Hakone Restaurant
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Validated
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
13 Reviews for Hakone Restaurant
If you love Japanese food, you'll definitely love this place. This is like Makino Chaya, Todai's, Genki Sushi, and Sushi King all rolled into one. Although it'll break your wallet a little, it's a must try in my opinion. The sushi is superb, then they have shabu shabu, tempura, soft shell crab, katsu, sashimi, miso soup and a variety of other things.
This is one place I will use my economic stimulus package and stimulate that economy!
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Went on a Saturday for the Sushi Buffet. This isn't you Todai or Machino Chaya buffet. there is a huge spread of pre-made sushi sitting out and drying out on some display counter. First of all it's very japanese...you can go and take all the sashimi you want, but this place is all about quality. The sushi chef will make you whatever he has (6 pieces at a time). If you're lucky, like we were, he'll have some toro and make you some of the best sushi you will ever have in your life.
Salmon was to die for...huge pieces on the sushi and sashimi...and it just melt in your mouth...unbelievable!
Shabu-shabu was great...miso butterfish was great...nothing to really complain about...
Just remember this isn't a stuff your plate, stuff your face all-you-can-eat buffet...
OMG. This place is soooooo goood!! I wanted to take the boyfriend here on his actual birthday (the first day of our Hawaii trip) but due to our messed up time schedule...and laziness, we didn't go. Finally we went on the last night of our trip (after I threw a tantrum about wanting to go to a sushi/japanese buffet)
We got oh-so-lucky! With no reservations, 8pm in the evening. We were told that they were completely booked. The boyfriend must've made a puppyface or cast some sort of spell on the hostess, 'cause the next thing you know, we have a table.
We went straight for the sushi. *droools* Then the platter of sashimi caught our eyes. It was such a beautiful sight. They say you eat with your eyes, heck, I can be blind and tell you everything is delicious. The toro, OMG, the toro.
If you're looking for a 60 item buffet, this is not the place to go. This place is about quality. QUALITY! They have an unique variation of foods. Shabu shabu. Crab legs. Fried fish. Tempura. Steam tofu. Small dishes. and more. So good. so good.
The boyfriend was happy. and i was happy that he's happy. He's not a big buffet person (buffet = crappy food) But this place is exceptional. He said he would come back to Hawaii just for this place.
Yay, Hakone! So yummy! Being next to the Ala Moana Beach Park and inside the Hawaii Prince doesn't hurt either. =]
Aside from the price tag, there isn't much to stop you from visiting Hakone's buffet. To call it a buffet is almost insulting. Instead it is a Japanese food lover's fantasy. Imagine being able to sample authentic Japanese dishes, shabu shabu, sukiyaki, oden, huge platters of sashimi, nigiri sushi made to order (prepared by your own sushi chef) and more, all in one place! Save your money, bring home lunches for an entire month, whatever it will take for you to save the $40+ to eat here at dinner. I am so thankful they brought back their buffet...
Here are my favorites and highlights of the evening:
-sashimi platter which they kept restocking quickly after each time we demolished that thing. I couldn't stop eating those hamachi sashimi...
-fried ama-ebi heads (yes, they were a nice surprise)
-your own sushi chef...wow!
-shabu shabu, sukiyaki AND ODEN!!! in one place? how convenient and so oiiiisshhhiiii!!! especially those oden aburage pockets with mochi inside...
-rib eye steak, lamb chops, okinawan sweet potato...
-all kinds of tempura
-tasty ahi poke platter
-lots of fresh tofu, in different presentations...
-and even desserts were impressive. their apple tart, which is an apple pie on the bottom half, topped off with a custard-type of topping. hard to explain, you just have to try it
-don't forget the bread pudding...i could just drink the sauce...
We were celebrating my uncle's birthday and they even gave him 3 kinds of ice cream. Azuki bean, green tea and vanilla.
Service was excellent, our table of 7 always had our water and hot tea constantly being refilled. Worth every penny...
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Excellent sushi buffet for dinner on Friday, Saturday and Sundays. You do pay a premium ($44 per adult), but haven eaten here, I would never go back to Todai or Makino Chaya again.
Very high quality fish flown in from Japan by Chef Shimoyama. My auntie tells me that this is one of the top spots for local chefs to come eat because the consistency and quality of the food.
My favorite: the uni nigiri with shiso leaf. The fragrant, herby shiso complements the fresh, sweet and nutty uni. Divine. And all you can eat until the chef runs out of uni.
