Sushi Murayama

Sushi Murayama, hidden on the third floor, offers a unique and intimate dining experience. However, the lack of clear signage can make it a bit challenging to find.

I had high expectations for their omakase after hearing positive reviews, but my experience was somewhat mixed. While the lower tier omakase offered a variety of courses, including spicy tuna summer roll, saba, sardine with poached egg, dungenese crab, hata, hamachi, Japanese snow trout, king salmon roe, toro, and tuna, the execution left me wanting more.

One of the major issues was the inconsistency in the size of the fish pieces. Some were too large to enjoy comfortably, while others were the perfect size. Additionally, each course felt overly complex, with a multitude of flavors that often overpowered the delicate taste of the fish.

The chef's choice of including regular fish items in the omakase was unexpected, and somewhat detracted from the overall experience. The pace of the omakase was fast, with courses served one after another.

The chef's kindness in offering complimentary nigiri pieces was a nice touch, and the service was generally good. Overall, Sushi Murayama is a decent option for if you like sushi.

Visited 8 months ago

Best omakase experience I’ve ever had. Come hungry. Chef Ryuji Murayama was very engaging and asked how I wanted to go with the omakase (i.e. no rice, lots of rice, etc). I really didn’t know what to expect so said “standard” but eventually had to put on the breaks to reduce the rice portion to only when necessary. For context, I opted for the $180 16 course which AMAZING. Super generous portions with premium cuts of seafood. Chef Ryuji is clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about his craft and was able to explain all the dishes well. It was well worth the money. Highly recommended!

Visited a year ago

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Sushi Murayama, and it was an experience I'm eager to share. My partner and I indulged in the Japanese omakase, which comprised ten meticulously crafted courses. From the very first bite, it was evident that each dish was prepared with passion and precision, featuring the freshest ingredients.

One of the highlights was the matcha, which was exceptionally smooth and a perfect palate cleanser between the courses. Although there were some fish whose names I was unfamiliar with, every piece, whether served hot or cold, was a hit to our taste buds.

The omakase was reasonably priced, offering great value for the quality and variety of the courses. A pro tip for future diners would be to opt for less rice with your sushi to save room for the full range of offerings, though it's worth noting the sushi rice itself was delicious. The service was impeccable, with attentive and friendly staff adding to the overall positive experience.

I wholeheartedly recommend Sushi Murayama to anyone looking for an authentic and satisfying Japanese dining experience. It's a solid five stars from me, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit.

Visited a year ago

It’s a place which is hard to categorize. The omakase has very strong personality and align with Chef Yuji well. Don’t miss the chance to sit at sushi bar and have a chat with chef, you would have a very fun experience.

Overall seafood quality is great & fresh. The flavoring is creative but some might be a bit too strong.

My personal favorite is wagyu with uni rice wrapped by seaweed, scallop with Korean shark cartilage, monkfish liver with vinegar cucumber, Argentina sweet shrimp tempura

Visited a year ago

Unassuming sushi spot here in Honolulu. My friend took a group of us here for their omakase. You have to call to make a reservation. We parked a block away on a street but I think there's a small parking lot next to this plaza.

This was a large omakase meal with lots of variety of seafoods. We got fried stuff, raw stuff, grilled stuff, etc. Overall it was extremely satisfying. One feedback comment is that the pacing was extremely fast. We wouldn't even be done with our portions when the chef would bring out our next course.

Satisfying but expensive. I would recommend if your budget can deal with it!

Visited a year ago

My wife and I have been here a couple times with friends who live on O'ahu (they are regulars here and it is one of their favorite spots). Both experiences were excellent and sitting at the Sushi bar is highly recommended. I will say our first time there was a better experience, but that was mainly due to some of the changes they made to their menu and omakase policy. Previously you could share an omakase meal and order extra of the things you liked best. Now it is just straight omakase. The first time we went we also had a little more Sashimi and Nigiri. The last time they served a bit more fried and cooked dishes. They were good, but when you're spending over $200/person on food and drinks at a Sushi spot, we were hoping for more fresh fish.

Regardless of those small complaints, the place is amazing, the staff are a lot of fun and friendly.

Visited 2 years ago

If you expect a Japanese dinner with large portion and some fresh fish, this is a good place to be in. Just don’t expect a proper Omakase experience.

The flavour is sometimes too strong and overwhelmed, cutting of the fish are also somehow random. However, most of the seafood from Japan is with good quality.

Chef is very nice and friendly. It’s a nice meal, just put aside the “Omakase” hat.

It’s 180@, slightly surprised when the dessert are charged at 8.5-9.5 each. As the chef talks about the options as if they are inclusive in the overall price.

Including tips, added up the total to around 250 per head. Is it good value in a Honolulu standard? I think we could find better options!

Visited 2 years ago

I think the best way to say how I feel about Sushi Maruyama, is that I've eaten at the French Laundry (and thoroughly enjoyed it) and I would pick a meal at Sushi Maruyama, even if it were the same price point (which, thank god, it is not) any day

Visited 6 years ago

READ the 1 star reviews and avoid this place and save your money - I unfortunately was fooled by the 4.6 Google average reviews.

We got the $100USD omakase dinner here. I wasn’t expecting much and assumed the food would be different from normal sushi/omakase and expected a somewhat Hawaiin/Japanese fusion. The food is not real Japanese alright, nor did the good part of Hawaiin influence came through. It was probably the worst sushi / fish / rice / “Japanese” / Hawaiin food experience I’ve ever had.

The night started with this cold rice paper roll that honestly is worse than any Vietnamese roll I’ve ever had, but still okay. Then came this weird seaweed / canned oyster / frozen fish eggs shooter (you can find photos of it in other reviews) that was frankly worse than anything. Then came with a hamachi sushi which actually was good except the sweet taste of the fish was drowned out by the bitterness of the gallop of daikon on top. Then came the worst thing of the entire night - this baby sardine sushi. I can still taste the bitterness of the slippery baby sardines after 2 days. Probably the worst thing I’ve ever paid for in my life. The rest of the meal got “better” but agreed with other reviews - it’s just chopped, bad quality fish on rice balls.

