Immersive Haven of Refined Japanese Dining MINATO Elevates Weekend Indulgence with Exclusive Artisanal Torio Bento Brunch and Exquisite Teppanyaki Ritual

(6 February 2025, Hong Kong) MINATO, a haven of elevated Japanese dining nestled at Great Eagle Centre in the commercial heart of Wanchai, where modern sensibilities and authentic craftsmanship meld in an aura of quiet luxury, accentuates the joys of spring weekends with a unique artisanal Torio Bento brunch set and a lavish nine-course new teppanyaki dinner experience. Perfectly in time for Valentine’s Day, exquisite omakase, teppanyaki and kaiseki tributes are also introduced to celebrate the season of love.

Managed by Langham Hospitality Group, MINATO has set a new standard for refined Japanese cuisine since opening last summer. This serene theatre of immersive gastronomy artfully weaves the distinct strands of Japanese culinary tradition into harmonious interactive connections. Imbued with history, the name “minato” nods to a harbour providing safe shelter and vital cultural exchange.

Creativity and collaboration shine in the skilled hands of a culinary team dedicated to the Japanese gastronomic arts who take pleasure in sharing their respective passions with diners. Handpicked prime seasonal ingredients from Japan and all over the world prepared with artisanal flair raise dishes beyond the expectations of familiar taste memories into the realms of modern culinary artistry.

Introducing Sumptuous Torio Bento Weekend Brunch Presented in Artisanal Earthenware

MINATO proudly welcomes spring with the three-course Torio Bento (HK$438 per person, including an appetiser and dessert or coffee), a weekend and holiday brunch treat presented in a three-layer globe-shaped porcelain jubako box – available from 12 noon to 2:30 p.m. and limited to 20 servings per day. Each stunning receptacle, made by hand in the Arita earthenware tradition, underscores the restaurant’s ethos of championing Japanese artistry in every aspect of its operation, from food to dish to interior decoration to omotenashi, the country’s unique spirit of hospitality.

The handcrafted jubako lid lifts to reveal four exquisite varieties of MINATO’s seasonal sashimi, each artfully presented and a delightful surprise since the selection varies per box. The likes of sea urchin, prime fatty tuna belly, botan shrimp, ark shell, scallop, amberjack, striped jack, sweet shrimp and white fish arrive jet-fresh daily from Japan’s renowned fish markets.

Embraced at the heart of the Torio Bento is a generous serving of A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Tataki Donburi replete with deliciously fragrant, flavourful and succulent beef. A house speciality, this wagyu from the king of Japanese black cattle raised in Miyazaki Prefecture according to strict protocols is skilfully slow-cooked until soft to ensure a divinely pink and marbled melt-in-the-mouth indulgence. The donburi is enriched with a sashimi-grade Nagasaki egg, coveted nanatsuboshi rice from Hokkaido – sweet, fluffy and textured – and a house-made sauce of grilled beef, mirin and seasonings.

The third and bottom brunch tier opens to Kitsune Inaniwa Udon swimming in piping-hot house-made bonito dashi. These thin, hand-stretched noodles from Akita Prefecture and abura-age (deep-fried tofu pouches) soak up the broth for ultimate umami satisfaction.

In addition to the weekend brunch, MINATO offers an inviting array of lunch sets during the week, starting from HK$348 per person, including an appetiser, chawanmushi (Japanese steamed egg), miso soup, and dessert or coffee. Guests can enjoy premium sashimi and sushi prepared by specialised chefs in the Premium Sashimi Set (HK$488) or the Deluxe Sushi Set (HK$468). For those fond of light, crispy batter, the Tempura Set (HK$388) is available, while the Prime Beef Sukiyaki Set (HK$368) offers a rich, savoury experience.

The teppanyaki selection during lunch features US Prime Beef with an upgrade to A5 Miyazaki Wagyu for an additional HK$200 per person. The Taki Set (HK$398) includes king prawn, the Nami Set (HK$628) features duck liver and South African abalone, and the Minato Set (HK$1,488 for two) showcases lobster and other premium seafood.

Weekend Evenings Ignited by Pure Indulgence of New Tsubaki Teppanyaki Dinner Set

With spring in the air, MINATO heightens its evening teppanyaki experience on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays. Joining the exciting parade of teppanyaki dinner sets available daily and priced from HK$978 per person is the new Tsubaki Weekend Teppanyaki Dinner temptation (HK$738 per person, two-person minimum, served from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.). Named after the purity of the camellia flower, this extravagant nine-course menu spotlights an appetiser, selected seasonal sashimi, and a quartet of main attractions embodying the best of the sea and the land, followed by Japanese seasonal vegetables, miso soup with pickles, and dessert.

The two seafood stars comprise Black Tiger King Prawn from Thailand and South African Abalone, both simply seasoned and quickly sautéed on the iron plate in an interactive spectacle of wonderfully fresh seaside flavours and aromas. The abalone is thinly sliced to maintain its tender texture. House signature A5 Miyazaki Sliced Wagyu Beef is wrapped with garlic and green onions, enhancing the rich, juicy goodness of the wagyu.

