Japanese BBQ Yoshi

Better late than never…
Experienced Yoshi for the first time a couple weeks ago…
Yearn to go back each day since.
We were a party four so ordered one set (sorry, forget which one exactly, but I think it cost $ 170) and a couple other additional meat items (pork joules and fried intestines). Had to try some of the more exotic offerings right?!
So the service was excellent! Didn’t hurt that the couple we went with are pretty much regulars.
The food was indeed scrumptious, from sides to mains. Everything prepared well, and more importantly melt in the mouth delicious.
Oh how I wish we could afford to go there weekly… Maybe one day when I grow up.
It leaves me torn… I can’t afford to eat like this, but I can’t afford not to either.

Wagyu is why we came here. At the end of our meal we were in Wagyu shock! Very attentive service from all the servers. We ordered Wagyu from Japan Set A for two and side orders of crispy belly and tofu. The tofu was super fresh. The sets have more than enough food that could feed four people. The Wagyu was served so fresh, cut to order, and three different plates of Wagyu included in the set ordered. The noodles were chewy and tasty. Dessert was ok. Our tables tried the mango and strawberry mochi, green tea, and vanilla ice cream. On Sunday and Monday evenings its BYOB with $ 1 corkage fee. Happy Hour $ 32 sets from 5:00 — 6:00pm and after 8:30pm. Parking is in a tiny lot, street parking, or park across in the parking garage and they will validate. They also offer punch card here with free Wagyu items on your return visits. Reservations highly recommended.

Hawaii’s best yakiniku.
That’s 焼肉. Not KBBQ (gogi jip).
Caution, beef lovers, you may experience multiple orgasms as you first gaze upon the beautiful, lustrous, pink meat and again as you deliver it greedily into your yearning mouth.
Before continuing, remember, despite it’s cost and caliber of ingredients, yakiniku is supposed to be fun. Dropping meat and splashing your sauce or frantically trying to flip a piece of stuck beef and elbowing your bud in the face is part of the experience.
Recommendation: Two set menus for two (Japanese Wagyu ($ 170) and Snake River Farms US Wagyu (140)). PASS. Build your own tasting. Ordering in flights. Start with a salad (pretend to be healthy). Move to mild cuts best eaten rare before yakiniku lovers cuts with more flavor and better with more cooking. Finish with beefy tongue and pork belly. Always have kimchee at the ready to refresh the palate between bites.
Quality and freshness of all dishes near flawless. From veg and kimchee to beef and pork. As for the beef, Japanese Wagyu is correctly graded with very bright fat. No claim is made on the brand. Regardless, plenty good.
Good selection of Japanese yakiniku cuts. Japanese wagyu cuts 3.5 — 4 ounces per order. From most flavorful to sweetest and most tender:
1. Knuckle or Tomo-​sankaku (tri tip) — chewier texture (for wagyu) with the best beef flavor becoming more complex as the fat cooks.
2. Chuck Tender — Denser than the short rib with meaty flavor and minor sweetness. Better complexity as the fat cooks.
3. «Lifter Cap Kalbi» (flat iron) — Dense. Good beef flavor with gentle sweetness. Better complexity as fat cooks.
4. Rib Cap — Tender, with balanced beef flavor and sweetness.
5. Rib Eye — Very Tender with good balance of fat to meat. Clean, sweet beef flavor that is lost if overcooked.
6. Short Rib — Butter. More fat than meat. Outstanding sweetness. Viscous, melting fat best enjoyed seared. Thanks to the extreme richness, very difficult to eat much of this cut.
Cuts are offered lightly marinated or naked (you apply your own salt).
As to the egg and yamaimo dipping sauce. Sorry, I don’t get this. Hardly seems necessary to increase the velvety mouth feel of the beef unless you’ve overcooked it. Just saying.
Service is outstanding. Servers will assist and provide a tutorial if necessary before you start. Zero intimidation.
Highly recommended.

