Kats Sushi

What would one expect for AYCE moderately priced sushi? It’s been a looong looong time since I’ve been back to Kats (I live in Seattle), but I revisited here after a ~5+ yr absence. And it is unfair that I would compare it to what Kats was back then – when they gave more generous slices of fish and the sushi overall was a bit higher quality. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still decent for what it is (and they remarkably have not raised their prices much at all since!).
The slices of fish on our sushi (maguro, salmon, albacore) were all pretty thinly sliced. An obvious ploy to get you full on rice instead. Despite their best efforts, we still put away what we would consider «our money’s worth».
And that was the only real negative here; otherwise the fish quality is pretty good, the service was pleasant. It was BYOB without any ‘cork fee’. It can get a little crowded, don’t expect fine dining ambiance. This is better than conveyor belt quality, and roughly the same price (all things being equal), so my rating should be closer to 3.5 stars (better than average)…

The best sushi place! We love, love, love Kat’s. They only serve nigiri and hand rolls but that is perfectly fine with us. BYOB too!

OK, do they want to be in business or not!!! This is the second time in two weeks I called to see if there was sushi and they said no and just today I overhear the guy telling the person I was speaking with to tell me the sushi chef left and it was only 12:30! REALLY!
This is not the way to do business! I will never again go there if I can help it!

For 23 bucks you can’t go wrong! So much better than any fast food sushi place and way less expensive. The fish is fresh and good quality. If you plan on going during the weekend make sure to book a reservation because it’s packed. The only thing I can find that I didn’t like so much is that he gives kinda plenty rice. But even with that being said. I feel like this is a great deal and I will for sure return and bring friends.

Looking for AYCE sushi? Kats is your place :) it is very small and has only around 4 tables and sushi bar seating on the inside, but the sushi is fresh, and for around $ 25 per person, you can’t go wrong coming here… Also, it’s BYOB.
Each group can order a total of 5 choices each round, and there is a great variety of nigiri and hand roll selections (so if you are looking for a place with fancy specialty rolls, you should go elsewhere)
make sure you eat everything you order, because you will get charged for stuff you don’t eat (i.e.: the rice part of the sushi)!
Also, a few years ago when I went, we were allowed to order more when we were almost done, but this time… You must finish everything before you can order more! And then, since there is only 1 – 2 sushi chefs, it usually takes awhile for them to make your next order, so you will get full as you sit there waiting (which is what they want to happen lol)
Overall, despite the slow service sometimes, this place is worth going and the sushi is delicious! I just wish hawaii had more options for AYCE sushi haha

Lol the last time I came here was when I was a kid, when you couldn’t even put a dent when eating sushi in a sushi buffet. Oh but now its a different story!
My mom wanted to eat sushi realllllyyy badly, and suggested for us all to come here. They were surprised that the price only increased $ 5 ($ 19 to $ 24) from 8 years ago! With the economy nowadays you would expect a bigger price jump, especially at a sushi buffet.
For the sushi buffet you can order 5 choices of sushi at a time. After the initial first order you can order a max of five choices, but can lower your order to fit your needs. All together we ordered so much sushi! Nigiri and even hand rolls, they have a lot of different choices. In all you get your moneys worth here.
The service here is great! They are all really friendly and offered us free parking even if the back parking lot said otherwise. Oh and it’s BYOB as well. If you have a HUGE sushi craving I would recommend coming here!

Came here for the first time for lunch with some co-​workers, pretty cozy definitely not good to come with a big group. I had the chirashi bowl, it was all right but I was still hungry after ended up ordering a spicy tuna hand roll, which also thought was all right. The service was great they are very friendly here. Great place to come for a quick lunch and head back to the office.

Everything was great! First time there, definitely returning. Service was great! Everything made fresh and made when ordered. If you go for dinner service, parking is flat rate $ 2.

