Accolades
See what people are saying about usKudos
“One of America’s eight best sushi restaurants”
“Mango and Crab Roll with Thai Vinaigrette is just one example of D.K.’s inventive handiwork.”
“…three years ago (1997) I wrote, ‘you might as well learn D.K. Kodama’s name now, because in a couple of years he’s likely to be on your short list of hot Hawaii restaurateurs.”
“Locals pack the house for late-night karaoke, the sushi bar specials and Sansei’s other Asian influenced recipes.”
“You’ve never been to a sushi bar like this: the Pacific Rim ‘tapas’ such as foie gras nigiri sushi, Japanese BLT roll – will just kill you. And Maui’s best chefs hang out here.”
“This joint is jumping, endless innovation with a strong Japanese accent…”
Accolades
Sansei Kapalua Resort, Maui
1996 “A Taste of Lahaina” Best Appetizer
1997 Best Sushi Bar – The Maui News readers’ poll
1997 “’Ulupalakua Thing” Grand Prize – Elegant Picnic contest
1998 Highest Food Rating – Zagat Hawai‘i Restaurant Survey
1998 HONOLULU magazine Hale ‘Aina Restaurant of Distinction
1998 Best Sushi Bar, Best Japanese Restaurant – The Maui News readers’ poll
1998 “’Ulupalakua Thing” Grand Prize – Elegant Picnic contest
1998, 1999, 2002 – “A Taste of Lahaina” Best Salad
1999 – 2001 & 2003 – HONOLULU magazine Hale ‘Aina Award
1999 Highest Food Rating – Zagat Hawai‘i Restaurant Survey
1999 Overall Rating of 90 – Wine Spectator
1999 “’Ulupalakua Thing” Grand Prize – Ultimate Picnic Basket
1999 Best Chef D.K. Kodama, Best Sushi Bar – The Maui News readers’ poll
2000 First Place – Maui Onion Festival professional division
9/2000 – “Our Favorite Asian Restaurants” – Bon Appetit magazine
2000 – “A Taste of Lahaina” Best Appetizer and Best of Show
2001The Honolulu Advertiser “O‘ahu’s 100 Best Restaurants”
3/2001 – “America’s Best Sushi Bars” – Travel + Leisure magazine
2001 “A Taste of Lahaina” Best Appetizer
2002 HONOLULU magazine Hale ‘Aina Restaurant of Distinction
2002 – 2004 The Honolulu Advertiser “Hawai‘i’s 100 Best Restaurants”
2003 “A Taste of Lahaina” Best Meat Dish and Best of Show
2003 Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine 2nd place Most Innovative Menu
2003 – 2009 Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine Best Sushi and Best Late-Night Dining
2004 Wine Spectator magazine Award of Excellence
2004 “A Taste of Lahaina” Best Seafood
2004 Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine Most Innovative Menu
2004, 2005, 2006 – HONOLULU magazine Hale ‘Aina Gold Award
2005 Wine Spectator magazine Award of Excellence
2005 “A Taste of Lahaina” Best Seafood
2005 Best Chef Ivan Pahk – The Maui News readers’ poll
2005 Best Sushi Bar – The Maui News readers’ poll
2006 Wine Spectator magazine Award of Excellence
2007 Wine Spectator magazine Award of Excellence
2007 Wine Enthusiast magazine Award of Unique Distinction
2007 HONOLULU magazine Hale ‘Aina Bronze Award
2007 Best Sushi Bar – The Maui News readers’ poll
2007 Chef of the Year Ivan Pahk – voted by food service peers in Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Magazine
2007 “A Taste of Lahaina” Best Seafood Dish
2007 Best Sushi Maui Time Weekly
2008 Wine Spectator magazine Award of Excellence
2008 “Best Sushi Bar” The Maui News, Best of Maui
2008 Best Sushi Maui Time Weekly
2009 “Best Asian Restaurant” (Silver), Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2009 “Best Sushi Bar” The Maui News, Best of Maui
2009 “Best Japanese” The Maui News, Best of Maui
2009 “Best Seafood” (Hon. Mention) The Maui News, Best of Maui
2009 “Best Pupu” (Hon. Mention) The Maui News, Best of Maui
2009 Best Sushi Maui Time Weekly
2010 “Best Sushi” (Gold), Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2010 “Best Late Night” (Gold), Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2010 Best Sushi Maui Time Weekly
2011 Best Sushi Maui Time Weekly
2012 “Best Sushi” (Gold), Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2012 “Best Late Night” (Gold), Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2012 “Best Asian” (Silver), Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2012 “Best Sushi Bar” The Maui News, Best of Maui
2012 Best Sushi Maui Time Weekly
2013“Best Sushi Bar” The Maui News, Best of Maui
2013 Best Sushi Maui Time Weekly
