New dining palace Minato bestows a culinary experience unlike no other in Hong Kong, where the celebrated sub-cuisines of omakase, teppanyaki, and kaiseki join to advance the complex flavours of Japan’s ever-evolving flavours.
Minato embraces a truly minimalist interior design in its large dining hall, dividing space into five distinct rooms that each create purpose with dining. The refined Japanese restaurant takes on the Japanese aesthetic philosophy of “Ma” (間), the art, or fullness, of purposeful empty space.
Such space exists to void distractions and harness well-being for guests. Latticelike shoji windows both fill the restaurant with ample sunlight, yet shutter the outside world. The main dining hall possesses an airy and voluminous quality, benefiting those who enter clarity to focus on the space and dining.
Brought to Wan Chai North by Langham Hospitality Group, this innovative premium dining concept guides guests through an expedition on land and through the sea with its distinctive dining space that combines discreet sushi-forward omakase dining, clean teppanyaki meals, and a scope for artistic kaiseki-style meals.
The four teppanyaki private dining rooms of “TAKI” (瀧) and “NAMI” (濤) and “KAN” (澗) and “MINATO” (港)” are naturally open to view, but can be grouped for guests to bond over dishes forged with delicate smoke and flames. Led by executive chef Ray Wong, a blend of local and regional ingredients are savoured on the grill, prepared with grace and intention for clean eating.
The MINATO Teppanyaki dinner menu (HKD2,808 for two persons) promises an indulgence of seafood and meat. Sea Bream and Duck Liver are delivered to guests with a focus on premium sourcing and preparation. The A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Sliced Beef remains a star on the grill, both featuring otherworldly flavours deep with beef fat and flavour. The dinner menu ends with a Japanese Pepper With Whitebait Fried Rice, Miso Soup & Pickles, and daily Japanese Fruit.
The nine-course HAMA Teppanyaki dinner menu (HKD2,808 for two persons) is also available to guests, featuring Local Lobster, Cod Fish, and 3-Head South African Abalone, evincing the dedication and expertise of chef Wong.
Headed by sushi head chef Shing Fung, MINATO features a dedicated sushi bar, imparting a direct connection with chef Shing and his preservation of centuries-old sushi and sashimi artistry. Both the Chef Omakase set (HKD588 during lunch; HKD1,188 during dinner per person) and the more varied Chef Premium Omakase set (HKD788 during lunch; HKD1,588 during dinner per person) detail his steadfast attentiveness to the flavour combinations and care for fish.
Dining experiences at Minato can begin at chef Shing’s sushi parlour, before finding yourself at chef Wong’s teppan grill for extravagant meat and seafood flavourings. An appetiser sharing of Sesame Tofu, Ayu Sweetfish Skewer, and Marinated Japanese Sweet Tomato with Plum Wine Jelly, crafted by chex Alex Ho and from the kaiseki menu, grace the table to wet the palate, before exploring the buttery and fresh profiles of Flounder Fish, Hamachi, Sardine, and Sea Urchin.
Completing the trifecta at Minato is the kaiseki cuisine, delivered by assistant kitchen head chef Alex Ho. Through the nine-course MATSU Kaiseki set (HKD1,388 per person) and deluxe MORI Kaiseki set (HKD1,688 per person), a manifold of Japanese flavours, techniques, and styles are brought to the main dining room, lauding delicate fish flavours.
The three leading chefs’ combined culinary efforts hold much weight in the Shokado-style Minato Bento (HKD668 per person), a lunch set option that features six expertly curated crafted dishes from omakase, teppanyaki, and kaiseki departments.
Beyond the dedicated sushi bar and main teppanyaki station, other private dining spaces “LUNA” (月) and “KAWA” (汌) accommodate dining for six to eight guests only. Where the former is dressed in moon-decor theme to create safety and elegance for a manifold form of dining, the latter thrills guests with a flair of live cooking.
Minato’s unique design narrative paired with zen principles in both design and culinary offerings capture a quite extraordinary approach to Japanese cuisine. Through the philosophy of “Ma” (間), guests await a balanced, clean, and grand dining experience through the lens of omakase, teppanyaki, and kaiseki cuisine.
The new Wan Chai restaurant befits dining occasions of any type, from formal business meetings, grand celebrations, to intimate times with loved ones. Minato is ready to welcome guests, inviting groups to make reservations to visit the grand Japanese restaurant here.
Minato, Shop G4-G6, G/F, Great Eagle Centre, 23 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, 2345 0663, book here
