Nami Kaze Hawaii
Asian fusion restaurant · Iwilei
1135 N Nimitz Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96817
Highlights
Creative fusion eatery offering brunch & izakaya plates
Creative fusion eatery offering brunch & izakaya plates
"After a decade helping other chefs open restaurants, chef/owner Jason Peel lets loose at his own spot. Brunch and lunch recently switched to a monthly changing prix fixe menu for $45; if they’re available, get the honey walnut shrimp waffles or teishoku (Japanese set meal). Dinner, meanwhile, has gone from izakaya style to a more traditional Western setup. Start with a smoked tomato and tofu salad and ‘ulu (breadfruit) tots — Nami Kaze is still one of the best places in town for creative vegetable preparations — and go for one of the seafood dishes, like kampachi in a gochujang bone broth. Skip the sushi, though; there are better places on this list for that. Best for: Casual and celebratory dinners with a group, given the large space and something-for-everyone menu." - Martha Cheng
"Open for brunch and dinner, Nami Kaze’s menu falls somewhere between intriguing and overwhelming, with things like a chili garlic shrimp caesar and a teriyaki ahi burger on the breakfast menu. Even the straightforward-sounding omelet comes out as a not-at-all-straightforward chawanmushi topped with mentaiko. Embrace some surprises and you’ll end up with a table of delightful options like the must-order honey walnut shrimp waffle, a.k.a. the best waffle pairing since fried chicken. Dinner focuses more on izakaya-style small plates like cold-smoked tomatoes with tofu and hamachi crudo. The restaurant is right by Honolulu’s commercial fishing pier, and the industrial exterior gives way to a big space filled with plenty of tables and booths. It’s a perfect place for group dinners, and also casual enough that you can sit at the bar and watch some sports on the TVs." - Martha Cheng
"A sushi spot on Oahu known for its fresh island fish, offering a variety of sushi rolls, sashimi, and nigiri."
"Domingo also has a long list of favorites — The Pig and The Lady, Fête, ʻIliʻIli Cash and Carry, Nami Kaze, and Helena’s Hawaiian Food, among them." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"Open for brunch and dinner, Nami Kaze’s menu can feel somewhere between intriguing and overwhelming, with things like lobster yuzu sushi rolls and a teri ahi burger on the breakfast menu. Even the straightforward-sounding omelette ends up coming out as a not-at-all-straightforward chawanmushi topped with mentaiko. Embrace the fun though and you’ll end up with a table of excellent options like the must-order honey walnut shrimp waffle, a.k.a. the best waffle pairing since fried chicken. Dinner focuses more on izakaya-style small plates like cold-smoked tomatoes with tofu and hamachi crudo. Nami Kaze is right by Honolulu’s commercial fishing pier, and the industrial exterior gives way to a big space filled with blond wood and a mix of tables and booths lit by Japanese glass fishing floats. " - martha cheng