Whenever we have a sushi craving we always go to Kats for their all you can eat sushi. Everything is always fresh and consistent. It’s BYOB too, how can you go wrong! The staff area always friendly and keep an eye on your table so they know when to go back and take your next order. We always leave happy and satisfied:)

All you can eat sushi just never seems like a sustainable business model, as evidenced by Sushi-​San. And yet, Kats sushi is still here rockin it for longer than I’ve lived in Honolulu.
$ 24+tax & tip for all the nigiri or handrolls you can stomach, plus BYOB! Not as cheap as it used to be, but still extremely reasonable if you’re a big eater. When you think about $ 24 at Doraku, or Genki, you won’t be eating nearly as much!
So you order 5 choices at a time, and each person in your group gets 2 nigiri or 1 handroll, depending on which category the choices fall into. They put the expensive items in handrolls so you get more rice, but it’s worth it to try a couple!
Here’s what we sampled:
Nigiri–
–Maguro: Tradition! Really fresh tasting and probably one of the best choices.
–Hamachi: Didn’t have much flavor, but maybe we got a mild filet.
–Tai: Interesting ocean flavor, not my favorite but liked by others in our group
–Sake: Very fresh and buttery, but very thinly sliced. Salmon is so subtle that the thin slices really dampen the flavor.
–Hokkigai: Not recommended. Rubbery and not very meaty or flavorful.
–Ika: Same problems as hokkigai. I usually love ika so I was disappointed.
–Unagi: Very good. Slightly gritty but still delicious.
–Ebi: Fresh and tasty. If you like shrimp, you can’t go wrong!
–Saba: A nice change of pace from the usual fish options. Tart and meaty.
Handrolls–
–Hotategai: Scallop mayo with tobbiko, really really good.
–Ikura: Another favorite! I was shocked that these are cheaper ala carte than tobbiko.
–Spicy salmon: Very tasty, but their salmon is so fresh it’s better without the spicy sauce.
If anyone in your group starts to fall behind, just remember that they can opt out of future orders. For example, if 3 people in a group of 5 are full, your next order can be up to 5 options for only 2 people. Very considerate of them.
I ended up eating 28 nigiri and 3 handrolls, just because everything was so good. There was only one waittress, who was starting to look flustered when we kept ordering, and even told my friends to finish their sushi before I could order more for myself. Not really the nicest atmosphere, but I can understand where she was coming from.
As mentioned in other reviews, make a reservation! This place is popular and fills up fast. Parking is up a scary steep ramp on cooke st., $ 2 flat fee from 4−9pm, or free on the street if you get there early.
Maintaining an all-​you-​can-​eat business with quality ingredients is something that Kats Sushi is doing right. Come check this place out for some good food at a good price.

Visited Kats Sushi last night for the first time and what can I say… It was one of my best sushi adventures yet!
I called two days ahead to make a reservation at 5:30 when they first opened. When we got to the building, we parked in the back lot which was $ 2 flat rate from 4−9pm I believe.
We arrived a bit late due to traffic, but were promptly greeted and took our seats. The restaurant at 5:45 on a Tuesday was empty! Maybe there’s a Tuesday special I don’t know about? Either way, I think the AYCE special for $ 23+tax is a special in itself. You can also order ala cart at the restaurant but be warned that each nigiri sushi (usually comes in pairs) is served as a single piece. The prices on the menu seems to have gone up as well for ala carte items, but no matter for my friend and I.
When ordering the AYCE, keep in mind that for every time you order, you can only choose a selection of 5 items at a time. The next time the waitress comes around, you can order more. The top three items here according to the waitress are the sake (salmon), hamachi, and unagi. The fish quality was really good considering the price, I can guarantee that it will not taste or look fishy! The amount of rice for each nigiri sushi and roll will fill you. Wasabi and ginger are served on the side, as well as complimentary green tea. The restaurant is BYOB, so come and bring a few choices along with you! There is also no time limit, but do keep in mind that the restaurant is small (~20 inside capacity), so think of the others who will be waiting at peak hours!
Let’s just say that if I were to have ordered the ala carte sushi, I would have paid $ 60 for myself. I came hungry and excited for the experience. The woman who was host and waitress, as well as the chef were very friendly, they made my experience whole!
I will definitely be back soon, looking to eat a lot more of the choices they have!

