Sushi Izakaya Gaku

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.

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.

My SIL and nephew took me to one of their favorite restaurants, Sushi Izakaya Gaku on King Street. There are about eight parking stalls in the back, accessed by a narrow driveway through the building. We got there before 5pm (opening time) so we were able to pick our parking space. I left the ordering to my hosts but started with an Ohoro gin and soda. This gin comes from Hokkaido with sweet gale and mint as botanicals. It’s strong for a gin at 47% alcohol but has a nice clean taste with a light aroma of citrus. My nephew went with Asahi Dry. The first dish was Omatsuri Natto … with natto as the base, pieces of salmon, ahi, squid, ikura, uni, yamaimo, chopped green onion and okra topped with a quail egg. It’s mixed together and eaten on nori. I found it refreshing with the natto being very mild. Next was Uni and Oyster shooters, Seared Otoro with garlic sauce, Tako Basil, Gyutan (grilled beef tongue) Salad, and assorted nigiri. The uni and oyster shooters were excellent, as was the seared otoro. I thought that was the best dish of the evening. The beef tongue was tender and the salad dressing was great. I enjoyed the tako basil as well. I found the dishes to be very good … My SIL thought some of the ingredients were of lesser quality than during her previous visits. She noted a change in staff though one of the “old timers” came by later in the evening to say hello. All in all, I enjoyed my dining experience. The place was filled with diners, so service was slow and inattentive at times. The kitchen put out dishes quickly despite the crowd. 4 stars for me.

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!

My wife brought me here for my birthday. We got the sashimi plate (for 2). While delicious, it was not enough really for 2 people, so we got a salad, some butterfish and some extra toro. All were delicious, but we definitely had more room for desserts, which were tasty as well. In all, it was a good sushi experience and the restaurant deserves its good reputation.

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.

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.

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!