5 Best Places to Get Tonkatsu in Honolulu
Honolulu is home to many excellent Japanese restaurants, many of which serve the dish Tonkatsu. However, some restaurants go above and beyond when making this dish. So, which places have the best Tonkatsu in Honolulu?
The best places to get Tonkatsu in Honolulu are Tonkatsu Tamafuji and Nana Ai Katsu. Both of these restaurants offer delicious versions of the traditional Japanese Tonkatsu dish. The pricing is also reasonable, considering the fantastic food and exceptional customer service.
In the rest of this article, I will discuss the top establishments to get quality Tonkatsu and other unique dishes they serve. So if you want to learn more about finding the best Tonkatsu in Honolulu, read on.
1. Tonkatsu Tamafuji
| Hours of Operation | Open 6 Days a Week, Closed on Tuesdays. On Mon, Wed, Thurs, and Fri, from 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM. On Weekends (Sat and Sun), from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM & 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM. |
| Price Rating | 2/5 |
| Reservation | Not Required |
| Service Options | Dine-in Available | Takeaway Available | Delivery Not Available |
| Address | 449 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815 |
| Phone Number | (808) 922-1212 |
| Menu | Tonkatsu Tamafuji’s Menu |
| Website | https://tamafuji-us.com/ |
| Social | Tonkatsu Tamafuji’s on Facebook. Tonkatsu Tamafuji’s on Instagram. |
One of the absolute best Tonkatsu restaurants is Tamafuji. This fantastic restaurant offers authentic Japanese cuisine, including delicious Tonkatsu. The techniques used to create these amazing meals have been passed down for generations to ensure the most authentic tastes.
Most of the food is Tonkatsu related, including the fantastic Pork Tenderloin Katsu sandwich. The crispy Tonkatsu is nestled snugly between two slices of fluffy bread with a sweet sauce. Additionally, all Tonkatsu panko breading is made in-house using quality bread. The restaurant prides itself on creating fresh food daily that its customers will love.
Patrons’ favorite dishes include:
- Aged pork loin.
- Oyster katsu.
- Sando sandwiches.
- Clam miso soup.
As for drinks, Tamafuji offers a variety of beers, cocktails, and Sake. Tamafuji also offers non-alcoholic drinks like sodas and teas. However, their Sake and unique cocktails come highly recommended.
Tamafuji is located in the downtown area of Honolulu, right next to the Ala Wai Golf Course. It’s also close to many shops and spas, which are fun to visit after a fantastic meal at Tamafuji.
2. Nana Ai Katsu
| Hours of Operation | Open Tuesday to Sunday, Closed on Mondays On Tue and Wed, from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM & 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM On Thurs, Fri, and Sat, from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM & 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM On Sundays, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
| Price Rating | 2/5 |
| Reservation | Not Required |
| Service Options | No Dine-in | Takeaway available | Delivery available |
| Address | 3585 Waialae Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816 |
| Phone Number | (808) 772-0146 |
| Menu | Nana Ai Katsu’s Menu |
| Website | https://www.nanaaikatsu.com/ |
| Social | Nana Ai Katsu on Instagram |
Another fantastic option for great Tonkatsu in Honolulu is Nana Ai Katsu. Though this restaurant is relatively new, opening in 2020, they have had no problem making a name for themselves. This great family-owned shop does a beautiful job of creating delicious recipes everyone can enjoy. These recipes include a fantastic Tonkatsu.
Nana Ai Katsu serves fabulous dishes like:
- Kurobuta Kasane Tonkatsu Bento Box.
- Spam Katsu Musubis.
- Takoyaki Katsu Boat.
- Giga Ebi Katsu Burger.
- Ramen Katsu Okonomiyaki.
- Uzumaki Shiso Katsu Roll.
The restaurant offers a unique perspective on Tonkatsu alone, including some unique recipes everyone will enjoy. However, they also provide basic Tonkatsu if you’re in the mood. Each recipe is created by the owners and tested before being added to their menu.
Nana Ai offers basic drinks like soda and water. However, the real star of the show is the food served at this establishment.
