The days of ‘Coco Park’ being code for a night of clubbing are over. Not because the clubs are gone – they’re still trafficking in high decibel delights – but because some of Futian’s finest eateries have chosen the area to set up shop.
With a neighbor like Bus Turkish Grill, which sports a red exterior adorned in bus-like LED and faux vent, Tora Kui plays it humble, tucked behind a sliding glass door we miss on first pass.
Behind door, and up a single-stone step is the tastefully dim interior of a Japanese-style roast meat joint, known as a yakiniku. Think upscale Korean BBQ, each table sporting a charcoal well over which food is roasted on a grill, either by diners or attentive staff.
Never-frozen Australian meat hangs in a fridge, just behind where cuts are seasoned before being presented with simple garnishing.
There is bar-style seating for lone diners, but Tora Kui is undeniably better with friends, with a VIP backroom and wide, polished wood tables throughout the restaurant.
Betting its name on quality, Tora Kui hasn’t skimped on caliber product, as the RMB118 beef tendon attests. It is slightly marinated, salted and soft enough to almost warrant an inner-mouth melting cliche. Almost.
The RMB88 beef ribs come salted and with a choice of sweet or sour sauce set for dipping, though most meats require nothing other than a few minutes cooking, having arrived prepped by the chef.
We’re told several times that Tora Kui has the best ‘organs’ in town, a draw for tripe-hungry Japanese diners, but perhaps a body-part too far for our readers. If you’re feeling particularly carnivorous, the RMB88 plate of salted beef tongue is deliciously succulent, though a bit fatty.
Fans of Korean barbecue will want to check out Tora Kui, a welcome addition to Coco Park’s growing reputation as a fine dining destination.
Price: RMB250
Who’s going: Japanese expats, Korean BBQ fans
Good for: groups of friends, high-quality meat
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