Lunch @ 和三昧 Wa San Mai

和三昧的日式鐵板燒（teppanyaki) 確實優異出色，難怪在香港那麼多年也能屹立不倒，成為了C家人大時大節指定的餐廳。位於銅鑼灣Sogo旁的東角中心頂樓，地方頗大，環境簡潔感覺舒適，還很巧妙地分為兩邊：一邊是日式定食，另一邊是鐵板燒。我們坐在窗旁的位置，能邊看鐵板燒，邊欣賞高樓大廈的景色。侍應跟廚師的服務態度友善，會主動替我們拍照，唯一美中不足是不能拍攝鐵板燒過程。餐廳有很多不同的鐵板燒套餐可供選擇，而我們點了商務套餐（Business Lunch Set) (＄520二人/$780三人)。套餐裡的每一款菜式也極之出色，尤其是美國牛肉薄燒，牛味相當濃厚，夾帶蒜絲和洋蔥，非常清盈爽口。我們後加的一客日本珍珠蠔 ($80/6pc)更是整餐的亮點，烤得質感幼滑無比，鮮味扣人心弦，是巧奪天工之作。午餐大概要每人＄250 到＄300。

The most remarkable thing about Japanese teppanyaki is seeing your food being cooked and transformed into one delicious dish after another in front of you with a few tricks and spectacles involved!  When it comes to teppanyaki dinners in Hong Kong, C's family loves going to Wa San Mai and that is why we felt that it was a perfect place to go for a special lunch last month because Michelins aren't just good or exciting enough! 

Wa San Mai is located on the 22/F next to the Sogo department store in Causeway Bay.  It is a huge place split into two sections: one for normal Japanese food, and the other is what we came here for--the teppanyaki!  Considering it was a Sunday lunch, the place was still quite packed and the earliest time we could get was 1:30 p.m.  By the time we were seated at the grill table, we were completely famished.  The place was casual yet elegant at the same time, with spacious seating and we were lucky enough to be seated next to a big window with a sunny view of the buildings in Causeway Bay.  

The staffs were very polite and attentive in helping us into our aprons (the aprons were to prevent us from being splashed by the oil) and the chefs were also professional and friendly (offering to take pictures for us on multiple occasions), although they invited us not to take pictures of the menu or film the cooking (to which we secretly and strongly objected to because we wanted to take as many pictures and footage as possible for the price!).  There are many sets offered for teppanyaki with a lot of different combos and we ordered a Business Set Lunch (＄520 for 2 pax/$780 for 3 pax).  After waiting for a while, we were thrilled to see our fresh and raw ingredients arriving next to the grill, ready to be cooked! Lunch was priced at around $250 to $300 per person.

(1) Initially we didn't know which dish to expect as our chef wasted no time and immediately placed multiple items on the grill and started cooking them at once, while she danced around the place. The first course, 北海道貝柱 Hokkaido Scallop, was D's favourite.  Each of us only got one piece, yet it was totally satisfying and juicy.  It was perfectly grilled to achieve an outstanding flavour and texture. 

(2) We love goose livers and we were more than happy to find that 法國鵝肝 Goose Liver was naturally light with an enticing flavour.  The goose liver was ultra tender and thoroughly grilled, creating one of the most alluring dishes. 

(3) The 酒煮蜆 Boiled Clam with Sake was another memorable dish.  The clam was wondrously sweet and fresh, further enhanced by the refined and bittersweet taste of the sake broth. 

(4) The 美國牛肉薄燒 US Sliced Beef was an exceptional dish. What amazed us was the thinness of the slice of beef, with garlic and onion fillings , offered a symphony of harmonious and unforgettable flavours. 

(5) At first we had no idea what 日本赤豚薑燒 Japanese Red Pork with Ginger Sauce was, and when we saw our chef started laying out thin slice of dough on top of the grill, we wondered even more.  The dish turned out to be a pork slices wrap and it was heartening. C noted that it was like a Japanese version of fried dumplings. 

(6) We decided to add an extra order of 日本珍珠蠔 Japanese Oysters ($80/6pc) which was simply phenomenal!  It completely showed off the the chef's skills again in handling fresh ingredients and turning them into wonderful scrumptious dishes.  The portion was generous and each oyster was grilled to perfection to bring out a delicate, delicious and superb flavour which left us in awe! 

Overall remarks: All the dishes at Wa San Mai are first-rate and the teppanyaki meals are just incredible.  Impressed, D said that "when they did it right, it was really spectacular!"  That is true! The chef at Wa San Mai was able to handle the cooking and the performance with masterful culinary sensitivity and timing, placing in front of us, simple yet fantastic and surprising dishes that are not to be missed - teppanyaki at Wa San Mai is an absolute and delicious tour de force!