You can’t go wrong with all you can eat sushi for $ 23, plus tax and tip! And BYOB makes this deal even better.
I do recommend calling a day prior to make reservations as they do have a full house.
You can park on the street for free after 6:30 pm, weekdays, or park in the lot for a few of $ 2.00.

I never knew such a place existed. 25 dollars AYCE?! Why not?!
After watching a documentary about sushi, the craving for sushi was real. We decided to have a bite and because it was a holiday we were scrambling around last minute for a good place that was open and available without having to wait long. It so happened that I’ve heard many good things about Kat sushi from several people and after today, I finally know why.
This place is small, I thought It would be a little bigger but that’s okay, people go in and out. Luckily, when we got there it was a fair 15 minute wait. I suggest that you call them beforehand to make a reservation because of the limited amount of seats.
It’s a cozy small, family owned type of business. The waitress was extremely nice, and our sushi chef was nice as well. They were always smiling and so friendly.
The sushi was so yummy, I can’t point out exactly which one is my favorite… I loved the hamachi tho ! The hand rolls are super filling so I suggest that you don’t order much of that if you plan on really eating lol, but if you’re hungry why not!!?
Had I known that this place existed over 45 years ago, I would have gone here often. Now that I’m fully aware that we have a all you can eat sushi bar with such awesome customer service and great price… I will definitely be coming back again.

AYCE sushi!!! What more is there to say? Be aware that it is ONlY nigiris and hand rolls if you are looking for anything else. And the best thing is, it’s also BYOB!
I love that they were also able to accommodate me and 12 other friends outside so we were able to enjoy our dinner. And despite the fact that it was busy on a Saturday the sushi came out in a timely manner.

We made a last minute reservation and was able to get two seats for 6:30pm. It is a small place. We sat at the bar which gave us the opportunity to speak with the sushi chef who was friendly.
We started off with a plate of various nirigi. The fish pieces were thin. It left me feeling like I haven’t eaten any fish but only rice. Next we tried some hand rolls. We enjoyed the hand rolls much better than the nirigi as there was more fish in the handrolls but at the same time, there was also a ton of rice in the handrolls. Since there’s only 1 chef who makes the sushi, there’s a slight wait in between plates which means you are full by the time the next plate comes around.
They gave us a complimentary grilled hamachi which was very good but also very rich.
We ate a lot less than we normally do at buffets due to the amount of rice in every handroll and the waiting in between. I had a craving for fish prior to dinner and left feeling extremely stuffed but still craving fish. And that is because you will be stuffed… with rice. Positives for this place is that the servers are friendly, the price is pretty cheap at $ 25 per person (after taxes added), and byob.
We were in and out in about 45 minutes as we were so stuffed by all the rice. My husband enjoyed himself but I would not be back. I eat sushi to eat fish… not rice.

Me and my boyfriend decided to come here as a last minute dinner date. I called around 4:30PM to make reservations for 6PM (I know, VERY last minute)… No one picked up the phone but I was able to leave a voicemail for my reservations. Around 5:30PM, I received a call from their hostess who was able to take my last minute reservation! :)
Customer service and the sushi were awesome! Can’t beat AYCE sushi for $ 25 :)

AYCE sushi for $ 25?!? Uhh yes please!!!
After hearing good things about this place it’s hard not to stay away. The love for sushi is real. We were able to squeeze a last minute reservation for two on a Saturday night. So glad we did because it’s a small restaurant. Like real small. There was a party of 10 and 2 other parties of 2.
Let’s get to the reason of why you’re reading this. Food is pretty good. Sushi pieces are fresh, however some pieces of fish were on the thinner side compared to other places. The rice wasn’t big as I thought it would be compared to other reviews. With the selection of different types of sushi, it’s worth the $ 25 if you like to eat nigiri sushi.
From previous experience, I didn’t care for their spicy ahi lunch special. Just wait for dinner and enjoy. Parking is easy there’s space in the back parking. Just be careful going up and down the ramp because it’s steep.