2014 “Best Sushi” (Silver), Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2014 “Best Asian” (Silver), Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2014 Best Sushi Maui Time Weekly
2014 “Best Asian” (Silver), Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2015 Best Sushi Maui Time Weekly
2016 Wine Spectator magazine Award of Excellence
2016 “Best Sushi Bar, Best Japanese Restaurant, and Best Early Bird Special,” The Maui News, Best of Maui
Sansei Waikiki Beach, Oahu
2000 ‘Ilima Award – Critic’s Choice
2000 “The Taste at Kapolei” – People’s Choice Award
2001 TWO HONOLULU magazine Hale ‘Aina Awards (Best New Restaurant; Best O‘ahu Restaurants)
2001 The Honolulu Advertiser “O‘ahu’s 100 Best Restaurants”
2002 HONOLULU magazine Hale ‘Aina Award
2002 The Honolulu Advertiser “Hawai‘i’s 100 Best Restaurants”
2003 HONOLULU magazine Hale ‘Aina Award
2003 The Honolulu Advertiser “Hawai‘i’s 100 Best Restaurants”
2004 Wine Spectator magazine Award of Excellence
2004 HONOLULU magazine Hale ‘Aina Gold Award
004 The Honolulu Advertiser “Hawai‘i’s 100 Best Restaurants”
2005 HONOLULU magazine Hale ‘Aina Gold Award
2005 Gayot.com Top Ten Wine Lists
2006 HONOLULU magazine Hale ‘Aina Silver Award
2007 HONLULU magazine “Best Karaoke Bar”
2007 Wine Enthusiast magazine Award of Unique Distinction
2014 HONOLULU magazine Hale ‘Aina Award – “Top Write-In Vote”—Best Sushi
Sansei Kihei, Maui
2003, 2004 The Honolulu Advertiser “Hawai‘i’s 100 Best Restaurants”
2003 HONOLULU Magazine Hale ‘Aina Award
2003 “Most Innovative Menu” 2nd Place, Maui No Ka ‘Oi mag
2004 “Most Innovative Menu”, Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 “Best Sushi” and “Best Late-Night”, Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2004, 2005, 2006 HONOLULU magazine Hale ‘Aina Gold Award
2005 “Best Sushi Bar” The Maui News, Best of Maui
2005, ’06 “Top Ten Seafood Restaurants Hawai’i” Gayot.com
2006 “Best Appetizer” – “A Taste of Lahaina”
2007 HONOLULU magazine Hale ‘Aina Bronze Award
2008 “Best Sushi Bar” The Maui News, Best of Maui
2009 “Best Asian Restaurant” (Silver), Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2010 “Best Sushi” (Gold), Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2010 “Best Late Night” (Gold), Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2011 Best Asian Restaurant (Silver) Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2011 Best Late Night Dining (Gold) Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2011 Best Sushi (Gold) Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2012 Best Asian Restaurant (Silver) Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2012 Best Late Night Dining (Gold) Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2012 Best Sushi (Gold) Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2013 Best Sushi (Gold) Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2014 Best Asain Restaurant (Silver) Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2014 Best Sushi (Silver) Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine
2007-2015 Best Sushi Maui Time Reader’s Poll
2016 “Best Sushi Bar, Best Japanese Restaurant, and Best Early Bird Special,” The Maui News, Best of Maui
Sansei Waikaloa Beach, Hawai'i Island
2008 First Place, Pro. Division, Great Waikoloa Poke Contest
2009 – HONOLULU magazine Hale ‘Aina Silver Award
2009, 2011, 2012 & 2014, “Best Japanese Restaurant” North Hawaii News
`2012 – HONOLULU magazine Hale ‘Aina Bronze Award
Sansei Seattle, Washington
One of Zagat’s Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings of 2016
DK Steakhouse, Waikiki Beach, Oahu
2006 Gayot.com – “Top Ten Steakhouse Restaurants in Hawai‘i”
2006, 2007 – Wine Enthusiast magazine – Award of Distinction
2008 – Wine Spectator magazine Award of Excellence
2016 – Critic’s Pick, ‘Ilima Awards, Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Vino Italian Tapas and Wine Bar, Honolulu
2018 James Beard Foundation nominee Outstanding Wine Program
2017 Open Table “Fit for Foodies” top ten
2017 Open Table “Diner’s Choice Award”
2017 James Beard Foundation nominee Outstanding Wine Program
2017 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence
2016 Open Table “Diner’s Choice Award”
2015 Travel+Leisure America’s Best Wine Bar