Robata Zawazawa: Yummy Japanese Lunch for Mummies in Central

Alejandra of Dim Sum Diaries tells us about one of her latest finds – Robata Zawazawa in LKF – a surprisingly delicious option for a healthy lunch in Central, just leave the stroller at home mamas!

Although we all love the lifestyle here in Hong Kong, it cannot be denied that sometimes, or perhaps more often than sometimes, life just shoots by far too fast and we find ourselves short of time to really take care of ourselves. This is particularly true when it comes to eating food that is actually doing our bodies good, and even more true when our number one focus changes from taking care of our own bodies, to taking care of our little ones; we simply can’t find the time to sit down at lunchtime and eat a meal that tastes good at the same time as filling us with goodness.

Robata Zawazawa, however, has come to the rescue as it has just started serving lunch. With set lunches starting at $160 you can get a whole feast full of goodness that leaves you feeling neither uncomfortably full nor shaking from MSG.

I am yet to have the pleasure of trying Robata Zawazawa for dinner, but I have heard nothing but positive feedback from everyone I know who has. Amongst the praise, I also quite often heard a few complaints that the restaurant did not serve lunch, but thankfully these complaints no longer have a leg to stand on.

Robata Zawazawa, located down the steps opposite Solas on Wyndham Street, is Lang Kwai Fong’s only robatayaki bar. Although this means there is nowhere to compare it to, I can guarantee that this is one unique place, both in the yummy food that it serves and the beautiful design that it boasts. The restaurant seats only 18 people, most of whom will be seated around the open kitchen to watch their food being grilled, so make sure you ring in advance to reserve your front-row seat.

The set lunch begins with a tray of six appetisers. These vary from day to day depending on stock. Ours included shredded tofu, lotus roots (delicious), a slow-cooked egg, seaweed, aubergine and ox tongue (surprisingly moreish). There is just the right amount of each one to whet your appetite for the main course.

Main courses include Japanese pork belly, Choshu chicken, Unagi eel hot pot, Japanese Wagyu, Assorted vegetable skewers* or the daily special. Feeling the need to kick-start the week with a healthy fix, I selected the vegetable skewers.

There is a common misconception that if you order a vegetarian meal, you will leave the restaurant hungry. At Robata Zawakawa, this could not be further from the truth. Six sizeable skewers are presented before you alongside a plate of pickles, a big bowl of steamed rice, a cabbage and sesame salad and a bowl of miso soup. You will certainly not be hungry when you’re through with this feast. Highlights for me were the sweet potato and the aubergine, although I was not particularly taken by the jelly-like Japanese root vegetable.

The special of the day was salmon, which looked incredibly tender and tasty, also served with the same accompaniments.

To finish off the meal, a bowl of scrumptious fresh tropical fruit, delicately dressed in a fruity syrup is served, although the dessert also changes on a daily basis.

So if you’re feeling like you need to treat yourself to an affordable yet delicious lunch that will leave you feeling like you’re actually looking after your own body for a change, try the set lunch at Robata Zawazawa. Kids would enjoy it too as they’d never get bored watching the skilled chefs preparing and grilling the dishes in the open kitchen. It is, however, a bit of an inconvenient location for a push-chair, so make sure you leave that at home and give your muscles a workout!

*Robata Zawazawa offers vegetarian- and vegan-friendly dishes – just make sure you give the waitress a heads up as the seasoning for the vegetable skewers normally contains fish products.

Robata Zawazawa, LG/F, 41 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2536 9898

Read more from Ale (and risk feeling VERY hungry!) on her fab blog, Dim Sum Diaries!