A New Conveyor Belt Sushi Spot Just Opened in Kapolei

 

The grand opening of Don Don Donki had already motivated me to make the trek out to Kapolei, but now, I was making the drive again, this time for sushi. Waka Sakura, a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, opened inside Don Don Donki’s food court. Similar to other conveyor belt sushi restaurants, you place your order via an iPad and your selections arrive swiftly.

 

I enjoyed watching the sushi pass by and seeing what other people were ordering. But naturally, I was curious. How does Waka Sakura compare to the beloved Genki Sushi? And is it good enough to lure townies out west?

 

Waka Sakura may be a chain, but with only two other locations, one in California and another in Guam. That made its O‘ahu location even more intriguing.

 

As far as seating, there are a few rows of booths, with eight booths per row. However, due to limited staffing, they weren’t operating at full capacity. When we visited, only about a row and a half was in use, along with the counter seating area, which fits 10 people. We were told there would be a 45-minute wait, but ended up getting seated 20 minutes sooner than that.

 

One of the first things that stood out was the size of the menu, with multiple pages to flip through. That menu, displayed out front, has 16 sections: Wagyu beef, nigiri combo, poke, temaki (hand roll), roll, seared nigiri, nigiri, sashimi, salad, tempura, deep-fried, gunkan, seasoned egg custard, soup, dessert and drinks. The menu on the iPad is condensed into fewer categories but is still easy to navigate.

 

Here’s what the two of us ate with a $50 budget.

 

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SEE ALSO: What to Know About Honolulu’s New Conveyor Belt Sushi Restaurant

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Seared Wagyu Beef with Yakiniku Sauce, $5.49

 

 

This included one piece of wagyu covered in yakiniku sauce on a bed of sushi rice topped with green onion. The meat was tender and juicy and the sukiyaki sauce adds a hint of sweetness. While it’s one of the pricier items, it was definitely one of my favorites.

 

Note: The sushi rice here is made with red vinegar, not white rice vinegar, making it brown.

 

All Topping Udon Noodle, $9.29

 

 

The menu description lists seasoned fried tofu, seaweed, shrimp tempura and beef, but ours was missing the tofu and beef. Despite that, we still enjoyed the udon. The noodles were perfectly chewy, and the broth had a sweet, sukiyaki-like flavor.

 

Miso Soup with Seaweed, Tofu, $3.69

A staple for me at Japanese restaurants, this version offered a strong miso flavor, and I liked that this one had bigger cubes of tofu.

 

Negi Tuna Hand Roll, $4.99

 

 

Minced tuna and sushi rice came inside a nori wrap, topped with green onion. The fish was buttery and flavorful, and the green onion added a nice bite of freshness. I recommend eating this as soon as it arrives to keep the nori crisp. Another favorite—I’d definitely want to try more hand rolls next time.

 

Seared Scallop with Spicy Mayo, $6.29

 

 

Two lightly seared scallops, each on sushi rice, were topped with spicy mayo that added a subtle kick. I don’t eat scallops often, so it wasn’t my favorite—I just really wanted to try it. For scallop lovers though, you might enjoy it more.

 

Eel, $4.49

 

 

Two pieces of cooked eel were covered in unagi sauce on sushi rice. The meat was flavorful, but it had a slightly gritty texture.

 

Shrimp Tempura, $6.99

 

 

Three pieces of shrimp tempura came with a side of dipping sauce. These were warm, crispy and perfectly battered with a strong shrimp flavor.

 

Seared Salmon with Salt, $3.99

 

 

Two pieces of seared salmon were served on sushi rice. There wasn’t much flavor, and I couldn’t taste the salt. Personally, I prefer my seared nigiri slightly more charred. I’d try the other seared nigiri with toppings instead.

 

Spicy ‘Ahi Poke Inari, $2.99

 

 

This ‘ahi poke arrived covered in spicy mayo and tobiko eggs. Placed on top of a piece of inari sushi, it was topped with green and white onion. The pieces of fish were decent, and the inari added a hint of sweetness.

 

For just under $50, we managed to enjoy nine dishes and left feeling satisfied. With a bit of strategy, it’s possible to stretch your money depending on what you order. For example, since we were on a budget, we didn’t order the Bluefin Tuna Otoro (1 piece) for $7.69, instead opting for the seared salmon with salt and the spicy ‘ahi poke inari for $6.98.

 

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SEE ALSO: $45 Pau Hana for 2: Yohei Sushi Kāhala

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Now for the two big questions…

 

How does it compare to Genki?

 

Both are casual, everyday sushi spots with affordable prices and a wide variety of dishes. While Waka Sakura has a more modern, elevated vibe, I would lean toward Genki, maybe because it’s nostalgic and I already know my go-to orders there.

 

Was it worth the second drive to Kapolei?

 

Honestly, yes. But I don’t think I’d make the drive again just for the sushi. I’m glad I tried it though, and if you’re already heading to Don Don Donki, it’s worth checking out.

 

 

Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, 500 Kamokila Boulevard, (808) 909-9719, @wakasakurakapolei