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Aki-no-No
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Japanese Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
2633 S King StUnit 1
Honolulu, HI 96826
(808) 947-1001
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 2 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
98 reviews for Aki-no-No
Review Highlights
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"I've had the fried rice, bacon wrapped enoki, butterfish." In 14 reviews -
"i had the ahi katsu and ginger pork." In 9 reviews -
"This is a friendly cozy Izakaya in Moilili." In 19 reviews
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98 reviews in English
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Review from Kristen K.
Honolulu, HI
5/7/2012
*4.5!
I like this place. I think in that two-block radius, there are FOUR izakayas that I love. Imanas, Kohnotori, Naru, and Aki-no-no. Sushi King is good too. And Fukuya! I should move house to be closer to this mecca of japanese/okinawan deliciousness.
Anyway, been there a few times but this most recent time I must say the food was really good. Here's what we got:
-Opakapaka (steamed, ginger/scallion chinese-style sauce....just peel off the skin....it was good!)
-Pork kim chee tofu (seems simple.....but this dish was one of my favorites there so far! A must-get whenever I go from now on!)
-2 orders of tongue....this one fell a little short of Kohnotori, but it was still pretty thin. Asked them to make it a little more well-done, and they did try to do so.
-Agedashi tofu (I am a huge agedashi critic, and this one was pretty good)
-Ahi Katsu (perfectly seared! a little pink in the middle.....yummy katsu sauce....all around YUMM)
-Ebi/Avocado/Mayo app....small bowl of baby shrimp mixed with mayo and avocado chunks....only $5. it was ok. Good contrast because we had the kim chee dish.
-one order (2 pieces) Hamachi....it was ok.
Service was pretty good...waitress was sweet. But then again, it wasn't very crowded that Wednesday evening. My only mini-gripe: I like lemons and was informed that after the first few pieces, they were going to charge me?! Not that I care at all about the charge, but really? If I'm ordering glasses of my $10+ sake's and want some lemons for it, are you really going to put that on the check "extra lemons---$0.50/slice"? I don't think she did end up doing that though.....smart move by her or this review might have been a little different...
All in all, awesome little place. Interior of this one is super cute too.
I like the table in the very back of the restaurant, by the end of the sushi bar.
Cozy and quiet. The other part of the main dining room (where the bigger tables are) can get really crowded and noisy when it's busy. -
Review from JJ L.
I should arrange with my HR guy to have direct deposit to Aki-no-No.
I would not mind if my entire year's salary went to this establishment. The only caveat would be that I can never gain weight even after drinking all the KIRIN and eating all the nigiri I want.
Ah pipe dreams! BAKA!!
Going off all the scrumptious reviews of my fellow Elites, I made sure to order two of the hyped up menu items and here's how it turned out:
toro steak: three fat em-effing pieces of pan seared toro steak comes out on a sizzling hot iron plate (yes, like fajita meat) with sautéed cabbage and onions to boot. The toro is marinated in a perfect miso sauce. This will hit your G-spot better than a store-bought curved apparatus.
shrimp + vegetable tempura combo: $15 is what I used to make in two and a half hours at my campus job as a freshman in college, so I had to swallow the knot in my throat before placing an order for this dish. BUT, like Cin T. wrote in her review, the tempura is the best I've ever had. Just to put this subjective comment into perspective, consider comparing an A&W root beer with a grocery store brand root beer. Meh, you catch my drift! Their tempura is definitely a crowd pleaser! However you only get three pieces of shrimp, soooooo don't expect to get cray cray full off this dish alone.
Of course my bromance dinner date and I didn't stop at these two dishes. We tried to sample each section of their extensive menu. Every dish I ate was so damn awesome. I'm not an epicurean or a food columnist so I'm at a loss for words that'll do Aki-no-No's (or in nihongo: Aki-no-No no tabemono, I think! lol) food justice. One minor complaint is that when we asked if they served a "mini" portion of udon the waitress, all things considered, told us, "no, but regular size in ONLY 8 dollars ..." Rude! 8 dollars are hard to come by these days!
All I know is I'm eating here tomorrow and I'm ready to break the bank and go broke. -
Review from Brittany H.
Pearl City, HI
3/5/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I first found this place here on Yelp and thought id give it a try a few years ago. I love it here. The food is great, service is great, parking is easy, and theres always room. Ive been coming here a lot more lately with the bf and we have now claimed this as our restaurant. Haha. The food reminds me of Japan and how authentic it is. Whats even better is that they have Asahi draft!! Omg so delicious!! So far the bf and I have
tried:
Miso Butterfish, Fried rice, Tsukune (chicken meatballs), Nabeyaki Udon, Hamachi sushi. Yakisoba, Menchi Katsu, and steamed ahi.
Everything i have tried here so far is oishii and never disappointing. Prices are pretty reasonable for a Japanese restaurant. All i can say is give this place a try and you will leave with a happy tummy cause i know every time i come here thats what always happens to me. :D
The only bad thing is that its closed for lunch, but i can wait a few hours more. -
Review from Mirina K.
