By Arthur Tam
Who doesn’t love Japanese cuisine? Luckily, our city has a huge selection of restaurants to get our sushi and sake fix, but you might be unaware of the “oishii” in and near Taikoo Place. Here are the top five Japanese restaurants in the Eastern District that will more than satisfy your cravings for sushi, tempura, teppanyaki, kushiyaki and seasonal kaiseki meals.
Oedo
Teppanyaki feast
On the basement floor of Island Place is a rare gem: Oedo. The restaurant offers the freshest seasonal fish and cooked Japanese delicacies, but what makes this place a true standout is its teppanyaki bar, serving melt-in-your-mouth beef from the iron griddle. Affordable lunch sets range between $110 and $350, and full dinner courses can run between $500 and $900 if you’re ordering the marbled Wagyu beef.
Shop B10, B/F, Island Place, 500 King's Rd, North Point, tel: 2960 0099. Open for lunch and dinner.
Ito-san
All-around Japanese
Tucked in the corner of the Berkshire House is the humble sushi bar and restaurant. The menu here is thorough and comprehensive, consisting of sashimi bowls, grilled skewers, udon, tempura and a more elusive item: beef sukiyaki ($210). Thin slices of premium beef and assorted vegetables placed in sweet and savoury soup is a nourishing and comforting option after a long day at work. Another highlight on the menu is the maguro yonshoku don ($320), which translates to four variations of tuna (seared lean tuna, medium fatty tuna, fatty tuna and chopped tuna) served over rice.
Shop G01, G/F, Berkshire House, Taikoo Place, 25 Westlands Rd, Quarry Bay, tel: 2803 1803. Open for lunch and dinner.
Sho Bu
Reasonably priced dons
Don’t let the lacklustre, washed-out exterior of this restaurant fool you. Inside is a packed, bustling joint with customers that know a good value. No one minds the lack of space here because of the reasonable cost for top-quality sashimi bowls ($144-$185), noodle sets ($105-$123), grilled eel bentos ($154) and a Wagyu beef set ($255).
Shop G&H, Hoi Fai Bldg, 26-28 Chung Fan Nei St, Quarry Bay, tel: 2562 9600. Open for lunch and dinner.
Sushi Mori Tomoaki
High-end omakase
Like many upscale sushi restaurants in Japan, the facade of Sushi Mori Tomoaki is minimalist and has no signage, just a sliding door with curtains at the entrance. There are just two sushi bars within, and you choose from four pricy omakase (chef’s choice) menus that range between $1,200 and $2,300. It's worth it for sushi aficionados looking for fish with more depth and heft like the beautifully presented uni, ikura and seaweed served from the shell. After a hectic work week, you need to treat yourself.
Seabright Plaza, 8-23 Shell St, North Point, tel: 2979 5977. Open for lunch and dinner.
Shiba East
Friendly izakaya
Shiba East is just as good if not better than its sister restaurant Shiba in Kennedy Town. The izakaya specialises in a variety of grilled dishes and skewered meats with an extensive list of Japanese craft beer and sake. Best of all, they currently have a special promotion: 50 percent off selected sakes after 9pm, Sun-Thu. Bring your clients to this place and drink till you drop. By the end of the night, they won't know what they're signing.
Shop 4, G/F Harmony Place, Shau Kei Wan, tel: 2687 1338. Dinner only.