Japanese dining has been part of the Malaysian culture for a pretty long time. Over the years, multiple Japanese restaurants have been spawning around town, regardless of how populated they are. Today, there's at least one in every neighborhood. Similarly, Ishin Japanese Dining is your desired neighborhood restaurant and here are the reasons why. 

Sawa Kani (Seasonal)

Kicking things off with a serving of imported Sawa Kani, a mini Japanese freshwater crab that is fried and salted, resulting in a crispy and addictive appetizer. Though a word of warning, chewing it the wrong way may get you a cut or two in your mouth. 

Sashimi Moriawase

This, was my night's favourite dish. In fact, it probably is one of the best sashimi that I've had in a long time. Everything here was done so well; presentation was spot on, a wide selection and ultimately, everything was incredibly fresh. I could taste the natural sweetness of each dish, and they all worked really well with a bit of freshly grated wasabi. 

This platter of sashimi is a definite must-order in Ishin Japanese Dining. It's well worth the price and you'll definitely not regret it.

I can't remember what exactly was this called, but it was quite similar to sukiyaki. It had plenty of vegetables inside, as well as clams. The soup itself was immense as the flavours were impactful. Not only was it rich, it was smooth and easy on the throat too. The various types of ingredients found within also gave it a rather pleasant bite. 

Salted Clams

As simple as it may look, these little tidbits do pack in a whole lot of flavour. Each piece is nicely bbq-ed on the shell, followed by a sprinkle of salt. It's a fun treat to have on the side, and it goes really well with some premium sake, which is available at Ishin Japanese Dining as well.

Kagoshima Beef Grade A4

Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the star of the day, Kagoshima Beef or in layman terms - Wagyu. A total of 250grams of perfectly sliced beef was served alongside a hot stove. There are two options to this dish, either with a marinate or simply salt and pepper. I went for mere salt and pepper because I enjoy the natural taste of the beef itself. 

Let the stove heat up, once it's ready, simply pop in a slice and let it cook for about 20-30 seconds on each side for medium rare. Go another further than that and you might end up overcooking it. I loved my bloody so yes, the picture above shows the perfect doneness for me. Loved every single bit of it, didn't want to share but I had to, oh wells.

I always tend to forget these soupy dishes name. Having said that, you can be assured that this one here is a lot more flavourful than the previous. It's a lot more saltier and the ingredients inside really makes it enjoyable. If you have a heavy palette, this dish is an absolute must.

Blue-Fin Maguro with Sea Urchin and Rice

The name is just something I came up with, it's not the actual name in Japanese but it is what its stated. Anyway, this dish was also another one of my favourite besides the wagyu and sashimi. The reason being? Simple, it may look plain and down to earth, but inside, it's rich and flavourful. The blue-fin tuna slices were absolutely delightful as they literally melts in your mouth. It's also a little bit fatty, which gives it that really nice umami taste. 

Furthermore, the sea-urchin gave a pretty nice edge, while the fluffy short-grained rice wrapped everything together. Absolutely delight, highly recommended!

Japanese Melon

Last but not least, dessert. I was fortunate enough to try out the Japanese melon, which is one of the most expensive and more luxurious melon in the world. It's grown in Japan and is incredibly scarce. Prices soars up to 100,000 Yen, which is about 600 pounds or roughly RM3.5k per piece. That is also depending on the grade and type but as a whole, they're incredibly rare. 

This slice was one of the best fruits that I've had. Nothing came close to the natural sweetness and amount of water squirted when chewed upon, not even a watermelon. In short, if you're not a fan of ice cream (which is odd), and you love fruits, then this Japanese Melon is definitely worth going for. 

All and all, Ishin Japanese Dining has surpassed my expectation. It's meticulous attention to detail to the composition of the dish, flavour and pretty much everything, was done to absolute perfection. Prices may not be the most friendly but it's definitely well worth it. So if you're in the mood for some fine Japanese dining, do give Ishin Japanese Dining a go.

Address:

202, Persiaran Klang, Batu 3 3/4, Off Jalan Kelang Lama, 58000 Kuala Lumpur.

Operating hours: Daily 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 1am

Tel: 03-7980 8228

FB: https://www.facebook.com/ishinmy/home