Honolulu, HI
1/16/2012
I'd give this place 0 stars if it were possible. Although the food was delicious, the verbal assault we received during our stay made me incredibly uncomfortable. My friends and I arrived at the restaurant on a Friday night at 8pm. The place was half full and the owner, while seating us, asked one of my friends if we were going to be there for more than two hours. "Weird", I thought but I dismissed it. After ordering: two appetizers, a desert, two hot teas and a bowl of udon, we were chatting while our food showed up. After our desert and appetizer came out, the owner , an older woman, came up to our table and said. "This is a restaurant, it is dinner time, next time you have to order full dinners." We were so shocked we didn't know what to do.
Instead of paying for what we had just ordered and leaving, we tried to make the best of the situation by ordering more food. The entire time we were there, only two groups of customers came in and there was ample seating available to them. I noticed that while we were eating the owner was staring at us. To add insult upon insult, the owner of this place added a 20% gratuity to the bill! I don't want to make any conjectures to as why she was rude, the plain fact is that she was rude. I will never go there again and I will never suggest the place to anyone who is considering a meal there. I have never been chastised for patronizing a restaurant and find her actions reprehensible. -
Review from Blake M.
Aiea, HI
1/18/2012
This is a fun place with a tucked away feel to it...a place to get away from the busy feel of some of the bigger Japanese restaurants. We went there late on a Saturday night, so I can't say how it is during the normal dinner hours.
While the food is good it's also expensive. Service is average. The walls are filled with Japanese pop music posters (I think someone mentioned the owner is the mother of a Japanese pop singer). However, with tasty food, a relaxed, casual, clean, and cozy atmosphere that helps you feel like you are kicking back at home, I enjoyed the experience. I'm just not going back anytime soon unless I eat dinner first and just go there for pupus and drinks.
Food tried:
Chicken Karaage, steamed clams, bacon wrapped asparagus, fried musubi...good but not spectacular. -
Review from Erin Y.
Honolulu, HI
4/7/2012 18 Check-ins Here
One of my new favorite places to eat!! Came here for the first time earlier this year and I love it! I wish I knew about this place when I lived in the area. My favorite dish is the hamburger steak, which comes on a sizzling platter with cabbage and onions. It is so soft and flavorful and yummy.. and they have Asahi draft, soooo gooood!!
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Review from Brad K.
Honolulu, HI
3/19/2012
Friendly, good food, friendly service. Great place for izakaya style eating with asahi from the tap. Great with friends.
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Review from Nina H.
Seeing how I love Japanese cuisine, Aki-no-No has definitely been a regular place I visit with my friends. This little gem is owned by Yuna Ito's family, and every time I visit it I love their homey atmosphere !.... and it also helps that they play Yuna Ito tracks on repeat... (which I've been a fan of for years)
Some highlights of their menu that I've tried so far are their gizzard karaage, bacon wrapped enoki, and toro steak. I haven't ventured too far into their sushi and sashimis, seeing that their items are a tad on the expensive side.... but I definitely will try them eventually. :]
Service here is friendly; my friends and I are regulars here so the servers recognize us and often stop by to chat, which is always a plus. Love that Aki-no-No's open late till 2AM..... Only reason why it's not five stars is the price.. but it's definitely a place to try !Listed in: Late Night Munchies !
-
Review from Spidey S.
Honolulu, HI
4/18/2012
decent food. good service. asahi on tap. definitely worth a visit.
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Review from Ellison U.
Honolulu, HI
Akinono
Authentic Japanese cuisine at its best! I come to Akinono from time to time with friends. Found this place while I was getting my undergraduate at UH. First experience here was with my college gf. She had an apartment a few blocks away and we decided to walk around the neighborhood. We stumbled upon Akinono and the rest was history! It also help that my gf at the time was a Japanese FOB. :D yep...
Akinono is located on the corner of South King and Kahuna Ln. Very traditional Japanese restaurant/bar. The décor and theme were Japanese influenced. Walls were decorated with photos of famous Japanese actors who have eaten there in the past. Also, a fact most of the posters on the one is the owner's daughter whom is famous in Japan! She's pretty cute or kawaii ne!
Dining here is a bit pricy though. For a $50 meal at Akinono you could get the same exact meal at Kochi at two-thirds the price. Reason I don't go there too often than before. It's a good place to bring out-of-towners for a traditional Japanese meal.
Be warned, they DO NOT split the bill! So if your amongst friends decide who pays before going, it'll make your life simple. Or you can bring cash!
Food GOOD, service GOOD, price BAD
Check out the photos! -
Review from Chad Y.
10/30/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Aki No No is a quaint Japanese izakaya restaurant off King Street that offers good menu options, good service, however food that just misses the mark for me. It's decent, just not great and its food blends into our culinary scene.
The menu is what you would come to find with entree items, sushi, seafood, beef, chicken, and other items. However, I failed to find any of the items truly stellar. The spicy ahi roll was more chunky bits of ahi rather than sliced strips or finely minced. While the California roll was simple and what you would come to expect.
