We live on the other side of the island and while we have an excellent Japanese restaurant (Takumi…read more- try the omakase) we decided to drive over to experience Nuka as it has so many fantastic reviews, and we really appreciate and enjoy Japanese cuisine. Nuka was exceptional. Authentically Japanese, the restaurant is beautifully yet serenely decorated, the staff are welcoming and well versed in the menu and flavors, and pricing is competitive for island restaurants. In fact when you know the healthy ingredients are the best available, locally grown/caught/raised and cooked to perfection it takes it up a notch.
We arrived just as they opened for lunch at 11.30am and luckily managed to be seated straight away. I've read that dinner is much harder to get a table and there is a long wait so arrive accordingly ;) Parking is available in the car park next door beside the gym, free and self parking.
So, what did we order?.........
Grapefruit lychee spritzer - we chose the mocktail version but you can make it a cocktail too. Sooo citrusy and thirst quenching. Not sweet, zingy. Very refreshing on a hot Maui day
Miso - earthy, salty, brothy, umami, steaming hot in a bowl to start off your extravaganza of a meal
Shio koji cabbage - finely shredded with sesame and house milled bran and seasoning, like an elegant Japanese coleslaw, I loved it!
Nasu Miso eggplant - slightly sweet because of the miso, I liked the taste but it wasn't a texture I'm used to eating, which I found a lot in Japan, eg mochi. But I can't fault the dish because of that, the miso umami was richly broiled and it was a popular dish
House Nuka pickles - crunchy, fresh and sprinkled with sesame (daikon radish, carrot and cucumber), a good palate cleanser and a nice texture to complement the eggplant above. Not vinegary, just fresh
Saba Nigiri - two pieces of moreish mackerel sushi, melt in the mouth with so much flavor, decent sized nigiri too
Shiso Country sushi roll - on the specials list, and it was amazingly special! Ahi, habanero masago, orange masago, shaved shiso leaf, ponzu, so many flavours and textures combined into a party in the mouth, with a slight heat build as you ate it. A favourite
Miso Butterfish - OMG it looked so amazing and was another popular dish, for a good reason, it is delicious. Melt in the mouth, flaky, savory cod, a nice sized serving, and the miso sauce is sooo good with the buttery fish
Lilikoi ice cream - hubby only had room for one generous creamy scoop served with chocolate wafers and decorated with fresh mint. Perfect end to a delightful meal
We both felt that this is definitely one of the best restaurants on island, culturally and gastronomically, pricewise and food presentation, authenticity and awareness of local produce....it all adds up to an outstanding dining experience. We will most definitely be returning even though we have to drive an hour and half to get there!
"Gochisousama deshita"