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Header image courtesy of @uchicoffee_hk (via Instagram)
Originally published by Beverly Ngai. Last updated by Jianne Soriano.
With new cafés popping up around the city at an exponential rate, there is no denying the fact that Hongkongers are a café-obsessed bunch; anchor that with our love of Japanese food culture, and a success story is bound to happen.
Having recently emerged as a formidable player in the local café scene, Japanese-style cafés entice with their minimalist aesthetics, nourishing fare, and wholehearted dedication to preparation and presentation. If you are itching for a slice of caffeine-fueled zen to transport you to the Land of the Rising Sun, check out our top picks!
A trailblazer in Hong Kong’s booming white-on-white minimalist café scene, Uchi first announced itself as a cosy 20-seater eatery nearly a decade ago. Now having spawned three other offshoots across the New Territories and Kowloon, our fondness for this clean-cut Japanese-style café has grown all the more, if the long weekend queues are any judge.
For a thoroughly Japanese experience, we would recommend heading to the Wu Kai Sha or Tseung Kwan O branch, where you’ll be welcomed into an airy Muji-esque setting with raised tatami seating! While they have a savoury menu covering light lunches and snacks, such as poached egg Japanese beef don and black garlic oil pork soup ramen, their dessert menu is the real MVP at Uchi. From an extensive repertoire of homemade sweets and baked goods, the lauded charcoal black sesame chiffon cake and hazelnut oak crumble soufflé never fail to impress.
From Tokyo to Hong Kong, Omotesando Koffee has stuck to its ethos of Japanese artisanship and using premium ingredients. This winning formula has produced legions of passionate fans who throng the sleek, wood-panelled coffee joint for their cocoa-dusted iced cappuccino and famous egg sando, which looks deceptively simple, but surprises with its uber-silky custard-like centre elevated with a zing of wasabi.
Equally a good place to get your sugar fix, those with a serious sweet tooth should not skip on their cuboid canelés, known as kashi, or decadent French toast, featuring custard-soaked Danish toast and caramelised banana on the side with whipped cream.
Omotesando Koffee, Shop 24–25, G/F, Lee Tung Avenue, 200 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
Having first debuted in the iconic heritage compound of Tai Kwun to much fanfare, the stylishly appointed Japanese-style coffee bar recently sprouted a new location in Wan Chai, delighting yet more Instagram vultures and caffeine addicts with its unique range of in-house blends, coffee cocktails, and photo-worthy Japanese sandos!
Catering to all tastebuds, the menu touches on everything from the health-minded turmeric latte with vegan milk and fruit granola yoghurt bowl to the decadent chocolate bon bon drink, yuzu pecan tart, chicken katsu sando toast, promising a delicious escape from the city no matter what you are craving.
For a hefty slice of vintage Japanese culture, look no further than Yukkuri, a beautiful lifestyle boutique-slash-café founded by four millennials with a passion for Japanese antiques. Replete with handcrafted ceramics, old books, and antique furniture, the nostalgia-oozing ambience makes it easy for visitors to leave the modern world behind for a few hours and linger awhile in a time capsule of the past.
Yukkuri’s menu is crafted with simplicity and elegance in mind, offering mostly light toast, pastries, and drinks, but rest assured that every item is made with exacting care. Opt for their signature Yukkuri bread set—which comes with three slices of sourdough, a cream brioche bun, and two different spreads—and wash it all down with a refreshing iced genmaicha matcha latte!
Yukkuri, 424 Prince Edward Road West, Kowloon City
The impeccable combination of Zapjok’s tatami mats, exquisite handcrafted wooden tableware, and friendly resident kittens makes you feel like you’ve entered into a cosy Japanese home. After perusing the carefully curated selection of lifestyle products, plop down on a cushy mat and unwind with freshly made coffee, cakes, and bentos—and don’t forget to take a moment to appreciate the handmade ceramic dishes and cups that they are served on!
Their signature bento set comes in a wide range of customisable toppings, such as the crowd-pleasing tamagoyaki, pork stew with apple and onion, and pumpkin hash brown, while desserts include the likes of matcha roll cake and caramel egg pudding. As seats are limited and the place fills up quickly, it’s best to make a reservation!
