Sardines were not served at Hachi Japanese Restaurant on Friday night. But the 'Unlimited' party they threw drew in so many hungry sushi fans that the guests couldn't help but empathise with fish tightly packed in cans. Neither the long line for sushi nor the rain outside in Lan Kwai Fong could dampen the spirits of the crowd. With the promise of unlimited sushi, sake and Yakatori, about 1,000 people turned up to the 8th floor of LKF Tower. For those who managed to reach the bar, there was plenty of raw fish, special rolls, Yakitori and more. Colourful sake cocktails and shooters kept the crowd boisterous. And hip hop music from DJ Raffie and DJ Tony C kept the volume up to help the transition of the day from work to play. The turnout was testimony to the A-list rolodexes of Hachi's many partners, the clientele they've built up since opening last year - and the resourcefulness of the city's freeloaders. It was also a sure sign that Hong Kong's demand for good sushi lives on. From conveyor-belt Genki Sushi to the fine dining at establishments like Hachi, Japanese remains this city's favourite foreign cuisine, after McDonald's.
