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2018-03-07
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It has been a while—possibly three years—since I last visited. Toba used to be one of my preferred Japanese restaurants in the area, and as the place tended not to fill up and family and friends never appreciated the place as much as I did, I was surprised to see that the restaurant was still around, given how quickly restaurants come and go in Causeway Bay.I am a big fan of hot Japanese food (as much as I am of sashimi and sushi). Toba has the casual charm of a Japanese izakaya in a neat settin
I am a big fan of hot Japanese food (as much as I am of sashimi and sushi). Toba has the casual charm of a Japanese izakaya in a neat setting and the kitchen has been offering a good range of cooked food, sashimi and excellent skewers of all kinds long before “Japanese” skewers became trendy in Tin Hau and various other areas. Raw fish is very fresh here, although à la carte orders are going to be pricey if you order piece by piece (in general the bill at Toba will come down to $450/person before drinks and service charge). Service has never been top notch, but it says something that there’s almost always Japanese-speaking staff on duty to serve local Japanese diners who come in for beer over skewers, chicken wings and tempura.
The name “Toba” is probably named after chef Kazuhide Someya’s special miso-marinated chicken wings using an old recipe from the Edo period. The miso is fermented over two years and combined with fifteen spices. I vaguely remember (although I may be wrong) that he was so dedicated that he had obtained a doctorate in a food science related area. Even more than the crispy chicken wings, I like their unagi (eel) over rice—with the eel apparently flown in from Japan fresh daily. This is available as a set during lunch hours.
Perhaps the most memorable thing about Toba was its hand-drawn lunch menu, which I always thought was such a cute effort. Now into its ninth year, Toba continues to offer a consistent dining experience. If on any evening you’re in the mood for beer or miso-marinated wings, Toba might just be the perfect spot.
Food Rundown
Steamed clams in sake ～$120Big juicy pieces of clams in a mild soup is so comforting for my stomach.
Sushi set ～$480Fresh and tasty.
Salad ～$100Generous portion and again, incredibly fresh.
Mentaiko chicken skewer ～$60This has an interesting texture with popping mentaiko and a very tempting sauce.
Beef skewer $70Standard. Prefer wagyu or ohmi for their tenderness.
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