One reviewer said he was embarrassed to have paid $130 per person for this meal- I think that sentiment is spot on.

Go to ANY Japanese or poke place on Oahu and you would have a better experience. Even sushi from a supermarket would made you feel better about yourself.

I don’t like to put this here but this is coming from someone who’s enjoyed multiple Michelin starred omakase in Japan, US and Canada. And also someone who thoroughly enjoys Hawaii and its unique spin on food and poke. Honestly you don’t even need to have tasted Michelin star omakase to recognize this chef should be stopped from swindling people.

Visited 4 months ago

Visited 4 months ago

Go to the dark tinted door. The place looks simple but this is how you know you're about to get the best food in the city. I live in NY and tried so many omakase places, this one is close to the top of my list, I want everyone to go there and try it, you will not regret it.

Visited 7 months ago

Sushi Murayama, hidden on the third floor, offers a unique and intimate dining experience. However, the lack of clear signage can make it a bit challenging to find.

I had high expectations for their omakase after hearing positive reviews, but my experience was somewhat mixed. While the lower tier omakase offered a variety of courses, including spicy tuna summer roll, saba, sardine with poached egg, dungenese crab, hata, hamachi, Japanese snow trout, king salmon roe, toro, and tuna, the execution left me wanting more.

One of the major issues was the inconsistency in the size of the fish pieces. Some were too large to enjoy comfortably, while others were the perfect size. Additionally, each course felt overly complex, with a multitude of flavors that often overpowered the delicate taste of the fish.

The chef's choice of including regular fish items in the omakase was unexpected, and somewhat detracted from the overall experience. The pace of the omakase was fast, with courses served one after another.

The chef's kindness in offering complimentary nigiri pieces was a nice touch, and the service was generally good. Overall, Sushi Murayama is a decent option for if you like sushi.

Visited 8 months ago

Chef was kind and funny. Food was outstanding.

Visited 9 months ago

Had a very pleasant experience! Would highly recommend!

Visited 9 months ago

Amazingly fresh fish from Japan. Top notch quality and service. Clean and comfortable atmosphere. Consistently exceptional.

Visited 9 months ago

First time here with a few friends and it was entertaining and fun at the sushi bar. Will definitely go back again. Fish was on point.

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

One of the best Omakase experiences. Staff is very friendly. Each piece just kept getting better and better. Definitely would go back.

Visited 10 months ago

Best omakase experience I’ve ever had. Come hungry. Chef Ryuji Murayama was very engaging and asked how I wanted to go with the omakase (i.e. no rice, lots of rice, etc). I really didn’t know what to expect so said “standard” but eventually had to put on the breaks to reduce the rice portion to only when necessary. For context, I opted for the $180 16 course which AMAZING. Super generous portions with premium cuts of seafood. Chef Ryuji is clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about his craft and was able to explain all the dishes well. It was well worth the money. Highly recommended!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

I think the best way to say how I feel about Sushi Maruyama, is that I've eaten at the French Laundry (and thoroughly enjoyed it) and I would pick a meal at Sushi Maruyama, even if it were the same price point (which, thank god, it is not) any day

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Best omakase on the island. The Japanese snow trout is life-changing.

Visited a year ago

Such a special experience, we were wowed by every course. Culinary artistry. *And don’t miss out on the gelato specially made for the restaurant…

Visited a year ago

The omakase is great! I love the unique flavor and texture, interesting take of the cuisine, and generous portions. Appreciate how chef and his team put their creativity and care into what they do. I see it as artistic expressions of their talent - living embodiment of the spirit of omakase. The dessert was divine too - loved ume guava sorbet and yuzu sorbet!

Visited a year ago

It’s a place which is hard to categorize. The omakase has very strong personality and align with Chef Yuji well. Don’t miss the chance to sit at sushi bar and have a chat with chef, you would have a very fun experience.

Overall seafood quality is great & fresh. The flavoring is creative but some might be a bit too strong.

My personal favorite is wagyu with uni rice wrapped by seaweed, scallop with Korean shark cartilage, monkfish liver with vinegar cucumber, Argentina sweet shrimp tempura

Visited a year ago

Best omakase in Hawaii!!

Visited a year ago

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Sushi Murayama, and it was an experience I'm eager to share. My partner and I indulged in the Japanese omakase, which comprised ten meticulously crafted courses. From the very first bite, it was evident that each dish was prepared with passion and precision, featuring the freshest ingredients.

One of the highlights was the matcha, which was exceptionally smooth and a perfect palate cleanser between the courses. Although there were some fish whose names I was unfamiliar with, every piece, whether served hot or cold, was a hit to our taste buds.

The omakase was reasonably priced, offering great value for the quality and variety of the courses. A pro tip for future diners would be to opt for less rice with your sushi to save room for the full range of offerings, though it's worth noting the sushi rice itself was delicious. The service was impeccable, with attentive and friendly staff adding to the overall positive experience.

I wholeheartedly recommend Sushi Murayama to anyone looking for an authentic and satisfying Japanese dining experience. It's a solid five stars from me, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Best hidden gem 10 out of 10 recommend!

Visited a year ago

Excellent sushi bar establishment.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Best omakase I have ever had. The fish is so fresh and the creativity the chef has put in the dish I simply unparalleled.

Visited a year ago

Unassuming sushi spot here in Honolulu. My friend took a group of us here for their omakase. You have to call to make a reservation. We parked a block away on a street but I think there's a small parking lot next to this plaza.

This was a large omakase meal with lots of variety of seafoods. We got fried stuff, raw stuff, grilled stuff, etc. Overall it was extremely satisfying. One feedback comment is that the pacing was extremely fast. We wouldn't even be done with our portions when the chef would bring out our next course.

Satisfying but expensive. I would recommend if your budget can deal with it!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Soooo gooood. Amazing.

