Beautiful experience of carefully prepared food with delicious flavors. You are greeted at seating time and taken to your table. Limited reservations make this a cozy and intimate setting. The atmosphere of the dining area is like you are in someone's home. The sake included in the meal was so smooth and balanced, great way to start everything off. Each course is well thought out, beautifully presented and explained. Flavors were fresh and layered, uniquely different from things we have tasted before. We ordered a couple extra glasses of sake to have with our meal, one aged and one just finished a few days before. Both were delicious. Definitely a splurge but we enjoyed it very much! read more

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This was a treat, very personal. The sake was very very good, I enjoyed being able to try all the different kinds at once. The food was also very good! My favorite part was being able to learn from the owner though, and learn about the sake. read more

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My wife and I came to the 730 pm seating on a Tuesday night. The 530 seating was finishing up. We really enjoyed our food, but he learning and the hospitality. We did the premium upgrade plus the Sake pairing. We learned a lot about Sake from the owner. Highly recommended. This was the best meal we've had on the Big Island in terms of food and drink. There may be better views but not better food. read more

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Wow! Definitely a night to remember! Perfect omakase experience! My first one. The food and sake were incredible. Friendly staff that explained all the food and sake very well. Service was spread out over 2 hours, making for a relaxed atmosphere and dining experience. Definitely would love to try again. read more

Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery - Entrance! - Japanese Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

This is the best meal I've had on the island. The variety of sakes my partner and I tried were delicious, and the quality of the food was outstanding. The food really put everything together to be honest. Tama really made the experience for us. Thank you. I'll come here the next time I'm on this island to see how the menu develops as the restaurant just started serving food about 6 months ago. If you're staying at the Mauna Kea resort, you can get here via shuttle or ask the bell desk/valet to get dropped off here via golf cart. read more

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This is an amazing hidden gem at the Hapuna golf course! We went for the omakase dinner, and it was a special treat. It is apparent that the owner and chef put a lot of consideration into each component of every menu item. Most of the ingredients are made in-house or sourced locally. The owners are obviously very knowledgeable about all of the sakes, since they make them, and all of the ingredients. My favorite course was actually the Starters--the dashi-simmered tomato had wonderful umami and made my tastebuds so happy. It was just what I wanted without even knowing it! It's a 2 person show, so it can take some time to get dishes cleared, waters refilled, sake and food served, but they are working hard, and you truly feel cared for. The menu changes every month, but I'm sure the high quality will stay the same. read more

Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery - 2/25 - Japanese Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

Truly an incredible experience. Heart and soul go into each course in this authentic omakase 6 course dinner. Finest ingredients and presentation. By far the best Japanese dinner I've experienced anywhere in the Hawaiian Islands. read more

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If you are looking for excellent sake paired with a wonderful omakase dining experience you have found it! Their sake is brewed in the same building as the restaurant (which also happens to be the same building as the Hapuna golf course pro shop). Surprisingly the proximity to the golf course doesn't hurt the ambiance one bit. Pro tip: they have seatings at 5:30 and 7:30 but book the 5:30 to watch the sunset. Our server was very knowledgeable about the sake brewing process and carefully explained all of the varieties while pouring them into the cutest handmade sake glasses I've ever seen. The food itself was so fresh and delicious. This is the special occasion dining experience we have needed on this side of the island! Pros Locally made sake Thoughtfully prepared dishes with fresh local ingredients Indoor or outdoor seating Cons Prix Fixe menu only. It doesn't disappoint in the slightest, but worth calling out for the picky eaters out there! read more

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Strange place but worth the effort to find it. It's omakase style and they brew there own sake. The service was good considering there's only two people running the restaurant. I would have preferred more sashimi or sushi, but the cooked fish and chawa mushi was excellently. read more

Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery - Getting ready to try there omakase dinner. - Japanese Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

In a week in the Big Island, dinner at Engawa was by far the best dining experience. In the multi-course, kaiseki-style meal, every dish was both delicious and culinarily interesting. The food is served by the staff of the sake brewery, so in addition to providing details about the food, they're more than happy to discuss the sakes available and the sake brewing process in general in depth and with nuance - and the sake is of course also excellent. read more

