Friendly service Takes their time sharing their knowledge of their osake products and if they feature a label and offer sample it introduces the customer to the distinctively different layers of aromas and flavors I love the Sake Shop They provide high quality while educating their customers and by the way most reasonable pricing for the best variety on Oahu read more

We happened to come across this shop and so glad we did. It was a perfect combination of having time and the shop not being crowded so the employee was gracious in providing us with an educational talk about sake as he poured us two sake tastings. Quite the memorable experience, we are so thankful. We were also pleasantly surprised to find a rare bottle of a Japanese smokey whiskey! We haven't seen this in other stores so I purchased it. Additionally they sell chilled beer from Japan, again, in flavors that aren't common in the grocery store. Thank you again for the information and sake tasting. We are quite thrilled to try the smokey whiskey at home. Most certainly coming back when we need a bottle of sake, or two. read more

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Stopped at the shop for a gift for my friend's birthday. It is true, the ladies here are wonderful and very helpful! I was out of my element and they were great . Thank you, Nadine and Malia! You have given me another source for shopping for others! Looking forward to seeing you again! read more

The workers here are the absolute sweetest!! I rented a sake barrel for my wedding from here and the process was so easy. They had 3 options, and I picked the Dassai barrel. This one is styrofoam, which made transporting the barrel so much easier. It also came with a cover and 2 wooden mallets to "break" the barrel. During pickup, they were having a sake tasting where I got to try 3 delicious sake. This was such a fun and unique addition to our wedding reception! read more

Came to get some sake that we loved from a restaurant. The staff was super friendly and helpful and they had a great selection of sake. They even invited us to an upcoming sake tasting! read more

I don't know where else to get my favorite sake! Whenever I go to events or dinners I make a stop here. The shop is owned by a local family who are really passionate about sake! I don't drink much so I have a hard time choosing (I have nothing to go off of) but the staff spent the time with me to make sure I was comfortable with my picks. I ended up going with a large bottle of Dassai 45 for my extended family and a Nikka Whiskey for my dad. Both were very well received. Can't recommend this place enough, especially if you appreciate personalized service and want to support a small local business. read more

The Sake Shop - Inside the shop - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is such a cute shop and love how friendly everyone is at the shop. I've come in a few times now and always end up with great finds!! Parking is conveniently located in front of the shop and usually there's no issues finding parking. They have an extensive assortment of sake, Japanese beers, cocktails and whiskey! I love how you can ask them to make recommendations and they are so knowledgeable and have always suggested great options for us! We most recently visited to pick up large sake bottles for my husband's Yakudoshi and echigo beer which they sell by the case. Be sure to follow them on instagram as they are great about posting special events, Friday tastings and when their popular and high demand products are restocked! read more

Kanpai!... Something that I've enjoyed though the year wether it's at the temple to cleanse and start the New Years right or to celebrate an occasion along side some sushi at our favorite izakaya. Located right in Kaka'ako near Mother Waldron Park is slightly hidden but what they have here is quite impressive and loved how it's so elegantly organized by types of sake is nice all mostly chilled and ready to go. The staff here is nice and friendly if you have any questions though it's all your preference and is easy to browse along with the prices and brief description of the product does make it easy for you to decide. Not just bottles but some accessories are available as well as I really enjoyed shopping here and picked up a few items to celebrate and bring cheer to any occasion is easy with a stop at this Sake Shop. Thank you! read more

I like this little shop! Friendly and very knowledgeable workers everytime I go. I discovered nigori and I love it! They have other beverages like whiskey, gin and Japanese beers. They have a variety of flavored shochu and sakes! I heard they hold tastings too so follow them on socials to see when they are! Parking in front and next to the Mexican food truck, Sabrozon on cook street. read more

Love this little store! A really nice sake collection, variety of sake ceramics and glassware, snacks and other alcoholic beverages such as whiskey, gin and Japanese beer. The staff are always very sweet and very knowledgeable to answer questions and assist customers. I think they hold tasting events but I haven't been to any as yet. read more

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Found this sake shop by accident while waiting for my lunch order. Walked inside and was greeted promptly. and selection.

