Tonkatsu Kuro

This is the real tonkatsu and soba. Tonkatsu is tender, crispy and juicy. Soba tsuyu soup is the best ever. Modern and spacious circumstance. Background music is not bothering conversation. High ball is too. It is the best tonkatsu place in Hawaii.

The BEST tonkatsu I've had here at home. We've been missing Japan, and I feel like we're right back! Awesome space and attentive staff made the whole experience great. We'll be back!

Huge katsu portions! The soba was delicious and refreshing. There are delivery robots up and about which do affect the atmosphere, but the food is absolutely delicious

Modern, unique, clean but the food is traditional and extremely tasty. Loved coming in and dining here. Will definitely be back!

i think this place is the best katsu i’ve had in Oahu! without the super long reservations needed as the others! it’s newer place and you can tell in the way it’s super clean and new feeling. staff was very nice, bathrooms were clean, and food was excellent. i don’t usually eat pork because of the fatty parts but getting the loin is a must. it was cooked perfectly and there weren’t any super fatty parts, it was all marbled together so well giving a full, juicy flavor. i also got the spicy cold noodles that i talked about for days after and liked just as much as the katsu

We really enjoyed eating here. When we went it was BYOB, which might change if they get a liquor license. The restaurant is in a new space and you can order via tablets on the table. The food is wheeled out by robots and then served by the wait staff. We ordered the combo with soba and tonkatsu and shrimp tempura. The pork in the tonkatsu was really tender. While we liked the breading, it felt a little too thick for the amount of pork. We actually enjoyed the soba noodles the most. They were refreshingly cold and had a nice chew to them.

What a hidden gem! We picked this spot based on the great reviews, and it did not disappoint. The interior is super clean with a trendy, bar-like vibe, perfect for a casual dinner with my boo. The donkatsu was incredibly tender, with super fresh meat. And the shrimp? Massive! Not the usual tiny kind, these were real, fresh huge prawns, perfectly fried. The soba noodles were also unique and delicious. Even the plain rice tasted amazing! how is that even possible? Lol Nothing felt overly sauced or masked. You can really tell they use high-quality, fresh ingredients, which I really appreciate. Service was just as great, friendly and attentive, with constant check-ins and refills for everything from soup to cabbage salad! Yummy! We left totally stuffed. Highly recommend this vibey spot in Honolulu! 🤩

I like the shrimp katsu and the interior is very pretty!

Couldn’t get any reservation. Walking in at 5pm. Got seats right away 👍 All you need is an hour. Suggest to not order too much. Taste good but on the oily side 🤪 Combo is the better choice 👍

Awesome delicious food! Fantastic customer service! This is such a wonderful place to eat! Jake was our server and he made us feel like family.

Great tonkatsu in hawaii! Maybe not as good as tonkatsu tamafuji but reservations are a lot easier to get and inside is AC so I wasn’t sweating when eating😋

Tonkatsu Kuro delivered an excellent dining experience with their assorted katsu set for couples. The pork was perfectly tender, and the truffle tartar sauce for the shrimp added a rich, flavorful touch. Ordering via tablet was seamless, and we appreciated the easy, free refills on rice, cabbage, and miso soup. As of now, it’s BYOB, though I’d expect that to change once they secure a liquor license. Definitely a great spot for katsu lovers!

Tenderloin Katsu melts in your mouth! Cabbage is also fresh. And the price is really worth it for unlimited sides (rice, cabbage, soup). Our new go-to for katsu!

Food was great! Get reservations. We got seated immediately

Very good tonkatsu! Their soba was amazing as well. Good staff and parking.

Excellent service and clean restaurant. Tonkatsu with soba set came out quickly and was cooked perfectly. Soba texture was really good. Portions were quite big and some of us had even had leftovers.

The menu is small but the katsu and soba all taste great. A robot and waiters bring out your food. The staff is friendly and the service is fast, but it's very hard to hear each other in the restaurant as there's nothing to absorb the sound. Parking is free and nearby in the theater structure. Definitely recommend if you want katsu and/soba noodles.

The food is always good every time we come here. 😍 They added new items on their menu and alcohol. I really enjoy eating their soba and all their katsu dishes are flakey and crispy. Their curry is amazing.

The service here was great, they took us right in and food came out quickly. Their combo meal was the perfect amount of food, we left with happy bellies. Clean space and nice atmosphere. The servers were all friendly, would return again.

The food was amazing! I especially loved the curry, it had so much flavor and was perfect for the katsu. Also, the katsu had the right amount of crunch. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!

Food was great! Tonkatsu was super juicy and tender. The batter was crispy and light. Highballs were strong

Very delicious soba and tonkatsu! The atmosphere is very clean and aesthetic! Would love to eat here again!

We love coming here as the food is really delicious and the service is also really good. Jake, Charlie and Jiho were especially great. We will be back for sure.

