Saryo Kyoto @ Plaza Damas, Sri Hartamas

Run by Hiroshima native Kuna-san, Saryo Kyoto is one of Sri Hartamas' most hidden restaurants, tucked on the top level of Plaza Damas on a corridor traversed by no cars & extremely few people. Head up the escalator from TGIF, walk straight until you're facing the main Sri Hartamas road & turn right; the restaurant will be on your right.

Worth the hunt? If you enjoy sampling 'nabemono' hot-pot recipes (think shabu-shabu & sukiyaki-style), then most likely.

Mizutaki (RM28), reputedly a Fukuoka prefecture speciality, with chopped chicken, tofu & veggies cooked in a soup pot, served here with rice & a choice of ponzu, sesame, soy or BBQ sauce. Guilt-free nutrition.

While waiting for everything to be cooked at the table, a basket of tasty tempura veggies is served. Pretty; that's the theme here.

Tofu, Saryo Kyoto's got it, in spades. Yu-dofu is basically custardy tofu boiled in hot water, accompanied here by dengaku tofu (broiled skewers with miso glaze). RM38 (also comes with rice, salad & tempura).

Seiro mushi (RM37), beef & veggies cooked in tiers in a bamboo steamer for several minutes. Kinda fun.

Tender slices of beef, flavoursome enough when paired with the assortment of dipping sauces.

Sanzoku musubi (RM16), reminiscent of onigiri. Something of an oversized rice ball, completely wrapped in seaweed with a bit of salmon inside. Stomach-stuffer, belly-buster.

Skewers are offered; everything from battered beef to prawns, squid to scallops, chicken gizzard to eggplant, carrots to onions.

Desserts are deliciously unique: Try the Japanese affogato, with green tea ice cream & mild-tasting Kyoto Inoda coffee. RM18.

Lemon-laced mascarpone with honey, a likeable finish to a meal with delicate flavours.

For beverages, our best bet's the Kyoto Maekawa Keisui-Do Junkin-Cha, plum tea with gold leaf. Served hot, it boasts an umami boldness evocative of miso soup that's both unexpected & enjoyable for tea.

Nothing's bland when there's sufficient booze to go around. Pass the bottle (but beware, the cheapest sake is RM63 for 300ml).

Saryo Kyoto
P-1-24, Plaza Damas, Hartamas Shopping Centre, Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur
Generally open lunch & dinner weekdays, & partly on weekends. Call 017-725-8382 to confirm

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