Fresh high quality sushi at a reasonable price--$42 for all you can eat buffet (sushi rolls, sashimi, crab legs, chicken skewers, baked oysters, more...) and an entree ( choice of steak or two kinds of fish the night we went). Delicious!
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My girlfriend took me here for dinner while I was home this past winter. As much as I think buffets have a place in this world, a Japanese buffet priced at $44? I could just picture bad cuts of warm sushi/sashimi & endless california or spicy tuna rolls awaiting me...topped off w/shrimp tempura.
Well, I can admit when I'm wrong & I was way off. The fact is, Hakone delivers top quality cuts of sushi/sashimi along with simple yet delicious menu choices. If you're looking for the Las Vegas style buffet swarmed by super -sized tourists trying to see how many items they can eat that are deep-fried, this may not be your kind of buffet. But for everyone else who truly enjoys traditional sushi in a small friendly environment where Japanese is the primary language spoken; run, don't walk to Hakone's. Just don't forget to make reservations.
fyi...the dessert was the only thing that seemed out of place. But then again, I neither eat dessert after sushi nor have I heard of a sushi bar highlighting their pie.
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My family and I went to Hakone for my birthday yesterday. I made a good choice!! The sushi/Japanese food buffet was one of the best buffets I ever had!
The price is $43.00 a person and it was totally well worth it! I couldn't even eat one of everything because there were so much things to eat. And this is not your cheapy buffet food! Everything was good in quality and there was so much to offer!
Sushi
Sukiyaki
Shabu Shabu
Crab Legs
Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura
Miso Soup with Crab
Sashimi
Salads
Dessert
and more!!
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I've come here for the sukiyaki (I prefer cooking with a shallow sauce as opposed to boiling) 2 or 3 times; can't remember. But I remember that it's REALLY good. Super fun, nice environment, yummy food. I think it's about time I show up at Hakone's again! This time I think I'll try a little oshinko maki and veggie roll in addition to the sukiyaki. Thanks for the sushi tip, peeps!
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Food: 5 stars (authentic, good variety, quality, & flavor)
Atmosphere: 4 stars (cozy semi formal Japanese restaurant)
Service: 4.2 (knowledgeable, attentive servers who are friendly)
Price: 4 (high price range but it's worth that and more!)
Recommended Dishes:
Dinner Buffet (unlimited sushi bar includes occasionally TORO!, negi Toro, Uni, Ikura, Yellowtail and many others), soft shell crab, shabu shabu, fish cake in broth, nice array of fresh local fruit (papaya & pineapple), eye-opening array of desserts to die for and MUCH MUCH more!
Shaved Ice (served only if it's your b-day)
NOTES: Make reservations and go early! This is NOT your low to average quality buffet; this is good quality with an excellent variety of items that you may not always find on any menu in a typical Japanese restaurant! Call to make sure it's a buffet night as the menu does change.
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BEST SUSSHI you will every have in your life.
first thing i did was i sat down with a plate of 8 slices of yellow tale, 8 slices of salmon, 8 slices of tuna. that's like 24 pieces. if you eat 24 pieces at any local restaurant in SF,CA it would easily cost 20 bucks or more. that's half the bill per head already. then they have shabu shabu type buffet, except you cook it standing up and eat at your table. TORO is the best. the rolls are awesome too. fresh food. nothing more to it. forget TODAI which is couple blocks away. come here. eat 20 slices of fish. couple beef strips and toro roles. and your on your way rocking. just make sure you don't eat to much to need some kind of assistant to get back home or to your car. it can easily happen. i was so full with pleasure i took a mile walk right after my meal.
i'm coming here again when i come to HAWAII
I'm usually wary about trying resturants that are located in the hotel.. but this one changed my entire perspective..
This resturant is located inside the Prince Hotel Waikiki... It's the most authentic japanese buffett I've ever tried. It's seats about 20 or so, so you have to make a reservation in advance (in fact i think it's reservation ONLY) before you go.. they're only open for in the evenings and on certain days of the week.. so do plan ahead..
There's a Japanese sushi chef that makes your sushi for you on the spot (almost anything you can think of including Uni... yesss!), soft shell crab, shabu shabu with rib eye beef.. and other authentic japanese items that I've never tasted or seen before.
Their bread pudding in the dessert corner was simply divine.. and if it's your birthday.. do let them know coz my girlfriend got a free strawberry shaved ice that was JAWDROPPING.. MUST MUST TRY..
I think it's like $40 somethg per person, cant remember clearly.. but I ALWAYS go back to this resturant everytime I'm in hawaii.. I love this place..
Yum! Review coming up soon (promise).
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