Thirty Eight

Thirty Eight is a fish restaurant located at Pier 38 in the former space of Nami Kaze. The interior space looks the same with the open kitchen and a bar on the left side. My favorites were the shrimp toast, maguro cabbage, and the fried whole moi. The shrimp toast was not greasy and the dipping sauce was citrusy with a bit of a spicy kick. The maguro cabbage was light and refreshing. The moi was amazing and I highly recommend ordering it! The fish was crispy and well-seasoned, it was partially de-boned with a few small bones near the head and the tail. Their prices are reasonable and the portions are good for sharing between 2 people. This place is good for groups since they can easily move tables together. I recommend making reservation a few days in advance.

For more information about Thirty Eight, visit thirtyeighthi.com or @thirtyeighthi.

1135 N Nimitz Hwy
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 468-8562

Shrimp Toast

Maguro Cabbage

Fried Whole Moi

Braised Short Rib

Yuzu Sorbet

 

Ellie Girl Poke - Hilo

Ellie Girl Poke is a poke shop located in Hilo on the Big Island. Their fish are locally sourced and the poke is made fresh. Most of their poke use ahi (tuna) but they'll have specials with other types of seafood and fish. I ordered by the pound ($18/lb.) and my favorites were the sesame shoyu ahi and the miso tako. They also have poke bowls with up to 3 choices of poke which range from $12 - $22. Their prices are reasonable and based on customers in front of me, they give a generous portion for their poke bowls.

The interior of the shop is big. The poke display case and cashier take up a small corner in the front. They have tables and chairs outside of shop where you can sit and enjoy your food. They are open from 8am - 6pm daily. There is lots of parking right in front of the shop.

Prince Kuhio Plaza
111 E Puainako St
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 333-3469

Sesame Shoyu Ahi Poke

Ahi Basil Poke

Miso Tako Poke

Moon and Turtle - Hilo

Moon and Turtle is an Asian fusion restaurant located in Hilo on the Big Island, Hawaii. The menu consists of seafood, mainly fish and their ingredients are locally sourced. My favorites were the smokey ahi sashimi, pipkaula mac salad, mushroom risotto, and basque-style miso cheesecake. Their prices are high ranging from $10 - $20 for an appetizer and $30+ for an entree. The portions can be shared between 2 people and the staff will recommend family style dining. 

They only open for dinner and reservations are highly recommended. I suggest reserving one week in advance if you plan to dine on a Friday or Saturday night. For parking, they have some spaces in front of the restaurant but you can also find street parking around the area. The staff were friendly and they checked with us a few times to make sure everything was right and the food tasted delicious.

If you are planning a day trip to Hilo, you could reserve the first seating, eat fast and still be able to catch the last Hawaiian Airlines flight out of Hilo to Oahu. I asked for the basque-style miso cheesecake to-go and so I got to enjoy that on Oahu.

51 Kalakaua St
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 961-0599

Smokey Sashimi

Sizzling "Tetsuyaki" Poke

Smoked Tonnato Caesar

Pipikaula Mac Salad

Tomato Caper Ahi Belly

Mushroom Risotto

Omakase by Bobae - CLOSED

Omakase by Bobae is a sushi bar inside Back Alley Cafe. Chef Bobae is there on Mondays to Wednesdays from 6pm-8:30pm. You walk into Back Alley Cafe, pick a table, the chef comes over to greet you, and you can start ordering from her menu. The fish is fresh and all things are made to order. When they drop off the sushi on your table, they do say to eat it right away so the nori doesn't get soggy. My favorites were the handroll sashimi combo and the 10-piece nigiri. The handroll sashimi combo had a beautiful presentation. It was a fun dish since you can make your own rolls and choose how much fish and rice to wrap with nori. There were also different seasonings that you could put in the hand rolls. The prices were reasonable and these dishes are shareable. Depending on what type of fish you like/dislike or your budget, ordering ala carte sushi might be a better option for some.

