It has been quite sometime that I have been to a Japanese restaurant. I have been lingering around the gym too much that I have already forgotten to dine. Good thing I was invited to join some of the food bloggers to taste and experience one of the authentic Japanese restaurants in Kuala Lumpur.
Watami has been around for some time around. It started, obviously in Japan and has expanded its original food and beverage line to other areas and industries such as nursing care, organic farming agricultural, ecological initiatives as well as building of schools in Cambodia. Here in Watami in Malaysia, they serve an array of authentic Japanese flavor and experience. So when you dine here, you are just not eating Japanese food, but you are also like in Japan, enjoying how Japanese eat and how they eat their food.
They recently introduced their set meals for 2 to 4 persons starts from RM 40++ per person. You can choose from any of the set menus available or order a la carte. The price range is about RM 25 to 50 ++ per serving.
Entrance
We were invited at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur branch and I was in awe when I entered the restaurant. The place is filled with warm lights, dark brown glossy wood furniture and soft couches. It feels like a zen-ish ambience without the bamboos and water.
Interior
One of the best things here is that you are just not here to enjoy the food, but also, to dine in with your friends or partner. People just do not look for quality food, but they also look for a good setting where they can mingle and talk. Also, if you are holding a small party, you can always call them in advance to book their VIP rooms.
So, let’s go with the food.
Watami Salad
Watami Salad – crisp greens with redonions, corns, cherry tomatoes, broccoli florets, shredded cucumber, shrimp,teriyaki chicken, nori, flying fish roe and fried wanton tossed with Tuna Mayoand Sesame Cream dressing. I have been avoiding myself from consuming mayonnaise because of the fat content but when you talk about Japanese mayo, can we just forget the caloric content for now? 😀
Gomoku Kamameshi
Gomoko Kamameshi – a traditional steel pot rice dish cooked tableside with bonito, carrot, shimeiji mushrooms, tofupouches, root vegetables and topped with salmon, shrimp, scallops, chicken and flying fish roes in broth. This is served uncooked and it cooks for about 20 minutes or you can just wait until the burning white charcoal. It has this sticky white rice that it is very pleasing to your mouth and you can actually smell the aroma from the steam, while it is being cooked on your table.
Gyuniku Sukiyaki Nabe
As expected, sukiyaki has always been part of the Japanese menu. Watami’s sukiyaki sauce comes from Japan so it never goes wrong. It has always been the same taste as it is controlled and packed from Japan. The sweet and salty distinct sukiyaki sauce is very different compared to the other sukiyakis I have tasted before.
Preparing Sukiyaki
I always like to mix the beaten egg onto the sukiyaki while it is cooking. Maybe next time, I shall dip the beef or mushroom to the raw beaten egg for a more authentic Japanese experience.
Anago Tempura Maki
Anago Tempura Maki – sea eel tempura roll. With the size of this maki, it is hard to eat this in one piece.
Wafu Pizza
Wafu Pizza – pizza topped with Teriyaki Chicken. Yes! They have a pizza. It is not the usual Italian or New York pizza but the crust is very soft, more like a soft and very thin dough. Again, you can never go wrong with the teriyaki sauce.
Hotate Butter Yaki
Hotate Butter Yaki – a Watami signature dish of oven-baked scallops and shimeji mushrooms on sizzling hot plate, topped with butter. This is my favorite. A fusion of lime and butter on scallops. This is like one of those side dishes or appetizers that can be your main dish if served in a bigger plate.
Chicken Katsu Tamago Toji
Chicken Katsu Tamago Toli – chicken cutlets with scambled egg sauce. This is served on the same mini-stove to keep the sauce warm. For around 3-5 minutes when it starts to boil, just pour the beaten egg and enjoy the awesome katsu tamago toji.
Passion Fruit, Lychee and Iced Tea
They serve big mugs for your refreshments, warm sake and other beverages.
Ichigo Creamy Parfait
What happens when the dessert is served? Everyone gets so excited! Too bad I was not able to take pictures of the other desserts that were served like the Green Tea Tiramisu.
More details on Watami can be found at http://www.watami.com.my or you can call their branches for reservations:
[three_fourth]Level 4, Connectionn, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
1st Floor, Rainforest, 1 Utama Shopping Center[/three_fourth]
[one_fourth_last]03 2141 6671
03 7727 1399[/one_fourth_last]
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