Heya, a sake bar with jazz music in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay, serves seasonal sake on a weekly basis - Hong Kong Keizai Shimbun

　On August 14th, the sake bar "Heya" (Flat4A, 401-403 Lockhart Road, Winner Commercial Building, CWB) opened on Lukke Road in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.

　The interior of the store is monotone-colored, and the counters, tables, standing areas, etc. can accommodate about 20 people in 400 square feet. Sake should be stored in the refrigerator and served cold. The signboard on the balcony with the Suikoden motif was painted by an artist who is a friend of the owner who was unable to return to England due to the pandemic, and was completed at 6am on the opening day.

　"There are famous sake breweries that mass-produce sake, but when I learned about the current situation of sake, I wanted to protect this legacy. Even if the demands of the market change, good products will not change," he says. is one of the owners, Mr. Li Zhang. Gourmet Market, a partner that retails sake, also held sake seminars by prefecture, such as Kochi Prefecture in June and Yamagata Prefecture in July. It was opened to provide a place for people to enjoy themselves. It is said that the company decided to open the bar from the viewpoint of "customer experience (customer experience value)" that the company values ​​most.

　We offer a variety of sake by the glass or bottle on a weekly basis. Mr. Li Zhang has been in the wine industry for about 20 years, and has experienced various positions including restaurants such as ZUMA and retail. "There are sake fans who visit retail stores three days a week, so the base has definitely expanded," he said.

　Wu Junjie and Li Zhang, who stand at the counter, come up with the weekly menu, and you can order about 13 dishes by the glass. For example, Miyagi’s “Hiryu” Junmai Daiginjo (HK$60), Yamagata’s “Kudoki Jozu JR Kurobijin Zume” Junmai Daiginjo (HK$80), Nagano’s Daishinshu, and Aichi’s “Jojin” Jun. We have sake from all over Japan, such as Kome Daiginjo, Mie's Jikon, and Hyogo's Chikuizumi. In addition, we will prepare a "Tasting Set" (250 Hong Kong dollars) that allows you to tell Mr. Oi what you like and compare three types.

　In addition, they have a variety of alcoholic beverages such as whiskey, shochu, plum wine, and citron liquor, and the "Ate" snack menu includes spring rolls, steamed dumplings (all HK$48), and mentaiko chicken wings (HK$88) with a local feel. prepared. Every Friday, the special feature of the menu is the soup ``Shuyayu,'' which is ``the taste of Hong Kong's mother.

``There are still many people who think that sake is only enjoyed when eating Japanese food, but in fact, I think it is easy to pair it with Thai or Vietnamese cuisine,'' says Mr. Lee. “Although it has improved compared to before, the logistics cost is sometimes higher than European wines, so if we can clear up these issues, I think more Hong Kongers will be able to enjoy sake. "friend. "The new company was established a year ago, and since then the business has not been good due to the spread of the new coronavirus pneumonia, etc. I want to go."

　Business hours are from 15:00 to midnight.