Japanese Grandma’s Cafe

Japanese Grandma's Café – Enjoy Homestyle Asian Fusion Fare in a Cozy Setting
Local Expert's Rating:
4 / 5
The Bottom Line:

Japanese Grandma’s Café serves as the top spot for Asian fuse fare in South Shore Kauai. Everything from their sushi rolls and bento bowls to ramen and dinner plates all boast big flavors in every bite. Beyond that, they have a full bar plus friendly service, cozy seating, and live music on the patio.

- The HawaiianIslands.com Local Expert Team

When you simply cannot decide between all the best Hawaiian and Asian flavors, get on over to Japanese Grandma’s Café to enjoy the best of both worlds. Their menu features all the top choices from both culinary worlds, making it easy to get your fill of all your favorite flavors. They have everything from Ahi Poke Wonton Tacos to Chicken Ramen, plus tons of awesome sushi rolls and nigiri. Throughout your visit, you can choose from all their menu items at your leisure plus visit the full bar to your heart’s content.

If you’d like to take your dining experience to the next level, book an omakase dinner to let the chef treat you to their best creations. You’ll need to reserve your spot well ahead of time to give them enough time to dream up your perfect menu. Once when you arrive on the big day, they roll out the red carpet and start serving up a meal to remember. You never know what you’ll get, so keep an open mind and enjoy the ride.

Although their food is good enough reason to stop by on the regular, their pleasant dining atmosphere is well worth experiencing all on its own. You can either sit inside in their cozy dining room or take your meal outdoors on their patio. If you decide to sit outdoors, you may get a chance to hear local musicians playing live music for the guests. Even without that, the gorgeous tropical plants all around help create a chill vibe that leaves you feeling like you’re dining at home in the garden.

Whether you sit indoors or out, you can count on their crew providing the highest quality of service throughout your visit. They offer warm alohas to all who come through the doors, make sure you’re comfy at your table, and then whisk out your selections quicker than you might believe. The servers swing by often to see if you need anything else without catching you mid-bite or interrupting the flow of conversation.

Definitely stop by to try their:

Ahi Poke Wonton Tacos
When you want to kick off your meal just right, you need the Ahi Poke Wonton Tacos in your life. They make this starter with the freshest ahi plus avocado, yuzu, tobiko, and wasabi aioli sauce. To perfect the dining experience, pair it with their Ama No To Heaven’s Door Sake if you dare.

Chirashi Sushi Set
If you’d like a taste of bright, bold sushi flavors of all kinds, the Chirashi Sushi Set is calling your name. This dish features ebi, hamachi, sake, tamago, unagi, maguro, and seasonal white fish over a bed of sushi rice. Alongside, you also get a bowl of miso soup and a mixed green salad to finish it off right.

Ramen
Only served from Monday through Wednesday, the Ramen always soothes the soul while filling up your belly with the finest flavors around. Your dish starts with an 18-hour broth and your choice of slow-roasted pork belly, jidori chicken breast, or marinated bok choy. To that, they add local homemade noodles, bamboo shoots, housemade mayu, and ajitamogo marinated soft egg.

When you want to roll out the full spread at your next event, you cannot go wrong with their party platters. Each one features a delicious mix of sushi rolls, including the ever-popular California Rolls, Hanapepe Rolls, and Futomaki Rolls. You can add Ahi Poke to your sushi trays for an extra charge. Although there are no substitutions, they offer a variety of platter combinations, so you can easily find one that suits your palate and budget.

Insider Tips:
-They stop taking orders 15 minutes before the end of lunch and dinner service, so make sure to put in your selections before that time.
When dining with five or more, expect them to automatically add a 20% gratuity to your bill. No split checks are allowed.
-They do not offer free refills on any drinks.