‘Reminds me of Japan’: where to find Hong Kong’s best yakitori and yakiniku Japanese grill restaurants, and steak and fries
- June Lau, a jewellery designer, reveals where she goes to eat Japanese-Italian fusion dishes – a place of ‘fun sophistication’ serving food ‘with modern twists’
- Her top picks in Hong Kong also include lively Japanese and Korean grill restaurants and, in contrast, a tranquil spot for vegetarian dim sum
Jewellery designer June Lau is the founder of Novel Fineries. Its latest set of handmade embroidered butterflies were made in honour of the M+ museum exhibition “Madame Song: Pioneering Art and Fashion in China”. She spoke to Andrew Sun.
I enjoy exploring different foods and new restaurants, but I’m also loyal to those restaurants that consistently serve quality foods. One thing I am not is someone who takes photos of food, because I eat it too quickly.
Noi (5/F, Four Seasons Hong Kong, 8 Finance Street, Central, tel: 3196 8768) is a contemporary Japanese and Italian fusion place that won a Michelin star shortly after opening. It is a place of fun sophistication, where the best quality ingredients are sourced from all over the world, mixed and flavoured with modern twists.
The open kitchen is like going to the theatre. Luigi the head chef and his team produce works of art. There’s passion, love, and care in how they balance all the elements. The dishes are beautiful, paired with contemporary ceramics.
I would come here for a champagne splurge, too.
Another place I like is Yakitori Torisho (LG/F, Harilela House, 79 Wyndham Street, Central, tel: 2727 0117). Their chicken tails are always perfectly cooked over hot coals. It crisps the skin but leaves the meat juicy.
The menus at Yakiniku Great (Shop 1, Manhattan Avenue, 255 Queen’s Road Centre, Sheung Wan, tel: 3565 6129) with fresh marbled wagyu are very reasonably priced, and the place just reminds me of Japan.
Born Ga (1/F, Eastern Flower centre, 22-24 Cameron Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2367 1087) is a restaurant opened by a family of Koreans serving family-style kimchi and more.
It is loud, full of slurping, grilling and laughter.
For visitors, I would take them for a vegetarian dim sum lunch at Chi Lin Vegetarian (Long Men Lou, Nan Lian Garden, 60 Fung Tak Road, Diamond Hill, tel: 3658 9388), in the Chi Lin Buddhist nunnery.
The location is beautiful and peaceful, and there is a tranquil teahouse to rest in after. The nunnery and garden are spectacular.
For dinner, it would be the Central branch of La Vache (48 Peel Street, SoHo, tel: 2880 0248) for its party feel, to start a lively night. Its steak and fries are always to die for.
Outside Hong Kong, I would like to visit Puglia, Italy again and stay at Borgo Egnazia (Strada Comunale Egnazia, 72015 Savelletri, Fasano, Brindisi, tel: +39 080 225 5000).
The hotel resembles an old ancient Italian town, with white limestone, marble carvings. The shadows on the tall archways are just stunning against the pink sky.
The pizzeria within its complex does the best pizza I have ever had – and I’ve had a lot of pizzas. They use simple, fresh local ingredients.
The bake produces a not so simple, but mouthwatering crust with a soft, flavourful dough. The mixture of savoury and sweet is comforting.
The primitivo wine of the region is also particularly memorable. The bold flavour of the fruit is smooth and beautiful. It makes for a lot of simple, delicious memories.
