Sushi Izakaya Gaku: A Taste of Authentic Japanese Cuisine in Honolulu

Hidden Gem More traditional style sushi. You won’t find the fancy American rolls here. Everything we ordered was outstanding. Fresh ingredients. Delicious flavors. The service was wonderful- very friendly and attentive staff. They have non-alcoholic beers too! Much appreciated! Highly recommend!

Excellent omakase style, I ordered for myself . Everything was superb. Fish was succulent, fresh, well prepared. Hit on all my expectations. I will definitely come back next time on the island.

best sushi meal i’ve had in hawaii — super fresh, non touristy, friendly staff and authentic dishes. including agedashi tofu with mochi, and Hokkaido Uni

Izakaya Gaku is absolutely wonderful. Tucked just north of Ala Moana, it’s got that city energy without the rush of Waikiki — a perfect balance. This is a high-tier spot. Not Michelin, sure, but it’s not about that — it’s about enjoying the experience, and they've got plenty of that! And as someone just recently stepping into this level of dining, I get now that there’s a whole world above the usual places — and Gaku is a strong entry into that world. The oyster shooters were a standout, and the o-toro? Some of the best I’ve had, hands down. The staff were fantastic — super attentive, and the vibe from the sushi chefs and kitchen crew greeting you with full energy as you walk in or out adds to the whole atmosphere. It’s vibrant, thoughtful, and every detail feels intentional. A real gem.

Hands down best sushi in Hawaii. Gaku was recommended to us by our scuba diving instructor who is a Japanese sushi chef before moving to Hawaii. Every piece of sushi is prepared so delicately and skillfully. Each cut of the fish is so precise and fine. Also must mention that the spicy tartar is extremely creamy flavorful and yet refreshing. Just overall an amazing experience. Definitely best sushi in Hawaii

INCREDIBLE!!! Best otoro I’ve ever had in my life. Not a local but this place was highly praised by my friends from the island. Would love to come back! Quick service, great food and kind servers.

I tried Gaku in 2021 and was not impressed. I returned due to the overall high ratings and my return back to Hawaii. There is a small parking lot in the back but it is on King street so you have to go up one more street to access. We ordered: * Tofu jelly (one with ikura and another with uni) - 5 stars recommend. They also got rid of the Wasabi with ikura which I enjoyed. * King crab cake - served warm, and full of crab chunks! * Pork dumplings (shumai) - wow one of the best - they use high quality meat for the filling and STEAMED PERFECTLY * carpaccio of the day- this was just ok- I didn't like the oil vinegarette dressing * crab cream corn croquettes - came hot with a nice crust and creamy filling * tamago - can't go wrong * unagi - was good but not the best * homemade custard with fruits - this was just average to me * green tea ice-cream- basic * sushi omakase - my friend got all his pieces at once (they do that here) and he said it was pretty mid. "Not bad but not the best" - definitely not worth the price. I feel this place is a star due to their izakaya menu items ! They have a large selection and I would return for this items but not a place I would recommend for omakase. For all the food plus a bottle of sake, bill was around $300.

From food to service this place knocked it out of the park! Coming from NYC and been to Japan twice I think this is one of the best Japanese restaurants I’ve ever had. Seasoning for each dish was just right. The chef kindly gave me three pieces of dried stingray fin to try. Don’t be fooled by the name. I was surprised by how well seasoned and cooked it was. Moist yet crispy and sweet. It was so good that I ordered a whole plate. Service wise, I dined solo at the counter. Chef and waiting staff were all super attentive but also gave me space to enjoy the food. During our conversation, I casually mentioned how good the mangos in Hawai’i were. The waitress kindly asked the pastry chef to add a few pieces of mango to my dessert. It was such a pleasant surprise! Last but not least, they allow half sizes to some of the dishes. It was a huge positive cause it allowed me to try more dishes!