Restaurant Do-ne Japanese Food

Do-​né is a really small, and I mean really small, hole-​in-​the-​wall Japanese restaurant on Kalakaua, with a blue awning! It is easy to miss so be sure to be alert for the small driveway that leads to their parking lot behind the restaurant. It is recommended to make reservations because there are only about 5 – 6 tables? Luckily the last time my boyfriend and I came here was around the time they opened at 5:30 pm, before it filled up.
I like their Maguro or Salmon/​Ikura Don sets. The set comes with the basic miso soup, salad and tsukemono (pickled vegetables). These sets fill me up for a decent price! Their fried baby octopus is also good, as well as their fried chicken! They had some kind of mayo or tartar sauce on their fried chicken, which they really didn’t need since it was so tasty. They should just add that sauce on the side as an option instead of over the chicken.
I love these hole-​in-​the-​wall restaurants! Definitely should check it out! Also, don’t forget to check their weekly menus on the wall near the kitchen. I always forget, but they have some good specials you may want to try!

First time here. Tried the Salmon Ikura don. Totemo Oishisoo! Hope to bring family & friends here in the future!

I love this place but the lunch menu is very limited. I wanted to order the Japanese egg omelette and the fried baby octopus but they have it only at dinner
We tried to come in to dinner last nite but the place is so small that they could not accommodate us a party of six so we came back for lunch the next day that’s why the three stars and not five

For the price, this is good as it gets. While there are many ethnic Japanese in Hawaii, and local Japanese restaurants (Gyotaku, Shogun…) sometimes I want to more authentic experience. You will get this at Do-​né. The portions were Japanese sized and just right for lunch. Most of the lunch menu was between nine and $ 11. That was extremely fair given the quality of the food. I believe they could’ve jumped the price two dollars on each meal and still had people come in. Where else do you get mentaiko with konyaku noodles a side dish at this price point. I appreciated the cucumber pickled instead of some fluorescent yellow takuwan. My fried chicken was juicy and had of all things of tartar sauce on top of it. It worked. I’ll order this again. I need to come here for dinner or pupils and try the rest of the menu.
If you are coming at night this is a BYOB place.
It is a small restaurant too and the tables are small. I would not bring more than a party of four to this restaurant.

Restaurant Do-​né is a small one-​of-​a-​kind «hole-​in-​the-​wall» restaurant that serves spectacular Japanese food at an affordable price. I would highly recommend that you make reservations here since the limited number of seats and tables available fill up quickly. Otherwise, expect to wait awhile if you are walking in.
If you have ever been to Japan, eating restaurant Do-no’s food will immediately fly you back there across the ocean. That is the level of «ono» we are talking about. From the main entrée to the tsukemono, the rating of «umami» contained is indescribable for the value. For dinner, I would highly recommend ordering the pork-​belly stew dinner set or the katsu-​don dinner set. Last but not least, restaurant Do-​no is one of the few eateries on Oahu in the «$-$$» price range that actually offers delicious, fluffy-​white, short-​grain rice as compared to other Japanese restaurants’ jasmine or calrose rice.
The next time you are trying to find an eatery that won’t put a hole in your wallet, make reservations for lunch or dinner here.

I give 4 stars for the food. However, communication is fair because most of the time, the server couldn’t understand us.

Homestyle Kyushu comfort dishes.
Food is prepared expertly in a warm atmosphere. Friendly and attentive service, but the space is so small that you better make reservations or come early/​late.
Parking behind the space on Kalakaua, but you’ll get scolded if you park under the roofing as the real estate office is apparently open late.
As for menu items, everything so far has been great, but if there’s grilled fish of any sort, I highly recommend! Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with any of the fried items (tako and oysters are my fav), as well as their daily sampling of sashimi.
Price point is great and it’s BYOB. Definitely worth checking out!

