Totoya とと家 Kaimuki — Restaurant in Honolulu

We visited Tsukiji Market in Tokyo in 2024 and, despite the high prices, were treated to incredible sashimi dishes. If you’re looking for a similar experience without breaking the bank, Totoya とと家 is the perfect choice.

Totoya opens at 5 PM and closes at 11 PM. This is my second time here and when I first came, I knew I had to bring my husband here. When we arrived at 5:30 PM, there was already a line forming outside, with diners enjoying their meals inside. The space is quite small, so expect a cozy atmosphere.

After a short wait, we were warmly welcomed with an energetic Japanese greeting upon being seated. The staff was exceptionally friendly and attentive. Totoya is famous for its Negitoro bowls, which are a must-try.

My husband ordered the Tokoju bowl, and I went for the Nishiki bowl. Their menu is packed with intricate flavors, making it difficult to describe each bowl fully—everything was just bursting with taste. The dishes were so delicious that my husband couldn’t resist ordering a third: the salmon bowl w/ salmon roe. It truly brought back memories of dining at a hidden gem in Tsukiji Market.

A few tips for your visit: • Arrive early to secure a spot. • Familiarize yourself with the proper way to enjoy the bowls. • Don’t underestimate the portion sizes—the bowls are massive! • Try their homemade soy sauce and experiment with the sesame seed grinder for added flavor. Every element on the table enhances the experience.

Totoya is a delightful culinary gem that will transport you straight to the heart of Tokyo’s...

Very disappointing dining experience. A few things we felt not welcomed here.

We asked for napkins, didn’t get it from the waiter until we left. (Chef gave us some paper towel though). This is our first time failed to get a napkin in a Japanese restaurant.

We ordered two donburi and asked which was which. Because we didn’t know the Japanese names, the server’s response felt impatient and defensive, as if our questions were a bother.

Our server explicitly prompted us for a tip even after we’d already shared our dissatisfaction. There would be no tip no matter the ‘request’, however we felt bothered again.

The restaurant has good looking Japanese food, Japanese-speaking chefs, Japanese interior, but lacks the most important Japanese spirit, which customers expect prior to visit and the restaurant tries very hard to give - the customer empathy.

If you want to truly enjoy the ‘$100 dining experience’, go to some other places who serve napkins and explain the dishes to their customers- the lowest standard for all...

I first saw this restaurant on a social media post. The food looked interesting and delicious so we decided to try it. The food was good, but definitely not worth the price. Portion size was decent but for the price they should add more of the seafood items to the bowls. The special miso soups were disappointing and not served hot, maybe them having to add the crab/seafood cold brings down the temperature. I’m assuming they don’t have an actual stove for cooking as your only choice is raw ingredients. For a seemingly Japanese owned and run restaurant, the lack of attention to details is an overall disappointment. Atmosphere was lacking, service was okay, but I felt as though they were just pretending to be nice and not really caring about our experience. The menu was surprisingly small and they did not have any options if you didn’t like a certain ingredient. I’ve been to a lot of Japanese restaurants in Hawaii and Japan and mostly all of them have been really accommodating. Unfortunately, I will not be...