Sake Bar Ginn 地酒処 吟 (Hong Kong) - ♕♕♕♕♕

  The Sake concept in general is to me more about the refinement ratio of rice, known as seimai buai (精米歩合) and it is quite different from other drinks like fine Wines and Whiskies.  This new Sake Bar Ginn has a sake sommelier Ayuchi Momose who looks after your sake needs during the night visit,  and it is fun to explore different styles of sakes.  A good way to start off the night here is ordering a trio flight of sakes from the same sake brand but made up of various rice refinement ratios or fermentation techniques, etc.  

 

 

Food Menu -
Some of the food items here probably work better with Shochu than Sake,
but the staff here knows which sake might pair better with which food!

 

 

Shichida Flight Set -  HKD $126
You start with the more refined and delicate,  the most expensive glass first… then gradually work your way backwards to the Junmai.    I am a bit biased towards sakes in general so I think I shouldn’t comment too much on this subject,  but the experiment can be quite educational.

 

 

 

Narutodai Flight Set – $110
It is actually priced quite fairly,  although to drink better sakes,
it is advised to order those by the carafe.

 

 

Fried Mochi Cake with Cheese & Garlic $60
(チーズ入り揚げ餅、ガーリック風味)
This was surprisingly lovely and light,  not the chewy type we are used to eating in town.  Addictive stuff and add a pinch of that garlic salt provided.   ~  10/10

 

 

Tengumai Yamahai Junmai  天狗舞 純米 – $118
This sake has an SMV of +3,  making it neutral between Dryness and Sweetness,  so it is quite balanced and carrying a slight fresh floral note,  but most importantly this was suggested by the staff to pair with the above fried mochi dish -  it worked!

 

 

 

Sake Stewed Pork Belly (豚の角煮) -  $45/pc
This was decent but not fantastic,  as we can’t taste much of the sake nor even mirin… I ended up pouring in some Junmai sake from my previous sake flight,  like I would eat Haggis with added whisky,  and this time it made the sauce more interesting.  The pork was ok tender but the fat wasn’t the transparent jelly type.   Could be better ~  6.9/10

 

 

 

I like this Sakedokoro place,  and it is very reasonably priced yet very professional - 
Will definitely be back.  Although the seats are filling fast nowadays,  so book it in advance, even though they are not exactly the kind of seats that will be nice to your back!

 

 

 

 

Price: $150 – $250
Ease of Access:   4/5   Found in Lan Kwai Fong
Rating:  ♕♕♕♕♕ 

Opening Hours:
Mon to Thu 5pm - 12 am kitchen close, but open until late
Fri to Sat  5pm - 2am kitchen close

Address: 中環蘭桂坊德己立街38-44號好利商業大廈4C
4C, Ho Lee Commercial Building, 38-44 D'Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central
Ph: 2536 4355