A machinery company owner who had been in Hong Kong for 8 years switched to running a snack shop.
Miri Canteen owner Toshiya Sakane has been in Hong Kong for 8 years. He originally ran a precision mechanical parts company in Japan, exporting parts to various Southeast Asian countries. Later, he used Hong Kong as his base. "Since I have a company in Hong Kong, I brought some delicious Japanese food here. So, I started an online store selling Japanese snacks in 2015." Because of the good response, 4 years after the online store opened, he had the idea to open a small food shop.
"When I first came to Hong Kong, I only went to Japanese restaurants and ate the food I was most familiar with. However, Japanese restaurants in Hong Kong are relatively expensive, so I started to try some local food. I would eat street food in Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui, eating while walking." However, Mr. Sakane admitted that he was not used to it at first because eating while walking is considered very impolite in Japanese culture. Sometimes people would point at him, which was very embarrassing. "But maybe it's because Hong Kong is a small place with little space to eat, while it's quite normal here, so I gradually became assimilated."
My first impression of Kwai Fong was one of awe.
When the topic of opening a snack shop came up, a colleague from Hong Kong suggested opening one in Kwai Chung Plaza. At that time, he had been in Hong Kong for more than six years and it was his first time entering this snack paradise: "I was really surprised when I first came to Kwai Chung Plaza because such a small place actually has so many shops and so many people. It was quite shocking."
He added that while there are similar places in Japan, such as food courts in department stores selling different foods with ample space for people to sit and eat, Aoi Hiroshima has three entire floors filled with small shops, densely packed together, leaving no space to even eat. "Sometimes you have to eat near the elevators and escalators, which is really impressive!"
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. His small shop in Kwai Fong sells snacks perfect for a quick bite, all with a Japanese flair. The signature dish is the Juicy Meatball ($28), made with Japanese Wagyu beef and Hokkaido onions. Upgrading to a burger ($8) includes a drizzle of yakiniku sauce and salad dressing, resulting in a rich beef flavor and a burst of juice with every bite. The Wagyu Potato Ball ($16) is essentially a Wagyu potato pancake with a strong potato flavor and a soft, fluffy texture. Other Japanese snacks include skewers, meatballs, warabi mochi, cheese rice cakes, and crispy fried baby flounder. The Japanese-style rice balls ($15 for two) include shredded shiitake mushrooms, shredded radish, and tofu skin, offering a light and mushroomy flavor, suitable for vegetarians as well.
Although its brand recognition isn't particularly high, Mr. Sakane has high hopes for Miri Shokudo: "I want to bring Japanese culture to Hong Kong people. There are many different Japanese restaurants in Hong Kong, but they may not be authentic. I want to bring real Japanese dishes to Hong Kong and have a Japanese person like me introduce them, which will be more convincing." He frankly admits that his current goal is to first do a good job with this shop and then gradually expand, hoping that more people will understand Japanese flavors.
Interview and photography by: Eat Drink Man Woman
Address: Shop T7, 3/F, Top World, Kwai Chung Plaza, No. 7 Kwai Fu Road, Kwai Fong
Telephone: 2628 0074