Hapuka is one of those fish that quietly wins people over. Firm, clean, and mild, it is as good raw as it is seared, which is exactly why chefs keep it on the menu.
What is hapuka
Hapuka, also called Hawaiian sea bass or groper, is a firm-textured white fish from deep, cold water. It carries a clean, mild flavor and a dense, meaty flake that make it versatile in the kitchen and a favorite for sashimi.
What it tastes like
Mild and slightly sweet, with a firm bite. It does not taste fishy. The texture is closer to a scallop or a lean, dense white fish than to a soft flaky one, which is part of why it holds a clean cube for poke or crudo.
How to eat it
Raw, hapuka makes excellent sashimi and crudo, thin-sliced with a little salt, citrus, and good oil. Cooked, it takes a hard sear well, holds together on the grill, and bakes cleanly. Because it is lean and firm, cook it just to done and no further. Our crudo approach works beautifully with hapuka too.
How we source it
We grade our hapuka the way we grade for the islands' best kitchens, then cut it to order and ship it cold.
How to buy hapuka
Shop our hapuka sea bass sashimi cut, or browse the full whitefish selection. New to ordering fish this way? Start with our guide to buying sashimi-grade fish online.
Shop HapukaCommon questions
What does hapuka taste like?
Mild, clean, and slightly sweet, with a firm, meaty texture and no fishy taste.
Is hapuka good for sashimi?
Yes. Its firm texture and clean flavor make hapuka a prized sashimi and crudo fish.
Is hapuka the same as sea bass?
Hapuka is often called Hawaiian sea bass or groper. It is its own species, not the same as Chilean sea bass.
Selected by Ham. Honolulu since 1981.