Tonkatsu Atmark — Restaurant in Honolulu

The food was okay, but the overall dining experience was very disappointing.

We made a reservation for six at 12:00 PM on a Sunday to try their lunch specials. The restaurant called the day before asking to move it to 11:30 AM. Couldn't answer the phone so they left a voicemail. We called back a few times to confirm that 11:30 was okay but no one answered the phone. When we arrived at 11:30 we had to wait outside and we weren't seated until 12:00.

When we tried to order the lunch specials (which they promote heavily on Instagram and by food influencers), we were told they're only available on weekdays not weekends. This was never mentioned anywhere in their marketing or on the menu, which only listed the hours (11:30 AM-2:30 PM). The lunch menu is even pinned to their Instagram as the first featured picture and now where does it mention what days the lunch menu is offered only the time. Even our server said she had just learned this herself so we asked since when was this changed implemented and she replied it has always been that way. We felt misled and disappointed.

We decided to order from the regular menu. On the front page, it states a 4% service charge for credit card payments. To avoid it, we asked TWICE about using a debit card to avoid fees, but the answer from the servers was that they don't know. So I walked to an ATM, paid a $3.75 withdrawal fee, to get cash for payment later. At the end of the meal when we tried to pay they told they weren't accepting cash. We were baffled and could only laugh at this point. Why didn't the server inform us of this before we before we walk to the ATM to withdraw cash. They knew we were trying to avoid the service fee. And do they expect everyone to just pay the service fee because there is no other option to pay. In the end, we paid by debit card ONLY to discover that the 4% service charge got included into the price of each item on the receipt. If this was the case they should have just included the service fee in the prices on the menu. For example the curry in the menu is $6 but on the receipt it's $6.24. This made the whole situation even more frustrating.

As for the food: portions were small, and most of us found it average at best. The oyster tempura was tiny, and four out of five people thought their tonkatsu was dry. Even the cabbage was not cut as thin as it should. The restaurant itself is small and some of us literally had to crawl into our seats.

Overall, the food was just meh especially for its high price, but the lack of transparency and poor communication made the experience unpleasant. We won't be...

I've been to Tonkatsu Atmark twice, and my first attempt was a bust. I tried to walk in for lunch on a Friday, but the limited seating was mostly reserved on Yelp or by phone, so we had to leave disappointed. ​My next visit was much more successful. We made reservations for a Thursday evening right when they opened at 5:30 pm. It was a slower night, and we were seated immediately. ​The service was excellent. Our server was patient while we decided on our order and frequently refilled our water. They were very accommodating to our group, especially since we had a child with us, providing a special set of dinnerware. They carefully placed each tray on the table and were quick to bring us extra cabbage and takeout trays upon request. ​The atmosphere was a little tight. The restaurant is quite small, and the tables are close together, which made it hard to have a private conversation since the whole restaurant can hear you. It felt quiet, and I'm not sure if there was background music. On the plus side, the space was clean, and I liked the built-in drawer at the tables for napkins and chopsticks (common in korean bbq places like hanang). ​Now for the food—it was delicious. Unlike other places that serve layered pork tonkatsu, this menu offered a variety of sets, including pork tenderloin, shrimp, oyster, and chicken katsu. The most impressive item on the menu seemed to be the A5 Wagyu beef tonkatsu, though I didn't try it. My set came with miso soup, rice, and an entrée of two oyster katsus, two shrimp tempuras, and two pieces of pork tenderloin tonkatsu. Note, one member of our group thought the pork tonkatsu was alittle bit rare in comparison to the remaining group members. ​The best part, though, was the three small samplers served at the start: tofu, broccoli, and cabbage. It sounds simple, but they were surprisingly good, as was the pickled vegetable. As with most tonkatsu places, they also provided sesame seeds to grind and four sauces: mild, regular, and spicy tonkatsu sauce, plus a miso sauce for the cabbage. ​Overall, it's a good place that’s definitely worth a try, though it is pricey. I had a great experience and would...

I didn’t even know there was a new spot for tonkatsu until one day while walking to the nearby pho spot, I saw a bunch of flowers at their door. I popped in and asked how they take reservations. They said they planned to do Yelp reservations the following week (it’s now up) but they could jot down my name for a reservation. They couldn’t take walk-ins but at least they could take a walk-in reservation!

The day has come and so glad we got to try it out! It’s a small-medium place with maybe 8 to 10 tables, although they’re placed pretty close to each other. Of course the place was modern and new. Each table has a drawer for chopsticks and napkins as well, so help yourself.

We got 2 teishoku - one regular pork loin with shrimp and another tenderloin with shrimp. They cooked their meat to a slight pink center but it should be safe to consume. The pork was tender and juicy. I personally prefer the loin more because it had more flavor! And I think their method of cooking made even regular pork loin juicy and tender, so imo I won’t need to go for the tenderloin. Normally my son is not a tonkatsu fan because the meat could be chewy, but he ate two big pieces! Their soup was flavorful but I think it’s a bit greasy for me as I could see a layer of oil on top. Maybe they could skim it? Or maybe that’s where the flavor is, dunno. I also enjoyed their shrimp. The batter was flaky and crispy. I enjoyed all their sides and loved how they had broccoli as well!

Service was great. Although they’re slammed, they were helpful and attentive with water refills and checking on us when they’re done with taking orders for other tables.

Overall great experience and...