A Day Out At Chotto Maki

In the Central district of Hong Kong, tucked away down a narrow alley between tall buildings is a little gem of a restaurant called Chotto Maki. This alleyway is crammed with stalls selling everything from handbags to watches to socks to shoes to traditional Chinese looking clothes and your first thought would be that there can't possible be a restaurant down here...

...but there is! If you're paying attention or walk by too quickly, you'll miss it!

Custom maki sushi rolls is what Chotto Maki is all about. You can choose from a selection of recommended rolls...

...or completely make up your own from their extensive menu! One of the recommended rolls will cost you HK$68 (about $8.60USD) for 4 large pieces...definitely enough for a meal!

Making up your own custom maki will cost HK$78 ($9.95USD) and again, you'll get 4 generously sized pieces. If that's not enough, there are cheap add-on options like a miso soup for HK$8 ($1USD)!

On my first visit to Chotto Maki, I had to try the first roll on their recommendations list...the 604 Roll. When I saw the name, I couldn't help but wonder if this place had some relation to my home town of Vancouver since 604 is the main area code there. I asked the guy behind the counter (who was Chinese and spoke perfect English) if he might be from Vancouver and he said yes! So the aptly named 604 Roll made complete sense! He said he was born in Hong Kong, but raised in Vancouver, and now he was back in Hong Kong and had this restaurant!

Being from Vancouver myself, I loved finding this Vancouver connection in Hong Kong!

Every maki sushi order is impressive just to look at and the 604 Roll was no exception. It was filled with salmon, mixed greens, baby asparagus, tamago (Japanese scrambled egg), and topped with crunchy tempura flakes, sakura shrimp, and drizzles of wasabi mayo and black sesame sauce. It was quite a combination and really good! I was impressed!

Other recommended rolls I've tried? The Beef-Iyaki Roll is super good with its teriyaki beef and assorted fillings...

...as is the Sea Monster Rolls, filled with crab stick and tempura prawn and drizzled with unagi sauce. Crazy good.

Then, of course, there are the custom rolls, like this one with salmon, tamago, avocado and drizzled with wasabi mayo and topped with garlic chips.

Or you can go really simple like my kids and get a maki roll with salmon, crab, fresh seaweed, and tobiko.

Whatever you decide to do, whether it's a Recommended Roll or a Custom Roll, you really can't lose! I've liked everything I've tried here so far and can't wait to go back!