Food: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Ambience: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Service: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

INFO

和三昧  Wa San Mai 

22/F, East Point Centre, 555 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay 銅鑼灣軒尼詩道555號東角中心22樓

Telephone: 2831 8989

Dessert @ Via Tokyo

綠茶或抹茶("Matcha")是很多人的最愛，而近來大受歡迎的Via Tokyo正是主打日式綠茶甜品跟咖啡的日式甜品屋，一開張馬上吸引不少愛甜點的人前往。店子座落在銅鑼灣希慎道的角落，外表摩登，面積不大，但裝修充滿了日式般的簡約味道，十分舒服。它的甜品如白玉紅豆抹茶雪糕 ($45)及生果抹茶雪糕白玉餡蜜($50)賣相精緻而且分量十足，雪糕柔軟順滑，雖然綠茶味不是很濃，但是真的製作得非常用心和出色，服務態度也很親切有笑容，真是值得一試！價錢合理，每人大概要＄50到＄100。

Have you ever noticed that anything to do green tea seem to be always more appealing? I never understood why. Perhaps it's because of its Japanese roots? or the fact that it's less sweet and thus, more healthy? There's no universal answer, but the newly opened dessert place at the corner of Causeway Bay, Via Tokyo, offers an answer to all the green tea lovers in the city. It is definitely not your typical Japanese dessert place as it only specializes in "Matcha" (green tea) flavoured dishes, ranging from green tea latte to green tea ice cream.  Wary of its constant long line-ups, we and our friend Jen arrived on a Saturday morning (thanks to its early opening hour at 9:30 a.m.) and was happy to see that there were no one at the place, yet. 

Although Via Tokyo is not a big place itself, with only a few seats available, it effortlessly oozes a stylish, casual and monochrome tone of a Japanese cafe. The service was friendly and heartwarming.  The female staff recommended and explained different dishes to us patiently with a perpetual smile on her face.  The menu was reasonably priced at $50 to $100 per person and the portion was surprisingly generous that you would definitely be full afterwards.

(1) C ordered the Shiratama Azuki Matcha Soft Cream ($45) was visually stunning. It tasted alright at first bite, but it instantly began to grow on us at each bite. The taste of "matcha" and the airy and ultra-smooth texture of soft ice cream blended together perfectly for a refreshing and playful sensation. The sides were also accomplished: "shiratama", a small sweet rice dumpling, and "azuki", a red bean paste, complemented the dessert while adding pleasing and delicate touches. 

(2) Jen went for the Fruit Matcha Soft Cream Shiratama Anmitau ($50) which was a colourful dish with many freshly cut fruits including kiwi, strawberry and mango. The anmitau, a kind of small white translucent jelly, were placed at the bottom of the dish, and the combination made Jen, a Japanese-lover from Canada, squeal in joy! The flavours of the whole dish were incredibly balanced and yet not randomly put together, which was what made it so marvelous. 

Overall remarks:  Via Tokyo succeeds with precision and detail, evinced not only in its close-to-authentic flavours but also in its stylish and petite decorum.  It has quickly won the hearts of many sweet-lovers in the city with almost everybody's favourite Japanese matcha green tea dessert, and even the non-green tea lovers might just fall in love with such an alluring taste as well! 

Food: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Ambience: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Service: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

INFO

Via Tokyo
Shop nos. 1A-1B, G/F., Leishun Court, 106-126 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay 銅鑼灣禮頓道106-126號禮信大廈地下1A-1B號舖
Telephone: 2895 1116

Lunch @ 魚作 Gyotaku

魚作 Gyotaku 是在中環云云眾多日本餐廳中用心落力地製作價錢合理，但與眾不同的午市Set Lunch， 為中環的上班一族提供富有水準的選擇，難怪餐廳長期Lunch Hour也滿座。餐廳的名字（Gyo-taku) 原文解作日本人以前把魚的形象用墨汁拓印到紙上的技法。餐廳地方雖然不大，但是落地玻璃令人感覺舒服，不會太侷促。餐廳的Set Lunch Menu勝在款式夠多，而且菜式也有特別增添新意。它的香滑焗三文魚定食 Baked Marinated Salmon ($130) 非常出色，肉質嫩滑多汁，也真正帶出魚的鮮味，加上一點點辣味，真是一道值得推介的特別菜式。它的Set Lunch包了一客沙律，麵豉湯和一客芝麻布丁，也頗滿足，所以成為了C在中環其中最愛的餐廳。午餐也只是每人大概＄150 到＄200。

Retooling the Japanese cuisine for busy week-day lunch hour is hardly a new idea.  The word "Gyo-taku" originally means  a traditional method of Japanese fish printing and while Gyotaku may not display all the sparkle and creativity of this historical innovative way of recording different kinds of fish, the restaurant counters with a surprising willingness to explore the rich variety of Japanese dishes.  Ever since working in Central, Gyotaku has been C's favourite lunch spot. 

Located on the 12th Floor of the thin building on Stanley Street, the decor of Gyotaku is sleek, yet utterly cosy.  Comfortable lighting, simple colours and wooden furniture imbue the space with a casual and modern feeling.  The restaurant is usually very fully booked during lunch hour almost every day, so we had to book a table at least 2 days in advance. Service is polite and attentive.  Gyotaku serves a special daily set lunch menu that changes every day and also its more pricier lunch menu. What amazed us was its wide variety- from sashimi set to sukiyaki set, it really included almost every items you could imagine from a Japanese restaurant! A lunch set comes with a salad and a miso soup.  Lunch is reasonably priced at $150 to $200 per person. 