Visited a year ago

Very good food, the stuffs wayyy too big man. Gotta go w dat less rice option next time.
Very big fishes

Visited a year ago

Best in California

Visited 2 years ago

If you expect a Japanese dinner with large portion and some fresh fish, this is a good place to be in. Just don’t expect a proper Omakase experience.

The flavour is sometimes too strong and overwhelmed, cutting of the fish are also somehow random. However, most of the seafood from Japan is with good quality.

Chef is very nice and friendly. It’s a nice meal, just put aside the “Omakase” hat.

It’s 180@, slightly surprised when the dessert are charged at 8.5-9.5 each. As the chef talks about the options as if they are inclusive in the overall price.

Including tips, added up the total to around 250 per head. Is it good value in a Honolulu standard? I think we could find better options!

Visited 2 years ago

Absolutely amazing experience. Each dish was crafted with so much care you can tell how much the owner cares for his Buisness. The sake, every type of dish, and the customer service was amazing. When I visit Hawaii again this place is definitely my go to for a quality experience!

Visited 2 years ago

Had an amazing omakase experience, it is obvious that extra care goes into every portion. Beyond fresh and delicious fish, the dishes were creative, with many ingredients cured, salted or broiled for days in advance, and many hard to source additions to elevate the experience. The portions are also quite generous- we left feeling happy and very full. Thanks for a great experience and delicious meal!

The address is a little hard to find and reservation is definitely required. It's on the third floor behind a dark/covered door.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Fantastic experience! We came in with reservations for the lunch Omakase & were seated right away. The Chef took time to time to explain each & every dish & each & every dish delivered! I’m not even the biggest sushi fan & I enjoyed every dish! It was a fun intimate experience where everyone was attentive & kind & funny that made this one of the highlights of our trip. Highly recommend!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Fantastic food. Each course of the Omakase was unique and delicious. Very well seasoned . Really nice chef too. Here are a few photos for reference.

Visited 2 years ago

We had an Omakase. It was great. Just try a lot of diferent fishes

Visited 2 years ago

Pretty good omakase, but not really worth the price.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Food tasted great not sure if it justifies the price though tbh

Visited 2 years ago

I've eaten a lot of sushi in my life, but I think that the best I've had so far has been here.

We got the omakase and I was impressed by the innovative seasonings (marinated ikura on the salmon, miso brushed maguro) and unique cuts of fish that we were served (never had black perch before, never had salt broiled unagi). The folks in the kitchen are very dedicated to their craft, and there was no course in the 16 course menu that I felt was superfluous. The tempura was amazing. The beef was amazing. The torched sea bream with uni rice at the end made me want to cry when I got to the last bite because I didn't want it to be over. Even the rice they serve in the nigiri was tastier than any other sushi rice I've had before, and the secret to understanding good sushi is knowing that the rice is just as important as the fish.

It was such a pleasure to dine here. Our sushi was prepared by Jake, the sous chef, and he was very informative, kind, and entertaining. We will definitely be coming back the next time we are in Oahu.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Head chef Ryuji was on point and the best, the best food I had in Honolulu, I'll recommend 10/10

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Best affordable omakase on island. Go there for lunch omakase to get $100 deal. U won’t regret

Visited 2 years ago

We visited this restaurant just over a week ago, and this review took us a while to write, solely due to the fact that our experience was absolutely ineffable. Sushi Murayama truly is a hidden gem in the sense that this piece of heaven was definitely disguised. When we walked through the door, Chef Ryugi’s daughter informed us that they were only doing omakase for that dinner service. We happily joined, and luckily there was an opening for us. Chef Ryugi Murayama guided us through a flavor journey like no other. From extremely fresh ingredients straight from Japan, to a bite that reflected a dish from his childhood, Chef Ryugi wowed us in over a million ways. He also had a true master of tempura on his team. The most perfect tempura we have ever consumed. Every ingredient was incorporated masterfully, and every dish had true passion poured into it. White bait, monkfish liver. Each and every bite was amazing. The fish could not have been more fresh if we had pulled it out of the ocean ourselves. Not only was our omakase experience truly astonishing, but this restaurant hosted two of our favorite bites on the island, honestly two of our favorite bites we have ever had. The house-made ginger was so divine that we now want to start shipping barrels of it to the mainland. The black sesame ice cream was not only the best ice cream we have ever had, but one of the best desserts we have ever been honored to put our mouths on. The sesame butter was so mouth-watering and delicious that we wish it was sold by the boat loads. We came back just before we left the island, on a mission to get more ginger and black sesame ice cream. Overall, Chef Ryugi and his team worked together flawlessly to provide us with an experience like no other. After being completely burned by two other omakases in a row, we were absolutely blessed by Sushi Murayama’s omakase, as well as this team’s utter skill and hospitality. We will make a trip back to the island specifically to revisit Sushi Murayama. We are so thankful for our experience.
すごい!!!

Visited 2 years ago

Hands down, one of the best omakase experiences I've had. Top quality ingredients and friendly service. Be sure to come hungry! And their dessert (condensed milk gelato)... I thought I was full, but I couldnt stop. Thank you for an amazing dinner! Call for reservations, and there is valet parking.

Visited 2 years ago

맛있었습니다. 사장님이 친절하게 다 설명해주시고 특히 흰살 생선들이 굉장히 후레시 했습니다.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

일반적인 한국일본과는 다른 스타일의 오마카세 좋았어요 딱히 간판이랄게 없어서 입구를 찾기 아주 힘들어요

Visited 2 years ago

Go with an empty stomach and I recommend requesting less rice. If you don't eat certain seafood, please kindly let the chef know in advance if you are requesting Omakase (お任せ)

Visited 2 years ago

맛있어요. 맥주도 일본 현지느낌. 올라와서 우측으로 돌아 시커멓게 사인없는 집이 있는데 그곳이에요.