I luv this place! It's a cozy little shop tucked in the corner in Kakaako. And they are always so warm and welcoming. This family-run sake and spirits store is unbelievably knowledgeable. And they get the professionals from the breweries to come visit from overseas! I have learned so much from them, and they have the best sake selection in the state. And they also have good deals. If you like sake, you have to check them out. read more

Ever since a kind gentleman at the Sake aisle in Don Quijote asked me if they sell Kubota Manju (answer is No), my interest was piqued. That good? Then I noticed a number of restaurants offering them (by bottle), and then I hear people bringing a bottle back from their trips to Japan. Ok, interest even more piqued! Is this sale that hard to get? How are restaurants getting them? Well, my first thought to inquire about this elusive sake was at The Sake Shop. The name speaks for itself. I knew of this place when they were on King St. years ago. Now they're in Kaka'ako along Cooke St., between Queen and Halekauwila St., next to Hawaii Blueprint. There's a small parking lot out front. The store was clean, bright, spacious, organized, and packed with sake everywhere. I was greeted by a very nice lady. She was very informative and had a nice chat around different sakes and seasonal sakes. She also explained that Kubota Manju only distributes to restaurants and never to any chain stores, and the Sake Shop does receive them! But only a certain limit per year, which varies each month. It averages out to 7/month, but some can be 12 and as low as 5. No holds. First come, first serve. All the prices are reasonable, and similar to prices you see at Don Quijote, Tamura's, or Marukai. Overall, it's good to know where I can purchase a bottle of Kubota Manju if I need it (just bought 2 [1 YX edition] from Japan lol). Also, it's good to know Hawaii has an awesome Sake Shop that carries a wide variety of sake with an amazing, knowledgeable staff. I'll definitely be back! read more

The Sake Shop - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I went here right after work on Friday looking for recommendations to an omakase I was attending. The store is small, but feels cozy, and plenty of sake to choose from! I showed the sushi menu and they were able to educate and guide me on some sake choices! Super kind staff, very informative and open to questions. Loved learning from them. Additionally, it was a tasting Friday. That was really fun. Also shocking for me personally, because I'd never had sake so smooth before. I ended up buying a bottle from said tasting (pictured). I believe the tasting changes every week, so make sure to follow/check their instagram! read more

The Sake Shop - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The tasting was special we will probably be back with friends to select for our next dinner. The woman working was so informative and helpful to walk us through the different phases of The polishing stages. The inside was well organized and clean. Well done read more

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What a hidden gem in Kakaako and ultimate paradise for sake lovers! We always come here to pick out new varietals from their amazing selection whenever we do omakase. They also have a great craft beers from Japan. Their team is incredible and always gives the best recommendations. On Aloha Fridays, they do tastings which is a great way to discovery new products. Follow them on IG for events and specials! read more

The Sake Shop - The Sake Shop - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I wants to buy a good bottle of sake for my daughter's wedding. I had one in mind and the staff there helped me right away. She even went in depth on how it was made. Love it here. Knowledgeable and friendly staff. Will def be back! read more

I commend and appreciate the level of service providers as they pride them selves on Japanese. Overall great customer service. And great sake selection. Still my go to sake when I go out to eat sushi. Much rather pay the corkage than the restaurant mark up. read more

This is my go to place for Sake for years. I've compared prices by brand with other stores and the Sake Shop is consistently lower or comparable. But the big difference for me is the wide variety of sake that they carry. Whereas most stores have handful of varieties, the Sake Shop have an extensive array of sake that line the walls of the shop. Additionally, they have a small variety of Japanese Whiskey, Vodka and Gin. The owner Nadine is super friendly and knowledgeable. Like a wine sommelier, she knows her sake by taste, regions and styles. Tell her what you're planning to eat and she will recommend the sake for you. Tell her your taste profile and she will recommend a Sake for you. The shop is located on the corner of Cooke St and Halekauwila St almost straight across from Karen's Kitchen. There's road construction which blocks a portion of Cooke St coming from Ala Moana Blvd. Best route is to take Ward , turn on Queen heading towards downtown then turn left on Cooke St. Lots of parking on the private parking lot. Cheers! read more

The Sake Shop is located on Cooke Street, between Ilaniwai and Halekauwila Street. For a small shop they have a good selection and you'll probably still find that Sake or Japanese beer you're looking for. They we're other items for sale, like sake cups with a cord that goes around your neck. Perfect for those who always misplaced their cup or when you're so drunk and go blank. They have small inexpensive bottles of sake to expensive reserve bottles. Whatever sake you're looking for, there's a good chance that they might have it or might recommended just add or better. Friendly knowledgeable staff to help you with your questions. Free Parking is available read more

