There's A New Japanese Food Hall At The Gardens Mall With Ramen, Tonkatsu, Yakiniku & More
If you can't visit Japan just yet.
By Tamara Jayne
A new food hall has recently opened in The Gardens Mall for anyone who has a hankering for Japanese cuisine
Located at the newly opened The Table, on the third floor inside Isetan Kuala Lumpur, is a variety of Japanese restaurants, serving everything from shabu-shabu to tonkatsu and craft beer.
If you're not in the mood to deal with large crowds, now's the best time to pay this spot a visit as it's still pretty new.
1. Menya Appare (non-halal)
Perfect for rainy days or when you just need a comfort meal, Menya Appare serves ramen in a variety of yummy broths. You can select soft, normal, or hard noodles to pair with your choice of pork soup. The chashu (braised pork) here is so tender, it melts in your mouth.
They also serve dry ramen, and rice bowls will be available soon.
Average price:
RM30 – RM50
Opening hours:
11.30am – 3pm; 5.30pm – 9pm (Tuesday to Sunday)
Closed on Monday. Kitchen closes at 8.30pm.
2. Tamaruya Honten Teppanyaki (pork-free)
Sit by the counter as chefs cook up a tasty teppanyaki meal, or at one of the open dining spaces if you're there with a group of friends. Tamaruya Honten Teppanyaki's 'On The Teppan' menu has barramundi fillet, salmon fillet, duck breast, pure Angus ribeye, and Japanese wagyu.
The menu also includes other cuisines, such as beef shawarma, beef bourguignon, spinach cannelloni, and a variety of desserts.
Average price:
RM20 – RM250
Opening hours (daily):
11am – 3pm (Last order at 2.30pm);
5pm – 11pm (Last order at 9.45pm)
3. Jyu Jyu Yakiniku (pork-free)
If you've got a large appetite or just wanna enjoy some good meat, Jyu Jyu Yakiniku offers a Japanese barbecue buffet. You'll have your own charcoal grill pan, flown in directly from Japan, where you can cook different meats and enjoy them with house dipping sauces.
Aside from yakiniku, they have a variety of soups, rice dishes, noodles, sushi, and seafood.
Average price:
RM90 – RM300
Opening hours:
11am – 3pm; 5pm – 11pm (Thursday – Monday)
Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
4. Mo Mo Paradise (non-halal)
Make space for some good hot pot at Mo Mo Paradise, which is an all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu and sukiyaki restaurant. While the first restaurant opened in Tokyo, there are now more than 80 outlets in seven countries.
The restaurant serves Sakura pork, free of antibiotics and growth hormones, and the beef is imported from Australia. To pair with the meat, vegetables and mushrooms are sourced from local farmers, and all of the sauces are prepared with Japanese recipes and ingredients.
Average price:
RM100 – RM300
Opening hours:
11am – 11pm (Daily)
5. Tonkatsu By Ma Maison (non-halal)
Tonkatsu by Ma Maison opened its first outlet in KL in 2013 and has since become a go-to for katsu that they've branched out with more outlets. You can also order fried oysters, prawns, and other meats that are all made using their chef Akinori Terazawa's special technique to keep meat succulent.
Average price:
RM30++
Opening hours:
11am – 11pm (Daily)
6. Takumi Craft Bar (non-halal)
Enjoy a peaceful solo night or an evening catchup with friends after work. Takumi Craft Bar offers craft beers and artisanal cocktails, perfect to unwind with after a long day.
Average price:
RM30 – RM50
Opening hours:
11am – 11pm (Daily)
