Hanale by Islander Sake Brewery

Name: Hanale by Islander Sake Brewery
Address: 25 N King St, Honolulu, HI, United States, 96817
Telephone: (808) 517-8188
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.9

4.9

159 Reviews

$50 and over

Sushi

Top Tags:

Hanale is a quaint restaurant and sake lounge, created by the folks at Islander Sake Brewery. Located in Honolulu's Chinatown district, which is a great place to go to have a drink or bite to eat. We invite you to taste the sake we brew, paired together with "Ate" (あて, ah-teh), which in Japanese language is a word that translates to small dishes of tasty food meant to accompany your drink 🍶. Our dining courses are designed to maximize the tasting experience of sake, by selecting ‘ate’ that highlights subtle characteristics through fun and delicious flavor combinations.

6pm-10pm, we host a Sake & Sushi Omakase course.

We look forward to your visit. Aloha!

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 7, 2023

7:00 PM

Experiences are available.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Sushi, Brewery, Creative Japanese
Hours of operation
Mon, Tue, Thu–Sat 6:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(808) 517-8188
Website
http://www.islandersake.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress

Location
25 N King St, Honolulu, HI 96817
Neighborhood
Honolulu
Cross street
King St (between Nuuanu & Smith)
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Counter Seating, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access

Experiences

Sake & Sushi Omakase
$120.00 per person
Multiple dates available
Experience locally brewed sake paired with traditional style sushi, crafted by our resident sushi chef, with specialty fish flown in from Toyosu Market in Japan. Delicious sake & sushi, served in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, will surely delight your taste buds & senses. We hope you will join us! - Price is $120 per person (does not include tax or tip) - Ingredients are purchased according to guest count, so cancellations made less than 24 hours before the reservation date and time will be charged the full price of the dinner + tax. *Sake pairings are additional $38.74 - 5 glasses of 2oz pours, but additional sake may be ordered priced by glass or bottle **we also offer several specialty teas from Japan, selected by our brewmaster

What 159 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.9

4.9 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
5Service
4.9Ambience
4.8Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Hawaii
Best Overall
Hawaii
Best Food
Hawaii
Best Service
Hawaii
Best Ambiance
Hawaii
Best Value
Hawaii
Good for business meals
Hawaii
Good for special occasions
Oahu
Best Overall
Oahu
Best Food
Oahu
Best Service
Oahu
Best Ambiance
Oahu
Best Value
Oahu
Good for business meals
Oahu
Good for special occasions

