Takenoko Sushi

EPIC EPIC EPIC SUSHI!!!
Authentic Japanese sushi with the freshest selections of seafood.
If you can’t afford to go to Japan then don’t worry about it just CALL ahead of time and make your reservations because being the best sushi place in the whole state of Hawaii is gonna have a waiting list that’s like 3 – 12 Months long so my suggestion take any day that’s available cause it’s so worth it!!!
You know your in a real deal sushi establishment when they use real wasabi that he grinds on a bamboo paddle with a shark skin stretched over it and that’s only the wasabi wait till you see him take his many years or craftsmanship and time to create your special lunch or dinner everything is done with such care and attention
My next visit I think I’ll just tell him to make me anything he like cause everything is just perfect and explosives to the taste buds.
5 stars is a major understatement for this 5 diamond restaurant

A friend brought us here. Let me say… it is sooooooo ono. The sashimi is the best. Melts in the mouth. When we left, I ordered the Chirashi bowl to go (x2) and took it home to Honolulu. Well worth it!!! We sat at the counter watching Chef Igarashi. He was quiet but friendly. The service was great and well, you already know what I think about the food. Enjoy. Aloha.

Tip: Make your reservations months in advance because they’re really that in-​demand. You won’t be disappointed with the quality of their sushi. Even having gone to Japan and indulged in sushi there, Takenoko here in Hilo is the best.

I went to Hilo unplanned and heard about Takenoko sushi and thought I’d swing by to try it. It became apparently clear that this was a «make a reservation restaurant» and was told to wait 20 minutes. I didn’t mind, I had my iPhone and can easily entertain myself haha. When I sat for lunch, I ordered the omakaze. Everything was delicious. The sushi chef was so nice and I relished every dish. After I was finished, I thanked them for squeezing me in and told them, next time, I’ll call ahead:) On my way out, the sushi chef came out and told me thank you for coming! He was SO SWEET! We chatted for a little while and I left full and grateful. Can’t wait to go back!

I can’t get enough check to Takenoko Sushi.
Cheff Mr. Igarashi is the best sushi cheff. Takenoko is my absolutely the favorite place to dine. It is worth waiting for the moment.
You just can’t walk in… Very busy for reservation… But worth waiting for months and months … If you could not get in. Just be patient for the openings. You won’t regret.

Great traditional Japanese food, that’s expected with the style here. Chef was attentive and efficient, makes sense why there are a limited number of seats. I got a variety of items, not just sushi to have a better idea of the quality of food. It was all delicious! The service besides the chef was alright, seemed a little disinterested, would’ve been 5 stars otherwise.
Kenichi’s in Keauhou also has great Japanese food, as well as Sansei and Hakone in Waikoloa. I would also say that Ebisuya in Hilo also has good sushi too. In my experiences at those other establishments, their individual styles of food was also top notch.
After eating, tried to make a following reservation, none for the rest of the year, I’m on a waiting list if someone cancels… Well, not to worry, there are other great sushi places on this island.

Me amd my group of friends walked in one time. We were so hungry they have a lot of empty sits. The chef asked us if we have a reservation. We said no. And he told us to make a reservation in advance to eat there. How rude! There’s only one customers and all. empty sit!
Don’t wanna reserve 3 month in advance just to eat sushi!

Not really sure how I’ll be able to enjoy sushi anywhere else after this absolutely exquisite omakase experience I’ve not encountered anywhere else outside of Japan.
Each & every piece of melt-​in-​your-​mouth, flown in fresh from Japan, goodness in the omakase Chef’s Special ($ 42) — the hamachi, toro, maguro, unagi, uni, to name a few, was just love in every bite.
I never fancied myself an eel, let alone sea urchin fan until I effortlessly sunk my teeth into these buttery pieces of heaven. I’m a believer.
The omakase is worth a try — it gives you a chance to try a variety of different sushi & discover your favorite. (I think mine was the toro!)
But don’t be so entranced by the magic sushi (although I don’t blame you) that you forget about the other offerings on their extensive menu.
Try the shoyu ramen! Takenoko gets the broth right! I’ve tried extremely underwhelming salty shoyu ramen broths in other local establishments & I was so pleased (& not surprised, as there is clearly a sense of pride in the quality of food offered here) to enjoy it.
The salmon skin salad. Simply delicious.
The Hamakua mushrooms with that dipping sauce.
The green tea cheesecake holy yum. Can I get the whole pie please? Also flown in from Japan. Save room for this. I only wish I tried the green tea crêpe cake (a new menu addition), but alas, I did consume all of the aforementioned so you can probably understand why I could not. Maybe next time — in the distant future…
As of today (3−4−16), lunch is booked until August & dinner service is booked for the rest of the year. The five month wait to dine here for lunch today, although painstakingly long, was worth the wait indefinitely.
Give it a try & see for yourself why this humble little sushi spot is in a league of its own in Hilo town. Oishii.

updated: make reservations a year in advance. if you’re really lucky or have really nice friends, they might just invite you along or give one of their standing reservations to you. if you really really want to go i would suggest asking to put your name on a waiting list in case there are cancellations. if not, best of luck getting in. it’s THAT good and worth the wait.

$$$
Best toro (flown in from Japan) and chirashi is bang for your buck.

