Gosh there is a lot of dramatic reviewing going on about Isana - it is absolutely FINE.
The food is good actually - and yea it is a Korean Restaurant with "sushi" so what lol...
It must be okay = I have been twice and the place was full and um 50 percent Asian customers... yea I said it -
Not a cute guy in sight though : ( gay/straight nothing - one old Asian guy was rocking his fitness but - just saying....
This place should get a full bar and then I could rock here every night!
Ha Ha and yea I thought the food was Awesome - if the night in my to go box they put all the  Korean "sides/small-plates" Thought that was BONUS!
If you want a table at dinner time DEF call ahead this place books UP!
And the service was friendly and cool! And the place is clean LOL oh oh yes it is pricey - welcome to HAWAII
I'm a fan, but the prices are why I didn't give it 5 stars...I'm from the bay area, so I have access to alot of Korean restaurants...Isana is really up there price wise, no lunch menu...no specials, $20 - $25 per entree. Only a few side dishes, which included potato salad... say what?..We ordered the short ribs which were great, only 2 bones and alot of great tasting meat, on a sizzling platter...also got the marinated beef, on a sizzling platter..good taste..be aware, a few items on the menu are not marinated..you can also cook at your table...too hot for that...Service was outstanding, fast and friendly..besides fast food, this appears to be the only sit down Korean restaurant on Maui. They do have sushi, but way up there on the price...
Review Source:As far as service goes, this place was not outstanding. We arrived and waited at least 5 minutes before anyone came to seat us. And keep in mind that there were only 2 other people in the restaurant at this time. Then, once we were seated, our waitress did seem to have some attitude with us. It was our first time and we weren't sure what to get and she seemed very impatient with us. We had a 6 year old with us, and once the adults were finished ordering their alcoholic beverages, she shot away. We didn't even have a chance to order for the little guy. Then, when it came to food, if we asked any questions on specifics of the dishes, she seemed put out. It was a very unfotunate serving situation.
However, I do have to say the food was great! There were 8 of us and we got such a variety of food to all share and we all loved everything. The shrimp and vegetable pancakes were amazing! A little greasy, but great flavor! The ahi poke was also delicious! We also ordered some sushi. It was our first time trying octopus and salmon eggs, but were pleasantly surprised by both! We got the eel and avacodo, salmon and avacodo, and shrimp tempura rolls for sushi. All tasted great! For a Korean restaurant, the sushi was just as good as any Japanese restaurant. Although, we didn't get any wasabi with our sushi, and trying to track down our waitress to get any was a chore. My dad doesn't do raw, so he got a Korean BBQ pork dish and it was great! The only thing we didn't like was the edmame. We weren't used to cold edamame, and it took us back. Wasn't horrible, but not my favorite.
All in all, GREAT food! Highly recommend in that aspect. But as far as service or atmosphere, don't go in expecting too much.
Horrible!!!! We are from NY on our honeymoon in good ol' Maui. Isana place looked good from the outside & terrible inside!! Dirty & old, yuck. Â We thought how could there be bad sushi in Maui?! Ha! It could be!!! Rolls were loose, sushi looked old. Not a good place!!! We went to Kai sushi in wailea- that place was Yummy!!
Review Source:I generally don't like to review Korean restaurants because i feel like i am maybe just being more difficult because I am a Korean.  I have not had very good Korean outside of Korea which is puzzling to me because many other regional cuisines are very successfully executed in North America.  I assume that this is because they are run more like just a business not so much for the love of cooking or service, at least here and in my hometown of Vancouver.  We were running out of ideas here in kihei with all the failed attempts at quality dinner options and ended up in Isana a few blocks from where we are staying.  It is a large typical tourist trap Korean joint.  No atmosphere, but clean.  Our server was very pleasant and quick, filled our water  and sides frequently.  We did not have any sushi because you don't have sushi at a Korean restaurant, you just don't, it's there as a catch all for broader audience.  It's like those Chinese restaurants that serve burgers and fries, seriously, don't do it!