I love trying new restaurants and Tonkatsu Kuro was a fantastic dining experience! It is an elegant and contemporary design. I was intrigued by the robot that comes to bring your food or to take away the dishes. We had the shrimp katsu and a soba katsu combo. The food was delicious! The best I have had here. Ginza Bairin was my favorite until now. The shrimp were more like prawn size instead of jumbo shrimp. I had 2 and was getting full. The batter and panko coating is very light without an oily look, feel or taste. One thing that was really great was the ventilation sysyem. This is often overlooked at restaurants, but I hate it when I leave the restaurant smelling like my food, or oil. Tonkatsu Kuro is fantastic. The staff was friendly and attentive, among the best I have encountered. Prices were very reasonable. Tonkatsu Kuro is a great addition to the Kakaako dining scene. 3/23/2025 We went to Kuro again. Actually, I think it was on the day I posted the review. My s.o. wanted to go there again and I called and was leaving a message for a reservation and someone picked up. We were able to get a 6:45 reservation that night. My s.o. had the soba katsu combo and I had the lemon soba katsu combo. The soba tsuyu had great flavor! It is a chilled soba and the temperature was perfect. Lemon soba was some lemon slices in the soba. The lemon taste was very light. The shrimp katsu was delicious just like before. The tonkatsu was great, I just wish it was cut into smaller pieces. This time I had a refill on the cabbage and it came as a much larger serving than on your combo set. I ate it all and was stuffed! This time, I noticed a couple of the waitstaff were bilingual and spoke Korean. This was fantastic as the Kakaako area is home to a large Korean population.

Went recently with my friend and was amazed by the quality of food and service! I was greeted so warmly By the host and quickly sat down even without a reservation. My server Dawn was so kind and so helpful in every way possible! And the food was really delicious and yummy. Thank you Dawn and the team at kuro katsu!

A delightful experience with little robots around! Food is exceptionally good, thick noodles and tender meat 🥹 Staff is also lovely and accommodating when the tech is tricky

5 star food, service & atmosphere. Highly recommend dining at Tonkatsu Kuro for a fabulous meal.

Love the friendly staff here and the ease to make reservations online. This time our party needed adjusting and they accommodated us well with one phone call especially on New Year’s Eve for a party of seven. There’s a charge for bigger parties but we didn’t mind. The ease of ordering too for the tech savy works. It’s nicely lit and airy. Previously we’ve done the soba and shrimp katsu which was amazingly fresh and delicious. This time we had the couple set which was truly amazing and filling with miso soup and cabbage.

This was our first time eating at the restaurant and I was thoroughly impressed. The waiterJacob and Charlie were courteous, efficient, and made the evening exceptional. Prices were affordable and portions were sufficient. Unlimited refills on cabbage and miso soup. Everyone agreed that we would definitely come back to eat again! Thank you so much.

If you’re in Honolulu, and be lucky to get a reservation. I Highly recommend trying this modern Katsuya.

great addition to the ward area. first of all, i don’t mind the tablet ordering because the menu is pretty simple. and its really quick and efficient. not the best katsu ever but it doesn’t have to be, its good and also great value proposition as the portions are generous. robot server is bit of a gimmick but it does seem to reduce the number of staff needed so why not. very clean and cool atmosphere and the soba combo works well with fried goods. fist bump to the owners for making this concept work. hope they stay in biz!

Was able to grab a table for 4 people, 1 hour before heading there. They seat you exactly at the reservations time...don't be late. For that reason, do not meet a group of friends/family here...also you only get 1 hour to eat...so you are limited on time. Concept is like Genki. You sit, order from a tablet, robot comes with your food and you are served. Simple and easy, you can also order refills on the tablet. Refills include rice, cabbage, and miso soup. Tablet allows you to call a waiter and send the bill. Our group tried a few items, but I got the kuro soba & half katsu set. I really enjoyed it, soba is chewy, broth is cold, light, flavorful, and refreshing. The pickled side was not bad, not much was provided though. Half katsu set was delicious. The tenderloin katsu was moist, not overcooked, and crispy. Shrimp katsu was decent in size, but alittle overcooked. A person in my group said the miso soup was salty and the shrimp katsu was a bit overcooked. All-in-all we all enjoyed the food. Next time want to try the curry. Oh...they have no desert options available. Atmosphere is modern with jpop playing on the speaker. With the lighting and sitting for couples and groups/families, it's a good place young people and couples...not so good for families with young kids.

