Bar Maze

Such a wonderful restaurant! The people were so kind and accommodating for a good allergy even with their limited menu. The food was SO GOOD! The omakase experience with cocktail pairing was seriously an incredible experience. All the bites were to die for and the drinks were great, but paired with the food, they were off the charts. Highly recommend!

Dinner for two seated at the bar - highly recommend as you get to watch everything going on in the open small kitchen. Restaurant is also small with seating for approximately 30 or so, with two sittings each evening from what I can tell. Overall, I have to comment on the precision of this restaurant: watching the small team (three chefs and three servers) coordinate and ensure an impeccable experience was entertaining in and of itself. We had the five course tasting menu with paired cocktails plus the bonus item (on our visit it was a $65 loaded baked potato). Everything was exceptional - food, service and experience. Everything was explained in detail and we left satisfied and not over full. I’ll note here some may have issue with the small portions vs price, and if that’s the case, this restaurant is not for you. But if you appreciate every detail from preparation to presentation, and you don’t mind paying for it, then you won’t be disappointed. I’ve never been to a restaurant with such extensive use of forceps!! All in all we’ll be back and highly recommend. We were told the menu is updated monthly, with the same general format being followed. After we arrived and parked we found that there were a few dedicated Maze parking spots right next to the restaurant.

My family dined at Bar Maze last night. Their tasting menu was one of the best we had recently. Every bite was delicious. Their cocktails were also interesting and complex full of seasonal and local ingredients. Every little dish of the snack course was tasty. My favorite was the oyster. Sweet, juicy and the cucumber added crunchiness. My son’s favorite was the potato pancake with foie gras and salmon roe. The Dungeness Crab Jook hands down the best of the tasting menu. The sweet and fresh crab meat complimented with the flavorful broth with the crunchy rice. It made me happy to watch my family having such a happy experience eating and drinking at Bar Maze. Service was warm and full of youthful happiness! Look forward to dining at Bar Maze again!

GREAT food! So different than any other restaurant in town. It was perfectly seasoned and well though through course menu. They only offer omakese with two options. Must try their cocktail, but their highlight was the food!! Starter menu was amazing and I even had to ask for extra because it was so good! Well prepped and plated. You might think it’s small portion, but it’s actually full filling.

Birthday dinner omakase! Book early on Resy for prime weekend times (Friday/Sat). Seems like a rather casual dresscode but we did go fancy! Bar counter seating recommended to watch the team prep, cook, plate (can add this request on the Resy page). Kitchen is very small but staff are extremely quiet and efficient, motions in practiced synchronicity. Personally do not care for paired drinks with my meal (alcoholic or otherwise) so there is an option to opt out of the full tasting experience ($200). We just added both desserts as ala carte items to our meal, as well as the special supplemental menu item (wagyu musubi). For the food scene in Hawaii, even the fanciest places have fairly predictable food - it tastes like how it looks or reads on paper and quality is on par with the reputation of the restaurant and prices. I was pleasantly surprised by the food here. Creativity similar to a restaurant vying for a Michelin nod. My favorite dishes were tied between the Scallops (Chef Chong's take on SF clam chowder) and one of the desserts - the Cherry Shaved Ice. The scallops and butter sauce can be a bit too rich towards the end, but it was such a playful and delicious dish!! Would have loved a bit more limu for texture but the crispy chicken skin and finely sliced, almost hair thin celery sticks were a nice addition. Scallops were done marvelously! Briny but also so sweet, cooked perfectly! I am not keen on shaved ice but this Cherry Shaved Ice was so marvelous, my taste buds lit up like a Christmas tree because it agreed that YES the flavors were hitting and that YES this was what good food tasted like. Homemade syrup was a nice blend of cherry, orange blossom and rose water. The lavender cream dollop was a rich note that came out strong - so lovely. The fresh cherries were a nice added texture and natural juice, less sweet than the syrup, contrasting nicely. Pistachio, amaranth, honey toppers tied it all together. Beautiful dish. Other highlights, the bourbon barrel smoked salmon toast (1 of 3 snack set) - how did they get that texture on the salmon??! It melted in my mouth practically! Toasted bread was crunchy and fresh. The other 2 small bites in the snack trio set were also very well done. The banchan that accompanied the American Wagyu galbi was fire! Loved the watercress *with green tofu sauce and the king oyster mushroom bite. Wagyu musubi was nice as well (much lighter than I imagined in my head). Beautiful interpretation of a 김말이 (a Korean street food item of glass noodles wrapped in seaweed, battered and deep fried. BM swapped the noodles for sushi rice lightly seasoned with truffle (couldn't decide if the truffle flavor was too light or was a perfect complement that didn't overpower the rice vinegar). Wagyu definitely melted in my mouth. Least favorite was the tayaki dessert with a banana pudding creme brulee. Not a fan of bananas and it didn't really give anything. Tayaki was just...present. This was a throwaway dish. I also didn't really like the American wagyu kalbi shortrib. Banchan was great! Minus the black garlic sauce. Meat wasn't very flavorfully braised in my opinion. It wasn't special, just a well executed piece of meat cooked medium rare (or slightly over). 2 week dry aged kamapachi was fine. Would have liked thicker slices of jokbal (pig feet) because mine were barely existing. The accompanying salad was phenomenal. Could eat a bucket of that. They ended with a complimentary pair of chocolate truffles resembling pebbles. I did like the truffle itself with a hint of mint, very nice texture, BUT we both hated the charcoal powder the truffles were dusted in. Powder was very irritating in our throats and we couldn't clear it out with drinks. A bit unpleasant. Overall, solid solid fine dining experience! Vibes, professionalism, phenomenal creativity for the foodie palate. Plating was also beautiful, understated. I would come back again for a new seasonal menu. Sidenote: manager comped 2 dishes as a gift for my birthday. Very thoughtful!

