It was my first time stepping into Hanazen and expecting it to be very much like any other popular authentic fine Japanese restaurants around.
Lets start with the salmon yamakake (RM 13). Yamakake refers to a popular way of eating yamaimo, a type of yam cultivated in Japan. Personally, I felt that yamakake is not meant for everyone, it was bland, pulpy with sticky texture, in another word: yucky! It was cold and tasteless without the added shoyu and wasabi. Such a unique out-of-the-world mind blowing taste! By the way, it is hard to find yamakake anywhere else.
5 precious pieces of toro sake (RM 25). The slices are covered in these whitish lines of fat that make this a much sought after portion of the fish, hence the pricier tag that comes with it. It was fresh, bouncy and rich in flavor.
DIY sukiyaki hot pot with beef slices, vegetables and eaten with a raw egg dip (RM 30).
Part of the sukiyaki, a plate of fresh beef slices.
The soup is cooked in a soy sauce, sugar, and mirin broth was overly sweet for me. Surprisingly, the longer it cooked, the more kao (sweeter) it became.
Ochazuke combines two quintessentially Japanese ingredients, plain white rice and green tea. It is the toppings that makes it flavorful, common toppings include seaweed, furikake, sesame seeds, wasabi and a selection of main toppings; either mentaiko, ikura, ume, sake or unagi.
Ikura ochazuke (RM 16), it was okay but a little bland for me. As a Malaysian, I think I'll still prefer my curry rice more.
Definitely a great comfort food to have when you are sick and not feeling well.
Yakitori (skewered chicken, RM 9) and skewered hotate (scallops, RM 12). Flavorful, sweet and perfectly grilled.
Sake teriyaki (RM 16), perfectly grilled salmon fillet marinated with the sweet teriyaki sauce.
Verdict: My overall experience wasn't that impressive, maybe I'm not Japanese enough to truly appreciate it. Furthermore, the price is on the high-end, anytime I'd prefer either Rakuzen, Sushi Tei or Sushi Zanmai.
Address:
Hanazen
43-G, Block C,
Jaya One,
72A, Jalan Universiti, Section 13,
46200, Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-7954 8000
Business Hours: Opens daily from 12pm - 3pm and 6pm - 11pm
Pork Free: Yes
Taste:
Value:
GPS: 3.117858, 101.635814
Map:
View Eat Lah Food Map in a larger map
Lets start with the salmon yamakake (RM 13). Yamakake refers to a popular way of eating yamaimo, a type of yam cultivated in Japan. Personally, I felt that yamakake is not meant for everyone, it was bland, pulpy with sticky texture, in another word: yucky! It was cold and tasteless without the added shoyu and wasabi. Such a unique out-of-the-world mind blowing taste! By the way, it is hard to find yamakake anywhere else.
5 precious pieces of toro sake (RM 25). The slices are covered in these whitish lines of fat that make this a much sought after portion of the fish, hence the pricier tag that comes with it. It was fresh, bouncy and rich in flavor.
DIY sukiyaki hot pot with beef slices, vegetables and eaten with a raw egg dip (RM 30).
Part of the sukiyaki, a plate of fresh beef slices.
The soup is cooked in a soy sauce, sugar, and mirin broth was overly sweet for me. Surprisingly, the longer it cooked, the more kao (sweeter) it became.
Ochazuke combines two quintessentially Japanese ingredients, plain white rice and green tea. It is the toppings that makes it flavorful, common toppings include seaweed, furikake, sesame seeds, wasabi and a selection of main toppings; either mentaiko, ikura, ume, sake or unagi.
Ikura ochazuke (RM 16), it was okay but a little bland for me. As a Malaysian, I think I'll still prefer my curry rice more.
Definitely a great comfort food to have when you are sick and not feeling well.
Yakitori (skewered chicken, RM 9) and skewered hotate (scallops, RM 12). Flavorful, sweet and perfectly grilled.
Sake teriyaki (RM 16), perfectly grilled salmon fillet marinated with the sweet teriyaki sauce.
Verdict: My overall experience wasn't that impressive, maybe I'm not Japanese enough to truly appreciate it. Furthermore, the price is on the high-end, anytime I'd prefer either Rakuzen, Sushi Tei or Sushi Zanmai.
Address:
Hanazen
43-G, Block C,
Jaya One,
72A, Jalan Universiti, Section 13,
46200, Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-7954 8000
Business Hours: Opens daily from 12pm - 3pm and 6pm - 11pm
Pork Free: Yes
Taste:
Value:
GPS: 3.117858, 101.635814
Map:
View Eat Lah Food Map in a larger map
Dropping by ere. Nice review on Hanazen.
But...not my favorite and usual place for Jap food. I'd still prefer Sushi Tei at Tropicana City Mall more :P