Hatori Karaage

Hatori Karaage is a tiny bamboo-walled Japanese eatery and bar in Camp Hill, dishing up crispy fried chicken and poke bowls alongside Japanese beer, sake and signature cocktails.

The most recent addition to Camp Hill Marketplace on Samuel Street, Hatori’s customers can dine inside the cosy ambient restaurant or al fresco in an undercover eating area.

Karaage (fried chicken) is the specialty here with finger lickin’ karaage burgers, crispy chicken wings in garlic soy glaze, lollipop drumsticks with a hint of spice and boneless chicken thighs in miso glaze.  If you can’t decide, try the karaage platter with an assortment of tasty chicken morsels.

Poke bowls range from sashimi-grade fresh salmon and tuna to wagyu beef;  while other substantial offerings include Gyu Katsu (golden crumbed fried wagyu cutlet with Japanese cabbage salad), Miso Scallop (stir fried scallops and mushrooms served with rice) and udon noodles with ginger marinated chicken, veggies, pickled ginger and snow peas.

Must try desserts include yummy matcha brownies with creamy matcha ice cream and raspberries and homemade mousse layered with almond dacquoise and a scoop of rich vanilla bean ice cream.  

Drink wise, there’s homemade lemonade, sake, umeshu (Japanese liqueur), wine, bottled beer (Kirin, Lazy Yak and Corona), Sapporo and Asahi on tap, and signature cocktails  like Berry Very King Sake - white wine, apple juice and  berries with a bottle of Hanaakawa sparkling sake.  

Good to know – One child under 5 eats free with each main meal purchased.  Choose from Japanese fried rice or yakisoba noodles with sweetcorn, snow peas, carrots and chicken.

By Deb Lidster

A full list of the best Japanese restaurants in Brisbane HERE