What a delightful find on the island of Oahu where really great food seems to be lacking! We did the experience which was a 5 course tasting with cocktail pairing: BAR MAZE EXPERIENCE -bourbon barrel smoked salmon toast -sunchoke cromesquis -wagyu kimbap stonefruit, pomegranate, rose, sake, champagne madai, clams, kolhrabi, dill, watercress strawberry, tomato, shochu, reposado tequila, citrus bubbles dungeness crab donut, kaluga caviar, egg yolk jam ***hokkaido scallop, cheongyang pepper, chrysanthemum, dashi butter sauce *** for me this was the highlight of the meal - the buttery sauce was so incredibly delicious 🤤 mandarin, lilikoi, yuzu, gin, eggwhite kurobuta short rib, local banchan smoked maple, chocolate bitters, makers mark private select, orange shave ice raspberry, pistachio streusel, pistachio orgeat castella mochi Kinako Surprise “rock” dessert

The world food tour duo visited Bar Maze on Auahi Street, close to SALT. Everything about Bar Maze is subtle and understated, from the signage on the wall adjacent to the door, to the pale wood paneling and simple light wood tables. The space is dominated by a counter (facing Auahi Street) for those that want to view the actions in the open kitchen. Across from the counter there are two small high tables for two and there are three tables for two to four diners to the left of the entrance. There are two menus to choose from, the Bar Maze Tasting menu ($125pp) consisting of four courses, and the Bar Maze Experience which builds upon the Tasting Menu with the addition of two desserts. There was one optional item, a Wagyu “musubi” for $32. There is a cocktail pairing available for $60. There is a cocktail menu and a limited selection of wines by the glass. Full bottles of wine are not available. We opted for the Tasting Menu as the better half of the duo knew that the Experience would be too much food for both of us. We each added the Wagyu “musubi”. I ordered the cocktail pairing, and my better half ordered a non-alcoholic cocktail based upon tea ($20). The amuse bouche (Snack) consisted of three bites: a raw oyster with white kimchi, a potato croquette with piped egg over beef tartare, topped with ikura, and a piece of toast or crispy rice topped by a smoked piece of salmon. I loved the oyster and the salmon, the one with piped egg was okay. The cocktail was a mix of stonefruit, pomegranate, rose, sake and Champagne … think of a fruity sparkling wine. The first course was three pieces of dry-aged Kampachi and a herb salad atop a hot mustard vinaigrette. The cocktail was a mixture of strawberry, elderflower, tomato water, shochu, and reposado tequila, topped with citrus bubbles. This cocktail complemented the pieces of fish. The optional Wagyu “musubi” was next. It was more a Wagyu nigiri than musubi. A large, thin slice of Wagyu over preserved black truffle rice, topped with tare (sweetened, thickened soy sauce). This was the highlight of the evening for me. I wanted two or three more. The second course was modified for each of us. Mine had two pieces of grilled scallops amongst julienned spring onion(?) sitting on sauce without butter. My tablemate was given one with a grilled piece of peacock razorfish in a butter sauce because she can’t eat shellfish of any kind. Her dish was wonderful; mine was overseasoned and I didn’t like it. The cocktail was a combination of mandarin, yuzu, lilikoi, aloe, shishito pepper, and gin, topped by whipped egg white. I didn’t care for this cocktail as it looked too similar to the previous one and I’m not a fan of egg white on cocktails. The third course was two slices of grilled duck breast, served with a plate containing five kinds of banchan (cucumber kimchi, maitake mushroom, julienned beets, julienned onion on mayonnaise, daikon kimchi and a dollop of mustard for the duck. I opted for a glass of 2022 The Prisoner red blend wine as my cocktail. The duck was flavorful and tender. Some of the banchan was nice; others just so-so. A dish of rocks was presented to us ... there were two "rocks" that were chocolate truffles. Dessert for the Tasting Menu was optional, and we demurred because we were full. I asked for a cup of coffee or tea. They didn’t have coffee so I got the tea. Alas, it was a glass of hot water and a tea bag. Uh, that’s just not acceptable (to me). While we enjoyed our meal and service from Jordan and others was fine, I can’t help thinking that our meal at P**** H***** nearby was better, and less expensive too. For me: a 4.25 rating.

So delicious. We did the cocktail and mocktail pairings, and the mocktails were impressive (nuanced flavors and not overly sweet). The abalone dish was 10/10.

Bar Maze has now taken the top spot for my dinner recommendation in Honolulu. Located downtown, the very small but mighty restaurant offers one of the best dining experiences. Chef Ki is very talented and brings a Korean fusion to his tasting menu. It changes up regularly so anything that I would recommend would probably already have moved on. Some of my favorites was a baked potato with caviar, the caviar donut, and Ki's version of kimbap with tuna. Oh and the smoked salmon toast is so craveable and I believe is still on the current menu. The tasting menu price does include cocktail a pairing as well and is created by the famous Bar Leather Apron. You can request non-alcoholic version if you are on the wagon like me.

The world food tour duo visited Bar Maze on Auahi Street, close to SALT. Everything about Bar Maze is subtle and understated, from the signage on the wall adjacent to the door, to the pale wood paneling and simple light wood tables. The space is dominated by a counter (facing Auahi Street) for those that want to view the actions in the open kitchen. Across from the counter there are two small high tables for two and there are three tables for two to four diners to the left of the entrance. There are two menus to choose from, the Bar Maze Tasting menu ($125pp) consisting of four courses, and the Bar Maze Experience which builds upon the Tasting Menu with the addition of two desserts. There was one optional item, a Wagyu "musubi" for $32. There is a cocktail pairing available for $60. There is a cocktail menu and a limited selection of wines by the glass. Full bottles of wine are not available. We opted for the Tasting Menu as the better half of the duo knew that the Experience would be too much food for both of us. We each added the Wagyu "musubi". I ordered the cocktail pairing, and my better half ordered a non-alcoholic cocktail based upon tea ($20). The amuse bouche (Snack) consisted of three bites: a raw oyster with white kimchi, a potato croquette with piped egg over beef tartare, topped with ikura, and a piece of toast or crispy rice topped by a smoked piece of salmon. I loved the oyster and the salmon, the one with piped egg was okay. The cocktail was a mix of stonefruit, pomegranate, rose, sake and Champagne ... think of a fruity sparkling wine. The first course was three pieces of dry-aged Kampachi and a herb salad atop a hot mustard vinaigrette. The cocktail was a mixture of strawberry, elderflower, tomato water, shochu, and reposado tequila, topped with citrus bubbles. This cocktail complemented the pieces of fish. The optional Wagyu "musubi" was next. It was more a Wagyu nigiri than musubi. A large, thin slice of Wagyu over preserved black truffle rice, topped with tare (sweetened, thickened soy sauce). This was the highlight of the evening for me. I wanted two or three more. The second course was modified for each of us. Mine had two pieces of grilled scallops amongst julienned spring onion(?) sitting on sauce without butter. My tablemate was given one with a grilled piece of peacock razorfish in a butter sauce because she can't eat shellfish of any kind. Her dish was wonderful; mine was overseasoned and I didn't like it. The cocktail was a combination of mandarin, yuzu, lilikoi, aloe, shishito pepper, and gin, topped by whipped egg white. I didn't care for this cocktail as it looked too similar to the previous one and I'm not a fan of egg white on cocktails. The third course was two slices of grilled duck breast, served with a plate containing five kinds of banchan (cucumber kimchi, maitake mushroom, julienned beets, julienned onion on mayonnaise, daikon kimchi and a dollop of mustard for the duck. I opted for a glass of 2022 The Prisoner red blend wine as my cocktail. The duck was flavorful and tender. Some of the banchan was nice; others just so-so. A dish of rocks was presented to us ... there were two "rocks" that were chocolate truffles. Dessert for the Tasting Menu was optional, and we demurred because we were full. I asked for a cup of coffee or tea. They didn't have coffee so I got the tea. Alas, it was a glass of hot water and a tea bag. Uh, that's just not acceptable (to me). While we enjoyed our meal and service from Jordan and others was fine, I can't help thinking that our meal at P**** H***** nearby was better, and less expensive too. For me: a 4.25 rating, mainly due to my dissatisfaction with the second course.

Birthday dinner omakase! Book early on Resy for prime weekend times (Friday/Sat). Seems like a rather casual dresscode but we did go fancy! Bar counter seating recommended to watch the team prep, cook, plate (can add this request on the Resy page). Kitchen is very small but staff are extremely quiet and efficient, motions in practiced synchronicity. Personally do not care for paired drinks with my meal (alcoholic or otherwise) so there is an option to opt out of the full tasting experience ($200). We just added both desserts as ala carte items to our meal, as well as the special supplemental menu item (wagyu musubi). For the food scene in Hawaii, even the fanciest places have fairly predictable food - it tastes like how it looks or reads on paper and quality is on par with the reputation of the restaurant and prices. I was pleasantly surprised by the food here. Creativity similar to a restaurant vying for a Michelin nod. My favorite dishes were tied between the Scallops (Chef Chong's take on SF clam chowder) and one of the desserts - the Cherry Shaved Ice. The scallops and butter sauce can be a bit too rich towards the end, but it was such a playful and delicious dish!! Would have loved a bit more limu for texture but the crispy chicken skin and finely sliced, almost hair thin celery sticks were a nice addition. Scallops were done marvelously! Briny but also so sweet, cooked perfectly! I am not keen on shaved ice but this Cherry Shaved Ice was so marvelous, my taste buds lit up like a Christmas tree because it agreed that YES the flavors were hitting and that YES this was what good food tasted like. Homemade syrup was a nice blend of cherry, orange blossom and rose water. The lavender cream dollop was a rich note that came out strong - so lovely. The fresh cherries were a nice added texture and natural juice, less sweet than the syrup, contrasting nicely. Pistachio, amaranth, honey toppers tied it all together. Beautiful dish. Other highlights, the bourbon barrel smoked salmon toast (1 of 3 snack set) - how did they get that texture on the salmon??! It melted in my mouth practically! Toasted bread was crunchy and fresh. The other 2 small bites in the snack trio set were also very well done. The banchan that accompanied the American Wagyu galbi was fire! Loved the watercress *with green tofu sauce and the king oyster mushroom bite. Wagyu musubi was nice as well (much lighter than I imagined in my head). Beautiful interpretation of a 김말이 (a Korean street food item of glass noodles wrapped in seaweed, battered and deep fried. BM swapped the noodles for sushi rice lightly seasoned with truffle (couldn't decide if the truffle flavor was too light or was a perfect complement that didn't overpower the rice vinegar). Wagyu definitely melted in my mouth. Least favorite was the tayaki dessert with a banana pudding creme brulee. Not a fan of bananas and it didn't really give anything. Tayaki was just...present. This was a throwaway dish. I also didn't really like the American wagyu kalbi shortrib. Banchan was great! Minus the black garlic sauce. Meat wasn't very flavorfully braised in my opinion. It wasn't special, just a well executed piece of meat cooked medium rare (or slightly over). 2 week dry aged kamapachi was fine. Would have liked thicker slices of jokbal (pig feet) because mine were barely existing. The accompanying salad was phenomenal. Could eat a bucket of that. They ended with a complimentary pair of chocolate truffles resembling pebbles. I did like the truffle itself with a hint of mint, very nice texture, BUT we both hated the charcoal powder the truffles were dusted in. Powder was very irritating in our throats and we couldn't clear it out with drinks. A bit unpleasant. Overall, solid solid fine dining experience! Vibes, professionalism, phenomenal creativity for the foodie palate. Plating was also beautiful, understated. I would come back again for a new seasonal menu. Sidenote: manager comped 2 dishes as a gift for my birthday. Very thoughtful!

Last dinner on the islands before heading home. What caught my eye here is that they offer alcoholic or non alcoholic pairing in the price of the meal. The place ia modern and clean with an upscale casual vibe. We sat down and there are 2 menus.. One is the tasting menu and the other experience tasting menu. Only difference is that experience tasting menu includes the pairing and dessert. There was a $75 difference in price. We decided to just go with the $125 tasting menu. We would have gone for the non alcoholic pairing option, but we had so much sugar on this trip already that we decided not to add more sugar to our system. The dishes came out and all were presented well and tasted great. The service was great as well I would come back and do their experience tasting menu next time for $200.00.

Came here for my last meal in Hawaii! Everything was delicious especially the wagyu kimbap. We finished the meal off with a sesame flavored Hawaiian style shaved ice. Would come again!

Ok, it's expensive and it's not a HUGE amount of food, so let me get that out of the way. But I totally believe the experience is wonderful and the food and drink well worth it. It was probably one of the best meals I've had in Hawaii. I've tried all the various set menú restaurants and it's a hit or miss. There are some that are completely worth the high price tag and some that I don't see what the big deal is about. This place is certainly worth it. The food, every bite, was interesting and decadent but it shines even further when paired with drinks. We did the drink pairing and I was happy to see it wasn't just wine but actual cocktails also. The drinks were very very good on their own but paired with the food both the food and the drinks seem to improve even further! The staff was friendly and attentive. The bartender was especially endearing and spent a nice amount of time chatting with us. The decor isn't anything to write home about. It's typical Asian minimalist with an open kitchen. Sit at the counter if you can so you can watch them making the dishes. Overall a very pricey dinner for two that was well worth it.

We ate here over the Thanksgiving weekend in 2024 based on the recommendation of a friend. We highly recommend, and suggest the drink pairing if you can swing it (photos of our menu and some courses attached). Each dish and drink association was thoughtfully composed and delicious. I believe the baked potato was a supplement. We got just one, and honestly it was a bit of a detour in terms of taste and value but we have no regrets as my wife is a potato fiend. The ambiance and service were also crisp. We would happily return.

What an amazing experience with phenomenal service. So glad we were able to squeeze in a dinner before we left back to the mainland. We did the prefix menu with drink pairings. The cocktails were perfectly complimented the individual courses. Loved the Omakase style small dishes. Each course was very unique, hard to remember it all, but my absolute favorite was the lobster sujebe, roasted chicken dashi, egg yolk jam with crispy chicken skin paired amazingly with the black garlic brioche Definitely looking forward to my visit back excited to see what new create dishes they've come up with then.

Love the quiet environment with a more intimate setting. The staff is very prompt & professional. The perfect amount of food & it's hard to even pick a favorite dish! The A5 Wagyu add on is an ABSOLUTE MUST - this thing melts in your mouth. Menu changing every month keeps us excited to come back every month! The portions were perfect and left us satisfied but not over full! Only recommendation would be to keep a more consistent alcohol profile for the pairings. The set pairings were all lovely but the combination over the evening of gin, tequila, whisky, sake, shochu, & bubbles left our tummy's churning later in the evening & next morning.

Definitely an experience for sure and I'm glad to have tried it with Bar Māze. Friendly staff and chefs that care about their craft as each piece was built was thought from each course being matched with a cocktail. This type of setting is dedicated for special occasions or a splurge on a date night as the menu is price fixed accordingly. They offer non-alcoholic cocktail pairings but definitely would recommend the alcoholic option. Very great tasting menu to experience but will probably be my last as I cannot personally justify spending $500+. Overall really appreciate the hospitality and care the staff and chefs have shown.

Had a really good experience at this unique restaurant. It's a fairly small affair with an open kitchen and lots of really good spirits. The food was quite amazing as it is freshly prepared for you, theater style. The service was very attentive yet not over bearing. The food was very delectable. Staring out with bite sized morsels with incredible tastes. The only piece that caught me off was the very sour in some spots sauce with the hamachi fish. However, the rest was well paired in both texture and taste. I'd certainly visit again once they start to introduce even more interesting items in this omakase style. Would definitely recommend a visit.

Where do I even start? I've been to so many restaurants over the years, and this was easily in my top five dining experiences of all time. Everything about Bar Maze was exceptional the food, the drinks, the service, and the overall vibe. It's a smaller, intimate space, so I definitely recommend making a reservation. From the moment we walked in, everything felt intentional and thoughtful. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, the ambiance was elevated without being stuffy, and the food... absolutely incredible. Everyone in my party couldn't stop talking about our dinner and we're still talking about it days later. I'm not a super adventurous eater, so I was a little nervous that they don't post a menu in advance. But WOW everything I tried was delicious and it actually inspired me to be more open to new foods. The drinks were a major highlight for me. Each one was perfectly paired with the course it accompanied, and it really elevated the whole experience. You could tell the kitchen team puts so much care and attention into every detail, down to the placement of each ingredient on the plate. Dress code-wise, think "Hawaii nice" not overly fancy, but definitely nicer than casual wear. If you're looking for an unforgettable dining experience with amazing food, creative drinks, and a full belly by the end, Bar Māze is the place. The other rave reviews say it all, but I'd give it 6/5 stars if I could.

Delicious food with perfect cocktail pairings. Service was incredible. The restaurant is small, kitchen visible from all angles, the perfect intimate dining experience. They were able to accommodate a pescatarian diet, and asked about other allergies too. A meal like this anywhere in Las Vegas would've run you double the price. Would recommend this again and again!

Hands down THE BEST! 100 out of 10 From the moment we walked in, everything was perfect in the most comforting way. To be able to experience this level of service while feeling comfortable in your own skin here in Hawaii is an absolute One in a Million. The attire was semi formal while the service felt top tier. Every person was greeted as VIP without any of that annoying brown nosing they do in some "high class" places which I instantly respected. This place felt genuine to its core. Now the food... words can't do it justice. The courses are set with a couple variations to choose from. Every portion was sized perfectly to allow us to truly enjoy the flavors and pairings. My date and I both come from restaurant backgrounds and we could not stop talking about how fluent the staff was. Almost as if they all knew what the other was thinking or seeing. They moved about the courses effortlessly and everyone was so warm and pleasantly happy when presenting our food/drinks or checking on us. As this was for my birthday, it was more than I could have expected. A huge thank you to the staff there and I can't wait to go back again.

