Bento | Motormouth From Ipoh - A Malaysian Food Blog

Look To The EAST, for Cheap Japanese Food in Ipoh

March 22, 2010 | 1,655 views | 23 Comments »

Some of you might be wondering about the reason(s) behind the serious lack of Ipoh’s Japanese food posts on my blog. Last I wrote something of such trait was way back when I discovered A Lai I for the first time, after that same Japanese restaurant has been running for a good 3-4 years prior to my virginal visit.

Pathetic huh? In reality, I actually love Japanese food to bits, especially those promising the freshest of ingredients, the most authentic of dishes (aside from the usual California rolls, bento sets and xxx-Dons, which by the way, are exactly what Sushi King is heavily promoting now), and preferably, a reasonably-priced feast.

But of course, Japanese food don’t come cheap, nor do they come in abundance. The good ones, at least. I have visited almost all of the Japanese restaurants in Ipoh, save for Kizuna One at Royal Perak Golf Club, for they charge exorbitantly more, for the same fares one can get at Kizuna, the new Wasabi Japanese Buffet at 1Casuarina which is WAY over-rated for the price one pays, and some random ones sprouting all over Greentown, or Ipoh Garden East.

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Comments: 23 Comments »
Categories: Ipoh Food
Tags: Bento, Ipoh Food, Ipoh Garden East, Japanese Food, Sashimi, Soft Shell Crab, Sushi, Sushi East
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Cafe Takahashi’s New Menu & Pappa Rich @ De Garden, Ipoh

February 13, 2010 | 1,410 views | 13 Comments »

How’s the CNY preparation going? Reached your boiling point yet?Or you’re still playing cool cucumber, and neglecting the chores, the cooking, the cleaning and … the shopping.

Whatever it is, DO NOT forget the eating. Hahaha … coz that’s what people do during the festive seasons, and live to regret the binge right after the celebrations. Oh well … a continuous spiral of gluttony, then crash diet, then foodhunting again …….

Cafe Takahashi @ Jusco Kinta City, Ipoh

Sometime ago, I wrote about this new Japanese fusion cafe in Jusco Kinta City, when it first opened its door back in the middle of 2009. Combining elements of traditional Japanese cuisine and modernized ‘kissaten’ (Japanese cafe) concept, Cafe Takahashi has seen its following building up as time goes by, and even has a Facebook fan page of their own now.

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Comments: 13 Comments »
Categories: Ipoh Food
Tags: Bento, Cafe, De Garden, Halal Food, Japanese Food, Jusco, Kinta City, Kopitiam, Pappa Rich, Steak, Toast, White Coffee
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Fuji Japanese Restaurant @ Bangkok, Thailand

August 24, 2009 | 686 views | 28 Comments »

Continuation from Bangkok – S2S Boutique Resort Bangkok …..

Spacious, modern and pleasant decor – Sip on your hot cup of ocha, and ends your meal with some fresh-cut fruits.

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Comments: 28 Comments »
Categories: Bangkok 2009
Tags: Bangkok, Bento, Fuji Japanese Restaurant, Japanese, Japanese Food, Kurobuta Pork, Okonomiyaki, Sashimi, Soba Noodles, Tempura, Thailand, Travel
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Got Me Sayin’ ICHIBAN-desu !!! (Ichiban Boshi @ Pavilion, KL)

December 15, 2008 | 196 views | 20 Comments »

Back to a KL post for today. A slow …. soul-less Monday. Imagine an office with less than 50% capacity. Maybe 20-30% inhabitants only. Holidays come early for most?

Not unlike the conventional conveyor belt sushi outlet … albeit with a twist

Eating out in Pavilion can be a chore. Especially peak hours on weekends/public holidays where everywhere’s crowded. From Madam Kwan’s to Tony Roma’s, and a snaking line (though not as obvious as few months back) at JCo’s, and the ever-congested Food Republic, choosing a place for lunch can be rather … indecisive.

