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Diner’s Diary | Will Hong Kong buy US$102 wagyu beef sandwich – one of world’s most expensive – from Tokyo’s Wagyumafia, coming soon to Wan Chai?

This sandwich is outrageously decadent, but I cannot lie – it does taste amazing. And judging by the VIPs queuing to get a taste of chef Hisato Hamada’s HK$800 creation, and a picture of the chef giving his signature stare, the Hong Kong branch of his restaurant will be a goer

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The toasted bread contrasts with the juicy, buttery, tender hunk of Miyazaki wagyu beef – but is this sandwich really worth US$102? We’ll find out soon whether Hong Kong goes for it. Photo: Bernice Chan
Bernice Chanin Vancouver

Get ready to save every dollar you have, because Wagyumafia is coming to Hong Kong.

For those who have no idea what I’m talking about, the famous no-frills restaurant in Tokyo that serves some of the most expensive sandwiches in the world will be opening in Hong Kong at the end of September.

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How expensive?

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The wagyu cutlet sandwiches, with finely marbled Miyazaki beef deep-fried like tonkatsu and placed between two slices of toasted bread, will set you back a whopping HK$800 (US$102) for a “full sando” or HK$400 for a “half sando”.

I had a sneak preview on Wednesday evening at Elephant Grounds’ coffee shop in Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay, along with representatives of other media. After an interminable wait for Wagyumafia co-founder Hisato Hamada – his Cathay Pacific flight from Tokyo was delayed for two hours – he finally appeared with a giant slab of raw beef from cattle farmer Muneharu Ozaki which he explained would make 20 sandwiches.

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Chef Hisato Hamada hands out quarters of his wagyu beef cutlet sandwiches at Elephant Grounds in Fashion Walk, Hong Kong. His Tokyo restaurant Wagyumafia will open a branch in the city next month. Photo: Bernice Chan
Chef Hisato Hamada hands out quarters of his wagyu beef cutlet sandwiches at Elephant Grounds in Fashion Walk, Hong Kong. His Tokyo restaurant Wagyumafia will open a branch in the city next month. Photo: Bernice Chan
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