Daikanyama @ Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL

A new Japanese restaurant in town that's been getting a lot of flogger attention....

I was long overdue for a minum and catch up session with my friend Lynn (lawyer and drama queen extraordinaire *HUGS*) so I suggested Daikanyama, a new Japanese bar/ restaurant that some of my friends had been raving about:
Outside Daikanyama....

Taking over the location of the (fairly) recently expired Dusha Restaurant in the bustling Changkat Bukit Bintang area, Daikanyama is distinctly Japanese yet modern, with a restaurant section downstairs and a lounge/ bar area upstairs:
The Interior of Daikanyama (downstairs)....
Also downstairs: A cool long bar next to the tables....
There's an interesting array of Asian alcohols (sake, choya) in its pure form as well as a part of some interesting Asian inspired cocktails. In terms of the sake, we liked the refreshingly fizzy Ozeki Hanaawaka (RM 55+):
Fizzy sake. Yum...
The menu design is creative (but slightly difficult to navigate vs the normal menu layout), with different categories of food lined up emulating LRT/ MRT/ Subway station stops. :)

After much deliberation (many tempting items!) we decided to start off with the Tori Nankotsu Karaage (Chicken soft bone) (RM 14+):
The Tori Nankotsu Karaage....
Overall, I would definitely order this again - the crunchy pieces of chicken soft bone were coated with a delicious batter deep fried to golden perfection. There was also a complex and yummy layering of flavours - savoury but with a hint of herbs (almost like Chinese herbs).
(Warning: It may be a bit tough for some to eat. It's delicious but a teeny bit hard)

Bacon is yummy...
Cheese is also yummy...
So, when you put the two together and grill it, the result is well, yummy. *grin* Anyway, the case in point is the Bacon Cheese (RM 14+) skewers that we tried that night:
Yummy cheese wrapped with bacon....
(Ok... To be completely fair, I did find it a tad too salty... but just a tad. I'd still order this again - it's a perfect dish to pair with the yummy drinks there)

Next, we tried the Grilled Lamb cutlets (RM 18+):
Delicious Grilled Lamb Cutlets....
This was good - Tender, juicy... and without that strong gamey flavour that can come with badly done red meat.
(Erm... strangely this was a little, just a little!, too bland... but I'm guessing that maybe my tastebuds had been reset/ overloaded by the slightly too salty bacon cheese skewers....)

Onwards to the carbs: Next, we dug into the Garlic fried rice (RM 7+):
The Garlic Fried Rice....
Overall, this too was good - nice texture of the rice complemented by the rocking slices of crispy deep fried garlic sprinkled on top.

We also tried the Squid Ink Spaghetti (RM 22+):
The spaghetti....
What a carb-licious night! :)
The Spaghetti was also nice - Al dente pasta, coated with squid ink sauce and teeny weeny little fish(?) eggs and slices of grilled squid.
(Some might find it a bit too dry, but that's how this dish is supposed to be I think)

Super Banker Fai (who graced our presence that night) tried the Salmon Sashimi (RM 20+):
Raw fissssh....
I didn't try any (am not big on raw fish.... sorry) but he reports that it tastes nice.
(So, you'll just have to take his word on it)

Lastly, we tried the Sake Bomb Maki (RM 26+):
The yummy maki....
I hazarded sampling one piece of the maki - fluffy grains of Japanese rice wrapped with deep fried soft shell crab and topped with some raw fish - and liked it! :)
(Simple and nice, with a good textural mix)

All in all, had a fun time that night - good food, good conversation and lots of booze! :)
(Can't ask for more, really)

So, it's: Cool new Japanese restaurant/bar, nice fusion Japanese food BUT nothing bad to say... except that service, although friendly, was missing that extra oomph - I think the staff are still a bit new, I'm sure they'll warm up soon... :) ....

Summary Sheet:

Daikanyama Japanese Restaurant and Bar @ Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL
42, Changkat Bukit Bintang,
50200 Kuala Lumpur

Taste: 8
Ambience : 7
Service : 6
Price** : RM 60++ per person
Parking: OK***

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
*** There is a RM5.50 open air car park up the road, a bit after Bijan and Nerovivo (if you are heading towards Changkat) - most other places will charge around RM10

Telephone No.: 03-2141 0323
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 5.30pm till late, Sundays 2pm till late
Parking : OK

NOT HALAL

OTHER REVIEWS:
- A Lil Fat Monkey
- Ei Ling
- Paranoid Android
- A Whiff Of Lemongrass
- Eat Drink KL
- Cumi & Ciki


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Daikanyama, Japanese, Bukit Ceylon, Changkat Bukit Bintang, Tengkat Tong Shin, Jalan Ceylon