MINATO, a haven of elevated Japanese gastronomy nestled at Great Eagle Centre in the commercial heart of Wanchai, invites merriment with sumptuous Mother’s Day menus and omakase specials at Easter, while enlivening every weekend with free-flow sake temptations. For further indulgence, live lobster from South Australia can be enjoyed daily at almost half the original price when pre-ordered.
Showcasing authentic craftsmanship and contemporary flair amid a relaxed atmosphere of luxurious serenity, MINATO is the ideal destination for feast days with family and all special occasions, as well as joyful get-togethers during weekend and holidays to savour exquisite seasonal seafood presented as the finest teppanyaki, kaiseki and sushi. Managed by Langham Hospitality Group, its name nods to a harbour of safe shelter and cultural exchange. Since opening last summer, it has quickly established a stellar reputation for immaculate dining and attentive service.
Traditional Teppanyaki and Kaiseki Menu Temptations to Honour Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is pure delight with a choice of two elaborate, specially curated menus in the traditional teppanyaki or kaiseki styles, served at lunch or dinner on both Saturday, 10 May 2025 and Sunday, 11 May 2025. A 15% discount is available exclusively on 10 May 2025 for members of Brilliant by Langham, a free-to-enrol loyalty programme proudly offered by the Group that reaps rewards at its renowned hotel brands and more than 100 restaurants internationally.
The whole family will be enthralled by the Mother’s Day Teppanyaki Set – Hasu (HK$3,388 for two) embracing nine dishes. After the taste-bud-awakening 3 Kinds of Appetiser comes a parade of superior seafood: Tuna Belly, Striped Jack & Scallop Sashimi is followed by the teppanyaki delights of succulent Live Lobster from Australia and delicate Sea Bream from the Bungo Channel in southwestern Japan, each ushering in the fresh aromas of childhood holidays beside the sea.
The main attraction for meat lovers is the house speciality of A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Beef – a revered wagyu breed raised in the strictest of conditions in Miyazaki Prefecture to ensure divine tenderness and perfect fat and marbling ratios. It is prepared with a deft hand on the teppan by the chef in the diner’s preference of wagyu beef tenderloin or beef slices wrapped with green onion and fried garlic for a medley of flavours and textures. Seasonal Vegetables, also grilled on the iron plate, provide light respite to the palate before the satisfying teppanyaki must-have of Fried Rice, which at MINATO is a memorable treat starring Japanese Pepper with White Bait. This house signature conjures soothing mild flavours and contrasting soft and crunchy textures. Lobster Miso Soup served with crunchy Pickles and selected Japanese Fruit complete this splendid celebratory meal.
For a rarefied shared dining experience that will be treasured forever, the Mother’s Day Kaiseki Set – Fuji (HK$3,388 for two) will be the choice of many families on this special weekend. The Japanese haute-cuisine feast spans a lavish 10 courses from the seasonal creative Japanese amuse-bouche of 3 Kinds of Appetiser to the palate-cleansing Japanese Fruit.
King Crab is a highlight with each prestigious crustacean from the deepest part of the Alaskan ocean providing sweet, fragrant nourishment for two diners. Sashimi is another revelation, always skilfully cut and beautifully fresh and luscious, with Tuna Belly, Sea Urchin and Kanpachi (greater amberjack) chosen to create a brilliantly colourful trio on this special menu.
Greenhouse Mushrooms Broth is a nutritious soup of maitake, shimeji and shiitake found in the woods of Japan, each wonderful spoonful reflecting the prowess, painstaking practice and sustainable ethos of the kaiseki chef. Simmered Wagyu Beef with Miso featuring A5 Miyasaki wagyu, and Live Prawn, Sea Urchin & Vegetable Tempura in its light, fluffy coating reveal the glorious late-spring bounty of nature from the land and the sea.
The crowning jewel of this exceptional menu is house signature Iberico Pork Loin Teppanyaki, featuring the feather-cut ‘pluma’ from just behind the neck of Spain’s acorn-fed Iberico pig. Rivalling A5-grade wagyu beef in its juicy, marbled magnificence, the pork benefits from being drizzled with brandy on the teppan, then dipped in a choice of yuzu-pepper or apple-sesame sauce. Preceding Miso Soup and Pickles is the rustic and textural traditional delicacy of Isoyaki Abalone with Japanese Glutinous Rice. In this perfectly al dente pairing of Ezo abalone plucked from the Tsugaru Strait off the coast of Hokkaido and glutinous rice, the natural flavours of the seafood acquire umami complexity by boiling overnight in a broth of mirin sake and soy sauce.
Four Prestigious Sakes Provide Free-Flow Weekend and Holiday Revelry
Supplementing these special menus and the popular weekend and public-holiday attractions of Torio Bento, an artisanal three-course lunch presented in a porcelain jubako box, and the Tsubaki Weekend Teppanyaki Dinner – both introduced amid fanfare earlier this year – is Sake Free-Flow, an optional offering priced at HK$288 per person for two hours (Brilliant by Langham discount not applicable). From 12 April 2025, sake devotees can sample the following four superior pours, or similar depending on supply, whose various fresh and subtle notes enhance the elegance of the culinary team’s sophisticated Japanese cuisine.
