KENICHI BENTO

We went for dinner and was disappointed how bad it was. We ordered and paid for four items but only got three dishes and was told that the kitchen didn’t receive the full order. The salmon bento is left on the counter, not refrigerated and salmon is not fully cooked. The staff was in and out of the place leaving the place unattended. Very bad experience and very disappointing since we went to Keauhou for the Christmas festivities. But one person not getting their dinner at an eatery is inexcusable.

10/10 we had a great lunch here, the food was delicious, the service was genuine and made us feel welcome! Extra points for Miso, he’s the cutest little receptionist 🐶

STAY AWAY. To be fair, this started as a 3 star review and I now wish Google allowed 0 stars. None of the websites or menus online are valid or accurate so you can’t easily call in a to go order. We drove there to view the menu and have takeout back to our resort. We arrived to a fairly empty restaurant and were told to sit at the bar to order our three sushi rolls. We were clear to the host and bartender that we were ordering to go. The bartender was attentive and got our order in right away and provided some ice waters. The manager checked in on us a few times and we mentioned that we’re just waiting on our to go order. Fast forward 40 minutes and we mention to the manager that we were still waiting on the to go and he mentions he finished it a while ago. After a minor glitch of him making an ice water he casually mentioned he’d go grab our order. Our to go order was sitting at the host stand for at least 15 minutes if not longer based on how cold it was and no one mentioned a thing. I wish I navigated to the nearest gas station for sushi, I would’ve had the same service and it probably would have been cheaper.

We used to love Kenichi’s but since it has undergone new management, it has really gone downhill. We have been going for over a decade but the four times (we tried!) in the last six months have been terrible. Half of the menu is not available, they substitute cheaper ingredients but still charge the same price. Our last visit, we waited 12 minutes for our drinks even though the restaurant was almost empty. Three of the items we ordered were not available (no chicken?? There is a grocery store in the same plaza). One friend ordered the filet (I think the price was $48) and it was served with a single cup of rice. Sorry to say, we will not be going back.

Food was solid. Portions were ample. Limited seating options for party of four. Parking was free and plentiful.

Online order was simple. I provided wrong time and was able to connect via text to advise of correct time of pick up. Pleasant experience.

Kenichi Bento used to supply their meals to the KTA store in the same shopping center, but they’ve now opened their own independent takeout shop just around the back of the building. The bentos and onigiri don’t have specific names or prices displayed, so you simply choose what looks good to you from the showcase. We selected two bentos, two rice balls, and a katsu curry, which came to a total of $58.47. We also purchased a bottle of water for $3.40. The prices are a bit higher compared to other bentos in the area, but each box felt like a beautifully arranged kaiseki meal — full of variety, visually elegant, and absolutely delicious. The presentation was so beautiful that we couldn’t help but take photos of the empty containers — the design was just that lovely!😍 There are a couple of outdoor tables available, and we enjoyed our lunch there. If you prefer a sit-down meal, there’s also Kenichi Pacific, a Japanese restaurant located right next door.

This place has fantastic sushi! We just happened to stumble into Sushi Happy Hour, which was very fortuitous. Our waitress, Anon, was very kind and helpful when it came to picking rolls my husband and I would enjoy. She even pointed out some must see places on the island for us. (Took a photo but my camera may have brought some of the beach with me. Haha) 5/5 - highly recommend!