(1) The Baked Marinated Salmon ($130) is C's favourite and is the must-have dish every time he visits.  The salmon was extravagantly tender and succulent, and was baked in an alluring way to bring out the vibrant and intense flavours of the fish with a hint of spiciness.  The mayonnaise further lifted the enticing taste of the dish.  It was an outstanding dish that is highly recommended for everyone who is a fan of salmon. 

(2) San ordered the Grilled Miso Cod Fish Set ($150) and it was another accomplished dish.  The cod fish was wonderfully grilled.  Each piece of fish was adoringly soft and tender, and delicately moist to keep its surface shiny.  San found the dish to be very enjoyable. 

(3) Everyone seemed to like the Marinated Pork in Ginger Sauce ($108 Set Lunch Price) including Chow Chow. The pork had a gorgeously firm and bouncy texture.  The soy-sauce-based marinate was sweet and decadent, but it was hard to find the ginger taste in the dish. 

(4) The 3 Type Sashimi on Rice ($118 Set Lunch Price) was a bowl of joy. The 3 types of sashimi varied based on the availability of the day.  That day we had Salmon, Tuna and Scallop. The raw fish were all very fresh and tasty and the flavours were well balanced.  We just hoped that they could be more generous with the portion of each slice of the sashimi. 

(5) Lastly, the dessert, Sesame Pudding was a real showstopper! It only came with the normal lunch set menu. The medley of sesame mixed with the soft, chewy pudding texture formed a symphony of tastes in the mouth that was utterly the perfect and unforgettable end to our lunch. 

Overall remarks:  Gyotaku presents the Japanese cuisine with confident, fluid grace and these dishes, coupled with a brace of insightful cookery skills lend the restaurant a warmth and comfort ambience, offering a satisfying lunch that would lighten up the timeworn elements of your boring work days in Central. 

Food: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Ambience: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Service: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

INFO

魚作 Gyotaku
12/F, 11 Stanley Street, Central 中環士丹利街11號12樓
Telephone: 3902 3813

Lunch @ Shiro

在希慎廣場樓上的白鮨Shiro是近期我最喜歡的新餐廳之一。餐廳裝潢以白色為主，目的是要令顧客有摩登的感覺。餐廳設有多款傳統和創新的日本菜式供選擇。價錢合理，午飯每位＄100至＄200，晚飯每位大概＄200至＄300。

Shiro was justifiably one of my new favourite Japanese restaurants in 2013, and this is not at all surprising, given its impressive clean decoration featuring white colour and its incredible location on the 13th Floor of Hysan Place.  It offers a variety of traditional and modern Japanese dish, costing on average $100 - $200 per head for lunch, and $200 - $300 per head for dinner.  

Be aware of its strange booking policy however, because when C or D made a telephone booking, we were often greeted by a waiter who would ask us what time.  And after we told them the time, the waiter would tell us we might have to wait at that time and advised us to come earlier.  The interesting thing was we found that most of the seats were still empty when we arrived. 

(1) The Houren sou no goma ae ($38) is a must-try item at the restaurant.  It meant in English "Spinach with self grated sesame sauce".   We thought they had a mix-up when they served us the dish, but we were pleasantly surprised that each interesting-looking "roll" contained basically numerous slices of spinach leaves and we got to grate the sesame sauce ourselves and it made a delightful taste in our mouths. 

(2) The seared scallops in the Scallop California Maki ($45) were extremely well-cooked, and the delicious flavours of the scallops created a fantastic fresh-tasting California roll.  

(3) Because C was a fan of scallop, so we ordered the Seared scallop with cod roe ($45). It failed to disappoint! It was nicely seared and delightfully tender.

(4) At first we were skeptical about the Gyuniku filet steak masutado sauce ($128), i.e. the Pan fried beef tenderloin with creamy mustard sauce, D ordered. But we were happy to know that we were wrong! Correction, very wrong! The creamy mustard sauce gave the already tender, chewy beef slices a light, yet attractive flavour. It was a perfect complement to the fantastically cooked beef that melted in our mouths right away! It takes a lot to achieve a dish like this and we highly recommend this dish to everyone! 

(5) As to the sets available during lunch, there was the Assorted Sushi set ($118). You can let the waiter know what sushi you want and what you don't eat. They were generous as to the size of the sashimi on top of each pieces of sushi. 

(6) The Chiroshi set ($128) is Sliced sashimi in rice bowl and this included sea urchin, salmon, and mackerel among other delicious and fresh pieces of fish.  

VERDICT

Ambience: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ 
Service: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Food: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆   

Overall remarks: Shiro offers a reasonable-priced yet high quality option when it comes to Japanese dining in Causeway Bay. The place is definitely worth a visit for people who are tired of the usual Sen-ryo sushi bar! We just hoped that the sashimi rice bowl would be made available at dinner as well. 

INFO

Shiro  (website)
Shop 1301, 13/F, Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road Causeway Bay