The Joy of Sake celebrates Hawaiʻi’s hundred-year love affair with sake—from the early days of Japanese immigration and the founding of the Honolulu Sake Brewery up to the present. Today Honolulu hosts the annual U.S. National Sake Appraisal and has more sake-serving restaurants per capita than any other city in the country.
Restaurants
Sake complements a wide variety of appetizers and entrees. The restaurants below distinguish themselves not only by their outstanding cuisine, but also by their appreciation of the luster that fine sakes can add to a meal.
Banzai Sushi Bar
66-246 Kamehameha Highway
Haleiwa, HI 96712
Phone: (808) 637-4404
www.banzaisushibarhawaii.com
Featured Dish: Fresh Hamachi Nameru with ginger, green onion, sea asparagus and spicy miso atop crisp nori
BASALT (Opening this summer)
2255 Kuhio Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 923-5689
Featured Dish: Sake and Lemongrass-cured Salmon Gravlax with crème fraiche, lavosh and micro greens
BLT Market
383 Kalaimoku Street, 8th Floor
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 729-9729
http://bltmarket.com
Featured Dish: Big Island Kampachi cured in beet juice with beet jam, crispy breadfruit and apple miso
BLT Steak
223 Saratoga Road
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 683-7440
http://bltrestaurants.com/blt-steak/waikiki
Featured Dish: Makaweli Ranch Maui Venison Carpaccio with horseradish, arugula pesto, Grana parmesan and crostini
Buho Cocina y Cantina
2250 Kalakaua Avenue, Level 5
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 922-2846
www.buhocantina.com
Featured Dish: Da Hawaiian Taco with cochinita pibil, lomi tomato pico de gallo and poi taro gastrique on a luau leaf tortilla
Cakeworks
2820 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96826
Phone: (808) 946-4333
www.cakeworkshi.com
Featured Dish: Mousse Aux Chocolate with Hawaiian chili pepper-scented lilikoi sauce and candied Kahaluʻu cacao nibs
Calabash (Opening this winter)
3750 Wailea Alanui Drive
Kihei, HI 96753
Featured Dish: Miki Noodles with ham hock, marungay and egg
Chez Kenzo Bar & Grill
1451 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: (808) 941-2439
www.chezkenzo.net
Featured Dish: Penne Arrabbiata with grilled bratwurst and parmesan cheese
Doraku
Royal Hawaiian Center
2233 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 922-3323
www.dorakusushi.com
Featured Dish: Cajun Ahi Tacos with seared ahi, roasted corn salsa, shredded cabbage and cilantro lime aioli on a wonton shell
Eating House 1849
2330 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 924-1849
www.eatinghouse1849.com
Featured Dish: Sake Soy-braised Pork Belly with pickled kai choy and dried opae okayu
Forty Carrots
Bloomingdale’s Ala Moana Center
1450 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: (808) 800-3638
Featured Dish: Sake Toro and Ikura with cold lemon shio, scallion and bonito rice
The Kahala Hotel & Resort
5000 Kahala Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96816
Phone: (808) 739-8888
www.kahalaresort.com
Featured Dish: Slow-roasted Beef Brisket Taco with “Hong”-made kimchee, gochujang crema and pineapple radish pico de gallo
Kai Poke at The Street
2330 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
http://thestreetsocialhouse.com/station/kai-poke/
Featured Dish: G-Man Special with compressed watermelon, edamame, masago, basil, mint and yuzu kosho
Kaiwa
226 Lewers Street, Suite 215
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 924-1555
www.kai-wa.com
Featured Dish: “Kasujiru” Shot of sake lees with Atlantic salmon and eggplant
Koko Head Cafe
1145c 12th Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96816
Phone: (808) 732-8920
www.kokoheadcafe.com
Featured Dish: Tomato and Ume Salad
The Pig & The Lady
83 N. King Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Phone: (808) 585-8255
www.thepigandthelady.com
Featured Dish: Nori Chips with asparagus namul, creme fraiche, smoked trout roe and shiso
Pili Group
Featured Dish: Niʻihau Lamb Flatbread with cucumber, ʻulu, lime, chili; vegetarian option of roasted kalo and garlic
The Rice Place
725 Kapiolani Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 799-6959
www.thericeplace808.com
Featured Dish: Celebration Stew of Pork Belly simmered in fresh coconut juice with egg and house specialty jasmine rice
Stripsteak
2330 Kalakaua Avenue, Suite 330
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 800-3094
www.michaelmina.net/restaurants/hawaii/stripsteak-waikiki/
Featured Dish: Michael’s Tuna Tartare with Asian pear, mint and pine nuts
Umami Teppan Kingyo
Waikiki Yokocho
2250 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 777-3554
www.waikiki-yokocho.com/restaurant/kingyo
Featured Dish: Kurobuta Yakisoba, cooked live with fresh vegetables and house tare
Yauatcha
2330 Kalakaua Avenue, Suite 326
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 739-9318
www.yauatcha.com/waikiki/
Featured Dish: Apple Vanilla Choux with Calvados raisin, green apple, crème diplomat and crumble choux
