KEN HUNTS FOOD: Tokkuri Japanese Food (福久利) @ Hai Lee Cafe, Farlim, Penang.

Friday, October 16, 2015

Tokkuri Japanese Food (福久利) @ Hai Lee Cafe, Farlim, Penang.

Savoring Japanese food in an upscale Japanese restaurant seems to be the run-of-the-mill-scene, dining at a hawker place while enjoying Japanese dishes is certainly a rare experience for me. Far deep in the township of Farlim, particularly the Medan Angsana-district, has a new Japanese stall housed within a coffee shop named Hai Lee. Do not look down on Tokkuri, though the exterior may not suggest any sense of temptation but the Japanese menu is extensive- from appetizers like Sushi, Sashimi to mains like Ramen and Rice dishes as well as Hot Pot (Shabu-Shabu) or even Japanese-influenced desserts! Nothing to brag about the setting, more like the usual hawker fare but the prices are extremely wallet-friendly. Do not expect top-notch quality with that range of prices but it does act as a decent place for the budget-watchers to appease their craving for Japanese food. Find Hai Lee Cafe behind Genting Coffee Shop at Farlim or next to Grain Loaf Bakery at the same area.

Yearning for something tummy-warming and slurplicious? Go for their Tonkotsu Ramen (Rm 8.50). The sparkling Ramen Soup is clear but flavorful; beautifully paired with the al-dente Ramen noodles. Tokkuri was generous, evidently seen from the garnishing and the braised Egg was perfectly done with a flowing Egg Yolk. The Japanese Char Siew was okay but we thought it could be more flavorful and meatier (thinly sliced). A value-for-money order.

Unagi (Rm 20)

Saba Shioyaki (Rm 12)

Salmon Sashimi (Rm 12 for 5 pieces)

Feeling fishy? There are aplenty of fish-dishes available here at Tokkuri. We started our meal with a plate of Salmon Sashimi, though the size was inappropriate, the thickness was satisfying. The open-kitchen is near to the road, as far as hygiene is concerned, we are quite taken aback to re-order raw dishes again. Unagi was nothing out of the ordinary, but it was slightly too dry and thin to our liking. Saba Shioyaki, on the other hand, was toothsome. It was nicely grilled to perfection, the entire fish was so crispy that we actually ate the Fish Head! It was carefully seasoned and subtly flavored to the right spot. This is definitely something that I would like to order again. Order a fish-dish and complete with the meal with a bowl of Japanese White Rice (Rm 2).

We did not aim high for their Tofu Cheese Cake (Rm 6) but the outcome was surprising. We were pleasantly shocked with the quality- creamy, soft, cheesy and utterly delicious. The Tofu Cheese Cake possesses a creamy yet chewy texture (creamy as in Cheese, chewy-soft as in Tofu). The sweet treat derives its sweetness from the Brown Sugar Syrup, the Chef played a nice twist by adding in a slice of Lemon and it adds another dimension to the dessert. The zesty, refreshing touch of Lemon balances out the sweetness and creaminess of the dessert. Extremely delicate and toothsome as a meal-ender.