We love a good Japanese breakfast! The full set complete with rice, miso soup, fish, omelet, pickles, and more, is one of the nicest ways to start the day. Here are a few of our favorite spots for Japanese breakfast in Hawaii ^_^
Sensei Lanai (Lanai)
Japanese breakfast is served at the main restaurant of Sensei Lanai.
The restaurant is called Sensei by Nobu. Think of it as a slightly more health focused version of the regular Nobu restaurants.
We came for breakfast during our staycation. I believe you can also order this Japanese breakfast off the room service menu ^_^
Here's a look at the menu!
The Japanese breakfast is $36 (previously $32) and includes:
- Rice (your choice, white or brown)
- Roasted Ora King salmon
- Vegetable miso soup
- Onsen tamago
- Nishime
- Hijiki salad
A few notes:
I got the brown rice and it came more as a mixed grain rice. Loved this! My mom use to cook a similar rice at home (we called it purple rice because all the beans give it a slight red/purple color). It's simple to make and good for you. I'll work on a recipe post for this rice.
The roasted salmon came with a spoonful of ikura and local calamansi. Both were great touches! It was my first time squeezing calamansi over salmon, that's a combo I'd like to repeat.
Most places that offer Japanese breakfast in Hawaii serve a rolled egg omelette. I like how they had onsen egg / tamago instead.
Go early to request one of the outside tables overlooking all the beautiful koi fish. It is peaceful. This staycation breakfast was a real treat and one that I hope to do soon again.
It was a pretty dark and cold morning. That type of weather is so un-Hawaii, but that's what made it special. It rained all day and I spent the afternoon reading books inside. Cozy!
A quiet morning and table for two ^_^
P.S. Lanai is a short flight from Oahu (only 40 minutes), but feels a world apart.
Fujiyama Texas (Oahu)
Fujiyama Texas is a popular Japanese izakaya on King Street in Honolulu. It's a good value, the food is great, and vibes are fun.
Plus, parking is free and easy. This place is packed at night with couples, friends...everyone!
But few people know that they also serve breakfast. Yes! They offer a full Japanese breakfast with your choice of fish.
Here's a look at the menu.
I usually get the grilled salmon or miso butterfish breakfast. It comes with:
- Fish (your choice grilled salmon, miso butterfish, grilled local fish)
- Rice
- Miso soup
- Pickled cucumbers
- Rolled omelet
- Seaweed and kinpira gobo
There are a couple of changes you can do like replace the regular rice with yaki-musubi (grilled rice ball). You can also upgrade from miso soup to tonjiru (pork and tofu soup).
I love the tonjiru and definitely recommend making this upgrade!
One thing that makes the breakfast special is the local fish option. I don't know any other restaurant that offers a local fish option for Japanese breakfast!
They have a sign that lists the daily local fish. It was akule on the day of our visit. I love akule but it has a lot of bones, so I just ordered my usual grilled salmon. You can pick salt or miso for the salmon. I went with salt.
Here's a look at the interior. We went Saturday morning and just a few other tables were filled. It's a completely different vibe from dinner when it's packed.
I like the bright morning light coming in, the calm energy, and thoughtful meal. A nice way to start the day!
This Japanese breakfast is much more affordable than the hotel options, which we all appreciate. $11-15 a set depending on the fish selection and upgrades.
P.S. They also offer other breakfast sets that include udon (similar to this but with pork) and mochi stuffed aburage. Yum ^_^
Halekulani Hotel (Oahu)
We love the Halekulani Hotel! Beautiful and serene, this is where we go for lovely staycations with family, sunset mai tais with friends, and afternoon tea.
Japanese breakfast is served at Orchids (it's also on the room service menu).
My favorite tables at Orchids not the ones in the "front row" (closest to the ocean). This is because there are too many birds and the birds are aggressive. The view is beautiful, though!
The second row is pretty good.
But I like the third row the best. This is when you're just one step up from the ground and fully set in the restaurant but still have the beautiful view and breeze of the outdoors.
Here's a look at the Japanese breakfast menu.
$54 is a pricey Japanese breakfast, but a wonderful one. You're paying for the setting as much as you are for the food.
The breakfast set start a pot of sencha (which I replaced with coffee because I needed it haha) and your choice of local pineapple or papaya with lime.
Then all the treats come out one by one.
There is rice and nori, and then miso soup. Followed by a super silky piece of miso butterfish (I'm not sure why this miso butterfish tasted so good but it did).
And then more! The rolled egg omelette, a trio of pickles, two types of sashimi, nishime, kinpira gobo, and seaweed with wasabi.
This beautiful meal plus good company and gorgeous views on an early Saturday morning? We are truly lucky to live Hawaii.
More Japanese Breakfast Spots
There are a few other spots I'd like to re-visit for Japanese breakfast.
They include The Kahala Hotel (breakfast is served at Plumeria Beach House), Nami Kaze (on the brunch menu), Yoshitsune in Waikiki, and I-Naba (they stopped breakfast in 2021 and recently re-started breakfast).
I'll update this post with menu and photos once I revisit those spots. Hooray for a great Japanese breakfast! ^_^
Alan
Your post comes just in time for me. We go to HNL next week for our annual vacation. I will have Japanese breakfast at Fujiyama Texas. It is very difficult to find Japanese breakfast these days. Our first stop is a couple of days in Kona, and even Teshima's doesn't have Japanese breakfast anymore. Just a few years ago, my wife and I used to have Japanese breakfast at Dot's in Wahiawa, but they are no more. And in the really old days, I used to have Japanese breakfast at the Kobayashi Hotel on King Street, back in the good old days (you can tell how old I am!).
Kathy
Wow so many Japanese breakfast spots back in the day! I wish we still had all these options. If you have extra time, I-Naba (also on King Street, right by Fujiyama) recently brought back their breakfast (only on Tuesday mornings for now). It is another good spot worth checking out! Safe travels and have a very fun and delicious vacation 🙂
Kathy
Garrick Gondo
I love Japanese Breakfast at Teshima’s in Kona.
Kathy
Thank you, Garrick! Will make sure to check out Teshima's next time I'm in Kona! 🙂
Kathy
Jing Yu
I always look forward to your new food adventures! Love Japanese breakfast too. Would love to I visit Hawaii one day with my husband.
Fellow Japanese food lover from Singapore.
Kathy
Aloha and thank you, Jing! Hope you visit Hawaii one day soon 🙂
Kathy