Visit Maui: Oku's Sushi

My Maui foodie friend, Julie, mentioned that Oku's Sushi in Kihei was the place to go to satisfy my friend's sushi craving.

So we drove to Kihei and stepped into this inconspicuous eatery with a few tables and a sushi counter.

Veggie Dynamite

The Dynamites are a specialty, and even though I was stuffed from lunch, I had to give it a try.  I don't eat a lot of seafood, but luckily there was a Veggie Dynamite with just mushrooms and zucchini.  The Dynamite Sauce was delish - it reminded me of those broiled sushi bakes so popular throughout Hawaii.

Tamago Nigiri

Oku's Assorted Sushi Special

Oku's Assorted Sushi Special included 8 pieces nigiri and 1 piece tekka maki.  

Maguro Tataki

My friend had his sushi craving satisfied.  He really enjoyed the tataki, which he requested to-go since he was so full from the sushi, but there is no take-out (although you can "order when dining in and 'take home' any leftovers in a to-go-box" - like we did with the tataki).

Thank you, Julie, for the recommendation!

Oku's Sushi
1993 S Kihei Rd unit 17

Kihei, HI 96753

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Sushi Bay

I’ve heard people rave about Sushi Bay for ages — especially about their generous portions of fish and the fact that it’s always packed. I finally made it out there with the family, and honestly, the buzz is well‑deserved.

Even on a Monday afternoon, we waited about 15 minutes for a table. Not bad at all considering how busy the place stays. Once we were seated, the service was warm and friendly, and the sushi came out surprisingly fast. They take orders the old‑school way — through your server rather than tablets or conveyor belts — but somehow they’re still quicker than Genki Sushi.

And yes, the portions live up to the hype. Thick, fresh slices of fish that feel like a real treat, not the skimpy cuts you sometimes get elsewhere. Prices were another pleasant surprise. Our meal for four came out to around $80, which felt more than fair given how much we ate. I’m pretty sure the same spread would have cost noticeably more at other sushi spots.

If you’ve been curious about Sushi Bay or debating whether it’s worth the wait, I’d say go for it. Great value, great portions, and a genuinely enjoyable family meal. Highly recommend.

Tekka Maki

Chicken Karaage

Negi Toro and Spicy Tuna

Kake Udon

Agedashi

Salmon and Ahi Nigiri

Unagi

Spicy Tuna

California Roll

Shrimp Tempura

They are open from 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM daily. Last order for dine-in is at 5:00 PM, but you can still get items to-go until 6:00 PM.

SUSHI BAY

91-590 Farrington Highway

808-693-9922

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Ahi & Vegetable - Kapalama

 Some nights call for something quick, healthy-ish, and satisfying--and that's exactly how we ended up at Ahi & Vegetable. We were in Kalihi and I suggested it to my hubby as an easy dinner option. I ordered the ahi, salmon, cali, poke bento, while my hubby went with the chirashi. Both meals came with a bowl of miso soup. Is it the greatest sushi you'll ever have? No--but it's a great option when you're in the mood for sushi but don't want to break the bank. The portions are solid, the fish is fresh, and best of all, the food comes out fast. Simple, affordable.

AHI & VEGETABLE - KAPALAMA 

1210 DILLINGHAM BLVD.

808-458-4935

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Lunch Banquet at Natsunoya Tea House

This summer, we had the honor of celebrating an incredible milestone — the 70th wedding anniversary of my in-laws. To mark the occasion, we gathered family for a lunchtime celebration at Natsunoya Tea House, a hidden gem nestled in the hills of Honolulu that’s known for its warm hospitality and beautiful, traditional setting.

We reserved one of Natsunoya’s private banquet rooms for the event. Our party was one of several taking place that day, and it was impressive to see how the staff managed multiple private functions so seamlessly. Even with the full schedule, everything was well-organized, and the service was attentive and 5-star.

For our celebration, we chose Menu G — a generous, family-style spread. It featured:

• Bara Sushi and White Rice

  

  

• Oriental Salad

  

  
  

• Agedashi Tofu

  

• Shrimp & Vegetable Tempura

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Hibachi Chicken

  

• Tonkatsu

  

• Steamed Fish

  

• Nishime

  

• Potato Salad

  

The menu was very family-friendly and absolutely delicious. My personal favorites were the agedashi tofu, crispy tempura, and the perfectly cooked steamed fish — each dish was flavorful, fresh, and beautifully prepared.

For our gluten-free attendee, Natsunoya prepared a special gluten-free bento, ensuring that everyone could enjoy the meal without worry. 

With its combination of great food, attentive service, and classic local charm, I’d definitely love to return to Natsunoya for another family gathering in the future.

For more information on their banquets, catering, and sushi bar, visit their website.

NATSUNOYA TEA HOUSE

1935 MAKANANI DRIVE

808-595-4488

 

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Sushi Omakase at Amaterasu Sushi

Lobster, crab, and shrimp appetizer

In search of an intimate sushi omakase experience? Amaterasu’s omakase may just be for you. With only 7 seats at the sushi counter, you’ll be served a 15-course premium omakase dinner that includes appetizer, chawanmushi, age mono, 10 pieces of nigiri, toro taku hand roll, and miso soup. If that doesn’t fill you, you can order additional items from Chef Hideo.

Shima Aji

Katsuo

Saba

Engawa

Kisu tempura

Chef Hideo 

Chawan Mushi

Maguro

Hotate

Akagai

Otoro

Japanese Uni

Kauai Shrimp with uni garlic butter

Toro Taku Handroll

Miso Soup

I really enjoyed my sushi experience here and appreciated that it included classics like shima
aji, otoro and uni, but also offered saba and a most delicious Kauai shrimp nigiri topped with uni garlic butter.

Cost of the dinner is $150 per person and the 13-course lunch is $89. You can also opt for seating at the large table behind the sushi counter. Amaterasu is no longer

BYOB and charges a $35 corkage fee if you bring your own bottle.

Amaterasu Sushi

Ala Moana Shopping Center (near Barnes and Noble)

1450 Ala Moana Blvd.

Reservations on Open Table

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Visit Tokyo: Mawari-sushi Shibuya Sushitsune Shibuya Parco

After doing some shopping at the Nintendo and Pokemon stores in Shibuya Parco, we had dinner at Mawari-sushi Shibuya Sushitsune Shibuya Parco.  The tiny eatery offers sushi and more, and sends made-to-order foods on conveyor belts.

The tables are tiny so we had to split onto two tables.  One table was full of the sushi eaters, and the other table that I was on ordered mostly fried foods:

French Fries

Crab Cream Croquette

Deep Fried Squid Tentacles

Assorted Tempura

Deep Fried Chicken

Omelet Nigiri

Japanese Omelet

Although it was a lot of small dishes (we ordered double the Japanese Omelets, Omelet Nigiris, and Deep-Fried Chickens), we couldn't finish it all!

Faves were the Tempura, Japanese Omelet, and Deep Fried Chicken. 

Service was friendly and the food was great!

Mawari-sushi Shibuya Sushitsune Shibuya Parco
Japan, 〒150-0042 Tokyo

Shibuya City, Udagawacho, 15−1 渋谷パルコ B１

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