The karaage chicken lacked flavor and was simply an American style fried chicken while the miso butterfish was just lacking overall and could have used a bolder miso flavor. Also, tiny bones in the butterfish just was not good. The Kurubuta pork sausage was decent and the beef tongue just a tad too rubbery.
Service was a highlight with the staff being incredibly attentive and quick to serve. The food arrived in a weird sequence, however ti wasn't that off putting and by then we were hungry.
It's street front appearance might not seem like much, but its interior ambiance is comfortable and almost reminiscent of a Japanese home. It comes across and warming, inviting, and traditional. Parking can be on the one tricky one, however you can park at University square at King/University and they will validate. -
Review from Maika Y.
Honolulu, HI
1/17/2012
I love this place :]
Aji no tataki is what I always eat here. And sometimes ahi katsu.
Their steak is pretty good too! (13 dollars or something, pretty reasonable) :]
I love that it's open till 2 AM ! -
Review from Sparkles S.
Aiea, HI
11/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I have been here only twice and have not been disappointed either time. You should call to reserve a seat since it can get really crowded here, esp for late night dinner. The fried kahuku shrimp is really good. You eat them whole eyeballs and all and they are so perfectly salted and fried. I am a fan of their agemochi and always order this take out to eat later at home. The sushi sets here are really good too. Oyster shooters were fresh and the tasty.
One bad thing about this place is the parking. I can't figure out where to park if I were to go during the early evening. Both times I went University Square was open and no parking attendant so I parked here. -
Review from Keane S.
9/16/2011
Found this place after work one night by, surprise surprise, my Yelp application on my phone! haha.
Me and my coworker like to eat after work on Sunday's but it's usually late (1030 or 11) and she was craving sushi so our options were limited. Thankfully Aki-no-no was listed as being open till 2 a.m. -- bingo on we went.
-----ATMOSPHERE-----
It's a small little place located across where sushi king is, the interior is similar to most japanese places however, they have pictures and posters on the wall of their daughter who is a singer in Japan I've been told. There's one large private room near the entrance, a sushi bar and a few small tables to sit on. We opted for the sushi bar.
-----SERVICE-----
The downside was we didn't get to say a word to the sushi guy. He seemed busy and not all that interested in talking -- unfortunate as I always like when the sushi chefs are more friendly. Our waitress however was helpful, we work in a restaurant so I probed her about what she would recommend and she was pretty helpful with giving us various options. Service was efficient but also very private so a nice place to go and have conversation with someone.
-----FOOD-----
*Fried Kahuku Shrimp: They came as mini shrimps about the size of your pointer finger (with head and tail included) they were fried with an optional lemon slice to use if needed. This dish was pretty good, kind of addicting to be honest, it was a nice pupu style of dish to accompany beer. At $15 a pop not sure if I would order it all the time, maybe for $10-12 but it was definitely good and tasty.
*Ahi Toro Belly Steak: Came cooked upon a simple stir fry of cabbage and other veggies, the veggies were good and a nice complement to the dish. The Ahi was good, not over seasoned but had nice flavor, it was also very tender so definitely not overcooked.
*Sake Steamed Clams: Probably the only miss of the night, I'm not a big clam person to begin with but these were a little bland for my taste. Maybe I'm spoiled and used to say the clams uncle bos makes, these were ok but it was missing a thing or two or three in my opinion.
*Rainbow Roll: Fantastic fish quality, melt in your mouth freshness. I started to pick the fish off and eating it sashimi style (I'm not a big cali roll person) Enjoyed this a lot and it makes me want to come back and try more nigiri and rolls next time.
*Bacon wrapped Enoki Mushrooms: Small dish four bunches of enoki in all but very flavorful -- can't go wrong with bacon I suppose! I personally love enokis so maybe I'm biased but this dish I enjoyed a lot, it was very simple but it worked.
*Green Tea Ice Cream w/Azuki beans: Not sure if they make their own Green Tea or buy it from somewhere but it was one of the better ones I've had.
-----OVERALL-----
This place may upgrade to a five star soon, I'm going to visit a few more times to make that determination but I left very satisfied after my first visit. The menu is huge so there is much to try, we saw the hamburger steak and I read about it here on yelp and man it looks orgasmic so I will definitely try and report back on it when I have it! -
Review from Fanchon B.
Honolulu, HI
2/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went with a group of friends who happened to arrive at staggered times. One server was very rude about the whole party not being present at once. The other server didn't seem to care. When the whole party arrived we ordered a little bit of everything. Luckily both served us and we were able to ask questions and get advice from the nicer server, while we tried to avoid the other. The food arrived as it was made, which made it awkward when not everyone could eat together. Other than the ok service the food was very tasty. The pupu's and sushi were absolutely delicious. My favorite was the fatty tuna and yellow fin... they just melted in my mouth. The fried mochi was a close second. As much as I thought this place was good I think I might just stick with kona kai sushi, they are at least friendly and serve quality sushi too.
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Review from vincer r.
Honolulu, HI
1/4/2012
The staff seemed to not care we were there, even in a nearly empty restaurant. Wish I went across the street to Izakaya Naru. They're the best!
