Matt Abergel is the Co-Owner and Executive Chef of Yardbird, RŌNIN, and Sunday’s Grocery in Hong Kong. Matt worked in Japanese kitchens throughout Canada before moving to New York City to work under Masayoshi Takayama at Masa.
When Matt moved to Hong Kong in 2009, the food culture of the city inspired him to open his own restaurant and in 2011, he opened Yardbird with his business partner, Lindsay Jang. Yardbird is a modern izakaya that specializes in chicken yakitori and since its inception, the restaurant has garnered a great deal of local and international praise. In February 2014, Yardbird ranked #45 on San Pellegrino’s list of the ’50 Best Restaurants’ in Asia.
In 2013, Matt and Lindsay opened their second restaurant, RŌNIN – a dining bar focused on fish, seafood, and Japanese spirits. And in 2014, they expanded their culinary presence in Hong Kong once again by opening Sunday’s Grocery – an online curated convenience store offering a variety of beverages and lifestyle products with a focus on quality and creativity.
Describe your culinary philosophy in 5 words.
Honest, simple, fresh, clean and straight-forward.
What is your greatest inspiration?
Hong Kong.
If you could take a plane ride to any restaurantin the world, just for one meal, where would you go?
Torishiki in Tokyo, Japan.
What three things would you take to a desert island?
My two children and an avocado.
- #45 | Yardbird | Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants
Yardbird
33 Bridges Street
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong
+852 2547 9273
Rōnin
8 On Wo Lane
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong
+85225475263
Sunday’s Grocery
Find Matt’s recipes from FOUR Asia Summer 2015 here
Images by Philipp Englehorn