where jess ate

We really wanted to try some sushi while in Hawaii and discovered Sushi Izakaya Gaku on Yelp. With 4.5 stars, 500+ reviews and notoriously long waits, we figured the drive into Honolulu and the wait would be worth it.

Sushi Izakaya Gaku occupies a small space located a few blocks away from Ala Moana Center. There’s free parking in a lot adjacent to the restaurant but spots are limited. We arrived around 6pm on a Thursday evening and there was already a one hour wait so we gave them our phone number and killed some time at the mall.

The minute I stepped through the door, I was surprised to see how calm and quiet it was. So many of the izakayas we go to are often loud (like shouting across the table kinda loud) and lively. This was the complete opposite. I’d even call it intimate!

The menu here is overwhelmingly large with two full pages of specials and pages of rolls, nigiri, sashimi, appetizers, baked dishes, grilled dishes, deep fried items, soups and noodles. The servers are helpful so I’d turn to them for some recommendations.

We started out with the Spicy Negihamachi Tartar – yellowail & green onion with Gaku’s original spicy sauce (9.50) which is one of their most popular dishes. The bowl of tartar was perched on a dish full of ice, keeping it cool. You mix the egg into the chilled tartar which gives it a really nice creamy texture. Spoon a bit onto a piece of nori and you’ve got yourself one incredible bite. It’s easy to see why this is one of their most popular dishes.

Up next was the Ankimo – monkfish liver ($7.50). After having monkfish liver for the first time at Yasu, I now order it whenever I see it on the menu. Gaku’s version didn’t disappoint – I couldn’t get enough of that rich, buttery liver.

One thing that caught our eye was the Uni Hirame – Uni wrapped in thinly sliced halibut ($27). It’s on the pricey side at $27 but it was such a unique dish that I’ve never seen before. It consisted of a thin slice of halibut sashimi wrapped around a shiso leaf and uni. The combination worked wonderfully with the buttery uni and halibut sashimi which had a bit of a chew to it.

We noticed something called Gaku’s T.N.T. – Gaku’s style seafood dynamite ($12.50) on the menu which had us intrigued. When it was one of the items our server recommended, we decided to take a chance on it. It was essentially a baked seafood casserole packed full of scallops, oysters and fish in a delicious creamy sauce. It’s incredibly rich and filling so I only recommend ordering this if you have at least 3 people.

Another hot dish we ordered was the Gyutan – beef tongue with salt & lemon ($12.50). The grilled tongue was perfectly seasoned and while it was a pretty simple dish, it was still very satisfying. It’s a must-order for tongue fans.

We couldn’t leave without ordering some sushi so we just went for one of a Sushi Combo – 15 pieces of assorted sushi ($52.50). My parents had warned me earlier about the high prices of sushi in Hawaii and they certainly weren’t kidding. It was a nice assortment of sushi and tasted great but the price was quite steep for 15 pieces of sushi, six of which were in the form of a tuna roll. It’s definitely much cheaper in Vancouver where we can get fish that’s just as fresh.

Overall, we had a great experience at Sushi Izakaya Gaku. While the prices might be on the high side (especially for the sushi!), it was delicious nevertheless. Just get here early to avoid the rush!

At a glance:

• located in Honolulu, a short walk away from the Ala Moana Center
• Small, intimate izakaya restaurant
• Free parking in the adjacent parking lot (limited spaces)
• Arrived around 6pm on a Thursday evening and waited 1 hour
• Prices are quite steep (especially for the sushi!)

Ratings (out of 5):

• Food: 4 stars
• Service: 4 stars
• Atmosphere: 3 stars