Lan Kwai Fong is not just a nightlife and tourist hotspot; it also features excellent dining options. One standout is "Kyoto Joe," an izakaya renowned for being one of the few vegetarian Japanese restaurants in Hong Kong. Their all-you-can-eat dinner has attracted considerable interest from the vegetarian community. Currently, they are offering a tasting menu with a generous fifty percent discount for diners. As a result, visitors now enjoy a broader selection of dining choices ideal for socializing with vegetarian friends or health-conscious individuals.
The decor draws inspiration from the Thousand Torii Gates at Inari Taisha Shrine in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, showcasing bold red as its dominant colour. It evokes a sense of being in Japan while also allowing you to appreciate the skyline of the central business district.
【Tailormade for Sake Lovers】
Kyoto Joe presented eight acclaimed sakes, each offering distinct flavours and a smooth finish. Sake enthusiasts must try them.
"Kyoto Joe" serves 8 award-winning sakes.
We recommend four exceptional sakes featured in this tasting menu, which earned gold, silver, and bronze awards. The gold medalists include "Nanbu Bijin Junmai Daiginjo Yamada Nishiki Shinshiro" and "Sakumano Chi Nakadori Junmai Daiginjo." The former highlights the uniquely round and smooth flavour of Yamada Nishiki rice, while the latter impresses with its beautiful fruity aroma and well-balanced taste.
Nanbu Beauty Pure Rice Daiginjo Yamada Nishiki Heart White ($590)
Masano Satoshi Nakadori Junmai Daiginjo ($680)
The other two recommendations are the silver award-winning "Tenju Chokaizan Namato Shigome Junmai Sake," which is brewed with traditional Namato sake yeast and has a mellow taste. Although the alcohol content is 15%, it is easy to drink. As for the bronze award-winning "Van Gold Junmai Daiginjo," it has moderate acidity and a smooth texture, making it suitable for even novice tasters.
Tenju Chokaisan Namatoshikomi pure rice sake ($420)
Gold Junmai Daiginjo ($540)
[Second person half price discount] Highly recommended 8-course tasting menu
“Kyoto Joe" presents a choice between a 5-course tasting menu priced at $630 per person and an 8-course tasting menu for $980 per person. Both menus come with a 50% discount for the second guest, allowing you to savour exquisite Japanese cuisine at a fantastic price. While I find it challenging to choose between the two options, I highly recommend the “8-course tasting menu” for its plentiful offerings! This menu includes appetizers (pre-paid), fresh appetizers, sashimi (accompanied by side dishes), grilled items, fried dishes, stews, soup buckets, and desserts.
The appetizer begins with a fresh fruit tomato from Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture. The chef blends the tomato pulp with cucumber to create a sweet Japanese-style sauce, then incorporates crab meat and caviar to start your dining experience.
【Appetizer Trio】 Kumamoto tomatoes, snow crab meat, caviar
The seafood appetizer comes in a cocktail cup, yet the prawns aren’t the highlight. Instead, it features seaweed, often referred to as the "Okinawa Superfood," celebrated for its high nutritional value. Additionally, it’s paired with Hokkaido Uni (sea urchin) to enhance the overall flavour profile.
【Starter】Sashimi of Hokkaido sea urchin, botan shrimp with Okinawa seaweed in vinegar
Sashimi is among the most eagerly awaited dishes in Japanese cuisine! Hokkaido sea bream is prepared using the traditional soup cream technique: first, the fish skin is blanched in hot water, then quickly cooled in ice water to achieve a refreshing skin and chewy meat. In contrast, red sea bream sashimi features alfonsino from Shizuoka Prefecture, which is scaled upright, resulting in crispy skin while the meat maintains its sashimi-like texture. This double layering is particularly unique.
【Sashimi】Grilled golden eye snapper cooked with scales in honey yuzu sauce with Red porgy in blanching cooking
The chicken wings offered here showcase a traditional style but feature surprising flavours! The fish maw is slow-cooked for 10 hours in a blend of chicken broth and abalone sauce, yielding a tender and flavorful filling, all while the chicken skin stays crispy.
【Robatayaki】Robatayaki chicken wing stuffed with fish maw
If you enjoy fish, the eyes of the fish will sparkle at this presentation. The chef deep fries the entire fish with its bones intact and then wraps it in a spring roll wrapper for added crispiness. This type of fish is highly nutritious and truly irresistible!
【Age Mono】Mehikari spring roll
In the realm of yaki dishes, our foremost selection is Kagoshima Wagyu beef. We meticulously choose the triangular belly, characterized by an even distribution of fat, and employ a charcoal fire to effectively render the fat. Accompanied by a spicy Sichuan pepper oil and a sweet beef sauce, the Wagyu beef is notably fresh, tender, and exceptionally flavorful.
[Yaki Mono] Grilled sliced Kagoshima chunk short rib with Sichuan pepper oil
This is my inaugural encounter with this innovative culinary creation. The dish features sakura shrimp incorporated into rice balls, which are subsequently grilled until achieving a crispy exterior. Additionally, it includes Japanese vegetarian shark fins, Hokkaido scallops, and lotus root enriched with chicken broth. The combination presents a distinct quality, yet the exact quantity of pieces remains unpredictable. The texture remarkably balances crispiness with softness, providing an exceptional experience.
【Ochazuke】Grilled Hokkaido scallop, lotus root, toast rice in chicken broth
Finally, the meal ends with a perfectly sliced cheesecake, making the dining experience delightful.
【Dessert】Cheesecake
Kyoto Joe
Address: 23/F, California Tower, 30-36 D'Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central
Tel: 28046800