Fukuro!
A new spot for night owls in Hong Kong
Japanophiles will know all too well that finding great food anywhere in the country is not difficult, particularly in the capital. Surrounding each eki (train station) is invariably a cluster of choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But where you’ll find weary salarymen at the end of a long day, and into the wee hours of the next morning, are izakaya. A casual style eatery offering beer, shochu and a menu consisting of mainly grilled items, essentially Japan’s version of a pub.
Until recently the offering of Japanese fare in Hong Kong has been mostly limited to one end of the scale, high-end sashimi and Kaiseki restaurants. Enter Fukuro (meaning owl, presumably of the night variety) - one of the latest establishments by the highly successful F&B Group Black Sheep.
Upon entering the mysterious facade on the bottom end of Elgin street, you’ll hear an enthusiastic greeting, ‘welcome to Fukuro’, much like the choral ‘irasshaimashe!’ you’d receive in Japan. The design of the subterranean interiors that lay beyond are by Maxime Dautresme and his team at multi-disciplinary studio Substance. The simplicity of the casual sharing menu is reflected in the interiors. Polished concrete floors are balanced with plenty of warmth in the timber-lined walls and the warm subtle glow of wall sconces. A mix of bar seating and group banquette tables contributes to the relaxed atmosphere.
Quite often a night out in Japan starts in an izakaya and concludes in a Karaoke club, so get your tonsils ready...
Text / Suzy Annetta
Images / Dennis Lo
