New restaurants in Causeway Bay: US$23-a-slice beef tongue left us speechless at Meat Cuisine Hiro
Despite needing deep pockets to cover the bill, and a very confusing menu, this yakiniku – Japanese table-top barbecue – restaurant delivered on taste, with the Hida point end brisket and Hida rib-cap plate fantastic
Be warned: a meal at Meat Cuisine Hiro is going to cost a pretty penny, even if you order modestly, as we did. We realised in retrospect that it would have been more economical – and filling – if we’d ordered one of the cheaper sets, which ranged from HK$680 to HK$1,280 per person.
We had the odd feeling of dejà vu when we walked in, and it turns out the space used to house the excellent Iroha, which also specialised in yakiniku (Japanese table-top barbecue). The friendly manager said it’s been taken over by the Sushi Hiro Group.
The menu is very confusing – it seems repetitive because the same meats are listed in different sections. We finally figured out that the various cuts – premium Hida beef, as well as some from Australia – are available as single pieces as well as a full serving of five slices.
New restaurants in Central: beef the name of the game at Ngau Saam Gun
We don’t remember Iroha being quite as expensive as this; five pieces of thick-cut tongue cost a breathtaking HK$880 (US$112), and that is for Australian beef (they don’t offer Japanese tongue, but if they did it would be even more pricey). Instead, we ordered the Australian thin-cut tongue, which was “only” HK$420.