I did not eat the meat but my family said it was rather tough. Â The seafood pancake was limp and pale, we did not finish it. Â My bean paste soup was watery yet super salty, mostly onion and tofu. Â Some of the sides were really dry and none of them memorable. Â Needless to say we have had better of everything elsewhere. Â I am sure they probably don't serve most of their customers more than once and don't really care about repeat business, but like my husband said when we were leaving, it would be really said if Isana was someone's first experience of Korean food because they won't want to have it again. (29 of 30)
We live in Kihei and had not come to Isana's in years. Â Don't know why, just hadn't gotten up there! Â I actually used to go to Isana's as a tourist and visit the upstairs Karaoke bar with all our local friends! Â It is GREAT fun!
I saw the Govity deal a few weeks ago and jumped on it!
We went last night. Â We sat at the Sushi bar and had a vast array of Sushi and 2 Sakes! Â Everything was delicious.
The service was awesome. Â It was prompt and everyone was just as friendly as I remembered.
We will definitely be back and very soon! Â
Mahalo you guys!
Lolly
I live in kihei and came here for lunch because after googling they were the only place that serves sushi at 2pm in kihei. I entered and was the only person in the entire restaurant minus the owner and sushi man who stood right beside me and spoke in korean the whole time. Long story short... I ordered the rainbow roll which was 16.50$.. I could smell the roll when he put it down in front of me.. the salmon was slimy and I pulled it off as to not accidently eat it! I ate what  I could pretty fast because of the bickering/gossip/conversation that was going on right beside me.. I paid at the front and the gal asked me how everything was, I said "not great and I think the salmon on the role was bad- it was slimy" she said "oh sorry" and took my card and charged me full price. I wasn't looking for anything free but acknowledge how crappy and not fresh your food is atleast.
I don't blog about food.. but I feel that a place like this is solely there to take advantage of tourist and unsuspecting people looking for sushi at random hours.
If you have another option.. take it.. if not, wait until you do! It is not worth the money and the fear of food poisoning!
Hit the spot! Good food, good service, price was what's expected in Maui. We ordered  a few dishes of Korean BBQ beef (beef brisket, marinated short ribs) and the quality of the beef was good. You grill it on your own at your table which I strangely prefer over having the beef cooked in the back and brought out. The waitress kept the side dishes and our water glasses full without having to ask. I came in hoping for at least something mediocre but nicely surprised to find great Korean food on the island.
Review Source:If you love sushi  do not like crowds this is the place. the chefs are awesome the quatity and quality of fish are awesome.
You will love whatever you order, and the fun of using the grill helps make it more fun when you are with friends.
the only down side to this place is thier lust for the change, if your bill is $41.00 and you give 3 $20.00 they say do you need change?
This is the best Korean restaurant in Kihei.
Ok this is the ONLY Korean restaurant in Kihei.
It is overpriced, no lunch specials - same menu as dinner.
You could get the same quality for half the price in Honolulu.
But as I mentioned, this is the only korean restaurant in Kihei.
So, the Korean food is decent. Avoid the sushi, even the 50% off happy hour deal. Â Sushi shouldn't be cheap as it is cheap for a reason. Â Just like the Sansei half off deal, you pay for it in other ways, for me those are gastrointestinal ways. Â If you want sushi, pay for real sushi at Koiso, where it isn't half off, but it is good.
For meh Korean food, Isana will live up to your expectations, so long as they are low.
Place was great. Staff even went out of their way to feed us after walking in after closing. Prices were a little high but this is Maui and that is expected. Portions were huge and they did not just throw extra rice in it to make them bigger. They sometimes are out of certain things but that is because the owner hand picks his fish and he just won't buy something that he does not think is AAA fish. This shows the pride he takes at having the freshest fish.
Review Source:This place is by far the best value I've found....$35 sashimi platter = maguro (ahi/tuna), hamachi (fatty tuna), mirugai (clam), tako (octopus) and sake (salmon)...30 well cut pieces, fresh! The UNI (2 pieces rolled) was Amazing as well, also a good portion... Excellent service by Francis C. Will DEFINITELY be back and is on my list of FAVORITES!
