Chuka Zanmai again

We went back to Chuka Zanmai again and ate different things from Tuesday but about the same amount so can’t be asked to upload all the pics. The overall food taste was better this time tho. And the serve was just as good thanks to Jon the manager. And it was still at 50% off. Too good to be true.

Chukai Zanmai

Another interesting place makan place I’ve discovered is Chukai Zanmai which just opened in Plaza Damas. Yes, they’re of the same group as the popular Sushi Zanmai, Rakuzen and Kura in One World Hotel.

Paul & I found out about it from Mng of Mng Bouquets whos florist shop is just opposite Chukai Zanmai which is the same row as Starbucks in Damas. He told us that the opening promo is 50% off everything on the menu (except for desserts). Half price on Jap food? Too good to be true right? So we had to go and we ordered:

The menu

Interior of the restaurant

Chuka Idako

‘Sui kow’ (water dog) soup

Salmon sashimi in some kinda Chinese sauce

Seafood noodles

Fried soft shell crab

Fried chicken

Crab meat omelette in vinegar

Garlic fried rice in a stone pot and ‘cooked’ at your table

The full spread

Black sesame ice cream in wafer shell

We felt that the taste of the food was so-so. A few dished were rather bland. But then we talked to the manager, Jon Cheang, and found out that the food is actually Japanese and Chinese fusion. That’s why there are a lot more noodles and not as much sushi or sashimi. The service was superb though but that’s only cos we hogged Jon’s time and not the other waiters.

We ate all of that and the bill came up to RM108 only!

We’ll definitely go back there again if only for value for money Jap food!

Don’t have their number but the website is www.superdining.com.my. Unfortunately the Chukai Zanmai contact details aren’t even on it!

They have not specified how long the promo is on for but it could be until their official opening on 8 August 2008.

Sin Chan Ramen

Lionel The Off Roader recommended a Japanese noodle restaurant in Solaris Mont Kiara. It’s called Sin Chan Ramen, near the new Cold Storage. Paul & I went there and the first thing I noticed was that the owner or the manager was seated at the best table in the house doing paper work and looking worried. That’s really odd for a mid range to high end place, I thought. But I ignored her and concentrated on the décor of the place instead which was quite nice indeed.

Paul ordered his usual katsu don and a variety of finger food. I ordered pork noodle which came with a slab of butter melting in the soup. It was absolutely delicious!

But there was a small flying insect circling my head as I ate, there was another insect crawling out the wall and there was a loud STOMP which I ignored cos I was enjoying the meal while trying to ignore the 2 insects. Then Paul said that the stomp was due to one of the kitchen crew stomping on a cockroach which crawled from near our table towards the kitchen. Ewwww! Gross and extremely hygienic.

When I see such things in a high end restaurant (it’s accepted in stalls when you’re paying a few bucks to eat while seated beside a drain), I always swear not to go back there.

And we haven’t gone back there. But recently, I’ve had cravings for the buttery soupy noodles.

Gosh. To stick to my principles and ensure I don’t get a tummy ache from that place? Or screw it, pay a lot of money and eat dirty food that tastes good?

A Meal at Kura, One World Hotel

Seems like I can eat Jap food almost everyday.

On Friday, Paul and I went to explore the new One World Hotel since we were at 1U.

Kura, the Jap restaurant looked interesting and the prices of our favourite Jap fare stated on the menu were very reasonable. On second thoughts, they were more than reasonable for a hotel. So we stepped in and entered a cavernous area which was made of stone, was dark and has cubby holes. We walked up some stairs then down more stairs and squeezed into a cosy little ‘room’ with a very long table but only seats 2 in a corner.

The presentation was really nice and I kept thinking how cheap it is for a hotel. Here’s some of the costs to give you an idea on pricing:

Edamame – RM8

7pcs salmon sashimi – RM25

Soft Shell Crab Temaki – RM9

150g Wagyu sirloin steak – RM150

Unagi kabayaiki – RM32

Udon – RM22 – RM25

And after the meal, I knew that the cheap prices were justified. The quality sucked! The sashimi was not as fresh as it should be and did not melt in your mouth. I was however interested to find that they have puffer fish. That’s the fish, if not sliced properly, could kill the diner. I asked the waiter if the chef sliced it correctly. He answered yes and that each chef handling puffer fish need to have a license to do so. With that, I popped a piece in my mouth. And then another after dipping it in salt and bits of seaweed. It was like any other small piece of fried fish but yummy nonetheless.

I’m still here so the chef must have been qualified after all.

Kura’s great for ambiance but unfortunately not for their food.

2 Izakayas

Curious about why there are 2 Jap restaurants called Izakaya located in front of each other in Plaza Damas, I approached the manager of the Izakaya which I frequent most which is Izakaya Tomako. They explained that ‘Izakaya’ means restaurant or tea hour in Japanese! Duh! Didn’t manage to put two and two together since Jap restaurants here hardly contain ‘izakaya’ in their names. Well, we learn something new everyday. And I’m not a big fan of all things Japanese except for their food and technology.

9 Months (No I'm not talking about a baby)

Yesterday marks 9 months of Paul and I being together. Times flies. Soon it will be one year. And when the time and $ is right, the deal will also be sealed and officiated.

We celebrated by having dinner at a new Jap restaurant called Ichiban Izakaya in Plaza Damas. It’s 2 months old and as far as I can tell, the price and ambiance is below Rakuzen but below Izakaya Tamako located opposite of it. Don’t know if the same name of the restaurants mean that it’s owned by the same people.

While I do like Rakuzen, one can hardly get a table without prior reservation. And I don’t think their food and ambience is good enough for me to plan ahead to eat there.

Anyway (the original) Izakaya quality of food is better and more authentic though Rakuzen wins on asthetics and presentation.

So at this new Izakaya, we had the following:

Fried shitake mushroom. A tiny morsel of a mushroom which was cold and thus didn't taaste as good.

Yummy creamy cheddar cheese wrapped in popiah skin which is crispy to the bite and chewy after.

Fried oysters. Not one of my fav but Paul likes it.

Wakatori Karrage. One of the best Japanese fried chicken I've tasted.

Deep fried soft shell crab. Yummier than any other I've tasted. I just feel bad for the little fella.

Gyoza. Not one of the best dishes I sampled that night.

Mini Onigiri Mentaiko. The description said 'salmon ball' but it came as a salmon triangle! The waitress explained that it only comes in ball shaped when it appears in comics. They should call it salmon ball in comics and salmon triangle on the menu.

Normay Temaki. Salmon sashimi and salmon roe. One of the better hand rolls as the salmon extends all the way to the bottom of the roll so that you're not left with plain rice on your last bite.

Katsu Don. Paul's favourite and must order at every Jap meal.

Yup we really like our food and always order for four.