I’ve been hearing a lot of good reviews about Yoshi’s and finally decided to have our anniversary dinner here last night. First off, the service was excellent. Both waiters that served us did a splendid job. They were very informative about the menu items and very attentive throughout our dinner experience. Now the food… it was great! Everything we had was no doubt a notch better in quality than other yakiniku restaurants on the island. Although many reviewers say that it’s «the best» they ever had or it’s «life changing» good, I personally thought it was really good but not amazing good. If you had your fair share of authentic Kobe and Miyazaki wagyu, you would probably think the same. I would definitely recommend this place to meat lovers out there, especially if the have the $$$ to splurge. I probably would come back once in a long while, but I believe I have better options…

First time here at Japanese BBQ Yoshi and it is amazing. We got the A4/​A5 Wagyu set. It’s meant for two but we got it for four of us. If your are hungry this set will be enough. My new favorite yakiniku restaurant.

It’s me and my bf favorite place to eat at when we wanna treat ourselves, normally we go once a week and the happy hour is good too. My friends like it a lot too! Service is always on point and the staff knows us too well with our orders now. Thank you for the hospitality you guys always offer and making sure we’re happily full.

This basically sums it up:
–Amazing food and amazing service!
–Must eat when in Oahu!
–Definitely our favorite restaurant this whole trip! Worth every penny!
–Must try the Ribeye cap!
–Will definitely be back!

Three dinner visits and perfect service everytime. Yoshi hour special is a great value for your money, add on a kalbi sampler and dinner for two is perfect. Reservations highly recommended as the seating is limited and the restaurant gets filled quickly.

Soo glad I gave this spot a second shot.
Came here when they first opened and wasn’t wow-​ed so I just stuck to going to hiroshis in waikiki. But after hiroshis shut down, I decided to give this place a second shot and I’m so glad I did.
Service and food was amazing. We ordered the course set (I forgot what it was called) that was $ 170 for 2 ppl and it was delicious! My bf and I left full and happy. We also ordered the salmon as an appetizer. Honestly we could’ve done without it. Taste was okay but nothing compared to the meat in the course meal.
This is definitely going to be one of our usual date night spots from now on!

Hello wagyuu, goodbye paycheck. This place was definitely a splurge, but for the most part, I’d say that it was worth it. Having eaten some prime level beef in Japan, I, like many other reviewers have pointed out, must say that the beef is good, but isn’t the highest of the high grade. Don’t get me wrong, you still get that experience of meat just melting away in your mouth, it just isn’t as «the good stuff» from Kobe or Hida.
We ordered the A4/​A5 set. We were able to go pure carnivore mode and substitute the seafood out for pork belly. We also got an order of tongue. All of the meat was good. The vegetables and kimchi were good too. It was nice to have actual spicy kimchi in a Japanese-​ish restaurant. The miyeokguk had a really nice flavor to it as well. I was surprised I ate it because I don’t normally like seaweed soup.
All of us left really full, although we definitely would have had more room to eat if they brought out another round of beef for us.

This place out stands any Japanese yakiniku in Hawaii! I only eat here because of the the ultimate first class experience of service! The food quality is amazing too! I can tell the servers and cooks here put heart and dedication into their movement and everything they serve and present to me.
It is one of my top 5 restaurants to dine in at least once a week!
Their sake list and drink menu is amazing too! I can’t wait to go back or to bring my friends to eat here! None of my friends have ever been here before maybe due to the sign in the front? They can’t read Japanese maybe.
I will definitely be here every week until I can’t eat anymore toro Kalbi!

Ridiculously awesome deal with their special yoshi hour set! $ 32 for the set enough to feed my husband and I. Looks like most people get one set per person… But more importantly, did you read that the set is only THIRTY-​TWO DAWLAS?! You can get a deal like that elsewhere but never with this quality meat.
Don’t be intimidated by the $$$$ action on the restaurant profile.
The meat and overall food quality here is amazing and to top it off, the service is always extremely friendly.