Review Source:I love this place whenever I'm in the valley isle. I totally miss this place as I'm not the biggest fan of sushi, or even fish in general. Back in the days my ex used to drag me here. I was hooked ever since. I love their dynamite, hamachi kama, and soft shell crab roll with a large bottle of Hite Korean beer. Andy the owner is a hard worker, and appreciates his customers. Totally can't wait to go back to so that I could consume my favorite Maui trifecta. Oh, maybe even sing a song or two upstairs after a few drinks.
Review Source:Went here the day before and it was packed! Â Mostly because there was one of those tour buses outside that had a boat load of tourists. Â We were trying to do the Korean BBQ, but the tour group was doing that so we either had to wait for almost an hour or go elsewhere. Â We went elsewhere for that night. Â
So the next night we went and it was moderately packed. Â My friend and I asked for a table for two, but they were a little hesitant I guess because they only had tables for 4+. Â Got seated and looked over the menu. Â Told them we were doing the Korean BBQ and they set it all up. Â Ordered the beef tongue and the brisket. Â Before the meat came, they gave side dishes and a small bowl of rice. Â It was interesting that they actually gave a small bowl of rice with no charge because a lot of places you have to buy rice, so that was really nice. Â Meat came and for two people I would have to say that it was pretty good portions. Â The amount of rice and sauce they provided wasn't enough for the amount of meat there was. Â Overall the beef tongue was the best. Â It had an interesting texture to it, but was flavorful and buttery. Â Kinda almost melt in your mouth. Â The only thing that wasn't as appeasing was the price. Â You have to pick at least two meats and ours ranged from $20-$30 per meat selection. Â It's not the place I would go every week because of the prices, but definitely a place I would go once in a while.
4 stars for service, food, atmosphere, but minus a star due to high prices.
First time and we plan to return--excellent food and service. Â We had tabletop traditional kalbi, and the shrimp and vegi dishes. Â
The beef was well marinated, and was of high quality, and so tender.
Shrimp was very good too, with the different veggies.
The small appetizer dishes was very good tasting and generous.
All was very generous good size portions.
We also had one rainbow roll--wow! Very generous amount of variety of fish.
PRICES--slightly higher than Portland, OR. Korean restaurants that we go too, but seems very fair for being on a island, versus mainland--understandable. Â Again they give generous portions, so well worth it.
SERVICE--excellent service, waitress even cooked our meal in front of us for most of it. Â When we first walked in, even sat us at a table to take advantage of views.
very clean and even all condiments were not sticky when Grasped to use.
Thank you! And will be back.
We eat at Isana often and are always happy with the service there. Â Granted, a few of the reviewers were unhappy with the sushi bar side of the restaurant, but I've never been to that section before. Â My review will strictly cover the restaurant side. Â
Food:  I recommend trying the Yakiniku style (cook yourself) of eating.  You'll need to get at least 2 orders of meat in order to do this, but if you're in a part of 2 or more, you'll be okay.  They have marinated chicken, shrimp & vegetables, spicy pork loin, and more.  Try the cooked food in lettuce and their miso paste.  Mmm...delicious! Their free side dishes help compliment your meal as well.  If you're not in the mood for cooking your own food, they have a sit down menu as well.  They have most of the popular Korean dishes on hand.  When I'm really hungry, I make sure I get an order of the Bi Bim Bap (a bowl of warm white rice topped with namul (sautéed and seasoned vegetables) and gochujang (chili pepper paste). A raw or fried egg and sliced meat (usually beef) are common additions. The ingredients are stirred together thoroughly just before eating. It can be served either cold or hot) *definition from Wikipedia.  You can order from the sushi bar as well.
Service: Â We always get top notched service there, especially be Joenard who is the most excellent waiter/server around. Â Our drinks are always topped off, the side dishes are always refilled, and they continuously check to see if our needs are being met.
Atmosphere: Â It's very laid back with an Asian feeling. Â You can come as you're dressed but need a shirt and footwear (as do most restaurants). Â Ask for a seat fronting the beach as the sunset in Kihei is spectacular.
