Reviews of Sushi Sasabune (Restaurant)

Robert Moore

Just go. "Trust me"

Keg King

Worth every penny

Dale Rutledge

Delish sushi but felt very unwelcome via the staff. Interior definitely showing it's age also. Fish was exquisite.

Shane Spitzer

Epic omakase sushi experience. Japanese and Americans receive different omakase. Americans get more tuna, cooked lobster, and sadly, Rockefeller oysters. Japanese get giant clam, raw lobster, ikura, some deep sea fish, and more raw oysters. Regardless the experience is epic if you love sushi with most pieces melting in your mouth. $120 for the Omakase + sake prices. If you're a sake fan and with a friend, order "Ken". It's the best sake for sure. Pictures shown are for the American Omakase. You don't have to ask for this, he gives it to you if you're white.

Erika Baez

The high prices are not reflected in the food or decor. Service was good but felt rushed to finish my meal.

Jon Gold

Best sushi ever

Angelo Prado

The best sushi there is in Hawaii

David Cowburn

best sushi ever. The price is appropriate, if high.

Kali Drake

Amazing sushi.

junwh uh

오마케세 강추

Plumpkin Mom

I walked two miles each way in the dark past a bridge full of sketchy hobos so I could bleed away my meager yuppie's disaposable income at Sushi Sasabune. No regret. Sushi: highest quality I've had -I'd never thoroughly enjoyed uni (sea urchin) and ikura (salmon roe) until Sushi Sasabune -Baby calamari stuffed with indonesian crab, mackerel, red fin were all spectacular -The skip jack and negitoro were very well prepared, but I've just never been a fan of any type of tuna Service: -Knowledgeable and patient servers -Pleasantly attentive host This place has upped my sushi-snobbery to a nearly impossible level.

Josephine Schaaf

Best omasake in Hawaii!!!!

Elyssa Young

Always the best sushi in Hawaii and possibly the world

Tom Cochran

The best sushi experience I have ever had hands down. The chef special is to die for and has ruined all other sushi places for me. Well worth the $$$$.

Dmitry Voronin

Outstanding! Unbelievable! Gorgeous! Simply the best!

Daniel Sack

omakase! my favorite restaurant, hands down. better sushi than tokyo.

Alex Reusch

My friend who introduced me to this unique place told me: You have not lived until you have been to Sasabune in Hawaii! Maybe not the place to die, but if there is a Sushi heaven, it's been called Sasabune. Make your reservation!

Chae Donahue

Amazing best sushi in Hawaii

Matthew Coffman

The best sushi I have had anywhere in the world. You put yourself at the mercy of the chefs (after telling them if you have any allergies) and they bring out individual plates of one or two pieces at a time. There is a 6 course minimum and the price point is $$$$$, but for a truly special sushi dinner this place is it!

Jackie Baze

What an amazing selection of fresh sushi!

Victor Heung

It's pricey. But it's all about perceived value. The quality of food and the knowledge and passion of the sushi chefs make this an amazing dining experience. Will go again for the next big celebration.

Jackie Wenrong Weng

Not your average Sushi shop! Toro melts in your mouth, and Salmon egg pops on your tongue. Different varieties with fresh ingredients that came from all over the world gives you exciting sensation with every bite. The waiters are very welcoming and attentive. A must try experience in Honolulu.

griffey ken

(Translated by Google) The best sushi I've eaten. I woke up with my wife and asked him if he was being attacked by us. If I thought I could go out on the way to Omakase, I would have eaten a third. There was a table that was later than we could go out earlier. There were also people who were eating well. (Original) 내가 먹어본 스시중에 제일짰음. 와이프랑 먹으면서 우리 혐한테러 당하는 중인거냐고 물어볼 정도. 오마카세 도중에 나가도 되는건줄 알았으면 한 세점 먹고 나왔을텐데. 우리보다 늦게앉아서 더 일찍 나가는 테이블도 있었고 잘 드시는 분들도 있었고.

MaryAnimal Globetrotter

(Translated by Google) OISHI to the max !!! Best Omakase on Oahu! (Original) OISHI to the max!!! Best Omakase on Oahu!

K Ballou

Was ono!

Greg Dalin

As the chefs motto says! "Trust Me"

Ken Fong

Most profound sushi experience you will ever have. Expensive but well worth the cost. If you value high quality and delicious memorable bits, you should try it. If you think Genki has delicious sushi, you probably won't think the experience is worth it. For most of my dinner companions who have gone with me, eating at Sasabune forever changes their view of what is good sushi.