We came for dinner for my brother’s birthday and it’s a cute restaurant with friendly staff. Following the comments from other Unilocalers, look for the blue awning and the parking entrance is right after that.
Good thing we came early and had a reservation because it filled up very quickly after we sat down. The restaurant space is pretty small and there seems to be maybe a staff of three (only two ladies came in and out of the kitchen and maybe one other person in the back). Calling ahead to make a reservation is highly recommended.
The menu is simple with pupus and meat and seafood options and a couple of dinner and weekly specials. We ordered the marinated chicken set, the grilled salmon set and the chirashi (seafood) don set. The food came pretty quickly and all three items looked fresh and yummy.
1. Marinated chicken set: the chicken was tender and moist with a nice crust, the marinade was light. We originally asked for the sauce on the side and that was a good idea as it was like a mayo tartar sauce. $ 12.50
2. Grilled salmon set: the salmon was nicely grilled, a little crispy along the edges, great flavor, no bones. $ 12.50
3. Chirashi (seafood) don set: combination of ahi, salmon, hamachi, ika (squid), tako (octopus) and ikura with cucumber over sushi rice. Really good seafood vs. rice portion for $ 15.50
All sets come with rice, miso soup, salad and small sides. Overall very filling meal for a reasonable price.

very small hole in the wall restaurant with a few tables.
came here for the first time for lunch and got the chicken nanban set 9.50 $ and the seafood don set 12.50 $.
food is plentiful for what you pay .
taste was good and the server was very friendly and nice .
the water and tea cup was never empty.
lunch menu is very small, but they have addicional daily specials.
will be back to try their dinner

I did not know this place gets packed easily.
The restaurant is very small and pretty much all the tables were reserved except for two tables when we arrived. So we got a table right away. We got lucky!
Everything looked very good on the menu. I decided to have kyushu chicken nanban teishoku. My husband got katsudon teishoku. Both were so good.
This meal really made me not wanna go back to Vancouver. ToT
Parking is in the back.

This place is amazing! I came here for the first time after hearing how good it is from a friend. The waiter was very friendly and stoked on life!
–great authentic Japanese food
–great service
–great people!

Had lunch with a friend here for the first time. We came early, when they first opened… food was good, cute place, just about 6 tables, parking in the back.
I love the way the food is carefully presented in small dishes… so Japanese.
I like it so much that my husband and I went back for dinner on the weekend…
He thought it was good.
What I found really frustrating, is they had a special posted for the following week… I tried to go 3 times and was not able to either find parking, or they ran out of the special… even at lunch time. That kind of burst my excitement… so maybe after I get over my disappointment, I’ll try again.

This restaurant is small and yes the wait is long but it is DEFINITELY worth it.
The food is great and theres something about the rice that makes it really good.
The feeling that you get inside is relaxing and makes you want to sleep after you’ve eaten such a good meal.
The prices are reasonable too!
I will definitely recommend this place!

Great food! Do-​né is a small mom and pop shop that has authentic Japanese style food. It reminds me of what we are while in Japan. Small dishes that are beautifully presented with a homey feeling.
We got the seafood don (Chirashi), Salmon Ikura don, Salmon set and Seasoned Ahi don. It comes on a tray with many little dishes of little pickled veggies, miso soup, and small chef choice appetizer. The fish was fresh and every bite was amazing. Simple yet so satisfying.

Small restaurant with limited seating. While they accept walk-​ins it’s best to reserve a table for parties of 3 or more. Parking in the back as long as you don’t miss the small driveway entrance. My wife and I made reservations during our most recent trip based on all the glowing reviews.
Our reservation was for 6pm, when we arrived we tried to order the pork belly stew set but they already ran out. It seems like they only have a limited supply for their lunch and dinner service. The best bang for the buck is the marinated fried chicken set. The table next to us ordered this and it looked appetizing and large in terms of portion size.
From the Pupu (appetizer) menu we ordered the Japanese style omelette (steamed), and the flourless pancake. Both were appetizing but the omelette was a little on the sweet side.
I ordered the seafood don set and my wife ordered the seasoned tuna don set. Both were appetizing. What impressed me the most was that the rice was seasoned with vinegar so soy sauce was not required for my seafood don. Essentially I was able to enjoy the fresh sashimi with my rice as is. My wife’s donburi consisted of thinly sliced tuna. The rice to tuna ratio was off, there being more rice.
Should you order the set meal or a-​la-​carte? If you’re a local and frequent Do-​né often or every now and then, ordering the set meal probably makes sense. If you’re a tourist and only plan to try out this place, then go with a-​la-​carte. Save room by avoiding the filler, such as rice to try out more items. The set meal essentially provides a bowl of rice, miso soup, a small lettuce/​tofu salad with dressing, and small bite sized palate cleansers. You can probably order a bowl of rice on the side. Most items on the set menu can be ordered a-​la-​carte from the Pupu section.
There is a special’s board placed next to the kitchen and it’s BYOB. The party of 8 next to us brought in their own cooler full of alcohol.

