New & Noted: Kousen Irori Sumiyaki, North Point – grilled Japanese the speciality, but claypot rice the best dish we had
With set menus ranging in price from HK$680 to HK$1,580, this restaurant’s staff should be more knowledgeable about menu items. Beef tongue, Kagoshima eel and uni claypot rice were highlights
In case you couldn’t tell from the name that Kousen Irori Sumiyaki specialises in grilled items, the two grills – one electric, the other heated by charcoal (sumi) – that were at the centre of the U-shaped dining counter make it obvious.
The menu has a long list of kushiyaki (grilled) items but also offers three sets, ranging from HK$680 to HK$1,580. We chose the mid-priced one, with appetiser, eight kushiyaki dishes, claypot rice, soup and dessert, for HK$880.
We liked most of the dishes, but at this price point, the staff should have been more knowledgeable about what they were serving. Our conversations went something like this: “What is this?” “Lime.” “Yes, I know, but what kind of lime?” “Japanese lime.” “Is it sudachi?” “Let me ask the chef.” (As we suspected, it was sudachi.) The same thing happened when we asked about the oyster, beef and clam.
Restaurant review: Izakaya Satoi in Tai Hang – Japanese skewers
The meal started off well with an appetiser of seaweed, uni (sea urchin), ginger and a slice of sweet tomato in a tangy, refreshing broth. We also liked the warm, grilled Hiroshima oyster, which was plump and succulent.
