Hong Kong's obsession with premium Japanese beef just found a new address. TANAKA (田中) is a newly opened, eight-seat wagyu omakase counter on Wellington Street in Central — the first Hong Kong outpost from Tokyo meat maestro Satoru Tanaka. Expect one thing done to the hilt: rare Matsusaka beef, grilled and served slice by slice. Here is what to know before you book.
In This Guide
What is TANAKA?
TANAKA is a specialist wagyu omakase counter with just eight seats. Rather than a sprawling menu, it does the opposite: a single, chef-led tasting built almost entirely around premium Japanese beef, cut, grilled and plated in front of you. The intimacy is the point — a handful of diners, one counter, and a chef whose whole life has been meat.
It sits on Wellington Street in Central, a stretch already thick with serious dining. If you are mapping out the city's Japanese scene, pair it with our guide to the best Japanese restaurants in Hong Kong, or the wider list of new restaurant openings in Hong Kong.
Who is chef Satoru Tanaka?
Chef Satoru Tanaka — known to regulars as "Boss" — has a serious pedigree. He began learning the art of butchery at the age of ten, opened his first restaurant at just 25, and has since grown a group of around 20 meat-focused restaurants across Japan, with his flagship in Tokyo.
TANAKA marks his first restaurant in Hong Kong. His obsession is sourcing: the counter leans on Matsusaka beef, drawn exclusively from virgin female Japanese Black cattle, which many connoisseurs rate as the very top tier of wagyu for its fine marbling and clean, melting texture.
What is on the menu?
There is one route through TANAKA: the wagyu omakase, at HK$3,500 per person. The chef decides the courses, showcasing different cuts and preparations of the prized Matsusaka beef, from lightly grilled slices to the small, considered bites that make up a Japanese tasting. It is a splurge, squarely in fine-dining territory alongside the city's Michelin-starred restaurants.
Because the counter is tiny and the format is set, this is a plan-ahead occasion rather than a walk-in. Go hungry, and let the kitchen lead.
TANAKA (田中)
With only eight seats, TANAKA is very much a book-ahead affair. Reserve through the restaurant's official website or by phone, and note that the set omakase is the whole experience — there is no long a la carte to browse. Hours and pricing can change, so confirm when you book.
Hungry for more? Browse the city's best Japanese restaurants, the latest new restaurant openings, and Hong Kong's best Cantonese restaurants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book the counter
Eight seats, one chef and a whole lot of Matsusaka wagyu. TANAKA is a plan-ahead splurge — reserve early and go hungry.