Ishin Japanese Dining Restaurant is located right beside the main road of Old Klang Road KL, a hidden gem which can be easily missed out. For diners who seldom frequent to this area like us, a help from navigation app is definitely needed so that you will slow down when getting near to Ishin Restaurant, avoid driving pass the entrance accidentally.
Despite its less advantaged location, Ishin’s good Japanese food with affordable price has been spread by word of mouth, building a reputable branding with brisk business during lunch and dinner. Imagine we were there one Thursday night 8PM, and the place was still half full with customers when we left around 11PM.
Quality ingredients with skilful chefs to churn out delectable dishes helmed with a touch of modern creativity, yet no shadowing the authenticity of Japanese food, is something Ishin Japanese Dining always prides at. Perhaps, also the reason why Ishin is so famous over the years.
Appetizer – Kuri Kannoni, Ishito Taduki, Gufu Kawa no Sunomono, Mie Kaki
We tried out Ishin Kaiseki set, a refined dining experience that highlights the use of seasonal ingredients available during different seasons in Japan, exquisitely presented through a 6 to 12- course Kaiseki. Priced from RM180 onwards.
Our meal began with Appetizer, combining fruit tomato (Kuri Kannoni), Chestnut (kuri Kannoni), Anchovies (Ishito Taduki), Fugu skin vinegar jelly (Fugu Kawa no Sunomono) and Japanese Mie Kaki. Especially enjoyed the Fugu Skin Vinegar Jelly, chewy like our agar-agar, just leans towards savoury
In order to taste the best flavours of eat items, suggest to follow the eating consequences -> first opens up the appetite with tangy sweet tomato, followed by fresh raw oyster, then fugu skin jelly to clean the palate a bit. Next munch on addictive sweet anchovies and finally, round up with starchy sweet chestnut.
Soup -Double Boiled Baby Abalone with Condiments
Double Boiled Baby Abalone with Mushroom, vegetables, Summergirl’s favourite. Light and clean in taste, nourishing and tummy warming, laced with subtle hints of yuzu aroma.
Sashimi – Nama Maguro, Kampachi, Tsubugai
Grilled Dish- Fugu Shirako Shioyaki
A more simple and direct term to explain this dish – Grilled Sperm of Fugu, or pufferfish. Appears long, fat, white, it is good to eat first and knowing what it is later. Some may ended up like Summergirl, tasting just one bite and left the whole portion to Summerkid, who happily tucked in two plates of this. It wasn’t that bad actually – creamier, softer than tofu, custardy like a creme brulee, melt-in-mouth. But apparently, the name made Summergirl went timid.
Simmered dish – Beef Tongue with Japanese Turnip
5 to 6 hours of slow-braised process, rest assured, the beef tongue is deeply flavoured with broth, remarkably tender soft in texture. Served with Japanese Turnip infused with yuzu.
Main Course- Yaki Onigiri Ochazuke with Fresh Seaweed
A sizeable grilled onigiri stuffed with crabmeat and minced kobe beef submerged in a bowl of soup, boiled using dried bonito flakes. Lightly garnished with sesame and fresh seaweed. Had this once in Kobe Japanese Restaurant, personally found it quite pale and still learning to love it when eating again in Ishin Japanese Restaurant. Hardly can be our favourite, but definitely a traditional, comfort food that is worth appreciating slowly.
Dessert – Japan melon & Japan Persimmons
Enough of savoury food, time for sweet treat to end the meal. Ishin Japanese Dining Kaiseki Dinner that night prepared a plate of Japan melon and persimmons as dessert, both richly wrapped with intense sweetness and juiciness. Certainly much better than the local melon we always have.
Photography: Summerkid
Write Up: Summergirl
Address:
Ishin Japanese Dining Restaurant
No. 202, Persiaran Klang Batu 3,
3/4 Off Jalan Kelang Lama,
Old Klang Road
58000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Contact : +603 7980 8228
Fax: +603 7981 0011
Parking: Free valet services available.
Operating hours: Lunch 12PM–3PM, Dinner 6PM–1.00AM
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ishinmy