I recently visited this restaurant twice and have mixed feelings overall. Here’s a quick breakdown: Food: • The combo meals are interesting. The soba is tasty, but the bibim soba overwhelms the dish with too many noodles. • It would be great to see a side order of tonkotsu for extra meat to finish the noodles. • On my first visit, the fried shrimp were soggy and lacked crispiness—seemingly cooked in low-heat oil. A vigilant manager noticed and replaced them with a much-improved dish. On my latest visit, the ebi tempura was super crispy, and the tonkotsu meat was tender and juicy. Technology & Ordering: • The self-ordering iPad system is a standout feature. It allows customers to check their nutritional needs and order free refills (like water and supplements) by simply tapping the call button at the bottom left for assistance. • However, the matte black water cups make it hard for servers to monitor water levels; switching to clear cups would be beneficial. • There are three unlabeled sauces, which can be confusing for first-timers. It would help if staff mentioned that you can order free refills until a set time or add extra sides (like fried ebi) at an additional cost. Service: • While my first visit featured outstanding service (I left a generous tip), on my latest visit the server did not clear my table and merely placed the bill in front of me. • Provide extra service like refilling their water and go through the menu with the tourists/ the senior. Show them where the button is on the bottom left corner if need any assistance. Show them how the free refills work, etc. Service quality is key—great service is about being attentive and courteous, not just looking polished. Suggestions: • During slower periods, offering oolong or green tea (or even locally sourced ice cream as a dessert option which can attract tourists) could enhance the atmosphere and keep the restaurant from feeling empty. Overall, the food and tech show promise, but a few tweaks in service and presentation could really elevate the dining experience. I might visit again to try the lemon soba. I hope the business continues to flourish—congrats on your grand opening!

This place is decent. Batter is really good, cook temperature is good but no flavor. Very tender and barely need to bite or chew- The pork they used just didnt have enough fat being a pork loin. It didnt have the 1/4"-1/2" of vertical fat layer. Barely a 4 star. Eaten a lot of tonkatsu in Japan, perhaps over 15 restaurants and plenty in the mainland. This place has a lot of potential if they make the correction on possibly offering different breeds of pork. Hosts wer Extremely accommodating so 5 star on service. Was supposed to be a 1.5hr wait turned out to be 10min or less for 1 person.

You need reservations well in advance. Food was good, prices were ok, I guess, for the area. Listening to loud hiphop and rap the entire meal was not enjoyable, for that three stars.

I’ve been to other tonkatsu spots with the same concept (free refills of cabbage, miso soup, and rice), but this one just doesn’t measure up. The katsu was overly greasy and the breading too thick, which took away from the overall flavor and texture. Unfortunately, it’s far from the best I’ve had.

The restaurant wasn’t full. There were 7 open tables and many counter seats available. Didn’t appreciate the hostess telling me they had to clean the tables when the tables were all cleaned. She wanted me to wait outside. The waiter came by and said for how many people? She said 4 but walk in. He said I can take them but she said they are walk ins. Lucky the waiter said he would take us if not you would have lost us as customers. Yes several customers came 15-20 mins later, but you still had several open tables and the counter available. It was 8:00pm on a week day.

Not impressed! Besides the nice atmosphere and waiter/waitresses with robot, food was just mediocre. Breading is too thick, you barely can taste the meat. They dont have many selection. Either loin katsu or shrimp katsu, cabbage, pickles and soba or rice miso soup. It's expensive for just a ok food. Total for 3 of us was over $100. Glad we tried but won't be back.

4 of us dined on Wednesday night, Jan 7. Decor is modern, but atmosphere seemed cold to me. Lead person seemed impatient as we were trying to decide our order. Once food comes, there is no service to speak of. Then, after finishing our food, we were approached at least 4 times: 1st time clearing dishes, 2nd time trying to take away our glasses when I said I wasn't done drinking, 3rd time removing water pitcher. 4th time being told there is another reservation. All this in a matter of 45 minutes, when it clearly states that a party of 3+ is allowed 1 1/2 hours. Not going back just because of poor attitude towards customers.

Update (Sept 26, 2025): After posting my original review, the restaurant responded publicly—not with hospitality, but with a pedantic lecture about the legal definition of "crime." Instead of engaging with feedback, they dismissed it with condescending snark. That tone says more about the experience than any missing beer. This will LOWER this review to one star. ORIGINAL REVIEW: After being turned away on a Wednesday night without a reservation, I had high hopes for Tonkatsu Kuro in Ward when I finally came back with my family—my two daughters, mom, and dad—this time with a reservation in bold. The place has a nice ambiance, fun tablets to order from, and even robots that bring out the food. The tonkatsu itself—the loin—was solid. The menu is very limited, as other reviewers have mentioned. Rice was a bit dry (not awful, but noticeable). Cabbage was good, accoutrements decent, shrimp tempura crisp with a great batter. Overall, the food was decent. Here’s the kicker though: no booze. No alcohol at all. And honestly, tonkatsu without a beer is a crime. Any Japanese person knows katsu and beer go hand in hand. Without it, the meal just feels incomplete. The food isn’t strong enough on its own to warrant coming back without that pairing. So yeah, not in a rush to return. That corner in Ward somehow has two of the nicest looking spots, but also two of my least favorite meals I’ve had since moving here.