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
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?
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.
Soon the sandwiches began appearing one by one from the kitchen. Adopting his signature stare for the cameras, Hamada handed them out.
We each got a quarter sando, and I cannot lie – it tasted amazing. The toasted bread contrasted with the thick slice of tender, juicy, buttery beef. In three bites the most outrageously decadent quarter sandwich I’ve ever had was gone.
Outside, loyal Wagyumafia-meisters were waiting in line for a bite of a sandwich – proof that, regardless of how big a chunk of change they cost, Hamada will have no shortage of customers when his restaurant opens in Wan Chai.
