Yakitori Speakeasy@Sumi Yakitori 炭

Address: 9/F, Evernew House, 485 Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay

Website: www.facebook.com/SumiYakitoriHK

Situated in an unassuming building in a seedy looking alley is Sumi Yakitori. Had to say, I was hesitant and apprehensive when I found the entrance, as the building was full of hostess clubs!

Walk in and you see a Private Kitchen style Yakitori, decorated with sake labels. Like many Yakitori houses in Hong Kong, Sumi is set in a traditional Japanese style with a Charcoal grill at the entrance. Its menu focuses on Yakitori and cooked dishes, as well as a selection of beer and sake to accompany the food!

What We Ate:

Appetizers:

Braised Ox-tongue and Brisket with Japanese Radish

• Good, well braised and seasoned brisket and tongue.
• Meaty, Soft and not too salty.

Potato salad with Prawns and Mayonnaise dressing

• Wasn’t great and nothing special.
• Like any pre-packaged salad that can be found in supermarkets and most restaurants.

Deep Fried Chicken

• Nothing Special. Batter was not crispy enough and seemed heavy. The Chicken seemed very oily.

Grilled Ox-Tongue

• Well seasoned with pepper , not chewy with slight bite. Great snack with beer.

Deep Fried Cheese Rice Cake

• Cheese was not gooey, though the Rice cake parcel was crispy.
• The dish seemed very heavy and not seasoned at all. Cheese also tasted bland.

Grilled Chicken Wings

• Chicken Wings were Split into halves when grilled. Made them very easy to eat!
• Crispy skin and well seasoned, not too salty. Great bar snack!

Grilled eel

• Crispy and meaty, YUM!
• Well seasoned eel that was grilled to crispiness, and still juicy.

Grilled Japanese Ginko nuts 

• Not great. Gino cute were very bitter and still had skin on top.

Grilled Japanese Chilli Peppers.

• Soy glaze gave it a good sheen and flavor, but needs more grilling or char.
• Dried Japanese herring shavings also gave it a great smokey taste.
• Not bad.

 

Grilled Mushrooms

• Good soy glaze, but nothing special
• Similar to what you can make at home.

 

 

 

 

Grilled Eggplant

• Great smokey flavor and dressing in soy. Smoked Japanese Herring shavings also added much needed smokey flavor to the dish.
• Great tasting dish, but eggplant seemed soft.

 

 

 

Grilled Japanese Ginki Fish

• Paired with a soy, sour plum sauce that was ok.
• Fish was quite small and did not have alot of meat.
• It did not fresh but like cooked from frozen.
• Do not recommend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foie Gras fried rice

• Very rich and eggy. Generous foie gras that is catered for hk tastes.
• Otherwise, nothing special and too rich.
• Needs time to order, so order when you arrive!

Kumbuta Tonkatsu with Curry sauce

• Good crispy and thin batter. Similar to a schnitzel but with curry sauce.
• Generous portions, but again nothing special.

Verdict:

Sumi Yakitori is a good place to catch up with friends without the noisy neighbors and packed tables that are seen in so many restaurants in Hong Kong. Private Kitchens usually boasts its exclusivity and exceptional food, but this is not the case here. Sumi Yakitori, is no different to most Yakitori joints you find around Hong Kong. Though, more quiet, comfortable and has better service than most, its food is not all that spectacular.