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

The trendy Hyakumi (pronounced yah-COO-me, translated it means “100 tastes”) Restaurant in Caesars Palace Las Vegas,  offers traditional and innovative contemporary Japanese favorites in the serene atmosphere of an authentic, Japanese garden restaurant.

Prepared by master chefs, diners can enjoy Teppanyaki style cooking in addition to delicious à la carte dishes including noodle soups and grilled items.

When you make your reservations at Hyakumi, be sure to specify your choice of seating in the Teppan Yaki section — this section is where a chef will skillfully prepare your dinner at a table-side grill — or a la carte dining.

The Sushi bar, which overlooks the Caesars casino and Cleopatra’s Barge Nightclub, offers an extensive menu of the freshest sushi and sashimi, with a varied beverage selection that includes Japanese beer and several fine sakes.

The restaurant’s skilled waitresses where authentic kimonos and obis. Hyakumi’s stunning interior decor contribute to the restaurant’s atmosphere of graceful hospitality — honoring a centuries-old tradition of Japanese fine dining.

The Hyakumi Restaurant (dinner only) and the Sushi Bar are open Tuesday through Saturday. Jackets are optional for gentlemen. Reservations are suggested.

Restaurant Open Daily:
Lunch: 11am – 3:30pm
Dinner: 5pm – 11pm
Please call 702-731-7778 / 866-733-5827

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.

At the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, enjoy fine dining at the Cascades Grill and Sushi Bar.

The Cascades Grill and Sushi Bar combines spectacular Pacific Ocean views with innovative Hawaiian island dishes, add touches of superb sushi by master chefs and you have found a true masterpiece in dining.

From steaks grilled to perfection to the daily catch, you’ll discover the freshest of flavors in this garden setting overlooking our beautiful pools and the Pacific.

Delight all your senses at the very tempting Sushi bar, as you watch the culinary masters prepare such tasty creations as maki sushi rolls and Japanese traditional nigiri.

Hailed by both guests and experts, Cascades Grill and Sushi Bar is widely known as one of the best Maui restaurants.

Coupled with the surrounding Hawaiian Island ambiance, even the most ordinary meal at the Cascades Grill and Sushi Bar becomes an unforgettable dining occasion.

Click Here for more information

Cascades Grill and Sushi Bar
Tel: +1 808 667 4727

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
200 Nohea Kai Drive,
Lahaina, Hawaii, USA 96761-1985
Tel: +1 808 661 1234    Fax: +1 808 667 4498

Nobu Restaurant

Located in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Nobu Restaurant in Las Vegas is a gorgeous restaurant with some of the best food diners will ever have.

Classically trained in Tokyo, Nobu Matsuhisa is famous for taking traditional Japanese cuisine and infusing it with South American and Western flavors that make an incredible combination.

Robert DeNiro is one of the owners, and it is not uncommon to see other celebrities dining here unobtrusively.

Sushi bar and entrees are described as “groundbreaking Japanese cuisine with Latin American influences.” Famed chef Nobu Matsuhisa brings dining that is delightful and unique to restaurant patrons.

A wildly different dish for many diners may be the Squid Pasta, but more ordinary menu items are also available. Try the Omakase chef’s selection for a sampling of Nobu’s very best. Prices are moderate to high. Full bar service provides your favorite wine or cocktail.

if you are there only for the sushi you are missing out on wonderful and unique sushi style dishes. Nobu offers a tasting menu and several great dining options from the hot kitchen.

Nobu retaurant’s service is outstanding. Their waiters are friendly and knowledgeable and are really invested in making the dining experience a custom one, serving their customers and making adjustments as needed from a time and pace perspective.

To summarize, Nobu offers great sushi, great atmosphere and the best molten chocolate – green tea ice cream bento box desert you will ever have.

Nobu
4455 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV

Sushi anyone? Who would have thought that sushi and chic would be used in the same sentence? And it looks like it is here to stay.

In every major town or city we go, you can be sure that there is a sushi restaurant close by. We are seeing more sushi bars, sushi at the airport and believe it or not, college cafeteria’s. Is Sushi finally making its way into the daily diets of Americans?

Sushi comes in all different types of tastes, textures and is generally served in small bites. Sushi was developed as a way to preserve fish by Japanese ancestors. It’s is typically eaten with your fingers however, some people prefer the use of chopsticks.

California rolls landed in the 1970′s, Sushi arrived in the early 1950′s after the World War II. However, in recent times, sushi is popping up everywhere, even in the supermarkets in the form of prepackaged sushi.

The first sushi restaurants starting popping up in American cities back in the early 1950′s after World War II. But recently, Japan has seen a sharp rise in American style sushi restaurants in their country to their surprise. In the U.S. the number of sushi restaurants and bars has grown four times since the late 80′s.

There are many types of raw fish which is called sashimi, used when making sushi. The fishes are prepared in many different ways such as soaking the fish in sake, pickling, and cooked shellfish. Rice wine is also used to soak the fish in prior to preparing the dish.

Soy sauce is also served for dipping but sushi is also served with Wasabi which is a green paste and is made with Japanese style horseradish. Pickled ginger is also used to clean the palate between bites and aid in digestion.

What you may not know is that sushi is very low in fat. An average dish of sushi is between 6 and 7 pieces and contains less than 500 calories. You will receive your fatty acids, omega 3 along with the lean protein which is needed for a healthy diet.

First time sushi eaters, I recommend some type of sushi roll for starters. If you are brave enough to dive into the raw fish, then ask the chef. Fish is seasonal and a recommendation from the chef is the best way to go when making your choice.