Chris Wong

Excellent omakase. One thing to note is that they charge by the course, meaning if someone in your party gets full, they can stop while everyone else continues. You can also all stop early if you so choose. When I went, there were 14 courses, but had to stop at 12 from getting too full.

billy kwok

the best sushi on earth

Michael Anderson

The best sushi I have ever had anywhere-- period. Just as good second time around

Elliott Fisher

The food quality to decor ratio may be the biggest I've experienced. Really good, high quality food served in a bit of a dive. But, that don't matter none to me. Friendly service, even when they're correcting you on how you are eating.

Howard Zhou

This is an authentic Japanese sushi restaurant, and the price is pretty standard for this grade of sushi restaurant. The two of us ordered Omakase (chief's menu) and it's about $300 in total before tax. However, given the quality and the sheer amount of the sushi pieces, it strongly exceeded my expectations (see my pictures for one dinner). I would highly recommend this place. P.S. Also as many reviewers have pointed out. The decor of the place is a little underwhelming, but don't let it stop you.

Erqi Pollom

Omakase at the sushi bar is the way to go at sushi sasabune. The original sasabune is in LA and was the first omakase experience in the US. We made a reservation at OpenTable a couple days before for a 530 Friday reservation. You have the option of English vs Japanese style in terms of flavors and types of fish. went w Japanese bc i love uni. We ate pretty quickly - went through 10 plates which had 2-3 pieces on each plate before we had to tap out due to being extremely full! Finished w some miso and was out within 45 mins. The food was fantastic ! - Toro nigiri was melt in your mouth. Interesting flavor combinations ie citrus w scallop, buttery pate on salmon, salmon roe that was soaked in broth and not so salty. Fish from all over the place - south africa, Norway, etc. Sushi chefs explained each dish very well. Great service - everyone was extremely accommodating and everything was timed very well to our pace of eating. The bill at the end reflected what you ate and was excellent value. We will definitely we coming back Everytime we are in Oahu!

Jack Serafin

Simply there is a need for more stars....Awesumebaby

Amanda Wilson

This isn't the place to get your typical roll (spicy tuna or California roll). I suggest the sushi selected by the chef, Omakase. It's a bit expensive but you'll be incredibly satisfied with your sushi. I swear by this place. Perfect spot for a date night or a business meeting. The snapper is probably my favorite. High quality sushi, consistent, and priced well.

Zack Yuen

Incredible flavors, best sushi I've ever had. Overall great experience of omakase where the sushi chef sets the meal. My favorites we're the ikura and the oyster. All of the fish was the best quality and I left with a full stomach. I'd definitely come here again, the food is very much worth the price.

Philip Suh

sushi nazi... no cell phones! just do what they say and eat what they serve you :) excellent Omakase menu

Jeff Jardine

Perfection. The best sushi you will have in America.

Lisa W

Perfection.

M L

Great date everytime! :)<3

Mr John

Old soldiers like me never die, they just fade away. It’s okay. Man I love you, regards from Australia!

Julia P

I was there on Sep 8, 2018 and had omakase. One of the sushi pieces had a scale in it ... and I found it in my mouth.. Gross.. I was super disappointed.

Kelly Calderone-Davis

I was nervous coming here because I read the reviews and thought that if I made one tiny mistake I'd get kicked out. Not the case. Our waiter was really cool and friendly and told us when to use the wasabi. We felt comfortable enough asking him 'how do I eat this?' and he was pretty laid back. We even saw him take a couple group pictures for one table. I'm not too good with chopsticks but powered thru. All the bites were perfectly sized and fit in my mouth....one thing I was worried about because I didn't want to be THAT person who cuts up her sushi with a knife. We made sure not to use our cell phones but did see other tables take pics of the food. The hubs and I finished all 13 courses no sweat. Maybe it was because we hiked all day and barely ate anything, but the 13 courses were not overwhelming. So, with the 13 courses and a bottle of wine, we spent close to $400; that's including the tip. Very $$$$ but a once in a lifetime meal.

Frank Shamrock

Based upon photos only, the food doesn't look properly prepared.

Brodey Paloki Cox

Pricey but worth it.

Sissy Ichinohe

I went to Sasabune for a birthday of my friend’s boy friend. We were group, and had a course. Some of their sushi were like fusion, but some were like original Japanese style. Most of us couldn’t finish the course to reach the final plate, cuz the potion of the entire course was so generous, we enjoyed the meals and sake. Inside is very clean, nice, and Japanese style. Feels super fancy, good for a special date night or event.

Jeanmarie Boben

Omakase -- and don't think you know more about that little morsel than your sushi chef. Let go of the control freak in you -- and enjoy it the right way. Amazing work with the flavors, textures and temperatures -- sushi done right.

