Mitch's Fish Market Honolulu

It was a real treat to eat at Mitch's Fish Market, a tiny 15'x15' adjunct area turned restaurant at Mitch's airport warehouse facility just off of Nimitz Highway. Reservations are a must, and diners are limited to 2 hours due to the popularity. No liquor license = BYOB, and patrons were drinking everything from Kirin tallboys to sake to our Mexican Superman Gold (Tecate).

The menu is quite traditional, as are the 2 chefs. So the new wave style of sushi that is so pervasive these days at lower tier sushi restaurants (ridiculous rolls, tempura crunchies, and spicy and ponzu sauces) is not allowed to detract from the taste of the freshly caught fish selection at Mitch's.

The service is centered around merry South African host/owner Mitch (not really his name), who is one heck of a character. All one needs to do is to eye the myriad of photos of Mitch with his exotic trophy fishes in order to realize how serious the owner takes his seafood. His frequent table visits and his shuttling in and out of the restaurant to retrieve fresh seafood-soon-to-become-sushi is amusing and adds a charming character to this out-of-the-way restaurant.

It's pretty tight in here. The seating capacity is 11-12 persons deep.


Mitch himself walks in your live kicking lobster. This little bugger splashed seawater all over me.

$49.99 buys you lobster sashimi with homemade wasabi. The lobster was very pulpy in a mild, distinct way. The lemon works magic here.

The quality of the sushi here is probably the best I've had in the past 5 years.

The lobster head becomes soup for 2 afterward! Cheers. Make sure you don't fall asleep at the wheel on the way home!