KEN HUNTS FOOD: Kaze Japanese Restaurant @ Icon City, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Kaze Japanese Restaurant @ Icon City, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Icon City's latest hip Japanese restaurant has just swung opened its doors; Kaze Japanese Restaurant occupies one whole building at Icon City instead of having it shared with someone else. Inside the restaurant is slick with a mixture of pale and bold timber walls, illuminated by warm yellow lighting with touches of Japanese knick-knacks. Seating space could be more spacious, we felt a little cramped and the distance between tables was too near (we could hear the conversation happened next table). Though slightly more expensive than average, the service provided to us was expert and the quality was a class above the rest. The bible-thick menu includes a series of classic Japanese dishes such as Sushi Rolls, Ramen, Barbecue Skewers and Teishoku. Their secret weapon is probably the air-flown Sashimi but this would only be beneficial to those with a deep pocket. Price tags may seem hefty but they commensurate with quality and generous serving size.

Sashimi, Sushi To Mini Udon Set (Rm 38)

Ebi Tamago Toji Jyu To Shake Sashimi Set (Rm 38)

We were there for lunch and could not resist to order their value-for-money Set Lunch; for a Udon and Sashimi freak like me, try their Sashimi, Sushi and Mini Udon Set (Rm 38) that comes with a bowl of comforting Udon with Dashi stock, fresh Sashimi and a few choices of Sushi. The raw fish slices were fresh and appropriately cut. Do not look down on their Chawanmushi either, it may seem overly simple and bland but it was velvety smooth with a burst of sweet Dashi-essence (Ginkgo, Kani and Shrimp were included). Everything was straight-forward without unnecessary frills, though freshness was the key and we were glad that Kaze did it right.

Ebi Tamago Toji Jyu To Shake Sashimi Set (Rm 38) may be a little too heavy for some, the Deep Fried Prawns were pretty standard-average but they excel in the thick, fresh Salmon Sashimi. Depending on your personal preference, we thought both options were value for money. Kaze's Set Lunch is only available from 11:30 am to 2 pm; daily.

To share, we had Ika Geso Yaki (Rm 8.80), Grilled Squid Tentacles; diners get to choose between Shioyaki (grilled with Salt) or Teriyaki (with Teriyaki Sauce). To our dismay, the Tentacles were overcooked and possessed hard-to-the-bite texture. Flavor was alright, just that they could improve on the texture.