I can’t believe Yohei Sushi Kāhala has already been open for one year. I still remember going to the media preview in January 2024, and trying the eatery’s luxe omakase for the first time. It truly felt like yesterday!
To celebrate this milestone, the Kāhala eatery is offering a special set called Okonomi. The Okonomi set costs $98 for lunch ($138 during dinner) and features five courses.
It begins with the eatery’s housemade soup stock and an organic salad consisting of prosciutto, local tomatoes, olive oil powder and a dragonfruit dressing.
The next course is a steamed egg custard with cod milt, featuring a savory cauliflower soup and green onion oil.
The star of the set is the social media-worthy assorted Japanese tapas platter, complete with eight petite dishes. It included bluefin tuna with grated Yamaimo, creamy crab croquette with truffles, roasted wagyu beef with pickled wasabi, sashimi of the day, Yohei’s kaisen futomaki, scallop and salmon roe bowl, monkfish liver pate and baguette, and braised abalone with liver sauce.
While I love sashimi, the crab croquette — crunchy on the outside, creamy on the inside — stole the show.
The last course features your choice of shrimp and vegetable tempura, grilled miso marinated black cod or grilled Kurobuta pork with honey miso. The butterfish is a customer favorite and boasts that flaky, moist texture. Meanwhile, the shrimp and veggie tempura provide a satisfyingly crunchy finish.
If you’re still hungry, you can order sushi from an a la carte menu. Choose from seasonal specials like scallop ($5.50), snow crab ($8), salmon ($5.50) and bluefin tuna ($6.50).
If you want to end your meal with something sweet, a special dessert set is available for an additional charge ($12). It includes your choice of Mamaki tea or Kauai Blue Mountain Coffee, along with the featured dessert of the day. We could choose between a Japanese-style cheesecake or matcha brownie.
During lunch only, the eatery also offers two indulgent sushi bowls. Choose from the Miyabi ($130), which features assorted sashimi including bluefin tuna, or the luxe Kiwami ($150). The latter features bluefin tuna, A5 wagyu steak, uni, caviar, shaved truffles and gold flakes on top. Both donburi are available during lunch until March 31.
CONTACT
Yohei Sushi Kāhala
Kūʻono Marketplace
4210 Waiʻalae Ave., Honolulu
808-425-4143
yoheisushi.com/kahala/
Instagram: @yoheisushi.kahala
Open Thursdays-Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. lunch, 5-9 p.m. dinner
Closed Wednesdays
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
