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Having grown up on Japanese manga, sushi and Studio Ghibli motion pictures, it’s no secret that my lifelong dream has at all times been to go to Japan. So once I stumbled upon the Himawari Japanese Restaurant situated contained in the Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur (JCKL), it felt like I used to be transported straight to the Land of the Rising Sun.
If you search for Himawari Japanese Restaurant on Google, it is going to present you one other restaurant with the identical identify situated in Taman Desa however take be aware—it’s a very totally different place. While the signboard on the entrance of the JCKL constructing says that it’s for members solely, you’ll be able to nonetheless dine in on the restaurant. Just be ready at hand over your driving licence in change for a customer’s move.
From the parking zone, it’s a must to stroll to the constructing on the finish. Take the raise to the primary flooring and proper after JM My Second Home Consultancy, you’ll uncover a traditional wood-centric restaurant with a lantern on show at its entrance. You’ll know you’re in the best place as a result of a lot of the diners are Japanese.
Excitedly, I stepped in.
What I attempted at Himawari Japanese Restaurant
I began off with a traditional Japanese sizzling appetiser, Chawanmushi (RM4) which was served in a dainty little teacup.
If you like steamed eggs with a custard-like consistency, then Himawari’s chawanmushi hits the spot. The hearty little dish contained all the standard suspects:, mushroom slices, crabstick and a tiny prawn. But the star was really the egg custard itself— umami, velvety and clean. Mouthfuls of the silky chawanmushi slid down my throat simply and earlier than I even knew it, your complete teacup was cleaned. Delicious.
Himawari gives quite a lot of à la carte menu choices, however essentially the most wanted is their lunch set. I opted for the Sashimi Set Lunch (RM19.80) which got here with 2 slices of salmon, 3 slices of yellowtail, 5 tiny slices of squid, a bowl of rice, a tiny chunk of sausage coated in sauce, a customary bowl of miso soup, and a pair of slices of papaya.
I used to be significantly happy with the freshness of the sashimi. The yellowtail had a buttery and tender texture and when dipped within the soy sauce gave it a light-weight, sweet-salty style. I used to be very happy to pop the sleek, meaty salmon sashimi into my grasping mouth. The squid sashimi in the meantime had a really delicate and light-weight flavour. My solely gripe could be to want for the squid sashimi to be bigger. But at RM19.80, who am I to complain? It positively is hard to get such costs at different Japanese eating places in KL.
Encouraged by my first two programs, I made a decision to spherical off my meal with an icy dessert. To my delight, Himawari served Kakigori, in any other case referred to as Japanese shaved ice. There’s quite a lot of flavours to select from: Milk Kakigo-ri (milk shaved ice), Uji Kintoki (inexperienced tea with crimson bean shaved ice) or Milk Kintoki (milk with crimson bean shaved ice).
I fortunately opted for the Uji Kakigo-ri (RM7) which I got here to be taught was Japanese shaved ice with inexperienced tea. If you have been to ask any of my associates or colleagues, they’d let you know that half of my physique most likely consists of inexperienced tea. When the dessert arrived, I couldn’t wait and instantly dug my spoon into the inexperienced icy mountain and took a chew.
Like lots of my earlier experiences with Japanese shaved ice, I anticipated a tender, gentle and fluffy iced dessert which might soften in my mouth like freshly fallen snow. Instead, what greeted my style buds was brittle crushed ice that, to be frank, jogged my memory extra of Malaysia’s ais kacang. The inexperienced tea flavour was weak and didn’t assist the coarse texture of the ice. Ah, what a disappointment,
Final ideas
This restaurant is certainly like nothing I’ve been in earlier than. With a Japanese-style curtain hanging from the ceiling, picket tables and a complete library devoted to Japanese manga and fueled with Japanese chatter, I felt like I used to be eating in a comfortable restaurant in Tokyo.
If you’re questioning in regards to the library, the cashier defined that one would simply should be a member of JCKL they usually might are available in to learn the books free of charge.
Despite the kakigori ending my meal on a bitter be aware, I’ve by no means felt extra at house at a restaurant. I’d positively convey alongside my Japanese-obsessed associates for one more go to. And maybe within the subsequent spherical, I’ll go for the matcha ice cream as an alternative.
Expected injury: RM20 – RM40 per pax
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Price: $
Our Rating: 4 / 5
Himawari Japanese Restaurant
2, Jalan 1/86, off, Jalan Taman Seputeh, Taman Seputeh, 58000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Price
Our Rating 4/5
Himawari Japanese Restaurant
2, Jalan 1/86, off, Jalan Taman Seputeh, Taman Seputeh, 58000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Telephone: +603 2274 2791
Operating Hours: 11.30am – 2.30pm & 6pm – 9.30pm (Mon to Fri), 11.30am – 9.30pm (Sat & Sun)