159 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on November 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious food. Friendly service. Loved having detailed with Brewmaster Jackie who poured our sake
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Hawaii
42 reviews
vip
5.0
42 reviews
Dined on November 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Both the food and service are excellent. Great place to bring out of town guests to experience.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 21, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Very nice experience, awesome service and good value for what you get.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Melbourne
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Outstanding food, great experience and a peacful dining atmosphere.
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TC
TC721
Los Angeles
20 reviews
vip
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on October 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Seriously the best Omakase in town. This was my 3rd time and they never disappoint. Great servide, great ambience, and of course sushi is very fresh. Definitely do the sake pairing! They make their sake on the big island (they used to have a machine in the old location that they said they moved everything to the big island). I have brought friends from mainland to this place when they came visit, and also I always recommend this place to my clients too.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Hawaii
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The omakase dinner and sake tasting was so phenomenal, I left feeling super satisfied. The staff were really attentive and friendly, and explained each sake and dish. The sake and appetizers complemented each other perfectly, neither overpowering the other. The sushi chef was absolutely amazing! I have never had such perfect sushi rice (so airy and yet well formed that the sushi melts in your mouth, rice and all) on island and even in Japan. Loved the ambience and wouldn’t hesitate to go back! Thank you for the wonderful dinner!
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JW
JonathanW
Greater Boston
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on September 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great kaiseki dinner with paired local made sake. Good value. Owner/manager/brewer is the host; super conversation about the sake. Chef is from a Tskuji Market restaurant; calls friends there for shipments. Exacting and innovative.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Islander Sake is truly one of the finest places. The sake is amazing (I dont drink much so it’s got to be good), the food offered is great, and the owners are true artists in their craft. When we saw Allen Wong eating there with friends at their old location, I knew that my instinct and taste buds were correct.
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k
kristina
Detroit
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on July 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
All the food was fantastic the waitress was so sweet and talked to my husband and I we had the whole place to Ourselves it was a blast we will be back
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RN
RumikoN
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Shabu shabu dinner was excellent. Sake matches with food.
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AL
AlexL
Hawaii
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful experience! Would recommend whether it’s the current Shabushabu or when they go back to the sushi. We were the only ones in the restaurant our night— so glad they stayed open on extremely quiet night for us. Worth the price, lots of food. Several courses of appetizers before the hot pot so fun and delicious to try many things.
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ML
MayL
Hawaii
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on June 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our anniversary dinner at this restaurant was excellent! So cozy and relaxed, The owner Tama-san gave us a lecture about sake, and the Omakase menu was delicate and incredible. We definitely recommend this restaurant, and we will be back soon!
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k
kevins
Los Angeles
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on June 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
They switched over temporarily to a shabu shabu menu so we thought we’d give it a try. It was amazing, beyond expectation. The attention to detail in the pacing and serving of the dishes was only exceeded by the quality of the food. Absolutely delicious. We’ll be back for more.
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HT
HeatherT
Hawaii
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on June 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food is excellent and affordable. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Hawaii
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on April 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Enjoyed their special nabe shabu shabu dinner! So much food and delicious as always. The broth made with sake was amazing. We couldn't eat it all so we took it home. I hope they continue with shabu shabu so I can come back for more! And excellent service as usual!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Hawaii
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I cannot find words to describe how amazing of an experience we had here. Thank you to Chef and her incredible staff for giving us one of our favorite Japanese experiences to date. Running back as fast as I can!
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G
Great24
Greater Boston
42 reviews
vip
5.0
42 reviews
Dined on April 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a lovely experience for us this was. It was extremely intimate, the service was amazing, and the portions were immaculate. This by far was a value steal with the amount of and quality of food that we were served. If you love quality sushi, this is the place to be, unquestionably!
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P
Pickietraveler
Hawaii
28 reviews
vip
5.0
28 reviews
Dined on April 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We enjoyed the Anniversary sake set with the fermentation special dinner. It came with small plates of cooked vegetables, a generous mix of super fresh sashimi then servings of salmon, chicken as well as unagi, ending with tea and dessert. Everything was delicious!! Our chef is none other than the toji herself. Nice conversations!!
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A
Alyssa
Hawaii
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
It’s like we stepped into a portal into an intimate restaurant in Japan. I highly recommend requesting a counter seat so you can see the chef make your dishes. Everyone was friendly and attentive. My date and I LOVED it. Will recommend to everyone!
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m
mahalo0220
Hawaii
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 12, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
美味しいお寿司がリーズナブルに食べられる雰囲気の良いお店。ハワイで日本的な寿司が食べられる店はなかなかないが、ここは本格的。
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LG
LindsayG
Hawaii
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The special set first anniversary dinner was great! Service was very friendly and efficient, and of course everything tastes better with Islander Sake!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was the one of the most amazing restaurant experiences I’ve ever had. Best sushi ever and amazing staff.
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V
Vallinda
Hawaii
54 reviews
vip
5.0
54 reviews
Dined on December 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our first visit to Hanale in there downtown location. An excellent dining experience. Highly recommended for just dining out, or for a special occasion. They have a table that seats five for a small party. Otherwise it's a few tables for 2 and the counter that seats 10. The sushi kaiseki showcases a nice variety of fresh seafood with a tasty tamagoyaki appetizer and a delightful dessert. Right now they don't have sake available, but you can BYOB sake without incurring a corkage fee. The hospitality and ambience enhances the dining experience.
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B
Bolerama
Hawaii
18 reviews
5.0
18 reviews
Dined on December 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Excellent service, food was very good, timing was great!
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N
Naoko
Tokyo
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 13, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Real Japanese Kaiseki. Sake goes well with foods.
