Eat Drink KL: Karuizawa Kogen @ Menara TA One, P Ramlee

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Karuizawa Kogen @ Menara TA One, P Ramlee

A Japanese restaurant & bar with quirks that might not be everyone's cup of sake.

Hidden on the ninth floor of Menara TA One, Karuizawa Kogen has a cover charge of RM75 per person for every entry. That keeps this place somewhat exclusive, with a clientele dominated by Japanese businessmen (on a Monday night, there were four or five occupied tables).

Also note that friendly female members of Karuizawa Kogen's service team will take a seat beside you at your table even before you manage to order; no worries though, they can be informed politely that their presence won't be necessary.

The list of liquor is extensive, though there's predictably much more by the bottle than the glass; we opted for some umeshu (RM25 before taxes), as well as umeshu mixed with whisky (RM28 for a single, RM48 for a double) ...

... plus a trio of shochu, comprising ho, kuro kirishima & tantakatan.

Karuizawa Kogen is affiliated to Ozeki Tokyo, the long-enduring restaurant on this building's street level; customers can order some of the latter's specialties, possibly the likes of mentaiko spaghetti & hijiki seaweed udon ...

... or perhaps the jumbo futomaki & steamed steel-bowl rice with seafood ...

... or simmered spicy konnyaku & sliced tomatoes topped with tosa vinegar jelly.

Come right in, leave your coat on any wall; there are hangers everywhere.

Choose a window seat with a Petronas Twin Towers view; that's the most coveted space here.



Karuizawa Kogen,
Level 9, Menara TA One, Jalan P. Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur.
Open 8pm onward daily.