Hana, restaurant review

Hana, asian cuisine in Panajachel, Guatemala

Panajachel has no shortage of great restaurants to dine in. I enjoyed a feast with friends last night. We went over to Hana, the sushi joint located on Pana’s emblematic Santander street. On Thursdays they do dos por uno, pay one sushi roll and get the same one for free. Gather some friends (or enjoy by yourself) and delect over Hana’s varied assortment of sushi rolls. They also serve main courses, ramen, and desserts.Word on the street is this place is good, but I’d say good falls short. My visit to Hana was a lovely experience.

We walked along Santander street in the evening, a delight. A light drizzle poured over us, so we double timed to the restaurant and were greeted by the friendly staff who took our temperature and provided us with hand sanitizer to ensure compliance with the Covid-19 safety protocols. We were ushered to the back, where hanging lanterns gently lit the room which had beautiful prints on the walls celebrating Japanese culture and art. There was no background music, only the sounds of pleasant conversations being had. Our table was spacious and comfortable, the service guiding and courteous.

As for drinks, we had their own ginger ale, club soda flavored with ginger and other spices. Refreshing and strong, it reminded me of smoking a cigar — each sip full of flavor, meant to be enjoyed, not guzzled. The ginger ale was also served with a metal straw, so bonus points for sustainability. We ordered four rolls: spicy tuna (tuna, mayo, chill sauce, nori), the Philadelphia (salmon, avocado, cream cheese), the vegetarian (lettuce, carrot, radish, avocado), and the shrimp tempura (shrimp, avocado, cucumber). Freshness can make or break a sushi roll, and Hana did not disappoint. The rolls were extremely tasty, each roll carefully constructed to perfection. They were served with edamame, sashimi, wasabi, soy sauce, and ginger. Sixty-four sushi rolls were served on the table and none made its way back to the kitchen.

A dessert menu was not given, but the waiter’s eyes twinkled when he recommended the tempura plantain with thick creamy vanilla ice cream bathed in chocolate syrup. The blend between the warmness and crispness of the crunchy plantain and the richness of the ice cream was excellent. An interesting blend of Guatemalan cuisine with the flair of the Japanese.

The sushi was fantastic, the staff was patient as they walked us through their menu, the dessert to die for, and the ambiance of the restaurant was mellow and charming. Hana’s prices are also very reasonable, making it a no-brainer during your visit to Panajachel.