Fans of sushi bars now have a new venue to check out - Chiyo Sushi, a friendly hideout in Bandar Sunway's 8 Gourmets Gala.
Chiyo Sushi thrives on the art of omakase - leave the meal completely in the hands of a small team of Malaysian chefs who have more than a decade of experience at various Japanese restaurants. It's likely to be nearly two hours well spent, kicking off with starters that showcase a respectable collection of delicate Japanese flavours to whet the appetite for more.
Sashimi is the shining star of this omakase, with intriguing flourishes to enhance the raw fish (flown into KL twice a week, Tuesdays & Fridays, from Tokyo's Tsukiji Market). The selection changes according to what's freshest, but highlights may include rolls of suzuki (sea bass) stuffed with salted kelp, tairagi (pen shell) prepared in two ways for a crunchy bite & a juicy sumptuousness, kinmedai (alfonsino) with the subtle tang of yuzu, & tuna belly imbued with the savoury touch of shoyu.
Sushi is also convincingly crafted - we're fans of the ika (squid) topped with mentaiko (marinated roe), as well as the double dose of tuna in two styles, & the uni (sea urchin) that's prepared in the gunkan maki (battleship roll) fashion - albeit without the seaweed wrap. Note: Customers who order the omakase will be presented with beautiful tableware for their meal.
Other courses in the omakase are also designed to impress, from the succulent A5-grade Wagyu beef from Aomori with sweet Japanese tomatoes to the platter of grilled kinki fish with Alaskan crab tempura. Classics like roe-crowned chawanmushi, clam-filled miso soup & goma ice cream round out the selection. Chiyo's omakase is available for dinner, typically for RM300.
If you're here for lunch or prefer to go a la carte (both for lunch & dinner), Chiyo Sushi also features a well-thought-out menu with all the essentials. Sashimi moriawase is offered from RM80 for a single-person serving to RM330 for this bounteous three-person bevy of seasonal seafood - sea urchin, tuna belly, squid with seaweed strips, plump prawns & plenty of fish.
Maki is worthwhile; an Alaskan king crab roll is enticingly presented, creamy with avocado, crispy with breadcrumbs. RM38.
The lure of luxury is evident in this broth of melt-in-the-mouth tuna cooked with kuzu-riki (noodle-like strips of boiled kudzu plant starch) & the chawanmushi interspersed with morsels of foie gras. Each of these nonetheless costs a justifiable RM28.
For something simpler, there are bowls of buttered rice with Wagyu beef strips (RM12) as well as 'Neko Manma' (RM12), translated as 'cat rice,' featuring rice served comfortingly warm with pickles & bonito fish flakes - fit for the fussiest kitten.
Sake enthusiasts can also expect a reassuring range, from traditional to premium; our pick's the sweetly nuanced Tatenokawa Seiryu Junmai Daiginjyo (RM85 for 300 ml). Thanks to Chiyo Sushi's hard-working team for hosting us at this 15-seater venue.
Chiyo Sushi
EGG - Eight Gourmets Gala, Ground Floor, The Pinnacle Annexe, Persiaran Lagoon, Bandar Sunway, Selangor.
Open Monday-Saturday, lunch & dinner. Tel: 017-948-8684 (Kent)
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