Hong Kong - Zuma

I have finally completed my trio of concept Japanese restaurants with a visit to Zuma's .. and my verdict is as follows:


For Food (which is most important to me), the ratings are...


1. Megu (see my post in March 2008)
2. Nobu (July 2008)
3. Zuma


But if you want to wow someone with the concept, decor and place, Zuma is it. Trendily situated at the Landmark in Central, it is a 2 storey destination with the lounge seated on top of a sprawling open kitchen restaurant (but without the stick-on-your-clothes smells). The 2 are joined by a very cool spiral staircase. Decor is of course as trendy as you can get and with lounge music playing at just under lounge volumes. Spiffy waitstaff are friendly, well trained and well, spiffy!

The food in our opinion, was pretty good but unfortunately, just not as good as the other 2 I listed. And in general, a tad on the salty side but we thought this might be catering to a more non-Asian palate who like their food a little more salty.




The star of the night was the Grilled ox-tongue with white miso, which was tender with a slightly sweet aftertaste from the miso. Accompanied by a pleasant honeyed wholegrain mustard and cut into cubes, it was easy to eat.




The baby squids deep fried with a light batter and dusted with salt, pepper and fresh cut rings of green chillies, were also well done, although it gets uncomfortably spicy after a few.




The grilled lamb chops were also superbly done with a pink centre and served with pickled garlic and carrots.


Although Japanese in concept, the sushi rolls were nothing spectacular - the salmon skin rolls were a tad too salty and the chu toro rolls were flat, with the seaweed wrap flacid. Tasty enough and if you need your carbs. Our other order of soba in hot broth, with a quail egg, was ordinary.




If the ending is a happy one, everything else can be overlooked. So dessert did not fail - the lemon and coffee crumble served with Hokkaido milk ice cream is as good as it sounds, and is perfect, if you don't like your desserts too sweet. And for me , a not-too-sweet ending is a happier one...


Next time you want to eat, drink and be seen in Hong Kong, Zuma isn't a bad choice.


Level 5 and 6, The Landmark
Central, Hong Kong
(852) 3657 6388