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Japengo - Waikiki Reviews List
Japengo - Waikiki
Japengo – Located just steps from famed Waikiki Beach on the third floor of the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa. Authentic Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Southeast Asia inspired dishes with a full sushi bar and lounge. A variety of seating options will make Japengo perfect for any occasion. Enter our spacious sushi lounge, interactive sushi bar, private dining rooms or intimate tables-for-two. Japengo features innovative cocktails, sake, shochu and wine, expertly rolled sushi and a menu of exotic flavors from the Pacific Rim and South East Asia. Join us for what is sure to be a sophisticated culinary adventure.
See more Japengo - Waikiki details
49 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Rating Breakdown 49 reviews
5 stars
(20)
4 stars
(23)
3 stars
(5)
2 stars
(1)
1 star
(0)
Food
(Outstanding)
4.4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- fit for foodies(29)
- special occasion(26)
- good for groups(24)
- romantic(18)
- kid-friendly(7)
- hot spot(6)
Japengo - Waikiki Reviews List
Review 1 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
GREAT EXPERIENCE!!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"JAPENGO continues to delight us. We enjoy the sushi bar and dining room. Johan, lead sushi chef (& all the sushi chefs) are terrific and their sushi is as good as Nobu, Morimoto's, Kona Kai - any of the other top sushi restaurants in town. We crave the 'torched hamachi' which just melts in your mouth along with the freshest salmon, aji, creative rolls (althou we go for sushi
mostly) seared ahi with ponzu - they just launched a new menu with old favorites & new items. While we go to other sushi
restaurants & have realized that Japengo is excellent & with the great offers for kama'aina's - you cannot beat Japengo.
Sushi bar seats are super-comfy, you can watch the preparation easily (no fish frig in front of diner) and it's just terrific."
mostly) seared ahi with ponzu - they just launched a new menu with old favorites & new items. While we go to other sushi
restaurants & have realized that Japengo is excellent & with the great offers for kama'aina's - you cannot beat Japengo.
Sushi bar seats are super-comfy, you can watch the preparation easily (no fish frig in front of diner) and it's just terrific."
Dined on 5/10/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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Review 2 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Traveling for work. Have consistent
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Traveling for work. Have consistently (multiple times a week) been eating here. Great place with fresh sushi and great waitstaff. Can't wait to go back."
Dined on 04/03/2013
2009
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Review 3 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
From the time the hostess
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"From the time the hostess greeted us until we paid the bill service was excellent. Loved the Scallop Butteryaki and Tootsie Roll the best but everything we ordered was very good. Would not hesitate to recommend and return."
Dined on 04/06/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups
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Review 4 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Initial contact from wait
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Initial contact from wait staff was a long time in coming. Our table was adjacent to the door that accessed the kitchen, which was left open. The bar for an adjacent restaurant was just outside with loud, live music and other noise."
Dined on 03/30/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups
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Review 5 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Love the scallop butteryaki.
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Love the scallop butteryaki. I seriously cannot get enough. Service was fun and friendly. I will be back for sure."
Dined on 03/10/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic, special occasion
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Review 6 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"The sushi was very good- fresh, lots of options, and yummy! The kim-chee mashed potatoes were delicious and something I had never seen before. Very interesting. The service was nice and timely. A lot of the restaurants in Waikiki are in hotels- as is this one. That makes it not super special...but not different from the other nice restaurants in the area. Definitely recommend!"
Special Features: fit for foodies
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Review 7 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
The sushi was very good and
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"The sushi was very good and fresh. Our waitress tried really hard to make sure we were satisfied. However, the other dishes we got (gyoza, miso soup, salmon, and fried rice) were only okay. They weren't bad by any means, but they weren't spectacular either and for the prices they are, you hope for amazing."
Dined on 03/14/2013
2013
Special Features: romantic
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Review 8 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service was slow... Good food.
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Service was slow... Good food. And we got Kamaa'ina discount!!"
Dined on 03/10/2013
2012
Special Features: romantic, special occasion
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Review 9 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Superbe in flavor and presentation!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Superbe in flavor and presentation!"
Dined on 03/10/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic, special occasion
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Review 10 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
This restaurant has a very
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"This restaurant has a very friendly staff and great food. The coconut creme brulee is wonderful!"
Dined on 03/03/2013
2013
Special Features: special occasion
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Review 11 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Our new favorite restaurant!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Great food and even greater service! The server was probably the best we've ever experienced anywhere.
