By Chris Takahashi | Staff Writer 

Last Thursday, when O’ahu resident Steve Yim stopped by the soft opening of The Street, A Michael Mina Social House, in Honolulu, it was at the warm invitation of his friend and restaurant owner, Ken Tominaga.

While living in northern California years back, Yim used to drive over an hour, and often with friends, to dine at Tominaga’s Zagat-rated Hāna Japanese Restaurant in Rohnert Park.

Visiting Tominaga’s newest restaurant, called The Ramen Bar, is now a much more practical commute for Yim to experience the chef’s take on traditional Japanese cuisine. The Ramen Bar can be found within the space The Street occupies on Kūhiō Avenue, at the newly renovated International Market Place.

Spearheaded by critically-acclaimed chef Michael Mina, and supported by well-known restaurant partners such as Tominaga, among others, The Street takes the concept of the food court and aims to shift any preconceived notion of what a traditional food court entails squarely on its head.

Lauded as “a place to find food, friends, and general merriment,” on their official webpage, the first weekend of The Street’s grand opening brought much merriment indeed.

With the Golden State Warriors cruising to victory against the San Antonio Spurs in game three of the NBA Western Conference Finals this past Saturday, it was none other than Ayesha Curry, wife of Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, that could be found buying a round of drinks for friends and fellow patrons watching the game at The Street’s Myna Bird tiki bar.

Ayesha Curry is the owner/chef of International Smoke, a barbeque-inspired restaurant that has received a popular following at The Street. Similar to her husband, she is highly regarded by her own personal credentials. Curry hosts a television show on the Food Network and published a bestselling cookbook in September, 2016, called “The Seasoned Life: Food, Family, Faith, and the Joy of Eating Well.”

Esteemed chef Adam Sobel also unveiled a new restaurant at The Street called Nana Lu’s Italian Kitchen. His latest offering has been a lifelong dream for Sobel, who drew inspiration for the menu from his grandmother’s Italian cooking.

Sobel has been a restaurant partner of Mina the previous four years and his professional career has spanned the course of two decades at many of the best restaurants across the country.

Considering the concept of The Street, Sobel remarked, “it’s very different from anything we’ve done before.”

And, envisioning a place where locals and visitors can enjoy a unique dining and socializing experience with each visit, the youthful Sobel added, “we want [The Street] to feel like home.”

The Myna Bird joins Beer & Be Merry as the two full-service watering holes that help cultivate a lively atmosphere at The Street. Additionally, Kai Poke serves craft cocktails that complement their fusion-inspired poke bowls.

Beer & Be Merry has a happy hour special that runs from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. The bar also partnered with Honolulu Beerworks for their Coconut Cream Ale that is exclusive to The Street.

The Street, A Michael Mina Social House can be found on the ground floor of the International Market Place and is currently open from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. A full rundown on the medley of food and drink options, including profiles on each chef’s restaurant featured at The Street, can be found online.