Izakaya Nonbei

Went here the other night for a late dinner. I believe we got there around 8/​9pm.
We ordered many items:
Salmon Sashimi, very fresh and delicious, presentation was beautiful.
Raw Tako, don’t remember what it was actually called, but it was amazing. It can in a little tea cup and had great texture and taste.
Fried Hamachi Kama and tako, just the right amount of seasoning
Kake Soba, perfectly cooked noodles
Fried Konbu, very yummy to pick at
Agedashi Eggplant, not sure if that’s what it was called but it was yummy and reminded me of agedashi tofu.
Ahi poke, very nice cuts of fish.
Crab avocado salad, very yummy dressing
Potato Pork Crochet, very crispy and the inside potato was perfectly mushy
The inside was well a/c’d and cute and small. The service was fast and friendly.
I’m defiantly going to be back!

The food was excellent, the poor girls serving us were very friendly but definitely needed some help. A couple of items were forgotten, and eventually brought out after reminders. They were getting slammed. 1 – 2 more servers would have definitely done the trick. I will go definitely go back though and shoot for an off night when it’s not so crowded.

Second time here and it’s still awesome.
The whole fried fish is delicious and the sashimi is fresh and plentiful. We had a nice table in the middle of the restaurant that was comfortable. The frozen sake and beers were flowing, and everyone was happy.
The food was as good as I remember about 10 years ago. I’m glad that it’s still around. I hope that we get to go back there again in a few more years when we head back to Oahu.

Food, drinks, and friends this is what an izakaya is meant for! It has become tradition when my friends are back from the mainland that we will all try to get together at least once and have some food drinks at this awesome little spot.
The food is always on point and if the fish was any fresher it would flop around on the table! They have nightly specials depending on what type of fish they have gotten in. Recently when we went they had Fried Nabeta which was extremely flaky yet juicy and tender.
Wafu steak is a must for anyone who loves garlic and steak! Grilled to perfection, covered in a garlic sauce and topped with garlic chips you can’t go wrong with this one. (My girlfriend didn’t care for the sauce since she doesn’t like garlic, omg!)
Spicy ahi roll is another good choice for anyone who likes fresh fish and a little spice. My girlfriend ordered the Dragon roll which was a California roll topped with Unagi (eel) that was pretty tasty as well.
Don’t forget the ice cold japanese beers! Oh and the sake too!!! Try the «frozen sake» they pour it at the table and it turns slushy instantly, cool show and good flavor as well.
The parking situation is a little hit or miss, the lot is small with about 10 stalls and can be a little tricky to get in and out of. The interior is authentic looking with a sushi bar and both tables and seating where your legs go under the floor.
Can’t wait till my next visit to Nonbei, might have to go before my friends come back (shhhhhhhs don’t tell them and maybe I’ll split an order of the Wafu steak with you ;)! Heh)

The food here is flawless. Every time I come here I leave with a happy tummy. Traditional Japanese food perfect for family dinners or party nights. They have a back area that has beautiful cherry blossoms on the walls. The prettiest backdrop for pictures.
I suggest making a reservation because I see them turn down walk ins a few times due to later reservations. We also enjoy sharing dishes so everyone gets to try a little bit of everything!
My family and I come here a lot for family dinner and we are always interested in trying new things. Everything we’ve tried thus far has tasted amazing!

Cyndy’s Bottom Line: Good izakaya
3.50 stars for food.
Cyndy’s tip: Über or drive a mini car because the parking lot is tiny.
This is what we ate/​drank:
Otokoyama sake –good sized bottle for sharing.
*Wafu steak — love this steak. The garlic sauce is yummy delicious!
*Misoyaki Butterfish — delicious and grilled well.
*Maguro Mori sashimi — nice assortment.
*Tori karaage chicken — perfectly fried and enjoyed the lemon wedge.

Izakaya !! Happily I got there early and I was able to partake in their happy hour (5 – 6 pm). The happy hour list isn’t vast but surely does have some of their signature dishes. The menu is very expansive and there are so many delicious options. My suggestion: order several dishes and share! Their steak, kakuni and sushi were amazing! I’m def heading back there for my Izakaya fix!

Dined here tonight .and satisfied by cravings for my favorite sushi. See pictures. The service fast and spot on! The staff so friendly and efficient !!
Love this place … Living on Kauai. I get to satisfied my cravings one or twice a year! Always look forward to eating all my favorites.
Will be back next year for sure!!!

Pretty good quality food and sushi. On the smaller side and recommend reservations for dinner. Seen their happy hour menu and looks decent. It’s. Not 5 starts because of the small portion size and pricey menu. But good food and pretty authentic setting.

