Sushi Sasabune – Honolulu, Hawaii Restaurant

Sushi Sasabune Restaurant Honolulu

This elegant sushi restaurant, Sushi Sasabune in Honolulu, is tucked away among nondescript shops along a very busy street, is one of the marvels of the edible world.

Called the Sushi Nazi, chef-owner Seiji Kumagawa, handsome and impenetrable as Toshiro Mifune in “Rashomon,” runs his sushi bar as chef’s choice only. (If you sit at a table, get whatever you want.)

And those in the know willingly surrender to his flow of creations starting with thin slices of Spanish tuna and hamachi in a ponzu sauce, and including his trademark crab-stuffed squid along the way.

A dab of ume here, a piece of shiso there turn basic ingredients into memory-making flavor and texture combinations. And the quality of fish is unparalleled. Never a piece of stringy tendon or off-putting colors as you get to the edge of that piece of hamachi.

The restaurant, along with Nobu, offers the best Tokyo-style sushi experience in town just ask the business bigwigs and rock stars who go there. The only problem is that parade of magical morsels hasn’t changed in years. And predictability is death.

Sushi Sasabune
1417 South King St.
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
Tel: 808-947-3800




Kona Kai Sushi Bar in Honolulu, Hawaii

Kona Kai Sushi Bar restaurant - Honolulu, Hawaii
Kona Kai Sushi Bar

Finally, a little restaurant gem in the middle of a surplus of sushi eateries in Honolulu.

James Matsukawa, the head sushi chef at Kona Kai Sushi Bar located in the Moiliili section of Honolulu, hales from Kealakekua on the Big Island of Hawaii. Kealakekua is the quintessential bucolic epitome of what rural Hawaii is all about, located a few miles South of Kailua-Kona.

It is no surprise that a young man raised in such a lovely place with its close proximity to the freshest of ocean harvests, could hone his skills to become one of the premier sushi chefs in Hawaii.

Kona Kai restaurant is a little hard to find, however with the following directions, you can locate it easily: It is located at 2535 Coyne St. in Moiliili. Coyne St. runs parallel to Beretania St. on the mountain side, (mauka), of Beretania. Proceed down a drive way adjacent to the Rock Bottom Bar and go to the rear of the building, then glance up to your left. –It’s on the 2nd floor up some stairs.

We sat at the sushi bar, where we could converse with James and determine what sushi direction to go. Some of the stellar selections we enjoyed were: Ika stuffed with blue crab; salmon w/ a layer of white kelp; deep sea scallop; king crab w/ kani-miso; prawn w/ a topping of black tobiko caviar; Japanese Oyster-Rockafeller w/aioli (slightly baked); oyster with a layer of ikura caviar. A small rock lobster tail grilled with a special aioli topped things off and was incredibly delicious. Our food was accompanied with Asahi Beer and and some of the best saki imaginable.

If you’re looking for a bargain-basement kind of sushi bar, this probably isn’t the right place for you. The old adage, “you get what you pay for”, definitely holds true at Kona Kai. You may pay a little more at Kona Kai, but it is well worth it!

For future reference, James is planning to open a new Kona Kai in the Pan Am Bldg. on Kapiolani Blvd.

Author: Val Patacchi is a freelance writer and avid traveler.




Rumours Nightclub – Ala Moana Hotel

Rumours Nightclub - Ala Moana Hotel
Rumours Nightclub – Ala Moana Hotel

Rumours nightclub is definitely one of the funnest and most popular nightclubs on Oahu.

You can find Rumours at the luxury Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu. If you love 1970′s and 1980′s music, then you’ll really love Rumours.

Rumours nightclub hosts mainly a little older crowd due to the music genre it plays, but it’s really a lot of fun.

The nightclub features a medium size dance floor that’s packed with people having a great time. You’ll enjoy the state-of-the-art electronic disco system, that pumps the sound and gets the large crowds going.

In addition to terrific dancing, Rumours Nightclub is the perfect venue for types of private functions, including: birthday parties, fashion shows, work celebrations, anniversary parties, fundraising events, retirement ceremonies and other incentives.

The dress code at Rumours requires a minimum of a collared-shirt, pants or jeans and covered shoes. Rumours was hot back in the 90′s and it still draws the huge crowds, making it one of the hottest nightclubs in Honolulu.

Check with the nightclub for the latest times, but Rumours is currently open on Friday from 5:00pm – 3:30am and Saturday from 9:00pm – 3:30am

Rumours Nightclub
Ala Moana Hotel, lobby level.
Phone 808-955-4811




BLT Steak – Bistro Laurent Tourondel

BLT Steak - Honolulu
Photo: BLT Steak

Do yourselves a favor, — the next time you want a restaurant meal served to perfection, make a reservation at BLT Steak – (Bistro Laurent Tourondel), located at the Trump Waikiki, 223 Saratoga Rd., Honolulu, HI, 96815

OK, I never thought I’d say this, but move over, Ruth’s Chris, Hy’s, and Wolfgang’s, –there’s a new kid in town, and he has a knack for doing things right.

My friend and I had heard some good things about BLT, so we thought we would try it out ourselves and see what all the positive commotion was all about.