Celebrating a special occasion? This was truly a remarkable dining experience!! We were lucky to find parking in their small lot and arrived a little early for our reservation. Luck continued because there were open seats in the center of the bar, offering us front row to watching them prepare our lovely meal. For my viewing pleasure, I watched this craftsman carefully carve an ice cube to be placed in my Stonefruit Highball. Such precision! The refreshing flavors and artful presentation, wow! It's more than a shaken cocktail. As if I wasn't already WOWed, the Omakase snack set was presented with the paired beverage. Petite morsels that were so tasty, you just knew the rest of the courses would be equally delicious. Of the three snacks, my favorite was the crisped nori wrapped around a flavorful treasure :) For the 1st course, the slices of yellowtail were delightfully served over shredded fennel and dressed with a local tomato vinaigrette. This paired well with their cinnamon and pomegranate vodka, spritzed with bergamot. For the 2nd course, don't you dare call it jook LOL this tsuyahime rice soup, topped with Dungeness crab, was delicately seasoned with ramps, a flowering perennial with hints of onion and garlic. The paired beverage had yuzu, aloe, gin, and absinthe. Before bringing the 3rd course, we were presented with Hokkaido milk bread and a yummy butter sauce that had nice sized lump crab meat. What's not to like about that winning combination? While others opted for wagyu, we picked the rack of lamb for Course 3. Cooked perfectly, it was so tender and served up with a variety of local Banchan. The Japanese whiskey paired well with this! In closing, the strawberry shaved ice with pistachio and rhubarb, was a refreshing treat. They gifted us with a few other desserts that were not mentioned on the Omakase menu. Thank you to everyone at Bar Maze. I appreciated the level of detail in your craftsmanship. I also appreciated the pleasant flow of information before each course. I learned a lot about the ingredients used and Chef's culinary style. Thank you also to Yelp Elite Randy S. for this recommendation. I really enjoyed this special occasion :)

Bar Maze is a mix of food cuisines, a mix of food and cocktails paired together in the hands of two high performers, Ki Chung and Justin Park. It is a tight vertical space - not currently fully utilized - where the focus should be on sitting at the counter to appreciate the open bar and kitchen. The coziness of the seating makes the food and drink laid in front of you appear bigger than it is. It is a mix of open empty space and a tightly focused serving area. The menu is prix fixe, called an omakase, with a choice of alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage pairings with the food courses. The food courses are not laid out as quantity heavy platings. The cocktails are not high proof. The idea is that both are built to work together to create ranges of flavor. There is mouth watering richness and bright flavors and colors. Some flavors may be drawn across courses and drinks but each course and beverage pairing can stand alone. As much as the menu may look static through a month, there is the ability to tweak flavors in the food or drink to the point where it looks the same each night, but everyday something gets a little better. The snacks served as starters almost feel like a course in itself. The way they are presented - the shapes, the colors, the flavors - is almost like a deconstructed kaiseki hassun. An interlude between courses of Hokkaido milk bread with a rich and deep sweet corn butter elevated even more by dungeness crab is more of a transitional taste than a palate refreshment. And though a shave ice is listed as the final course, in a very typical kaiseki meal close there is following series of dessert bites - each one another thank you note from the kitchen. You will have a server who presents your food and cocktail pairings who is able to give you details on the ingredients and expected flavors. It feels very personalized. As you watch the kitchen meticulously plate you can tell all the heavy prep has been done hours ahead. Servers and kitchen staff work quietly and efficiently. When you see no extra steps, nothing extra lying around in sight, you realize this is a high preforming staff. Very welcoming. Worth returning again and again.

We've eaten all over the world - Michelin you name it. This is tied for #1. Food, service, cocktail pairing were all amazing and priced so reasonably. Highly highly recommend. There is so much creativity and uniqueness infused in the flavors and presentation. Can't wait to come back!

This is literally my favorite restaurant by far in the world and I'll tell you why. Every time I make it out to Oahu no matter if I'm there a week or two or even just on a short layover I make it a point to make a reservation to this place to share in, not only what is consistently some of the most innovative and inventive foods and cocktails you'll ever have but also the wonderful level of Aloha, Ohana, and just pure love and joy for serving their customers. Each time I go you can really feel the warmth of this place when you enter into such a beautifully bright and wonderfully modern looking space with high ceilings. I love the throwback 90s hip-hop and pop music that they play along with dinner and each time I go even though they recognize me now...they spend the time to explain each course which is so delicately and beautifully put together. It is an absolute symphony of wonderfully unique flavors and fresh ingredients from the island as well as a nod to the best of Asia. One of my favorite things about coming here is the seasonal shaved ice at dessert and each time I come it is such an interesting array of flavors that you would never expect from black sesame to rose to banana -you can expect some of the best shave ice that you'll have topping off a meal that you'll never forget. I'm also not ashamed to say that there are times when they serve the scallop course with bread that I will generously sop up the rest of the sauce into my bread to delightfully. Enjoy every single drop of that sauce. Also, don't put it past me to lick the bowl if needed. The protein course a can vary depending upon the season from pork to duck to an upgrade to their A5 Wagyu all of which with the banchan is just so well prepared, meticulously plated, and every bite is intentional...and that's what I love about each moment of this meal... it feels like a multi act symphony with such a complex orchestra of ingredients that dance in your mouth with so much joy. You will never forget your time at Bar Māze!

One of the best meals I've had in Oahu, hands down. If Hawaii had Michelin star restaurants, this place would for sure have one or more. The place is small and reminds us of a an exclusive Japanese sushi spot. We've done Omakase experiences before so we were worried at first that the larger experience would be too much food, but it was definitely manageable. They do not overload with you endless courses. Each portion was the perfect size, and by the end you don't feel overly full. Not only was each course extremely unique, but the alcohol pairing with each course was fantastic as well, with each special drink complementing the course. We added the black truffle to our Citrus and Herb course and we haven't been able to stop thinking about it. Our server did a great job describing all the courses. We had a lot of questions and she made sure we were very informed with every dish coming out, and the best 'order' to eat the food in. Each drink came out with a great description as well.

