Ishin Japanese Dining @ Old Klang Road

Ishin Japanese Dining @ Old Klang Road

Think Old Klang Road, and you think good food. There are so many places to eat at in that bustling area, and since December 2009, a brand new one has opened up that deserves your attention.

Imagine this: Fresh seafood and ingredients, air-flown from Japan twice a week, skillfully prepared and served to you on a plate.

That is what you’ll get at Ishin Japanese Dining, the latest addition to the many eateries at Old Klang Road. Conveniently located, Ishin is housed in a cozy bungalow, set back from the main road on your left if you’re coming from the Federal Highway.

Along with me were Han (Red Weekends/Photographer), and special guest bloggers Lyrical Lemongrass of awhiffoflemongrass, and Boolicious of Masak-masak. Both ladies have highly acclaimed blogs, and really know their Japanese food, so it was a real pleasure to dine with them. Oh, and of course, our very special guest for the evening, Frat Mustard of theQguides.com.

We were greeted by part owner Victor Lim, managing director of iProp Realty Sdn. Bhd. and an established property columnist. “I’m very new to the restaurant industry,” he tells us,”but I’m learning fast!”

I believed him, as he passionately talked about Ishin, Japanese food and the main aim of the restaurant: to put emphasis on a dining experience that you will enjoy, hence the name of the restaurant.

Chef Q (a nickname derived from his surname ‘Kew’) heads up the kitchen and ensures that every taste and every morsel of food that reaches your mouth is of high quality.

“We’re very accommodating,” says Chef Q. “”After all, we want to serve you what you like to eat!” With an impressive background in Japanese Cuisine, he trained under Master Chef Takao Ando for 14 years and acclaimed to be his best protégé. He has worked in numerous 5 stars international hotels and has 19 years of experience under his belt.

You can choose from a large selection of a la carte dishes, or opt for a tailor made Kaiseki Style Menu.

That evening, we were to sample Ishin’s Kaiseki Style Menu, a traditional multi course Japanese dinner, using only fresh, seasonal ingredients prepared simply to enhance natural flavours.

Kaiseki Style Menu – RM 180 ++

Appetizer

Grilled Fava Beans, Sesame Tofu with Caviar, Fried Baby Crabs, Sweet Marinated Plums

The Fava beans were substantially larger and more plump than the average bean, while the sesame tofu with caviar was firm and silky.

I almost didn’t want to eat the baby crabs, that you can actually see running around live, in the ice, at the sushi counter.

They were just too cute, but hey, good food is good food, so I popped one in my mouth and crunched on the salty thing.

Frat had a little trouble fitting it in his mouth.

Soup

Prawn Bisque

A light and tasty broth, with a succulent prawn warmly nestled in the middle of the bowl.

To me, a bisque of this sort screams Western cuisine, but Chef Q explained that it is quite a common soup in Japan. He also proceeded to joke that here in Malaysia, it’s very difficult to serve completely authentic Japanese flavours. Ishin uses authentic Japanese ingredients and methods of cooking, but the taste has been altered ever so slightly to suit the Malaysian palate. Well, whatever he was doing to the food, it was working.

Sashimi

Assorted Sashimi Platter

I give this platter top marks for presentation, freshness and taste.

Scrumptious slices of Strip Jack, Scampi, Yellow Tail, Sea Urchin, Jumbo Shrimp, Salmon, Flounder, Butter Fish and Meji Tuna Belly. Eaten with Japanese soya sauce, freshly grated wasabi and pickled ginger, we were in heaven.

Grilled Dish

Salt Grilled Tuna Jaw

This was a first for all of us at the table. An entire tuna jaw, cooked simply, but yet with such flavour.

The beauty of this part of the fish, is that you get three different kinds of meat in one piece. From very fatty to very lean, with the addictive salty, crispy skin, it is no understatement to say that we left no bone unturned.

Tempura

Scallop Tempura with Sweet Potato in Cherry Blossom

The batter was light and crispy, the scallop sweet and succulent.

I loved the crispy noodles that doubled up as a Geisha fan.

Main

Stone Grilled A5 Kagoshima Wagyu with Miso Sauce

Everything had far surpassed my expectations so far, but I have to say the Wagyu was the highlight of the meal. A portable stone grill was placed in the middle of our table, and each of us given 3 pieces of raw beef on a plate.

A5 Kagoshima is the highest grade of Wagyu on the market. We watched it sizzle on the hotplate, no more than a minute on each side and it was ready.

Dip it in the potent miso sauce and let melt in your mouth.

Sushi

Phoenix Roll, Hawaiian Roll, Special House Roll & Caterpillar Roll

Dessert

Peach, Melon, Sesame, Citrus, Green Tea, Sakura, Lavender, Wasabi Ice Cream

The ice cream was a huge hit with all of us. Lemongrass and Han loved the flower based ice-creams (Sakura & Lavender) while Boo was a fan of the Green Tea and Citrus. Me, a great lover of all things savoury, was very impressed with the subtle flavour of the Wasabi and Sesame.

Polishing off the last of the ice cream, we were momentarily distracted by one of the Chef’s that brought out an entire tuna fish, and proceeded to slice it into dainty pieces.

Now that’s taking fresh sashimi to a whole new level.

A little blow torch action…

And voila! A beautiful plate and some very satisfied guests.

Chef Q sat with us after our meal, or feast, I think I should call it.

He’s a lovely, personable chap with a sense of humour, and it’s clear from his experience that what you’ll get to eat is the best.

Whether you choose to sit at the sushi bar Ishin offers something out of the ordinary from your usual Japanese restaurant. It’s got character, it’s got live baby crabs, and most importantly, it’s a place you know you’ll walk out of feeling satisfied.

From Monday, 26th April – Friday 30 April, tune in from Eleven2Three to win RM 100 vouchers to Ishin Japanese Dining! The Big Red Food Review with me, Aly. Only on Red FM, Today’s Best Music!

This restaurant is bookable at theQguides.com. Book, Eat, Be Rewarded.

CONTACT:

Ishin Japanese Dining

No. 202, Persiaran Klang
Batu 3 3/4
Off Jalan Kelang Lama
58000 Kuala Lumpur

Tel : +60 3 7980 8228
Fax: +60 3 7981 0011

Operating hours for;

Lunch 12pm – 3pm
Dinner 6pm – 10.30pm

http://ishin.my/