AYCE Nights: My Favorite All-You-Can-Eat Sushi Spot in Honolulu

Editor’s Note: A year after its publication in March 2023, we’re reprising this post from Maddy Chow’s AYCE Nights series because the all-you-can-eat theme resonates even more in these inflation-pinched times. The price for this made-to-order nigiri sushi dinner is still a reasonable $32.90.

AYCE Nights brings together my favorite spots to eat when my friends and I are craving LOTS of food. Being students at UH Mānoa means we’re always trying to find the best deals. All-you-can-eat places always come up, and lucky for us, there are many options in the Honolulu area!

Kats Sushi is a gem if you are looking for somewhere to go with a large party or for a special date night. Make sure you make a reservation because even on a Wednesday, it will be booked for the night. Seating is limited, especially during the wet weather season because their outdoor seating is not covered. The restaurant inside is on the smaller side, fitting medium-size parties on two tables with six seats at the sushi bar.

Photo: Maddy Chow

For $32.90, the AYCE menu is one of the best deals in town. I have never been to an AYCE sushi restaurant before, but now I can tell you that it is worth every penny. You can order up to five types of sushi: nigiri, hand rolls or a combination of both. You can order as many, quantity-wise, as you would like from the five that you select. Did I mention it’s BYOB? So bring on the sake and beer to enjoy with your mountain of sushi.

SEE ALSO: AYCE Nights: My Favorite All-You-Can-Eat Korean Barbecue Spots in Honolulu

There are 11 nigiri options and 17 types of hand rolls. For nigiri choices, Kats offers maguro, hamachi, tai, salmon, hokkigai (clam), ika, unagi, tako, ebi, saba and tamago. Hand roll choices include California, scallop, ikura, tobiko, masago, salmon skin, natto, Hawaiian, ume, spicy tuna, spicy hamachi, spicy salmon, spicy unagi, ‘ahi, (canned) tuna, cucumber and oshinko (pickled daikon).

Photo: Maddy Chow

Each nigiri and hand roll is made to order. The seafood is fresh and so smooth. It melts in my mouth, and the quality is quite high for the price. We sit at the sushi bar, and the chef hands us our order right away. The rice is perfectly seasoned and still warm if you eat it right away. The nori for the hand rolls is crisp and so easy to tear apart when biting into it.

Photo: Maddy Chow

Surprisingly, the nigiri is not overstuffed with rice. I was amazed by my first bite because I have experienced restaurants that use so much more rice. I try almost all of the nigiri that they have to offer, and hamachi is my favorite.

The hand rolls will fill you up. Out of the many options, salmon skin is my favorite because it is so crisp and the skin still has some bits of salmon. I try to limit myself on these though since I do not want to leave Kats Sushi having only eaten hand rolls. Between my friend and me, we manage to put away a total of 44 nigiri and 10 handrolls.

SEE ALSO: AYCE Nights: My Favorite All-You-Can-Eat Hot Pot Spots in Honolulu

Although Kats can get busy with large parties, the servers notice when you are finishing up your plate so you can order the next round. Each order takes around 10 minutes to arrive so make sure you order a little before you clear your plate. Also, don’t over-order. You’ll be charged the à la carte price of each unfinished nigiri or hand roll (including the rice).

Parking for Kats Sushi is a little complicated. There is only street parking and a small lot behind the building, but I recommend parking on the street. It was empty with lots of spaces on the side road.

Open Monday to Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., 715 S King St #105, Honolulu, HI., (808) 526-1268