Prices: The restaurant is a bit pricey but we're willing to pay the price (every now and then) for a good meal with excellent service. Â My wife orders the sushi combo platter which runs about $30. Â All in all, we pay about $75-$85 for the entire meal per visit (not including tip). Â As I mentioned, the food is good, but it's not a place the average person can afford on a weekly basis.
Bottom line: Â Good Korean food along with outstanding service is hard to find; especially on Maui. Â In fact there are only a handful of places where you can get Korean food in a restaurant atmosphere. The prices are a bit steep, but if you're in the mood for a nice dinner in a clean comfortable atmosphere, then give Isana a try.
Only place open for lunch! Quiet, only a few other people. Great view! The service was very good. I'm not sure what all these people are complaining about! Â The sushi was pretty good. Not great, but we were happy with it. The price was a little high, but so is everything in Maui! Overall we were very happy.
Review Source:Sushi is good (but Sansei is a better deal at discount times and Sushi Paradise is waaay better quality if you want to spend the money).
Korean BBQ is overpriced and poor quality! Â I'd rather buy a steak and a bag of charcol and go grill at the beach. The veggies had massive amounts of salt on them and the beef and shrimp had no seasoning. Â The "special dipping sauce" was nothing more than sesame oil and shoyu. Â The decor is dark, dirty and the whole place is really outdated. Â Dissapointing overall.
I've been to Isana many times before - but usually on the restaurant side, which is usually pretty good in food and service.
So, I cannot understand why there is such a big difference on the sushi bar side. On this night, we decided to go to the sushi bar. But, I don't understand...it's like they don't want to serve people at the sushi bar unless there's more than one party there.
It seemed like the staff was on their dinner break I guess, but do they all have to go at one time? We got tea and water when we first sat down, but no checks if we were okay, need more, or need anything for that matter.
They get one star for the restaurant side being consistently good; another star for the size of the hamachi kama; another for being fast with the food at the sushi bar (although we were the only ones at the bar); and another for the sushi that we had that was pretty good.
However, the serious lack of customer service and outright ignorance takes two of those stars away.
I hope they got better with their service, but needless to say, unless we're craving some huge hamachi kama, I don't expect to go back anytime soon.
My korean food cravings can be easily tamed by JB's, Watercress, Tiffany's, or Asian Cuisine.
I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!! Â Finally a Korean bbq restaurant on Maui. Â I have lived on Maui for a few months and I was really sad to not have a Korean bbq place here. Â Now we found one. Â Its not your cheap amazing 9.99 AYCE from LA more like $20 a plate. Â They don't have rice paper or even know what it is but honestly I did not care. Â The brisket and galbi were a much welcomed taste! Â The servers were wonderful and attentive. Â I've heard the sushi is excellent and will try that the next time. Â I hope the trend for these types of restaurants grow!
Review Source:I'm Korean and live in Seattle with lots of good Korean restaurants and I must say that Isana isn't the bomb... it's HIROSHIMA!!! The service was great and food was even better!!! Price was pretty decent too. My husband and I went there to eat in Oct. of '08 and returned this Oct. ('11)to the same great service and meal. Every time we go to Maui, we'll be sure to hit up Isana.
Review Source:Most legit korean place on the island. I dont take into account price too much b/c this is an island. Your gunna pay 12$ for Soju (not cali which is 8$)
Pros
* half off sushi after 10pm on fri & sat
* Very kind korean service
* Alcohol: diff types of Soju, sparkling sake, cold/hot sake, korean beer ( hite )
* Bul go ki & kalbi meat, kim chee soup, Large house salad!
Yummy unlimited sides (seaweed salads, kim chi, fish cake, ect!)
*didnt try sushi
*open till 1
Cons
*You have to order 2 types of korean bbq dishes in order to cook it in front of you. otherwise, the kitchen cooks it and brings it out. Each meat dish Bul Go ki and Kalbi was 22$ (large serving tho!)
*Being really picky- its not a VERY traditional korean bbq marinade- but still tasted good.Ive had better, I used to live in Souther California (korea CENTRAL). However, for the island- this is still Great overall.