Dan Royster

This place provided the best sushi experience I’ve ever had in my life so far. Absolutely amazing. I can’t wait to come back.

Terrance Wong

Great food

Bill Melcher

Always our go to sushi experience on Oahu. There is no ambience and service is average and the prices steep but the fish and presentation are first rate.

Nageun Choi

(Translated by Google) It was nice to have a combination of new ingredients to taste sushi, but the price satisfaction seems to be a little low! (Original) 새로운 재료들의 조합을 초밥을 맛볼수 있어 좋았지만 가격대비 만족도는 조금 떨어지는것 같아요!

Eric Holley

Sushi Sasabune is a good sushi restaurant. 4 or 5 stars. However, it's a below average omakase sushi restaurant. I've done omakase before. These restaurants typically charge high prices for a curated high-end sushi experience. Each dish is carefully timed and presented to highlight it's unique qualities and to set up the next plate. Drinks are often recommended to complement certain plates. As Sasabune the similarities end at the high prices. Yes, the sushi is generally high quality. You would never know it because EVERY PIECE is covered in sauce. Add to that the distracting noise of the restaurant and the fact that we never spoke with the chef. The two chefs prepared dishes assembly-line style while a waiter would deliver each dish to us. There is plenty of good/great sushi in Honolulu. Take a look at the other 3 star reviews here before you trust the 5 stars.

John Marcom

Sushi fit for Japanese gangsters. That's a good thing.

Chris F

I genuinely think this is one of the most unique and delicious sushi experiences I've ever had in Hawaii. Was it expensive? Very much so. But was it worth it? That's... hard to say. However, I think it's worth every sushi lover's patronage at least once at some point! I waited a long time to try this place and while I'm not likely to pony up the cash to dine here again, I have to say this was a 5 star dining experience.

Keith Raymond

I think this was the best sushi I've had. Amazing atmosphere and the fish was perfect in every way. Expensive but absolutely worth every penny.

Rene Reiner

Good service, good taste sushi. Price $$$$.

The One and only Pinky Pinky

Sushi Sasabune is as good as they claim! This is the best sushi in the world! Even good sushi tastes like plastic compared to this! We are NY sushi snobs and wanted to hate it. But we loved it! Japanese TV even said in an interview it is better than Sushi in Japan! Perfect and worth the price! We didn't take any pictures of the food because we were afraid he would yell at us! :) If you give it any less than 5 stars you are a sushi novice! The other locations are not as good IMO.

Scott Pollom

It's pricy, but it's the best sushi I've ever had

Stephany Gonzalez

Spectacular food. Incredibly fresh. The chef knows exactly what he's doing and you will be guaranteed an amazing experience. All the staff is well versed in the menu and can answer all questions.

Jeremy Choi

Wife and I had the pleasure to try one of the best sushi places in Hawaii, and it didn't fall short of expectations. We did the omakase, it will cost you, probably 130/pp without alcohol to finish the 15 course meal, but it's an experience not quite your traditional Japanese restaurant. Think of Jiro sushi in Japan meet Nobu of NY. Don't expect to get soya sauce on the side, every piece is already prepared with the optimal amount of sauce. Etiquette is a must here: rule is that you must eat the sushi in one bite. Don't eat too slow either as there is also a good set time you should eat the sushi by - you all should know (if you have watched Jiro dream of sushi) that if the fish is on the rice for too long it ruins the texture and taste of the fish. Some may complain that it is too fast from one dish to another - but there is a logical reason for that. Service was great, no one was grumpy looking except for probably the sushi chef (lol) but that's his look. Apparently he will kick people out if they don't like his food, or he will refuse to serve you if disrespect his food/etiquette. Overall if you haven't been to Jiro, you should definitely give this a try for the experience at almost 30 percent of the cost of Jiro. A little too rich for my blood to go here daily, but I would consider it a top Sushi restaurant deserving of its reputation.

Seiji Kawanishi

(Translated by Google) It was delicious and I ate too much. It's a good idea to end with a lobster. (Original) 美味しくて食べ過ぎました。おまかせで、ロブスターで終わりにするのがいいとこですね。

Gary Schaaf

Just incredible!

George Yorgakaros

Delicious food, excellent service. Definitely on the expensive side but worth it for the occasional splurge. Do the omakase - you won't be disappointed.