My fiancé and i came here a few weeks ago to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. It’s definitely not your typical spot to celebrate such an event, but it was a pretty awesome experience. We ordered the wagyu grade A4 and A5 set for two, which came with an assortment of different steaks, seafood, sides, etc. It even came with noodles too. Honestly, this was my first time eating premium Wagyu beef at a yakiniku place like this, so all the different meats were new to me. Our server Ching, who is also the assistant manager, was excellent, and he did a fine job of explaining to us the difference between the Japanese Wagyu vs the American Wagyu. Basically the main difference I got out of this was that the Japanese wagyu has more flavor and tastes better than the American Wagyu, haha (I was somewhat drunk at this point so I couldn’t remember all the details that he explained to us). He also stated that the Japanese wagyu premium set comes with A4 and A5 meat combined, and that the A5 meat has a lot more fat (marbling) than the A4, so some people don’t like the A5 as much. Therefore they use more of the A4 vs the A5 grade so that it’s not TOO much fat, which i actually preferred. (I’m not a big fan of excess fat anyway).
Anyway, all of the courses were great, including the salad, little pickled sides, the scallops, and the assortment of meats that it came with. Lastly, it came with bubbies ice cream (½ of 4 different flavors), and since we were celebrating our anniversary they brought out a plate of vanilla ice cream scoops over sliced fruits, which consisted of watermelon, blueberries, and dragonfruit, and it was in the shape of a heart! So cute! We were also served a vanilla milkshake with chunks of chocolate in it… OMG, it was so amazing! I can’t remember if this was a part of the set or if it was complimentary but I drank every drop of that shake! haha.
Overall for the set we paid $ 170 for two, which I feel is kind of on the pricey side but since it was a celebration for us we didn’t mind spending that much. Also, all the food was really good and we were sooo stuffed. We could not even eat the noodles so we asked to have it boxed up for us to eat at home. Apparently since this place is only 6 months new, they are still playing around with their menu and switching up the items and changing the prices as needed.
The best part of our experience was that our server, Ching, pretty much hung out with us the whole night, cooking for us and educating us about the different meats, and also how the restaurant came to be, etc. We were lucky that it was later in the evening (around 8:30pm) and it was a little slower for the restaurant so he was able to spend the time to cook for us and talk story with us.
Lastly, another plus was that they were having happy hour at this time. Not sure exactly what time it started but drinks were much cheaper so we were ordering plenty of rounds of beer and sake, and we made sure that Ching joined in on the fun, haha.
We will definitely be back in the near future… I’d like to try some of their other food, and we’ll most likely come back during happy hour for more discounted drinks! =)

I am, once again, amazed by this gem of a restaurant. Only half a year old, and from the numerous reviews, you can tell they have really turned heads and filled up hungry bellies with their high quality meat! That’s right, Yoshi offers you A5 Miyazaki wagyu beef, which is the highest grade given only to the finest beef! They also offer quality cuts of meat even from Snake River Farms in the US. Fantastic marbling, nice bright colour, firm texture, and full of yummy juiciness.
I am not a beef-​eater, but my eyes have been opened to their beef tongue (US prime beef) and rib eye steak (US Kobe Gold Grade Beef from Snake River Farms)! Wow, the beef tongue is addicting, and the rib eye literally melts in your mouth. You really have to try it for yourself or you wouldn’t believe it. Their yukke is also very popular, and one of their new items include Wagyu A5 Grade Premium toro kalbi, imported from Miyazaki, Japan. Give their sets a try (fit for 2), because you’ll be able to try a wide variety of meats, then order ala carte!
One of the things I noticed is that Yoshi, unlike other yakiniku joints, is not full of smoke and odour. Their grills generate heat from a lamp, which means no charcoal or gas. On top of that, the grills are a new technology, offering a non-​stick teflon surface which is the first that I have seen in Hawaii. Goodbye to smoke, your meat will no longer stick, and goodbye to swiping that unsightly chunk of fat all over your grill like the other places have you do. The servers are very knowledgeable about their meats and take the time to explain the meat and how it is best eaten. They take their time to always keep in check with you, and offer you the kind of hospitality you wish other restaurants would.
The prices for the quality of meat is as good as it gets, so give Yoshi a try! You won’t regret it. It is located adjacent to Krazy Karaōke on Young St. There is a parking area, but should you have to resort to the $ 3 parking at the parking structure across the street, I do believe they will offer you $ 3 off your bill!

