Ro's Recz

Address: 255 Beach Walk, Honolulu, HI 96815

Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin is one of my favorite tonkatsu restaurants in Hawaii. While it is not as good as the Michelin-starred tonkatsu restaurant in Japan, Tonkatsu Hasegawa, it is still really good (especially for Hawaii).

Normally when I go to Ginza Bairin, I get either the katsu curry or the katsu-don. If you get the curry, it comes with unlimited rice and sauce, so it is a pretty good deal (you also get a 10% discount if you have a Hawaii state ID). Also, all meals come with unlimited miso soup and cabbage, so you can eat as much as you want along with your katsu.

Last time I went to Ginza Bairin, the service was super good (it is always good though). However, this time they were even more generous than usual, and they gave us extra curry sauce and rice to take home. Having this kind of service in Hawaii almost feels like you are in Tokyo.

Ginza Bairin is located in Waikiki, which is where most of the tourists stay if they visit Honolulu. The restaurants in Waikiki tend to not be very good, and they also tend to be overpriced. While Ginza Bairin is not cheap (typically around $12-25 depending on what you get), it is reasonably priced considering the location. It is pretty much the only restaurant in Waikiki that my family visits on a semi-regular basis. If you are ever staying in Waikiki, I would definitely recommend giving it a try compared to the other restaurants there!

Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin Recommendation Rating: 4

1: Something worth checking out if you have time

2: Something that is a hit for some people, but not a must for everyone

3: Something worth prioritizing if interested

4: Something worth making time to check out

5: An absolute home run, worth going out of your way for