Tanaka of Tokyo Central — Restaurant in Honolulu

I wish I could just give 0 star. I am deeply disappointed with my recent experience at this restaurant in Honolulu. 5 hours left in Honolulu, after checking Yelp and calling ahead at 3:20pm to inquire about walk-in availability. A lady who answered the call assured me that they accept walk-ins and even provided a 5:30pm slot for my group of five. Surprisingly, she didn't request my name or phone number on the phone.

Eagerly, my group waited outside for 2 hours and returned as instructed. The host informed us that the next opening was at 6:15pm, which was far from the time we were promised. It's baffling that the staff at the front had no knowledge of our earlier conversation or our group's situation.

After waiting an additional 10 minutes, I finally had the chance to speak with the female manager. Her response was both disheartening and rude, lacking any empathy for our group, which included seniors and a child. She explained that other reservations had been made between my call and our arrival. This raises the question of why I was told a specific time and not asked for my contact details.

While I understand that availability can change, the lack of communication and the manager's unpleasant attitude were extremely disappointing. As a customer, I expected better treatment and accurate information. This experience has left a sour taste in my mouth and I hope that the restaurant can improve its service and communication to prevent others from facing similar frustrations.

Update to owner’s response below: We hadn't had lunch when I called which is around 3:20pm, and we were hoping to enjoy a full dinner before our upcoming long flight back to LA. Given that Google indicated the restaurant's opening time as 5:00pm, it doesn’t make sense for me to inquire about 'what does 5:30 look like for five people.' Had the manager not mentioned the '5:30pm' slot, our natural assumption would have been to wait for the restaurant to open at 5:00pm once they confirmed they accept walk-ins.

When I inquired about walk-in availability, I only asked if the restaurant accept walk-in. However, the female manager specifically asked me FIRST, 'How many people are in your group?' I promptly replied, 'We have five people and we are just downstairs and nearby right now.' She said,’We have openings at 5:30pm for 5.’ She didn’t promptly ask my info that’s why I said ‘Ok, we will come around 5:30’. I wish I could have a better experience. Thank you for your attention to...

Tanaka of Tokyo Central offers a unique dining experience that tantalizes both your taste buds and your sense of fun. Here in this exquisite dining opportunity, you'll witness skilled chefs cook your meal right before your eyes on sizzling teppanyaki grills. Their culinary acrobatics, including knife flips and flaming ingredients, add a visual flair to the dining experience. From melt-in-your-mouth Certified Angus Beef steaks to succulent seafood and crisp vegetables, the quality shines through in every bite. If it's in your budget range, I would personally recommend the savory Wagyu beef as it melts in your mouth after each bite.

Choose from a variety of options, including steak, chicken, seafood, and vegetarian dishes. Each comes with various sauces and flavorful sides to create a complete and satisfying meal. This also includes an interactive experience for all ages in your party. Engage with the chef as they cook your meal, asking questions and enjoying their witty banter. The chef interacts with the entire table, creating a lively and inclusive atmosphere. The chef's teppanyaki skills are not just functional, they're entertaining. From juggling vegetables to creating impressive flames, you'll be mesmerized by their culinary artistry. They've got some skills! The combination of sizzling grills, playful chefs, and happy diners creates an energetic and vibrant atmosphere that elevates the entire experience.

(NOTICE: I would HEAVILY recommend reserving the earliest possible table to ensure a memorable dining experience! This place can get packed, and for good reason! Plus, the waiters are extra attentive, going above-and-beyond the service portion of your night.)

(Also, unsure of what this green drink is called in the photos below this review is, but it was DELICIOUS. If you come here to have some drinks, definitely try it.)

Tanaka of Tokyo Central is more than just a restaurant; it's an experience. The combination of delicious teppanyaki, skilled chefs, and interactive entertainment creates a memorable and enjoyable dining experience for everyone. Whether you're looking for a fun night out with friends, a romantic dinner for two, or a celebratory occasion, Tanaka's is sure to deliver. So, if you're looking for a place where delicious food meets entertaining fun, look no further than Tanaka of Tokyo Central! Oh, and get the ice cream after, it's to die for! (Recommend the Green Tea and Mango flavors!)

-The...

We walked in without reservations a little before 6pm on a Sunday night and got seated immediately with 6 strangers to share a grill.

ATMOSPHERE: The dark and mysterious hallway opens up to an airy, high ceiling room that's chic, bold, and modern. They have 10 grills that can seat 8 people on each side, and a fairly big bar.

After we got settled, a staff member came around with her camera with the option of having your picture taken. We passed at this corny, money-making scheme when presented with this opportunity.

MENU: Steak, chicken, lobster, and combinations from affordable to pricey.

INCLUDED FARE: Dipping Sauces The ginger flavor is my favorite, the other is mustard which is good but I'm not a fan of it as it tastes a bit like hot mustard though it's mild. One sauce is really meant to be dipped with seafood, the other with meat, but I don't follow rules lol. It's all about preference!

Miso Soup Strong flavor, lots of diced tofu and seaweed. Very good.

Salad Simple green leaf salad topped with a slice of tomato, sliced cucmbers, shredded carrots & purple cabbage under a tangy/savory orange colored dressing. Good but nothing special.

Shrimp They were a little overdone and chewy but that's better than underdone in my book. Small portion, maybe about 5 diced pieces.

Mushrooms, Onions & Bell Peppers Simply stir fried and lightly seasoned. I wish this would come out along with the main entree but it's done as an appetizer.

Pickled Vegetables A perfectly small serving of pickled cucumbers and radish went great with the meal.

Bean Sprouts Oddly these were stir fried separately from the mushrooms and onions and were served last. Would've been nice to have these along with the other veggies and main meal.

Dessert Ice cream is what was for dessert, my favorite! There were about 4 or 5 flavors and I chose chocolate.

FOOD: Daimyo We both opted for this mid-priced combo meal that included a petite filet, lobster tail, and scallops for $50. The meat was super tender and cooked to my request of medium, and the lobster and scallops were nicely seared and moist. Delish!

Fried Rice Loads of garlicky flavor, but not much else.

SERVICE: Male server was excellent.

Chef was very engaging, had a great personality, skillful, and is perfect in his role. The other chef cooking for the other half of our table, couldn't compare to...