The Langham Place Hotel in Mong Kok has expanded its culinary offerings, which include the Ming Court (Chinese), The Backyard (alfresco barbecue buffet) and The Place (international buffet), with the opening of Tokoro Robatayaki & Bar.
The 5,000 sq ft restaurant, which seats 120, is divided into two sections: the dining area and the bar. The former, to one side of the reception area, is a red-toned space with flower-like ceiling lights and colourful modern Japanese paintings. A miniature sushi bar (four seats only) flanks one side of the fish tank while three circular banquettes (above left) are on the other. But the dining-room feature that grabs the attention is the open robata grill (above right), from which chefs bellow out orders to waiters as they prepare a feast of skewers in front of up to 14 diners.
Chef de cuisine Takanori Hirayama's innovative dinner menu is divided into sections such as 'flavours to start', 'liquid flavours', 'tempura and the likes' and 'more flavours'. Cooking techniques are traditional but the ingredients are cross-cultural. Highlights include dobin mushi with spring chicken, sea bass and fresh shrimp simmered in broth and served in a tea pot (below left, HK$57), miso-marinated baby octopus served on egg froth (HK$57), chilled homemade udon noodles with poached lobster tail and light soy broth (HK$97) and the Tokoro tempura platter, with shrimp, monkfish, mushrooms and sweet potatoes (HK$107).
The dessert menu is equally enticing, offering tofu mousse with green tea, red beans and lime cream (below right, HK$47) and green tea ice cream tempura with red bean sauce (HK$37). The lunch menu includes set meals such as the Tokoro bento double decker (HK$217), with sashimi, garden leaves with crab, red miso soup, homemade udon, egg custard, grilled fish, fried rice and dessert.
The bar area, to the left as you enter, has 50 seats and a panoramic view of busy Mong Kok. The drinks list boasts fine wines, Japanese sake, shochu and tea, and innovative cocktails (see The Mixer; right).
Tokoro Robatayaki & Bar is at 3/F, Langham Place Hotel, 555 Shanghai Street, Mong Kok, tel: 3552 3330.