Offering a unique culinary collusion and a cosy hideaway for after-work drinks, Uma Nota, the city’s first Nippon-Brasileiro street food haven, is an exciting addition to the already vibrant food scene of Soho area, finds Isabelle Lui
It’s a little-known fact that the first group of Japanese nationals immigrated to São Paulo, Brazil in 1908, in the hope of better living conditions, and the country is now home to the largest Japanese population outside Japan. The result is a unique culinary expression that reflects the significance of the region’s history and mixed culture.
Recently opened on Peel Street in Central’s dining hotspot, Uma Nota is a modern boteco – a Brazilian meeting spot for bohemians looking for a refreshing drink, street food and a relaxing vibe – that serves an enticing menu of modern nipo-brasileiro dishes that combine traditional Japanese culinary techniques and the freshest Brazilian ingredients and flavour-enhancing spices, adding intricacy to every serving.
Painted on the façade is a cheerful Brazilian indigenous woman accompanied by a toucan, inviting customers to take a South American culinary journey. The cushioned platforms at the door give an impression of a small, mysterious bistro bar, but beyond is a sexy bar and a spacious dining area that comfortably seats 30 patrons, ideal for casual business catch-ups.
The chilled yet intimate ambiance provides the perfect mood for a Brazilian classic: the traditional Caipirinha, a blend of cachaça, lime and sugar, makes for a suitable aperitif, while the Menina Geisha, a perfectly balanced concoction mixing sake, gin, coriander and kaffir lime syrup, is another firm favourite of Uma Nota’s Operations Manager Clémentine Pheron, who previously worked at Paris’ Quixotic Project.
Start with the Ceviche Amarillo, an appetite-enhancer made with fresh, raw seafood, the flavours of which are elevated by palate-tickling chilli. There’s also the delightful Banana Dulce, sour cream sandwiched between shredded crab meat and ripe banana, which produces an interesting mix of sweet and smoky flavours.
Something more Brazilian, the restaurant’s Porco Crocante, crackling pork belly with a layer of crunchy skin, is a modern take on the Brazilian staple and is enhanced by spicy Japanese tonkatsu sauce. The tuna Picadito, with raw tuna nestled in deep-fried tortillas and laced with sriracha sauce, is served in a pre-chilled dish, making sure the cold raw tuna stays fresh and tortillas crispy.
Committed to bringing the unique flavours of São Paulo to Hong Kong, Uma Nota’s owner Alexis Offe hopes to create an urban escape in which travellers and locals alike can de-stress and enjoy modern cuisine with rich traditional roots. The eatery’s name, Uma Nota, literally means one music note (although Brazilians will understand the name as slang for ‘a tip-off’), and perfectly describes the overall ambience of the dining space, with lively and energetic beats, complemented by the team’s heart-warming service.
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