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Review from Crissy K.
6/22/2011
Wow, what else can I say that hasn't already been said? A totally winning dining experience!
I love that Aki-no-No, as small and wildly great as it is, was cheerfully able to accommodate my party of 3 (which then changed into a party of 4 -- go figure) pretty last-minute tonight. I had passed this place on my way to/from work for years and had always wondered about it but had never stopped in simply because of the parking situation and the fact that they're not open for lunch.
The food here is authentic Japanese cuisine, from the thick slices of sake (salmon) that coat the surprisingly affordable nigiri to the slight fluffiness of the more-than-sufficient hamburger steak (so motherland style, my husband practically expected it to be called "hamburg steak," like how they list it on menus in Tokyo). The flavors were balanced just right, and while we were kind of bummed that everything -- even rice -- is ala carte, the portions were perfect. You know how some places will give you the bowl of rice, but it's not enough to go with the amount of protein and sauce you have? Yeah, doesn't happen here. My family and I ordered three teppanyaki dishes (hamburger steak, ahi belly and teriyaki chicken) and a chicken katsu curry, and we were all pleased with our choices.
Service is attentive, but not overbearing. The waitresses were all extremely patient and nice, and when they weren't waiting on tables, they kind of just gathered in a corner and peeked at you without staring. Very Japanesey.
The only real bear here is parking. We were fortunate enough to find metered parking, which is free that side of King after 6 p.m. There isn't much, though. Our waitress asked whether we needed validation, which leads me to believe they may validate for the University Square lot, but I forgot to ask (still, also a small parcel of land).
We'll definitely be back! -
Review from Aaron A.
Honolulu, HI
10/7/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I've been coming to Aki nono since 2006 when my girlfriend at that time brought me here after I told her how much I love Japanese food. After that first time, I set my standard for Japanese restaurants based off this experience. I was in such delight at that time that there are no words to describe how I felt. However, as the years have past, I feel like Aki nono needs to step up their game a little. Bring back the late night dinner specials, add new things to the menu, and try not to overcook the steam entrées.
My recommendations:
Hamburger Steak, fresh scallops, fresh oysters, amaebi (ask for the head), uni, chirashi, maguro natto, bacon wrapped enoki, and crab porridge to complete the meal. -
Review from Nolan H.
Kaneohe, HI
10/16/2011
Okay, so on a whim we all decided to hit up this hidden izakaya in the Moilili area. When we first got there, I felt a little out of place because it was in the UH area and a local brudda in an Asian town really sticks out! However, when I entered this restaurant boy was I REALLY out of place!
As you walk in, there are pictures & writing of Asians all over the place and I believe the owners daughter (whose picture is everywhere) is some kind of popular celebrity over in Japan!
Let's see, what did we order?
-Chu Toro Sashimi
-Hirame Sashimi
-Sake Sashimi
-Sake Steamed Clams
-Ahi Katsu
-Hamburger Steak
-Beef Tongue
-Kahuku Shrimp Karaage
-Agedashi Mochi
-Toro Steak
-Bacon Wrapped Inoki
-Chicken Tsukune
Not bad for the price, but there are a few items that I would not try again. The Bacon Wrapped Inoki, was okay but it seemed too chewy with the fatty piece of bacon wrapped around it. Even for a local boy like me, I didn't want to spend a good 5 minutes chewing this thing like gum. Tasty, but too much work! The Sake Sashimi, not as oily and tasty as I wanted it to be. I would have to say, Gaku or Imanas is way better. The Toro Steak, very flavorful but it needs just a little more tenderness to it. Lastly, the Hamburger Steak, it was good due to it being soft, but I wish it could have been a little more tastier to match the softness of the meat.
The rest of the items, not bad for the price! I probably would go here again if Imanas & Gaku are too busy, but I won't make this a habitual thing! -
Review from Michelle D.
Honolulu, HI
2/2/2012
We've been coming here for over 6 years. Their food is consistent... not necessarily the best in Hawaii, but their fish is always fresh. Service depends on the company I come with and if I"m feeling more like speaking Japanese or English. Usually, the staff is stronger with Japanese, so usually I speak in Japanese. Today, however, because the server was pretty fluent in English, I spoke to her in English. My food came out fine. My bf's food, however, the most expensive Sushi Nigiri set, took over 40 minutes to come out. We're sitting in front of the Sushi chef and they completely forgot about us. When asked about our dish, instead of apologizing... our server plainly said, "Patience. Patience." WTF? If you forgot, you forgot.. whatever. But she made it seem like WE were the crazy ones to wonder about our food. The food came out within 3 minutes after that, and since my food was done with, my bf asked to take it to go. Our server gave it to the Sushi chef, who looked at us and gave us this irritated look. WTF again? We've been patronizing this place for over 6 years and not even a single "I'm sorry." SO turned off. If you want fresh fish, go to YOHEI SUSHI, MORIMOTO, or MAGURO-YA.
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Review from Andrew D.
7/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of my go-to izakayas for late night eating/drinking.