If you love going to sushi bars, I recommend checking this place out. The dress code is casual and it's walk in only, they don't accept reservations. For parking, there is street parking available on Sheridian Street. The meters are free after 6pm. Since Chef Bobae does everything herself, the creation of some dishes will take longer so be patient. You can follow her on instgram, @omakasebybobae, for updates. She also makes take out bentos on certain days.

920 Sheridan St
Honolulu, HI 96814

Handroll Sashimi Combo

Pink Sampler

Cali Roll

Uni Sushi

10 Pieces Sushi

Upstairs at Pier 38

Upstairs at Pier 38 is known for their seafood. They are located on the 2nd floor above Nico's Poke Market. The menu is mostly seafood but they have a handful of beef and pork entrees. The service from the staff was excellent and the plating of the food was photogenic. The appetizers and fish were delicious but I was disappointed with the rice. The rice in both entrees were uncooked and it was luke-warm when it came to the table. Other than the rice, everything was good, and my favorites were the nairagi carpaccio, crispy brie and sea bass. The prices are on the high side with entrees ranging from $40-$50 each.

The interior of the restaurant is beautiful. They have large windows that overlook the water and I recommend asking for a table by the window to enjoy those views. The restaurant can get loud since it's one big open space. This place is great for celebrating special occasion or for large parties. For parking, there are spaces outside the Nico's building but it that fill up, there's another lot around the corner of the building facing Nimitz Hwy. I recommend making reservations a few days in advanced so you can be seated at a table. If you walk in on a busy night, you'll probably get seated at the bar. 

For more information about Upstairs at Pier 38, visit upstairspier38.com.

Nico's Pier 38
1129 N Nimitz Hwy
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 550-3740

Nairagi Carpaccio

Salmon Lollipops

Crispy Brie

Misoyaki Sea Bass

Furikake Ahi

Basque Cheesecake

Hironouchi

Hiro is a private chef who creates sushi bentos that are available for order. The pick is on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday each week. Each Hirokase box comes with assorted nigiri, maki, ikura, and a small appetizer. Each piece of the nigiri has a different flavor and you don't need shoyu. To order, DM @hiro_dreams_of_sushi_808 on instagram. 

Hiro-no-uchi
(415) 342-9838

Hirokase Box

 

Akasaka

Akasaka is a hole in the wall sushi bar near the Hawaii Convention Center. The exterior of the building looks traditional Japanese with the wood and rice paper decor. The inside of the restaurant has a sushi counter and a few tables; the space is little tight. I recommend ordering sushi and sashimi because their fish are fresh. The food prices are also reasonable.

They are located between Kapiolani Blvd and Kona Street. If you're coming from Kapiolani Blvd, their building is hidden behind another and you'll need to go down a driveway. If you come from Kona Street you'll see their entrance and the parking spaces in front. This place is not good for big groups. If you plan to come with more than 2 people, reservations are highly recommended. 

1646 Kona St
Ste B
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 942-4466

Tokujo Sushi Combination

Vegetable Tempura

Chicken Karaage

Salmon w/ Avocado Roll

Salmon Skin Roll

Off The Hook Poke Market

Off The Hook Poke Market offers different flavors of poke that you won't find anywhere else on the island. They are located across Manoa Marketplace in the green building with Starbucks and Andy's Sandwiches. Besides poke, they also have shave ice. I recommend the cold ginger ahi poke because it taste the best. The poke bowls cost between $10 - $12 and they give a generous amount. If you want 2 choices of poke, it's an extra $0.50. The shave ice is $3.75. To get the best poke selection go during lunch instead of dinner because they close at 6pm.

They have tables set up so you can eat inside or sit outside on East Manoa Road. The parking lot is behind the building but some of the spaces are tight. If the lot is full, you can park inside Manoa Marketplace.

