food
Sizzling KL Japanese BBQ Restaurants
Their vacuum barbeque grills will have you walking out with no smoky smell whatsoever.The food trend for Japanese barbecue has been on the rise since Malaysians discovered how amazing it tastes!
In Japan, after-work restaurants called izakaya are known for their kushiyaki (barbecued skewers) and sake pairings to wind down after a busy day at work.
Plenty of izakayas have popped up all over KL, but we’ve got the perfect guide to bring you to the right places.
From fried salmon topped with roe, bacon-wrapped ladies fingers, and even unagi and foie gras on a stick, read on to find out where you can get the best yakitori/kushiyaki in Klang Valley.
Rocku Yakiniku in Pavilion
Indulge in game shows, musical performances, or even magic shows at Rocku.For an incredibly affordable Japanese BBQ buffet (RM32.90++ for 100 minutes from 11am to 5pm, RM49.90++ for 100 minutes from 5pm to 10pm), visit Rocku Yakiniku in Pavilion’s new Dining Loft! If you think that’s still too expensive, then you’ll probably prefer our other list of cheap Japanese eats in KL!
This recently opened restaurant has three special house sauces for diners to enjoy with their barbecue: ponzu (citrus-based), spicy miso, and chilli, which you can use as a dip with a variety of grilled seafood, pork, beef, or chicken.
One of our favourites was the butter fish – smooth and flaky, it'll melt in your mouth however you cook it!
Rocku Yakiniku also serves a variety of alcohol to go with your grilled meats, including Heineken, Kirin beer and even Gekkeikan sake. They have live performances every Wednesday to Sunday night with live music, game shows, and magic shows, so don’t miss out on the fun and visit them now!
Bangoya
Bangoya’s setting is laid-back and comfortable.Located just above Kissaten, Bangoya puts a new meaning to “dining under the stars”. With furniture made of recycled wooden pallets and lit up Japanese lanterns strung around the place, we felt like we were at a friend’s casual rooftop get-together instead of an alfresco restaurant.
You'll be spoiled for choice with the variety of kushiyaki at Bangoya.Bangoya takes pride in their kushiyaki and yakiniku selections, which include pork belly, ribs, miso marinated pork, and beef slices (RM10++ each). The meat is sliced thinly, so you could either sear or grill it quickly to get lean and juicy slices full of flavour.
Bangoya also serves grilled saba, chicken liver, skewered scallops, and Portobello mushroom stuffed with minced meat (each from RM4++). For a well-balanced meal, order the Bangoya cucumber salad and Bangoya bitter gourd salad as a crisp, refreshing palate cleanser.
The KOBE Japanese Restaurant & Bar
Enjoy a meal under the stars at KOBE.With the launch of their new restaurant on Jalan Ampang, The KOBE Japanese Restaurant & Bar is now open with plenty of Japanese delicacies in store for its diners. Like their namesake, KOBE specialises in Kobe beef, but they also have plenty of other Japanese dishes on their menu.
So many skewers, where do we begin? Their Asahi Beer Garden is stationed outside for alfresco dining, complete with an outdoor kushiyaki station!
You can choose from a platter of chicken, seafood, or vegetables (RM19.90 - RM45.90) for your table, or one of KOBE’s top ten kushiyaki items, ranging from chicken wings and fresh tiger prawns (RM6.90 each) to oysters (RM12.90) and enoki beef rolls (RM6.90).
Torii
This cut of beef isn’t world-famous for nothing. Torii is a Japanese yakitori gastro-bar in TTDI known for using premium ingredients in their dishes. Portions are small and pricey, but oh-so-worth-it for amazing food.
The Torii could be stronger, but we still enjoyed the citrus-y taste.If you fancy a nightcap, this joint has their own signature whiskey cocktail, The Torii (RM32): a mix of 12-year-old Yamakazi whiskey, yuzu (an East Asian fruit), gomme (syrup), and soda.
Their stone-seared Wagyu (RM48) is a must-try, served sizzling on a hot black stone and a bed of salt. The beef is superb – perfectly cooked with a pink centre.
On the grill, the Chef’s recommendation entails the bonded unagi and foie gras (RM28) - a skewered sandwich of grilled eel, omelette, and foie gras, drizzled with sweet teriyaki sauce, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
You don’t need to be a hard-core otaku to enjoy Japanese cuisine! Savour more grilled meats and drinks with HungryGoWhere’s list of 10 Best Japanese BBQ Restaurants. Or if you want to wow your guests with cooking skills at your next dinner party, then we suggest you try out these few simple, quick Japanese home recipes. – September 14, 2015.
Craving sushi, sashimi, desserts or even ramen? Check out what others are eating when you download our new HungryGoWhere app which will show you what’s popular with others around your current location up to a radius of 5km! Disliked your service? Leave a quick and easy review so the owner can fix it or warn other diners too! Now available on iTunes and Google Play.
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