Visited 2 years ago

My wife and I have been here a couple times with friends who live on O'ahu (they are regulars here and it is one of their favorite spots). Both experiences were excellent and sitting at the Sushi bar is highly recommended. I will say our first time there was a better experience, but that was mainly due to some of the changes they made to their menu and omakase policy. Previously you could share an omakase meal and order extra of the things you liked best. Now it is just straight omakase. The first time we went we also had a little more Sashimi and Nigiri. The last time they served a bit more fried and cooked dishes. They were good, but when you're spending over $200/person on food and drinks at a Sushi spot, we were hoping for more fresh fish.

Regardless of those small complaints, the place is amazing, the staff are a lot of fun and friendly.

Visited 2 years ago

Multiple trips here over the years and it is still my favorite sushi restaurant of all times

Visited 2 years ago

Excellent choice if you’d like to splurge on your vacation. Chef is easy to talk to and food quality is great. It’s located on the 3rd floor of an unassuming building. I don’t think I saw any signs either - just black glass door (maybe it’s the way how all omakase restaurants operate?) small restaurant with maybe 10 counter table seats and another 5 tables. Omakase is innovative - not all are fish, we even got a piece of wagyu beef as last dish! Idk if they change dish every day (I assume so but I don’t splurge on omakase often ha). I also thought the sushi pieces were on the salty/sweeter side (maybe cater a bit to western taste?) but I like them all.

We didn’t have reservation but had no problem getting a seat (guess if the secret gets out, it can get packed easily).

One negative is valet parking - rather inconvenient and we had to wait long to get the car back - and it’s not free either $2 per hour. I think you might be better off parking off street so at least you don’t have to wait long to get the car back. Highly recommend this restaurant ($180 pp omakase 16 pieces Jan 2023 dinner)

Visited 2 years ago

Our local friend took us here and we had a delicious omakase dinner. Restaurant is small and cozy. Food was amazing. Hidden gem.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Absolutely incredible. 16 course omakase was the only option the night we were there (Christmas). And I'm so glad we indulged! Every course was insanely fresh, well presented, and better than the last, which we didn't think was possible. The staff was super friendly and attentive. The sake menu was great and the sake was very reasonably priced (cheaper than the same bottle at other sushi restaurants in the area with lesser quality fish).

I will definitely visit again!!

Visited 2 years ago

A great omakase experience - highlights were their tuna dishes. That being said, it felt too expensive for what it was: the highs were really high but there were some dishes that were not that great, such as the scallops and their wagyu beef.

Visited 2 years ago

Incredible chef. Incredible omakase. It's been over a year but I still dream about this meal. Will be back every time I'm in Waikiki.

Visited 2 years ago

Delicious, inventive, generously portioned—we left feeling stuffed! Service was great too: casual, friendly. If I’m looking for omakase on Oahu again, this is the place I’ll go.

Visited 2 years ago

The food was amazing. Friendly Chef. A much more worth Omakase than many other fancy places. I prefer this more casual setting vs some more upscale places. Will definitely be making a visit next time I come back to Hawaii.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Very good food. Expensive tho.

Visited 3 years ago

Awsome !!!!!!!!!! Super friendly, Amazing food

Visited 3 years ago

Each piece from our omakase here was mouth watering! We were well attended by the staff and each piece of sushi was served in a timely fashion. I highly recommend this restaurant for their omakase.

Visited 3 years ago

Amazing service, great atmosphere.

Visited 3 years ago

Delicious and so worth it! We did the omakase and the amount was perfect, we were very satiated by the end. Fish quality was superb, would definitely come back again!

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Outstanding omakase with the standard extremely fresh fish that Hawaiian sushi places are known to have (being so close to Japan) accompanied by a super friendly and interactive chef that makes you feel right at home if you're sitting at the sushi bar. The chef alone makes this place worth going to, so do sit at the sushi bar.

Visited 3 years ago

Outstanding fresh creative sushi by chef euji. A must visit for sushi and will be back.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Best sushi ever..... no conversation

Visited 3 years ago

WOW!!! The omakase here was AMAZING! Try to sit at the counter near chef/owner Ryuji. He makes it fun and educational. Staff is super attentive and fun as well! Highly recommended if you want an awesome meal in Waikiki!

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Got the "Omakase" menu and was very pleased with the presentation and quality of the food served there. Price was kinda high, but the portions, quality , and taste made it worth the price.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Good quality fish with good portion. 160/ person? Not bad! Will come back again!

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

They used to have some kinds of courses, but now it’s $160 Omakase course only, no choice. Apr 2022.
I love their sushi so much. When I have anniversary, I always go there or order food from them. Their big portion of sushi is my favorite. Omakase is very variety and lunch time spicy Ahi donburi is also my fav.

Visited 3 years ago

Great staff and atmosphere! Only omakase is available and it was well worth the money! Every serving was packed with flavor and quality ingredients. The chefs were all very welcoming, knowledgeable and easy to talk to. The portions were very generous. This was my first time but it will definitely not be my last!

There is valet parking on the side street right in front of the building, the first hour is free and then it is $2 an hour after. My dinner lasted about an hour and a half, so about $4. The actual restaurant is on the third floor, accessible via an elevator or stairs. All of the windows and doors are blacked out, so it is easy to walk right by! Just open one of the doors and you’re there. My first dish was ready almost as soon as I sat down!

Great place!

Visited 3 years ago

Absolutely incredible sushi prepared in such a fresh and invigorating way!

Visited 3 years ago

The best Sushi ever! You gotta come try this place... hands down way better than Nobu! Red Fatty Snapper is to die for!

2/28/22 today I came back and enjoy these pictures! So good!

Visited 3 years ago

This is one of the worst RIP-OFF restaurant of Hawaii. ex-Imanasu worker runnning this place and they lie what you are about to eat. You won't see much Japanese people here because of that. Don't waste your $250 for this junk Rice ball with Sashimi topping. It is NOT Sushi. You can ask around other restaurant tennants in this building about this place. They all say Murayama is rip-off Korean Riceball Onigiri.lol Go visit Sushi Sho at Ritz Carton for real sushi.

