Sushi Mentai @ Pandan Indah

When it comes to Japanese chain restaurants, I notice the increasing popularity of Sushi Mentai which currently has a strong presence in almost every popular neighbourhood around KL, PJ, Penang and Johor Bahru. It is known for its "neighbourhood restaurant concept" where you can enjoy affordable Japanese food without having to travel far from home.

The crowd in every outlet can be overwhelming especially during lunch and dinner hours especially weekends. Sometimes it surprises me when I see the outlet is packed even during late afternoons or tea times. However, luck is on my side during my visit as I manage to secure a table around 4pm++ on a weekday.

Not everyone can afford eating Japanese food on a frequent basis, but Sushi Mentai makes it possible by offering more than 50 types of sushi on the conveyor belt which are priced flatly at RM1.80 and RM2.80 per yellow and red plate respectively. And people grab them so quickly that the sushi needs to be constantly churned out from the kitchen every few minutes! 

Salmon Mentai, Hotate Mentai and more @ RM2.80 per red plate

Salmon Mentaiyaki

Speaking of the wide choices, I doubt any Japanese joint offers such extensive sushi and ala carte menus in town! We can find everything including appetizer, soup, teriyaki, donburi, katsu, sashimi, noodles, tempura, and even sukiyaki on the menu.

But my personal favourite is the Salmon Mentaiyaki where the fish is first grilled till crisp, juicy perfection before being glazed with generous amounts of cheesy cod roe sauce that I just cannot get enough of.

Ebi Mentaiyaki @ RM9.80

A Japanese take on prawns, these Ebi Mentaiyaki are decadent - succulent tiger prawns baked with Japanese creamy mentaiko sauce and well-balanced with smoky charred flavours. Fresh, juicy, and delicious!

Salmon Mentai Dragon Maki @ RM12.80

As if I have not gotten enough of the addictive mentaiko sauce, we also order a large sushi roll for sharing. The maki sushi is extra large in size with very compact texture as it incorporates loads of ingredients. It is a mix of savoury taste with a hint of sweetness courtesy of the crunchy shrimp layered between mayonnaise, seaweed and salmon. 

Salmon Wrap @ RM10.80

Well, sushi can sometimes be very filling for the stomach. So if you opt to skip the rice portion, then the 6-pieces salmon wrap is a great option as raw salmon, ebikko and sliced cucumber are wrapped beautifully within the translucent Vietnamese rolls. 

Unagi Don @ RM19.80

For main courses, bento, udon/soba set and donburi are aplenty here. One of the bestsellers is the Unagi Bento that comes with a complimentary bowl of seaweed and tofu simmered in Japanese Miso.

The bento itself is a great deal as it includes a huge portion of grilled eel, Japanese steamed egg and steaming rice blanketed with sweet caramelized unagi sauce. Served in traditional kabayaki style, the well-marinated unagi is soft and burst with flavours.

Verdict:

Overall, Sushi Mentai is the Japanese joint to go for, if you have tight budget
forr a satisfying, comfort Japanese food experience.

The list of all Sushi Mentai outlets is available at www.sushi-mentai.com/our-restaurants.

Sushi Mentai
9-G, Jalan Perubatan 2,
Pandan Indah,
55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Facebook: fb.com/sushimentaimalaysia
Business Hours:
Weekday: 12noon - 10pm
Weekend: 11.30am - 10pm (Last order at 9.30pm)