Wagyu Kaiseki Den, Sheung Wan - 31.03.11

Wagyu Kaiseki Den is the brainchild of Peter Lam and his foodie business partners, who wanted to create an ultra exclusive, super high quality Japanese omakasi restaurant.

Due to the very sad recent disaster in Japan, we were able to secure a table for fourteen at the last minute at this tiny restaurant to see off a friend who was returning back to Tokyo after spending a few weeks in exile in the relative safety of Hong Kong. 

Each week, the nine or ten course menu changes somewhat, but a couple of the chef's signature dishes, such as the Charcoal Grilled Wagyu and Sea Urchin Truffle Rice remain as staples on the menu. 

The first two courses were kind of non for me.  The next two however, were genius.  The sashimi was as fresh as could be, and the lobsters particular highlight.  This was followed by the best sushi I have had anywhere, ever.  It was both creative, yet familiarly delicious.  I tried sea urchin sushi for the first time, and was so impressed by its warmth and delicacy of flavour.  The tuna sushi was equally spectacular, and the beef to dye for.  The next two courses were good, but not worthy of going into detail about.  The Charcoal Grilled Wagyu Beef that followed however was something else.  I don't think I have ever had such pure, succulent, tender or tasty a piece of meat in my life.  The only problem with this dish was that it was so rich that it would have been very difficult to eat any more than the four pieces we were given.  This was followed by what was the highlight of the meal for me: a few pieces of the same spectacular pieces of beef in between two slices of soft, sweet white Japanese bread with a tomato relish.  In short: a steak sandwich.  Words cannot even begin to describe how sensational this so seemingly simple a dish tasted.  Out of this world!  The famous Sea Urchin Truffle Rice that followed left everyone else at the table weak at the knees, but I just couldn't get over the wonder of that steak sandwich!

To my friends who eat regularly at Wagyu Kaiseki Den, tonight's meal wasn't one of the best.  As a first time visitor, I personally wouldn't have gone back for five of the nine courses, but those four remaining courses were so special that not only will I dream about those sandwiches for a long time to come, but I will take the risk and recommend this restaurant to anyone I come across (even if it makes getting a table that much harder for my next visit)!

Wagyu Kaiseki Den

G/F Central Park Hotel

263 Hollywood Road

Sheung Wan

Hong Kong

T: (+852) 2851 2820

W: www.wagyukaisekiden.com.hk