The food is always delicious and the service is always great. I'm also going to say that the owners daughter is always hot, but that's neither here nor there.
Favorites:
Ebi karaage (little baby shrimps crispy fried)
Bacon wrapped enoki (mmm...bacon)
Steamed moi (chinese style)
Hamachi sashimi (rich, fatty and plentiful)
Cucumber sticks with miso(simple and delish)
On a normal night, we usually order a bottle of IIchiko some oolong tea while slowly picking at our food. I'd say we have our best conversations over great food and Iichiko. -
Review from Kim S.
2/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is where my husband & I end up at when we go to Sushi Izakaya Gaku & they're full...which is rather often. Don't get me wrong, Aki No No is a decent second choice.
There are three dishes I order, without fail, here: tsukune, bacon wrapped enoki, & bacon wrapped asparagus. I've had tsukune from other izakayas that was dry & bland; the tsukune at Aki No No is grilled to perfection, moist & served with a yummy sweet shoyu sauce. The bacon wrapped asparagus & bacon wrapped enoki are so simple, with just a splash of lemon juice, but so addicting. I share them with my husband, even though the fat kid in me wants to eat each in every piece from both bowls...& then ask for another order of each. Their sushi is decent as well, but nothing special. The food here is a little pricey, when you take the size of the servings into consideration...but this is typical of your average izakaya.
Other discerning factors:
-Parking is ample; park in the University Square lot & they'll validate your ticket.
-The decor is monopolized by Yuna Ito posters (being that her parents own the joint), so ladies, be prepared to have your boyfriend/husband stare past your head during your conversation, pretending to be listening to you while he stares at her smokin' hot face. -
Review from Jordan K.
Honolulu, HI
8/3/2011
I don't come here often, but when I do it's always good. Late night beers, good sushi, great food. You can't go wrong with Aki no No. If I have to recommend an item I would say get the chuutoro nigiri. It's a bit expensive but totally worth the price.
Not the biggest place but it's a nice place to chill for a late night snack. -
Review from Tim G.
Kansas City, MO
1/10/2011 1 photo
Nevermind the fact that this place is run by famed singer Yuna Ito's parents. The food is awesome enough to stand on it's own.
I came here with a small group of 4 people. It was a small, cozy place, with Yuna Ito's music playing in the background on repeat. Not really the kind of music that I want to be constantly playing while I eat, but I easily drowned it out.
It is a bit more on the pricey side, but the food was delicious, definitely worth it. I ordered the toro steak, along with numerous sides, and every bit of the food was just awesome. The toro steak has to be the best I have ever tasted, it just melts in your mouth with every bite.
Anyway, everything else was pretty good. The place wasn't very loud, so it had a very nice atmosphere. The wall is decorated with photos of various patrons of the place, and a barrage of Yuna Ito posters, but it was pretty typical Japanese-style decor. The staff was helpful and very accommodating. We brought in our own dessert to celebrate a birthday, and they were more than willing to provide a knife and plates for us to use, even a lighter to light the candles.
It was a delightful little place, and certainly one that I will be coming back to on a future visit to the islands. -
Review from Jonathan D.
Honolulu, HI
5/25/2011
So there were three of us total around 9pm on a Friday night. Not very much people but the food was very good. Sushi was fresh that was my biggest plus to this place.
The hamachi was wonderful! I literally had a sushi orgasm and wanted more after eating four. Also had ahi tonkatsu super good that was another favorite. Butterfish was awesome too. I love butterfish along with one of my friends and hey we have high standards but that butter fish tasted and looked so good!
Hmm service was just awesome and professional. And pro I mean by filling my water when it was almost half way done. Oh the way to get their attention is by looking at 'em. It was like they knew they were being watched.
Ok so parking was a bitch. Had to park with all the little taekwondo parents and in the end it cost three bucks and if I didn't pay they would like "bill me and tow my car away." And bobba loca where I parked was gone :( -
Review from Sherri V.
Waipahu, HI
11/29/2010 3 Check-ins Here
The first time I visited Aki No No was years ago on a second 1st date. I really don't remember eating anything because I was so busy thinking about how my date wasn't for me and I never felt like going back.
For my return to Aki No No, I was lucky enough to be with Olivia D. so she let me know what I had to order.
Nabeyaki Udon...how I crave you. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and when I wake up in the middle of the night. I'm already thinking about the next time as I sip the last bit of broth.
I want some now! -
Review from Katie K.
2/10/2011
I've been wanting to come here for so long, and the other night after work, starving as usual, I finally made it to Aki-no-no! My co-workers and I went late...got there around 11:30, so we were one of the only two tables in the restaurants. So once we ordered, we got our sushi apps super fast. Hotter entrees did take a while to come out, so I can see how it might be slower service if this was packed like it seems they might be during the dinner rush. However, all of the food was amazing.
My friend did all of the ordering so I can't say I remember the names of everything we ordered, but out of everything we had, there wasn't anything I didn't like! Sushi wise, we got rainbow rolls, spicy tuna--really fresh ahi, and the unagi! Omg the unagi sushi were like little musubis and soo good, probably my favorite thing of the night!! For the hotter entrees we had beef tongue, hamburger steak, and some kind of fish that for the life of me I can't remember the name of!
