Doraku differs quite a bit from most sushi restaurants you will find on Oahu. With a hipster vibe well suited for Los Angeles or Las Vegas, the restaurant has a great ambience filled with modern decor, high-tempo music and an impressive sake list that is hand-selected from various regions in Japan.

Owned by Kevin Aoki, son of famous Benihana Restaurant founder Rocky Aoki, Doraku offers several wonderful areas in which to enjoy a romantic date or catch up with friends. Happy hour is offered at the bar and community table, with pupus priced between $2.50 and $5; non-happy hour items are general quite expensive, so the cheaper food and drinks are a great find.

The spicy tuna rolls are served with a bit of extra spice and are certainly my favorite dish, but be warned, these truly are “;spicy.”; Cocktails are affordably priced and offer much variety—I particularly enjoyed the Doraku Margarita and its li hing mui powder-rimmed glass. Overall, the pupus are fresh and filling, and the drinks are quite good.

Service at Doraku is good but depends on your server, as it has been hit or miss each time I've visited. For the quality and convenience, I highly recommend this place as a great spot for sushi during happy hour.

Happy hour:
» 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays
» $3 Doraku Margaritas and lychee martinis
» $5 well drinks, Kirin (22-ounce bottle), house wine and house sake
» Happy hour for two: two cocktails, two beers and four pupus for $32.50 (not including tax and tip)

Parking:
» Three hours validated parking with purchase

Pupu picks:
» Ahi Poke ($5)
» California Roll ($3)
» Geisha Roll ($5)
» Spicy Tuna Roll ($4)
» Tsukemono ($3.50)

What needs help:
» Quality of fish used in sushi is inconsistent.
» Service is too slow at times.

”;Pau Hana Patrol”; is a weekly look at Honolulu bar and restaurant happy hours. To read more about this week's featured bar, visit hilife.starbulletin.com. E-mail happy-hour tips to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).