New restaurant review: TORITEN

If you’re in the Kowloon Tong area, there’s a new casual eatery to tempt your tastebuds. TORITEN has recently opened in Festival Walk and offers all the Japanese food favourites: skewers, donburi, sushi, sashimi, ramen and omakase.

The decor and vibe is elegant with a neighbourhood feel. Tables were nearly full during our weeknight visit so you may want to book ahead.

As for the food, we started with fried Hiroshima oysters ($78) and a plate of skewers. Highlights included the smoked Miyazaki pork with citrus kosho ($68), minced chicken with egg yolk ($42), and a super-unique grilled squid ink and sausage ($38) option that I’m still craving weeks later.

Next up was the Prawn in Miso Soup Ramen ($128). This has a shrimp broth which includes shrimp miso and shrimp oil, and we’re told the latter is extracted in house. A really tasty and filling bowl, it would be a great value dinner for those looking for a quick bite.

Of course we were looking forward to the Lobster and Assorted Sashimi Donburi ($498). This was such a decadent bowl, with generous portions of tuna (akami and chutoro), uni, scallops, and salmon roe as well as lobster. Also worth mentioning is the Koshihikari rice used which has an unusual sweetness and supple grain. It comes flavoured with Akazu red vinegar, Ryoishu sake, Sanoto sugar, and salt from the Seto Inland Sea.