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Miri Shokudo, a Japanese-run street food stall in Kwai Chung Plaza! Juicy Wagyu beef burger + stretchy fried cheese + skewered meatballs | What's good for takeout?

Written by: Rice | Photography: Day, Miri Canteen

Miri Shokudo is a Japanese street food shop located in Kwai Chung Plaza, run by Mr. Toshiya Sakane, a Japanese man. All ingredients are manufactured in Japan and then shipped to Hong Kong to guarantee authentic flavors. The shop offers Wagyu beef burgers, fried cheese, rice balls, warabi mochi, and other traditional Japanese snacks. Finally, you can enjoy authentic Japanese food without flying to Japan!

Miri Canteen, a street food stall in Kwai Chung Plaza, is run by Japanese people!

Japan is a second home for Hong Kong people. Besides the shopping sprees and extravagant entertainment, its food is unforgettable. Although the pandemic has prevented a trip back home, a new Japanese street food shop has opened in Kwai Chung Plaza, run by Japanese owner Mr. Toshiya Sakane – guaranteeing authentic flavors!

Mr. Sakane has lived in Hong Kong for eight years. His original job was in the electronics parts business. Later, he wanted to bring the latest Japanese products to Hong Kong people, so he decided to open a shop in 2015 called Miri Shop, which mainly sells Japanese snacks, cup noodles and other dried goods. But the real taste of Japan is not limited to dried goods. He thought about Hong Kong people's love for eating on the go, so he decided to combine the two. In 2019, he opened a snack shop in Kwai Chung Plaza called "Miri Canteen", which mainly sells authentic street food.

Direct from Japan! 20 Street Food Picks

Currently, the shop offers over 20 kinds of snacks, all personally selected and developed by the owner and staff. In order to bring authentic Japanese flavors to Hong Kong, Mr. Sakane, originally from Osaka, found a meat processing factory in his hometown, gave them the recipe, and continuously improved the taste and texture, tasting it more than 50 times before daring to launch it on the market. It is precisely this unyielding spirit that has allowed the business to remain thriving even during the past food industry downturn.

Selling 100 Wagyu beef burgers + cheese boba daily

Mr. Sakane's most recommended dishes are the Juicy Meatball Burger and the Wagyu Beef and Potato Burger, which are the restaurant's signature dishes, selling up to 100 servings a day at peak times. The former is made with Japanese Wagyu beef and Hokkaido onions, and when you cut into it, the meat is juicy and delicious; the latter is also made with Japanese Wagyu beef, and then mixed with onions and potatoes to form a filling. After being deep-fried, it is crispy and crunchy with a very thin batter, and you can hear a "crunch" when you bite into it.

Common Japanese street food is also available, with five different kinds of potato pancakes alone: ​​curry, purple sweet potato, wild vegetables, pumpkin, and chestnut. They're fried to order, crispy, and golden brown—very appealing. They're scalding hot when you bite into them, but incredibly satisfying. There are also snacks to accompany drinks, such as crispy fried baby croaker, tofu fish cakes, Hiroshima oysters, and cheese boba. The baby croaker is especially good; a bag contains about 20 pieces, perfect for a bite-sized treat.

If that's not enough, there are also Japanese-style clam rice balls, soy sauce rice cakes, skewered meatballs, cheese rice cakes, and other sinful starchy treats. The rice balls, in particular, are made by simmering in broth, adding clam meat and kelp, and then shaping them into rice balls. The rice inside is chewy and sticky, with a subtle savory aroma, making it very delicious.

"Kwai Hiang is a very vibrant place!"

Mr. Sakane chose Aoi Hiro because he saw that people of all ages and genders were regulars there. Although he was initially overwhelmed by the dense cluster of shops, he later discovered that diners gathered in small groups, chatting and forming small circles. The constant flow of people made him feel that the place was full of vitality and energy, which was what fascinated him.

"Freedom is what fascinates me most."

When asked what fascinates him most about Hong Kong, he answered without hesitation, "Freedom." In Japan, he was taught from a young age that eating while walking is impolite, and even if he bought snacks from the street, he could only eat them at home. Although he wasn't used to it at first in Hong Kong, after living there for eight years, it has now become a habit, and he feels very satisfied eating right after buying them. Even when he returns to Japan, he unconsciously brings this habit back home. He tried eating while walking, but was met with sidelong glances and disapproving looks from others. As he spoke, Mr. Sakane showed a helpless expression and smiled wryly.

Although Mr. Sakane has been in Hong Kong for eight years and only knows a few simple words such as "pay the bill," "good morning," "thank you," and "my name is Sakane Toshiya," the people of Hong Kong are very friendly to him. When he goes to various shops, the shop assistants will ask him if he is Japanese and then greet him in Japanese, which is what makes him feel the most warm.