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.
Halekulani
2199 Kalia Road
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 923-2311
halekulani.com
Featured Dish: Deconstructed Salmon Chazuke of sake-miso-cured salmon tataki, chazuke gohan gel, cucumber tsukemono, puff grains, beef fat
Doraku
Royal Hawaiian Center
2233 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 922-3323
dorakusushi.com
Featured Dish: Doraku Doner Kebab of blackened ahi, shredded pickled cabbage, miso tzatziki, lavosh
Azure
2259 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 931-7440
azurewaikiki.com
Featured Dish: Marinated Tomato Salad with Beef Tongue, sake kasu vinaigrette
Morimoto Asia/Momosan Waikiki
2490 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
Phone: (808) 922-0022
morimotoasiawaikiki.com
Featured Dish: Chilled Tan Tan Noodles in chicken broth with miso pork, ajitama, lettuce, cilantro, chili threads, scallion, black pepper oil, chili oil
Feast by Jon Matsubara
Pop-Up Restaurant
mcconcepts808.com
Featured Dish: Prawns in Dashi with beurre noisette, green apple, chervil
Pai Honolulu
55 Merchant Street, Ste. 110
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 744-2531
paihonolulu.com
Featured Dish: Uni Panna Cotta with cherry gelee, puffed forbidden rice, matcha
STRIPSTEAK Waikiki
2330 Kalakaua Avenue, Suite 330
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 800-3094
www.michaelmina.net/restaurants/hawaii/stripsteak-waikiki/
Featured Dish: Instant Bacon: soy-glazed pork belly, kiawe smoke, micro cilantro, toasted sesame
Buho Cocina y Cantina
2250 Kalakaua Avenue, Level 5
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 922-2846
www.buhocantina.com
Featured Dish: Kauai Shrimp on Coconut Lime Rice, mango pico de gallo
ZIGU
413 Seaside Avenue, Suite 1F
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 212-9252
zigu.us
Featured Dish: Chilled Basil Pesto Kale Udon with macadamia nuts, micro cress
Beachhouse at the Moana
2365 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 921-4600
beachhousewaikiki.com
Featured Dish: Crispy Roasted Rice Cakes with miso pork ragu, fried shallots, negi oil
BLT Steak
223 Saratoga Road
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 683-7440
bltrestaurants.com/blt-steak/waikiki
Featured Dish: Guava-smoked Sake-marinated Wagyu Picanha Steak, roasted garlic & chimichurri sauce
Karai Crab
901 Hausten Street
Honolulu, HI 96826
Phone: (808) 952-6990
karaicrab.com
Featured Dish: Miso Sake Clams in roasted garlic and ginger miso broth
Dean & DeLuca
223 Kalakaua Avenue
Building B, Space #B110F
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 429-1015
deandeluca.com
Featured Dish: Guava Chili Pepper Water Shave Ice with local tako, uni and mango
Cakeworks
2820 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96826
Phone: (808) 946-4333
cakeworkshi.com
Featured Dish: Lemon Crunch Cream Puff with lemon-sansho cremeaux, lemon brittle
Il Ghiottone (Japan)
2-7-3 Marunouchi
1F, Tokyo Bld. Tokia
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005 Japan
Phone: +81 3-5220-2006
www.ilghiottone.co
Featured Dish: Pork and Romaine Risotto with Kyoto hot spice
Superb Sushi
1322 North King Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Phone: (808) 737-0051
superbsushihawaii.com
Featured Dish: Temaki Two Ways: California roll and spicy ahi
Kikue
3579 Waialae Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96816
Featured Dish: Fresh Housemade Soba with uni, micro greens
Lineage
3750 Wailea Alanui Drive, #OP-2
Wailea, HI 96753
Phone: (808) 879-8800
www.lineagemaui.com
Featured Dish: Huli Huli Chicken with garlic rice, charred scallion, kimchee
The Pig & The Lady
83 N. King Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Phone: (808) 585-8255
thepigandthelady.com
Featured Dish: Summer Melon: canteloupe carpaccio, fresh watermelon with curried watermelon rind jam, crispy dried squid, shallots, mint
Koko Head Café
1145c 12th Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96816
Phone: (808) 732-8920
kokoheadcafe.com
Featured Dish: Chilled Tomato-Strawberry Noodles, miso-sake cream cheese