Omg. So rude and such liars. Called for reservations today and was told they were completely booked for the rest of the year. I’m sure they are not booked for the entire year. Funny they always have empty tables. RUDE!!!

I never do reviews, but felt compelled to after I read a bad review. I have a standing reservation hear for lunch on Thursdays for lunch, and Friday’s for dinner. It’s the best sushi you will have outside of visiting Japan, and I have been there many times. If you can get a reservation don’t hesitate!

I know the prices may make you think twice about coming here, but just try it! The fish is amazing. Its so soft it’s almost like it melts in your mouth. I have never experienced such quality of fish before.
Everyone was also very nice! I tried to order the omakase and a mini poke bowl as I thought an omakase wouldn’t fill me up, but the waitress suggested I order the omakase first and see how I feel before ordering the poke bowl. Man am I glad she suggested that because I was so full after the omakase. Truly great service.
If you haven’t tried a variety of different fish, I strongly suggest ordering the omakase. It costs $ 42, but it truly is quite the experience. Before today, the only different types of fish i had tried was ahi and salmon. After finishing the omakase, I realized I actually liked certain types of fish I never imagined I’d ever like (let alone ever order). If I hadn’t tried the omakase, I would have never discovered my like for certain fish. If you don’t care about that kind of stuff, just stick with what you know you like. If you are into discovering new tastes, then order the omakase!
If you plan on eating here, make reservations months ahead of time. They will call you the day before your reservation date to remind you :)
I strongly recommend you all try this place out at least once in your lifetime. It was a great experience and one I will never forget.

Where there’s no Sushi ii, there’s Takenoko. Obviously the best sushi joint in sushi lacking Hilo town.
If you know about this place, you know about it. If you don’t, there’s a strong hype and you might get expectations. Well. Fresh fish from Japan prepared by a Japanese chef will give you high expectations. Just know that you will need a month or two in advance to make a reservation to get in. Try lunch for a quicker chance.
It’s a place where you can really get to know your fish. And your chef if you’re the type.
Some of the best and freshest fish I’ve had. Yes to his nigiri Toro, Hamachi and Hamachi belly, Hotate, Uni, Sake and Ikura.
His Toro, Hotate, Sake and Uni are melt in your mouth amazingness. Must tries if you’re down for a thrill. I will not eat Uni just anywhere. Oh god no. But I would eat Takenoko’s Uni all night if that didn’t sound kind of terrifying. And if he has raw Hamachi belly you gotta do it if you’re like me and order Hamachi anywhere.
Big yes to his special creations, King Crab Miso soup, Namako, Scorched Scallop, Monkfish Liver, and all the dipping sauces he creates. Seriously good. When he has the raw oysters swimming in that sauce, that’s my sh*t.
His Hamachi Kama is fluffy and tender. And the shio to pour over is near perfect.
Unagi and he even has Unago/​Anago, YUM.
Aside from above mentioned, I’ve tried the raw nigiri Maguro, Ebi, Ika, Hokkigai, 2 types of Mackerel, Flounder, Snapper, Needlefish, and whatever else he frequents on the white board. Raw or cooked. All are good. Definitely sufficient enough to write home about.
Not a rare unicorn though.
Oh and the flounder and one of the mackerels were getting a little fishy there. In the good way, but just not up my alley way.
His omakase is different; if you’re an avid sushi lover, you should know that. It’s an experience, the one he wants you to have, so if you trust him then you won’t be disappointed.
There are Chirashi sushi bowls and sashimi options, as well as a natto roll and salmon skin roll that I liked.
I really love the Salmon Skin Salad.
I eat sushi in my sleep I love it so much, with that being said my best advice if it’s your first visit to Takenoko is to try the Toro and the Hotate nigiri. And then his special creations. This way you will get a taste that you can only get here.
The Uni and Sake come at a close second, however I’ve had just as good Uni and Sake elsewhere.
Per usual great sushi it’s all contingent on his supplier. Get to know him and ask for delivery days.
Do try the green tea cheesecake and any of the ice creams for dessert. Good tea too :)
Hilo loves this tiny traditional sushi bar and its chef and his little family. 4.8 stars easy. 5 when I’m drunk.
Nice ambiance and even nicer bathroom.

WOW… as of today 8/28/15…they are booked more than 3 months in advanced for dinner! Holy baloney. Dang you Unilocal for making people find this place and impossible to eat at! I so want to give THAT a one star but I cannot tell a lie, you’re still yummy.