ここは居酒屋イマナス亭の従業員だった韓国人がオープンしたお店と聞きましたが、究極のボッタクリ&ネタの産地も平気で嘘を付くとんでもない店です。この店が高評価を得ているのは魚を知らない人が騙されているからです（笑）例えばここの甘海老が出てきたら写真などググってみてください。ザリガニ並だって分かったら笑えますよね。包丁の入れ方も素人ですし、食えたもんじゃない。挙げ句に$250@1人。ボッタクリのイカサマ店です。ここが出しているのは、おにぎりに刺身乗せた食い物です。本物が食べたい人はリッツカールトンのSushi Shoをオススメします。

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Finally made it to Sushi Maruyama! Thoroughly enjoyed the delicious omakase experience at the sushi counter! Great service from friendly and fun staff! Enjoyed the new and different styles of sushi preparations and new fish we hadn't tried before.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Creative sushi pieces and generous portion for the omakase.

Visited 3 years ago

This place deserves multiple michelin stars?!? It's 100% my favorite restaurant of all time.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Had the 155usd omakase for dinner. The chef is witty and friendly and if you happen to sit at the sushi bar the chef will tell you about the fish, how it was prepared and some anecdotes. Fishes are mostly flown in daily from Japan after auction hence the price for the dinner. The shop is somewhat hidden from plain sight as its unannounced on a third floor building and its easily missed from the street view.

Visited 3 years ago

For $155 per person, it was okay. At 12 courses, I was full after 9 or so due to the large size. Seriously most of their nigiri are two bite sized. This is the type of omakase where they put sauce on top for you. I found the sauce a little overpowering and excessive. It was a little on the salty side and left a bit too much umame taste if you know what I mean. I had a hard time trying to taste the fish through the sauce. The omakase course took about and hour and the pace felt a little rushed.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

I am a big fish fan I’ve eaten at many different omakase around the us but I’m sad to say this is one of the worst places I have been too for the money totally not worth it unless you like eating a massive ton of wasabi on your nigiri also would fall apart right away with the rice. The pieces of fish were way too big for the portion rice was just filled with wasabi and breaks apart was not a true omakase experience did not like how they would just bring all together and with way different portions to what actual nigiri should be.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Once in a lifetime experience that feels like you could come every day. Chef really shines with his Omakase menu and personal wit. Loved discussing the fish, the prep, and your story with you tonight while out at Murayama. Paired perfectly with our sake I could not have asked for a better feel good experience while indulging in some top shelf sushi. Well done!

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Sushi Murayama has been without a doubt the best dining experience I’ve ever had. From the freshness, quality, and generous portion sizes of the vast array of unique seafood, to the thoughtful nature of each piece’s composition - balancing so wonderfully the flavours, textures, and temperatures, to the welcoming and intimate atmosphere of dining room where the chefs and regular guests alike made me feel so at home, I can’t say enough positive things about the entire experience. If I find myself in the area again, I will surely be back.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Best sushi of my life! Also enjoyed the small, intimate atmosphere of the place. Our group dined omakase and every single item was amazing!

Visited 4 years ago

Worst experience ever in omakase dinning

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

We were looking for a place that took last minute omakase reservations so Sushi Murayama it was! They were able to accept our 5:30 reservation (which is when they open for dinner) for a Thursday and we told them that we had to be out by 6:30 - so they told us we could even come at 5:15. It was a little tricky to find but it was located on the third floor of the plaza.

It's a small place but we were seated by the sushi bar and there were curtains between each couple dining. I saw families with young children there too, which I'm not sure if it's great for children because of its size (and price point/menu selection) but to each their own!

If I am remembering correctly, it was around $100 for 8 "regular courses" vs $150 for 10 "premium courses". I don't know what was in the $100 version but I'm not sure the $150 was worth the price tag, which is what we had. Here are all of the courses:

1. Hokkaido scallop with shark cartilage - I'm not sure how I felt about the scallop's soft/smooth texture with the crunchy cartilage
2. Monkfish liver - too much wasabi but the liver was SO good
3. Japanese Sea-bass - a bit chewy
4. Eel - eel is just eel to me
5. Hokkaido rockfish - too much wasabi
6. Argentinian shrimp/fish tempura - light and crispy without being too oily
7. Japanese beltfish - this came with shiso (?) leaf which I do not care for but I forgot to tell them that, so this one is on me)
8. Sea trout - no complaints
9. Hokkaido black wagyu musubi - wagyu was AMAZING but I think by 'musubi', they meant a bunch of extra rice. The meat to rice ratio didn't quite match up, which is what I think they were going for? But it was too much rice for me
10. O toro/chu toro/uni - a mish mosh of decadence but I ain't complaining

Overall, I would say the pieces have a lot of rice and a lot of wasabi. If this is your thing, then go for it. While I do appreciate the great service, I just don't think the quality was worth the price point. Maybe I'm spoiled, coming from NYC with so many more affordable omakase options. But unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me.

Visited 4 years ago

Food and service was amazing we ordered both the premium and the deluxe omakase. Service was quick we got seated immedietely. Reservations were easy to make even for a party of 5 two days before.

Visited 4 years ago

I would like to say the service and chef were good/nice and let us end our 9-piece deluxe omakase early at 6/9 pieces (I consider doing this rude, but the food was more insulting), but I have to leave a review. I really don't like leaving bad reviews unless there were particularly bad service incidents, yet I've never been so shocked about how bad the food was esp. for this type of meal and its price point. Please reference the other poor reviews as many match our experience. My partner and I have been to other omakases, both renowned and neighborhood restaurants, to know that this restaurant needs to be avoided.