Menu offers something for everyone. We enjoyed everything we ordered."
Menu offers something for everyone. We enjoyed everything we ordered."
Dined on 02/26/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, kid-friendly, special occasion, hot spot
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Review 12 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Having been blown.over by
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Having been blown.over by our first experience at jape go we went back two more times. The food was always consistently great but we encountered some service issues on our second and third experiences. The second time we made arrangement to dine at a specific table, unfortunately the general manager decided to dine at the table we had reserved so we were bumped. The host gave us free desert for our inconvience. The third time we dined there we sat in the main diningroom which doesn't have the same great atmosphere as the front of the restaurant. This time we found the server to be in the weeds... We waited to long to be acknowledged and were told that they were out of the first two bottles of wine that we ordered."
Dined on 02/21/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining
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Review 13 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Fantastic from appetizer to
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Fantastic from appetizer to dessert!"
Dined on 02/23/2013
2007
Special Features: good for groups
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Review 14 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Worth a try
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We had the fried rice, torched hamachi and fish of the day. The food was well prepared though I felt the fish was overcooked.
A nice restaurant, pleasant intimate setting.
Service was friendly but slow, we were left waiting several times for our drinks to be refilled, they weren't very busy in the dining room.
Prices were comparable for the area
We would return"
A nice restaurant, pleasant intimate setting.
Service was friendly but slow, we were left waiting several times for our drinks to be refilled, they weren't very busy in the dining room.
Prices were comparable for the area
We would return"
Dined on 02/19/2013
2011
Special Features: romantic, special occasion
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Review 15 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
This isn't just another hotel
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"This isn't just another hotel restaurant, it's Japengo. I love the vibrant Asian-influenced menu with hints of Hawaiian flare. The Scallop Butter Yaki is to die for. Seriously, it's darned delicious. Actually, everything I've tried thus far has been quite enjoyable. In terms of dessert, my pick is their "famous" Coconut Crème Brûlée. It's really amazing because I don't even really like coconut...but I'm totally diggin' on this dessert."
Dined on 02/08/2013
2008
Special Features: romantic, special occasion
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Review 16 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
The food was spectacular.
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The food was spectacular. The Fatty Bluefin Tuna was just incredible and the Mahi Mahi my daughter and I had was superb. Our waiter, Arnold,
did a great job and he was very busy. When I return to Hawaii, Japengo is on my list of "must go's. Thank you to all at Japengo for a memorable
night of wonderful food and gracious hospitality."
did a great job and he was very busy. When I return to Hawaii, Japengo is on my list of "must go's. Thank you to all at Japengo for a memorable
night of wonderful food and gracious hospitality."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic, special occasion
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Review 17 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Don't bother going
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We are locals and this was our second time visiting. Service was horrible. Food was mediocre, though it was a special Valentine's Day menu vs. usual which we have had good experience with in the past."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2009
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Review 18 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
When we arrived at 7:45 pm
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"When we arrived at 7:45 pm it was busy, so service started on a negative side. As our server acknowledged our presence he made up for the slow start and service was not an issue. The food was awesome from apps to desert, including cocktails ( Kai breeze). The restaurant is spacious especially in the front, large walkways, tables spaced apart for privacy, very nice."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2012
Special Features: good for groups, late-night find, romantic, special occasion, hot spot
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Review 19 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Our group of 5 had a great
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Our group of 5 had a great time at Japengo both at the bar for Happy Hour & in the dining room. It was our first time here & Ginger our server in the bar was so patient & helpful, she is a perfect example of what "Aloha Spirit" is all about. The food in the restaurant is tasty, the scallops-succulent and the salmon skin ON the sushi was perfectly crisped! I could have had a plate full of just the salmon skin, it was that good....in fact, a platter of that salmon skin would make a wonderful pupu!"
Dined on 02/03/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups
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Review 20 for Japengo - Waikiki
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
5 star food 1 star service
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Food was 5 stars, the server couldn't handle two large parties plus the three tables he had. We got there at 6pm and the service was great, but after all tables in Robert's section were full the service was very slow. No one comes around to fill your water. The timing of my course was slow.
They need to have a busser or more staff."
They need to have a busser or more staff."
Dined on 01/27/2013
2010
Special Features: good for groups, kid-friendly, romantic
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Japengo - Waikiki
Based on the average of (29) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.4
/
5
1 out of 1 recommend this product
Food
(Outstanding)
4.4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4.6
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate