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Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery, Waimea, HI

Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery

4.8 (252)
$50 and over
Japanese
62-100 Kaunaʻoa Dr, Waimea, HI 96743

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 4 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Romantic
Welcome to Engawa, a small restaurant limited to 20 guests per night, where we offer an exquisite experience of Japanese cuisine. There is no à la carte menu, but the Omakase course is offered for $110, including one glass of Junmai Daiginjo sake. Our menu is a celebration of traditional Japanese cuisine, featuring an array of exquisite dishes prepared with the finest local ingredients. From fresh sashimi to hearty tempura and other savory dishes are crafted to bring out the authentic flavors of Japan. Enjoy a unique culinary journey with chef & brew master Chiaki, where each dish complemented by our award-winning hand-crafted sake, designed to enhance your dining experience.
At Engawa, we pride ourselves on providing not only exceptional foods but also an inviting atmosphere and impeccable service. To ensure you have a wonderful evening with us, we recommend making a reservation. Our attentive team is here to accommodate your needs and preferences, making your visit truly special.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Brewery, Creative Japanese
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Sat 5:30 pm–7:15 pm Mon–Sat 7:30 pm–9:15 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Dr. Chiaki Takahashi
  • Neighborhood
    Kohala Coast
  • Cross street
    Hapuna Golf Course
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Public transit
    Hotel shuttle van, Walk from Hotel
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Prix Fixe 6 courses menu (July)

    $110.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Experience a unique sake pairing dinner crafted with precision and passion. Our sake is brewed right here in Hawaii by a team of artisans from Japan, who bring with them premium sake rice and decades of expertise. Using pristine water that flows from the slopes of Mauna Kea, we produce high-quality sake that reflects the spirit of both Japan and the Big Island. At our brewery and dining room near Hapuna Beach, Brewmaster and Chef Chiaki Takahashi presents a six-course prix fixe dinner. The meal includes one glass of her hand-selected sake. For those new to our sake, we also offer an optional pairing of three additional types to enjoy throughout the dinner, each selected to complement the flavors of the cuisine. Each dish is crafted using traditional Japanese fermentation techniques, designed to harmonize beautifully with our sake and highlight the tranquil environment of Hawaii. Because we prepare all ingredients in advance, reservations are required. Changes or cancellations are accepted up to 48 hours before your reservation, after which a cancellation fee will apply. A credit card is required to hold your reservation, but no advance payment is charged. Please settle your bill at the restaurant after your dining experience. Currently, we offer only the prix fixe menu. À la carte options are not available at this time.
    Prix Fixe 6 courses menu (July) Photo

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What 252 people are saying

Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Hawaii

    Japanese

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Best Overall

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Best Food

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Best Service

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Best Value

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Romantic

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery offers an intimate and unique dining experience with a "fantastic atmosphere" and "exceptional" sake brewed onsite. The prix fixe menu highlights local Big Island ingredients, creating beautifully presented and "incredible" dishes. Service is warm and accommodating, making it perfect for special occasions and Japanese cuisine enthusiasts.
252 Reviews
  1. matt VIP

    Orlando / Central Florida East3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Unique hole in the wall Omakase experience tucked into a golf course clubhouse. The food was excellent; each course had subtle flavors. The service showed a passion for the food and the process. It is worth the extra money to get the sake pairing to experience some of the sake range they make on site.

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  2. Christopher

    Washington, D.C. Area3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Engawa was a fantastic experience. Both Chiaki and Tama are incredibly passionate in their craft, and it shows in the food, the atmosphere, and--most of all--the sake. The restaurant is very small, with only about 5 tables, and this makes the dinner feel very familiar, with the chef coming out to introduce different dishes to us. As expected, the food was excellent, with lots of local Big Island ingredients, presented very well. They were also very flexible in adapting the menu for one of our guests with a seafood allergy. Be sure to try the sake pairing if you go! Islander brews their own sake on the Big Island, and it's always been fantastic.

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  3. Wendy

    Seattle / Eastern Washington1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Came here to celebrate our anniversary. Great experience, great food.

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  4. Kelly

    New York City4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    This is not to be missed. incredible ambiance ,delicious sake made here in Hawaii and beautiful cuisine. Just astonishing and so unusual for the Big Island loved every bite!!

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  5. Darcel

    Hawaii3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A delightful private evening (only 8 other diners on the patio ) with lovely food and fabuloua absolutely delicious sake. Perfect for a special evening to celebrate anything!

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  6. Stephanie VIP

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 19, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    All I can say is “Wow!” Food, sake and ambience were exceptional! We had the most amazing omakase dinner and sake pairing! Each course was perfectly prepared and beautifully presented, and the flavors were incredible. The owners prepared and served the food so graciously, and explained each course and choice of pairing sake. We could not have had a better dinner or experience- we will be back! Our favorite dinner in the islands.

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  7. Shari VIP

    New York City46 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The sake was awesome, food nicely done, but the service was great, very thorough in the description. Makes me want to become a sake ninja.

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  8. Andrew

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing food. Great sake. Good value for the price.

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  9. Dave VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area75 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on May 17, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    This was a disappointment. We just did dinner without the Sake brewery tour. It looked great on paper but we didn’t have a good experience. For $95 prix fixe menu, I had hoped for remarkable food but alas, it was nothing special. It was ok but no unique flavors or particularly interesting dishes. The Sake pairing was also a little underwhelming. Again, it was ok but nothing special. It’s located in a golf course clubhouse which was fine. They’re just celebrating their first anniversary and the owner explained the space was not ideal. The owner and his ( I assume) wife were very nice but even with just 5 tables, we found ourselves waiting between courses and for the check. We’re not likely to return. Sorry.

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  10. OpenTable Diner VIP

    Seattle / Eastern Washington2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    What an amazing find - go for the food and service! The set menu was delicious and there’s nothing like it on the coast.

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FAQs

Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery is rated 4.8 stars by 252 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Hawaii
  4. Hawaii / Big Island
  5. Kohala Coast

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 4 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery

62-100 Kaunaʻoa Dr, Waimea, HI 96743

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Hapuna Golf Course
  • Neighborhood
    Kohala Coast
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Sat 5:30 pm–7:15 pm Mon–Sat 7:30 pm–9:15 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Brewery, Creative Japanese
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Public transit
    Hotel shuttle van, Walk from Hotel
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Dr. Chiaki Takahashi
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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