Hands-​down, probably one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants that I’ve been to in Honolulu. When I called on the phone, and Japanese and asked me some questions that I am scores cannot understand. This should have been my first clue that it was going to be a great and authentic experience.
I ordered the unagi don (freshwater eel) for dinner and it was only $ 11.90! Not to mention it was so buttery and the eel sauce was on point! To add on the sides, I was another five dollars, but I was happy to eat them!
The only catch about this restaurant, is that it seats just 15 people. So you either want to call ahead and make a reservation, or go at a less crowded time

Do-​Né is an assuming quaint little place that specializes in serving up traditional Japanese comfort food. I don’t think the restaurant can seat any more than 20 – 25 people but my husband and I were fortunate to come here an hour before closing so there was no wait. We were greeted by a lovely older Japanese woman and were the only customers that night who weren’t Japanese. Luckily, the menu is in both English and Japanese and the woman knew enough English for us to figure everything out :)
Even though we have only tried the salmon ikura teishoku, I have no doubt that you can’t go wrong with any of their teishoku items. You get A LOT of food for under $ 15 (and ~$ 10 if you come during lunch): your entrée of choice with a large bowl of high-​quality short-​grained rice, okazu (assorted seasonal side dishes that go well with your rice), pickled daikon, miso soup, salad, and a couple pieces of fruit (for dessert). We also ordered assorted sashimi and the Hakate-​style stewed vegetables, which were truly a treat. The broth was so delicious that I wanted to lap it up long after the veggies were gone. The sashimi isn’t the best but for the amount we got, it’s far more affordable than any other Japanese restaurant we tried in the area.
Next time I come back I plan on eating here at least every other day. I really want to try the grilled mackerel, grilled salmon, and pork belly (which I saw a lot of other customers odering)!

This little place is a gem. The food is beyond reproach with small servings that are just enough to fill you up while giving you some semblance of dignity on your way out. This place has me coming back at least a couple times per month because the food and the service as well as the parking are great. If you speak Japanese you will have better luck with reservations which you will need to have to dine here, however it is well worth the forethought and planning. Enjoy some Mackerel, and always order the fried baby squid if you know whats good for you.
enjoy

Cute little hole in the wall restaurant, which offers home style cooking from Kyushu. The restaurant is small and has a capacity of probably 16 guests for each turn. Reservation is a must, since this restaurant has a strong following of regulars.
I was introduced to this restaurant by a friend, who is the Duchess of the spot, so you know it’s good. Since it was our first time, we decided to try the more popular items: chirashi bowl and the sashimi set. The fish was fresh and the sushi rice was perfectly made. The teishoku sets ranges from $ 12 to $ 19, so it’s very reasonable, and comes with miso soup, salad, tsukemono and little appetizer teasers.
My little foodie (20 months old) saw the freshness of the salmon sashimi and loved it. It was her first sashimi experience, and she ate almost five pieces of sashimi. The servers are extremely friendly and offered cute little plastic bowls for the little ones.
All in all, this will be a regular for us now.

Uncomplicated and traditional Japanese food. A welcoming restaurant that showcases dishes from Fukuoka in an artistic manner. Simple, but unforgettable.
FOOD
Their teishoku is delicious. Their menu consists of grilled, fried, and fresh fish, chicken and of course their famous pork belly. I got the PORK BELLY STEW SET. Let me say, this pork belly is the second best pork belly I’ve tried on the island. I think if it was simmered another hour or two, there would have been a tie. But, the sauce was perfection though! My husband ordered the SASHIMI SET. Everything was sliced like a ninja. Thick and tasted very fresh and clean. Although the portions are not gigantic, it was good enough because hellooo, there is BYOB! Thank you!
ENVIRONMENT
Located on Kalakaua Ave before Aloha Subs. Look for the blue awning. Clean, small restaurant that can fit about 20 people. There is a private lot in the back.
SERVICE
Japanese speaking staff. They are open for lunch and dinner. Make a reservation. Every seat filled up fast and we went at 5:30pm!
CONCLUSION
Unpretentious casual restaurant that serves traditional Japanese food. A must try! Teishoku and BYOB FTW!