Frolic’s 7-Course Natto Day Dinner Is Coming to Jinya on July 10
Seven original comfort dishes with oishii slimy twists, and only one rule: You must love natto.
Update: Robata Jinya is waiving its customary corkage fee for the sold-out Natto Day Dinner on July 10. If you missed out on tickets, 12 other restaurants are creating all-new natto specials for the 2025 Natto Takeout Dine-Around July 10-13.
Photo: Courtesy of Robata Jinya
Ah, summer! Yes, longer days, beach, shave ice et cetera, but for a certain subset of eaters in Honolulu, summer means one thing: the annual July 10 Natto Day Dinner.
Over the years, we have created our own local tradition around Japan’s fermented stinky beans. Now, the special dinner is a ritual of midsummer, a night when natto lovers can indulge in a feast created specially for them. This year’s event at Robata Jinya features seven original natto courses by chef Masaki Nakayama, himself a natto lover and veteran of two ravenously received natto dinners when he worked at Zigu.
This time, “The menu comes from a lifetime of my chef work,” Nakayama says. “I thought of what is good with natto. Also, since we’re in Hawai‘i, I’m using the best local ingredients. I want to make people surprised and happy with little twists.”
SEE ALSO: 12 Restaurants Are Creating Slimy Specials for Next Week’s Natto Takeout Dine-Around
The Natto Day Dinner is open to the public, with only one rule: You must love natto. Slimy tendrils will trail from every bite, and there can be no stink eye and no substitutions.
Feast your eyes on the menu below. Tickets are $100, include all food plus tax and tip, and are available online. Drinks are on you. Parking is free and plentiful in surrounding structures at Ward Village. See you at Jinya!
2025 Natto Day Dinner at Robata Jinya
Where: 1118 Ala Moana Blvd.
When: Thursday, July 10, 6 p.m.
Parking: Free at Ward Village
Corkage: Waived for Natto Day Dinner
Tickets: $100 online
1st: Opening Shots
- Shot Glass of Chilled Cauliflower Soup with lobster, bisque sauce, crunchy natto
- Shot Glass of Fresh Ika Somen in ponzu with hikiwari natto and daikon oroshi
Photo: Courtesy of Robata Jinya
2nd: Mentaiko Natto Dashimaki Tamago
Bathed in natto dashi with natto-shiso drizzle
3rd: Mochi Natto in Fried Aburaage Purse
In oden broth with daikon and A5 wagyu suji
4th: Natto Corn Tempura
Natto and local corn in a tempura-style fishcake; Hawaiian chile aioli accompanies
Photo: Courtesy of Robata Jinya
5th: Natto Poke Oshizushi
Honmaguro bluefin tuna, king salmon, Kona kampachi, Kaua‘i shrimp in natto-shoyu sauce on natto sushi rice
Photo: Courtesy of Robata Jinya
6th: Summertime Natto Mazemen
Chilled ramen noodles topped with natto, takuan, cucumber and kim chee; mix into Jinya Ramen Bar tonkotsu sauce and eat
Photo: Courtesy of Robata Jinya
7th: Honey Natto Sundae
Vanilla ice cream, fried Okinawan sweet potato, natto honey, pesto, sesame
Mari Taketa is editor of Frolic Hawai‘i and dining editor of HONOLULU Magazine.
