Tanto Gyoza and Ramen Bar

Tanto Gyoza and Ramen Bar has the best gyoza. Their gyoza are small but it's crispy on the outside and filled with pork and vegetables. They also have a special dipping sauces that go with it. For their ramen, I enjoyed the Tanto shoyu ramen since the broth had bolder flavor compared to the Tanto goma ramen. Their space is small but they have seating inside and outdoors. The staff is attentive and the food comes out quick. Their ramen is priced between $13 - $18. If you're not interested in ramen, they have rice bowls and a large selection of appetizers. 

They are located at Puck Alleys on the ground level inside the parking lot. It's across from the back entrance from Nijiya Market. They get busy during the peak dinner hour; 6pm - 7pm, so I recommend making reservations at least 1 day in advanced. The parking is Pucks Alley is free for the 1st hour, no validation is needed. 

For more information about Tanto Gyoza and Ramen Bar, visit tanto-hawaii.com. 

1035 University Ave., Ste 105
Honolulu, HI 96826
(808) 942-1000

Tanto Gyoza

Salmon Yuzu Carpaccio

Tanto Goma Ramen

Tanto Shoyu Ramen

Ramen Akatsuki - CLOSED

Ramen Akatsuki makes their own noodles daily at 11AM. Their broths are clear and very rich in flavor. I recommend the shio ramen. The shio ramen is great on its own and no lime juice or any of the other condiments (garlic, ramen pepper, vinegar) are needed. The shoyu ramen is also good but I added some garlic to that one and I liked it even more. The ramen comes in 2 sizes (regular and large) and I thought the regular portion was perfect. Since they're in Waikiki, the prices are a bit high. It's a few dollars more than what you pay for ramen outside of Waikiki. The service is excellent and the food comes out in 10-15 minutes. 

They are location inside STIX ASIA, formerly Waikiki Yokocho. You take the escalators down from Kalakaua Ave and walk to the back corner of Noodle Street. The shop is small but they have a nice seating area. I just do a walk in, no reservation, and so does everyone else who eats here. They are open for lunch and dinner. If you have more than 4 people in your group, you might need to wait for a table during peak lunch and dinner times. They accept cash and credit card. If you're a kama'aina, show the staff your ID for a discount.

STIX ASIA
2250 Kalākaua Ave., Lower Level 100-1
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 888-0011

Shio Ramen

Shoyu Ramen

Gyoza

Onoya Ramen

Onoya Ramen is located in Kapahulu. They are known for their tonkotsu ramen but they have other items on the menu like chicken karaage, katsu, takoyaki, and curry rice. My favorites are the shio ramen and the tonkotsu ramen. The shio is a light chicken broth and it's great for those rainy days. The tonkotsu is good if you like flavorful broths. It's rich but it goes well with the noodles and the charsiu. The ramen is priced between $15 to $18 which is reasonable. If you're just ordering ramen, your food will come out fast. This is one place where you can be in and out in 1 hour or less.

They accept reservations but I always just walk in because the wait is short. I recommend using Yelp to join the wait list before you start heading to the restaurant. Their parking lot is small and shared with Papa John's and the laundromat. Once the parking lot fills up, you have to look for street parking in the residential areas or park in the paid lot on Kapahulu Ave. next to Side Street Inn On Da Strip.

For more information about Onoya Ramen, visit onoyaramen.com. 

611 Kapahulu Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 425-4415

Assari Ramen

Shio Ramen

Shoyu Ramen

Tonkotsu Classic Ramen

Junpuu

Junpuu is known for their ramen. They open daily for lunch and dinner. The inside of the restaurant is small but their service the excellent. The staff come by frequently to make sure your water cups are filled and you're happy with your food. I enjoyed the garlic Tokyo tonkotsu ramen and the fresh potato chips with Himalayan sea salt. The ramen ranges from $10 to $12 a bowl and you also have the option of adding on extras like an ajitama egg.

They are located at the corner of S. King and Victoria Street on the ground floor of the Medical Arts Building. They don't accept reservations and the wait time is around 30 minutes if you come at the usually lunch or dinner times. I don't recommend coming with more than 4 people because of how the tables are set up. There is parking in the building and they will validate. The building parking is free after 5pm. An alternate parking option is street parking on Victoria or Young Street.


1010 S King St.
Ste 108
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 260-1901

Homemade Potato Chips

Gyoza

Miso Ramen w/ Ajitama Egg

Garlic Tokyo Tonkotsu Ramen w/ Ajitama Egg

Gomaichi Ramen - CLOSED

Gomaichi Ramen is known for their tan tan men. The ramen and other dishes like the ban ban ji chicken have always been consistently good over the years. They are located on Keeaumoku Street across from Walmart by Ala Moana Center. The portions are good and prices are reasonable. I usually come for lunch and I get seated right away. The food comes out quick.

