Posts Tagged Japanese
Review – New Sushi Chef Okabe-san @ Inagiku, Hong Kong
120313 Inagiku - Chef Takashi Okabe
We headed to Inagiku at IFC, Hong Kong to try the new sushi chef, Takashi Okabe, former head sushi chef at Sushi Musashino, Hilton Tokyo, Japan. To be honest, we did not have terribly high expectations as Inagiku’s existing sushi chef was already very good.
Review – Tetsuya’s, Sydney, Australia
120124 Tetsuya's - Main entrance
Before Pier Restaurant, Tetsuya’s was the restaurant on our must visit list for Sydney. In fact our whole Australian trip’s schedule was planned around our Tuesday dinner booking here. Arriving at the restaurant, we immediately feel the strong Japanese influence from chef / owner Tetsuya Wakuda’s roots.
Review – Armani / Aqua, Hong Kong
120121 Armani / Aqua
The reincarnation of the old Armani Café in Hong Kong is in the form of Armani / Aqua, a new collaboration with local Aqua Restaurant Group. This is the hot place to be seen now, but our Saturday lunch was noticeably more quite with only a handful of tables – definitely due to the majority of offices being closed for the weekend.
Review – Inakaya (田舍家), Hong Kong
Having just been to Roppongi Robataya in Tokyo recently, we were a bit skeptical about the much hyped robatayaki restaurant Inakaya (田舍家) in Hong Kong. Located on the 101st floor of the International Commerce Centre in West Kowloon, at least the view would be stunning. The robatayaki room is in the far back of the restaurant, past the sushi counters and teppanyaki tables. Once seated, we were amazed by their attention to detail in replicating the decor and felt that we were transported to Japan.
We ordered the usual stuff: ginkgo (HK$80/US$10), Shiitake mushrooms (HK$150/US$19), Tsukune – chicken meatballs (HK$150/US$19 for two), shrimp (HK$300/US$38), pork (HK$170/US$22 for two), onion (HK$120/US$15), garlic (HK$65/US$8) and corn (HK$100/US$13). Outstanding were the king crab legs (HK$360/US$46), which were very fresh and sweet. The wagyu beef (HK$680/US$87 for two) were also delicious. But the highlight of the evening was the grilled kinki fish (HK$1,100/US$141)…the moist and soft meat mixed with the crispy skin was fabulous and kept us digging into every nook and cranny to get the last bite. Although not cheap, it is definitely highly recommended.
During our dinner, although we didn’t have the ‘changing of the chefs’ ceremony as in Japan, two chefs displayed a show of Mochitsuki (literally ‘making mochi’) by pounding a batch of glutinous rice inside a large mortar (usu) with a large wooden mallet (kine). They gave out loud grunts every time they pounded the flour, so it was quite a spectacle. They even invited guests to help out – kids even have a small version of the mallet to get in on the action. This was not just for show however, the end result was a delicious dish of mochi.
Although dinner can set you back HK$1,800/US$231 per person without wine, the food and experience was worth it. With the quality comparable to Roppongi Robataya in Japan, if you want to save a plane ride, this could be your answer to the best robatayaki in town. Next time we go to Tokyo, we’ll be sure to try the original Inakaya.
– 18/20
Inakaya (田舍家)
Shop A, 101/F, International Commerce Centre
1 Austin Road West, Kowloon
T: +852 2972 2666
W: www.jcgroup.hk
111106 Inakaya - Entrance signage
111106 Inakaya - Table setting
111106 Inakaya - Robatayaki room
111106 Inakaya - King crab legs
111106 Inakaya - Tsukune
111106 Inakaya - Shiitake
111106 Inakaya - Ginkgo
111106 Inakaya - Pork skewers
111106 Inakaya - Shrimps
111106 Inakaya - Onions
111106 Inakaya - Mochitsuki
111106 Inakaya - Mochi
111106 Inakaya - Kinki
111106 Inakaya - Garlic
111106 Inakaya - Wagyu beef
111106 Inakaya - Corn
Review – Sushi Ichi (鮨一), Tokyo
Recommended by our golf buddy, we were expecting great sushi. But first, we had to find the place. For some unknown reason, our taxi stopped one block short of the restaurant and we were walking in circles looking for the place. just as we were about to give up, we popped into the Ginza Apple Store to ask for directions. Cleverly, the staff whipped up an iPad and launched Google maps to type in the address. In a second, we knew exactly where to go. Cool. The restaurant is actually one street behind the Apple Store, tucked inside a nook so look out for the signs directing you inside.
Chef Masakazu Ishibashi was serving us and we went for the omakase (chef’s choice) as usual. For about ¥15,000 (US$195) per person, it wasn’t cheap (especially with today’s exchange rate) but the quality was very good. I confess that I couldn’t resist the chu-toro as it might have been rude to reject it. It literally melted in our mouths. The grilled tuna cheek sushi was also very nice. The uni (sea urchin) was Grade 1 and rightfully so as it was very fresh and sweet. The sushi rice was good, but when compared to Sushi Kanaseka, it was a tad soft.
The highlight was when Ishibashi-san asked us if we liked crab. Are you kidding? Then the waitress bought a live Hokkaido crab (¥8,000/US$104) that looked delicious. Off to the steamer for him. Once cooked, the meat was removed and we started devouring the claws. Then the amazing part was the crab meat mixed with the soft fragrant roe…delicious!
A great place for sushi and now that we know where it is, the location is very convenient. We can always pop in the Apple Store after lunch 
– 18/20
Sushi Ichi (鮨一)
1F, 4-4 Ginza 3-Chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0061
T: +81 (3) 3567 0014
E: info@3567-0014.com
W: www.3567-0014.com
110917 Sushi Ichi - 4-4- Ginza 3-Chome
110917 Sushi Ichi - Main entrance to the restaurant
110917 Sushi Ichi - Chopsticks holder
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