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    March 25, 2012

    KY eats – RM15 Japanese Lunch at Shokudo, Armada Hotel

    A couple weeks ago we were invited for a food review session at Armada hotel’s Shokudo Japanese restaurant. We were checking out their “Speedy Lunch” menu which promises lunch sets that are served within 15 minutes and priced only at RM 15++ per order.

    This type of deal from a hotel restaurant? I was curious to say the least.

    temaki, Haze & KY at Shokudo, Armada Hotel
    temaki, Haze & KY at Shokudo, Armada Hotel

    Shokudo at Armada turns out to be a pretty small Japanese restaurant. With maximum capacity of some 20 odd people, the restaurant on 1st floor has a very homey ambiance to it. A place that is well suited for a quiet dinner for two. (as such, if you are coming with a big group, do call ahead)

    soft shell crab maki and chawanmushi
    soft shell crab maki and chawanmushi

    There are four dishes in the Speedy Lunch menu:

    • soft shell crab maki with chawan mushi
    • unagi rice set
    • chicken or beef katsudon
    • kakiage soba or udon

    chicken/beef katsudon, unagi rice set, kakiage soba/udon
    chicken/beef katsudon, unagi rice set, kakiage soba/udon

    My favorite of the lot was the soft shell crab maki and chawan mushi set. RM 15 for the set is definitely a great value, and it tastes as good as anywhere, but if you have a big appetite, this might not fill your stomach all the way up.

    Unagi set comes with about half an eel instead of the whole fish, understandable for this price point. Chicken and beef katsudon though, do come with very generous serving of meat.

    For those who likes it light, the soba/udon dish would be a good option. The lightly battered tempura vegetable does go well with either udon or soba.

    cod fish teriyaki, gyoza, california maki
    cod fish teriyaki, gyoza, california maki

    Other than the Speedy Lunch dishes, Shokudo does offer a pretty comprehensive menu. There are good choices for sashimi, sushi,  maki, temaki, teppanyaki, don buri (rish dishes), udon, and some side orders (like grilled salmon belly, shishamo etc).

    The cod fish teriyaki and gyoza was fantastic, and california maki we tried did not disappoint too.

    chicken kara-age, sashimi, tempura
    chicken kara-age, sashimi, tempura

    Oddly enough, the dish that I can’t get my hands off from was the chicken kara-age (chicken skin RM15). This an a pint of beer would be perfect. Sashimi and tempura too were of pretty good quality.

    Overall, the experience at Armada’s Shoduko was a positive one. Although food did not blow us out of the water, they were consistent and did not disappoint at all considering the price point.

    If your office is not far form the heart of PJ, the Speedy Lunch here would be something to check out.

    map to Armada Hotel

    Address:
    Shokudo Japanese Restaurant
    Hotel Armada Petaling Jaya
    Lot 6, Lorong Utara C,
    Section 52, 46200 PJ, Selangor
    GPS: 3.104199, 101.640964
    Tel: 03-7954 6888

    July 22, 2011

    KY eats – Shuraku, Solaris Mont Kiara

    Last Friday we braved the traffic and traveled to Solaris Mont Kiara for a lovely dinner at Shuraku thanks to the invitation from Mei.

    The quaint Japanese restaurant is located just above Maybank on level 2, with the ambiance that is only made possible by the inclusion of Japanese diners in addition to Japanese magazines, old clocks, hanging ropes, and the sound and smell of a yakitori bar.

    Shuraku at Solaris Mont Kiara
    Shuraku at Solaris Mont Kiara

    The dishes for the night were already chosen for us so the six of us just sat back and relax. We started the night with some Asahi beer and a couple glasses of Japanese cocktails that were served from this portable carbonated dispenser, we had a pear flavored cocktail, it was lovely.

    salmon tamago, beef steak salad, unagi
    salmon tamago, beef steak salad, unagi

    Appetizer, if you would, were seared salmon on tamago (sweet egg omelet), the sweet and savory unagi on tofu, and some tasty beef steak salad.

    pork belly, chicken wings, chicken gizzards, chicken thigh and leek yakitori
    pork belly, chicken wings, chicken gizzards, chicken thigh and leek yakitori

    What we really came here for though, were the yakitori. While yakitori literally meant grilled fowl, at Shuraku, they also serve it with yummy pork belly too.