BLT is a medium sized restaurant and very tastefully decorated. We were seated at a corner booth located at the rear of the restaurant, which was unusually comfortable.

Starting things off, we chose a dozen fresh oysters on the half-shell ($34.00/doz.), but we first had to make a choice of which of 4 different species of oyster we desired. Now, that’s a first for me!

We made our selection after a brief course in “oysterology” from our server, and our selection was superb, –very mild tasting and very fresh, and served with lemon wedges and a horseradish seafood sauce.

An ice-cold Heineken went well with the little critters as we waited for our entree.

We chose a main course consisting of a Porterhouse for two ($72.00), cooked on the rare side of medium-rare, which was prepared with a red wine reduction and served with horseradish on the side.

I’m not a big Porterhouse aficionado, but this steak was to die for — most excellent!

A baked potato accompanied the steak for me, and my partner had roasted tomatoes. Both were prepared excellently and were quite enjoyable.

Both were priced ala carte at $8.00 each. We skipped the pre-entree salad, which I’m sure my dearly departed mother would be so upset about.

We chose an Arrowood Chardonnay, ($72.00), which was very enjoyable, but probably more suitable for the oysters than for the Porterhouse.

Dinner was capped off with a shared dessert consisting of a peanut butter chocolate mousse ($10.00), and a cappuccino. — This dessert was absolutely superb!

Our server, a young lady named Peris, was like a server from heaven. She was always attentive, very knowledgeable about everything on the menu, (including the oysters – now that was impressive!), and very professional.

I recommend BLT Steak wholeheartedly and trust that your experience will be as marvelous as ours. Please enjoy!

BLT Steak
Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk
223 Saratoga Road
Honolulu, HI 96815
Telephone: 808-683-7440

Author: Val Patacchi is a freelance writer and avid traveler.




Hy’s Steak House in Honolulu – Hawaii

Hy's Steak House - Honolulu Hawaii
Courtesy of: Honolulu Magazine

Hy’s Steak House has long been one of the best-known steakhouses in all of Hawaii. The restaurant has been a tradition in Waikiki for over a quarter century.

Hy’s Steak House restaurant has won awards from both local and national critics, and is a big favorite of Honolulu natives, as well as visitors.

Hy’s offers its patrons superb cuisine offering a mixture of American, European, Hawaiian and Pacific influences.

The specialties of Hy’s Steak House are the USDA Prime grade cuts of beef offered, including, New York Strip, Porterhouse T-Bone, Delmonico and Filet Mignon. In addition to the world-class steaks, Hy’s also offers a wide selection of specialty salads and seafood dishes.

Appetizers at Hy’s include Oysters Rockefeller and Beluga Caviar. Signature entrees include Hy’s Garlic Steak, Hy’s Grilled Vegetable Platter and Lamb Chops a la Hy’s .

Hy’s Steak House offers an extensive wine list that over the years, has earned the prestigious Award of Excellence from, “Wine Spectator Magazine”.

The interior of Hy’s has been described as “charming” and the dining area resembles an old English mansion and possesses all the ambiance of a private gentlemen’s club.

The restaurant’s booths and table seating are covered in tapestry or leather-like upholstery. Much like the dining room itself, guest seating is both ample and comfortable.

Hy’s Steak House
2440 Kuhio Ave
Honolulu, Oahu Hawaii 96815
(808) 922-5555




Parc Chic Lifestyle Package at Waikiki Parc Hotel

Waikiki Parc Hotel
Waikiki Parc Hotel

The luxury Waikiki Parc Hotel, widely known as the “Waikiki Chic” in Honolulu, has just announced the Parc Chic Lifestyle Package.

If you love the ocean and surfing, then the new Parc Chic Lifestyle Package is perfect for you.

The Parc Chic Lifestyle Package offers a variety of amenities, including surf lessons with the well known Hans Hedemann Surf School, a daily breakfast for two people, plus Red Bull cocktails served in every room, created through an exclusive partnership between Waikiki Parc and Red Bull.

The Waikiki Parc Hotel has a long tradition of offering its guests unique insight into the rich Hawaiian culture plus VIP access via its programs such as PARC ACCESS, giving guests complimentary access to Oahu’s best arts, cultural and entertainment destinations (The Honolulu Academy of the Arts, The Bishop Museum, The Honolulu Symphony, etc.).

Pricing for the package room rates begin at USD $825 for a minimum three night stay. These package rates are effective now through December 27, 2011.

To learn more about the Waikiki Parc Hotel and Parc Chic Lifestyle Package, please visit: (www.WaikikiParc.com)




Surf Lanai Restaurant at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel

Surf Lanai Restaurant at the Royal Hawaiian hotel
Surf Lanai Restaurant

The Surf Lanai Restaurant is located in the luxurious The Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Oahu. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel is also known as the “Pink Lady” … a truly Hawaiian landmark.

Surf Lanai Restaurant is a terrific outdoor restaurant, that showcases a wide variety mainland classic dishes that are dressed with local Hawaiian ingredients, and served with Hawaiian style.

This upscale, outdoor beachside cafe can be found next to the The Royal Hawaiian Hotel pool.

The Surf Lanai Restaurant serves both a great tasting al fresco breakfast, as well as a delicious lunch service.