We went on a Sunday at 5pm and were the first people there. Since we went early, we got seats and were helped right away. The restaurant quickly filled up around 6pm. The service was excellent and the waiters, waitresses and owner were very kind and helpful! It’s a bit pricey but the food was excellent. Small portions but that’s what you can expect from izakaya places. Great service and great food. Thank you, Izakaya Nonbei! :)

Was good. A bit loud and costly, but I’m still a fan

Back when I used to live in Kapahulu, I used to come here all the time. It was always on the pricey side, but the ambiance and the food were well-​worth the price. I can still remember, the immense feeling of pure and utter disappointment and depression when I walked in one night to see that the long counter top was gone, having been replaced with a television broadcasting sports and a fluorescent lit sushi bar – there were new owners.
The entire staff had been replaced, the friendly baba who always used to make conversations with us and recommend the best seasonal items was gone. The old mama-​san who always glared with a concerned and watchful eye, gone. At least some of the menu items stayed the same, and a few of them are worth coming in for despite the cataclysmic change that was wrought onto this establishment which I would have once given 5 stars with absolutely no reservation.
If you come here, you definitely need to get the steak. It comes covered in a buttery garlic sauce and an assortment of vegetables on a sizzling hot iron plate. If you aren’t feeling anything particularly Japanese, just come in and eat one or two of these things. The meat is super flavorful and almost melts, not like a Kobe level, but still pretty good. The chicken karaage here is also good. It comes seasoned with a slight yuzu citrus flavor that helps to make it taste bright. Another good dish is the Nasu Kinoko Itame, eggplant and mushrooms simmered in a buttery sauce.
The sushi is hit or miss. The toro wasn’t really up to par, especially for the price. If you look at the pictures, what we were served barely looked like toro. The best sushi item was definitely their uni.

It’s been awhile since our last visit… unfortunately it wasn’t as good as I remembered.
Traffic was bad going towards Waikiki, so we decided to go the other way. As we were passing Nonbei, we noticed there was parking so we circled around and decided to have dinner here.
We ordered the spicy ahi roll, cali roll, chicken, fried flounder and a pitcher of Asahi. The food was ok, but the flounder wasn’t as good. Maybe this fish was on the bigger side or it wasn’t fried long enough, but you couldn’t really eat the bones which is what I really enjoyed the last time.
Service was a little slow, we ordered butterfish that we never got, which turned out to be a good thing because we ordered a second pitcher of Asahi and were stuffed.
A little disappointed after this visit. But definitely one of the better izakayas around.

This is kind of a hidden gem — we heard about it from some locals who raved. So it’s a small place off the beaten track and you slide open the tatami door right into the dining room. We weren’t even sure we were going in the right way but looking around, there was no other door so we went in. The menu is big and includes a wide array of hot and cold items, meat and fish, cooked and raw. It’s a bit daunting to non-​Japanese but the menu is helpful in that the chef’s specialties are highlighted and there are some specials. Hint — get the specials!
Service was helpful, friendly and quick — almost too quick. The food came fast and furious and trying to get our bearings and savor each new dish was challenging given the rapidity that the items were being brought to us.
We had some amazingly good food. The dishes here are small plates, meant to be shared so we ordered a lot of items. Of the specials, the standout was an A5 Wagyu ribeye, 12 oz, cooked to order, sliced, and served on a sizzling hot plate. If you ever get the chance to taste an A5 Wagyu ribeye, DO IT! OMG it melts in your mouth. There was also a fried hamachi head — this is a fish head that is pressure cooked and then deep fried — the entire thing becomes edible, even the bones — it’s a crispy fishy yummy thing. Another highlight was the eggplant and mushrooms in butter sauce — who knew that something so simple could taste so rich? Our sashimi platter (chef’s selection A) was beautiful and the fish was pristine — oh so much goodness!
Some other items were not as successful — the fried fresh day boat scallops from Japan were disappointing as was the fried tofu. My table mates said the crab and avocado salad was delicious but alas it was devoured before I could eat any! Braised pork belly was just ok — I feel like I’ve had this much better elsewhere.
Desserts — well, who goes to Japanese restaurant for that anyhow.
As for drink service, for an Izakaya, it seems the selection is a bit lean, but I did try a frozen sake — this is a cold sake they pour into a super-​chilled glass and becomes frozen like a slushy. You must drink it right away in a little shot glass or otherwise it becomes just cold sake. Anyhow it’s pretty good, worth trying.

