Author: chicstranger

Earlier this week I was kindly invited to a media tasting at brand new Nikkei restaurant El Mercado in Wan Chai. Nikkei cuisine hails from multi-cultural Peru, and is a unique and delicious combination of Peruvian and Japanese cusines. Nikkei first originated in Peru over a hundred years ago thanks to a rise of Japanese immigrations, and is now Hong Kongers can taste the distinct blend of Nikkei cusine here in new dining hotpost Wan Chai. Restaurant founder Bart Szyniec, former restaurant manager at Aqua Restaurant Group, comments: “At El Mercado, we have foucsed on the Nikkei concept – creating Peruvian food with Japanese influences and infused this with Spanish, Italian and Chinese aspects – just as you would find in the most popular eateries in Peru”. The restaurant’s decor is rustic, with lots of light wood and solid long wooden tables, perfect for a large group. We tried a range of lip-smackingly good, signature dishes such as Cochinillo Con Tacu Tacu (Suckling pig, edamame tacu tacu, nikkei chalaca sarza) and Jardin De Rosa (homemade rose ice cream, milk, basil and raspberries), perfect for a hot summer’s evening and great for sharing.

Anticucho: Grilled beef heart anitucucho, marinated in chili, corn purée

Ostra Acevichada: Japanese oyster with squid ink foam

Del Amazonas: Seared flank beef, banana confit, quail egg

Ika Ceviche: Ohnibe Fish, Leche de igre, Sweet Potato, Crispy Calamari Rings

Cochinillo Con Tacu Tacu: Suckling pig, Edamame Tacu Tacu, Nikke Chalaca Sarza

Jardin de Rosa: homemade rose ice cream, milk, basil and raspberries

El Mercado

21/F, 239 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai