Honolulu, HI — Todai

Todai 1910 Ala Moana Blvd Honolulu, HI

808.947-1000 website map

After an afternoon snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, I was ready to enjoy sushi for dinner. Several colleagues and people at my hotel reccomended Todai. Todai is an international chain of Japanese buffet restaurants. I have been to Todai in Los Angeles and Chicago (before I was doing these reviews). In both cases Todai was average at best. In fact I found the non-sushi items to be pretty good and the sushi not so good.

So I have a history with Todai and it is not good. But this is paradise, I am surrounded by ocean and there is a thriving Japanese culture here.So, I decided to try Todai again.

Todai is a huge Japanese buffet in the Waikiki area of Honolulu. When I arrived I went right to the sushi buffet. There was a tremendous variety of nigiri and rolls. They also had sashimi. I tried a combination of sashimi and rolls. Unfortunately, the sushi was terrible. The sashimi was slimy and tasted a bit spoiled. The knife work on the sashimi was dismal! the pieces were not fully separated and the salmon had bones in it. The rolls were no better. I left nearly a whole plate of sushi and sashimi on my table. 

So, I decided to try the hot food. It was really no better. The noodles had been sitting under the heat lamp so long that the ones on top were beginning to get crispy. During the hour or so that I was there, the large quantities of sushi and sashimi on the bar simply sat there getting old.

Even on Waikiki, Todai is not worth it — I will never set foot in a Todai again,

Todai 1 rice bowls