Engawa Restaurant

Chef and sake brewer Chiaki puts together a magnificent 7-course omakase-style meal with optional (but highly recommended) sake pairings. The sake styles are explained in detail. The setting is quiet, not touristy, and the meal takes a good long time. It’s not cheap, but for the area, the quality is a good value.

Very small, intimate setting with great service and the food and sake were amazing. Would totally go back on future visits.

Excellent omakase experience. Recommend the sake pairing you will learn so much!

We had the most amazing tasting dinner last night, with Sake pairing! It’s only three people that are involved in the operation. The co-owner served and explained the sake and went into depth on the history, how to drink with food, experience it…. It was a master class!! The chef (second co-owner) worked the kitchen solo and served us the food. Dishes were a harmony of flavors and techniques. The co-owners were the only people working, which created a beautiful experience being able to converse with those that created the vision for this special place. They have a third co-owner, he is the distiller. And that’s it! Impressive operation with small staff to produce such high quality experience and food experience. You can’t help but be fully immersed in the experience and be present for every sip of Sake and bite of food. It was so good our conversations all revolved around the food and Sake. Small intimate venue, there was only 4 two top tables eating when we were there. We will travel back to Big Island, just for this meal. Already have plans to bring friends to visit. We have done A LOT of tasting menus and eaten a lot of superb food. This, however, is one of the top experiences we have ever had. Even had the co owners sign our menu to keep!

Amazing. My partner is Japanese and we’ve had a fair share of authentic Japanese food ranging from hole in the wall to fine dining in Japan, NYC and CA. Honestly had low expectation on food in Hawaii in general but this place was as good as what we normally give high rating in NYC / LA. Every single dish was delicious, fresh and well balanced, and each sake pairing was really good. I loved that it was only few tables, keeping the atmosphere clean and peaceful. As other reviews say, a Japanese lady and a gentleman run this whole place. The gentleman said the lady does all the cooking AND sake brewing and he only talks and serves lol. And yes, she is an amazing cook & brewer! I also loved all the ceramics the food was served in. It is located within Westin Hapuna resort and the Uber had to say we have a reservation at the entrance. You can walk around the golf course area towards the hotel lobby after meal, which is a nice little lovely walk under the stars. Highly recommend!

We had the most wonderful meal and experience here. Our server was so warm and personable and just a pleasure to talk to and learn a little about his village in Japan. The service could not have been more perfect. His wife is an incredible chef and every course is as delicious as it is beautiful. The ingredients are the absolute freshest and everything was such a treat and clearly prepared with love! They only had 3 tables of couples at our seating to provide the highest quality experience to everyone. The patio is a beautiful place to sit as well. I can't recommend this experience enough, so delicious and special!!!!!

This husband and wife team is incredible. Some of the best Japanese food I’ve had in the states and even Japan. Every dish was extremely delicious and the house-made sakes were impeccable. Can’t recommend enough. (Wasn’t able to take photos of all the dishes since I ate them too fast) 😅

Lovely Japanese restaurant run by an equally lovely Japanese couple. Tasting menu was delicious and good value. We enjoyed the sake pairing with the food and the owner was very knowledgeable and passionate.

True talent. The food was incredible accompanied by wonderful sake pairing. I enjoyed the deep knowledge and history of sake production both on the Island as well as Japan. The pairings were mind blowing. The talent exhibited in the meal transcended what could be trained. The flavors were incredibly balanced and combinations that were unique and inspiring. I have dined at the 5 top rated restaurants this week- and the was my #1 by far. Thank you for the experience!

This two-person-run Japanese omakase restaurant delivers an experience so refined, so intentional, it genuinely outshines several Michelin-starred establishments I’ve been to. Every element — from the service to the food to the atmosphere — is executed with quiet precision and heartfelt passion. The service is exceptional. Thoughtful, seamless, and never performative. You can feel the care behind every gesture and every word. The chef and host work in perfect sync, creating a warm, almost meditative environment where you can truly focus on the craft unfolding before you. Each dish is extraordinary. Locally sourced ingredients are prepared with restraint and brilliance, allowing their natural character to shine. They don’t just list ingredients — they honor them, often telling you exactly where each element came from and who was behind it. It’s a beautiful nod to community and a level of transparency that’s incredibly rare. The in-house made sake wine pairing is an absolute must. Each pour is carefully calibrated to match the nuances of the food, enhancing the experience in subtle and unexpected ways. It’s not just a pairing — it’s an extension of the chef’s vision, and skipping it would mean missing half the story. And the passionfruit panna cotta? Completely unforgettable. Silky, vibrant, and balanced with just the right amount of sweetness. It’s the kind of dessert that stays with you long after the last bite. This place is a treasure. I truly hope it continues to thrive — it deserves every ounce of recognition for the extraordinary experience it provides.