This restaurant’s location is excellent since it’s central to most things in the city. Plus, it’s close to the community park and great if you have a sweet tooth after your meal.
3. Golden Pork Tonkotsu Ramen Bar
| Hours of Operation | Open 7 days a Week, from 11:30 AM – 2:45 PM & 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM |
| Price Rating | 2/5 |
| Reservation | Not Required |
| Service Options | Dine-in available | Takeaway Available | No-Contact Delivery Available |
| Address | 1279 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96814 |
| Phone Number | (808) 888-5358 |
| Menu | Golden Pork Tonkotsu Ramen Bar Menu |
| Website | https://golden-pork-tonkotsu-ramen-bar.site |
| Social | Connect on Facebook. Connect on Instagram. |
Golden Pork Tonkotsu Ramen Bar is a fantastic option if you like Tonkatszu and good ramen. This Japanese restaurant specializes in Tonkotsu ramen. This ramen broth is created about 24 hours in advance to ensure maximum flavor.
However, the restaurant also serves a wide variety of other tasty dishes like:
- Chicken Karaage.
- Golden pork buns.
- Gyoza.
- Several types of ramen.
Drink-wise, you can choose from a beverage from their cold drink section. Typically they serve several types of sodas, beer, or other tasty drinks.
This unique Tonkotsu ramen bar is located right in the heart of Honolulu near many shops and dessert joints, making it an ideal stop for dinner on your trip.
4. Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro
| Hours of Operation | Open 7 Days a Week, from 11:00 AM to 8:30 PM |
| Price Rating | 3/5 |
| Reservation | Recommend |
| Service Options | Dine-in available | Kerbside pickup available | Delivery available |
| Address | 255 Beach Walk, Honolulu, HI 96815 |
| Phone Number | (808) 926-8082 |
| Menu | Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro Menu |
| Website | https://www.ginzabairinhawaii.com/ |
| Social | Connect on Facebook. Connect on Instagram. |
You definitely should try Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro during your time in Honolulu. This restaurant prides itself on providing authentic Japanese cuisine to all of its customers. Additionally, the food is delicious, and the restaurant offers a wide variety of delicious cuisine.
When eating at this Japanese bistro, you can choose from dishes like:
- Kurobuta Pork Loin Katsu.
- Pork Tenderloin Katsu with Curry Rice.
- Chicken Katsu.
- Seafood Mixed Katsu with Shrimp.
- Pork Tenderloin Katsu Sandwich.
The restaurant also offers other traditional Japanese sides that you can order to accompany your meal. The best sides and appetizers include fried oysters, miso soup, and poke.
All the food is stunning, including their Japanese omelet. Additionally, the bistro offers standard restaurant drinks like water, soda, beer, and other alcoholic beverages.
Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro is located near many popular hotels and is only a short drive from the beach. Also, along the street of the restaurant are many different shops perfect for tourists to enjoy.
5. Rokkaku Hamakatsu
| Hours of Operation | Open 7 days a Week, 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM |
| Price Rating | 3.5/5 |
| Reservation | Recommend |
| Service Options | Dine-in available | Takeaway available | Delivery available |
| Address | 1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Ste 2056, Honolulu, HI 96814 |
| Phone Number | (808) 946-3355 |
| Menu | Rokkaku Hamakatsu Menu |
| Social | Rokkaku Hamakatsu on Facebook. Rokkaku Hamakatsu on Instagram. |
Finally, there is Rokkaku Hamakatsu. This restaurant is a fantastic option if you enjoy Tonkatsu and Japanese cuisine. Hamakatsu does a fantastic job creating an aesthetically pleasing environment and excellent food.
All the food at Rokkaku is delicious, and they pride themselves on the vast array of cuisine they have on their menu. You can choose from yummy dishes like:
- Authentic ramen
- Nagasaki
- Donburi
- Katsu
- Curry
- Udon
This list is a few of the delicious foods on the menu. You can also choose from an assortment of sides and sweet treats. As for drinks, they like to keep it simple with cold sodas and water.
Rokkaku Hamakatsu is located near Ala Moana Regional Park. It’s also surrounded by several stores and other delicious Asian restaurants.
