Kizuna Japanese Restaurant, Ipoh
March 29, 2008 | 3,975 views
While I was away toughing it out in Pangkor for the past 2 weeks, it seemed my family had been having quite some feasts, courtesy of my aunt, an experienced foodie from KL, who was down for a few days. Shucks … Anyway, mum suggested this Japanese restaurant, that is quite near to my place, less than 5 minutes drive, right behind Tesco. Japanese food sounds fine, as Ipoh is thirsting for newer options, other than Sushi King and the like.
Grilled eel (unagi) in Teriyaki sauce (part of Sakana Bento)
In fact, this restaurant had been around for some time, more than half a year, if I’m not mistaken, and from the same management of Moritomo, a Japanese restaurant formerly situated in Kinta City Shopping Centre. We arrived pretty early, roughly 6.30pm but it was already packed. We were asked whether we booked earlier, as most of the tables were reserved for customers. Whoops. Didn’t know so popular one …. Luckily, there was a table for 4, and we did not mind squeezing in a bit to accomodate a 5th soul.
Salmon, white tuna sashimi (part of Sakana Bento)
We browsed through the menu hastily, as everybody was hungry, and ended up ordering bento set for everyone. Haha, carnivorous appetite. Btw, the prices ain’t cheap, but not exorbitant as well. Bento sets range from RM20 to Rm35. Bro ordered Sakana Bento set (RM32.80), which comes with grilled eel (unagi), fresh salmon, white tuna, and another unidentifiable fish sashimi, grilled mackerel (i supposed, look below) and grilled salmon (no pic, sorry). All sets come with miso soup, rice, and fruits. The unagi was perfectly grilled, not fishy at all, and not too sticky. The grilled salmon and mackerel were alright, but the award goes to the sashimi!!!!!!! Thickly sliced, fresh and succulent. Well worth the price.
Grilled mackerel (I think) (part of Sakana Bento)
Shake bento
I ordered Shake (salmon) Bento (RM26.80), for I have forsaken salmon far too long. =P The rice is topped with cooked salmon flakes and sour plum strips(?) , 3 thickly sliced fresh salmon sashimi, tenpura prawns and vege, and potato salad (yay!). The tenpura was so-so, still prefer Kampai version, though the prawns were really fresh. The salmon flakes complements the rice well, not too dry, and not too strong fishy smell. The salmon sashimi is another story altogether. VERY fresh and sweet, melt-in-mouth sensation, not chewy, and SO thick! Look pic below, and far below. Haha … Potato salad was tasty as well.
Amazing salmon sashimi (part of Shake Bento)
Saba shio
Grandma ordered Saba (mackerel) shio set (RM15), comes with rice, miso soup, chawan mushi (steamed egg) and fruits. In the menu it is an ala carte item, at the same price, however we requested for a complete set, and the price was still the same. Hmm. Didn’t bother to ask though.
Ebi tenpura
Mum ordered her permanent fixture, tenpura (wonder why most restaurants put as teMpura, as obviously in hiragana, there is no M syllabus, hmm). Ebi tenpura (RM18) comes with 5 huge pieces of prawns, and 3 pieces mixed vege. Tastewise? Same with the ones in my set. No comment.
Gyu shoga Bento
Dad ordered Gyu Shoga Bento (RM24.80), which is stir fried beef with ginger and soy sauce (I think only, cz i did not taste). Seems to be OK, comes with salmon sashimi and white tuna sashimi (not sure), tenpura, and potato salad as well.
Thick salmon sashimi
The bill came to RM140, plus 5% service charge and 5% gov tax. Quite reasonable I would say. They have quite a number of choices, for sashimi, sushi and cooked items. One interesting dish is Fugu sashimi, or the dreaded puffer fish, which requires a chef with certain ‘licence’ to handle, else there is a risk of toxicity. Seasonal price item though.
They have a Redemption Card promotion, RM50 for one stamping, once achieved FULL COLUMN stamping, entitled to a 10% discount! problem is that, there are 20 slots! Certainly need help in completing the whole card. Contributors will be eligible for a 10% discount meal when we reap the rewards, together. Anyone? 
Location : 8-10, Jalan Medan Ipoh 1B, Medan Ipoh Bistari, 31400 Ipoh. To be specific, it is at the new row of shop right beside Tesco, behind the row of 3-4 floors shophouses with HUGE billboards facing Jalan Tasek.
My last visit was last year, a farewell dinner organised for me before I left for KL.
Guess the food quality still remain pretty much the same
[Reply]
wah, brings back lots memories eh? farewell dinner. so generous of your frens. hehe …
[Reply]
The teppanyaki beef & chicken seems to be increasingly salty every time I go there. Have now switched to Akamomiji
[Reply]
[...] Kizuna Japanese Restaurant [...]
[...] the way, let’s concentrate on the review of the day. Kizuna One is NOT a branch of the other Kizuna in Medan Ipoh Bistari, albeit the almost similar sounding names. Yes, there WERE some connections back then, and [...]
[...] And so, there we were on a hot afternoon, seeking for a pleasurable session of lunch with the colleagues somewhere in Ipoh Garden East. If you remember my post last week, the Domino’s Pizza plan went awry when the pizzeria was packed during lunch, and we ended up at Mokuren instead. Mokuren is a new Japanese restaurant at Medan Ipoh Bistari; situated on the same row with Kizuna. [...]
[...] is close to 3 years now, since the last write up on Kizuna; the Japanese restaurant that possibly sparked all the interests in premium Japanese cuisine; [...]
Liar….big liar……..I went kizuna is the most lousy foods, v taken few plates tofu seems got bau already and expensive with the servicing very poor. cannot trust this blog…………..they have taken the money and simply bantal
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 9:03 pm
Haha … caren, who are THEY and what MONEY have ‘they’ taken?
There are good times, and bad times. My experience with Kizuna was good that evening, and yours was not.
And btw, I am NOT working with them, or for them.
[Reply]