The co-founder and culinary mastermind behind Wagyumafia—Tokyo’s exclusive members-only Wagyu beef restaurants—will launch his first international branch, and it is none other than in Hong Kong.

Wagyumafia’s unique culinary creations and high-profile collaborations with international chefs have gotten itself global attention, putting themselves where they are today—a highly sought after restaurant that all beef connoisseurs would kill for a dining spot.

With a mere 18 seats in its Hong Kong outlet, Wagyumafia is ready to kick some ass in Hong Kong.

Located in Wan Chai on Oi Kwan Road, Wagyumafia in Hong Kong will be an 18-seater omakase restaurant with a specialised menu of Japan’s most renowned beef: wagyu.

Using pedigreed wagyu and Kobe beef sourced from select Japanese farmers, the Hong Kong outpost aims to showcase a broad range of cuts and cooking methods—from the traditional yakiniku and shabu shabu to more unconventional techniques.

The world-famous Cutlet Sandwich will also be available on its Hong Kong menu.

Expect sleek, modern interiors for the Hong Kong outlet.

But unfortunately, we might not be able to witness that on our own any time soon. In its opening month, Wagyumafia is strictly for members only. The restaurant has plans to open to public in December 2018.

Wagyumafia Hong Kong
Shop 1B, Guardian House, 32 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai
Tel: +852 2812 0500

Located in Southern Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui is one of the most popular and populated districts in Hong Kong. From chic restaurants in shopping malls to hole-in-the-wall eateries, there are so many dining options to choose from.

Tsim Sha Tsui has so many restaurants, eateries and cha chaan teng that it can be quite a headache to decide on where to dine at. For a start, here is a quick guide to the restaurants in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong that you can dine at.

ATUM RESTAURANT

Brought to you by the same people behind Atum Desserant, Atum Restaurant is the group’s first full-fledged restaurant. We highly recommend their ultra photogenic high tea set. Instead of the typical cake stand, Atum Restaurant uses a flat lay to display their bite-size canapés.

18 Hanoi Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3586 1959
Sun to Thu: 10.30am – 10pm
Fri and Sat: 10.30am – 12am
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

AQUA

Aqua’s floor-to-ceiling glass windows span across two levels of One Peking Building and they unveil an extraordinary view of Hong Kong’s cityscape. Reputable presses such as Travel & Leisure and Condé Nast Travel have coined it as ‘Hong Kong’s Sexiest Cocktail Bar’ and ‘One of the World’s Most Exciting Restaurants & Bars’ respectively.

29/30F 1 Peking Road
Tsim Tsa Tsui, Hong Kong
Daily: 12pm – 2am, +852 3427 2288
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 3427 2288

BUTAO RAMEN

Founded in 2010, Butao Ramen started with its original shop at Wo On Lane and it has since expanded six more outlets across Hong Kong.

Specialising in Japanese Hakata Ramen, Butao Ramen offers ramen in four options: the signature Butao; Black King (tonkotsu base with black garlic and squid ink): Red King (tonkotsu base with chilli powder and miso); and Green King (tonkotsu base with olive oil and fresh basil leaves).

We tried both the Red King Ramen and Butao Ramen. While the former was kick-ass spicy, we preferred the latter for its rich and full-bodied

Shop A & B, G/F, Kam Wing Commercial Bldg,
28 Minden Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Tel: +852 2316 2878
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

BUTLER BAR

Butler Bar is an exclusive 20-seater watering hole and cocktail lovers should make a special trip for their Japanese-style premium cocktails. Their Classic Gin Martini (HKS$128) and Old Fashioned (HK$128) are highly recommended; the former is a concoction of chilled Tanqueray gin and Japanese perilla liqueur, while the latter is expertly prepared with Buffalo Trace Bourbon.

5/F, Mody House, 30 Mody Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2724 3828
Mon to Fri: 6:30pm to 2am
Sat: 6:30pm to 1am
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

CAFFEE HABITU

Cafe Habitu first started out in 2003 and today is a successful coffee chain with various outlets across Hong Kong. The cafe provides free wifi and coffees with consistent quality—which is no surprise why the brand has won itself a strong following over the past decade.

Shop L608, The ONE
100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 3572 0622
Mon to Thu: 11am – 9.30pm
Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat: 10.30am – 11pm
Sun & PH: 10.30am – 10pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

CHUK YUEN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Talk about a family-friendly seafood restaurant in Hong Kong, and locals would probably direct you to Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant.