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Wow! The last time I updated this review was when they were off Keeaumoku on King Street! :D I have gone to this location often since it's so convenient for me. They're now located on Cooke Street before Halekauwila. Lots of parking as they share with other building tenants. Nadine is THE BOMB! She really knows her stuff. I love just going in and asking her for recs (depending on the party size, food we're eating, price point, etc). The shop is well-organized and very clean. Be sure to get your New Year's sake from The Sake Shop in Kaka'ako! Kanpai! read more

The Sake Shop - Been a minute! Open until 8pm - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

What a hidden sake shop with a large selection of sake! I've driven past it several times and always said I'd come in. I finally did -- very friendly and knowledgeable owner. They carry Islander Sake so I was excited to finally try the local biz that just moved to Big Island. Delicious and highly recommend their sake. It is expensive, but worth the quality and labor. Whatever sake you are used to drinking, they most likely carry it. The prices are reasonable and not super expensive compared to other stores. Free parking right outside. read more

Shop was well organized and very informative of the different sake and the process of making sake. I will definitely be a returning customer. read more

Came here yesterday and there was a parking spot right in front! Great vibes. Just looked around but will definitely be back!

Came here since the restaurant my boyfriend and I were going to recommended to purchase sake here to bring with no corkage fee. I was amazed with the extensive inventory of sake, whiskies and beers this establishment had. The lady, I'm assuming the wonder, was friendly and knowledgeable with each ingredient that was utilized to create each sake. We tend to like Dasai 23 but decided to try a bottle she recommended and it was crisp and delicate. If you do not see a sake you are looking for, the owner has a system where she can look up different sales and she can see if she can order it in. Price is reasonable here compared to the city we come from so we were happy with that. Will definitely be coming here next time to try a different sake. read more

The Sake Shop - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The kind of rice, polishing, type of yeast, origin of the water, a quality grading scale that only encompasses half of the types of sake produced, where the more you pay the better the drink is not true, it's all so daunting. Add to it the mysterious characters that adorn the labels and descriptions of the taste in English written like poetry; "the living liquid spirit of our mountain home", it's too confusing. You need a guide. Let Hawaii's largest premium sake shop do just that from a selection several hundreds of bottles deep. Extremely knowledgeable having tasted nearly the entire inventory. She is able to clearly describe the flavor of a sake using wine world terminology. For those with more knowledge, "this is similar to xyz but more floral". For the beginner, "this will go perfectly with a California roll". Want to know why one bottle is $400 while another is $30 but why the cheaper is better suited for the food you plan to eat? Just ask. Sparkling, naturally fermented, unfiltered, seasonal. They got them all. A good selection of spirits (whiskey, gin and vodka) from Japan also available. Prices are in line or slightly below the competition. The thorough house cleaning done. The car detailed. The mochi pounded. Nengajo sent. Osechi box made. Soba eaten. Hatsuhinode (viewing of the first sunrise) done. Hatsumode with offerings for a good year finished. Ozoni at the ready. Better have that bottle of sake at the ready to kanpai and celebrate the new year! read more

The Sake Shop - Masumi Sanka Jumai Daiginjo $75 (L), Masumi Sparkling $65 (R). Both outstanding paired with sushi - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is totally my go to place for anything sake related! They have fa good selection of sake and Japanese whiskies and are constantly getting new things in. I love living close enough to walk here but even if I didn't this would still be my favorite place for sake. There is a good amount of parking for you to come by and grab something and not have to worry about fighting people for a spot or waiting a long time for someone to leave. They used to do sake tasting nights or special event nights which was really fun to go to and try a bunch of different sakes and be among other sake lovers. Nadine is like always there, super friendly, and always ready to help answer any questions you might have. She also helps me when i don't know what kind of sake I want or should get but can get an idea of what types of sake you would be most interested in based on the information you give her on your preference. Construction of the sink hole is finally gone so you're able to easily get to her shop from both nimitz and king street! read more

Thanks for the tip Rod! Signed up for their updates on new items and special buys which led to receiving a Foo Fighters new release Sake notification. Sold out in Japan but still available by special order in some places.....The Sake Shop is one place. Walked into the shop on Queen Street and was immediately greeted by Nadine, co-owner, and an excellent sales person. I walked out with my Foo Fighters Sake purchases in addition to a bottle of Waketake Sake and a bottle of my favorite Japanese KiNoBi gin. Great store with not only outstanding choices of Sake but other Japanese liquors and in town! Parking in front of store makes for easy in and out. read more