I will return- I recommend this place for an authentic korean experience on the island.
This a Korean bbq place that also serves sushi. It is another one of our regular go to places for dinner. The sushi is fresh and quite reasonable. This time we started with rainbow roll along with the traditional philadelphia roll, and spciy tuna roll. The rainbow was one the most attractive ones I've seen. The entree's were excellent. We'll be back there on our next trip.
Review Source:Got sushi to go here, let the sushi chef go wild.
Ordered it to go, though the place looked pretty interesting considering it's location (it was kinda latched on to a resort??)
Good place, tasty sushi, though i am not from Cupertino, so i am not sure what GOOD sushi should taste like.
Ended up feeding two faces full of tasty sushi for under 50 bucks, i can't complain.
it did not change me, nor did it want me to be a better man, or stand outside in the rain with a boom box over my head. Â But it was a solid place, with some solid sushi for my mouth parts.
We arrived around 11:00 pm and waited for the sushi bar to open up ... that's when the fail began.
The waitress sucked donkey balls! Â We asked her for water and some beers while we wait, ~30 min. we get her attention and asked where the water and drinks and she just looked at us w/ a blank stare, wtf!
The AC was Cranking and we were freezing so I asked for some hot tea and the waitress said, sorry, no hot tea. Â AGAIN WTF! Â how can this place not have hot tea?
We finally sit down and it was 11:45pm and started ordering. Â
Sushi was not so fresh and a lot of things they were suppose to make in front of you were premade/cooked/etc. Â (3) sushi chefs took forever to make sushi ... meaning they aren't that good if they take that long.
Service sucked ass but most of the commonly ordered items were 50% off but now I know why people do not come here!
Stick to Sansei or any other sushi dig, you won't regret it.
My friends and I were visiting from Oahu and came across this place. We were here for the yakiniku, not the sushi.
Pros:
- we each had a little bowl of rice (other restaurants make you pay)
- they gave us little korean side dishes of pickled stuff (I think) and kimchee
- the staff was very, very friendly
- they accommodate large groups really well
- the waitress offered to cook everything table side for our group; we told her it wasn't necessary
Cons:
- the marinade for the raw meat was mediocre
- there was only one waitress running around the entire time
- it was a bit pricy compared to what I'm used to on Oahu
Ordered:
- Traditional Kalbi (good flavor)
- Beef Tongue (thinly sliced and was pretty good! Definitely try this!)
- Marinated Chicken
If I'm ever in Kihei again and don't know what to eat, I would go to Isana.
First off - I second the the reviewer who says don't judge a book by it's cover - yes it's korean and yes there's neon lights - but you know what - the quality of the fish in that sushi is first rate.
The salmon, tuna, and poke rolls were all so fresh, the flavors so clean - u could taste the brine of the ocean in the flesh of the fish.... Really top rate.
Sat at the sushi bar - after 2nd or 3rd visit (when we like something, we stick to it) became quite friendly with sushi chef/owner - Did he wish fertility and babies on us without solicitation - sure... Did the amazing sushi overcome that personal intrusion - you betcha ... All good natured fun.......
Anyway... do yourself a favor and eat here.
This is my favorite sushi everywhere anywhere amazing awesome yes yes yes yes! Â Don't judge the book by its cover ! Â Don't judge the sushi by the decor!
After 10pm on Wed - Sat is half off sushi.
Shrimp dynamite is so good and shrimp tempura is heavenly amazing wonderful and I want it every day!
Excellent sushi...just excellent. Wednesday - Saturday, they have 50% all sushi from 10pm - close. Best believe I was taking full advantage of these saving frequently. I knew all of the chefs and serves on a first name basis (big shout out to Ti'casey and Mercy).
Whenever I go to a sushi place for the 1st time, i start with a few basics, like the rainbow roll, tamago nigiri and a hand roll of some sort, just to test the chefs expertise. Well, the chefs totally knocked them out of the park. Two of my favorite dishes, i discovered here...scallop dynamite and dynamite mussels. Each respective shellfish is covered with a mixture of Japanese mayonnaise, mirin, shoyu and some other stuff they chefs would not tell me. Then, its baked to a nice golden brown with mushrooms and zucchini. Omg, i used to skip lunch just so i could eat more of this later that night. And with 50% off pricing, i would eat like a king for $30 or so.
