Owner closing Hanagasa Inn, opening new restaurant

Hanagasa Inn, a fixture in Chinatown and popular hangout for elected officials and other movers and shakers, will close at the end of the month.

Owner Scott Fujita, who bought the business nine years ago, said he’s been waiting for the city to proceed with long-delayed plans to redevelop the River Street block where the business is located, but has decided to take control of his destiny.

“I’ve been here nine years with no lease; it’s been month-to-month.”

Fujita was also the last owner of the bar Kurobara on North Beretania Street, closed to make way for redevelopment, so securing a lease of his own for a new place was a priority.

Fujita plans a new bar and restaurant in Kapalama, near the post office, called Sakana Grill.

Sakana means “fish” in Japanese, so will he be serving grilled fish?

“I guess we have to,” he laughed.

The overall concept for the restaurant will be Okinawan, Japanese and local foods, similar to that of Hanagasa.

The best-selling dish, though, is fried chicken, followed by Okinawan-style shoyu pork and poke, “because I try to buy sashimi-grade fish, so the poke is good quality.”

He takes possession of the Kapalama space July 1 and will need to do some remodeling.

“I want to try to make one part of the area takeout, (with) poke bowls and sashimi bowls, and the other side will be the restaurant and bar side,” he said.

He may be able to serve only food at first, as his liquor license could take as long as four months to obtain.

Fujita is grateful for his regulars. “I’ve had a pretty good following. They go where we go,” he said, adding that his regular customers “make it fun.”

Hanagasa’s hours are 3 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays through Thursdays, and 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

— Erika Engle, Star-Advertiser

Whiskey competition offers drinks and a special menu

It’ll be a whiskey showdown June 28 at d.k Steak House, when the restaurant hosts a Late Night Gastropub pop-up around a cocktail competition.

“The Best of the West — High West Whiskey Challenge,” from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., pits four bartenders against each other, creating cocktails featuring four High West whiskeys.

Those who pay $25 through eventbrite.com (search for the name of the event) or $35 at the door will be able to sample the drinks and appetizers, plus vote for the winner.

Others can watch the competition and purchase drinks as well as whiskey- friendly foods from a special menu, including a foie gras grilled cheese sandwich, beef sliders and a “Scotch” crab cake topped with a soft-boiled egg.

The winning cocktail will be featured on d.k’s drink menu. Call 931-6280.

— Star-Advertiser staff

Quickbites is a weekly listing of dining events. Email items to crave@staradvertiser.com.