An incredible experience!! An unforgettable dining experience with very approachable flavors. The cocktail pairing was the highlight of the dinner and very worth it. The staff use creative flavors and techniques (ex clarification, citrus foam) for their cocktails. Stand outs were the wagyu with banchan and the snacks course with the oyster, lobster roll and salmon "toast".

Unbelievably tasty! We will come again. Every dish is unique and has a great texture and flavor.

Came here to celebrate after a beautiful hawaiian wedding. Had a reservation at 5pm and were seated right away. Immediately they gave us a warm hand towel to clean our hands. Every course came with a cocktail pairing and I'm not exaggerating when I say that they were the best cocktails I've ever had. They were the were delicately flavored and equally as strong (but didn't taste so). Each cocktail complimented each course perfectly. Kudos to the bartender. Now for the food. I've never been more impressed with the thoughtfulness and flavors of each dish. The menu supposedly changes every so often and which is part of the bar maze experience and I respect it. We ended up upgrading to the wagyu and will say I'm not entirely sure it was worth it. Although delicious, I think I would have preferred the rack of lamb. The desserts were awesome and I definitely left full (and drunk). So much so that I slept in the Uber back to the hotel. Service was really great and sweet. They gave us a complimentary dessert to celebrate our wedding. We had the best time and happily paid the hefty bill. We will return if given the opportunity again!

Still Amazing as always. Been here a couple times for friends birthdays and they never disappoint as the food is paired with drinks (Bar Leather Apron). I have been lucky to also always get the counter top, which I like since you can see as they prepare the food and also you can chit chat with the crew as they are making your dishes and drinks. I do like to see these things happen as you can also see how the attention to detail on where the tiny flower should be placed to how the plate should be presented. Its a pre-set menu, but you a can do add on's. The Caviar is always a great choice and the price for the upgrade isn't that bad. Couple things.... if you dont know where it is, you should probably ask for directions. Did run into a couple that were lost and didnt know where the place was down the street. Oh the bathroom, at first I thought it was a sensor then realized there is actually a handle to turn the water on. Dont drink too much or you might not find it =P

This might be one the top meals I've ever had. Every component feels so well thought out. Despite the portions being on the smaller side, I definitely left there satisfied as every dish has big flavors.The cocktails really felt like it added another element to the dish rather than just going well together. The service was top notch and really took care of us all night. I think talking about the food really wouldn't do it justice. You'll have to experience this yourself. I will dream about this bourbon smoked salmon on milk bread.

Everything was on point! We came for the omakase dinner. Although pricey, dish after dish was a surprise and it never failed to amaze my palate. Loved the cocktails and drinks paired with the food. Dishes are beyond my description. You have to try it yourself. Service was just as top notch. Servers were very knowledgeable about food and drinks. Place is considerably small and cozy and typical of omakase bars so they can give full attention and detail to every patron.

The food was delicious and the cocktail pairing was refreshing and inventive. Lots of good flavors were part of this meal. We enjoyed being satisfied without being stuffed. The team members were all familiar with the menu. This is a fine meal, worthy of celebrating a special occasion. Not a walk-in place.

Fantastic dining experience at Bar Maze -- favorites included wagyu ribeye giant musubi, golden osetra caviar loaded baked potato, washugyu flatiron, shave ice with caramelized apple, cinnamon toast milk. This was one of the best and most creative fine dining options on Honolulu. Highly recommended.

Ki is the man. Great experience, good portion and excellent pairing with the food. Service is awesome. Friendly!

The BEST meal I had in Honolulu, and I'm still thinking about it... Bar Maze offers an integrated culinary & cocktail experience by a talented team behind Bar Leather Apron. I'm so glad I booked this experience. Normally you don't know the menu beforehand, so you just purely trust and rely on the chef & team. I was amazed by these courses and pairing drinks~ Everything was truly incredible, both taste and presentation! The service was also excellent and detail-oriented! I like sitting at the chef's counter and enjoy watching the team work on their art. They only offer the omakase menu and it came with the drink pairing. I also appreciate the fact that they do non-alcoholic pairing too, and I honestly think the NA drinks were even more tasty. They paired with each course very well! We also added caviar for the lobster course, and upgraded the meat course to A5 wagyu. So worth it! Layers of different textures and well-balanced flavors make it a very well-thought-out and creative course meal! Thanks to the entire team for this fantastic experience!

One of my favorites! Menu is omakase/pri-fix style, with a creative cocktail pairing for each course. They offer a non-alcoholic pairing as well if you don't drink. The interior is cozy and well designed, and overall the service was phenomenal from the moment we stepped inside through to the end of the meal. We were greeted immediately and shown to our table. Throughout the service the staff would regularly check in, and would provide helpful descriptions for each course. Each course was brought out in a timely manner. We did not feel rushed and nor was there a long wait between courses. Each course and cocktail was artfully plated, and flavors were perfectly balanced. We opted for the caviar upgrade for course 2. While it was a perfect excuse to add an extra bit of lavishness to the meal, we didn't feel like it added anything taste-wise to the meal and even overpowered some of the more delicate flavors. For course 3, we had the option of dry aged duck (which sounded delicious!) or A5 wagyu. We opted for the wagyu upgrade. Note that if you have a similar menu, the upgrade applies to everyone in your party (I.e one person cannot opt for the upgrade while the other doesn't). Overall we were very happy with our experience at Bar Maze!

