Three Monkeys

Three wise monkeys sit over the entrance to the Tosho-gu shrine in Japan, wordlessly declaring see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. Here at Three Monkeys along Hong Kong’s Hollywood Road, the name refers to the Japanese restaurant’s three founders, but it remains true that nothing bad can be seen, heard, or said about this izakaya-style eatery. Using a special grill imported from Tokyo, the expert cooks at Three Monkeys can whip you up a great set of skewers in no time, perfect with some sake or a glass of ice-cold Japanese beer.

There’s no monkeying about when it comes to the business of providing Hollywood Road’s hungry with fantastic Japanese izakaya fare. Regulars to this Hong Kong Japanese restaurant often just drop in for a couple of after-work drinks. That’s one of the joys of izakaya joints, a kind of Japanese tapas bar, be they at home down a laneway in Tokyo, or flying the flag for Japan’s rich and varied culinary traditions – there’s little pressure to enter into a structured restaurant meal. One can simply enjoy a cold Asahi and, later, act on a whim and order up a few grilled scallops, harvested in Hokkaido, or a set of Nagasaki chicken neck skewers.

Trouble is, once you’ve started it’s hard to stop. With so many diminutive delicacies to choose from, you’ll want to keep going, watching while Three Monkey’s expert chefs cook up a quiet storm of shishitou or a delicious bowl of ramen. Izakaya are all about fast food – for the harried Japanese sararimen – but without the low-quality, unhealthy connotations. Even better, this Hollywood Road eatery goes the extra mile, while keeping within the traditional Japanese izakaya remit of quick turnover, communal, one-stop eating and drinking. There are inventive cocktails as well as authentic sake and Japanese beers – you must try the sakegria, a blend of sake and sangria, and connoisseurs can even enjoy an after dinner cigar. Hong Kong’s Three Monkeys – a wise choice.