It’s difficult to find a casual place to have lunch in Central, and there aren’t many options for a stylish drink after work either. This izakaya “Shio” on Stanley Street in the heart of Central has a surprising interior design that creates a sense of space. It has several tatami booths, half-drawn curtains, and lanterns outside the semi-transparent windows. With dim yellow lights, paintings by Japanese artists, and other elements, it creates a nostalgic atmosphere of the Showa era, as well as a quiet and elegant ambiance.
The menu includes izakaya-style grilled dishes, cooked dishes, hot pot dishes, sashimi, and more. A must-try is the seasonal seafood “cod milt” ($128), which comes from Hokkaido and is particularly rich and delicious in winter. It can be enjoyed as sashimi or tempura. The sashimi is served with vinegar sauce, radish puree, and green onions, allowing you to experience the soft, smooth texture and freshness of the cod milt.
“Hama-yaki Japanese oyster with vegetarian noodles” ($118) A large Japanese oyster grilled lightly with clear soup, it is rich, sweet, and also has a savory taste. Underneath the oyster meat is a vegetarian noodle soaked in oyster juice.
“Sashimi platter” also carefully selects fresh seafood. Silver snow fish sashimi is relatively rare, with a tender and fragrant taste. If you want something more flavorful, you can choose the “fried tofu with sakura shrimp”, which has a crispy outer layer coated with sakura shrimp. It pairs perfectly with alcohol!
Address: 1/F, Golden Harvest Building, 34-38 Stanley Street, Central
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 11:30am – 8pm
