Mugen — located in luxury boutique hotel ESPACIO, The Jewel of Waikīkī — recently launched an elevated breakfast menu. Breakfast is served daily from 7 to 10 a.m.
“If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, the dishes enjoyed should be eventful,” states Executive Chef Colin Sato. “We curated this menu that delivers the assurance of comforting flavors and nutritious ingredients, but with a touch of elevation aligned with Mugen’s standard of excellence.”
The breakfast menu features lighter fare like coconut chia seed pudding ($15) and steel cut oats with honey and seasonal berries ($15), along with signature creations like lemon ricotta pancakes ($24) and wagyu short rib loco moco ($36).
“Of course we wanted to have some kind of loco moco on the menu, but we didn’t want to do the traditional hamburger patty with brown gravy,” Sato says. “We tried to elevate it, so we have truffle fried rice, smoked soy peppercorn sauce, wagyu braised short ribs, crispy shallots, crispy maitake mushrooms and an onsen egg on top of that.”
Mugen’s Japanese breakfast ($40) — comprising broiled ora King salmon, a poached egg, miso soup, assorted pickled vegetables and daikon — has been a customer favorite so far.
“The Japanese breakfast sells a lot; I’d say that’s our number one seller,” Sato says.
Other entrees include smoked salmon avocado toast ($25) — sourdough topped with smoked salmon, avocado, sea asparagus, Ho Farms tomato, pickled onion relish and Kupu Place microgreens — and coconut French toast ($24). The latter features sourdough with macadamia nuts, berries and a ginger scented haupia sauce.
“We brulee it (the housemade sourdough) with turbinado sugar,” explains Sato, who says the French toast is topped with coconut powder and candied mac nuts.
Those who enjoy sweeter breakfast entrees can opt for the lemon ricotta pancakes ($24), which are topped with lilikoʻi butter and compressed pineapple.
The eatery has several different options for its eggs Benedicts. Diners can opt for the classic Benedict with Kurobuta ham ($28), smoked salmon Florentine Benedict ($32), seafood cake Benedict ($38) or wagyu bacon Benedict ($45).
The latter features a luxe, house-cured wagyu bacon. The A5 wagyu bacon is also available as a side dish ($40).
“We wanted to do this really upscale version of bacon,” Sato explains. “We have a dry ager in house, so we cure it (the A5 Miyazaki wagyu) for two weeks and then we house smoke it downstairs, and we slice it like bacon and cook it like bacon.”
Sato says the restaurant’s breakfast menu will eventually expand.
“To start, we wanted to provide this elevated breakfast and we try to keep it somewhat affordable,” he says. “We wanted to give the public a chance to come and see what we do in the restaurant. It’s still the same service (as dinner); we still have high standards for all the food we put out for breakfast."
Complimentary valet parking is available at the hotel entrance.
CONTACT
Mugen
ESPACIO, The Jewel of Waikīkī
2452 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu
808-377-2247
Mugenwaikiki.com
Instagram: @mugenwaikiki
Breakfast offered daily, 7 to 10 a.m.
Complimentary valet parking is available at the hotel entrance
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
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