If that isn’t enough, their bathrooms include mouthwash and a bidet. Enough said.

Overall, the food was good. The service was good. And the place was clean, well lit and well ventilated.
Located on Young Street, right next to Krazy Karaōke, the parking lot is a little small. There is street parking and paid parking across the street if you’re lucky to find one during peak evenings. Called in for a reservation for the same day and was able to get there around 9pm for a late dinner. Was seated right away and tended to immediately.
They do have a set menu, if you want to have a taste of everything. Unlike similar establishments, they have a recommended price for two people, but there is no minimum order: meaning you can both share one set. It will run around $ 140 for the «Japan Set» which is top grade Wagyu and top grade meats. Otherwise, you are more than welcome to order everything ala carte. Prices are average– you get what you pay for.
I have to throw in there: their grill from Korea is AMAZING. Other similar establishments would have changed out my grill top midway through dinner… Nope, not here! I was amazed at how well my food cooked and how nothing was sticking to the surface of my grill… :)
I got full pretty fast, so if you aren’t going to eat much, ala carte is probably the best way to go.
Enjoy!

The first question people ask is: Yoshi or Hiroshi? Honestly, it’s a tough question to answer as both places has it’s pros.
What I like about Yoshi is first and foremost, their price. It’s $ 140 per couple for the A4 & A5 Wagyu set, whereas, Hiroshi I believe for the Platinum set, the current price is $ 110 per person (minimum of 2 orders). Do the math. Hiroshi is $ 80 more per person!
You definitely get a good bang for your buck. I was too full to finish every single item that they gave us, and ended up taking a doggy bag home. My favorite items were the toro sandwich, yakisuki, tan tan ramen, and of course, the steak.
Although the name of the restaurant has «Japanese» in it, it has more of a Korean fusion feel to it. The side dishes consisted of kimchee, korean nori, and came with a choice of bibimbap. Not complaining, just saying.
Parking is tough as it’s that small parking lot next to Krazy Karaōke. Reservations are highly recommended.
So back to the question — there is no easy answer. If you’re looking for variety and a good bang for your buck, I’d say check out Yoshi. If you want to focus on simply good quality cuts of meat, try Hiroshi. If you are eventually going to try both places, I’d recommend going to Yoshi first, then Hiroshi.

A new Japanese Yakiniku has opened on Young St. next to Krazy Karaōke, following the same similar format as Yakiniku Hiroshi. Those who are fans of Hiroshi can now be relieved of venturing into Waikiki with an option in town.
The parking lot is rather small for how big the dining area is so be sure you plan accordingly. Try to car pool if you’re going with a group or there is a flat rate option across the street for $ 3 at the parking structure that Café Sistina is in.
The restaurant’s interior is clean and has great ventilation for a Yakiniku eatery. It’s quite spacious and there is actually a bar option if you decide to try walking in. Yes that’s right, reservations are recommended. Tonight I dined there and it wasn’t even a weekend and people were being turned away as they tried to walk in because the place was packed.
My party and I decided to go with one of the set menus for the best value and to get a taste of a variety things that the restaurant offers (A4 & A5 Grade Wagyu Set $ 140 for 2). The set comes complete with:
–Salad
–Nori
–Namul
–Toro Sandwiches
–Kim Chee
–Tan tan Ramen (or Bibimbap)
–Korean Chige
–Scallop or Shrimp
–A-​Grade Beef sampler
–A-​Grade Rib Steak or Roast Steak
–A-​Grade Yakisuki (with Yam & Egg dip)
–Mochi ice cream & Fruit
The dishes come out and it seems like the portions are fairly small but as you keep going you’ll noticed that you really fill up. We had to take home the chige and ramen because we were that stuffed. So for what you get it’s a pretty good value.
Everything we had was delicious and I’d go back here again and again. All though if you’re a fan of Hiroshi, you probably will still keep Hiroshi on your dining options because though similar, it’s still different to some degree. Best to go with a date or a party of 4 for the type of seating they have.
The service here was excellent, they really manage and take care of your party as you go through your meal. High marks for that.

