It has been a week since we returned from our trip, yet many of us are still struggling with sleeping issues due to jet lag (including yours truly). Not surprisingly, I nearly forgot about Jelloman's birthday this weekend!
Nantei Yakitori (南亭) was a place Jelloman and I visited on a number of occasions during our dating days. In fact, I recalled we met there at their Soho branch on our second or third day so needless to say, it brought back a ton of memories. This branch at The Pinnacle (凱譽) Tsim Sha Tsui has been around for more than a few years now but it was not until tonight, on this special occasion, that we felt motivated to finally give it a try.
They had two types of condiments ready for us, including the sea salt which would be a nice fit for most of their skewers.
Grilled bean curd (燒豆腐) ($33) – We got the ball rolling with a couple of these grilled tofu which was crispy on the outside and soft (piping hot too) on the inside. Solid start!
Hot soba (蕎麥麵) ($89) – Little nugget got himself ready with a bowl of soba. This came with mushrooms and seaweed.
Asparagus wrapped with pork (蘆筍豬肉卷) ($42) – Very nicely done.
Cuttlefish sausage (墨魚香腸) ($34) – We don't see this very often at the other Japanese yakitori shops. This wasn't bad. Couldn't tell what the white stuff in the middle was. Water chestnut? Fat?
Chicken wing (手羽先) ($46) – Any good yakitori shops should have a killer chicken wing skewer and they have one right here which was seriously good. Addictive too.
Nantei Original grilled beef tongue (南亭元祖燒牛舌心) ($59) – Perfect texture here and the thick-cut portion offered a delightful mouthfeel.
Homemade Nankotsu tsukune (月見免治軟骨雞肉棒) ($58) – Perhaps the only blemish tonight. I was expecting this to be really meaty and full of flavors (and textures) but it wasn't. The finger-shaped Japanese meatball was missing some nice smoky flavors, although the sweet soy (with egg yolk) came to the rescue.
Pork sausage on chicken bone (雞骨豬肉腸) ($26) – One skewer we could do without was the pork sausage.
Japanese Scallop (日本帶子) ($76) / Japanese oyster (日本蠔) ($62) – Somehow both of these were not perfectly charred. When I saw this oyster skewer, I was immediately thinking about the impressed oyster skewer from Nishiki Yakitori (錦), although I recently heard that it was permanently closed now.
Okra (秋葵) ($26) – Always enjoy the textures of these grilled okra.
It's always nice to walk down the memory lane once in a while. This culinary experience not only satisfied our cravings for Japanese skewer but also transported me back to a time when I first returned to Hong Kong for work as a naive and inexperienced young man. It was more than just a birthday celebration for my better half.
Food Rating: 6.7/10
Price: $$$$
Address: Shop 9, G/F, The Pinnacle, 8 Minden Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2736-2500
Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 3:00pm (Mon - Sat), 5:00pm - 12:00am (Mon - Sat), 5:30pm - 12:00am (Sun)
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