The only complaint I have about the food is that the portions are not huge, yet everything is kind of pricey. For 6 of us, our bill was over $200 for all the food we shared, plus beers. This wouldn't have been so bad, if I hadn't left as I did, still feeling like I could have kept eating more...
Other than that, parking sucks. Late night, no prob, plenty street parking, but during day or dinner time, I can only imagine that this would be a nightmare! I was stoked though that they are open till 2am every night. When you work nights, you're after work eatery choice, for non-fast food, are very limited. However, although I had a nice time, and enjoyed everything, I can't say, due to the $$ that I will be back here very often. -
Review from Christopher C.
Pearl City, HI
This place has been on my list of places to try since the September Yelpy Izakaya email, so I decided to check this place out since it was my birthday this week, an who doesn't deserve a great meal to celebrate right?
This place is amazing: small cozy very traditional, the staff is really friendly and attentive! From the outside it doesnt look like much, but the inside of the restaurant is a reflection of their food: simple, straight-forward, clean, but excellent! They let their ingredients speak for their quality and freshness, w/o over seasoning. Portion sizes may seem small to some, but its quality not quantity right?
Their menu is pretty extensive so I deferred to my fellow yelpers and picked the dishes they loved so much:
Grilled Scallops w/ butter sauce: love how perfectly these scallops were cooked and the fact they werent smothered in butter
Sushi- had the tako and uni- very fresh high quality, simple and so tasty
Chicken Karaage- wow great seasoning and texture one of the best dishes I had!
Kobocha Tempura- what can I say, they fry like they mean it. Light crisp texture that wasnt oily, I think this may be some of the best tempura Ive ever had!
Bacon Wrapped Enoki- not exactly what I was expecting when I ordered this (was hoping the bacon to be crunchy for that texture profile) and the bacon flavor kinda overpowered the subtle enoki but a tasty and well presented dish regardless
Aki No No i'll be back to definitely try more of that menu! -
Review from Reilynn Y.
Honolulu, HI
Aki-no-No is by far my FAVORITE Japanese style izakaya in Hawaii (& believe me, I've been to a lot of them).
The food is authentic homestyle Japanese cooking, which is prepared daily. The menu has a great selection of sushi, kobachi (meaning small dishes), grilled and fried dishes, and oden and hot pot items. The flavor and portions are also always consistent.
There is a good selection of drinks including sake, soju, shochu, and beer. Their bottle prices for shochu are incredibly reasonable compared to other establishments that charge ridiculous prices (seriously, for Iichiko?), and they will keep your bottle for you at the restaurant for up to 3 months. They also have Asahi draft straight from Japan!
The staff are friendly and prompt, and genuinely care about their customers (unless you're a pain, & if you are, you will def feel Mama's rage). I've had many good times here!
The prices here are reasonable considering Japanese restaurants have higher price points compared to other types of cuisine. Your bill can rack up especially if you order lots of little things, but there are also plenty of selections on the menu if you're feeling cheap.
The restaurant can get busy at random times, including late nights and weekends so be sure to make reservations for larger parties. During busy rushes the food can take a while because it is a small establishment.
The restaurant is also open late until 2am (last call for food is 1am), and there is ample parking in the lot at University Square. They validate tickets if you get in before 1030pm, but there is also street parking in the area.
My opinion and experiences at Aki-no-No may be slightly biased considering I have at one time been employed here. However, I can honestly say that the owners take great pains to keep the restaurant clean and sanitary, and the food and ingredients fresh and tasty. And they NEVER use MSG.
Aki-no-No is a hidden gem I choose to share with solely cool kids, because a great place like this only deserves equally great customers. -
Review from Damon A.
Honolulu, HI
Must have their Hamburger Steak - soft, moist & very flavorful. Also, the Kahuku Shrimp Karaage - eat the whole shrimp that's crunchy and full of flavor.
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Review from Cin T.
Aki No No gets an enthusiastic YES-YES from me!! This quaint little restaurant is now one of my favorite go-to places for Japanese food. I wanted to dine here mainly because I read an article stating that this place serves Fugu. http://en.wikipedia.or...
We were so very disappointed when waitress #1 told us that they've "never, ever served Fugu." Then waitress #2 came by and said that they might've had Fugu a while back, but not for the past couple years that she's been there.
I would've called them to confirm this Fugu rumor, but they didn't open till 5pm (which was the time we planned on being there). Check out the 5th paragraph (yeah, I didn't realize it was a 2005 article...):
http://honoluluweekly....
The attentive service and ono food made up for my disappointment. Our water and tea were constantly topped off, they even refilled it when the water was no more than 1 to 2 inches empty/away from the rim! The only gripe was that my tea was warm, never hot. They open at 5pm, I highly recommend being there before 6pm b/c the place got packed real quick!