This is THE ONLY ONE AYCE sushi place in the State of Hawaii. Really, no other! So why don’t you make it worthwhile for your customers??? I’ve known that this place existed for decades, but was always hesitate to try it. Why? Because I don’t want to be stuffed with rice. But my husband really wanted to try it because his friends rave about it, so we went. And yes, I was right, the chefs have tremendous skills since they can slice the thinnest slice of sashimi on the island. And then stuff you with rice. I found it hilarious when my husband pointed out that they’ve won 1^st place at the Rice Festival.
All I can say is… wait until you go to Vegas for AYCE Sushi!

Overall impression:
This place serves a very unique purpose. I would highly recommend it if you have a whole lot of time and want to spend it hanging out with friends and having some drinks with sushi.
Average price: $ 24 for all-​you-​can eat sushi.
Tips:
–definitely bring your own drinks
–bring good company
–come early!
–order the nigiri first
–expect to just have a good time with your friends rather than expecting great sushi. Then you’ll have fun.
Positives:
–very interesting atmosphere
–byob
–pretty cheap for all you can eat sushi
–the customer service is very good
Negatives:
–sushi is very average
–takes a long time to get served, especially if they’re busy
–sitting outside is kind of fun, but also pretty ghetto
Came here for the first time on a Thursday night. I reserved the outside area, not knowing what it looked like. When I got there, I saw two costco folding tables outside the restaurant and some metal folding chairs and quickly realized that this was my reserved table. The tables were pretty dirty and at the moment, there wasn’t even a covering to the area. Thankfully, as soon as they saw we were there, they released an extendable awning over the tables. They also wiped the tables and put out some utensils, but it was still pretty ghetto. There was some guy cleaning the gutters outside with a loud machine, so we had to listen to it for the first hour of our meal.
The waitress was very nice. I really liked her. She provided great service as best as she could. The problem is that the place is run by one sushi chef and then just her as the waitress. Well, as hard and fast as they can work, they still can’t get the sushi out as fast as we would have liked. It’s understandable and a part of the experience, but I usually don’t have time to just sit for 3 hours for a meal. However, they were very nice about it and the chef even sent us a complimentary Hamachi collar for the wait.
I thought the sushi was average. My wife, who is a sushi enthusiast, says it was the worst sushi she has ever tasted. She didnt like the rice, mainly. We both thought the fish was okay, although maybe a bit thin and small. I ate lots of the unagi, which I thought was average for unagi, but I like it all the same. The rolls were pretty good, although they did have a lot of rice.
Overall, it was a fun experience because of the people I was with and the fact that we brought our own drinks. It was basically a social hangout for us, with time to drink and relax and talk, with sushi. For all-​you-​can-​eat sushi, the price was great. I generally don’t have time to sit and wait for my food, but in this case, it worked out okay. I would say, only go to this place if you’re planning on having a long evening with your friends and definitely bring some drinks.

ALL YOU CAN EAT SUSHI for $ 25/​person (including tax). Fresh fish, handmade to order, and limited seating. So cheap and so ono. More points for BYOB!
The place is somewhat hidden on King Street. Inside is small — a few wooden tables with a couple seats at the bar– maximum about 20 people or so. It’s cozy too. When it’s busy, they add plastic tables and chairs right outside the restaurant on the lanai area. Call ahead for reservations.
When you do all you can eat — you can only order five types of sushi at a time per group. The chef then makes one of each type for each person at the table. There are some restrictions on the type of sushi they offer. There are nigiri and hand roll choices. Some of my faves are the Scallop (with Tobiko) and Spicy Ahi hand rolls. The hamachi and maguro are usually very fresh too. Note that for all you can eat, certain types come in handroll style only. It’s easier (and faster) for the chef and probably so you get fuller faster.
Ala Carte is regularly priced (so I don’t know why you would go that route).
Parking is in the back of the building, up a very steep driveway. $ 2 for a couple of hours. There’s not much street parking nearby.
Going on off days are better — less crowded (again, it’s very small) and faster service. Even on busy nights the service is always great. So yummy and fun for groups.