This place is good for small groups. They have tables on the side that can seat up to 4 people and there is a counter in the middle. They don't offer any parking but there is street parking along Keeaumoku and Makaloa Streets.

For more information about Gomaichi Ramen, visit www.rikatorres.com/demo/gomaichi/index.html.

631 Keeaumoku St
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 951-6666

Ban Ban Ji Chicken

Gyoza

Sung Hon Men

Char Siu Shoyu Ramen

Menya Musashi Ramen

Menya Musashi Ramen is located near Ala Moana Center. They are known for their tsukemen and ramen. This has become one of my favorite places for tsukemen. The dipping broth is thick and it's not super oily. The noodles get coated nicely after each dip. They are generous with the kakuni (pork belly). The lean to fat ratio is perfect so you'll enjoy each bite along with your noodles. The noodles come in 4 sizes; regular, large, xl, and pounder. If you plan on sharing a tsukemen with your group, the pounder is a great option. The price range is about $10 - $15 so it's still reasonable. If you want a better bowl of ramen or tsukemen with flavorful broth, check this place out.

The shop entrance is small so you can miss it. If you're coming from Pensacola Street or Kapiolani Blvd, you'll see the Wedding Ring shop at the corner. On the next block of Pensacola Street, you'll see the Discount Store and Menya Musashi Ramen is next to it. There are parking spaces in front of the shop and some street parking. The inside of the shop is big and its interior is samurai themed. The kitchen is in the back and you can see the cooks preparing your meal as you wait. If you're coming with more than 4 people, I recommend making reservations.

560 Pensacola St
Ste 105
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 589-0634

Kakuni Bao

Super Musashi Style (ramen)

Nitoryu Musashi Style (tsukemen)

Hale Ohuna - CLOSED

Hale Ohuna is Chef Lee Ann Wong's new venture and is located in Kaimuki at the former location of SALT. There are more drinks on their menu than food. If you love sake, this is a good place for you. For food, their specialty is noodles but there is a twist to all the dishes. It's not your average plate of cold noodle or bowl of ramen with shio, shoyu, or miso broth. They use a lot of vegetables in their dishes, which is really good because it made me feel like I was eating healthy. I recommend trying a few dishes on their nightly specials menu and a few from their regular menu. The cold soba with pumpkin dashi was a daring dish for me because I don't like pumpkin in the form of broth but it ended up tasting really good and it was a light dish so I could eat more of the other food. You probably won't see most of these dishes anywhere else on the island so it is worth checking out. Just keep an open mind and be willing to try new things when you eat here. They are only open for dinner and reservations are recommended since the restaurant is small. The interior is the restaurant is very nice and their menus are well designed too. 

The prices are reasonable but they have a few items over $20 and if you go with a group and split the cost, it's not bad. For parking, if you get lucky, you might be able to find a space on Waialae Ave, 12th Ave, or Koko Head Ave and walk over. If not, there's a metered parking lot behind the restaurant and a paid lot on 12th Ave and Waialae Ave.

For more information about Hale Ohuna, visit www.haleohuna.com.

3605 Waialae Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96821
(808)744-7567

Rice Crusted Salmon Cakes

Lomi Toast w/ Tartare

Cold Soba w/ Pumpkin Dashi

Bacon Leek Ramen

Annin Tofu

Manichi Ramen

Manichi Ramen is located across the Ala Moana Shopping Center. Their ramen comes in a tonkotsu (pork bone) broth but you can also have it mixed with black garlic oil or spicy miso. I recommend getting special #1 or special #2. For special #3, I didn't taste the ebi (shrimp) flavor and the ebi were very small. The ramen tasted good but the broth was too oily. After finishing my noodles, the thin film of oil thickened really quick. The ramen prices range from $10 - $14 which is a bit on the pricey side.

If you go during peak dinner time (6pm-7:30pm) you might end up having to wait 15-20 minutes for a table. They have a clipboard hanging at the front where you can write your name. There is a shared parking lot where you can enter from Kapiolani Blvd or Kona St. The parking spaces are tight.

1430 Kona St
Ste 101
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 943-1430

They also have another location inside the Windward Mall Food Court.
46-056 Kamehameha Hwy
Kaneohe, HI 96744
(808) 235-7670 

Negi Negi Gyoza

Manichi Special Tonkotsu-Shibori (Special #1)

Manichi Special Miso Tonkotsu-Shibori (Special #2)

Slurp - CLOSED

Slurp is a pop up ramen at Vino restaurant in Restaurant Row. They are open Monday to Friday from 11am - 2pm. Slurp's menu is mainly ramen but they also have appetizers. In the specialty ramen section, you'll find the truffle crab ramen that is served at Sansei restaurant. This is also the most expensive item on their menu. The classic ramens are under $10 and the appetizers are under $6 so it's still very reasonable for lunch.