Hands down this was the best meal we've had on the big island. First the food--this was an omekase experience but we had our 7yo kiddo with us and they made slight adjustments to his meal to suit which was incredibly kind. Each dish was interesting, nicely balanced, and well executed with very clean flavor profiles that complemented nicely. We are usually not a fan of fusion but the Japanese twist on caprese with shisho and salmon roe was done very well and made for a very interesting taste and texture enhancement. The radish salad with kombu and olive dressing was refreshing and but still packed w umami flavor. The kampachi was so fresh and each accoutrement on the dish enhanced the flavor/texture. The marinated and grilled kampachi was deliciously soft and that ube was the sweetest we've had. The prawns in the tempura was plump and sweet and the tempura was so light and crispy. But the real gem is underneath with a perfectly crisped rice ball with a very fragrant rice. I could have eaten an entire bowl of that. Lastly, the ice cream is made with byproducts of sake production and had little bits of rice adding to texture. Our server was very knowledgeable about sake and gave us several excellent recommendations. Each sake had a complex flavor profile but was clear and crisp. The overall dining ambiance was wonderful and it was especially fun to see the different types of specialty glassware the sakes came in. Overall I've already sent this recommendation to several friends who are planning trips to the big island and we will definitely return next time we visit! read more

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The best meal I've had in years and definitely the best food on the big island. The Japanese couple that runs this establishment takes such meticulous care with the food, presentation, service. This is the Japanese way and what I've seen when traveling through Japan. Course after course of delicious, fresh, food. The seafood was the best I've had. I always wondered why in Hawaii you can't really find anyone doing quality fish (on an island...). The sake they make in house is just mind blowingly smooth , delicious, and unique and they offer a pairing with the di. They currently have two seatings for dinner and we were one of three in the dining room. We brought our three year old son and they even made a little roll for him and gave him some homemade ice cream for him for dessert. read more

Amazing meal with seasonal preparations and sake recommendations. I went to celebrate a special occasion for my short stay on big island. Be prepared to wait to be seated and for each course of the meal - as it is a 1-2 man show for dinner, so if it's a full house for dinner reservations, there's plenty of down time (think 2 hours or more from start to finish). Despite reservations being full for the night, it was a serene and relaxing dining experience. I'd love to go back for their daytime sake tastings! read more

Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery - sashimi platter - Japanese Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

We visited Engawa October 2024. Wonderful experience from service to food. We opted for the full sake pairing. The Edo glassware from Tokyo is absolutely stunning. The restaurant is located on the golf course and we were able to take a golf cart from Mauna Kea. Would highly recommend and will go back next time on Big Island. read more

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**5 Stars** My wife found Islander Sake Brewery Omakase online, and we decided to give it a try. Making reservations was easy, with sittings at 5:30pm and 7:30pm. This unique omakase is run by a Japanese duo: The elderly Japanese man serves the sake and explains everything, while the other, a Japanese lady prepares the food in the back. They operate out of the restaurant at Hapuna Golf Course, which adds to the interesting experience. The meal was tasty, well-prepared, and filling. Though the single server was a bit slow due to serving multiple tables, he did his best, and we just had to be patient. We appreciated the freshly made sake and the selection of dishes. Overall, it was a reasonably priced and delicious dining experience. read more

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This was a fabulous dining experience. If you aren't driving you should definitely add the sake flight tasting too. They are serving great food and drink. This was a wonderful night out during our vacation. Be warned, the restaurant is "hidden" on the golf course's clubhouse. You will have no idea they exist till you stumble upon them. read more

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What a unique and special find hidden away in the temporarily closed Hapuna golf course at the Westin Hapuna! It's an intimate setting as I think their max number of customers right now is 10. We really enjoyed the food, but it was the sake pairing that really made the night for us, along with the kindness of the man serving us who is also the owner. It was a great experience and it also made us happy to support them during what appears to be a quiet time on the island. Arigato gozaimas! read more