We called to see if we could get reservation last minute, and they said they could fit us in. We thought it would be good based on the reviews. Each dish they served us was bad sushi that fell apart when picked up (the rice and technique were bad) with chopsticks except for the tempura fish and shrimp, which was above average (5/6 were poor dishes). They started with a full raw scallop with a pineapple or citrus like sauce with cartilage that just didn't work. The scallop tasted better with the sauce wiped off, only leaving a full raw scallop. I've had scallop nigiri at other establishments that tasted good and had a better texture. We got rockfish nigiri that was tough/stringy and had light flavor. It wasn't very good, and they fried inedible portions of the rockfish for presentation purposes only. We got tempura fish and shrimp, which was the highlight, fried fatty fish and shrimp. We had freshwater eel nigiri, which was ok but not great; I've had much better, and it came out way too hot with poor presentation. We received sea bass nigiri that was also tough and didn't taste like much. We had baby sardine gunkan, which we ate, and it didn't taste like anything other than seaweed and rice with the slimy texture of the baby sardines.

The waitress asked my gf if she needed less rice due to the amount of rice on her plate since the sushi fell apart (some was spit out or leftover as well). We told her that it didn't have to do with the amount of rice rather the technique of the person who made it and that most of our dishes didn't taste good. There were no questions of why we thought that or what we didn't like in particular; they just asked us if we wanted to end service and pay for what we ate. We agreed since we lost faith that the other dishes would be good, but it was really odd that a place that should pride themselves on their food and craftsmanship wouldn't at least want to know why we didn't like their food. It comes off as if this is normal or they don't care. I downed the sake I ordered at the start of the meal, which helped a bit.

I was incredibly disappointed (even embarrassed) and thought it would be really good. It ruined my night. We still ended up paying $130 each (we got $40 sake. On my card the amount is less and comes to an amount that makes me believe that our tip wasn't given; however, I was more disappointed by the food. Other than what we mentioned is that the waitress didn't pick up our wet-naps until we placed it on one of our serving plates). For the food, I'd just want to know if they'd be able to eat it along with other sushi chefs, look them in the eyes, and tell them that the sushi I was served was good. I think the pictures speak for themselves.

Visited 4 years ago

There was not even a name of the restaurant posted on the door. What a mysterious place. There were only 4 parties inside when I got in. I bet it was hard to get reservations. Thanks to my friend for bringing me here. There was only a drink menu, no sushi menu. Do not request soy sauce or wasabi to insult the chef please. This is where the chef create his artwork. Each is unique and exotic. There were so many Japanese fish that I've never heard of. He sometimes uses two different types of fish on one sushi. They each compliment the taste and texture. What an experience!

Visited 4 years ago

A rock 'n roll tour of modern sushi, but the adage applies here that "you can have too much of a good thing."

The portions are so large that I wasn't even enjoying my meal by the 3rd or 4th course...out of 11. I was full, and honestly dreading each successive course because I knew it would be interesting and that I'd paid an arm and a leg for it. So, I'd shove each one in. But, oof.

Also, not really omakase, in my eyes. More of a tasting menu. At least, compared with my experiences of each. This isn't simple, elegant nigiri selected by the chef based on what was available that day at market...it's a highly crafted, thought-out sequence.

I give it 4 stars for inventiveness, and 4 stars for the quality of the food. But, I left feeling beat down. So, overall 3 stars. Good. Worth it if you are (1) a big eater, and (2) really want that rock 'n roll tasting menu experience in a sushi restaurant with a fun, irreverent young chef doing his thing.

Disclaimer: I am a reviewer who does not start at 5 stars and work backward reluctantly. My 3 stars is good. 0 or 1 stars is bad. If I love, love, love every part of a restaurant and it's an appropriate value, that's 5 stars.

Visited 4 years ago

Omakase was on point! A mix of creative and traditional offerings. The sushi rice is also delicious and unique. Reservation was omakase only though...

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

AVOID THIS PLACE!

overpriced/mediocre sushi, subpar service…definitely not worth $150/person.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Pretty much agree with 1 and 3 star reviews about this place. Expensive, sushi/omasake portions are not properly cut - too large for one bite. Some pieces were very good , others were meh or bad. If you are making people pick chef's choice (omakase) for $155, you better make sure the food you provide will be home runs. For the most part, these were not! There are other places with better prices and better tasting sushi.

Visited 4 years ago

Awesome family business. Chef is a cool dude, easy conversation. Not traditional bite sized sushi, this is a MEAL! Delicious.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Meh…. Great if you’re a college kid looking to splurge on a date or if you are not super familiar with sushi and how it should be prepared. If you’ve had high end omakase before, you won’t be impressed. Service was nice. Food was not expertly prepared.

Pieces of fish were not cut properly, some were huge or too thickly sliced (like 3 or 4 bites worth over a tiny knob of rice), and some of the garnishes obscured the flavor of the fish. The fried fish bones and the fried shrimp heads tasted like they had been fried the day before. Not good. I feel confident when I see a grizzled Japanese sushi chef behind the counter, not when I see a twenty something year old kid. The price to quality ratio wasn’t there for me either.

I heard Oahu had the best sushi outside of Tokyo. I guess I’m still searching for it.

Visited 4 years ago

We ordered omakase deluxe, which $155 for 9 courses. I was super full, the chef gave us plenty of premium fish such as toro, king salmon, sea urchin... They were good fishes but I’m not a fan of this sushi type. There’s no balance between fish and rice, it’s more like eating sashimi. The sushi itself didn’t meet my expectation but it was still good to try if you’re fan of good fish

Visited 4 years ago

The omakase here is truly inventive, at times decadent and at times subtle. Worth every dollar we paid for two 9-course deluxe menu. The portions were large without compromising the flavor or experience. The chef and owner is super attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the fish and sake. We regularly eat omakase and came away particularly impressed with this experience, and will definitely go back.

