I remember the first time I went to Kizuna Sushi Bar & Grill in Kāneʻohe — not just because it’s one of few sushi restaurants in the area, but because the selection of sushi rolls was so overwhelming that ordering was difficult. There were more than 25 chef specialty sushi rolls to choose from.
In mid-March, the biz opened its sister restaurant, Kizuna Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi, in Kailua. It’s not terribly far from its original location, but still a nice option for the neighborhood.
We’re told the menu at this location is mostly the same as that at the Kāneʻohe restaurant. The biggest difference between the two is that the Kailua one has a dedicated space for teppanyaki tables. During lunch, that area is empty, but it gets busier during dinner, according to our server, who said each teppanyaki table can seat around 18 people.
Teppanyaki lunch specials ($14-$22.50) are available; prices vary depending on the entree you order. Choices include chicken, steak, salmon, shrimp, scallop and even filet mignon. All teppanyaki lunches include miso soup, salad, white rice and vegetables.
Similar to the Kāneʻohe location, the Kailua restaurant also offers a huge selection of specialty sushi rolls — 30, to be exact. We’re told two of the rolls are Kailua location exclusives: the river rock roll ($17.95) and the Hulk roll ($19.95). The latter features deep-fried eel, cucumber and avocado inside, topped with seaweed salad, eel sauce, spicy mayo and garlic crunch.
The river rock roll includes shrimp tempura, avocado, fresh tuna and a crab stick inside, and fresh salmon, tempura flakes, masago, eel sauce and spicy mayo on top. I enjoyed the contrasting textures — the tuna’s creaminess with the tempura flakes’ crunch — and each piece boasted a good fish-to-rice ratio (aka, not too much rice).
The kitchen bento box is a popular option during lunch; it’s only available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays. All bento come with salad, white rice and miso soup. Choose from a pre-set list of bento entrees, ranging from chicken karaage and tofu teriyaki to miso butterfish and shrimp and vegetable tempura. The latter two options are among the most popular choices.
Pro tip: If you want a specific sushi roll — something that’s not included in the 30 rolls on the menu — ask your server. If it’s not too busy, the sushi chefs behind the counter might be able to create a specialty roll that’s customized to your liking.
CONTACT
Kizuna Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi
‘Aikahi Park Shopping Center
25 Kāneʻohe Bay Drive, Kailua
808-888-3222
Instagram: @kizuna_steakhouse_sushi
Open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 5-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 4;30-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 12-3:30 p.m., 4:30-9:30 p.m. Sundays
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