The service was stellar as well. Very personable people that remembered your drink preferences from the last time you were there...or maybe i just ate there too often :-)
The ambiance? Great. Nice 2 story building with ocean views, in fact, it was right next to the beach. Particularly pleasant on a full moon night.
"So, Steel, if this place is so great, why did you give it 4 stars instead of 5?", you may be asking yourself. Well, after 10pm, the upstairs becomes a karaoke bar, which in and of itself is not a bad thing, but the music and singing is loud enough to be heard clearly downstairs. This may not bother some people, but it gets to me. Id give the place 4.5 stars if i could.
So, if you find yourself in Maui, be sure to check out this gem in Kihei. Go Wed - Sat, go after 10pm, go hungry, and in case the music may bother you, go with ear plugs :-)
We were tired, hungry, and saw this place on the way to our hotel. Â It was already about 10 pm so we decided to eat here and not try to venture out to unfamiliar territory. Â As we walked in we saw a big sign for 50% off sushi between 10 pm and midnight, Wednesday through Saturday. Â We were stoked at first but then let down because there wasn't a huge selection of specialty rolls but we already sat down and didn't want to look for another place. Â We ended up ordering a shrimp dynamite, spicy salmon roll, spicy tuna roll, some sashimi, eel and avocado roll, ahi poki, and a few other things i just can't remember. Â The shrimp dynamite was really good. Â It wasn't too mayo-ish and had a bed of zucchini to even out the taste. Â The ahi poki was different. Â It had a pretty strong taste of a sesame seed so if you're not a big fan of sesame seed don't try it. Â All the sashimi was fresh and yummy. Â
The service was a little slow but it was because there was only one server for the whole place. Â But she was nice and polite. Â There is also karaoke upstairs with all the locals. Â We didn't try to go upstairs so I'm not sure what it looks like upstairs. Â
I'm sure there are better sushi options in Maui. Â Hopefully I'll get to go to another sushi place before the week is up.
Having just arrived into Maui - - Â I spent the remainer of the afternoon basking in the warm sun by the hotel's pool, overlooking the beautiful ocean through by their infinity pool.
Then in one moment, I was STARVING.
Strangely enough - the hotel concierge had "gone home for the evening" at 7 pm  - -  and while we got into the car, we asked the valet guy if there was any well-known Japanese restaurant in the area of Wailea.  He highly recommended Isana, which was only a 10 minute drive from the hotel - claiming it was a great sushi and yakiniku place.
Getting there was fine.
But upon arrival, I started getting a weird feeling when I saw the name "Isana" written in English and Korean. Â What the.... Korean?
Once we entered and we were greeted by friendly people - - I was quite certain we were in a Korean place. Â Upon opening the menu, I was positive we were in a Korean place.
I wanted Japanese food, not Korean food, especially not on my first night in Maui!!!
But alright, we're here.... let's go to town on the sushi.
Service was really friendly. Â The servers were mostly Korean, but they were all just so wonderful, including our busser who was as pleasant as could be.
The ban-chan was pretty good, and plentiful. Â As soon as one plate would disappear, they would bring out more, and more. Â
The view, I suspect, was amazing outside, except it was close to 9 pm and I could only hear the ocean, not really see it though it was literally right in front.  (Keep in mind that I am basically  blind as a bat w/o my glasses on, and I generally refuse to wear my glasses, so...)
From the small but expensive amount of sushi I ordered - Â only the hamachi was stellar, though I took the recommendation of the waitress on what was freshest that evening. Â There was entirely too much rice to begin with but even the fish was just not up to par. Â What was impressive was the "an-shim" (beef tenderloin) meats that we ordered to grill. Â Delicious, lean cuts of thick meat - - Â cook slightly, dip into the sesame sauce and chow down. Â We ended up eating 2 orders and ordering 1 more. Â (The single order at the end was as big as the first order for two - Â our waitress had asked the kitchen to give us a hefty portion.)