What an incredible dinner experience! My family and I are always on the hunt for authentic Japanese cuisine experiences outside of Japan, and Engawa did not disappoint. We went for the premium six-course dinner with sake pairings. Our server and host was also the co-owner, making for a particularly intimate experience. He was both welcoming and knowledgeable, sharing many details on how the food and sake were prepared. Cooking is definitely a labor of love and passion, and you can feel both while enjoying every sip and bite. All the food was extremely fresh and either sourced locally or from Japan. We were told the kampachi was freshly caught that morning! The owners both originate from Japan, so the experience feels truly authentic. The ambiance was serene and elegant while not overly extravagant. If you're into the artistry of ceramics and glass, every serving vessel was impressive as well! Highly recommend and will definitely return. read more

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My husband and I were staying at the nearby Fairmont Orchid and wanted a special evening out nearby. This place was amazing. When we went the golf course was closed for renovations so it was very quiet. It was a 7:30 seating and there were two other couples. We did the full seven courses. All local fresh seafood and produce. Delicious sauces. The service was attentive; he provided an informed description of all the dishes and the sake pairing. Highly recommend! read more

The Omakase dinner was the best meal I had in our week on the Big Island, though we are partial to good Japanese food. The dashi was among the best I've ever had. (We visit Japan maybe once a year.) The flavors had depth. They made good use of the koji and sake lees from the sake brewery in the kitchen. The bread was warm and fluffy with good texture and flavor. read more

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It was such a good experience for the night! We live in the Mauna Kea beach hotel and there are various time of shuttle to get here, which is 7mins drive from our hotel to the Westin hotel. The food and sake pairs perfect and were really balanced. The music is calming and chill, seating outside you can enjoy the pinky sunset, all the decor is just perfect! Love the Kona Sake and Yui sake, exclusively made here. The service was so good that we also get some knowledge about how the sake making process(he explained so well and making me want to know more about it!) It's really not only the food but also the experience was amazing. The food portion also really fulfilling, we enjoyed the sashimi upgrades option so much! Definitely recommended to choose the sake pairing option so you can try different ones and it's really a good gift to bring back for friends! Highly recommended and definitely coming back! read more

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I want to start off by saying that the man serving us was super duper nice. He was very knowledgeable about fish and sake and my family and I enjoyed talking to him throughout the night. Everything was coursed nicely and the service was overall excellent. However, the food was incredibly mediocre for the steep price of 150/person. And that's not even including the drank. Only 2 dishes had raw fish and the quality was comparable that of the foodland poke -- which I like, but would not expect to be served at a fine dining restaurant. One of the fishes on the sashimi plate was even still frozen! I had to let it thaw out before it was edible. What was most disappointing to me was the fried shrimp. What is this doing on an omakase tasting menu? It tasted the same as any fried shrimp you can get literally anywhere. The desert was refreshing, and the sake was good. No atmosphere. Skip. read more

What an incredible experience! The owners, especially Tama, introduced themselves to us and explained how they make sake. Tama really took his time to walk us through each course, from where the ingredients were sourced to how to pair the food with the sake. The attention to detail was incredible. There is certainly an art to enjoying sake that I never knew about! The seafood was incredibly fresh, and each course was delicious. The flavors were incredible and experiencing the different flavor profiles with different sakes was fascinating! I really loved how intimate the experience was -- only 2 other parties were there during our time slot so we got many opportunities to ask questions and chat with the owners. Very relaxing and enjoyable dinner! Thank you Tama and team! read more

Such an excellent meal! Served carefully and explained well. Same flight pairings were delicious. We will be back. read more

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This was our favorite meal by far. When we walked in, we could tell it was going to be a great time. The decor was a mix of Japanese and Hawaiian and very cozy. Tama-San and Chiaki-San are both extremely friendly and definitely care about their craft. The sake was phenomenal (and made right there on the property) and the food was top notch. Especially when considering the price, you'd be hard pressed to find something better. The sashimi was some of the freshest I've had and the passion fruit Panna cotta (made from passion fruits grown on the property) was incredible. Our favorite sake was the Yui (although all of them were excellent) so I was glad to find out they ship! I will be ordering some for the New Year. read more

A gem dining experience! A full course omakase set was presented using local ingredients. Ken-san explained each dish and the process of their onsite sake brewing Please try the sake pairing, it was a very enjoyable experience. read more

Good experience. The sake brewmaster is also the chef. He comes to the table to explain each dish and provide info on the sake as well as answer questions and provide local color. Food is really good and the sake even better. read more

