The Joy of Sake celebrates Hawaiʻi’s 150-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 U.S. National Sake Appraisal, and its summer Joy of Sake celebration is the biggest annual sake event 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. Restaurants that participated in Joy of Sake 2018 are listed below with the appetizers they served.
Halekulani
2199 Kalia Road
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 923-2311
halekulani.com
Featured Dish: Scallop and pepeiao tartare with ponzu caviar and puffed rice
Beachhouse at the Moana
2365 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 921-4600
beachhousewaikiki.com
Featured Dish: Kunoa Oxtail Jook with braised peanuts and pickled mustard cabbage
Kaiwa
226 Lewers Street, Suite 215
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 924-1555
kai-wa.com
Featured Dish: Salt-Seared Hamachi with hint of ume and tororo mountain yam
The Kahala Hotel & Resort
5000 Kahala Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96816
Phone: (808) 739-8888
kahalaresort.com
Featured Dish: Big Island Abalone Soup Dumpling with dried scallop-ginger broth, Sumida watercress and Nanatsuboshi rice
Highway Inn
680 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 954-4955
myhighwayinn.com
Featured Dish: Kalo and Ahi Poke Parfait
Doraku
Royal Hawaiian Center
2233 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 922-3323
dorakusushi.com
Featured Dish: Smoked Ahi Tartare with crème fraiche and caviar on yuzukosho avocado toast
BLT Steak
223 Saratoga Road
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 683-7440
bltrestaurants.com/blt-steak/waikiki
Featured Dish: Mini Popover with Sake-Braised Short Rib and creamed spinach topped with ʻIliʻili Farm greens
The Brilliant Ox
Ala Moana Center, 3rd Level
1450 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu HI 96814
Phone: (808) 377-4803
thebrilliantox.com
Featured Dish: Roasted Pork Belly with chili garlic sauce and puffed rice furikake
Buho Cocina y Cantina
2250 Kalakaua Avenue, Level 5
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 922-2846
www.buhocantina.com
Featured Dish: Smoked Brisket Taco on hand-pressed tortilla with red cabbage slaw, pickled jalapeno and avocado crema
Cakeworks
2820 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96826
Phone: (808) 946-4333
cakeworkshi.com
Featured Dish: Ube Crème Brulee with sesame tuille
Chez Kenzo Bar & Grill
1451 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: (808) 941-2439
chezkenzo.net
Featured Dish: Chilled Seafood Pesto Pasta
Koko Head Cafe
1145c 12th Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96816
Phone: (808) 732-8920
kokoheadcafe.com
Featured Dish: Zosui (Japanese Rice Porridge), with heart of palm, hoio ferns, mushrooms and local eggs
Morimoto Asia/Momosan Waikiki
2490 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
Phone: (808) 922-0022
morimotoasiawaikiki.com
Featured Dish: Chef Morimoto’s Roasted Duck Tacos with apricot sweet chili, scallions, crispy gyoza skin
The Pig & The Lady
83 N. King Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Phone: (808) 585-8255
thepigandthelady.com
Featured Dish: Carrot-Buttermilk Panna Cotta with preserved lemon, mint, sugar snap peas and nuoc cham
Pili Group
Featured Dish: Everything Rice with Smoke Ahi Belly, MAʻO greens, everything bagel vinaigrette, black pepper cream cheese
The Rice Place
725 Kapiolani Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 799-6959
thericeplace808.com
Featured Dish: Rice on Rice Roll with poached shrimp, lettuce, mint and sweet rice hoisin sauce
STRIPSTEAK
2330 Kalakaua Avenue, Suite 330
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 800-3094
www.michaelmina.net/restaurants/hawaii/stripsteak-waikiki/
Featured Dish: Steak Tartare with toasted rice and lavosh
Superb Sushi
1322 North King Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Phone: (808) 737-0051
superbsushihawaii.com
Featured Dish: Temaki Sushi two ways: spicy ahi and California roll
Tonkotsu Kazan Ramen
2250 Kalakaua Avenue, Lower Level
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 777-3547
Featured Dish: Top of the Ramen Charsiu Bowl
Umami Teppan Kingyo
2250 Kalakaua Avenue, Lower Level
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 777-3554
waikiki-yokocho.com/restaurant/kingyo
Featured Dish: Pork Belly Yakisoba with grilled vegetables and tare sauce
ZIGU
413 Seaside Avenue, Suite 1F
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 212-9252
zigu.us
Featured Dish: Applewood-Smoked Waimanalo Egg Potato Salad