I had one glass of Chateau St. Michelle Riesling ($9, pretty standard pricing) and Rob had the Sapporo Beer ($10 for a bit bottle, standard pricing). Â The meats were also priced reasonably, no more expensive than the contintental US. Â The sushi was outrageously expensive, and really not worth the cost, except that Hamachi which was fabulous.
The total came to $134, not including tip.
I had a really good meal and a wonderful time so all in all, $134 doesn't seem like a lot. Â But being on an island. I'd have hoped for more from the fish.
That said, we tried the miso soup, and it was really mediocre.
We saw the Korean dishes being served up to other tables and they all looked mediocre.
The atmosphere is just OK.
That said, while standing outside, it was like jumping into National Geographic for a second. Â Preying Mantis, geckos, and other wild creatures were all over that building..... ewww. Â I did look hard, and noted that they were all outside, none inside..... but it did do a number on my appetite afterwards.
I can't really recommend this place as more than a Korean BBQ place on Maui. Â It's not a sushi joint of my choice, and I don't think it'd fit the bill as a Korean restaurant (prepared dishes) on my radar.
That said - - if all Koreans were this friendly - - wouldn't that be wonderful???
Truly Yours -
Relaxed in Hawaii.
And the verdict is....not the best sushi I've ever had, but certainly not the worst. Total lunch sushi bill:$110- steep, but not surprising for Maui. This is a Korean sushi place, for all of you Korean-owned-sushi restuarant- haters out there (I had no idea it mattered until I moved to San Jose and heard from every other person how horrible they were- it's not been my experience yet...obviously, since we went to one today)-
Big bonus: they were nearby, and open for lunch, and offered sushi- this is no small feat in Wailea!!!!!!!!!!!
Otokoyama is the cold sake option, no complaints-this is my standard anytime I can get it- consistent and good quality
69 roll- unagi over cali roll- ok, not worth $14
rainbow roll- very good, three kinds of roe which made for a wonderful presentation- flavor was good, avocado not quite ripe
Hamachi- above average in amount they give you as well as flavor and freshness- highly recommended
salmon- not so much- one piece chewy, the rest were ok
rice was good, not too much vinegar, or too sweet, individual rice pieces held their form...
They use the good ginger, not the dyed pink stuff-
Service was good- a little hard to find but beautiful view as they are right across the st from the ocean= trip, and you're wet-
Would we go back? no, we can do better for $110
Hmmm, I'm not sure I agree with the othe reviewer's comment about the atmosphere. Â We sat at the sushi bar, and the view was great! Â Just think think the following: Â displays of sake, Â giant maneki neko, awesome display of sushi ingredients. Â I think the most awesome feature of the bar was that the table surface was two-tiered, so that you can easily manage all your condiments, drinks, etc. and be able to more easily share with your other tablemates.
The rainbow roll was INCREDIBLE, which included 3 different types of roe - normal roe, jalapeno roe, and pepper roe (very spicy and tasty!) Â The roll stood about 2" tall, and had no less than 8 pieces. Â And the price was very reasonable ($11) Â
The unaki here was the best I think I've ever had. Â Excellent quality eel, and the sauce used was homemade and fresh.
The uni was also very tasty (if you're into that sort of thing) :)
And, to boot, the sushi chefs are very friendly and will answer any questions you have (great if you are a newcomer to the world of sushi) and strike up awesome conversation.
Wonderful tasting sushi, but the atmosphere needs a lot of work. The rainbow roll was heavenly - along with the shrimp tempura and soft crab rolls. When we visited (after 10PM on a Saturday), the sushi was half off - awesome deal. Diet coke was $2 per glass. Â
No refills were offered (though that may have just reflected a slim staff serving many patrons coming in for the half off great tasting sushi). The gratuity was included in the bill - and based on the sushi prices before 50% was taken off the bill.
If you just want great sushi and could care less if you're sitting in the midst of a moose lodge banquet hall feeling place, then this fits the bill. They also have Korean dishes, including barbecue at the table.
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