What a wonderful place!! I was in Honolulu and wanted to go to a fine dining place for dinner 1 night. I wanted to try a restaurant a little bit outside of all the touristy area and settled on Bar Maze. It is about 5 -10 minutes away from the main Alo Moana shopping area. I know that they have an a la carte and a tasting menu. I opted for the tasting menu. I would make sure to make reservations, especially for the tasting menu. I got to the restaurant and got seated pretty quickly. The only complaint that I have is that for the tasting menu, they have a bar and a few tables right by the bar. I wanted to be seated at the bar, but got seated at the tables. I wished that they made that more clear when making reservations because had I known that I would get seated at the tables, I might have opted for a different dining experience or called ahead. Aside from that, the tasting menu was amazing!! I believe that the menu changes depending in availability, but my favorite was the hamachi (the fish was fresh and amazing). They provide 5 courses with a drink pairing. I was pretty full by the time I was done. For $175 per person, I thought it was decently priced. I also wanted to give a shout out to the wait staff, who were super nice and made sure that I had everything I needed. I also enjoyed the dinner so much that I walked over to Bar Leather Apron (the bar operated by the same people from Bar Maze) to grab a drink. When our waiter found out that we were trying to go, he actually called ahead to let us know that they could accommodate us. It's about a 10 minute walk in case you were looking to top off the night with a drink. Definitely recommend both places to anyone looking for a great dining and drink experience.

simple but great ambiance! love their omakase and alcohol pairing! excellent service!

We came by this eccentric fine dining establishment during our first vacay trip to Oahu just recently to celebrate our birthdays. The simplicity of the Japanese decor and its small space with the dim lights made the vibe feel intimate and homey. Everyone just seemed to be in good spirit. The kitchen was right in front too, so we were able to witness Head Chef Ki Chung working his magic. Service was excellent, indeed. They went beyond for us to make our first time experience memorable. It was my gf and I birthdays, so it was extra special for sure. The chef gave us a complimentary dessert which was nice and generous of him. The omakase was delicious. Every dish was presented like a piece of art. With every dish also came with special cocktails that went well together. The food and drinks pretty much go hand in hand. Take a bite before taking a sip. You can tell the quality is all there. Every ingredient was put together perfectly, which made the flavors unique and innovative. The waygu had great marbling and the different sauces provided gave you many variety of flavors to complement the meat. It can be salty, sweet, then savory. It's complex. The lobster was juicy and tender. The buttery sauce on the bottom was finger licking good. We also had chocolate that looks exactly like rocks; it was crazy. The food here is a 5/5. For a party of 2, the bill came down to be around $450 and it was totally worth it. I want to thank the staff, chef, and bartenders there for the lovely experience. The food, vibes, and environment was just grand and marvelous. People come thru!

Bar maze was incredible! All the food was presented in a really nice way. The bites were small, so being able to test most of the menu was easy. They also offer a cocktail pairing, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. It's a great place if you want to come with someone who doesn't drink. The place is nice and cozy, service is great. It's easy to get ahold of the staff since it's so small, and you can peep into the kitchen. Absolutely loved it!

When you make a reservation, you can finally see the menu prices. Also, how much will it cost if you pair drinks? You can only find out when you look at the menu at the restaurant. It's a good idea to estimate around $300 for one person, including tax and tips. It seems that customers come here from the mainland. The service, food, and atmosphere were all excellent. I'm looking forward to the seasonal menu. You can enjoy the drink pairings even with non-alcoholic drinks. Someone's review said that non-alcoholic pairings may be better than alcoholic ones, and that was true. The food was worth the price in terms of ingredients, ideas, and cooking methods. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who is tired of the same old delicious dinners, or to anyone looking for a special dinner restaurant with a loved one.

Bar Maze is brought to you by Justin and Tom Park, who's behind Bar Leather Apron. This place is described as an 'innovative, integrated culinary and cocktail experience', and they offer a 5-course tasting menu with a cocktail or wine pairing, in addition to an a la carte lounge menu. Our 'omakase' included 5 'sections' - +the Light & Bright - which included snacks (peach, pear, kiwi, sake, and champagne) +Fruity & Floral - chu-toro with melon, smoked trout roe, dressed in a watermelon & chojang vinaigrette; this was paired with a cocktail prepared with pomegranate, bergamot, elderflower, shochu, vodka, and citrus bubbles +Herbaceous - a Korean pepper-glazed scallop with sweet corn and saffron butter sauce, and a Hokkaido milk bread; you can opt to add an oz of Kaluga hybrid caviar; this was paired with a cocktail prepared with mandarin, lemon, yuzu, aloe, shishito, gin, absinthe, and egg white; I did request for there to be no aloe +Smoke - a choice between the kurobuta pork and local banchan or the A5 Kyoto hannari wagyu, local banchan, and maze seasonal rice; we opted for the latter; this was paired with a choice of a cocktail prepared with maple, vanilla, hojicha, chocolate bitters, and blended Japanese whiskey or the prisoner pinot noir - Sonoma coast 2021 +Ice - this was a seasonal shave ice with mango, vanilla, shortbread, soursop cheong, and mint Service was friendly, albeit a bit slowly paced compared to other tastings. Definitely recommend in going for the upgrades with the supplemental charge, as it does enhance your meal. Making reservations was breeze, which is also recommended to secure a seating. +cocktail pairings +reservations highly recommended

4-stars+ from start to finish. Oustanding service from everyone. Very impressed with their attention to detail for every prepared dish. Food & cocktail pairing was spot on. High quality ingredients & creative presentation. Definitely recommend this place to anyone who appreciates breathtaking culinary skills and is looking for a memorable dining experience.

10000/10. Loved our experience here. Service was amazing, ambiance was amazing, food was amazing, and the drinks were amazing. Cocktails complimented the dishes very well. We really enjoyed all of the dishes in the tasting menu that we had that evening. The rice dish that came with the upgraded beef plate. It was underwhelming and a bit too smokey. Also a couple of the sides (? those dollops on the plate) were way too overpowering for such a nice cut of meat. It's just too much salty flavours to be going along with the richness of the A5 wagyu.

My family went last night and had an incredible time. The staff did everything they could to make sure we were all happy. I expected the food to be good, but the drink pairings were a very pleasent surprise. Whoever does the menus is very talented and the staff puts a lot of work to deliver their vision.

