GREAT EATS HAWAII: SUSHI GINZA ONODERA

Saturday, February 14, 2026

SUSHI GINZA ONODERA

808 KAPAHULU AVE

HONOLULU, HI

808-735-2375

https://www.sushionodera.com/sushi-ginza-onodera-hawaii

https://www.yelp.com/biz/sushi-ginza-onodera-honolulu-3

I was trying to find the ultimate Sushi experience for my wife's birthday. Searched around and found a lot of great 5 Star reviews for Sushi Ginza Onodera. Checked their website and found out the Omakase Menu was $300 with another $50 upgrade for the Fatty Tuna which we love. Booked it thinking this place would blow my wife and daughter away as they love Sushi.

Parking is very limited with about four stalls. Cars must back in which can be difficult. Lucky for me we were the first car there and were able to maneuver my car into a spot.

Service was just basic with barely a greeting or engagement with exception of pulling out an iPad and showing us the name of the fish we were eating. I had written the restaurant a note saying it was my wife's birthday. No mention of this the entire night. I ordered a glass of wine for $20. The pour was so small that I ended up ordering the entire bottle for $70. The first course arrived with Crab and Caviar which was delicious. The green stuff which made up most of the dish was terrible and gritty. I didn't eat it after one bite, but my daughter finished mine so we would not send it back. This happened several times during the first courses. I couldn't eat the dish so my daughter ate it. Smelly, fishy and warm are the way I would describe this food. I have never been to a Sushi Bar or Omakase that served fish like this. Nowhere in my life have I been so disappointed. Even the $50 add on Fatty Tuna which I normally love was for me uneatable. Smelled and tasted fishy which no Fatty Tuna that is fresh would smell and taste like. I couldn't eat it and gave it back to the waitress. As the Sushi rolled in pieces of three, my wife and daughter who were trying to be nice and say it's ok finally caved and said it was terrible. I would take a bite of each Sushi and not be able to finish it. So bad that we all decided we did not any more courses and asked for our check. The waitress didn't seem to care and asked if we wanted to skip dessert too. Yes, we said. No more. I felt terrible for my wife as this was her birthday dinner. I felt terrible for myself because this dinner with drinks and tip was $1440 for three. The single biggest waste of money ever on my blog. The Chef came out to see if we liked the food. Of course we said yes. Wish I had the balls to tell him the truth. I actually did but my wife insisted I don't say anything. Well, I am saying it here. This fish was not fresh and this was the worst Sushi experience of our lives.