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Tons of selection and always great service. We have recently gotten in to sake over the past few years and love this spot for a wider selection of sake. They have a great selection and although it may be overwhelming, you can easily ask for advice on what to get. They bring in a bunch of different sake brands that you can usually only get in Japan! I love how they have brands at all price points and not just expensive brands. The last time we were here, we were able to do a sake tasting with brands that the owner was considering bringing in. It's nice to see that she cares about customer opinions! This is also a good spot to grab a gift for a sake lover. They also carry some sake accessories (cups, etc) and specialty hard alcohol from Japan as well. read more

Great selection! The woman who helped me was very friendly and knowledgeable as I'm not a sake expert. My party loved the two sakes I purchased. Thank you! read more

The most helpful customer service ever! I have no knowledge about sake but the employee knew exactly what sake to get just from a picture of the bottle label. She was very attentive and when she realized I would not be consuming right away, she offered a room temperature bottle so as to not wet the gift bag. This was a very helpful suggestion because I did not even know that was an option. And then she offered me a box for transportation for the other bottle of sake I purchased. Super friendly and I definitely will be coming back. read more

How the heck have I not reviewed this shop? This is the only place I will purchase any sake. I'm always happy with their selection. They have great whisky too! It's on the bottom floor of a two story corner building with parking in front. Located in Kakaako. read more

Very helpful and knowledgeable. Always good service with excellent suggestions. It's my go to place for sake and shochu.

Wow! I was so pleased to learn of this amazing shop! I must have driven by this shop for years and never saw it! The shop is downstairs of a two story walk up, in the corner. If you love sake - this is the place for you to shop. Love the fact that it's a family run business too! The owner Nadine and daughter Malia are so knowledgeable and provide five star customer service. Looking forward to a Friday sake tasting. They also carry a large selection of Japanese whiskey, amongst other items. read more

A really place to look for a variety of sake along with A+ customer service. Nadine has a great line up of sake from intermediate to high end. If if she does not have something in particular you're looking for, no problem! She can check with the supplier she gets from and if they got it, she would put in an order for you and sometimes I've called in as late as Tuesday, and it usually comes in Thursday or Friday of the same week ! So a shop with great service, competitive prices, and cheerful service with a smile! Need to support small businesses like these who provides a great service to the sake consuming community! I look forward when sake tasting can resume after all this COVID 19 goes away ..., read more

The Sake Shop - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Very cute shop different from their old location on king st but plenty of parking! The owners Nedine and Malcolm are very hospitable and knowledgeable to the T! Prices are great and selection is vast. You can find other alcohol other than sake. Got a few bottles already from here and I love the notices of sale or just arrived items. They also give some background to the sake that's coming in and it's nice. I enjoy this shop and highly recommend it to everyone! read more

Located on Cooke Street in the same lot as stores like Cloud HI, across from Goodwill. We didn't buy anything but decided just to browse, since one of my mom's friends had been looking for a good sake shop recently. there was a large selection, the store was very clean, and the worker greeted us promptly but didn't harass us with a bunch of questions like some other small businesses do. read more

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Tucked away behind what used to be an easily accessible road through kakaako is The Sake Shop! Darn sinkhole/the city making obtaining alcohol inconveniently difficult! But don't be deterred they're still very open and very eager to help you take the edge off of life! Nadine is a treasure! Her knowledge and eagerness to share about all of her alcoholic wares creates an environment that motivates me to try new and different sakes. The selections are formidable and if you're a sake novice she is more than happy to ease you in with suggestion and etc. I know this place helped me through parts of 2020 and will help me get to 2030! read more

The Sake Shop - Purchased from the Sake Shop - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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*NEW LOCATION* I realized I needed to update my review on The Sake Shop since they moved from King Street to Kakaako. For those who don't know, they are now located on Cooke Street in Kakaako. This store is much larger than the old location and THEY HAVE PARKING! This is definitely my go to place for sake because they have a great selection and now they even have some Whiskeys :] read more

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The variety of sake here is phenomenal. Mitsuwa and other Japanese sake stores on the mainland have nothing on the Sake Shop. The owner, Nadine, is so sweet and she truly picks some unique sakes that you can't find anywhere else. I've found many obscure brands here, and I love to hear her recommendations about which junmai daiginjo has a sweet or dry taste, the background of the brewery, etc. She is super friendly and knowledgeable about all the bottles in the store, so if you are a beginner or would like to know about a particular bottle, don't be shy and just ask her! Prices are fair too. I've found great bottles of daiginjo here for 20-30 bucks. I wished I could live on the island, because this store is amazing and the owner is extremely kind and helpful. 5 out of 5. Will return and feed my sake habit! read more

The Sake Shop - Love the variety of sakes - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii