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    Home » World Travel

    Kaiseki Den - Exquisite Japanese tasting menu in Wan Chai

    Published: Jan 14, 2020 by Jennifer Che

    We never cease to be amazed by the plethora of world class restaurants in our neighborhood, and Kaiseki-Den was no exception. This high-end Japanese kaiseki restaurant is steps away from our front door and serves some of the most elegant flavors and beautifully plated courses I have enjoyed in Hong Kong.

    Kaiseki-Den is the first Japanese restaurant in Hong Kong to earn a Michelin Star (back in 2010). It has maintained that star ever since and continues to execute exquisite tasting menus. Chief Executive Chef Hiroyuki Saotome, the mastermind behind these tasting menus, has over 30 years' experience. His signature dishes include uni truffle rice and his wagyu beef dishes(more on those below!).

    I remember being giddy with excitement as each course came, telling Bryan "I could eat here regularly . . . maybe once a week!". I was sort of joking, knowing that this exquisite tasting menu wasn't an everyday sort of meal, even if it was located underneath our apartment.

    The photos below showcase the particular meal that we enjoyed. Because ingredients are seasonal, your tasting menu may be quite different from the one I enjoyed. However, I can attest to Chef Saotome's brilliance in creating balanced and beautiful dishes - both in flavor and aesthetics.

    The Kaiseki Tasting Menu at Kaiseki-Den by Saotome

    Kaiseki Den by Saotome
    Lobster sashimi, bamboo shot fuki with grated awaji-new onion sauce, hanaho, caviar
    Kaiseki Den by Saotome
    Grilled sea perch with Tosazu vinegar Julienne
    Kaiseki Den by Saotome
    Baby squid (Aomori), yam with kinome and miso
    Kaiseki Den by Saotome
    Grilled crabmeat in crab shell
    Kaiseki Den by Saotome
    Japanese clam, spring vegetables, wakame, kinome in clear soup
    Kaiseki Den by Saotome
    Botan prawn
    Kaiseki Den by Saotome
    Chef's selection of sashimi (tuna, squid, abalone with liver sauce)
    Kaiseki Den by Saotome
    Abalone tempura with abalone liver sauce
    Kaiseki Den by Saotome
    Chef selection of sushi
    Kaiseki Den by Saotome
    Kinki fish, broad beans, lotus root with chives & Japanese ginger sauce
    • Kaiseki Den by Saotome
      thinly sliced beef for Sukiyaki
    • Kaiseki Den by Saotome
      Wagyu Shabu Shabu
    • Kaiseki Den by Saotome
      Final product: Hida Sirloin in Chef SAOTOME's Sukiyaji style
    • Kaiseki Den by Saotome
      Yum - delicious egg yolk foam!

    The restaurant was formerly called "Wagyu Kaiseki Den", and therefore it's no surprise that beef is a specialty here. You choose between the Shabu Shabu or Sukiyaki preparation. We chose one of each in order to try both, and they were both excellent.

    Thankfully, by this point we had tried traditional sukiyaki (including with the foamy egg!) in Japan, so it was fun to compare with this creative version.

    Kaiseki Den by Saotome
    Charcoal Grilled Nozaki Beef Chateaubriand

    Nozaki beef is a type of Wagyu beef from Kagoshima, Japan. Here it's grilled perfectly over a charcoal grill.

    • Kaiseki Den by Saotome
      shaving white truffles
    • Kaiseki Den by Saotome
      white truffle fried rice
    • Kaiseki Den by Saotome
      poached egg
    • Kaiseki Den by Saotome
      crunchy rice from the clay pot!
    • Kaiseki Den by Saotome
      Uni truffle clay pot rice

    The best - the signature uni truffle clay pot rice had beautifully browned crunchy rice at the bottom.

    Kaiseki Den by Saotome
    A lighter dessert: red bean ice cream "sandwich" and orange sorbet in an orange "shell".

    General Thoughts - Kaiseki Den by Saotome

    We really, really enjoyed our beautiful kaiseki meal. It was fun to explore so many different types of Japanese dishes in a single tasting menu. Throughout the meal we enjoyed excellent renditions of sashimi, tempura, clam soup, grilled seafood, claypot rice, shabu shabu, sukiyaki, and grilled steak.

    It was a fun culinary adventure and - despite its length - managed to stay on the lighter side. I did not feel heavy or too full afterwards. Instead, I felt good and fully satisfied.

    Prices are on the high side, with a single tasting menu costing upwards around HKD2500 (over USD 300 per person) not including service fee and drinks. Definitely the type of meal to save for a special occasion, but most certainly very worth it!

    Kaiseki Den by Saotome
    G/F, 28 Wood Road, Wan Chai

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Old Bazaar Kitchen Wan Chai - Tiny Urban Kitchen says:
      January 29, 2020 at 11:14 am

      […] is interesting. The first floor houses four restaurants. Three very high end Japanese restaurants (Kaiseki Den by Sataome, Sushi Masataka, Takumi by Daisuke Mori), and then tucked in the back on the alley side of the […]

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    Jennifer Che Tiny Urban Kitchen
    Jennifer Che Tiny Urban Kitchen

    Hi, my name's Jen and welcome to my cooking, eating, and travel site! I am an expat who moved from Boston to Hong Kong 5 years ago. Born and raised in Ohio to Taiwanese immigrant parents, I am a chemistry nerd, patent attorney by day, blogger by night, church musician on weekends, and food enthusiast always. Feel free to explore away, maybe starting with the Recipe Index or one of the travel pages! I hope you enjoy this site!

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