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GT
GrahamT
Hawaii
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on December 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great chef and sushi he prepared. Will definitely go again.
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RS
RobiS
Hawaii
56 reviews
vip
5.0
56 reviews
Dined on December 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing fish prepared uniquely and delicately!
1 person found this helpful
g
gtkyl72
Hawaii
185 reviews
vip
4.0
185 reviews
Dined on November 30, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience4
Three of my co-workers took me to Hanale by Islander Sake to celebrate my 70th birthday. This was the first time at Hanale for all of us even though the restaurant is right next door to where we work. The omakase dinner is served one course at a time over a period of 90 minutes. There are 19 courses plus a very delicious tea served at the conclusion of your meal. We started with a bottle of Islander Sake, which is unpasteurized (and delicious!). Kampai! The first 4 courses included a small dish of Hokkigai (red clam), followed by 2 pieces of egg omelet (which the chef was making when we were seated), a dish of minced Kanpachi, topped with some kind of roe, followed by a dish with 2 pieces of grilled swordfish. Next was a course of nigiri sushi: Hamachi or some type of white fish, Kaibashira (raw scallop) topped with mullet roe, Herring and Saba (mackerel). Then came 4 types of ahi: Chutoro, Otoro, Seared Toro, and Toro mixed with Daikon wrapped in nori. The break in the nigiri sushi came in the form of Okinawan seaweed topped by a piece of crabmeat. To me it was like a dish of glass noodles in a savory sauce. The 2nd grouping of nigiri sushi came next: Ama Ebi (raw, sweet shrimp), Akamutsu (Rosy Seabass), Hokkaido Uni (darker in color but so creamy!) and the star of the evening (to me), a rolled Anago sushi. The chef took an 8-inch piece of Anago and rolled it up around rice and coated it with Tsume. The final course was a miso soup with the head from the Ama Ebi and a clam. It was perfectly seasoned. Dessert was a glass of fermented rice (it looked like Dragon fruit), topped with a green sauce, and served with fresh fruit. That, and the delicious cup of o-cha completed what was a delicious journey to Japan. The owner and the staff of Hanale are personable and informative. I loved this stop on my world food tour sans my more interesting dining partner. Wish you could have been there!
2 people found this helpful
S
Sekky
Hawaii
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
働いてる皆さんの笑顔と大将のまじめさがとっても良い
1 person found this helpful
R
Robo
Hawaii
56 reviews
vip
5.0
56 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Aloha, great venue for sushi and BYOB! Approximately 18 mouth watering dishes. Your taste buds will be happy and your tummy pleasantly full. Islander Sake has recently moved their brewery to the Big Island. Can’t wait to visit there as well. If you love sushi make your way to Hanale. Enjoy.
1 person found this helpful
JA
JAREDN
Hawaii
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Great experience. The entrance and dining area provided a clean and calm and serene atmosphere compared to the chaos on the road. We parked at Mauna Kea parking lot on Smith and it was a quick walk over. No street parking really in front. We were greeted at the door and shown to our seats once the first set of guests (we booked 7pm) had left and they set the platings. Its not really mentioned but dress here is fairly casual. I wouldnt recommend a tshirt but I did see people in shorts with a polo or aloha shirt. Ask the staff when they confirm your reservation, but you don't have to dress up if you don't want to here. Reserved counter seating so we could experience the sushi prep. Loved talking to the staff about their sake development. Friendly staff but behind the counter is mostly Japanese-speaking so don't feel offended if you don't have an endearing English conversation (just language barrier) -- that said, they do speak a good amount. Owner speaks English and tends to walk around to talk to guests so get your info there if you and the chef are lost in translation. Still BYOB so we went earlier to the Sake Shop Hawaii and had some fine selections walking in the door. Sake Shop Hawaii has a good relationship with them and has specific pairings based on their menu. Sushi is your standard faire, so don't expect much gastronomy. But everything was fresh and prepared well. Depending on your appetite, get the custom select omakase to get input on the last few dishes as they try to cater to your preferences. The first 2-3 dishes will be appetizers of sorts where they could be a salad, fish-based amuse bouche, shrimp miso soup, etc. Then you'll move on to the sushi menu. Your standard desirables like Otoro/Chutoro/Uni were all on the menu. Nothing super extravagant. My ankimo wasnt there, but I'm sure it all varies from week to week. Overall recommended.
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AS
AprilS
Hawaii
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was fresh and delicious. Great picks at sake shop to go with food.
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DJ
DJalad
San Francisco
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on October 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Easily the best restaurant I’ve been to on Oahu.
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n
nihonshudake
Hawaii
44 reviews
5.0
44 reviews
Dined on October 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent experience. Was curious how they would use the sake kasu (sake lees) to season and flavor dishes. Every dish was a different taste experience for me. BYOB, and if you bring your own sake the owner will pair the sake with the drinking vessel shape he deems the most suitable for the type of sake you have brought. A thoroughly enjoyable evening.
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B
Bolerama
Hawaii
18 reviews
5.0
18 reviews
Dined on October 9, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Sushi nite
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AW
AngelW
Cincinnati
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
A special experience with excellent service that made us feel as though we were welcomed in to someone's home. The quality of the meal was outstanding.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Anchorage
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 1, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great omakase experience in downtown Honolulu. Fish was fantastic as were the other dishes. We would definitely dine here again.
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S
Sabrine
Hawaii
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 27, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Phenomenal food, excellent service, perfect jazz, and an owner who was friendly and helpful. We can't wait to return.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
vip
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 27, 2022
overall3food1service3ambience3
Felt as if the sushi chef was in a rush to pump the nigiris out instead of taking his time to prep. Everything was premade and felt cold. Service was good otherwise
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M
Michelle
Hawaii
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Such a lovely place! We sat at the bar and was served quite quickly. The pace was perfect, the food was exquisite, and both chef/host was such a joy to be around. Highly recommend! Will definitely be booking another reservation here.
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Contactless payment available
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas

FAQs

Hanale by Islander Sake Brewery is rated 4.9 stars by 159 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 7, 2023

7:00 PM

Experiences are available.

Google Map for Hanale by Islander Sake Brewery

25 N King St, Honolulu, HI 96817

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
King St (between Nuuanu & Smith)
Neighborhood
Honolulu
Hours of operation
Mon, Tue, Thu–Sat 6:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Sushi, Brewery, Creative Japanese
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Counter Seating, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access

Website
http://www.islandersake.com/
Phone number
(808) 517-8188

Hanale by Islander Sake Brewery

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Experiences

Sake & Sushi Omakase

Menu

What 159 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

FAQs

How is Hanale by Islander Sake Brewery restaurant rated?

Is Hanale by Islander Sake Brewery currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information