I had never been here before, but my mother is a regular, she and her girlfriend’s eat here about once a month and she’d been telling me for about a year that I simply had to eat there when I visited. I’m an avid sushi lover, so of course I was excited to go.
We got the omakase and it was fun watching this traditional sushi chef work his magic, however, I was a bit disappointed. For the price of what I was paying for I was expecting to be blown away, but I wasn’t. My mother did tell me later that she thought that maybe the fish wasn’t as fresh as usual, because she also didn’t find the sushi as appealing as she usually did. Of course the two of us were recovering from a bit of a flu I’d brought with me from New York, so that may have been why we weren’t really enjoying ourselves.
The best piece of fish I had was the toro, which wasn’t surprising to me since that is supposed to be the better cut of meat. I had a few pieces of salmon, which were also very good, but everything else just wasn’t that outstanding. For instance I had a slice of hamachi that I found unable to chew through easily, it lingered in my mouth for a while. His rice was also a bit cumbersome. It kept falling apart and sticking to my plate, never a good sign.
My least favorite piece was a flounder, which he told me to try with a different sauce. Unfortunately this sauce was overbearingly strong and wound up staying on my tongue for too long, I couldn’t get the taste out of my mouth which was unfortunate because it tainted some other pieces I tried later.
If you come here not knowing what to order the chef will tell you, and there’s also a TV that shows the different things he offers, so just wait for one to catch your eye. Of course you could always do the omakase and he’ll give you a wide range of things to eat, but be careful, some may not be to your tastes.
All in all, it was good, not amazing. I was expecting a lot more for the price I was paying, the rumors I’d heard, and the extensive reservation waitlist. My mother has been again more recently and said that it was excellent again, so maybe I just went on a bad day. I guess I’ll try it again next year.

During our first trip to the big island, we attempted three visit to eat at this restaurant that we found via Unilocal.5 star ratings, how could there not be a single dissapointted customer?
Answer; top class fish and ingredients flown in from Japan (they know a little something about sushi) and the impeccable sushi master behind the counter.
I have been in the sushi business during almost my whole childhood life (grandma had a few different locations) so I believe I have a acquired taste for great sushi. The freshest of fish, the perfect pairings of sauces. The striking spicy taste of fresh wassabi made from wassabi root NOT the powder, and the clean refreshing palette cleaning miso soup made from scratch. Not heated from your distribution bags made for most sushi restaurants. These very minor details and the use of fresh ingredients at every step indicated that I was about to indulge myself in the greatest sushi experience ever.

Fresh
Delicious
And you get to watch the chef make your meal right in front of you! (Especially if you get the chef’s choice)
Need i say more?
Best sushi place ever!!!

Best sushi of my life.
Now I haven’t been to Japan, so I have a limited view, but given that the fish from Takenoko is shipped from Japan, I felt like I was able to taste a little slice of what Japan has to offer.
We went here twice during our trip to the Big Island, and both my gf and I were blown away by the quality. First, my gf does not even enjoy raw fish, but she agreed that the pieces simply melted in your mouth and loved the experience. She was also very impressed by the freshly grated wasabi.
I got the omakase which was simply amazing. A beautiful assortment of fresh, thick slices of fish that melted in your mouth with the soft, slightly vinegary rice. Each bite was a unique, complex series of flavors, and each bite just seems better than the last.
The price is also very reasonable for the quality of the fish. The staff is super friendly
Make a reservation. It’s very difficult (it not impossible) to get a walk in, now that the word of this place is out.
Enjoy this magical experience!

Calling all Nigiri Sushi and Sashimi lovers… this is a MUST seek and feast while on the Big Island of Hawai’i!!!
An intimate setting that serves 8 patrons per seating, offering warm exchanges with the chef while attentive skill is squarely fixed on each sumptuous morsel! Freshly graded root of Wasabi complements each prep without over powering the subtle delicacy of the fish served. Absent here are Nouvelle Cuisine variations that tend to fuse food cultures with lavish sauces and overdressed garnishes. The Unagi and Uni was particularly incredible, straight forward, off-​the-​chart freshness and quality overall — outside of Japan, this is as authentic as it gets!
If/​When visiting the Island for just a few days, I recommend the following:
1.) Secure reservations well in advance of your visit. Preferably, you’re gonna want to share this dining experience with a few close companions — so, book the entire bar.
2.) This is a BYOB establishment, be sure to bring a couple of bottles of your favorite Sake in tow… and, do share with the chef.
3.) If this is your first Sushi outing, be adventurous and order Omaksae style (entrust the chef) — you won’t regret it! Note; If there’s a particular item that doesn’t tickle the palette, the chef will happily make another Onolicious selection to accommodate you.
Enjoy!