It is no secret that Japanese food is one of my favorite international cuisines. Sashimi, sushi, tempura, hand rolls, teriyaki, teppanyaki, I like them all. The culinary experience I had when I visited Tokyo 2 years ago is still fresh in my memory, as I lick my lips again…
Luckily, there are many good Japanese restaurants in this part of the world, and one of my absolute favorite would be Rakuzen, a place I visited on a regular basis ever since I came back from the States. In fact, the blog entry on Rakuzen at Subang Jaya is one of my first food articles. I bet you can imagine my enthusiasm when I was invited to a food review session at Rakuzen @ Chulan Square.
Sashimi Moraiwase
According to the friendly host and restaurant manager, Jack, Rakuzen Subang is where everything started, and this Chulan Square location is the second branch. Then there’s the Pyramid Zen, and I found out that they also run my favorite conveyor belt sushi place, Zanmai Sushi! I believe there is also a Zanmai outlet at Gardens, you can check it here.
the really zen like ambiance
Chef Ah Fai at Rakuzen is one of the top apprentices of the bald Japanese chef heads the Subang branch and has been making sushi & sashimi for more than a decade. For this review, he prepared the signature dish sashimi moraiwase, a sashimi salad, dragon roll, and assorted tempura. I was already drooling while taking these photos.
sashimi moraiwase, sashimi salad, dragon roll, tempura
The sashimi includes sake (salmon), maguro (tuna), otoro (tuna belly), ika (squid), tako (octopus), amaebi (sweet shrimp), uni (sea urchin), and a Spanish mackerel, everything imported from Japan and properly stored in their special -15 C fridge to ensure freshness. Order individually, everything would totaled to over RM 200, so the RM 150 dish offers very good value.
The raw fish were very very good, especially the otoro, fatty savory tuna belly that melts in your mouth; of course, the sea urchin is always one of my favorites too, texture of raw brain but with the tastes of that unique sweetness. It was very very satisfying, everything tasted perfect, with proper cuts and the right temperature too.
chef Fai and his creations
As for the sashimi salad, there were plenty of raw fish, squid, and a generous portion of ebiko (fish roe) on top of all the fresh vegetable, tomato, and cucumber in a creamy topping that tasted slightly sourish. This is perfect for someone who loves to have raw fish but doesn’t want to have the rice to go with it. (you can choose to fill your stomach with just sashimi and break the bank at the same time).
The dragon roll is made by deep frying a big tiger prawn and wrapped it with seaweed sheet, sushi rice, avocado, and topped with some Japanese mayonnaise. There were carrots, prawn, egg plants, and even the mint leaf in the tempura dish. I find the half fried mint leaf having a very interesting taste with a unique texture. I always eat the mint leaf served with sashimi anyway, try it!
Rakuzen at Chulan Square is just a short walk from Pavilion KL
It was a very sumptuous and satisfying lunch that is second only to the hospitality by the good chef and the restaurant manager Jack. The invitation was arranged by foodstreet.
Address:
Block B Lot 2A Chulan Square,
92 Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 KL
Tel: 03-2145 6200
Related Posts:
- KY eats - Argentinian Steak at Gaucho Grill, Chulan Square
- KY eats - Raku Zen Japanese Restaurant, SS15
- KY eats - Kiku Zakura Japanese Restaurant
- KY eats - Dim Sum at Min Kok, Seremban
- KY parties - Trilogy Bistro at Era Square, Seremban
By David on Apr 29, 2008 | Reply
hmmmm everytime pass by there but never thought of trying lol
By Danny Foo on Apr 29, 2008 | Reply
wah! I wannnnnn…. *drool*
Got voucher to gimme kar, KY?
By KY on Apr 29, 2008 | Reply
David,
OoO it’s a nice place. You should try it when you have a chance!
Danny Foo,
What kinda voucher? LOL, I have no voucher.
By suanie on Apr 29, 2008 | Reply
rakuzen best!
By satkuru on Apr 29, 2008 | Reply
now i have a sudden urge for japanese food
By sotong on Apr 29, 2008 | Reply
)#%&@)%&@#)$!@#($%#(!@
By aidan on Apr 29, 2008 | Reply
The ingredients, with captivating colors were presented in such beautiful way. It’s art of food!
By KY on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
suanie,
Stim!
satkuru,
That’s a good thing.
sotong,
ngek ngek ngek
aidan,
True, true.
By Bee Nee on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
sigh… so pretty…
By sara on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
hows the price like? the food’s making my tummy growl
By Yatz on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
hmm..not a japs food lover but look at the pics makes me stim..
By Beverly's Secret on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
I hosted a TV program for about Rakuzen at MiTV while I was still in M’sia…
Sashimi and sushi tasted superb to me!! And you’re right, the Dragon Roll rocks…
By Beverly's Secret on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
*about Rakuzen for MiTV
By KY on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
Bee Nee,
More like, so delicious!
sara,
Price is surprisingly reasonable, you can get a very good set lunch for RM28 - RM30+. One of my favorites for lunch is their Chirasi Sushi set at RM28++, try it!
Beverly’s Secret,
ooO, interesting, yah the food is awesome.
By Bernsy on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
I have been wanting to go. Recently they opened one at Desa Park City…. ish… now itchy liao… wanna go
By Akirasabine on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
The word fish reminds me of the “sakana, sakana” song playing at the sushi section at Jusco MV yesterday. *LoL*
By chris tock on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
you’re worse!! you never call me, then take pictures and show me before blogging about it RARGHJ!!!
tomorrow i’ll stick a banana up your @ss and throw u into the elephant den >)
By KY on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
Bernsy,
Ohh, yeah that is a pretty new branch. Let us know when you try it.
Akirasabine,
Hahaha.
chris tock,
Ngek ngek ngek.
By d2z on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
japanese foor FTW..woot~
me gonna go to sake i guest..dunno where..the sis wanna went there to treat me..
By KY on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
d2z,
Sake? I heard it’s a bit pricey?
By yawen on Apr 30, 2008 | Reply
Is the Zen in Pyramid same as Rakuzen? I’ve always love Zen.
By KY on May 1, 2008 | Reply
yawen,
Yes, you are right. That’s the 2nd or 3rd branch if I’m not mistaken.
By Crunchasarus Rex on May 1, 2008 | Reply
I wanna be food blogger too..!!
wait i come home first ya..
By KY on May 1, 2008 | Reply
Crunchasarus Rex,
Hahaha, I’ll welcome you to the club with open arms!
By d2z on May 2, 2008 | Reply
end up going to lyp again and bought the samsung 22″..dont have much time to go to sake..mayb next time..*sigh~
By KY on May 2, 2008 | Reply
d2z,
There’s always next time.
By xin on May 6, 2008 | Reply
wow! lucky you. damn i am quite into korean and jap food lately. how about the price there? affordable?
By KY on May 6, 2008 | Reply
xin,
Price is very reasonable for the quality that you get IMHO.