Tengoku Yakitori Bar, Plaza Arkadia

Follow the sultry scent and sizzling sound of Japanese grilled delights to Tengoku Yakitori Bar, a playful place not only for skewered sensations but a diversity of delectable delights.

From the signature Nagoya-inspired tebasaki chicken wings to a pizza-style reinvention of okonomiyaki and a modern take on hiyashi chuka, find fun flavours at one of Plaza Arkadia's latest Japanese joints.

If you're a fan of vibrant Japanese vibes, Tengoku's crimson, lantern-lit ambiance is also an attraction, decorated with themes that embrace Japanese elements, from the Rising Sun Flag to  Mount Fuji, spiriting us away to the alleyways of Tokyo.

True to its name, which translates to 'heaven' in Japanese, Tengoku is pure paradise for fans of kushiyaki. Its repertoire represents not only chicken-based yakitori but everything from beef to lamb, pork to prawns.

A distinctive highlight of the Tengoku experience: The skewers kept warm at your table, for hot-and-fiery enjoyment.

Popular flame-licked choices include Chicken Thigh or Breast (RM5 each), Beef Skewer (RM7) and Lamb Skewer (RM7) for red meat carnivores, Pork Belly Skewer for porcine pleasure (RM6) and Prawn Skewer for seafood satisfaction (RM6).

The selection hits all the crowd-pleasers, from succulent chicken skin skewers to pork neck and shoulder, smoked duck to baby hotate, salmon and unagi, plus a vast variety of vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, okra, eggplant, zucchini and a medley of mushrooms.



If you can't get enough of the grill, go also for the Saba Fillet, the meatiest of mackerel (RM20), and the Grilled Squid, scorchingly prepared with salt and pepper (RM20). Shishamo and unagi kabayaki are also available.

Terrific for pairing with a beer, the Signature Tengoku Wings (RM15) are as delicious as deep-fried chicken get, crisp-skinned with tantalising hints of spice in its Nagoya-influenced seasoning, lip-smacking all the way to its juicy flesh. Every table should order a plate.

Also stellar for sharing, Tengoku's unique Okonomiyaki Pizza is built on a thin-crust base but layered with katsuobushi, cabbage, Worcestershire-laced okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise  - an imaginative hybrid of Italian and Japanese staples, coming together in tasty harmony.

Toppings for the Okonomiyaki Pizza can include the Seafood Deluxe (RM33), blanketed with an assortment of shrimp and squid, punched up with Parmesan cheese for a rich, savoury treat. Even purists might relish this, a well-executed twist on traditional pizzas.

Speaking of twists, Tengoku showcases its capable range with its hiyashi chuka - this cold noodle bowl is a confident counterpoint to all the other hot fare, a Japanese summertime specialty heaped with protein, vegetables, nuts and seeds galore. Tengoku makes it extra-luscious, swapping out the conventional kinshi tamago shredded egg strips for a plump poached egg on top, bursting open to enhance the ensemble with runny-yolked creaminess.

Dessert also springs a surprise - instead of, say, matcha ice cream, Tengoku thrills with elaborate European-inflected plated treats like Tiramisu, buoyed by a coffee liquor kick to complement the chocolate sponge and mascarpone, crowned with caramelised almonds for crunch (RM20), Green Tea White Choc and Passionfruit, smooth white chocolate mousse with green tea and passionfruit cream (RM20) and Black Forest, its crimson cherry surface concealing a deep, dark secret of Valrhona chocolate mousses with vanilla cream (RM20).

With Happy Hours lasting through 7pm, Tengoku is a terrific stop immediately after work, with a range of beers that start at only RM8 per frozen mug, aiming to be one of the best beer bargains in town.

Other ongoing food promotions should also please deal-seekers - follow Tengoku Yakitori Bar at instagram.com/tengoku.arkadia and facebook.com/tengoku.izakaya for exciting offers like its eat-all-you-can A La Carte Buffet, set meals and bundles.

Tengoku Yakitori Bar 

B-G-11, Plaza Arkadia, Persiaran Perdana, Desa Parkcity, 52200 Kuala Lumpur. 

Open Thursday-Tuesday, 3pm-11pm. Closed Wednesday. Tel: 018-321-0143

Wheatcraft Artisan Bakery weds charming cinnamon rolls, bagels & more with ambitious all-day brunches

When we first stepped into Wheatcraft Artisan Bakery six months ago, we enjoyed snacking on its well-crafted cinnamon rolls and croissants, a testament to the talents of its bakers.

Since then, Wheatcraft has earned as a distinction as one of Mutiara Damansara's favourite cafes for fresh comfort fare, conceived with top-tier ingredients like French flour and butter.

The kitchen now soars beyond scones and bagels - it has rolled out an ambitious all-day brunch menu that leaps from Crab Eggs Benedict to Middle Eastern-inspired pleasures like hummus, labneh and muhammara, the perfect companions for its bakes.

