GREAT EATS HAWAII: IMARI JAPANESE RESTAURANT

IMARI JAPANESE RESTAURANT

HILTON WAIKOLOA RESORT

BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII

Imari Japanese Restaurant looks beautiful from the outside. Tranquil ponds filled with Koi fish surround the Japanese architecture. As you enter you find a somewhat dated space that is warm and kind of dark. You can choose eating at the Sushi Bar, Teppanyaki (where the cook at your table) or the standard menu restaurant. We opted for the standard Japanese menu and were seated next to open windows near the back of the restaurant. I tried the Abalone Appetizer. It was like 19 bucks for a few very thin slices. The Abalone was delicious. Farm raised right there in Kona. Served with Seaweed and Sweet Pickled Cucumbers. Just wish there was more Abalone in the dish for that price. For my entree, I ordered the Scallops with local Mushrooms. The scallops were cooked perfectly but the dish was a bit bland and poorly plated. I really liked the mushrooms and wish there would have been more of them. My friend enjoyed a Soft Shell Crab and some Spicy Tuna Sushi. The Sushi was good and he liked the crab. The service was excellent, food was good, but again the prices were a bit high.