Two Chefs Lab @ Bandar Mahkota Cheras

I wasn't aware that my friend's housing area was home to a terrific neighbourhood Japanese restaurant (opened in the last quarter of 2016) until I stumbled upon it around the Christmas period.

The place I'm referring to is Two Chefs Lab @ Bandar Mahkota Cheras.  From the name and the initial impression of the decor, Japanese restaurant certainly doesn't come to mind.

Looking at the decor and ambience of the place, it exudes the vibe of a western brunch cafe but the words sushi.don.coffee imprinted on the glass panel clearly gave a glimpse of what to expect.

We started with a chef recommended side dish for sharing....Hamaguri (Clams) Ninniku (Garlic) @ RM16 featuring grilled clams with a creamy garlic sauce.

Presented with 8 pcs of (conveniently opened) clams topped with a torched creamy sauce that tasted of a combination of garlic and mentai sauce.  The sauce was rich, creamy and slightly salty...it was oh-so-de-li-cious...and the sprinkling of garlic chips on top gave it even more garlic flavour and that crunchy factor.

Next up, from their sushi menu, we tried their TCL Signature Maki @ RM38 that came with 6 pcs of maki sushi with different toppings...all fresh with a subtle clean taste.

Spicy Salmon (+ chilli threads) & Scallop (+ avocado) Sushi

Ebi (Prawn) & Ikura (Salmon Roe) Sushi

Unagi & Crab Meat Sushi

We also had the Salmon Sushi Fiesta @ RM11.80.  This was just 3 pcs of salmon sushi, two lightly seared and one sashimi style with slightly different toppings.

For our main meal, we went with two donburi dishes (both chef recommended, highlighted by a red dot on the menu), the first being the Ebi Mentai Don @ RM25.  Other choices include Gyu (beef, RM36), Unagi (RM33), Kakuni (braised pork, RM19) and Tori Karaage (deep-fried chicken, RM15) Don.

Oops...the pan-fried tiger prawns were buried under so much mentai mayo, you can't even see them.  Wouldn't mind a bit more charring on the mentai though.  Strictly for mentai lovers who say there's no such thing as too much mentai....hehe! ;D

The other donburi of choice was the Wagyu Don @ RM72.  How can I say no to wagyu?  I couldn't, of course ;) You can add on foie gras at RM25 for a bit more decadence if you want (though I didn't).

I requested for the Australian wagyu beef to be done medium rare and it was expertly executed to such.  Just look at the super tender slice of medium rare beef.  The lightly seasoned beef may come off as a tad subtle in taste for those looking for a more robust flavour...but not me....I'm super happy with it! ^o^

The donburi came topped with a perfectly cooked runny egg yolk that oozes out to coat the rice grains lovingly that has been lightly drizzled with sauce.  Mix everything together for a spoonful of yum.  I'd eat 5 servings of this anytime (not in one sitting, of course) than eat the dreadful Kobe beef I had previously that cost me RM360! >:(

I can't help but revel in the amazing knife skills of the chef.  Look at how evenly, perfectly each piece of beef has been sliced that 'disturbing' the handiwork felt like an injustice....but eat it I must! ^_*

Right after we made our orders, we were served complimentary water taken up a notch with some orange infusion (nice touch!).  Service was attentive and the servers also regularly filled up our glasses and brought us a refill.

I had sushi.  I had don.  Now, I should have coffee.  So, I ordered a Flat White @ RM8.50 just because I could (kekeke!)...in a Japanese eatery! :O  That probably wasn't a very wise move....let's just leave the coffee in the hands of coffee specialists, shall we? ;D

My Personal Opinion

I'm so envious....how I wish I have such a nice and affordably priced Japanese eatery a stone's throw away from where I live.  That way I don't really need to travel for a good Japanese meal.

Everything I had I enjoyed thoroughly but the Wagyu Don and Grilled Garlic Clams are two dishes not-to-be-missed here.  Hmmm, now what shall I have the next time?  Psst....check out discounts available through Upocket (*wink wink*)!

Two Chefs Lab

23-G Jalan Temenggung 27/9

Seksyen 9 Bandar Mahkota Cheras

43200 Kajang

Selangor

Tel: 03-9011 9910