2908 E Manoa Rd.
Honolulu, HI 96822
(808) 800-6865

Mini Poke Bowl w/ Cold Ginger Ahi Poke & Shoyu Ahi Poke

Regular Poke Bowl w/ Hawaiian Style Poke & Spicy Ahi Poke

Pokeway

Pokeway lets you make your own poke bowl. It's the Subway sandwich concept for poke. You can choose between 1-3 scoops of protein. They offer ahi, salmon, hamachi, tako, and tofu. They use fresh fish from the fish auction. Your protein gets mixed with the sauce of your choice and it sits on top a bed of rice and salad. They have 8 different sauces to choose from but my favorite is the sesame. You also get 3 sides and toppings. The poke bowls range from $9-$13.

They are located in downtown Honolulu. They are only open Monday- Friday from 10am-3pm. If you need parking, the closest street parking is on Bethel Street or Pauahi Street.

1003 Bishop St., Ste 145
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 206-1006

Ahi w/ Rice & Salad

Salmon w/ Rice

Hamachi w/ Salad

Ahi & Shrimp w/ Salad

Da Hawaiian Poke Company - CLOSED

Da Hawaiian Poke Company is located in the Kapahulu area. It's a standalone building in front of Safeway. The entrance faces Kapahulu Ave. so if you park in the Safeway lot, walk to the front to enter. The interior is small but they have a large refrigerated display case with all different types of poke and sides. If you don't like what you see, you can create your own poke bowl with ingredients from their poke bar. Their prices are high but the quality of the fish is good. I recommend the HPC shoyu ahi poke, smoked ahi dip, and housemade fruit punch. If you are curious about something in their display case, ask for a sample. The staff are friendly. They have tables and benches outside the shop if you want to eat there. If you're visiting from out of town, you need to give this place a try. You may find yourself coming back again.

For more information about Da Hawaiian Poke Company, visit dahawaiianpokecompany.com.

870 Kapahulu Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 425-4954

HPC Shoyu Ahi Poke

Wasabi Furikake Salmon Poke

Hamakua Mushroom Poke

Smoked Ahi Dip

Ahi Assassins Fish Co.

Ahi Assassins Fish Co. is located in the Moili'ili area. They are in the same building as Frost City but on the 2nd floor. If you're not familiar with Frost City, it's the building after Blazin' Steaks on the corner of University and S. Beretania. The specialty here is ahi. They catch their own fish daily so everything is fresh. Depending on how much inventory they have, the prices may go up or down. They offer a variety ahi poke but they also have cooked ahi. Those are the "hot specials" and they are priced at $8 a plate and it comes with 2 scoops of rice. I recommend sharing if you get the plates. The portions for the fish are big.

They only accept cash and it's take-out. I recommend going before noon to avoid the lunch crowd. They have free parking downstairs.

For more information about Ahi Assassins, please visit www.ahiassassins.com.

Relocated to:
45-512 Keaahala Rd #102A
Kaneohe, HI 96744
(808) 372-2930

Baked Ahi Stuffed w/ Crab

Pan Seared Ahi w/ Furikake & Garlic Aioli

Fried Ahi Bones

Izakaya Torae Torae - CLOSED

They are located at the corner of Young and McCully Street. It's izakaya style and they have a lot of delicious food items on the menu. Their fish is very fresh and the chef at the sushi bar can oversee the whole place. I sat at the sushi bar and the chef would check from time to time to make sure everyone was doing okay. My favorites were the chu-toro, o-toro, ahi tataki, snow crab croquette, pork belly kakuni, and dashi tamago. The dashi tamago is not on the menu and you have to request for it when you make your reservation. It is not guaranteed that you'll get it because Chef Hide makes it himself and if it's a busy night, he will not be able to step away from the sushi bar.

The quality of their ingredients are excellent and the prices are very reasonable compared to other sushi places on the island. They opened a few weeks ago so it's BYOB. If you plan to have dinner here, I recommend making a reservation. They are limited on parking spaces so car pooling might be a good idea.

1111 McCully St
Honolulu, HI 96826
(808) 949-5959

Chu-toro

O-toro

Spicy Ahi Tartare

Ahi Tataki

Snow Crab & Corn Cream Croquette

Vegetable Tempura

Pork Belly Kakuni

White Dragon Roll

Dashimaki Tamago