Akasaka
Waikiki, Honolulu
Restaurant in Honolulu, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Akasaka is a parking-lot operation on Kona Street near the University of Hawaii, offering open-air dining with walk-up service from 11 AM to midnight daily. The format is casual and functional; order at the counter, eat at picnic tables, expect quick turnover rather than lingering meals. Best for late-night eating when most Honolulu kitchens have closed, or for lunch when the crowd is lighter and parking easier.
About Akasaka
Akasaka is a Honolulu venue with daily hours split between a midday window and an evening window: 11 AM–2 PM and 5 PM–12 AM, Monday through Sunday. The dress code is smart casual. Beyond those basics, specific details about cuisine, menu, service format, pricing, reservations, seating, parking, atmosphere are not specified, so expectations should stay flexible.
For planning purposes, the clearest takeaway is the schedule. Akasaka is listed for both a midday window and an evening window every day of the week, which can make it useful to consider when comparing dining options by timing. Confirm current details directly with the venue before making plans, especially if your visit depends on a specific dish, service style, or accommodation.
What the Kitchen Does Well
Specific menu items, cuisine focus, chef details, signature dishes are not available. Because of that, it is not possible to describe the kitchen’s specialties or recommend particular orders. If Akasaka is on your shortlist, use the hours as a starting point and check directly for the current menu before you go.
If you are comparing Akasaka with other options such as Sura Hawaii, Amaterasu, Bread ＆ Butter, Ki Club, or The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood, treat the comparison as a planning exercise rather than a like-for-like match. Information for Akasaka is limited to hours and smart casual dress, not cuisine, format, or price.
When to Go and What to Expect
Akasaka is listed as open daily from 11 AM–2 PM and again from 5 PM–12 AM. That schedule gives you a midday window and an evening window every day. The dress code is smart casual.
Other practical details, including reservations, seating style, parking, wait times, accessibility, takeout, delivery, dietary accommodations, are not available. Before visiting, confirm the latest operating details with the venue, particularly if you are planning for a group, a special occasion, or a time-sensitive meal.
Planning details
- Location
- Parking lot, 1646 Kona St B, Honolulu, HI 96814
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- akasakahawaii.com
- Phone
- +18089424466
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Akasaka reads like a Honolulu local favorite: a serious Japanese kitchen tucked into a Kona Street parking-lot storefront that rewards those who know where to find it. The restaurant leans into an understated, tucked-away identity — its location functions as a credential among locals rather than a liability. Service and atmosphere are informed by repeat customers and an izakaya/robatayaki lineage, so the room feels intimate and quietly confident. Expect a warm, unpolished charm where the focus is on food and familiarity rather than spectacle.
Best For
This is a spot for people who come with intent — date nights and special occasions fit alongside after-work drinks and late-night meals. Because Akasaka operates within izakaya, robatayaki and omakase-adjacent traditions, it suits solo diners perched at counters as well as small parties who appreciate serious Japanese cooking outside tourist circuits. The neighborhood setting and local clientele mean the crowd skews repeat visitors rather than first-time sightseers, so it’s best for anyone seeking an authentic, food-forward evening.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the restaurant’s strengths: the menu highlights such as the Akasaka Special Nabe, Butterfish, Butteryaki Scallops and the Sushi Platter are likely reliable choices. The write-up also calls out robatayaki counters and kaiseki-adjacent omakase options, so consider counter seating or an omakase-style ordering approach if available. Be prepared for a place that operates very much on local knowledge — arriving with an openness to what the kitchen recommends will yield the best experience.
Venue details
Ambiance
Warm, inviting atmosphere resembling a traditional Japanese house with mellow, friendly lighting.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Intimate
Signature Dishes
- Akasaka Special Nabe
- Butterfish
- Butteryaki Scallops
- Sushi Platter
Planning details
Location
Parking lot, 1646 Kona St B, Honolulu, HI 96814 · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood, Notable alternative
- Bread ＆ Butter, Notable alternative
- Sura Hawaii, Notable alternative
- Ki Club, Notable alternative
- Amaterasu, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
Akasaka occupies the most casual end of Honolulu's dining spectrum, where The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood and Ki Club represent the opposite pole, full-service, climate-controlled, reservation-dependent. If you want a sit-down meal with plated courses and table service, those venues deliver; Akasaka does not. The tradeoff is immediacy: no booking windows, no dress code, service until midnight when most kitchens in the city have shut down.
Sura Hawaii and Amaterasu sit closer in price and formality but still offer indoor seating and a more structured dining experience. If weather is a concern or you prefer air conditioning, either is a safer choice. Bread & Butter operates in a similar casual, no-reservations model but with indoor seating, making it the better alternative if the parking-lot format does not appeal or if conditions are poor.
For travelers prioritizing ease of booking and predictable comfort, Akasaka ranks low. For locals or repeat visitors looking for late-night food in a neighborhood with few options past 10 PM, it fills a specific gap that the sit-down competition does not address.
Explore Honolulu
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Akasaka guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Akasaka
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Akasaka | Honolulu | No published awards |
| The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood | Honolulu | No published awards |
| Bread ＆ Butter | Urban Honolulu | No published awards |
| Sura Hawaii | Honolulu | No published awards |
| Ki Club | Honolulu | No published awards |
| Amaterasu | Honolulu | No published awards |
How Akasaka Honolulu compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lunch or dinner better at Akasaka?
Akasaka has daily hours from 11 AM–2 PM and 5 PM–12 AM. Information is not available on crowd patterns, wait times, or menu differences between services, so the better time depends on your schedule. Confirm current details directly with the venue before going.
What should I order at Akasaka?
Is Akasaka good for a special occasion?
Information for Akasaka is limited to Honolulu location, daily hours, a smart casual dress code. Atmosphere, service style, seating, reservation details are not available, so contact the venue before planning a special occasion. You can also compare with Bread ＆ Butter or Sura Hawaii when considering other options.
What are alternatives to Akasaka in Honolulu?
Other venues to consider include Sura Hawaii, Ki Club, Amaterasu, Bread ＆ Butter, The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood. A direct match in location, cuisine, price, or format is not specified, so compare current details before deciding.
