King Street restaurant offers an idyllic date night out

Imagine dining al fresco upon an open-air terrace, feasting on selections that go above and beyond the usual local fare. Now combine that delicious vision with the knowledge that this dream can be a reality at Sakura Terrace, conveniently located on King Street.

Choosing among the myriad of menu options may just be the only tough decision patrons will encounter here, yet manager Jaron Takumi gratefully takes the lead by introducing Dining Out to the eatery’s newly updated offerings. “Based on our customers’ feedback, we have streamlined our menu, adapting our dishes to reflect exactly what our diners have been requesting,” Takumi says. He describes Sakura’s signature cuisine as “authentic Japanese food, fresh, made-to-order and never ever pre-cooked.”

A true work of art, Deluxe Sakura Chirashi ($26) showcases an array of fresh seafood, including sashimi temptations. From hamachi, ika (squid), unagi and abalone to salmon roe, uni (sea urchin), tsubugai (also known as whelk) and more, the plate features a whole sea-world of goodies in one platter. It’s served with a colorful concoction of sushi rice topped with shredded egg, kanpyo, masago (fish egg), kaiware (radish sprouts) and shiitake mushroom. The dish also is presented with tsukemono and miso soup.

Equally appealing is Sakura Oyako Don ($15), pairing pre-marinated fried chicken with egg and onion in a lightly sweet shoyu teriyaki sauce, which Takumi describes as being “sweeter than basic teriyaki, but not a sugary sweet.” The cooked mixture is then placed atop rice and garnished with nori and green onion. Tsukemono and miso soup also are included.

A new creation by chief chef Takayuki Sekine, Warm Salad with Mushrooms and Bacon ($15) is a refreshing infusion of Enoki, white button and Shimeji mushrooms, bacon, hard-boiled egg, avocado, radish, tomato, red onion and cucumber perched atop a crisp bed of green and red leaf lettuce. Served with a tangy, slightly sweet house dressing, this generously sized salad is a mouthwatering meal in itself.

So rest assured, when that next date night arrives, Sakura Terrace will be waiting to help you woo that special someone.

Sakura Terrace

1240 S. King St., Honolulu
591-1181
Lunch: Tuesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Dinner: Tuesday–Sunday, 5–10 p.m.