As I needed to visit Great Eastern Mall to replenish the stock of 'salmon sashimi' for my four-legged friend and since I've eaten at quite a few places here already on previous visits, Kiku Zakura @ Great Eastern Mall was my choice this time.
This restaurant has been around since 1996 (according to their Facebook Page) with another outlet at Tropicana City Mall and an upcoming one in Mid Valley (scheduled to open in April 2015). [#Note: If you google this restaurant, you'd realise that they used to have branches in Berjaya Times Square, Avenue K, IOI Mall and Mid Valley (they seem to be opening and closing...why?...I've no idea).]
The décor and the kimono-clad waitresses (and Japanese songs playing in the background) did give this eatery a more Japanese-feel. Service was a little bit 'extra' too when they pamper you with hot towels before and after your meal....how's that for service!
After we've made our orders, we were served a complimentary appetiser...I wouldn't call it an appetiser.....more like a 'teaser' coz it's so tiny!! Anyway, let's not sound ungrateful...it's vinagered octopus with cucumber...quite well done and addictive :)
Actually, I don't know much about this place other than the fact that I've seen the release (on their Facebook in Sept 2014) of their Japanese Bakudan Burger with a choice of gyu (beef), tori (chicken), kani (soft shell crab) or yasai (vegetarian).
So, our first order of the day was....you guessed it...the Kani Bakudan Burger @ RM33 which is a soft shell crab burger with a choice of charcoal bun.
The soft shell crab's size was slightly bigger than the bun...yay! What's not to like...it was fresh, crispy and oh-so-good!
The soft shell crab burger was served with an Onsen Tamago. [#Note: An Onsen Tamago is a Japanese low temperature egg (tamago) traditionally slow cooked in its shell in the water (70C) of hot springs (onsen) in Japan...of course, it's now cooked in a temperature controlled water bath. I guess it's similar to the western's version of a 63-degree or 75-degree egg.]
The soft pillowy texture of the charcoal bun was perfect for soaking up the creamy, oozy egg yolk that was running off. Imagine sinking your teeth into something that breaks and oozes down your mouth...it's bonkers! It was a mess alright....but it's better to have enjoyed and made a mess than never to have enjoyed at all :D
There was also a side of fries (which was forgettable) and some crunchy vegetables of shredded cabbage, sliced Japanese cucumbers, lettuce leaves, some fish roe and Japanese mayo in the burger.
Our next order was the
Unaju @ RM33. At first, I didn't know what Unaju was (although I suspected it was unagi) until I was told it's unagi with rice...oh, I thought that was called Unadon.
[#Tip: So, on my return, I googled it and this is what I got. Unadon is an abbreviation for unagi + donburi or "eel bowl" and unaju is the same dish served in a lacquered box. Ah, so...unadon is an eel bowl and unaju is an eel box...kekeke!! If your unaju happens to be pricier than your unadon, it's because of the appearance of luxury of the box, that's all.]
It was served with a tiny plate of pickled cabbage, radish and some kind of cherry (I think, I can't quite remember).
Both the unagi and the sauce (for the rice) met with approval.
We also ordered an Ebi Mitsuba Tempura @ RM18 which is a prawn and vegetable tempura which was totally disappointing! You'd have to go on a 'treasure hunt' to find the prawns :(
It comes with the usual dipping sauce for the tempura.
You can also see that the tempura batter was thick, thus not giving it the light and super crispy texture that I'm used to eating. If I had to put it down to the worse tempura I've eaten thus far, this has got to be it! T_T
Our drinks for the evening:
Hot Green tea @ RM2...loved the Geisha print on the tea cups ;)
My Personal Opinion
A must-try is probably their Japanese Bakudan Burgers. I'd say the food is fair (as long as you don't order any tempura) and reasonably priced too. I did like the soft shell crab burger and unagi.
I think they're are quite well known for their fresh sashimi but I wouldn't know as I didn't have any.
Kiku-Zakura Japanese Restaurant
Lot 13 Level 3 Great Eastern Mall
No 303 Jalan Ampang
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-4253 2560
The soft shell crab burger looks really good! :)
ReplyDeleteI wanted to have one at a burger joint at RM 28 but they ran out, this could be a great place to have it at RM 33! I can't believe the onsen tamago on top - that's just yolk porn! Haha! It looks sooo nice.
That's exactly what it is....yolk porn! Hee....hee...
DeleteThat egg was what I find most attractive! hee..hee.. I have never had charcoal buns before and what? Soft shell crab burger? I really need to eat out more often :D I would definitely give that burger a try (I like the egg) but will have a hard time deciding between crab or beef :)
ReplyDeleteSince you can get beef burgers at most other burger joints, I'd suggest you go for soft shell crab at this Japanese place ;)
DeleteI've never attempted to have my meals here, I always go to Cozy House instead, because that is my best friend's restaurant (well, his dad's restaurant but he works there anyway). If I attempt any other restaurants within sight of his restaurant, he will shout at me.
ReplyDeleteCozy House sounds familiar. Is that the same one in Ampang Park? I've been to that one (a very long time ago) and remember that they're quite famous for their Hainanese Chicken Chop (until I found better ones...heehee). I believe this is a Chinese restaurant serving halal Chinese food as I see many muslims dine there. How's the food...still good? Maybe it's time I revisited =)
DeleteThe owners are brothers, but they are not linked. They use the same name, but they operate the restaurants independent of each other. Don't ask me why like that LOL!
DeleteI have never been to the Ampang Park one, only the Great Eastern Mall one (because that's where my best friend is).
They're not exactly Chinese food, it is more like fusion tai chao, Chinese, Malay, Thai, Western dishes. The GE Mall one is the famous one among Malays. They have some royalty and Datuk2 regular customers.
I give the poached egg a double thumbs up! Absolutely perfect!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, eggs cooked in temperature controlled water will always be perfect :)
DeleteWhen I saw the almost translucent egg in your burger, I know you would love it but I wonder how you would eat it - pop the whole egg into your mouth and let the wonderful yolk ooze slowly into your mouth? Did not expect you to poke it and let the yolk ooze onto your plate.
ReplyDeletePoking it was just for the benefit of my readers...so that they could see the oozy egg yolk :D But then again, I couldn't lift it up (like what you would do with a normal burger) and pop it into my mouth either as the yolk will definitely run. That's why I said it was quite mess eating it...but an enjoyable mess!
DeleteDefinitely can't pick it up like a normal burger. That was why I was thinking how to eat that.
DeleteI used the charcoal bun to mop up the runny egg :D
Deletecreamy egg with crunchy soft-shell crab ... perfect! i wonder if they could do a poached egg with eel burger too someday :)
ReplyDeleteNow that's a wonderful suggestion! ;)
DeleteI haven't visited this spot for ages. I seem to remember them having a great lunch deal.
ReplyDeleteThat's understandable when you're food blogging because of the need to visit new places all the time.
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