Finally gotten around to go to Rakuzen this time! Have previously toyed with the idea of going but haven't got around to, and whenever we do feel like going, the place is either fully packed, or not yet open for business.
This time, we went to the Subang Jaya Rakuzen near to SJMC, but the queue out there is unbelievable!! So we agreed to go ahead to the Empire Gallery in Subang, a fairly new shopping/eating place, in case anyone is wondering. :)
Look at their heavy duty tea cups, love the shapes! (The one on the left is for cold tea, the one on the right is for hot tea)
We ordered a couple of things, some of which looked quite similar but it tastes different, so it's fine. :)
This is called "Cranky salmon roll", the name sounds kinda weird, which is what attracted my attention in the first place, to our surprise it's one of the nicest makizushi (rolled sushi) we've eaten! Inside it's fatty salmon with tenkasu (the crunchy bits), while outside it is rolled with rice and sprinkled with ebikko (fish roe), and the other kind (seen in the inner pieces) are bonito flakes. This goes well with mayonnaise, although I know some people would prefer not to have it with mayo. :P
[Click on each picture to enlarge to see the juicy fatty salmon]
Hubby ordered Sukiyaki, cooked by the kitchen. There were two choices given, either you cook the beef yourself on a hotplate (i think, well some people prefer to do it themselves), or you can get it cooked by the kitchen, which we did. It's a pot of broth with vegetables and beef, served with a raw egg. The correct method to eat this is to dip the meat into raw egg, and then eat. :) Those who prefer to forgo the raw egg, can also just eat the cooked stuff as is.
[Click on each picture to enlarge to see the succulent half done pinkish beef]
My dish is the Tenpura Nabeyaki Udon - udon noodles with broth served with some fried tempura vegetables and prawn. Yummy!! The soup is just nice, but I admit I did add in some wasabi to the soup because I like it, but most "Japanese cuisine connoisseur" will probably snort indignantly at my behavior.
[Click on each picture to enlarge to see the yummy details]
The set also comes with chawanmushi, some hijiki salad and a side dish of california maki rolled sushi. It looks similar to the cranky salmon roll but to be honest I prefer the cranky salmon roll even though this in itself is also very nice. Though a tad overshadowed by the salmon roll.. huhuhu...
[Click on each picture to enlarge to see the glistening ebikko bits]
Price:
RM30 for the sukiyaki
RM 3 for white rice (to go with sukiyaki)
RM38 for the tenpura nabeyaki udon set including the california maki
RM16 for the cranky salmon roll
Plus tax comes to about a hundred bucks or so, worth it for a satisfying meal for two, especially since we don't really eat in "big restaurants" much nowadays, once in a while we tend to splurge... ^^;;
Overall, I would give this a 7.5/10, the only regret is that it doesn't have the home-made feel I so loved, we will definitely visit this outlet again, ready to try out their other dishes! :)
