Kimi-ya Japanese Restaurant @ Old Klang Road, KL

Itadakimasu! What's better than enjoying homey Japanese cuisine at a place called "Home"?

There is no place like home. Kimi-Ya, which translates to "Your Home" in Japanese, is the home where we gather with our family and friends, and enjoy a wide variety of authentic Japanese food with a twist of local flavours amidst a cozy home-style dining ambiance. 

Tara Shirako (50g) @ RM26

Every month, Kimi-Ya has different limited-time promotions on seasonal items which aret only available during a particular season of the year in Japan. This January 2018, Kimi-Ya is serving Tara Shirako (白子 / Cod milt), which is the sperm sac of cod fish.

Being one of the most sought-after Japanese delicacies in town, the fish sperm melts perfectly in the mouth with freshness bursting in the palate. Taste wise, it tastes very much like cream cheese, slightly savoury and sweet. No briny taste or fishy stench at all! 

*Only available from 1 January 2018 till 31 January 2018

Sashimi Mori Hana (4 types)

While the fish sperm is an acquired taste, the sashimi platter is something you'd fall in love with at the first sight. With the dish presentation on point, the fishes served here are freshly imported from Japan. We note that the sashimi slices here are thicker than those served elsewhere. 

Some of the crowd's favourites are the squid with black caviar, tuna, salmon and yellowtail.

A5 Wagyu (120g)

We have friends who shy away from raw food, so we order several hot dishes for sharing as well. What not to be missed here is the sizzling wagyu beef steak served on a hot plate. Kimi-ya uses only the finest A5 grade of wagyu, which is sliced into sizzling strips and grilled alongside a fine array of fresh vegetables and garlic. 

We are all tantalized by the smoky aroma of the dish as soon as it arrives at our table. The resulting taste? Every slice yields a particularly good balance of fat and lean meat, with a slightly charred crispiness at the edges. Extremely juicy. smooth and melty in the mouth, this wagyu dish is best paired with beer or sake as a cool accompaniment to the heat of the grill. 

Zaru Inaniwa Udon

Another favourite of the day is the cold thin wheat noodles served with a unique dipping sauce along with raw quail egg, wasabi and finely chopped spring onion.

You can either dip the cold noodles directly into the homemade dipping sauce for more savoury flavours, or mix the sauce with the quail egg and spring onions for a sweeter, creamier touch. Both ways are equally unique and enjoyable for me. 

Tori Nanban Udon

If you prefer something hot, then try the soup wheat noodles with chicken.

Tempura Moriawase

To perfect our Japanese affair here, we also try the deep-fried battered vegetables and shrimp served with homemade dipping sauce. One thing worth mentioning here is the uniqueness of the dipping sauce that tastes pleasantly different from the plain soy sauce in other Japanese eateries. Simple yet comforting and delicious!

Ayu Shioyaki

Personally I may not be a fan of salt-grill items because they usually turn out to be rather bland inside. But the signature grilled Japanese sweet fish with salt in Kimi-ya proves me wrong as the flaky fish tastes really sweet on the inside and I love the savoury crunch on the outside.   

Yasai Salad

Well, it is good to balance up our meal with something green. Our salad comprising of seaweed, avocado, sea moss and assorted vegetables is something refreshing and healthy for communal sharing. You can check out other varieties such as the bestselling soft shell crab salad, crabmeat and sashimi too. 

Ambiance wise, we are pretty comfortable dining in the cosy and warm space that reminds us of home. For those who prefer better privacy, there are two private rooms in Kimi-ya that can fit small groups. 

Kimi-ya customers can enjoy complimentary valet parking for up to 90 minutes too. 

Verdict:
1. If you are looking for a mid-range Japanese restaurant with good quality and is more wallet-friendly, then Kimi-ya is wroth a visit.
2. Reasons to visit: Good quality ingredients, interesting interpretation of Japanese flavours and fine modern dining ambiance.
3. Recommended: Tara Shirako, Zaru Inaniwa Udon

Kimi-Ya
G-2, Avantas Residences,
162 Jalan Klang Lama,
58200 Kuala Lumpur. 
Contact: +6013-239 3406
Facebook: fb.com/KimiYa.Malaysia

Business Hours:
Mon - Thurs: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10.30pm
Fri - Sun: 11.30am - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm