Tucked away on Ship Street in Wan Chai, Wakaran is a casual, upbeat restaurant that incorporates a fusion of Japanese, Chinese, and Western influences. The restaurant’s name, “WA-KA-RAN” (和華蘭), is really a shortened form of the term “wakaranai”, which means “I don’t understand” in Japanese. Their rationale is, “who are we to tell anybody what they should really know about food?” After all, they strongly encourages the utmost creativity when it comes to their version of “Modern Asian”, melding multiple cuisines together in all sorts of different ways.
Small Plates
Maki Our Way
One of my favorite dishes at the restaurant is their maki “tacos.” They take the Korean concept of the crispy seaweed and bend it into a “shell” that is taco shaped. THEN, they add Japanese ingredients on top, such as otoro, wagyu steak and uni, salmon with sriracha mayo, and more. These bites are always delicious, and I really enjoy them!
From the Grill
What’s available on the grill changes depending on the season. You could have classic yakitori type dishes, grilled vegetables, or various types of grilled meat (like char siu!).
Larger Plates
“Sweet” (Dessert)
Initial Thoughts – Wakaran Wan Chai Hong Kong
I’m a fan. I have always loved East Asian cuisines, and I like the creativity with which the team has put together different dishes here. The maki tacos are awesome; the grilled dishes are by and large solid tasty. Other dishes, like the pigeon, are surprisingly elegant. All in all, we’ve come back here multiple times and will continue to do so!
Wakaran Wan Chai Hong Kong
Shop B, G/F, Pinnacle Building
9 Ship Street, Wan Chai
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