Kid Pono

For those of us that live in Hawaii, we've all endured the long foodie nerd Sasabune narratives/stories our family, friends and co-workers have snow shoveled on top of us. Discourteous servers. A cursed thousand year old painting. The shadowy presence of a Yakuza paramour. The Sushi Nazi with the hundred yard stare. Of course, there's stories of customers being thrown out. Not just asked to leave but banned. Cursed. Effigies scorched in the night, and on the Sabbath too. Hilts of knives discreetly shown. Oaths sworn. etc. Eh anyway. I was able to go on the dime of a wealthy friend visiting from the mainland. We did the set Omakase lunch menu. I found the chefs suggestions and pairings helpful and accurate. I enjoyed the crisp courteous manner of the server who kept the plates coming and tea flowing like a strange wound. Decor was practical and evocative of a Japanese sushi house, that was somewhat otherworldly after stepping off that random part of King st. I'm only giving the 'Bune' 4 stars because while some of the dishes were great, others were suspiciously suspicious. I know my fish and, while living in Japan I ate more sushi than is consciously admitable. 2 or 3 of the dishes seemed like they were being snuck into the rotation. Like a gimpy outfielder in the 8th inning. Anyways, if you have the cabbage to spend see if you think the hypes worth it. I kinda do...Kinda don't.

Anthony Wong

We try to plan a dinner at Sushi Sasabune whenever we visit Oahu. Having dined at some excellent sushi-ya in Tokyo, I think Sasabune delivers a very authentic Japanese dining experience. The price is in line for what you expect from a sushi restaurant that uses high-grade ingredients. The omakase menu is always a pleasure as you never know what the chef has planned for that evening. It is a little pricey but worth it. The quality of the fish used and the techniques employed are truly excellent. The pacing of the dinner was good. I never felt that things were coming too fast or too slow. Service was excellent and it was nice having each dish explained in detail. Just as we were leaving the restaurant I approached the chef to let him know how much we enjoyed our evening. He was very friendly. I told him I thought his restaurant was even better than XXXXXX (a famous, hard-to-get-reservations sushi-ya) in Tokyo. He laughed and humbly said, "Thank you. It's just different. Just different."

william mayo

authentic high quality sushi

Hamed AlKhalifa

Absolutely perfect sushi and service... The sign says trust me! No menu all Omakase and up to the chef! Amazing fish and cooked appetizers. I haven't had sushi this good in a while. And yes all Japanese staff and chefs.

Hongs

We as a party of 7 were told to dine in Omakase/Chef's Choice style. There are 13 courses in total. Mostly every course includes 2 sushis on a plate for each guest. And, there's a plate of small lobster tail and a plate of 2 oysters. The fish quality is excellent...though I personally think it's over- priced and felt so full and lost interested in eating because of too much rice. In the last 2-3 courses, I tried to just eat the top fish but it would be too salty due to the sauce....it won't be good with the top fish alone, has to go with the rice. Well...this is a Sushi restaurant, so it's really all about sushi but that somehow makes me feel lacking variety in eating. One thing I cannot get used to it is the warm rice they use in sushi. I never had a sushi using warm rice neither my friends who have visited Japan many times. I say we all had a good meal but I don't think I will go back again.

Maureen Anastacio

Don't eat anything all day if you're doing Omakase. Everything tasted so good, but decor and service didn't match the quality of the food. Maybe dim the light to hide the details I saw, dusty fake plants, dirt under my table, service wearing different hues of black and some had bleach marks on the backs of their shirts...

Rob Lin

Great

Austin Ferron

Some great sushi to say the least! You don't order here, they chef just bring you round after round of that day's special! Everything I ate was fantastic, chef definitely knows best! Quite pricey though, so bring a fat wallet!

Matt Lamon

This place deserves 10 stars. The sushi is the best I have ever tried. The Omakase is perfection. (Omakase means that you trust the chefs, and they will decide what to serve you: usually 10 to 12 courses). Omakase is about $75 or $100 per person (I can't remember exactly), but it is totally worth it. YOU MUST TRY SASABUNE. BEST JAPANESE FOOD ON THE ISLAND.

Seiji McCoy

Every bite I put in my mouth was a masterpiece. It was absolutely an orchestra of flavor and textures. Go here if you want to go to flavor town.

bill Marinelli

Very innovative Japanese cuisine. I'd call it modern sushi. Excellent ingredients and preparation. Not a place to dine at Though if you don't enjoy seafood. They had 4 types of tuna including skipjack, yellowfin, big eye and Bluefin! If that's not enough, we also had, Ski, Japanese horse mackerel, opaka, squid, lobster, amberjack, Octopus, prawns, crab meat, Uku... good list of sake but poor wine menu. Service was quick, efficient and friendly. Lots of Aloha spirit here. Staff explained all the dishes very clearly and even explained how the chef presented the squid dish. The squid was stuffed with sesame paste with crab meat center. It melted in your mouth. Be warned! This is an omase restaurant! The dishes are up to the chef! They ask if you have and dietary restrictions or allergies but there is no AL la carte menu. They're slogan is "Trust me ". This is a place not to be missed if you enjoy sushi and innovative Japanese cuisine. We visit every time we come to Honolulu. Oh! You have to tell them when you're getting full or the food just keeps coming!