Tanshio $8 (grilled beef tongue): It was tasty and so meaty that it could've passed as thinly sliced beef. It was a little over-cooked b/c it was sliced so thin, but I enjoyed it. The garlic miso sauce was so good, without it the dish probably wouldn't have been that successful. I kept dipping my veggies and chicken in it and wished that they had given more.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Spicy Ahi (6pc $8): The fish was fresh but it wasn't at all spicy. I was having a hard time locating the Sriracha in it. I found a few drops of it every now and then. The julienned cucumbers and scallions was a nice touch.
Ikura/Salmon Roe (2pc $8): Yummy-salty goodness, it was like a party in my mouth. I was bummed that they didn't have any quail eggs. I like my Ikura topped off with a raw quail egg (one reason why I like Sushi King).
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Chicken Kaarage ($6): I have to admit that the small portion and burnt appearance made me cringe. But all was forgiven when I bit into these crunchy morsels. Seasoned perfectly and chop-stick tender (yes I was able to break it up with my chopsticks, it was that soft!).
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Grilled Shoyu-Buttered Scallops ($8): Although it was delicious and cooked perfectly, it wasn't what I expected (I thought we were going to get a few pieces of whole, grilled scallops). What we got was two quarter-sized scallops that were cut in half. I counted 4 pieces of scallop halves..... the rest was mainly just the coral aka roe (the chewy soft white & pink parts attached to the scallops). The slice of lime that accompanied it was bigger than one whole scallop: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Shrimp&Veggie Tempura ($15): Probably the best tempura I've had. The batter was so light and the crunch was fantastic! This might be the house favorite b/c it seems like everyone was ordering this dish, the fryer was firing the whole time we were there. The girl cooks it upfront, right behind the sushi bar. I'm glad we got the combo b/c the shrimp itself is smaaaall, but the batter was so ono that I didn't mind. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Menchi Katsu ($8): Breaded and deep-fried, this meat cutlet/croquette was super yummy! It's very meaty, didn't have a lot of bread fillers like some MC I've had in the past. I like that they give you the whole bottle of Tonkatsu sauce so that you can add as much as you like! http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Overall, I'm glad we checked this place out. The food & service is awesome and the price is reasonable, the bill came out to only $100. I can't wait to go back to try more things!
Street parking is horrible but you can park in the Central Pacific Bank Lot a few doors down. They do validate. On Sundays, the lot is open but you have to pay the box $4 (flat rate). Luckily, I parked in a stall that was FREE!!! I wasn't able to get my money into the paybox, there was a big wad of bills blocking the slot so I wasn't able to shove my money through.......the intent to pay WAS there, but I wasn't about to move my car out of that cushy stall......terrible, I know. My friend said that I got lucky, that an Angel was looking out for me, so I said my thank you's and we walked away, lol!Listed in: Turning Japanese!
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Review from Min K.
Delicious! I love love love this little hideaway gem! My friend wanted to try this place because she had read somewhere that they serve fugu, and supposedly people in Japan eat fugu to get high. Now I'm not a druggie, but I've always wanted to try this delectable delicacy that could kill me. Why I risk myself? I don't know, but it's good because I'm worth more dead than alive.
Let me start off by saying we were SO disappointed when we found out that they don't have fugu! I read the review and said this location offered it, but somewhere down the line there was a miscommunication or they stopped offering it or it's only for those hardcore eaters who speak a secret Japanese dialect that can eat it. Well, we're none of those so we lucked out.
But, on the upside we ordered the tan shio (beef tongue), nigiri A, chicken karaage, a scallop dish, tempura, and menchi katsu.
The beef tongue was okay; a little dry, too thickly sliced, and cold. The garlic miso sauce on the other hand was so good! I was eating it just as is! The chicken karaage was delicious, although my friend thought otherwise. The nigiri A was my meal and man on man, so yummy. The fish and uni were so fresh and so delicious I felt like I was eating the sushi staring into the sunset. The scallop dish was good but we couldn't decipher if it was scallops or mussels. I got lost halfway but regardless it was delicious.
The tempura was amazing! Not greasy, not oily; just the right amount of batter to item. The menchi was good too, I love meat and love a nicely battered and deep fried hamburger patty!
It was such a shame that we couldn't try fugu, and that was our original intention. The only thing I couldn't stand was the Yuna Ito music; now I know that's her daughter and I like a couple of her songs but hearing for the hour we were there drove me crazy. I have a feeling we'll be back and I'll bring my music. -
Review from Tia S.
Honolulu, HI
They get two thumbs up, because the waitress will give you the ENTIRE 720 mL bottle of Otokoyama sake in a bucket of ice. CheeHee! They don't do that at other places.
Steamed Opakapaka (fish) is the best! Shrimp tempura is crisp and delicate. The batter is perfect! Wash it down with a Kirin beer, too.
It's cute. Nothing fancy, but the service is good. Parking kinda sucks during the day, but I'm usually here late at night. -
Review from Michael E W.
Ewa Beach, HI
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very cozy warm felt Japanese speaking sushi restaurant. If its just yourself or family go for the menchi katsu and yakatori. Big fan of this place with prompt service and attention to detail.
