sen-ryo (Hysan Place) — Restaurant in Hong Kong

I’ve been a regular at this restaurant for quite some time now, and for good reason. The food quality has remained consistently solid, and the pricing is refreshingly reasonable. I have no desire to pay a small fortune for the privilege of dining in some contrived simulation of an old Japanese house. All I require is delicious food at a fair price, and this place delivers precisely that.

I visited on a Sunday evening and, to my surprise, was seated in under three minutes. The service was as reliable as ever: not quite the warmth of a family-run establishment, but efficient and attentive when needed. The staff were unfailingly polite and helpful, which is always a plus.

The sashimi was fresh, and the grilled fish collar was respectable. The grilled chicken skewers, however, were a touch too salty and dry; frankly, I could have done better myself. The grilled beef tongue was satisfyingly thick and cooked to a decent standard, no complaints there.

My one grievance lies with the pacing and sequence of the dishes. In a proper Japanese establishment, raw dishes should precede cooked ones, with the latter only appearing once the former has been fully (or nearly) consumed. Tonight’s lineup was perplexing: grilled chicken skewers, followed by sashimi, then grilled beef tongue and fish collar, all within moments of each other.

Grilled dishes, whether fish or skewers, are best enjoyed piping hot. I thus faced a minor existential crisis: should I rush through the sashimi to prevent the grilled fish from going cold, or abandon the sashimi mid-bite to prioritise the fish? Switching back to raw fish after cooked food always feels slightly off, maybe that is just me.

That said, 千両 remains a reliable choice for quality Japanese fare without the pretence — just be prepared to navigate the occasional tactical...

Good food quality and value, but service needs serious improvement. Our "Sen-ryo Shokunim Omakase Sushi Set" arrived while we were still halfway through our appetizers. The waitress appeared with both hands full carrying large trays, couldn't help clear our table, and left all four of us scrambling to make space—moving half-eaten food while one friend still had Chawanmushi in his mouth. Not a single "thank you" or "excuse me" throughout the awkward ordeal. Timing is everything in restaurant service, and this felt rushed and impersonal. The food alone makes it worth visiting, but management should address these basic service issues. Would have given this an overall 4 stars, but the service...

High quality order-made sushi, sashimi and seafood dishes; dishes available on conveyor belt are pretty fresh as well, although the choices are mostly limited to low-price items, side-dishes or promotional items. During Friday dinnertime, the staffs occasionally advertise their seasonal items through public announcement while selling a freshly made batch on a first-come-first-served basis. Cooked dishes are okay but not as good as sushi or sashimi. The restaurant also offers a wide variety of sake, ranging from fair quality junmais to daiginyo calling for a thousand HKD a bottle. The environment is clean and well-lit but the seats surrounding the sushi bar is...