    Of course, we also had  chicken thigh with leek, chicken wings (I must say the way Japanese grill their chicken wings is a lot better than our Malaysian style, much easier to eat and much less messy), and my favorite – chicken gizzards.

    soba, roast eggplants
    soba salad, roast eggplants

    Soba salad was refreshing but slightly awkward, I still prefer the good old cha soba, this is a bit too fusion for me.

    The roast eggplants however, was super awesome. There’s a type of sweet (peanut/mayo?) sauce they add to it that made it so rich and really made my taste buds happy. Kim and I devoured the whole thing, including skin!

    salmon maki
    salmon and tuna  maki

    We shared a salmon and tuna maki too, so yah, they do have raw fish and do a very fine job preparing the maki. Great in both presentation and taste, I must say.

    kimchi, okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake/pizza), mushroom
    kimchi, okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake/pizza), mushroom

    Curiously, Shuraku also serve up a pretty good kimchi dish, and with pork belly in it of course.

    Okonomiyaki was rich and quite filling with all the mayo and sweet sauce, I just realised last I had this was in 2005, documented in this post, at Lowyat plaza.

    sake, teriyaki, ciki!
    sake, teriyaki, ciki!

    Ah, there’s also this meatball skewer that was served with half boiled egg. Interesting combination that somehow worked.

    the girls and the guys
    Haze, Kim, Ciki, Cumi, Gareth, KY

    We ordered several more yakitori of various flavored and had an awesome night. Prices at Shuraku are reasonable and doesn’t vary much from other similar Japanese outfit. Do check the place out if you love authentic Japanese food that isn’t just confined to sushi and sashimi

    map to Solaris Mont Kiara

    Address:
    Shuraku
    13-2, Jalan Solaris Mont Kiara 1,
    Solaris Mont Kiara, off Jalan Duta
    50480 Kuala Lumpur
    GPS3.174049,101.660037
    Tel: 03-6203 0561

    July 18, 2011

    KY eats – Marutama Ramen at Fahrenheit 88

    Hidden within Fahrenheit 88, also known as the re-branded KL Plaza, is a little Japanese ramen restaurant that has it’s origin in Singapore.

    The island republic does not usually have the upper hand when it comes to food, but Japanese ramen is one of the rare exceptions. Here in Malaysia we have been stuck with trying to make ramen halal for way too long while our neighbor kept it real and true to the origin – with pork, like how ramen should be.

    Marutama Ramen is located on first floor of Fahrenheit 88 (old KL Plaza)
    Marutama Ramen is located on first floor of Fahrenheit 88 (old KL Plaza)

    Local eateries have since realize what diners really want and it is good to see that there are a lot of ramen places that serves the dish with the right ingredients.

    Marutama was introduced to me by Timothy, who got to know the place from his girlfriend Audrey, who in turn got the recommendation from Ringo. The two of them must be the most “Japanese” lookalike and act alike Malaysian in the country, so if they say it is good, it must be good.

    chasiu ramen, I love it with plenty of fried garlic
    chasiu ramen, I love it with plenty of fried garlic

    I always measure a ramen place by its most essential dish – the good old chasiu ramen.

    Marutama’s version is unpretentious, four slices of chasiu (not to be confused with BBQ pork, the Japanese version is slices of rolled pork shoulder), 3/4 boiled egg, seaweed, spring onion, and ramen noodle in pork chicken broth.

    check out the glorious 3/4 boiled egg
    check out the glorious 3/4 boiled egg

    The broth at Marutama is one of the thickest and most flavorful I’ve had from anywhere, very savory and absolutely brilliant. They also have the egg boiled just right, and the chasiu were fatty and tender like they should.

    Best of all, there’s free flow deep fried sliced garlic on the side to be added to your ramen.

    I went with timothy and david on separate occasions
    I went with timothy and david on separate occasions

    Other than ramen, they also serve some side dishes like grilled pork belly, fried rice, gyoza and so forth. Their gyoza was just alright, and I wouldn’t recommend anyone to try their fried rice (it was quite lousy). Stick to the ramen and you’ll have a wonderful experience at Marutama.

    Prices are around RM 20 including taxes. Another good pork ramen place nearby is Ton Chan at Wisma Cosway.

    map to Fahrenheit 88, KL

    Address:
    Marutama Ramen
    Fahrenheit 88
    Lot Flr. 27.01, 1st floor
    Buking Bintang, KL
    GPS: 3.14748, 101.71283
    Tel: 03–2141 1573

    July 6, 2011

    KY eats – Yashi-no-mi Japanese Cafe

    I must have walked by Yashi-no-mi at least a dozen times without thinking that it was available for lunch.

