Page 4 - Dining Out - June 27, 2021

Cover Story
Story by
LIANNE BIDAL THOMPSON
Photos by
A. CONSILLIO
Taiki Kawai, executive chef and owner of Akira Japanese Restaurant, wants readers to know that his establishment reopens dine-in on July 1.
L. Tabudlo Photo
The concept of kaiseki in- volves using the freshest ingredients, fitting the place and the season.
On July 1, Akira Japanese Restaurant enters a new season, so to speak, when it reopens for in-person dining. The eatery, helmed by chef Taiki Kawai, had converted to an all-takeout oper- ation during the pandemic, offer- ing bentos, donburi and sushi, among other Japanese favorites.
With the switch to an omakase (“tasting”) menu, diners will get
an up-close and personal chance to experience Kawai’s culinary artistry again. The chef, who hails from Japan, arrived in the islands and landed a job at New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, where he eventually rose to the role of head chef. He later served as execu- tive chef at Sushi Izakaya Shinn.
“We have traditional Japanese dishes with local ingredients,” states Kawai. “The dishes are very artistically prepared. Local customers like the high quality and uniqueness of my dishes.”
He adds that the omakase menus available after July 1 will include “eight kinds of nigiri sushi and eight kinds of dishes.”
(Below) Deep Fried Lobster with Arare ($15); (facing page, main) Beef Tataki Onion Salad ($10.50); (facing page, bottom) Ahi Poke ($9.50)
Akira Japanese
Restaurant
eleven50 Building
1150 S. King St. No. 101B, Honolulu
5 p.m. Monday-Saturday (last seating 8 p.m.) Reservations required 808-376-0928
Call for updated hours akira-japanese-restaurant.com Instagram: @akira.j.restaurant
4 / Dining Out / June 27-July 3, 2021
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