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Review from Derek K.
Came here over the weekend to grab a late dinner and have some beers with the guys. AWESOME PLACE FOR JUST THAT!!! The atmosphere is very chill and laid back. We walked right in didn't have to wait, luckily, and they sat us at the sushi bar. None of us had never been here before, so we were kind of taken back by the prices, but the prices were well worth it.
I ordered shrimp tempura, chicken karaage and a spicy ahi roll. The shrimp tempura was amazing! Dare, I say, probably the best tempura I have had. As the food is cooked right in front of you, they food is served hot right after it's done cooking. The chicken karaage was also very good. I hoped that they had a sauce...tonkatsu sauce or something, but the chicken was still very tasty and crispy. Finally, the spicy ahi roll. The fish was very fresh and they keep it in chunks, BIG CHUNKS! When you look at the roll, it doesn't look like there's any spicy agent, but it packs a good kick when you bite into it. With all the food and Asahi after Asahi, the bill was a little pricey, but for the quality and the atmosphere of the place it was well worth it.Listed in: I'm full Japanese, so I eat…
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Review from Danielle Y.
Honolulu, HI
8/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've only been here once but I'm already a fan. The nabeyaki udon was delish (chicken balls!) and I definitely wanted to eat 10 more servings of the ahi katsu. But there were tons of other dishes to be eaten The serving sizes are not too big, not too small, juuust right. Perfect for ordering different things to try without getting too full on one thing. The restaurant is small so we weren't able to get a table without a reservation, but sitting at the bar was actually better since the food came straight from the chefs. The waitresses were attentive and very nice. But my favorite part, though, was the Asahi beer pitchers! Seriously, I wanted to take one home...
Parking is also pretty easy - you can park in the lot at the corner of University and King and get validation from the restaurant. -
Review from Annie W.
Honolulu, HI
4/2/2011
I am dying to go back to Honolulu to eat Aki No No's hamburger steak!! Best hamburger steak ever!
Don't go any where else to get hamburger steak; this is the place to go that!
I remember eating my first hamburger steak else where and after which I did not want to eat another one again, but Aki No No turned that all around! My boyfriend ordered it, and I wasn't all too thrilled, but once ir arrvied on the table I couldnt help getting absorbed by the aroma. I ended up taking a bite just to see what its like and ended up eating half of it! I dont know what they put in it, but keep it up!
Service is good and food is great :D
Check them out! -
Review from Beth I.
Updated - 8/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
Absolutely love this little slice of Japan. Fabulously authentic Japanese food izakaya style. They have a lot of items on the menu that they don't have elsewhere.
They are open until 2am, but their last seating is 1245am.
I love the spicy ahi hand roll, bacon wrapped enoki, ahi katsu, hamachi sashimi and their variety of little side dishes. The boyfriend had some chu toro nigiri sushi that he said was to die for. This place is so wonderful and it makes me miss Japan.
It's a little bit pricey, but equivalent in price to other local izakaya's and I think the food here is amazing!Listed in: Nihon-riyori, Date nights (hint hint)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/23/2010
Yum. Small portions (izakaya style) but it was really really good. Tried the bacon wrapped enoki… Read more »
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Review from Eri G.
Chula Vista, CA
1/8/2011 3 photos
I was hesitant to be thrilled about this place being that it's Yuna Ito's parent's restaurant ...in any case...
The food was delicious! Home style cooking, Ito's dad being the man behind the sushi bar and momma working in the back and checking up on us from time to time. It's location is kind of off past the animal shelter and a pretty "hole-in-the-wall" type of place. it's really nice, cute, and cozy inside.
Go visit the Yuna "Chrstine" Ito shrine next time you drive by this place for sure :) -
Review from Beverly T.
Emeryville, CA
6/11/2009 2 photos
Aki No No is the PERFECT name for this place. Emphasis on NO NO.
Sake steamed clams. Forgot the price... I think it was $15+ closer to $20, which is fiiiiine. I love sake steamed clams. But. These fuckers gave me FIVE clams!!!!!!!! Five?! Seriously? You couldn't just toss another one in there?? Flavor was good but super simple. I feel like I could've made it at home. And I just might. Oh but when I do, trust me when I say I'm gonna eat more than FIVE!
Butterfish. TINY itty bitty piece. Good flavor and well cooked but they left hella fish bones in it. Uh... choking hazard!
Service is soooooo slow too.
Love butterfish? There's a miso factory that sells fresh butterfish by the pound that you buy, take home and cook yourself. My friend (local Hawaiian that knows all the secret food spots) got me a pound and my friend's mom cooked it for me. OHMIGAWD. Best I've ever had. Anyways... ask around. You can phone in your order. The place is in the boonies apparently and is run by a little old woman who sit's in a little chair and waits for you to pick it up out of her little hands. Delish. Gotta love little old women!
Sidenote: Yes the daughter is super hot. But makeup does wonders and you know us Asians know how to put make up on like nobody's business! Um, lady boys. Thailand?! But yeah... Prices BIG. Food TINY.Listed in: Sushi Hits & Misses