    The outside says Japanese Cafe, but with the darkened glass panels and dodgy looking main entrance, this place looks more like an old school arcade or pubs where married men prefer not to let their wives know if they went there the previous night.

    Yashi-no-mi Japanese Cafe at Wisma Cosway
    Yashi-no-mi Japanese Cafe at Wisma Cosway

    Feeling a little adventurous yesterday, I walked by Yashi-no-mi again yesterday, and just by chance I spotted a piece of laminated A-4 paper that says (among other things), lunch at 12 pm – 2:30 pm. The door wasn’t fully closed, I peeked in and saw a handful of diners in there eating something. I decided to head in too.

    buta shougayaki don - pork belly in ginger sauce with rice
    buta shougayaki don – pork belly in ginger sauce with rice

    The cafe looks like it was lifted from a neighborhood pub in suburban Japan and got transported to this country by mistake. Maroon faux leather bench chair, wooden tables, a brick wall, heavily tinted glasses, and a TV older than most college kids.

    The place is quite hideous, but at the same time it was also quite charming, a little old lady prepares your food right behind the bar, the server was friendly, and time slows down by at least a factor of two when you are there.

    the set comes with salad, miso soup, and drinks
    the set comes with salad, miso soup, and drinks

    There were less items on the menu than you have fingers, which makes it easy to order. I chose the buta shougayaki don that comes with a bowl of fried pork belly with onion in light onion sauce on rice, a serving of salad with the lovely wafu dressing, a drink (choice of ice lemon tea or green tea), and a bowl of miso soup too.

    All for RM 17, if you order the “S” size. Add 2 bucks for M, 4 for L, and so forth.

    The pork belly and rice I had was excellent too (same can’t be said about their miso soup), and I think I’ll be heading there whenever I need to get away a little. There’s still a few dishes to try out, like maybe that pork cutlet with mayo.. ermm.

    wisma cosway map

    Address:
    Yashi-no-me
    Lot  G.01, Ground Floor
    Wisma Cosway
    Jalan Sultan Ismail
    50540 Kuala Lumpur
    GPS3.150875, 101.711812
    Tel03-2148 4254

    June 29, 2011

    KY eats – Tonkatsu at Pavilion KL

    Tonkatsu by Wa Kitchen is one of the latest entries on the 6th floor of Pavilion KL that has lately been on a bit of a revamp. This restaurant is situated right next to Ben’s, another very good lunch option.

    Like the name suggest, Tonkatsu serves.. tonkatsu – breaded, deep fried pork cutlets with shredded cabbage and miso soup + rice. To know more there is the wiki entry.

    Tonkatsu at Pavilion KL
    Tonkatsu at Pavilion KL

    Yesterday Suanie happened to drop by KL over lunch time, so I took the opportunity to head there with her since she was in a mood for Japanese food, and I know she isn’t too keen on raw dishes.

    The menu is brief enough, there were less than 10 different sets/dishes to choose from. To me this is good, takes away all the extra time spent just to figure out what to eat. (see the paradox of choice)

    make  your own condiment, very rich miso soup
    make your own condiment, very rich miso soup

    I chose the first set, Hire Katsu Zen (RM 29), and suanie opted for set number 3, Hire Katsu + Rosu Katsu zen (RM 28).

    First, a server made the fresh condiments for us (later we made more ourselves). Put some sesame in the super mini mortar & pestle, grind it till you can smell the aroma. Then add tonkatsu sauce (or Japanese Worcestershire sauce). Slightly gimmicky, but it actually works. :D

    suanie says hello, imitating baja hitam, only appropriate at a jap restaurant
    suanie says hello, baja hitam style, appropriate at a jap restaurant

    My set came with 4 pieces of breaded pork tenderloin cutlet (hire katsu), while suanie’s was a mixed of tenderloin and pork loin (hire katsu + rose katsu).

    The pork were pretty good, not as good as beef tenderloin of course, but plenty good for a piece of pork that does not involve any big chunk of fat. It was almost healthy too, since they also give free refill of those shredded cabbage.

    map to pavilion

    Besides several types of deep fried pork cutlets, they also serve pork belly soup, deep fried shrimps and oysters. Shall try more next time!

    Address:
    Tonkatsu
    Lot 6.12.00
    Level 6,
    Pavilion KL,
    Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL.

    GPS: 3.148872, 101.713368
    Tel: 03-2144 2992

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