Yamato Japanese restaurant

Yamato in Kimberley Plaza on Great George Road in Causeway Bay is a Japanese wannabe. I say “wannabe” because it really is Chinese food trying very hard to be Japanese.

What makes a great ramen? To me, the two things that could make or break the dish are: (1) the texture of the noodles and (2) the quality of the soup. Yamato did not wow in either of those categories. Enoki mushrooms wrapped in sliced grilled beef were mediocre at best. I have had better, but then again, I’ve had worse. The slices of beef enveloping the enoki at Yamato were a little bit of the overdone side (read: dry). But, the enoki within were done just right! Go figure…

The sushi - we ordered tempura king prawns and soft shell crab rolls – were not too bad. But, I certainly will not say they were “out of this world”.

I must say though the cold soba was a saving grace. The cold buckwheat noodles were cooked and cooled to al dante (if there is such a thing!). The sauce could’ve been a tad thicker, and the “soba soup” that usually comes in those big thermos flasks after the meal would’ve been a great finale for the dish. Sadly, Yamato failed to add the finishing touches!

If I happen to have a sudden urge for a quick pseudo-Jap chow down, sure – I’d come to Yamato again. After all, the food ain’t all bad - if you look past the fact that it’s very much adapted to local (read: Cantonese) tastes. Generally, ramen tastes like ramen; and sushi like sushi.

It is important not to expect chef to serve up “top notch” Japanese, for it is in the finer details that Yamato misses the mark.

Where: Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Style of food: Japanese
Price: $$