Visited 4 years ago

We went here for omakase last night on the recommendation of a friend and were not disappointed. We each got one of the two $155 omakase options, the deluxe contains more seasonal fish, and just shared everything, which was easy to do since the portions are so huge (for omakase). Seriously, the last plate of the meal for both options were pieces of otoro the size of my palm. That may be a slight exaggeration, but it's how it felt at the end of the lineup. We finished up with two bowls of sorbet, the black sesame and yuzu, and left feeling great. The staff are all fast and attentive, and the chef was just the right amount of friendly without being intrusive in our dinner. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Visited 4 years ago

My partner has been here multiple times with friends and has always had a good experience, she thought it would be nice to do date night here.
I was excited because, as a chef, omakase is pretty excited especially done right in front of you. For $155 a head you have certain expectations not only for the food but for the service.
The courses we received were good, I think he gives larger portions to justify his pricing which is fine, however 6 courses in we were served unagi. I have never been a fan of it and I typically haven't received it at an omakase eatery for the price we were paying. My partner asked out server if there was something she could swap it out for, our server told us we had to address the chef directly. Upon doing so, my partner was berated and scolded by the chef. He proceeded to "educate" us on his up bringing. I won't speak for everyone around us but the restaurant did get very quiet after he finished speaking at us.
As a chef (I've been in the industry for 17yrs, 12 of those I have held the title of chef) I have dealt with picky customers but always in a respectful way. I have done omakase style dinners many times where I don't know what to make until I'm making it, but I have always had a backup ready for someone who is particular about what they are paying to eat.
And that's really what it boils down to. His explanation and expectations of his customers are fine if they are merely guests in his home, but when they are paying they have every right to have the expectation that you will make they're experience a good one.
I won't be back. As a professional in the hospitality industry I am appalled at his belittling and arrogant demeanor.
Save your money for any of the other Omakase Sushi restaurants on the island. All are far more worth it than this establishment.

Visited 4 years ago

If you choose omakase, make sure you eat everything in front of you or be prepared for a lecture.

I understand the concept of omakase, it's a Chef's Choice of courses. However, never in my life at a restaurant had a Chef lecture me how I should eat what is put in front of me. I personally don't like unagi because I ate it so much growing up that I got tired and sick of it. I asked our server if I could swap it out for something else, but the server asked me to ask the Chef himself and so I did. Chef/Owner scolded me, as I was sat at the bar seating among 5 other strangers, how he was raised by his grandma teaching him he should eat everything that gets placed in front of him. He went on saying how he raised his children the same way. Even a stranger next to me said "you are harsh!" Finally, after he rants on for a few minutes, he unwillingly offers me another option. At this point, I couldn't enjoy my dinner anymore.. Date Night was ruined and I asked for our check and left.

I've never been this humiliated in a restaurant before and felt my freedom was taken away. My partner is also a Chef and as angry as customers have ever gotten her, she always responded respectfully. We were so upset and offended. This was just wrong and not how you treat customers on a $155 course meal. This type of attitude is what will burn your business down during a recovering economy. And honestly, unagi? You can get that at Genki or Kozo Sushi. There's so many better sushi restaurants that will respectfully give what the customer wants. Never again will I be back here. Thanks for reading.

Visited 4 years ago

Such an amazing experience! Hope this remains as a local, hole in a wall experience. It's an amazing and unique omakase experience, with some of the best hand rolls I've had

Visited 4 years ago

We found this place when searching for Omekase and we were not the least bit disappointed. Everything was excellent. The fish was so fresh it tasted like we were eating the ocean. The guy next to us ordered an extra piece of tuna and the owner(chef) pulled out what looked like a 15 pound hunk of tuna that he just filleted and cut the sushi right off of it. He told us where the fish was from and then where the sushi came off the fish. It was an incredibly unique experience and the service cultivated a very friendly environment.

Visited 4 years ago

Do not be fooled by the highly rated reviews. The most underwhelming omakase experience I've ever had and their price cannot be justified. Low quality sushi (which we were worried if we would get a stomach ache - seems like quite a bit of folks claim had) and desert (ice cream, corn flakes from grocery store, and frozen berries). Ambiance also was meh. So many other good options. Never again. Wasted money.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

BEST ON THE ISLAND!

Visited 4 years ago

This is the best sushi I've eaten in a long time. I am really picky about food, much more so for my favorite: sushi. This is hands down, no questions asked, the best sushi you can get in the state of Hawaii. Sushi chef was incredible. Order the omakase; it's slightly expensive, but worth every penny and more. Arigatou for an excellent meal.

Visited 4 years ago

Impromptu take out lunch. Yum yum !!

Visited 4 years ago

I had dinner on New Year's day and got sick right after. I literally had to stay at the toilet for all night. I couldn't sleep from stomachache and nausea. I went to hospital next day.
They only offer OMAKASE for dine in and it is not worth the money. I didn't enjoy the meal but I tried my best to enjoy and not try to be mean since we are all going through the hard time. Thr chefs didn't wear gloves and i also saw a chef writing (checking inventory or something) and touch the food after... I wasted $260 for stomachache all night. If you are looking for good quality sushi OMAKASE, go to other places. I am not going back ever again.

Visited 4 years ago

Would give this place 0 stars if I could. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE. Having been to many omakases before, I tried hard not to let the location or ambiance sway me and I really gave them a chance but...

We were completely mislead into thinking the $155 omakase would be worth it after seeing reviews on Google and Yelp, but this is THE MOST DISAPPOINTING we have ever had. The quality of the fish was not bad, but the presentation, pacing, service, portions, ratio, everything was TERRIBLE. We literally just received our miso soup and then were handed this pile of confusing fish in the picture and felt rushed to finish our soup. The texture and taste of the rice was so wrong - it crumbled and fell apart in every piece.

I really tried to give this place a chance, but every course was more disappointing than the last. The servers would repeatedly ask the same questions and though our chef was really nice, it was a disaster.

I can’t remember the last time I’ve left a meal this dissatisfied, almost angry, and cheated of money and time. SKIP THIS PLACE!

Visited 4 years ago

USE COURTEOUS VALET AND ELEVATOR TO SECOND FLOOR check the floor directory and you are there.
Sit at chefs counter. Omakase pricings give you incredible value. Select a medium dry sake.
It doesnt get any better.

