Katte Shabu Shabu
It was drizzling and, dare I say it, a bit chilly, here in Hong Kong. I was expecting hot, humid, and threatening thunderstorms in March. This was pleasant. Almost felt like I never left San Francisco. Almost. Anyways, it was hot pot weather. Being mid afternoon, I was alone and hungry. I looked up a place that did individual pots. Sure enough a few came up with Katte pulling in high marks. And best of all, it was close by. Though, I should have noticed the reviews were all from lunch. More about that later.
Quickly I found the place, tucked away in an alley. Right by the theaters in Causeway Bay this unsuspecting place calls out to only those looking for Japanese shabu shabu.
Inside, the place was nice and very clean. The counter snaked around the interior giving enough corners for parties large than that of one while still allowing for your own pot. Which, unfortunately was quite small. Eat and go I assumed, but the staff was responsive to make sure the broth didn’t get too low. That was good. The bad was, the amount I got. Maybe it’s my American side, but I expected more. Now I knew why people go here for lunch. I’d pay $150HKD for what I got, not $420 and more. Kinda unfortunate because the red snapper broth was very good. You nailed that part internet denizens!
Katte Shabu Shabu
Shop E, G/F, 55 Paterson Street
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
+852 2577 2628
Verdict: I’d come here for lunch. For dinner, I’ll pass.
I wasn’t sure what to expect ordering chicken wings off the skewer menu. I guess it was quite obvious. Crispy little chicken wings charred on the grill. Add a sprinkle of salt and pepper to them and you got these. Very nice.
$32HKD
This was nicely done for a place not promoting their skewer skills. They do have a good assortment of skewers. I chose ox tongue which was cooked well, keeping its chewy firmness with a dashing of seasoning. Maybe I should make this a happy hour spot instead. Skewers and beer. Yum.
$50HKD
Here’s the pork set which includes a good variety of vegetables with slices of pork ribeye. And of course, I wish I had more pork. As you can see, the cuts we a high grade and thin enough for you to enjoy with the broth.
$420HKD
Wish they gave me more because this stuff was legit. Being a fish soup fan, this delivers. And not by having the fish over power the soup base. No, it gives you just enough for you to keep coming back for more. I found myself sipping spoonfuls while I took breaks from the gorging.
This was a mix between miso and clam soup. Not too bad. But if you love clams, you’d be asking for more. I only got one clam. I guess I can’t expect more given the size.
Here’s how you order, as the instructions say. Pick your brother, then your protein, and finally your side dishes. The only choice you have to make on your sides would be your carbs, I chose rice. A couple things to note here. First, there’s the size of your pot. Yeah, make sure you flag down the staff to keep it brimming. Second, the sesame sauce was actually very thick. That’s a good thing.
Even after I noticed the sign on the sidewalk, inside the alley, I still wondered if I got the right place. Okay, I saw the signs obviously. I’m just a little slow at things.