Chose to spend Valentines day with a few friends at the new Japanese BBQ Yoshi. My reservation was originally for 3, so I called to add my 2 friends, the man on the phone told me he’d «squeeze them in, and make it work», but upon arrriving to our 7pm reservation, there were barely three couples dining. Oh well, we squeezed onto a four-​top table anyway.
Located next to Krazy Karaōke, they have a private parking lot that accommodates a good amount of cars.
Cozy restaurant with chic, modern grills that are easy cleaning and less yakiniku smelling. Our group of 5 decided to order mainly ala carte with the exception of one $ 110 gold grade set for 2.
Cant comment on the set, as I dont really eat meat, BUT they do offer an okay selection of us herbivores.
On this visit, I enjoyed the namuru set, kimchi and Yoshi salad, which were all good. Their kimchee could pass as homemade, little watery, but still great crunch and spice.
Our server said they usually have veggies to grill, but had run out early in the week of veggies.
I also ordered their bibimbap (no meat of course) — a twist on the traditional stone heated dish. The Yoshi version comes with a small portion of rice with the sides delicately arranged around the rice. Spicy gochujang sauce on the side for mixing. Unlike other bibimbaps, the servers do no mix for you!
Some previous reviews state BYOB, but since they’re gotten their liquor license, corkage is $ 20 if you bring your own alcohol.
Full bar available at the restaurant.

BBQ Yoshi is a new Yakiniku restaurant on young street, right next to Krazy Karaōke. It was a bit of a hassle to get to because the address was wrong on Unilocal.Hopefully, that has been cleared up, as I submitted an edit.
They have a little parking lot, but you might have to pay for parking in the building across the street since this restaurant has become so popular! That or try to get lucky with street parking.
When you look over the menu, it looks really expensive, however a «set for two» can feed 4 people easily. So come with a group, and share! The quality of the meats are really good and the sauces are unique and delicious. I really liked the beef tongue and the beef included in the set. I also got to try the sandwich, which was interestingly served with the set as well as a cooked kimchee/​pork dish that the waiter kindly offered to substitute for the intestine. Sorry, not a fan of intestine, but it’s included in the set…
When we went, they were still byob, but I think they recently began serving alcohol, so you might want to call to ask before you go. Overall, I like bbq yoshi for a little better quality yakiniku and great service!

I would say the $ 140 premium set for 2 is a pretty good value as you get a wide assortment of meats, a seafood and side dishes and salads. You will be satisfied with the amount of food given. If you have eaten premium A5 Wagyu before dont let your expectations get too high for the quality of meat here. I would say the last two dishes are more A4(the yakisuki and rib eye). The others did not really taste like wagyu. I am no meat expert but have had Kobe, Omi and Miyazaki A5 but this didn’t taste like those. It was more irony than the smooth rich flavor. None the less it was good for the price.
Service from our waiters were excellent. Dishes came out quickly and timed perfectly as the next dish came soon after the current dish was done. Im not a fan of their stoves. It was an electric type that didn’t seem to produce enough heat to sear the meat. The butter scallops in the small metal pot turned to rubber because it took so long to cook. They also didn’t give white rice with the set meal. They did give bi bim bap or ramen with the set, but common man this is Hawaii, we need rice.
Overall, i liked Yoshi, but feel there other Korean and Japanese yakiniku place that are a little better.