Always such a good time at Bar Maze! We stopped in recently & once again was so impressed by their omakase menu. It was a weeknight so I knew I would regret if I had the alcoholic pairing - luckily they had a non-alcoholic option for pairing which turned out to be super fun since my bf got the alcoholic pairing & we were able to taste each others same same but different drinks! We all know the food is amazing - and we were yet again blown away by the meal. Some things that REALLY stood out were.. - Salmon toast: so, SO buttery. How is this even possible? - Yellowtail carpaccio: I loved the bright flavors here. Worked really well with the drink pairing. - Scallop w/ dashi butter sauce: thank goodness they give you bread to soak in allllll the goodness! It doesn't seem like a lot of food when you look at the menu, but we were definitely full by the time dessert rolled around. The staff are never intrusive, always there to bring your drinks, clear your plates & describe in detail what you're about to consume. Plus they're so friendly! Thank you Bar Maze for yet another amazing experience, can't wait to come back again!

Bar Maze exceeded all expectations. The interior was so beautifully done, the vibes are chill but definitely fine dining. Quality of food and the flavors were amazing. I actually worried I would leave hungry but I left so stuffed. I literally loved every single dish we were served. The drinks were also amazing and so creative. If I could eat here everyday I would. lol the service was exceptional. From the moment we stepped inside to the moment we left. The bartender, our server, everything was precise and had so much care and attention to detail. My friend that joined me was pregnant and she was so happy with her mocktails as well. Highly recommend and definitely one of the top meals I've had in my whole life.

Without doubt some of the best in Hawaii! Don't come for Hawaiian kitch, this is Global cuisine, that happens to be in Hawaii. The experience includes your beverage, inspirational cocktails and curated wine selections. My nonalcoholic cocktails were incredible and at times better than the menued alcoholic selections! Kudos Justin. While 4 courses are on the Onakase menu, the "Snacks" to begin are 3 amazing bites. The menu is changing but the style is light, fragrant and herbaceous. The cocktails were equally citrusy, floral, woody and often ethereal, "spa like." Just Nominated as James Beard Award Nominees, Chef Ki you and your team rocks!

I read about this place in the Eater article on essential restaurants in Hawaii and booked it for a nice dinner while my husband and I were on vacation. I'm so glad I did!!! The service, food, and cocktails were all incredible. We both love trying new things and learned about an aloe liquor they use; we've ordered some at home. We upgraded to the wagyu beer and it was worth every penny. We came hungry and left full too.

Incredible experience of flavor and texture. Bar Maze, named after 混, mixing stuff to get out something. It is called a bar but it is more if an omakase sushi concept. You will not regret. OMAKASE SEASONAL SNACK apple, mint, stonefruit, sake, champagne 1ST yellowtail, chojang & tomato vinaigrette, fennel, sweet onion pomegranate, bergamot, elderflower, vodka, shochu, citrus bubbles 2ND scallop, seaweed dashi butter sauce, ogo, radish, brioche 3RD triple seared AS miyazaki wagyu ribeye, local banchan freshly milled tsuyahime rice, wagyu dressing 4TH seasonal shave ice sweet corn pudding, black sesame, almond

2023 Hawaii. Dinner review. Tasting menu. OMAKASE SEASONAL SNACK SET stonefruit, yuzu, sake, champagne 1ST hamachi, cara cara vinaigrette, fennel & apple salad 1ST Cocktail Pairing pomegranate, bergamot, elderflower, vodka, shochu, citrus bubbles 2ND scallop, seaweed dashi butter sauce, ogo, daikon, brioche kaluga hybrid caviar supplement $80 (serves two) 2ND Cocktail Pairing cucumber, lemon, aloe, yuzu, egg white, aquavit, absinthe 3RD triple seared AS miyazaki wagyu ribeye, local banchan freshly milled tsuyahime rice, wagyu dressing $120 (serves two) 3RD Cocktail Pairing maple, vanilla, hojicha, chocolate bitters, hibiki japanese harmony 4TH seasonal shave ice campari-rose water, lychee yogurt, raspberry, cocoa nib meringue, lemon curd, mint Overall, "as good as it gets."

I had a wonderful dinner at Bar Maze this past weekend. If you aren't familiar, Bar Maze is a popular restaurant in the Kakaako area by Justin and Tom Park, the same owners as the award winning cocktail bar, Bar Leather Apron. The omakase dinner course from Head Chef, Ki Chung, and Head Bartender, Justin Park, features a delicious seasonal 5-course tasting menu with your choice of cocktail or non-alcoholic pairings. The cost of the meal is $175 per guest with additional supplement offerings. It's a splurge, but I thought it was well worth the dining experience of our special occasion. One more thing, I could not for the life of me figure out the faucet in the restroom! It's not a sensor. The handle to turn on the water is actually on the left side of the front side of the counter. Props if you could figure that out! They have 4 parking stalls available. Otherwise, you'll need to look for street parking. They don't validate if you park at Salt.

A wonderful omakase experience! The food was stupefying, and we were at a loss for words after every bite. We've been to several omakase experiences around the world, and this one is definitely top 3. Everyone was kind and knowledgeable about the food. The flavors were unmatched and the ambiance was professional and clean. The portion sizes were perfect, so we left feeling satisfied and not engorged. We would recommend sticking to the portion sizes listed, but elevating your experience by choosing all the available upgrades on the menu.

Bar Maze was truly a class act. You arrive with an open concept kitchen with a modern Japanese vibe. The first course was by far my favorite and array of sushi which they called the "snacks". The flavors truly explode in your mouth with every dish. My boyfriend got the alcohol pairing and I got the non alcohol pairing. He described the alcohol drinks fruity, strong, and packed with flavor. Spent around $400 or $500 we got the upgrade for the main we did the wagyu and not the lamb. I would definitely recommend. It was fun to watch all the chefs cook and work in unison together. I recommend this to beginners of coursed out meals !

This place was great. Parking was either street or park at Restaurant Row. Drinks were good, although the highlights were the various snacks they provide which rotates based on the week/whenever the chef wants to change it so it's not tied to the seasonal pre fixe menu. Food was all good, nice portions and pacing was excellent. The food tasted as well as it looked. We got the mocktail and the cocktail pairing. Everything seemed to go well. I would recommend you to do both, if you have multiple people since certain drinks did taste /match better. Service was great and everyone was polite and attentive. Modern ambiance with a quiet, modern atmosphere. Menus seem to change with the season. Will check it out again.