Eiko Fuji Ryogin Kosho Junmai Daiginjo is a unpasteurised and undiluted sake from Yamagata Prefecture made from the Ushuhomare rice variety found in the finest Juyondai. Its fruity nose of ripe pear and apple evolves into a graceful palate with a hint of refreshing citrus, inviting acidity and a light, crisp finish.
Echigo Den-emon GOZ Gohyakuman-goku is crafted using the ancient bodaimoto brewing technique that creates a three-dimensional taste profile. This rich, rustic Niigata sake delivers notes of cantaloupe, white peach and sweet cooked rice backed by minerality and a touch of invigorating bitterness.
A refreshingly light sake, Fukui-based Yoshida Brewery’s Hakuryu Junmai Hatsushibori Namagenshu yields the fruits of its distinctive Eiheiji terroir, with citrus and pomelo mingling among aromas of raw rice and grass. Hanaemi Junmai Ginjo Yamadanishiki, by contrast, is a refined pour from Oita brewer Oochishuzo, emitting both soft sweetness and gentle crispiness, perfect for pairing with the premium seafood for which MINATO is renowned.
Live Lobster Ordered in Advance Serves Up Luxury at a Brilliant Price
A newly introduced promotion starring live lobster from South Australia, available at a saving of HK$2,000, makes every day a luxurious special occasion. Ideal for sharing by parties of four to six people, a whole prized crustacacean weighing over 1.5kg can be enjoyed for just HK$2,680 (original price HK$4,680) when ordered at least three hours in advance.
The rich and buttery lobster meat is skilfully prepared to create three tantalising courses, beginning with the fresh ocean tastes of Lobster Sashimi. Lobster Teppanyaki with Sea Urchin Lobster Sauce is a spectacle for all the senses – watch as the lobster meat is grilled on the hot plate and smothered in the chef’s own recipe of lobster roe, sake, butter and soy sauce blended with uni from Japanese waters. The whole lobster head is boiled with Japanese miso to make the rich, aromatic Lobster Miso Soup.
Attractive Offers and Omakase Seafood Delicacies Enhance Easter Celebrations
The Easter holiday weekend (18-21 April 2025) brings bonhomie and plentiful cheer. Diners ordering the Tsubaki Weekend Teppanyaki Dinner (HK$738 per person) can savour the bonus of three 60ml glasses of selected sake for just HK$200 per person, while those choosing an Omakase Set for lunch (from HK$588) or dinner (from HK$1,188) will enjoy a 20% discount. Prior reservation is recommended for these Easter delights (Brilliant by Langham discount not applicable).
A favourite of chef and guest alike since it offers engaging interaction and the freedom to taste a variety of the freshest ingredients each day, the omakase menu dips into Japan’s coastal waters for its spring-summer catch. Dishes may include Sira Ebi (white shrimp) from the Toyosu area of Tokyo, beloved for its transparent, pristine colour and rich nutritional value. Sourced from Chiba Prefecture, Rediated Trough Shell (surf clam) brings a perfect balance of brininess and sweetness to each precious bite of sushi.
The fatty white and red flesh of Chicken Grunt (Isaki) from Nagasaki Prefecture becomes softer, crisper and plumper during spawning season starting from late spring. Beautifully mild, light and sweet in taste and firm in texture, Needlefish is a Kanagawa delicacy, while Spotted Parrotfish swims in the cool waters off Kumamoto Prefecture and is enjoyed for its crisp texture and rich, oily taste.
A rare sweet and fresh treat in Hong Kong restaurants, Ainame (Japanese greenlin
MINATO-South Australia Lobster
g) arrives from the Kyushu coast blessed with firm, translucent fish meat and oily goodness, while Loligo Bleekeri (spear squid) from Aomori presents its subtle sweetness and tender yet firm texture.
Madai (red seabream) from Ehime is the perfect choice for Easter, Mother’s Day and other celebrations. The festive red skin and elastic flesh of this fish is a sweet, delicate favourite, and the rich, fatty meat found in its head is prized for its plethora of nutritional benefits.
Conceived by the award-winning Steve Leung Design Group and guided by the Japanese aesthetic of “ma” (間) – the art of purposeful empty space – MINATO’s minimalist interiors span an expansive 4,000 sq. ft. and channel the fluidity of harbour waters. A total of 70 diners can be seated in this aura of quiet luxury, including within five teppanyaki rooms featuring flexible partitions for groups of six to 12 people, an eight-person private room with a dramatic moon-themed high ceiling, and at an intimate sushi bar with counter seating for up to eight. Shoji screens, wooden fixtures, a soothing green colour palette and warm lighting reflect nature’s stillness and simplicity.
MINATO is located at Shop G4-G6, G/F, Great Eagle Centre, 23 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong, and opens daily from 12 noon to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. For enquiries or reservations, please call (852) 2345-0663, WhatsApp (852) 6365-3696, email [email protected], or visit www.minato.com.hk/#reserve.
For more information, please visit www.minato.com.hk.