Thus, we settled for Ichiban Boshi. Have yet to step into the Japanese restaurant, but judging from the overwhelming business on most days, can’t be any worse than Sushi King/Sakae Sushi/Genki Sushi right?

Salmon (smoked, maybe) sushi with melted cheese and roes

Salmon Avocado Roll

Starting off with some sushi, the salmon and cheese combination may sound weird on paper, but worked just fine. The creamy cheese complemented the smoked salmon well, though one can’t really taste the freshness and natural sweetness of the fish. But I’m all for fusion-ized items.

The salmon and avocado temaki roll was good, though sucked presentation-wise. Clever combination of diced fresh salmon with creamy avocado bits and served generously with mayonaise, the portion was slightly larger than the other contenders’ abysmal, mini versions. Still remember the last time I had a temaki in Sushi King, and the rice outweighed the fillings by a whole lot.

Egg Crepe Roll with Bacon and Lettuce

A case of ‘over-fusionized’, the temaki rolled with thin egg layer, and consisting of rice, lettuce and bacon did not fare as well. And dipping the roll into the shoyu did not result in a positive outcome either. Probably should have asked for more mayo instead.

Hiyashi Chuka Soba (RM14.90)

Ichiban Boshi’s trump card lies in their freshly made-on-the-spot soba, or buckwheat noodles. The display counter at the front end of the restaurant functions to exhibit the chef’s skills in making the aforementioned noodles, but photography is not allowed. =(

Served either cold, or in a bowl of piping hot soup, the noodles are springy, light, and deemed nutritious. The Hiyashi Chuka Soba consisted of cold buckwheat noodles served with duck meat, crab stick, julienned cucumber and tomatoes, as well as eggs. A bowl of cold and spicy sauce accompanied the serving of noodles on the side, hence you have the option of either dipping the noodles into the sauce, OR pouring the whole bowl of sauce into the noodles. I did the latter, and the resulting concoction had me smacking my lips in recollection.

Thin, springy (QQ) buckwheat noodles with multiple garnishing and ingredients thrown in

The strips of duck meat were not chewy, nor gamey. Sprinkled with lots of sesame seeds, the shredded meat and vegetables were perfect companion to the cold noodles, and the slightly spicy and sour sauce enhanced the overall experience a notch. Recommended, for the noodles alone.

Tempura Moriawase (RM13.90)

A plate of mixed tempura consisted of 2 big prawns, and the usual suspects of sweet potato, brinjal, capsicum and such, coated with tempura batter and fried to a crisp. Yet, managed to retain the moisture of the ingredients within. Nothing out of the ordinary, but deserving of a mention here is the attentive and accomodating service, whereby I requested for another bowl of the tentsuyu sauce, and the waiter gladly complied, returning with a steaming hot bowl of it.

Kushiyaki Moriawase (RM15.90) for 6 pcs

The mixed grilled items on skewers came on a sparsely-presented plate. With a lemon wedge for that extra zing, the 6 pcs of grilled meat/vege on skewers were lip-smacking, mostly. The shishamo (grilled smelt) was packed with enough eggs, yet none of the repulsive fishy taste. The yakitori and black pepper yakitori (grilled chicken meat) were both tender, succulent and juicy enough on its own, but drizzled with the slightly sweet tare sauce, the flavour of the meat was subtly punctuated.

The tsukune (chicken meatballs) were the best of the lot, marinated well and very tasty. But only 3 were served on a skewer. Of course, one can opt for the items separately. The shitake mushrooms and tebasaki (chicken wings) were good in their own rights.

What’s attractive was that …. it didn’t cost us an arm and a leg to eat here. The meal for two costed only RM67.50 (after 5% gov tax, 10% service charge). I may return for more, in the near future, as they gave a Rewards Card, expiring on 30/4/2009, where I can get a stamp for every RM30 spent, and 3 stamps net a California Handroll, 5 will net you a RM15 voucher … and so forth.

Location : ICHIBAN BOSHI @ Lot 1.14, Pavilion, 168, Jln Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. On the lowest floor with Food Republic and the infinite eateries there. Tel : 603-2141 6621.