It's challenging to prove that Saisai exists; this new secret sanctuary for Japanese soul food - half a shop-lot in Plaza Damas - has no signboard, no English-language Facebook page, no Foursquare location so far. But Saisai may thrive through old-fashioned word-of-mouth, as fans of Japanese fare seek out what friendly founder Mika-san & chef Moritsuna Sakuma offer.
Come for a taste of tradition - oden in its truest, time-honoured form, a simmering stew in a pot of light, soy-laced dashi broth.
Customers can choose exactly what they want in their bowl of oden - options include hard-boiled egg, daikon, konjac, fish cakes, tendon meat & cabbage rolls. Three components cost RM12, each additional piece is between RM4 & RM6, served with karashi mustard sauce. A wholesome, warming Japanese winter dish that works well for Malaysian rainy-evening comfort.
Honest cooking flows out of the kitchen: Rustic meal sets (RM24) comprise rice meant to be poured over with warm grated mountain yam, 'menchi-katsu' crispy-crumbed minced pork cutlets & a mild-flavoured, nourishing pork-&-veggie miso soup.
The spirit of home-style recipes is also imbued in the 'akashiyaki,' named for Japan's southern city of Akashi. Round dumplings made with an eggy batter, tinged with octopus tentacles - evocative of takoyaki, with a softer, somewhat fluffier texture. RM15 for a serving of seven pieces.
Heaps on the menu to ensure nobody leaves hungry - buttery-rich Japanese curry rice with beef & chicken (RM18), ika karaage (RM13), tonkotsu ramen (RM18) & sake-steamed clams (RM18). We'll likely hear more of Saisai in the months ahead.
Saisai Japanese Restaurant
F-0-9, Plaza Damas, Jalan Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. Mon-Sat, 12pm-215pm, 6pm-10pm
The Eat Drink KL mobile app is now available, connecting restaurants & customers to promote a positive spirit of community.
Every restaurant on this app rewards users with a 6 percent discount, instantly & conveniently, everyday, all day long.
In return, users share photos of their experiences at these eateries, creating a new community of restaurant lovers.
For every transaction, RM0.20 will be channelled to a different charity every month.
Check out the latest edition of Eat Drink KL: 100 Favourites, featuring 100 recommended restaurants for January-March 2015. This eBook is available to read or download at this link: http://eatdrinkkl.cld.bz/2015
This link expires March 31, 2015. Please check the newest blog entries after that for fresh links.
Stay up to date: The Eat Drink KL newsletter is sent by email to subscribers every Monday; it's the Klang Valley's foremost weekly round-up of new restaurant openings (even before they're featured on this blog), F&B promotions & other tasty tidbits.
Subscribe to Eat Drink KL Weekly for free via this following link:
Note to subscribers on Gmail: The newsletter will be in the Promotions folder of your inbox.
Sausages to sambal. Muffins to marshmallows. Peanut butter to mango chutney. Cornflake ice cream to honey aloe yogurt. Lavender-laced lemonades to lychee-&-guava juices.
Eat Drink KL: Small Businesses, Huge Flavours is the first eBook to help customers navigate the diversity of independent F&B entrepreneurs who bake & boil in their own kitchens, offering some of Malaysia's finest, most fascinating food products.
This resource will be continuously updated with new listings: www.eatdrinkkl.publ.com/businesses
