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Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery, Waimea, HI

Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery

4.8
4.8
217 Reviews
$50 and over
Japanese

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 8 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Innovative
  • Charming
Welcome to Engawa, a small restaurant limited to 20 guests per night, where we offer an exquisite experience of Japanese cuisine. We invite you to indulge in a memorable dinner experience. Our menu is a celebration of traditional Japanese cuisine, featuring an array of exquisite dishes prepared with the finest local ingredients. From fresh sushi and 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 Takahashi, 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
    (808) 517-8188
  • 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

What 217 people are saying

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
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.5Value

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

    Innovative

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Healthy

  • Hawaii / Big Island

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery offers an unparalleled dining experience with "delightful" service and "amazing" food. The sake pairing enhances the meal's authenticity, immersing guests in the rich culture. Perfect for connoisseurs of Japanese cuisine, Engawa is a "hidden gem" for anyone seeking a unique culinary journey.

217 Reviews
  1. Megan

    Minneapolis

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Dining at Engawa is akin to dining at the owners’ home. They take so much care of their guests. Food and drinks were beautifully presented and tasted delicious. There was a lovely melding of Hawaiian and Japanese ingredients. I was grateful for the chef’s willingness to accommodate my gluten restriction. We enjoyed learning about the sake brewing process and tasting several different ones. The golf course at sunset provided a beautiful backdrop. The pacing is relaxed. It is dinner as an experience and is likely best for diners willing to try new things and savor them.

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  2. John

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful dining experience from start to finish. We learned so much about sake and Japanese culture, the sakes were outstanding and the food delicious and beautifully presented.

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  3. Leesa

    Hawaii

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food and sake right here in Waimea! Brought family from out of town and they enjoyed it as well.

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  4. Shari

    Seattle

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on December 29, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely wonderful experience, I got to share with my husband and son. Loved almost everything, but the host and server were delightful. Definitely would recommend, prepare for a lovely night out with some good food and sake. Can’t wait until my daughter visits the island again so I can take her here. Mahalo

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  5. richard

    Washington DC

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on December 26, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of a kind Christmas holiday experience. Very exclusive and one of a kind. The four courses were all designed to pair well with well with sake. The optional sake pairing was super interesting. I was surprised by how different these sakes were, though maybe that has to do with the host making suitable choices for my western tastebuds. Took a bottle of "Anna" home. It was well sealed and packed in bubble wrap, and arrived well as checked luggage (can't take this onboard).

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  6. Stephen

    Portland

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    It was very small groups of tables of 4’s and 2’s. Main server and helper were very nice and explained the various sake we were being served, aging and taste variants. Very informative as I’m not a sake drinker so I learned quite a lot. Food was good and plentiful. Overall a very relaxed pleasant dinner

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  7. Zenobia

    Atlanta Metro

    26 reviews

    4.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on December 24, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Amazing food and service. Every dish was delicious and well thought out. Server was knowledgeable and delightful. Be a bit careful about sitting outside…when the sprinklers go on, if the wind is blowing you will get a bit wet. And the wind can get extremely cold.

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    Phoenix

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 17, 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Went in with excitement, walked out with regret (that we didn’t keep our reservation at Cipriano’s in Kawaihae). We were expecting an authentic experience, what we received was a dispassionate money grab that included being seated in the bar area facing a wall, the food delivery was sporadic with no interaction with the chef (who was supposed to explain the preparation), the sake “expert” actually delivered the dishes. The final blow, the owner asked us what kind of sake we would like as the evening wound down , apparently we picked a premium brand that he didn’t want to pour and he substituted that for a lesser product. We enjoyed the sushi, but we were looking for the “omakase” experience that was advertised but not delivered.

    2 people found this helpful

  9. Sarah

    VIP

    Anchorage

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 13, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We’ve traveled all over the world to eat. This place could compete with any of the best places. The sake was extraordinary. Even the rice - the rice was the most delicate and silky rice I’ve ever had. If you miss this place, it’s on you. You’re not really living and you’re missing out on something very special. You owe it to your palette. The service was impeccable as well. Just go.

    1 person found this helpful

  10. John

    Hawaii

    25 reviews

    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on December 8, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I used to have a Japanese girlfriend, and I have been to Japan numerous times. Obviously, I know a thing or two about Japanese food. This restaurant is absolutely awesome! Real Japanese food, not the kind of American-Japanese food that most restaurants serve. As an added bonus, we learned a lot about sake making, and had a chance to sample most of the sake they have on their menu. None of them are industrial sakes, so I highly recommend the order their sake sampler. We certainly will be back!

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FAQs

Engawa by Islander Sake Brewery is rated 4.8 stars by 217 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 8 times today
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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