The set dinner was perfect for the amount of food. Fish is as fresh as it can be. The presentation of each course is amazing, paired with proper sake brings up more tastes. 3 staffs serving 6 table is just right. They prepared in advance makes the two hours of eating time very comfortable. The place is inside the club house of a golf club. It is very clean with nice view of the 1st tee. It is our reserved sake place on the big island from now on. read more

Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery - Here is one of the courses. - Japanese Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

Memorable experience. My husband and I spent three weeks in Japan recently and had dinner here along with the sake it was equal to if not better many of the wonderful meals we had in Japan highly highly recommend. read more

Absolutely amazing experience, from the delicious and authentic Japanese menu to the incredible and diverse sake tasting and the most knowledgeable and sweet staff. We learned a lot about sake and enjoyed the night on their beautiful patio. Can't wait to visit again on a future visit! read more

I highly recommend Engawa. In a strange location, but well worth it. They brew their own Sake, which was fantastic. We took two bottles home. The sashimi was very fresh and the service was great. The owner spent a lot of time explaining the food (how it was grown, where it came from, how it was prepared) and sake (how it was made, bottled, compared to wine, history, and more). We thoroughly enjoyed the food and the experience. read more

Engawa is an amazing restaurant. Everything is put together thoughtfully for you on a plate so there is no need to worry. The staff Tama and Jackie are very kind and knowledgeable of the food and the sake that they brew in-house. It was an amazing experience for us and I'm sure anyone would appreciate coming to Engawa. If CA and HI weren't separated by an ocean I'd be here a lot. read more

The omakase dinner was amazing! Each dish was delicious and focused on traditional Japanese cuisine using local ingredients. The setting was outside overlooking the golf course. We had the sake pairing which really enhanced the flavor of each dish. We appreciated the explanation, creativity and time that went into preparing each dish. We look forward to coming back and having the omakase dinner again. read more

We are frequent visitors to the Big Island and always willing to try new experiences. This one is not well known but should be. It is located at the Hapuna GC clubhouse. When we arrived for a 730pm seating we were the only car in the dark parking lot. We were uncertain if we were easting alone until arriving to the nicely lit and furnished second floor dining room. There were seven tables and with us, four were occupied. The other diners may have arrived from the nearby resorts. Our meal consisted of seven courses for $110 each. Each course was perfectly prepared and presented. We felt like we were dining in Japan! Our server, Tama, was an attentive host and introduced each course. I also opted for the sake pairing for $36 (one included with meal) which introduced me to three additional varieties, much different in their styles and each enjoyable. For those squeamish regarding raw fish, only one course had sashimi. read more

Best restaurant on the Big Island? Service, food, and sake are all top notch. It is definitely worth giving Engawa a try, you will leave happy! read more

This was really a wonderful experience. Located at the Hapuna golf course building. we were lucky enough to try many of the Sake offerings paired with some very delicious small plates. As a person who has lived in Japan, and married to a Japanese national, I appreciate quality sake, and everything we had was outstanding. The pairings they offered were typical clean and delicate portions that matched perfectly with the sakes. Each course was explained thoroughly as it was brought out, it really made for a wonderful evening. Definitely something I want to do again and again. read more

Ate here last night. An undiscovered gem. Tables were outside under the stars. The 7 course tasting menu was sublime. We opted for the sake pairing - delicious. They have 2 seatings per night. Don't miss this wonderful new restaurant. read more

Friendly folks, wonderful juice, flavorful burger. Juicy to the point it runs down your chin and arms! Da best!

This place is fantastic, and just a short walk from the Westin Hapuna at the golf clubhouse. If you've had enough of the resort restaurant formula, treat yourself to an authentic multi-course Japanese dining experience inside a sake brewery. The food is varied and delicious, with excellent treatment of vegetables in particular. The sake brewmaster is also the chef and the pairings of sake with the courses were perfect. The setting is quiet and private, a bit spare, but we understand that the dining area will soon be remodeled. Big Island residents in particular, but also tourists, really should support Engawa -- the proprietor is doing something different and special! read more

Great local made Sake and a beautiful dinning room. Located on the Kona coast of the Big Island..