BINCHOTAN BAR & GRILL 1 North Kaniku Drive, Waimea, HI 96743

"During our recent stay on the Big Island we had the opportunity to dine twice at Binchotan.What a delight both times! We loved the causal yet elegant atmosphere. The food was really great and very different. We loved watching the staff and the teamwork they displayed. All the servers were very friendly and the manager Ben made a point to check in on us and make sure we were enjoying our dinner. I would definitely recommend dining here!"

"An amazing culinary experience! Romantic atmosphere with high-class food and service. Drink options are a bit slim, but the food absolutely makes up for it!"

"Very confused to the low rating. The food is DELICIOUS. The Robota were all great. The Salmon was cooked to perfection. Quite possibly the best salmon I've ever had (coming from a PNWestener). Moist with tons of flavour, the sauce in particular was almost worth licking the plate. Special mention to the Fungi and Ribeye Robota's as well. The sake was a great accompaniment to the meal. Prices were also fairly reasonable. Only thing I would change is the decor and ambiance. Music and vibe to match the Traditional Japanese influence would be a nice touch."

"The food and the service were excellent! The server made sure that our group had their margaritas and management was very accommodating of our big group! Food was on point and appetizers were filling. We went out with a group of 18 foodies to this restaurant and we were so amazed by the service! They made sure that we had proper seating and our group enjoyed the overall experience. Thank you so much to the staff and the chef for making a group of locals feel so welcomed!"

"I’m not going to lie, I’m very perplexed by the relatively mediocre rating of the restaurant. I always keep an open mind and I’m glad I did. My husband and I dined there this evening to celebrate our honeymoon and The food was spectacular. We ordered the Tuna Crispy Rice, chicken karaage, pork gyoza, crab and corn croquettes, hot rock wagyu beef and several delicious cocktails. The food was extremely well executed and was delicious beyond our expectations. Accompanying sauces really elevated the plates of food. Our server was great- friendly and informative. It took a little time for him to get to our table but he checked in and apologized for the wait. It’s clear they are short staffed and servers are doing the best they can to manage it. Once he got our food and drink orders in he was on his game and made sure we were well taken care of. The initial service was a bit slow, but everything else made up for it. Cocktails were delicious. The bar menu has an amazing chart of their drinks as far as light vs heavy/boozy, fruity vs sour and where each cocktail falls on that “roadmap”. This place is much better than the 3.6 I’m seeing at the time of my review. Be patient and check it out. You won’t be disappointed. I hope to go back before we move islands. PS: their breakfast buffet is amazing. You can find anything you want."