M. Sato

(Translated by Google) Japanese OK, without using soy sauce, all are arranged to the best. It is worth going! (Original) 日本語OK、醤油は使うことなく、全てベストにアレンジされている。行く価値あり！

Rich Goldsmith

Cute little place with incredibly fresh and tasty fish. Inventive omakase and a great sake menu to boot.

砂 田力

(Translated by Google) It was very delicious. The quality and quantity are the best. If you go to Hawaii, I'd love to come back again. It was up to you to eat what was coming out from one to the next and it was all delicious. But it's delicious, so you can eat it even if it's quite difficult. I'm not a big eater, so it doesn't mean to be a big eater. (Original) とってもおいしかったです。質・量ともに最高です。ハワイに行ったら、是非、もう一度寄りたいと思います。お任せで、次から次へと出てくるものがこれまたおいしくって全部食べてしまいましたが、後で聞いたら適当なところでもういっぱいって言えばよかったみたいです。でも、おいしいので、相当苦しくても全部食べれちゃいます。 と言っても僕は大食漢ではないので、大食いの人向けって言う意味ではありませんからあしからず。

Emily L

I came here with very high expectations from all the reviews here. I’ve done omakase style sushi many times before in North America and in Japan. We came in during their last seating. And we felt rushed out of there. The restaurant looked pretty run down and old. It isn’t traditional omakase that I’m used to - The pieces of nigiri were made by the chef, but then delivered by a server. Some of the fish were quite fresh and good, but others weren’t good at all. The rice in each piece of fish was inconsistent. Some were hard and some soft, and some were hot and then some cold. The staff were friendly though despite it being on an article claiming to be one of the most abusive restaurants in America.

Tracy Nakamura

Every item was delicious. Sashimi lobster was awesome. Chef always prepares fabulous food. Happy I could enjoy wonderful food and catch up with a dear friend in a relaxing restaurant.

Martina Botelho

Best sushi of my life (and trust me, I know sushi!) everything fresh and delicate! It’s been more than a year I’ve been there but can’t forget of the amazing taste!

Jason Byrd

Fantastic omakase and great service.

Ana Slater

Best sushi ever. We noticed a big difference however this year versus a year ago. We also heard that this Sasabune location is no longer owned by its original owner (as Los Angeles and NYC). The sushi was still amazing and it was nice to see the same staff as we saw last year. Sasabune special sake served room temperature is as good as we remembered it.

Timothy Caminos

This place does not disappoint. You should definitely make reservations as you will be turned away if the chef is busy. I prefer sitting at their bar but tables are good for 3 + people.

Evan Rapoport

Other than, "If I had only one meal left before I died, I would eat at Sushi Sasabune", I'm not sure what else I can say. This is the best sushi I've ever had in my life... heck, it's probably the best FOOD I've ever had in my life. Do the chef's choice and trust them. Everything is fresh. Be careful though, it can get very, very expensive... but it is worth every penny.

Chellanne Taclan

If youre into Omakase. This is the BEST sushi spot on oahu, my personal opinion. Everything is AMAZING! You can taste the quality of their seafood. The service is Impeccable! And parking is easy! Which is a big deal breaker for me cause theres nothing worst then driving around for 30minutes just to find parking. Highly RECOMMEND sushi Sasabune if on Oahu. **please remember it is Omakase only. Meaning it is Chef's choice of sushi.** It's definitely heaven in your mouth if you're into all kinds of sushi

Walter Scott

Went to Helena's for our last meal in Oahu and I must say this was the culinary highlight of our trip! We sampled the luau chicken and squid, boiled butterfish collarbone w watercress, opihi and short ribs - everything was delicious! Will definitely be back next time we're in the area. So ono!

Charles Choi

Best sushi the area.

Elsy Chow

Fresh, delicious sushi. You put your appetite in the hands of the chef and order the chef's set menu. This is one of my FAVOURITE sushi restaurants and I have eaten a lot of Sushi even in Japan. Food is quick, service is efficient. Very traditional Japanese style restaurant with a modern edge. The rice is slightly warm bring out all the contrasting textures and flavours. Lots of wonderful dishes to give your taste buds a treat. The lobster was amazing as were many other dishes. Worth a visit everytime we come to Oahu.

Stephen To

Good food, very fresh.

Ron T

Way over rated AND Overpriced