Food: This Japanese izakaya serves a wide variety of sakes and shoyus along with a small but authentic selection of Japanese grilled seafood, sushi, sashimi and yakitori items. The sashimi is of excellent quality and much fresher and more flavourful than what you’ll find in many other Japanese restaurants in the Mid-levels and Sai Ying Pun area. They also have some unusual items such as grilled gingko nuts, dried puffer fish, rice in bonito soup and grilled rice cakes.

Service: The staff are welcoming, though not fluent in English. They are however, very friendly, and you can get green tea and pickles for free.

Must try: Rice in bonito soup with dried plum, and homemade mince chicken skewer with a nectarine and egg yolk dipping sauce.

Ambience: The cosy, Japanese aesthetics is a big plus. Decked out in plenty of warm wood, with gentle mood lighting, this Zen-like, den-like space is nice for intimate date nights, but the izakaya style bar counter seats make it equally terrific for hunkering down with a book and dining on your own.

Average price per person: HK$280

Address: Shop A, G/F, Hanson Court, 3 St. Stephen’s Lane, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong. Tel: (852) 2857-2127