Japanese Pepper with White Bait Fried Rice is a MINATO signature dish designed to complement the more intense grilled seafood and meat. It soothes the palate with its milder flavours while invigatoring with exciting aromas and contrasting soft and crunchy textures.

Alluring Japanese Delicacies Cherished in Valentine’s Day Feasts for Two

Bonds of friendship and romance are serenaded on 13 and 14 February 2025 as MINATO celebrates the Saint Valentine spirit with a sensational teppanyaki, kaiseki or sushi omakase menu designed to enchant all guests.

Named for that most romantic of flowers, the rose, the Valentine’s Day Teppanyaki Set – Bara (HK$3,388 for two) delights with grilled Japanese Ezo Abalone, Lobster in Sea Urchin Sauce, and A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Beef in a choice of fine slices or thick-cut tenderloin. Japanese Vegetables and Japanese Pepper with White Bait Fried Rice complete the main dishes. The teppanyaki ritual also includes a trio of appetisers and a sashimi selection of tuna belly, sea urchin and striped jack, while Lobster Miso Soup, Pickles and sweet, pink and glossy Japanese Awayuki Strawberries refresh the palate upon its conclusion.

The Valentine’s Day Omakase Chef Menu (HK$3,388 for two) embraces four varieties of seasonal sashimi and eight pieces of sushi in a lavish ode to seafood lovers. Three kinds of appetisers, a sumptuous uni-don (sea urchin rice bowl), soup and Japanese fruit round out this feast for the senses. A kaiseki experience, the Himawari Menu (HK$3,388 for two) with such alluring offerings as horsehair crab and clams simmered in sake, is another extravagant option for couples expressing their affection.

Elevating Japanese Culinary Traditions Through Creative and Luxurious À La Carte Signatures

In addition to enticing lunch and dinner sets, MINATO’s culinary team offers an extensive à la carte menu. A highlight is Sea Urchin with Black Truffle Baked Rice in Casserole (HK$988 for four or HK$1,888 for six to eight), featuring an irresistible pairing of Hokkaido sea urchin and Italian black-truffle paste. This dish is cooked in a custom-made French tagine, which traps steam for tender, flavoursome results and must be ordered at least one day in advance.

Hailed for its snowflake-like marbling, Teppanyaki A5 Miyazaki Wagyu (Tenderloin HK$1,448/250g; Sirloin HK$1,298/200g; Sliced Wagyu Beef HK$1,298/200g) is a premium attraction, whose BMS 12 top rating equates to a fat-to-meat ratio of unmatched decadence. Teppanyaki Iberico Pork Loin (HK$378/180g) is another rich and tender revelation, with acorn-fed pigs yielding meat with fine, even marbling. Tastes of the sea also land on the iron plate; the chef’s pizzazz and deft hand delivers Teppanyaki Cod Fish (HK$248) simmering in fragrant onion broth, and Teppanyaki Sea Bream (HK$248) enriched with house-made yuzu miso and supremely crispy fish skin.

A comprehensive list of beverages offers ideal pours for every taste and celebration, running the gamut from sake – choose from seasonal, ultra-premium, or refreshing to mellow flavour profiles – and shochu to Japanese fruit liqueurs and Japanese beer. Among the featured sake labels, MINATO Muroka Genshu Junmai Ginjo (HK$380/300ml) is recommended for its blend of fruit and floral aromas, rich body and vibrant finish. There is also a wide sommelier’s selection of wines from the Old and New World as well as Champagnes, Chinese spirits and Chinese yellow rice wine.

Conceived by the award-winning Steve Leung Design Group and guided by the Japanese aesthetic of “ma” (間) – the art of purposeful empty space – the restaurant’s minimalist interiors channel the fluidity of “minato” harbour waters, fostering connections and peaceful immersion in the interactive dining experience. Shoji screens and wooden fixtures are accented by soothing green tones and warm lighting in an ambience reflecting nature’s stillness and simplicity. The stage is set for wondrous sensory encounters starring the flavours, textures, colours, aromas and sounds of exquisite omakase, teppanyaki, sushi, sashimi and more.

This aura of quiet luxury accommodates 70 diners over an expansive 4,000 sq. ft. There are five teppanyaki rooms featuring flexible partitions for groups of 6 to 12 people, a further private room seating up to eight diners with dramatic moon-themed decor gracing its high ceiling, and an intimate sushi bar providing counter seating for up to eight.

MINATO is located at Shop G4-G6, G/F, Great Eagle Centre, 23 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong, and opens daily from 12 noon to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. For enquiries or reservations, please call (852) 2345-0663, WhatsApp (852) 6365-3696, email reservation@minato.com.hk, or visit www.minato.com.hk/#reserve.

For more information, please visit www.minato.com.hk.

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