The taste in some of the food was inconsistent. Most of the items I ate were bland and needed more salt. They are new and the waiter did mentioned that they are still modifying the menu. I do plan on coming back because the truffle crab ramen was delicious. I recommend getting it if it's your first time. They accept credit cards and they will validate your parking ticket.

500 Ala Moana Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 524-8466

Gyoza

Chicken Yakitori

Pork Belly Hoisin Bun

Chinatown Duck Ramen w/ 7-minute egg

Crab Ramen

Agu Ramen - CLOSED

They are located across from the Old Stadium Park in Mo'ili'ili. Their broths for the ramen are very good. They also have the level 5 spicy ramen which my friends enjoy. The spice level is really inconsistent though. Sometimes your mouth will burn and sometimes you'll be fine. For first timers, I recommend getting the kotteri tonkotsu. You can skip the gyoza and use that money for extra ramen toppings or the small dishes instead. The ground pork for their gyoza is mushy.

The interior of the restaurant is small and I don't recommend going with a big group. When you get to the restaurant, remember to sign in and then step outside to wait. They don't take reservations and they are really busy. They have a big parking lot in the back and 4 parking stalls in front of the restaurant which are usually taken.

For more information about Agu Ramen, visit www.aguramen.com.

925 Isenberg St
Honolulu, HI 96826
(808) 492-1637

Agu Gyoza

Piri Kara Menma

Kotteri Tonkotsu

Spicy Kotteri Tonkotsu (level 2)

Shoyu Tonkotsu

Shio Tonkotsu

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

There has been a lot of new ramen shops opening up lately. This one is located in the Kaheka area by Don Quijote. Their specialty is the toroniku ramen. It's a bowl of ramen that comes with pork cheek, jelly ear, bamboo shoots, and ume on the side. You can pour all your toppings into the bowl or you can eat off the plate after every bite of ramen like me. They don't teach you how to eat it and this place isn't like a sushi restaurant where the chef will yell at you for dipping sushi in shoyu.

The interior of the shop is small and their biggest table will only seat 4. They have counter seats that let you see into the kitchen. The prices are a bit high but I loved the taste of the broth and the pork cheek that melted in my mouth. They get really busy during the normal lunch and dinner hours. Your wait could be anywhere from 30-45 minutes and they don't take reservations. When you arrive, just get your name on the clipboard and sit on the benches outside to wait.

For more information about Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, visit santouka.co.jp/en/index.html

801 Kaheka St #A-8
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 941-1101

Toroniku Shio Ramen

Shoyu Ramen

Gyoza

Ramen Nakamura

They are located in the heart of Waikiki across from the Bank of Hawaii Waikiki Center. If you're walking or driving down Kalakaua Ave between 7pm-9pm, you'll probably see a line coming out the door for this place. They are know for their ox tail ramen. The ox tail is simmered for hours so the meat falls off the bone. You can up your order to the combo and it will come with a side of fried rice and gyoza.

I recommend going late in the evening like around 9pm. If you go too early, the ox tail meat won't be as soft and it doesn't fall of the bone. The line may seem long but it moves very fast. If you prefer not to wait, you can order take out. They offer a kama'aina discount if you show your ID at the time you order. If you show your ID after the bill comes, the waitress will not honor it. The waitress runs the front of the house and she has a system of how everything is done. If you break her system, she will not be happy. They only accept cash.

2141 Kalakaua Ave
Ste 1
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 922-7960

Ox Tail Ramen

Gyoza

Fried Rice

Spicy Ramen

Lucky Belly

There is finally a place in downtown that serves ramen. They are located at the corner of Hotel and Smith Street, next to Downbeat Diner. If you're coming here for lunch on a weekday, I recommend coming at 11AM. If you come after 12PM, expect to wait 20-30 minutes for a table because this restaurant gets really busy. Another option is you can come in 2's and you'll get seated much faster. They have a row of tables in the back that's set up for two.

Their menu is still small but I'm sure when they receive their liquor license, they'll have a full menu. I wanted to try the duck lumpia but they were sold out so I got the pork belly bao. I thought the bao was okay. It didn't "wow" me. The shrimp gyoza was good and it's worth trying. If you're craving ramen, you should get the belly bowl because the pork belly and smoked bacon is cooked in-house and it's very good. I'm planning on making another trip down here someday and hopefully they'll have the duck lumpia.

50 N. Hotel St
Honolulu, HI 96817

Shrimp Gyoza

Pork Belly Bao

Lucky Bowl

Belly Bowl

Jasmine Limeade

Duck Lumpia

BLT

Shrimp Tempura Mushu