Wheatcraft has become a destination not only for its neighbourhood - if you crave creative concoctions like broccoli pancakes, complemented by boulangerie classics like kouign-amann, bookmark Wheatcraft for an enjoyable meal in 2023.

Wheatcraft's main founder Win Nee isn't a newcomer to baking - she has honed her craft for more than a decade, first as a home baker, then professionally in the supply sector since the mid-2010s.

Married to a Swiss husband who's also in the business of bakery supplies, Win Nee is passionate about fundamental ingredients and techniques. Wheatcraft specialises in sourdough bread throughout its range and relies on French-churned Candia butter and French mineral-rich flour for its laminated pastries, resulting in satisfyingly textured, aromatic attractions.

Their efforts haven't gone unrecognised. Many customers visit Wheatcraft multiple times every week; the cafe's popularity has been buoyed by word of mouth, with fans introducing their families and friends to Wheatcraft.

Wheatcraft's Crab Eggs Benedict (RM35) illustrate how the team here takes the initiative to make its recipes stand out - these aren't cliched, conventional eggs Benedict.

Wheatcraft harnesses a light, thick and fluffy sourdough brioche for its base, enriched with plenty of premium butter, blanketed with poached eggs and wild-caught pasteurised Indonesian crab, fleshy, moist and full-bodied, a fun change from the bacon, smoked salmon or spinach that typically top most variations of eggs Benedict.

Beautifully vibrant and lively, the ensemble is brightened with citrusy lemon hollandaise sauce, harmonious with herbaceous, zesty and smoky nuances of dill, rocket and paprika.

Plump poached eggs also emerge in this next serving, but they're not the star of the show, partnered with two further layers that come together captivatingly in the Broccoli Pancake & Pumpkin Hummus (RM29).

The pancake conveys the bite of finely chopped broccoli mixed in the batter, bolstering its texture and taste, while the pumpkin hummus is sweetly earthy and sumptuously creamy. Combined with the eggs, this meat-free marvel is mouthwatering with vegetable-forward flavours, irresistibly underscored by its natural green-and-orange colours.

The Minced Lamb & Muhammara (RM32) channels Middle Eastern influences into a contemporary crowd-pleaser, robust and soulful.

The roasted Syrian-origin dip of muhammara is blended with red bell peppers, showered with walnuts and pomegranates, scrumptious even on its own, slightly spicy with a nifty nuttiness and tang. It's turned into a complete, hearty meal with meaty minced lamb, rounded out with country loaf slices that mop up the muhammmara magnificently.

Fun fact: If you purchase a full country loaf here, you'll notice its braided crust, a signature Wheatcraft look that offers a distinctively playful touch.

Vegetarians have lots of wholesome choices at Wheatcraft.

The Crispy Cauliflower & Labneh (RM26) is punchy, comprising spiced chunks of battered cauliflower, cushioned with strained yoghurt for a potent piquancy, drizzled with olive oil - epitomising the Mediterranean diet, this is evidence that a health-conscious lunch without too much carbs can still be savoured at a bakery-cafe.

For a light bite or lovely takeout, Wheatcraft's counter is brimming with something for everyone. Its flagship bakes are its vast variety of cinnamon rolls with savoury and sweet toppings, bolstered by bagels and sourdough scones. 

The cinnamon roll with Biscoff (RM10) is our best bet, a young-at-heart indulgence, made nectarous with dark brown molasses for a fragrant depth, not sickly sugary, with a soft chew that'll keep us coming back for more.

The bagels are also terrifically toothsome, served hot and toasty, straddling the line firmly in texture, not too stiff but not too airy - we like the one with jalapenos and cheese (RM10), with a hit of heat and a sliver of savouriness in each mouthful.

The sourdough scone (RM15) is mighty popular too - yet again, Wheatcraft nails the texture, neither too cakey nor too biscuity, decadently sandwiched with strawberries and cream cheese frosting in the middle, instead of on the side, for a strikingly spectacular scone.

This cafe is a mini-pâtisserie in its own right, confidently tackling famed French favourites with a Wheatcraft flourish. 

The Peach Cobbler Croissant (RM15) takes croissants to the luscious level of plated desserts, with ripe, juicy peach atop the crackly-flaky pastry, while the kouign-amann conveys a character of its own, not as sweet as most versions, but with a heftier, bolder chew (RM9).

Even if it's your first time at Wheatcraft, you'll probably notice the hand-built, motor-pump Bezzera Eagle coffee machine behind the counter, evoking 1800s Belle Epoque designs. It's a copper-sleek conversation piece that succeeds in providing well-balanced lattes (RM12).

Steering clear of caffeine? You're in luck here - sip on the Iced Caotina Chocolate (RM15), a blend of Swiss milk and dark chocolate, for a lip-smacking chilled cocoa beverage.

Wheatcraft Artisan Bakery
26-1, Jalan PJU 7/16, Mutiara Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 
Daily, 8am-5pm. Tel: 011-1429-8881