Zapjok, G/F, 66 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Sham Shui Po
Hipster vibes meet school classroom at this quiet Japanese-style café in Tai Kok Tsui. Although rather small in size, Café Wander uses its space well, incorporating a projection screen displaying poetry and a cosy nook with books available on loan—the result is a laid-back yet inspiring environment conducive to slowing down and letting minds wander where they may.
Besides special coffee drinks, and an array of comforting Japanese set meals and udon bowls, they are also known for churning out some of the tastiest Japanese-style desserts in town. Cakes are always on rotation, but if you happen to catch hojicha cake roll or yuzu cheesecake on the menu, don’t hesitate to order!
Café Wander (浮生), G/F, 8 Anchor Street, Tai Kok Tsui | (+852) 5445 6004
In Hong Kong, we love our space because there’s so little of it. If you’re one to prefer a bigger space to work or chill, & Green is the place to be. This spacious Japanese-style café in Hung Hom is a hidden gem in itself. In addition to hosting regular events such as tea workshops and tastings, the café offers great WiFi with plenty of power sockets, and great coffee and tea.
The all-day breakfast is always an easy choice and is complete with mashed potato, salad, smoked salmon, sausage, eggs, and you can add extra food items of your choice. We also recommend the soba set, which has eel, egg, soba, and a drink of your choice. For dessert, have a bite of the soufflé cheesecake or the Basque burnt cheesecake.
& Green, Shop 1B, G/F, Harbour Place, Yan Yung Street, Hung Hom | (+852) 2735 8789
Ukiyo means “floating world” in Japanese and is all about promoting the philosophy of living in the moment. The Japanese-style café hopes that its diners will savour the art of slow living. With its cosy and homey vibe, you could totally spend hours on end here.
Snack on its handcrafted meals, consisting of homemade pasta, vegan plates, and keto desserts. Must-tries include homemade penne with sous-vide chicken breast in wild mushroom black truffle cream sauce, mentaiko crab cake, and 24-hour sous-vide Japanese char siu Wagyu burger with ginger pork sauce.
Ukiyo, Shop 610, 6/F, K11 Musea, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Located in Sai Ying Pun, Nichijou is a Japanese-style café run by a mother-daughter duo. Expect homely vibes in this pet-friendly café complete with hearty Japanese lunch offerings. Its name means “every day” in Japanese. There is plenty of options to choose from on the menu, whether you crave soup, salad, or rice as well as a selection of drinks.
You can’t go wrong with the beef sukiyaki donburi with onsen egg or the chicken kaarage udon with shoyu soup. We also love the grilled mackerel with cold udon for something that feels refreshing on your taste buds. When it comes to the drinks, the honeycomb latte is a must, as well as the Earl Grey chocolate.
Nichijou, Shop H, G/F, Block 2, Hoi Sing Building, 128 Second Street, Sai Ying Pun
Keep your eyes peeled for Relieve Coffee in Sheung Wan! Located just outside of the MTR Station’s A2 exit, this quaint Japanese café hopes to relieve your hunger and thirst. Decorated with vintage trinkets and posters, it feels like you’re in a scene straight out of an anime. The Instagrammable lunch and dessert options are just too cute to eat!
Definitely have a go at the slow-cooked sirloin steak with sukiyaki sauce if you’re hungry. The sweet potato croquette is a great appetiser and snack, while the hojicha mochi chiffon mountain helps bring all the food down.
Relieve, Shop G01, G/F, Ovest, 77 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan
Nestled in an unassuming backstreet in Tai Hang, Yotsuba is a quaint Japanese-style coffee shop that’s perfect for those looking to take their furry friends along. An ideal place to hang out on a weekend or to enjoy some quiet working time, Yotsuba Café serves up some light snacks for you to munch on. Those on a keto diet will give heart eyes to the keto menu, while vegetarians can go for their own options. For sweets, we recommend the Nutella banana waffle or the fresh fruit waffle.
Yotsuba Cafe, G/F, 19 Ormsby Street, Tai Hang | (+852) 2808 2868
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