Yanagi Sushi 762 Kapiolani Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96813

"I messaged my Oahu Yelp friend, Fran C., and asked where his favorite Japanese restaurant on the rock was, which is how we ended up here. Great recommendation, BTW. Mahalo! PARKING: I thought we'd have no problem finding parking at opening time of 5:30pm but I was wrong. The tiny lot was packed. But not to worry as they have complimentary valet parking. The attendant will meet you. ATMOSPHERE: It's a cozy but bustling space with two sushi bars and tables & booths in every available nook and cranny. The walls were covered with food pictures and tons of personal photos of people I didn't recognize. Posted signs reminded you of a 2-hour dining limit. MENU: Extensive offerings of everything including sake, shochu, wine & beer, sushi, Japanese apps, entrees, combo dinners and desserts. BEVERAGE: Decoy Sauvignon Blanc - $9.95 Aside from the icky lipstick on the plastic wine glass, it was a mild but decent SB. Thankfully my spouse had saniwipes. FOOD: Appetizer - On the house Instead of bread you get a minuscule ramekin of soy beans, bean sprouts, single head-on shrimp, cabbage and ginger. Nice and light. Nabeyaki Udon - $21.50 I have yet to find a version that can top the benchmark found at Ichiban Restaurant on Maui. For me, it's all about the broth as udon is udon. The flavoring, while on the savory side was extremely subtle. Adding a swish of shoyu didn't help much. But, there were positives including the poached egg, chunks of chicken, crispy shrimp tempura, kamaboko and generous amount of won bok cabbage. Yanagi Special Combination Dinner - $41.00 (3 choices) My spouse's dish in which he chose the Shrimp & Vegetable Tempura, Mini N.Y. Steak Teriyaki (U.S. Choice +$2) and Spicy Tuna Roll. Wow, what a huge meal! The tempura consisted of two shrimp, two green beans, two carrots and two pumpkin pieces. The mini steak was a sizable guesstimate of 8-ounces or so with the sushi boasting 8-pieces. Don't forget about the included green salad, miso soup and scoop of ice cream too. Sheesh. He really liked his meal. Alaskan King Crab California - $24.00 Not only do you get real crab meat but the roll is even rolled in tobiko, producing a vibrant orange crust that literally popped with every chew. RESERVATIONS: Let's just say it's required as walk-in's that were behind us were turned away. Phone-in the old school way. SERVICE: Everyone was friendly but there was no follow-up throughout the meal. Food delivery was quick. OVERALL: Traditional fare with generous portions and competitive pricing."

"Great food, great experience. Other than sushi, my personal favorite here are udon and steamed egg. They are freshly made unlike a lot of other famous “udon places”. It is just so different when you have the noodles and soup and even bowl hot."

"We enjoyed lunch here. Parking fronting restaurant is valet. Or you can street park depending on time of day. Menu is extensive and sushi are good ! It’s also very affordable. Atmosphere is casual and a little older but it retains the Japanese style ambiance. Service was excellent."