Izakaya Ichiban, Hartamas Shopping Centre

I was first introduced to Izakaya Ichiban when Precious Pea and Masak-Masak brought me here and tried to induct me into the Japanese Food Kawan Association (as far as I know at present, number of members is still in the one digit range and has not grown since 3rd Quarter of 2007! Hahaha....errr, we are a rather exclusive club).

They failed to get me to try sashimi but still accorded me the membership after getting the greenlight from Lyrical Lemongrass, the President - letting me handle the Cooked Food Division (CFD). Since then, I've been back here quite a number of times and yes still only eating cooked food.

Appetizer

Spiced deep fried long beans - a rather tasty snack. I forgot the name of this dish.

Dragon Maki (RM22/USD6) - This the both of them got me to try, and I must say it's a tasty roll. Prawn tempura rolled up, topped with avocado and unagi and drizzled with a bit of sweet sauce.

This is an all time favourite of mine, the Wagyu Beef Don (RM28/USD7.70). Tender slices of wagyu beef on warm steamed rice. And how should one eat this? Zealously and selfishly! Hahaha...The juicy taste of the tender beef just fills the mouth, sending positive protons (I don't mean our national car) all over! With enough buzz to keep one smiling for the next few hours :o)

This was Masak-Masak's order. I recall this as lamb but it could be beef...I only remembered this being mediocre to me when I tried a bite.

Sashimi Platter (RM25/USD7) that comes with the works - rice, miso soup, chawan mushi, salad and fruits. Don't ask me how it was! :p

The pics for this post are more than a year old (taken by my trusty Panasonic Lumix then) but Izakaya Ichiban has become a place I go to whenever I'm looking for a quite and cozy place to dine each time I'm in this area. It's like the place I would go to whenever I need to clear my mind and reboot myself! :o) - which explains why I never took anymore pics whenever I visited this place. It's just pure enjoyment to me; I soak the entire experience up :o). Though at times, I wish I could have the place all to myself (and friends) when it's crowded. Izakaya style restaurants are very common in Japan and these are casual restaurants, laid back in nature to me. At times, it's not only about how good the food is that matters but how the place can make one feel - so comfortable and at home. Nothing could be better than having and sharing your meals with your friends; not only meals that warms one tummy but an overall experience that warms the heart as well. That's Izakaya Ichiban for me.

Drop by Izakaya Ichiban and feel the warmth too and if you're there in April, they are running a Temaki Sushi (hand roll) promotion - 3 selected hand rolls at a special price of RM13 (normally RM27). Check it out...

Izakay Ichiban
(Walk out towards the open area, between Starbucks and TGI Friday's, it's two doors away from Starbucks on your left)
Lot P, 3-M Plaza Ground Floor
Hartamas Shopping Centre
60 Jalan Sri Hartamas 1
50480 Kuala Lumpur

Tel : 03-6201 5905

(NOTE : Received notice on 18 December 2010) that they are now operating at Lot LG36)

Mon - Sat
12 noon - 3 pm
6 pm - 11 pm

Sun & Public Holidays
12 noon - 3.30 pm
5.30 pm - 10.30 pm

One man's sushi is another man's bait - Anonymous