Sato Seafood — Restaurant in Honolulu

UPDATED Aug 2023: Went back today after 6 months and it’s sad how this place has changed for the worse. Some of their recipes have been altered and when we went at around noon today on Aug 26, we were greeted by an incredibly unfriendly staff member taking our order. We asked some simple questions and instead of being accommodating, the staff member was rude and didn’t have the patience to try and help us. What used to be our go-to, will no longer be a place we’ll be visiting any longer.

Feb 2023: Move over Marugame. A new player is in town, and it’s right next door!

I randomly stumbled upon this place and now after coming here nearly 10 times, I can say this is probably one of the most underrated places I’ve ever been to in Waikiki. Each time I come, I try something new, and each time loving it more and more. It is a twisted sense of happiness - I am happy there is no line whenever I come, but at the same time, they deserve lines as long as Marugame. This poke spot is a mom and pop and also appears in the farmers markets on the island.

Poke comes down to fish, flavor, and rice. Fish - fresh as ever, never having any stringy bits that often come with poke that isn’t cut as well. Flavor is dynamic with unique options. And the rice (sushi rice) is on point with the perfect texture.

My personal favorite is actually their Yuzu handroll. The flavor is mild and not too salty (some folks may want soy sauce), but the subtle flavors allow the yuzu to shine through with the ahi. Oh, so good. Writing this review makes me want to have another handroll!

I hope this place picks up with the amount of business they deserve and I’ll definitely be back soon. It’s my new favorite...

For the record, I usually never eat poke in Waikiki because my favorite spots are both a bit of a hike or a short drive outside of the area, but I stumbled by this spot and became interested in some of the different combinations. Plus the shop is just really cute and you can tell they care about providing a great product in addition to a good customer experience.

I'm definitely glad I gave it a try. I've been twice now on this trip and tried the macadamia aburi salmon (highly recommend) and the spicy Maui Maui (because spicy poke is my go to order at my usual shops and what I judge every poke place on).

The poke here didn't disappoint it was tender and had a fresh taste. The flavors of the macadamia aburi salmon worked well together and I could eat this one anytime. The spicy one actually had a lil more punch to it than the spots I normally go to, but honestly I enjoyed that as the mayo flavor didn't overpower the spiciness.

I'll definitely always hit up my favorite spot outside of Waikiki because it's on the way to a few snack spots I always visit, but this is my new go to for when I'm just planning to stay near the beach and want that Oooh Ah sensation.

The hand rolls here are also worth a try. I got the garlic shrimp today and it had some good flavor going on.

Limited seating directly outside the shop; but it's in an area with a few eateries that have tables nearby in a courtyard, if you can't wait to dig in.

Casually walking by at certain times you may think there's a line, but check and see because it could also be the line for Marugame Udon, which draws a big...

Although Sato Seafood may not be the most famous poke place in town, it has its own charm. Sampling their four signature bowls - the Macadamia Aburi Salmon, Hawaiian Munchies, Spicy Maui Maui, and Kaisen Chirashi Bowl - we found each to be flavorful and generously topped with fresh fish.

The Macadamia Aburi Salmon stood out, its opulent, torched salmon complemented by the subtle, nutty crunch of macadamia. The Hawaiian Munchies and the Spicy Maui Maui bowls were also impressive, winning us over with their harmonious fusion of distinctive textures and flavors.

The Kaisen Chirashi Bowl, Sato's spin on the classic Japanese sushi bowl, regrettably, fell short. The fish was finely diced, slightly too much so, which diminished the textural satisfaction we hoped to experience.

Notwithstanding this minor flaw, Sato Seafood delivers a good seafood feast that is certainly worth a try. One tip: call in advance for orders as they seemed to prefer...