Izakaya Nonbei is one of my favorite Izakayas on Oahu. Some of my favorite items are the miso butterfish (I’d say it’s one the best in Honolulu), Unagi appetizer (big portion, flavorful, perfectly grilled), Nasu Kinoko (eggplant & mushrooms in a buttery sauce) and Hamachi Kama (perfectly grilled and seasoned, and moist on the interior but crispy on the exterior). We tried their uni and sake nigiri, which were very fresh & tasty. Prices are moderate to high, depending on the item. They have daily specials too.
Their famous frozen sake is not on the drink menu any longer but available upon request, which we had. It was good & potent. I tried the sparkling peach sake jello which was pretty good too. Service is normally friendly & prompt.
Make sure you call for a reservation since it’s a very small restaurant. Parking lot in the front is small (probably fits 8 – 10 cars). There’s limited street parking available. I’ve parked at the Safeway lot in the past when parking wasn’t available.

Parking: private lot
The cost: $ 40/​person
The food: sashimi platter C, grilled Tanshio, kakuni, fried flounder, soft shell crab, salmon misubi, chawanmushi, tako wasa, geoduck, nasu no kinoko itame, zenzai
Reservations: isn’t too bad even on weekends, if you’re looking for a place but don’t have reservations try calling ahead
Located pretty inconspicuously off of Kapahulu is this izakaya place. There’s a small parking lot up front. The entrance way is a sliding door. The interior has japanese accents with floor, table, and sushi bar seating. There’s a full-​on sushi bar so you know the fish will be good here as well. We started with some sake and beer. The servers offer excellent suggestions. I think the best things on the menu here are the tanshio, fried flounder, and geoduck. I found the kakuni a little dry, and I’ve had better chawanmushi at Genki. The eggplant and mushroom dish is good because it is very buttery. The zenzai is a good way to end your meal with a warm dessert. Alternatively, you can add azuki beans or mochi on top of your ice cream of shave ice dessert.
Overall, a very nice izakaya restaurant offering solid choices. Come for the geoduck, flounder, and tanshio. Fish is fresh and everything is made with care. Also, a good option if you’ve found that most places are full on a saturday night as this place tends to have some seating.

Called them and got a same day reservation! They were very accommodating and that is a definite plus! First, the establishment. It is rather small, with just a few tables inside. You wouldn’t have known this gem was here, considering it is off of the main road and tucked away in a semi-​residential area. The parking situation is not too great. Maybe a tight 10 car lot. Good luck finding street parking! The restaurant itself is clean, well-​lit. The staff was very friendly.
Let’s get to the food. I ordered the Spicy Hamachi Roll, Spicy Ahi Roll, Gyu Tataki, the liver plate (which I can’t seem to remember the name of right now), and of course a sake sampler. Everything was wonderful, but the Gyu Tataki and the Spicy Ahi Roll stole the show. It was a flavor burst in my mouth! The garlic chips with the Yuzu dressing was a match made in heaven!
The disappointment: the liver plate I can’t remember the name of. I expected more, I guess since it is a Yakitori. And when I think Yakitori, I think LIVER. It was not memorable. That’s probably why I can’t remember the name of the dish.
I do recommend coming here! Make a reservation cause it can get pretty packed!

We enjoy taking out of town visitors, friends, and family to Nonbei. The owner is genuine and the atmosphere is quaint. I like sitting at the tables in the back where you take off your shoes and look at the cherry blossoms painted on the walls.
Everything is great here but my favs are the fried flounder, kurobuta pork, and their specials (tonight we had wagyu steak that melted in your mouth and hamachi salmon). I always like to eat dessert and the have a refreshing strawberry dream dessert that tastes like guri-​giri in shave ice form. Yumm…

Tasty food and reasonable prices. I hadn’t been to Nonbei in years and recently went back with a group of 8 friends. We ordered an array of food and a bottle of sake. The sushi, and sashimi was fresh and cut nice and thick. The fried food was not too oily and again, everything was full of flavor!
Know that parking can sometimes be a hassle, and that its a small typical izakaya, so there maybe a wait, otherwise make reservations in advance.

Had diner at Izakaya Nonbei the other night… he parking lot is small, but fortunately we were ale to find a parking space. As you enter the restaurant they greet you with the traditional «Irrashaimase». The décor is charming… feels like you are entering a restaurant in a little village.
EXCELLENT o-​toro! The people there are really nice and helpful with the menu. they offer many interesting dishes… their specialties include a marinated fried chicken, avocado crab salad and my favorite is the deep fried flounder… the fried fish is good, but the best part are the crispy fried bones!
We also had the garlic clams which I found a little burny. I’m guessing they grate the raw garlic on the clams… I prefer the garlic cooked.
All in all, it was good, but my favorite is still Imana Tei.