Kirishima Shuzou (霧島酒蔵) Japanese Restaurant @ Crystal Crown Hotel, JB

My Rating for Kirishima Shuzou: (4/6)

I keep hearing raving great reviews of Kirishima Shuzou Japanese Restaurant over at Johor Bahru but never did get a chance to try it out. Until recently. Well, I could hardly stay out of Japanese food anyway so it is a matter of time before I try it out!

Kirishima Shuzou Japanese Restaurant（霧島酒蔵）is located in Crystal Crown Hotel. The food is prepared by Japanese chefs, and there is a wide range of sake (meaning “wine” in Japanese) specially imported from Japan. It gets crowded here during the evening, when you can see many Japanese coming here for drinks and chit chatting.

It is well-decorated potraying various types of genuine sake

Interior of Kirishima Shuzou Japanese Restaurant

Going further inside, there's a non-smoking area where you can sit in comfortable leather sofas, and the surroundings are quieter.

The chopsticks (above) and some pickles as pre-course appetizers.

Ramen Set with a bowl of simple ramen, california maki, side dish, pickle and fruit.

A close up of california maki

Pork chop with rice and egg (yummy!)

Tofu

Sushi Paffe (RM 12++)

We walked away from Kirishima Shuzou feeling 'stuffed' but contented. It is one of the few authentic Japanese Restaurant in Johor Bahru. A good meal all in all.

Kirishima Shuzou Japanese Restaurant

Address:Crystal Crown Hotel,117, Jalan Tebrau,Johor Bahru 80250

Cuisine: Japanese

Phone: 072762838

Opening Hours: 12noon - 2.30pm, 6.00pm - 10.30pm

Technorati Tags: Kirishima Shuzou,Japanese Food,Food,Crystal Crown Hotel,Johor Bahru,Malaysia

My Jalan Alor Gourmet Trail: Frog Porridge

My Rating: (4/6)

Located next to the Alor budget inn, there is a stall selling frog porridge every night.

Frog Porridge located @ 36, Jalan Alor

Frog cooked in “Kung pou” style with dried chili. The frog meat was sweet and tender.

With the Plain Porridge, the "Kung Pou" gravy was then poured into it and add in some frog meat. Yummy.

The place is not very clean but the porridge is sweet, fresh and serve well with spicy sauce together.

Technorati Tags: Frog Porridge,Jalan Alor,Kuala Lumpur

My Jalan Alor Gourmet Trail: Meng Kee

My Rating for Meng Kee: (4/6)

Grilled stingray , the skin is crispy and the flesh is juicy

“Kum heong” lala clamps. It’s a nice dish if you like seafood. Keep you eating and wanting for more as you eat it.

Meng Kee Restaurant

Address: 39, Jalan Alor, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur (Opposite Wisma City Tower)

Technorati Tags: Meng Kee,Seafood,Grilled Fish,Lala,Chinese Food

BBQ Chicken @ Jaya One, PJ

My Rating for BBQ Chicken: (3/6)

BBQ Chicken has grown to be the No. 1 franchise brand in Korea with franchises all over the world. According to the fact, BBQ Chicken created Olive Luxury Chicken and was the first to use only 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil imported from Spain (which is several times more expensive than other cooking oil) to fry chicken. According to them, they use only the best and freshest ingredients in their restaurant and consumers can be assured that they are served with quality chicken meal.

The name BBQ chicken is extremely confusing as one's brain immediately tunes it to stand for barbeque chicken. "BBQ" here stood for "Best of the Best Quality". Anyway, their main pitch was that they used extra virgin olive oil and 30 natural seasonings to fry their "Olive Luxury Chicken."

This is the first time I'm trying out BBQ Chicken, self acclaiming as Korea's No. 1 Chicken Restaurant located at Jaya One, Petaling Jaya.

Interior of BBQ Chicken, Jaya One

Unlike other places, their promise to the customer is a healthier meal as they fry their chicken in extra virgin OLIVE OIL. Note that although people don't usually use olive oil to deep fry items due to it's low smoking point, BBQ Chicken claims they have developed a special olive oil which has a higher smoking point. The olive oil used at this outlet is specially brought in from Korea. To enhance their food quality, they even have a Chicken University in Korea where they develop the food and train the franchise holders.

The original chicken

There are several different flavors of sorbet.

I had orange sorbet in a real orange shell. Yummy!

The only setback of this place is the higher prices which may drive the customer towards Kentucky Fried Chicken. However, I wouldn’t mind paying more for fried chicken that is more healthy.

BBQ Chicken

Cuisine: Korean

Address: No. 12-G, Block M Jaya One, Jalan University, 46200 Petaling Jaya.

Tel: +603-7954 8722

Operating Hours: Daily (10am-10pm)
Website: http://bbq-chicken.com.my/

Technorati Tags: BBQ Chicken,Korean,Fast Food,Food,Jaya One,Petaling Jaya,Malaysia

Pasta Zanmai @ Mid Valley, KL

My Rating for Pasta Zanmai: (4/6)

Pasta Zanmai serves Japanese-Western fusion food. Initially when I first heard about it, I was rather nonplussed at the thought of eating unagi on pizza and teriyaki chicken on pasta. But I have to say that Pasta Zanmai does it so well, and the food is so tasty that I immediately warmed to the idea of Japanese style western food!

The interior decoration was pretty nice, with ample lighting, comfortable chairs, and a busy pace. Despite the crowd, food didn’t take long to arrive, and they were good!

Beverages and desserts menu

Dishes menu

Unagi Rice with a poached egg (yummy)

Unagi kabayaki to Onsen Tamago no Pizza

(Roasted Eel & Hot Spring Egg Pizza), RM26

Comes with shreds of seaweed & mayonnaise. It is absolutely delicious! The base is crispy and has a faint taste of garlic butter. The egg is half boiled. (One of my favorites at Pasta Zanmai is the Japanese pizza)

Chicken Katsu Rice

Overall, this place is worth to visit. Reasonable prices and food quality is up to par; definitely one of the places to eat Japanese food.

PASTA ZANMAI (Mid Valley Megamall)
Address: Lot F-051, First Floor, Mid Valley Megamall, Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 KL.
Phones: 6032283 2160
Handphone: 012-720 2160
Fax: 2282 6448
Email: pastaz-mv@supersushi.com.my
Daily Business Hour: 10am – 10pm
Website: http://supersushi.com.my/index.html

Technorati Tags: Pasta Zanmai,Japanese Food,Food,Mid Valley,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia