Wakatobi isn't a made-up word. It's named after four real Indonesian islands — here's the story behind the name, and how it became a California Japanese grill.
Guests ask us about the name "Wakatobi" almost as often as they ask about the menu. It isn't a made-up word, and it isn't Japanese, either — it's the name of a real island chain in Indonesia, and the story behind it says a lot about how this restaurant came to exist.
Four Islands, One Name
Wakatobi is a real archipelago in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, made up of four main islands: Wanci, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko. Take the first two letters of each island's name — Wa nci, Ka ledupa, To mia, Bi ngonko — and you get WaKaToBi . It's also where founder Hattar Hattar is from.
From Wakatobi to Tennessee to Monterey County
Hattar's path to opening a Japanese restaurant named after his home islands was anything but direct. He came to the U.S. from Wakatobi and began his career as a Japanese chef not in Japan, but in Sikeston, Tennessee — followed by stops in Atlanta, North Carolina, and Florida before landing in Monterey County, where he spent seven years leading the kitchen at a Japanese steakhouse before opening the original Wakatobi Japanese Grill in Seaside in 2017. His full story was first told by a local newsroom in Monterey County Now's "In The Kitchen" interview, worth reading in full if you want the details in his own words.
Why the Name Fits
The four islands of Wakatobi are also honored directly on our menu: the Wakatobi Special Sushi platters — Wanci, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko — are each named after one of them. Ordering one is a small nod to where the restaurant's name, and its founder, actually come from.
A Restaurant Built to Be Accessible
That same idea — building something that reflects where you come from while making it work for the community around you — carried into how Wakatobi runs its kitchen today. The restaurant is fully Halal-certified, so guests from Newark to Seaside can enjoy hibachi and sushi without compromise. Meet the team continuing that approach today in Meet the Chefs Behind Wakatobi's Menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Wakatobi" mean?
Wakatobi is an acronym for four Indonesian islands — Wanci, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko — combining the first two letters of each island's name.
Is Wakatobi a real place?
Yes. Wakatobi is a real archipelago and marine national park in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, known for its islands and coral reefs.
Who founded Wakatobi Japanese Grill?
Hattar Hattar, who came to the U.S. from the Wakatobi islands in Indonesia and worked in Japanese kitchens across several U.S. states before opening the original Wakatobi Japanese Grill location in Seaside, CA in 2017.
Taste the Islands
Curious what the four islands taste like on a plate? See our special sushi platter guide, or browse the full menu.