That old establishment has been around for decades and today, it remains a popular haunt for locals when they want an unpretentious and good meal with family and friends.

Chuk Yuen Seafood Restaurant has a menu of dim sum items and seafood. And in particular, the famous Cheese Lobster deserves a special mention. Be prepared to wait in line for a table no matter what time of the day you go; their popularity is simply undeniable.

28 Hankow Rd, Hong Kong Pacific Centre
Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2722 0633
Mon to Sat: 11am – 12midnight
Sun & PH: 10am – 12midnight
Nearest Station: Tsim Sha Shui

DIM SUM ICON

You must have seen pictures of Dim Sum Icon at some point in time on your Instagram explore feed. There were adorable Little Twin Stars, puking Gudetama and more. Dim Sum Icon changes their character themes every three months and it sure is a brilliant marketing strategy to keep your customers coming back for more.

L308, 3/F, The ONE, 100 Nathan Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

ICHIRAN RAMEN

Now, what else do we need to say about Ichiran Ramen? Ask any foodie traveller what you must not miss out when visiting Japan and most of the answers will definitely include the popular chain Ichiran Ramen.

The famous eatery sells only tonkotsu ramen and after sampling endless bowls of ramen across Asia, the verdict is out – it is indeed the best rendition we ever had!

Ichiran Ramen currently has two outlets in Hong Kong—Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui.

8 Minden Ave, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2369 4218
Daily: 24 Hours
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

KIMBERLEY CHINESE RESTAURANT

Kimberley Chinese Restaurant is best known for its Roasted Suckling Pig (HK$1,288). What makes Kimberley’s Roasted Suckling Pig so special is that the whole pig is stuffed with glutinous rice. The skin of the suckling pig is crispy while the glutinous rice retains its moist and sticky texture.

Before you make a trip there, do note that you need to pre-order the Roasted Suckling Pig and pay a deposit one day in advance. And one more thing, the suckling pig can easily feed 10 persons, so make sure you go in a big group.

Other than the iconic Roasted Suckling Pig, the old-school restaurant also offers a range of the classic Chinese dishes—go for the Beef Ribs Stew, Stewed Pig’s Lung with Cabbage—and dim sum.

28 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2369 8212
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

M&C.DUCK

Offering a modern twist to traditional Peking and Shanghainese cuisine, M&C.Duck is not quite what you would expect of a typical Hong Kong restaurant. The familiarity of a Chinese outlet is comforting yet reveals hints of sexiness; the list of dishes is what tugs your heartstrings yet surprises with the unexpected.

Well, we would go there especially for the very good Peking duck, but there is much more to love, and we say them with a passion.

Shop 3319, level 3, Gateway Arcade
Harbour City, 17 Canton Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2347 6898
Daily: 11.30am – 4pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

N1 COFFEE & CO

N1 Coffee & Co is a stone’s throw away from Tsim Sha Tsui Station and is owned by two prominent figures in the competitive cafe industry, namely award-winning barista El Au and Cafe Corridor founder Felix Wong. The menu is simple but concise and features a list of breakfast items, salads and sandwiches ranging from HK$40 to HK$65.

34 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Tel: +852 3568 4726
Daily: 8am – 10pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

RELAX FOR AWHILE

Conveniently positioned along Kimberly Road and in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, Relax For Awhile cha chaan teng’s exhaustive menu ensures that all visitors will definitely find at least one item that suits his/her fancy. And here’s the best part—everything is incredibly affordable!

G/F, Cheung Lee Commercial Building
25 Kimberley Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3113 6388
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

SUSHI TOKAMI

Established in 2013, Sushi Tokami is a popular sushi restaurant in Tokyo which is known for its tuna dishes. The 18-seater restaurant earned its Michelin star status in 2014 and opened its first overseas outpost in Hong Kong in 2015.

Sushi Tokami Hong Kong—located at level 2 of Ocean Centre at Harbour City—offers three lunch menus priced at HK$800, HK$1,000 and HK$1,200. If you feel like splurging, go for the Omakase (HK$2,200) and leave everything to the chefs.

Shop 216A, Level 2, Ocean Centre
Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel:  +852 2771 3938
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

STAR CAFE

Hunting for underground cha chaan teng Star Cafe might be quite a challenge, but your efforts will be paid off once you have arrived. The native Hong Kongers frequent this casual eatery for its tomato soup noodles with egg and luncheon meat. Here’s a tip on finding this hidden local gem: Enter Champagne Court B at 16 Kimberly Road, walk to the end and head down the stairs.

Shop 36, Basement
16 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2721 2908
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

THE STEAK HOUSE WINEBAR + GRILL

Located at the basement of InterContinental Hotel Hong Kong, THE STEAK HOUSE winebar + grill is a 1-Michelin star in Hong Kong that specialises in charcoal grilled steaks.

Prices can be quite cut-throat, but they run on a full house almost every night.

The steakhouse offers a great selection of the finest cuts – from USDA prime beef to Australian Wagyu to Japan Hida A5 Wagyu. Well, let’s just say the options are mind-boggling – even for non-steak lovers.

LG, InterContinental Hong Kong
18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2313 2323
Mon to Fri: 6pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

TSUI WAH RESTAURANT

Yes, Tsui Wah Restaurant may be touristy, but we love it all the same.

Locals and tourists alike flock to Tsui Wah Restaurant for their signature Hainanese chicken rice, fishball noodles, and Bo Luo Yiu.

2 Carnarvon Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2366 8250
Daily: 7am – 2am
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

YAN TOH HEEN

Known for its refined Cantonese cuisine, Yan Toh Heen is a 2-Michelin Starred restaurant at Intercontinental Hong Kong.

Yah Toh Heen has one of the best Peking Ducks in Hong Kong. What makes the Peking Duck here different is the condiments and sauces. It is served with six condiments that include green papaya, cucumber, red chilli, pineapple, yuzu and spring onion; as well as three different sauces – traditional sweet sauce, osmanthus plum sauce, and black garlic chilli sauce.

G/F, InterContinental Hong Kong
18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2721 1211
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sun & PH: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

YUM CHA

Yum Cha—situated on the third floor of Attitude Hotel in Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui—is a spacious and elegant 130-seater dim sum restaurant. If you are looking for a great yum cha meal without the scruffiness, Yum Cha is the place to go. Furthermore, they specialise in irresistibly adorable cartoon-themed dim sums that taste as good as they look.

3/F, 20-22 Granville Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2751 1666
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui

For more recommendations, read our Hong Kong food & travel guides to find out the best places to go to.

Established in 2014, Crafty Cow is a gastropub in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, specialising in craft beers and premium steaks. The chic restaurant aspires to bridge the potential barriers between local Hong Kongers and the third-culture generation. The end result is a successful showcase of revamped Western classics infused with regional Southeast Asian flavours.

Food aside, Crafty Cow’s curated selection of alcoholic beverages is pretty impressive and one can expect imported beers and ciders from the land down under, the United States and even the UK.

The diner is open till late daily (except Mondays) and offers a tantalising variety of Asian fusion gourmet dishes. Read on more to find out what else Crafty Cow has to offer.

Located in the yuppie neighbourhood Sheung Wan, Crafty Cow could be quickly condemned as yet another overpriced white-washed establishment – except that it really isn’t.

Crafty Cow was started up by third-culture kids who have spent a significant amount of their development years abroad and wish to bring a diverse range of flavours to the tables to local Hong Kongers.

From Spanish Duroc Pork with Kimchi Slaw, Bone Marrow with Sichuan Pepper Infused Oil to Oxtongue Tortilla Espanola with Korean BBQ Sauce, Crafty Cow has effortlessly integrated Asian condiments into Western staples.

Frankly speaking, they have nailed it. These dishes have evidently brought out the best of what both the East and West have to offer.

To get your bang for the buck, we suggest you drop by during lunchtime for their affordable lunch sets which includes a hearty main such as the Wagyu Hanger Steak Sandwich (HK$138+ / S$25+) or Truffle Grilled Cheese & Onion Soup (HK$108+ / S$19.50+).

The meal includes a tea, coffee, soda or half a pint of draught beef. Top up HKD 40 / S$7.20 to upgrade to a craft beer.

Crafty Cow
G/F, 3-3A Upper Station Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tue to Fri: 12pm – late
Sun: 11am – late
Tel: +852 2915 8988
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves traveling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.

When we were in Hong Kong in November last year, we had the pleasure of having a dinner at a popup restaurant by The Butchers Club, a butchery, home catering and private kitchen which specialises in dry aging beef. The Steak Rebellion – the name of their popup event – is one of the most interesting dining experiences we have been to.

A special set-up at the rooftop of a charming old building, we were greeted with a crazy team of hosts & serves in different characters – a bohemian singer, an obsessed violinist & many fierce butchers who just returned from a hunting trip and massively covered in blood.

Cows’ and pigs’ heads decorated the rooftop alongside fatale looking cutting equipments. Candles and roses lined the table and a bottle of wine greeted every guest.

The whole chunky cow was cut up ala table-side style and our preferences were jotted down, though one of the murderous-looking servers told us we were to just eat whatever we were served. Out of jest, in the name of fun of course. Speak about a thematic dinner that sends chills down your spine – literally!

We had super fresh oysters with copious amounts of wine while waiting for the steaks to be cooked. It was a rather long wait, but when they were served, it was all worth it.

The steaks were amazing. It was hands down one of the best steaks we have ever had. We have been to many fine steak restaurants, but this was something truly special. The deftly seasoned steak was tender, beautifully cooked with a remarkable depth of flavour. It stayed juicy throughout, and it was excellent right down to the last bite. Everyone on our table was blown away by how good it was.

The Butchers Club is an expert in dry aging beef, and once you have tried one of their top quality dry aged beef steaks, life will never be the same again.

The Butchers Club
13C Sun Ying Industrial Centre
9 Tin Wan Close
Tin Wan, Aberdeen
Tel: +852 2552 8281
Note: This was an invited media event.

My girlfriend and I are big steak lovers and we always make it a point to check out good steak restaurants in every city that we visit. During a recent trip to Hong Kong, we had a very very good steak at Blue Butcher Bar & Restaurant, a meathouse that sources its meat from farms that do not compromise on quality, and hang the meat in-house using age-old recipes together with modern techniques.

We started off with a few interesting cocktails. Names like Pork Chop & Apple Sauce, Bangers & Mash, and Fig & Cheese are some of the options available.

Following which, we had the Pigs Head Terrine (HK$115), and it is obviously not a dish for the faint-hearted. But if you are adventurous enough, you will find that it actually tastes very similar to the usual pork terrine, except that it is packed with more flavours.

Planked on a wooden board, the Bone Marrow (HK$125) with toast and caper berries is another house speciality and it is exactly how a good bone marrow should be like – rich, flavourful and prepared to a high standard.

It is best to dine at the Blue Butcher because there are so many dishes that you will want to try. Accompanied with sweetbread, truffled orzo and herb salad, the Dutch Veal Cheek (HK$460) is one of the big plates that is perfect for sharing. So is the US Kurobuta Pork Belly & Cheek (HK$250/450), with huge chunks of perfectly cooked pork belly rested on a bed of lentils and granny smith apple slaw.

But if you only have room for one dish, then forget about the rest and go straight for the steak. The 320z Australian Mann river farm Wagyu bone-in Ribeye (HK$1480) that we had was beyond amazing. We have had many good steaks from good steak restaurants all over the world, but Blue Butcher’s version took our breath away and has fast climbed up our ranks as one of the best. Deftly seasoned and beautifully cooked, the steak was juicy, meaty and very tender. We were swooning with every bite – it was extremely good that we cannot find any adjective that is deemed fit to describe it.

Throughout the meal, we observed that most of the staff were exuberant and really friendly towards all guests. This marks a small but impressionable difference to every restaurant. After checking with Celine, the restaurant’s PR manager, we learned how the restaurant highly values every worker – from the chefs who brave the heat from the stove every night, to the bartenders who prepare every cocktail meticulously, and the wait staff that serve every table with pride and distinction.

Even though the owners have several restaurants in Hong Kong, they drop by Blue Butcher regularly to ask on them and to make sure that everything is on track. It is the rapport between the owners and employees that makes a difference in the long run. There is also a Progressive Wage Model which not only helps to map out a clear career path for the staff, but also pay them fair wages according to their skills and work efficiency. The group makes sure that every staff has a part to play, and a future progression as long as they work hard.

And of course, it is also about striking the balance between work and play. Staff dinner is organised every month for the staff to go out and have fun together, and to strengthen the bond within the team. These factors contribute to make the staff at Blue Butcher feel that they are part of something bigger, and motivates them to work harder.

With delicious cocktails, warm and welcoming service, and the best cuts, Blue Butcher Bar & Restaurant is a place that you should head to with a group of carnivorous friends to have a great night’s out.

This message is part of a ladyironchef x Labour Movement project where we seek to share with you insights on the different initiatives by the Labour Movement to give workers in Singapore better jobs, better pay and better work-life balance.

Blue Butcher Bar & Restaurant
108 Hollywood Road, SOHO
Tel: +852 2613 9286
Daily: 12pm – 12 midnight
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan
Note: This was an invited media tasting.