Visited 4 years ago

Im usually ordering '' Omakase (Chef's special ) '' at Murayama. $100 ～150(ask to restaurant )

He gave to us so much yummy Fresh seafood and volume at counter .

Of course ! You can order other menu at table!

That SUSHI doesn't need soy source !
I 'll recommend you this restaurant !

村山は'' おまかせ''が100～150ドルで頼めます。(こちらはカウンター席)

もちろん！その他にも多種のメニューがテーブルでも頼むことができます。

こちらの寿司は日本から取り寄せてるネタと、お米、そして醤油が要らないスタイルの寿司でほんとに美味しくて、びっくりするくらい大きなお寿司が来ます☆

ここはいつも人気なのでおすすめします！

Visited 4 years ago

Absolutely amazing! 10/10 would recommend. The service was incredible, the food was delicious and fresh, and the atmosphere was lovely.

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Omakase is a must! Love surprises! Had a great feast! Lovely sake selection, friendly chef. Lots of convenient parking.

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Best sushi

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Great sashimi, authentic Japanese side dishes, large portions BUT... bad service, way overpriced and incredibly small minded management: we paid $150 + 30 tip and they charged us 15 cents for a paper bag to take out leftovers, how dumb can one get.

Visited 5 years ago

Incredible experience at a great value! Sushi Chef Ryuji takes a personal interest in each piece and plate he serves. He graced us with conversation on the background on his fresh ingredients, his training, and his personal flare. The charming personality of Chef Ryuji and his staff left us feeling welcomed and confident. This is the best sushi experience in Waikiki.

Visited 5 years ago

Fantastic! Service was great and the sushi was the best I have ever had!

Visited 5 years ago

Went for Valentine's Day and found the $155 omakase a RIP off. 5 small dishes and they were served 2 at a time. In and out in 1 hour. The dishes were tasty but value and timing of service was awful. Would never go back again. Wish we spent $400 elsewhere.

Visited 5 years ago

There's nothing subtle about this place. Fresh fish. Giant portions. Worth it.

Visited 5 years ago

Sushi! So Yum!

Visited 5 years ago

A little bizarre finding this place (no sign outside and windows are tinted so much you can’t easily see if they’re open. Once inside, the place was reserved at capacity so was only able to get a 50-minute window. Service was attentive. Next time would grab a reservation to get the complete experience.

Ambience was that of an izakaya—friendly, a bit of conversations flowing all around the restaurant, not at all pretentious.

Got the $75 set omakase (in place of the “open ended” option) at a table. IMHO, if you’re used to “traditional” Edo-mae sushi, this place feels very different. The pieces of sushi are gargantuan (many pieces benefit from being eaten swiftly before the seaweed gets soggy; this was a challenge). But if you’ve ever gone to a sushi spot and worried you’d need to eat after, that should be less of a concern here. There are some delicate touches with pretty generous portions to carry you through. The highlight for me was the isaki “chicken grunt” nigiri, which tasted like a light ono, or even a cross between yellowtail and mackerel—rich while tasting of the sea.

Overall satisfied I tried this place. Would like to compare & contrast with Sushi ii since it’s a block away.

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

My wife took me here for a date night. Sat at the bar and decided to give their omakase a try. It was one of the best omakase I've ever had. They do not skimp on portions here. I was stuffed after the first half, and was struggling to get the last couple of dishes down. With that said, they were all delicious, I couldn't stop eating. If he had served me more, I would've kept going. It's a small restaurant, but I would definitely recommend getting a seat at the bar & trying their omakase first hand.

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Last time we were here was a year ago, and distinctively we can tell the chef has enhanced and refined his already amazing skills. His passion for food and his guests is what separates this restaurant from others, can't wait to come back!!

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Omakase FTW

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Masters of their craft. The butter fish roll and spicy tuna roll showed innovative thought behind flavor pairings. Quality seaweed and pickled ginger as well.

Visited 5 years ago

Great food, great service and very Friendly Chef.

Visited 5 years ago

I had the omakase at Murayama and I can say I really haven't had anything like it around Hawaii. The fish cuts are really generous and the chef uses interesting flavors to balance the different fishes.

Visited 5 years ago

Wow! Hidden Gem!

Visited 5 years ago

Intimate place with a fantastic menu. Our server helped us tremendously, crafting a meal for both the adventurous and more timid sushi eaters. Everything was excellent, glad we found this gem.

Visited 5 years ago

I smile just thinking of Sushi Murayama. I'm currently trying to get into med school so I can afford to visit more often.

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

The best omakase and sushi chefs are fast and friendly

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

This was soooooo delicious. Sake was tasty and the price was great, meaning very reasonable

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

【1週間後の再訪】

オマカセコースオススメです

江戸前寿司ではなく、
とても斬新で豪快な寿司

【Went back there for Omakase 】

Not a traditional sushi but very dynamic, contemporary and creative sushi.

You can find traditional edomae style sushi anywhere,
I recommend to try different style when available.

The gelato option ... very hard to chose.
All sounded great as the taste.

We will be back again for sure.

****************************

初めてなのでランチに行きました
鮭、イクラ、オニオン丼というのがあり即決

丼のトッピングは追加料金で
他の具とミックスしてもらえます

ガーリックチップ、自家製の生姜、タクアンのようなものが、細かく刻まれて色合いも良かったです

ご飯も普通の寿司ライスではなく
お店特製の味付けでした

Very generous slice of salmon on my 丼 and we could taste the fresh ingredients.

We’ve made next reservation on our way out as all the other customers. Looking forward to “Omakase” experience next!

Visited 5 years ago

Fresh fish = Tasty Sushi and sashimi. Cozy atmosphere, impeccable service.

Visited 5 years ago

Always a solid

Visited 5 years ago

All the food was amazing - really fresh sashimi and a huge sake menu. Staff were lovely

Visited 5 years ago

Wish there was a way to give more than five stars. The omakase is absolutely incredible. Will definitely be coming back.

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Amazing Amazing such an innovated sushi chef

Visited 6 years ago

Visited 6 years ago