Anju Review: Modern Korean on the Terrace at Elements, Hong Kong

The short version: I went to Anju for the terrace and the view, and came away talking about the corn ribs. It’s a modern Korean restaurant on the Civic Square terrace above Elements, right below the Ritz-Carlton. The food is all quite good, and the corn ribs are a standout: very tasty, still crisp, with a good sauce. The wagyu bavette and the braised lotus root were also excellent. It’s a little pricey, at HK$1,584 (about $203) for three, and the service is a bit casual but very efficient. A nice spot if you’re staying at the Ritz or shopping at Elements, and I’d go back, especially for the corn ribs.

I had a late lunch at Anju with two family members on a Saturday in October 2026. We paid for everything ourselves.

Pros

• The corn ribs: 10 out of 10
• Very good wagyu bavette and braised lotus root
• A terrace with outdoor seating, right outside the mall
• Fast, efficient service, with dishes staggered nicely
• Right below the Ritz-Carlton, easy from Kowloon Station

Cons

• A little pricey
• The wagyu truffle rice was a bit dry
• The kimchi is fairly normal

Getting there

Anju is on Civic Square, the open terrace on the third level of Elements, the mall under the Ritz-Carlton and the ICC at Kowloon Station. If you’re staying at the Ritz, you can walk straight down to it. From inside the mall, head up to Civic Square, and it’s right outside, next to Luigi’s and Joia.

First impression: a fairly casual-looking restaurant, with a bit of outdoor space, which is unique for Hong Kong. It sits in a little circular terrace above Elements and below the Ritz-Carlton, and you can look out over the city nearby. The area feels clean and a bit more modern than most of Hong Kong, and it’s just a nice place to sit with all the towers around you.

The setting: 8 out of 10

The nice thing about Anju is the outdoor space: the terrace tables look out over Civic Square, which you don’t get at the restaurants inside Elements, and outdoor restaurants aren’t that common in Hong Kong. It’s a nice place to stop after shopping, especially when the weather’s nice. The room itself is modern and simple: a navy counter, blue and teal chairs, Korean lettering on the walls, hanging plants, and high tables along the floor-to-ceiling windows. It was quiet when we went, at around 3, with only one other table, a local group, while the restaurants around it had a mix of families, expats and locals. I wouldn’t call it a neighborhood spot, since it sits in a higher-end area with Elements, the ICC and the offices around Kowloon Station, but it’s relaxed. It’s not a big restaurant, so with that location and the terrace, I’d imagine it gets busier at normal meal times.

The food: 8 out of 10

Everything was quite good, and the corn ribs were the highlight.

Corn ribs: 10 out of 10. Very tasty and still crisp, with a doenjang lime butter that pairs really well. They come as several pieces; I ate them with my hands, which gets a teeny bit messy with all the sauce, but you can use the chopsticks they give you. One order is a good portion for one person, and for three I’d actually get two, because I really recommend them. HK$78.

Grilled wagyu bavette: 8.5 out of 10. Sweet, tender and very flavorful, with maitake mushrooms and a bulgogi sauce that goes well with it. HK$328.

Braised lotus root: 8.5 out of 10. Very flavorful, in smaller pieces. Part of the side-dish set.

Korean braised beef short rib: 8 out of 10. Very soft and tender, with radish, jujube and broccolini. Good, but between the two beef mains, the bavette was juicier and more flavorful, so if you’re only getting one, get that. HK$428.

Spicy dried radish strips: 8 out of 10. From the side-dish set.

Pickled soybean sprouts: 8 out of 10. Fresh and refreshing.

Wagyu truffle rice: 7 out of 10. Served in a stone pot with an onsen egg. Still tasty, but the wagyu was a little drier than the bavette. HK$288.

House-made kimchi: 7 out of 10. Good, but fairly normal and not too memorable.

Portions were good: we actually couldn’t finish everything we ordered.

The side dishes come as a set of three for HK$58, from kimchi, soybean sprouts, braised lotus root, spicy dried radish strips and Korean spinach salad. We ordered three sets between us. I didn’t try the spinach salad.

The name, anju, means food you eat with drinks, and there’s a bar with soju, makgeolli and cocktails. I don’t drink, so I can’t speak to those. We had a Coke Zero (HK$24) and an Acqua Panna (HK$48). One very minor thing: it would be nicer if they offered regular bottled water instead of just the pricier Panna.

Vs. IZA

IZA, the izakaya a few doors down, is cheaper (about HK$310 a head when I went) and open at the same mid-afternoon hours. But Anju is the better meal: friendlier service, better food, and a terrace without the smoke. For sushi specifically, Sen-ryo inside the mall has the best fish up here, though the service is a weak point.

Service: 8 out of 10

Warm and a little casual, but friendly and highly efficient. They took the order quickly, and the dishes came out staggered in 10 to 15 minute increments, so nothing piled up on the table.

What it cost

For three people: three side-dish sets, corn ribs, the short rib, the bavette, the wagyu truffle rice, two Coke Zeros and a bottle of water. The subtotal was HK$1,440, plus a 10% service charge, for HK$1,584, about $203, or HK$528 (about $68) a person.

Value: 7 out of 10

A little pricey, but the food is great and the portions are generous. It’s more polished than a typical Korean barbecue spot, though not a special-occasion place, and with the modern design it doesn’t feel especially authentic. The mains are the main cost: HK$428 for the short rib and HK$328 for the bavette. The corn ribs, at HK$78, are the best value on the menu.

Who it’s for

• Anyone staying at the Ritz-Carlton. The hotel’s restaurants have somewhat odd hours (a lot of them aren’t open around 2:30 pm), so it’s a good option outside normal lunch hours.
• Shoppers at Elements and anyone passing through Kowloon Station who’d rather eat outside than in the mall.
• Friends or family: the dishes are made for sharing, and it’s modern and approachable.
• Not really a casual everyday spot, since it can be a bit pricey.

Tips if you go

• Order the corn ribs.
• Sit outside on the terrace if the weather is good.
• Between the short rib and the bavette, get the bavette.
• Mid-afternoon is a perfectly good time to go; at 3 pm there was only one other table.
• The side-dish set is HK$58 for three; the lotus root and radish are the ones to get.
• From the Ritz-Carlton, just walk down to Civic Square.

Verdict: 7.5 out of 10

Good modern Korean right by the Ritz and Elements, with efficient service and one dish, the corn ribs, that I’d come back for on its own. A little pricey, but worth it. If I were staying at the Ritz, I’d pick this over room service (which I haven’t tried). You get to go outside, sit on a terrace with the skyscrapers around you, and have some good Korean food. Would I go back? Yes, especially if I’m near Elements.

FAQ

Where is Anju?

Shop R004 on Civic Square, the third-level terrace of Elements mall at Kowloon Station, 1 Austin Road West. It’s right below the Ritz-Carlton.

What should I order at Anju?

The corn ribs, then the grilled wagyu bavette. The braised lotus root from the side-dish set is also very good.

How much does Anju cost?

Our lunch for three, with two mains, the truffle rice, corn ribs, three side-dish sets and drinks, came to HK$1,584 (about $203) with the 10% service charge, or about HK$528 a person.

Is Anju good for kids?

Yes, perfectly good: casual, with sharing plates and the terrace.

Do I need a reservation at Anju?

Not outside normal lunch and dinner hours; we walked in at 3 pm with no wait. At peak times I’m not sure, since I didn’t go then.

Does Anju have outdoor seating?

Yes, on the Civic Square terrace outside, which is a nice change from the indoor restaurants in Elements.