regularly and so we've experienced many different chefs, but John was the best, bar none. He kept us laughing all evening and even my daughter, who is usually not a fan of teppanyaki enjoyed the show! The food was excellent and we will requesting to dine with him specifically from now on. It was probably the best meal we've had at that restaurant over our many years of being patrons there. Also shout out to Daniel, our server. Very attentive and helped make our evening perfect. Thank you John and Daniel for taking such wonderful care of our family! We'll be back FOR SURE.

We come here all the time and love it so much! We had Joe, the Head Chef, multiple times and he is just fantastic! And Sasha was our server tonight and she was lovely. All the staff here are so great. Thank you so much for always making it a wonderful experience!

I visited Tanaka of Tokyo West at Ala Moana Center and it was one of those dining experiences that is just as much about the entertainment as it is about the food. The restaurant specializes in teppanyaki-style cooking where chefs prepare the entire meal directly in front of you on a large flat grill. The experience starts once everyone at the table is seated and the chef begins preparing the meal. Watching the chef cook is part of the fun. The performance includes knife skills, precise grilling techniques, and interactive moments that keep the table engaged throughout the meal. The menu focuses on classic teppanyaki combinations like steak, shrimp, chicken, and fried rice. The ingredients are cooked fresh on the grill and seasoned simply, allowing the natural flavors of the meat and seafood to stand out. One of the highlights is the fried rice, which is prepared directly on the grill and mixed with eggs, vegetables, and seasoning while the chef performs a series of entertaining cooking techniques. The result is flavorful and satisfying. The restaurant atmosphere feels lively and social since the tables are designed for groups sharing the same cooking station. It creates an environment where people interact with both the chef and other guests at the table. Service throughout the experience was attentive and organized. Staff kept the pacing smooth between courses while the chef focused on cooking and entertaining. What stood out most to me was how the restaurant balances performance with food quality. Teppanyaki restaurants can sometimes lean heavily on the show aspect, but Tanaka of Tokyo maintains a good level of consistency in both areas. Overall, Tanaka of Tokyo West delivers a fun and memorable dining experience with well-prepared food and an engaging cooking performance.

Came here last night(day before valentines) was awesome….even though I had a bit much to drink, CHEF MIKAEL sure did made us laugh….his service is so welcoming and warm that I recommend having him as your chef!!! Food was very delicious as well! Love it !

Excellent service that started slow, but the wait was well worth it. We joined Tanaka‘s to celebrate our daughter‘s birthday. From the wait staff to the show put on by the chef, the experience was amazing! We will definitely be back to enjoy another delicious dinner and show put on by Tanaka’s and they’re outstanding staff!

Since I was a kid, I’ve always seen the Tanaka of Tokyo restaurant sign over the top floor of Ala Moana and wondered what it was like. I managed to grab one of the last available reservations for Valentine’s Day and had my first Teppanyaki/Hibachi experience here. I had a full-course steak, shrimp, scallop and lobster meal, at a very reasonable price. They had real Japanese A5 Wagyu available too. We could tell the restaurant was a well-oiled machine with highly competent staff in every role and level. There was a noticeable air of polish and rehearsal to every step of the experience from check in until literally the moment I was out the door. The next occasion I have, I will definitely be back!

It was pretty empty when we came (it was a Thursday evening) and it was only me and my husband on our table BUT our chef Keanu (Reeves) made it funny. Our server Jordan was also very nice! Food was amazing.

Fun and delicious experience! Prices are reasonable considering locations and service. We tried filet steak and chicken. Both were good and more than enough quantity after also getting veggies and rice to start. Be prepared for a lot of markups for drinks, fried rice, family photo, etc. but you can say no most of those without issue. You’ll likely be sitting with some strangers so be ready to chat a bit. We made a reservation for a Saturday evening. Seemed like those without reservations and only 2 people were able to get in relatively quickly.

Okay not as good as I recall, but fulfilled my TofT craving. Jacob did a good job of entertaining. Only disappointment in the food were the kuzu cuts of rib rye, for that price? Filet, shrimp and fried rice were decent. I feel like the wait staff sort of rushed our table mates from Japan. I don’t think they are used to being asked if they want a take out container while they were still enjoying their meal. Shouldn’t rush them to eat! Auwee. We will be back to support my dear friend, but not for awhile.

$60 for steak, lobster 🦞 miso soup, salad, hot green tea and choice of ice cream is a steal! The atmosphere is awesome, the people are very friendly and the service was amazing! The chef was fun and put on a good show, while cooking all of our food perfectly. I would recommend this place to anyone!