Review: Simply Japanese at Utara Coffee House

Overall comment: For a non-Japanese restaurant, Utara Coffee House sure deserves a pat on the back for the job well done in coming up with delicious Japanese dishes at affordable prices!
Halal: Yes

I must say that the Utara Coffee House at Armada Hotel Petaling Jaya is very consistent with the way they prepare their fish dishes. Among the seven (7) ala carte Japanese dishes that they're featuring from 1st May - 30th June 2014, I really enjoyed their Maguro Tempura. Call me a noob to Japanese food, but if my memory didn't fail me, this is my FIRST time having tuna tempura in such a way that I DIDN'T even realize it's tuna if I'm not informed. I would think that it's some red meat like beef/pork (in terms of texture, not look & feel)! *waaahhhhh...halal pork wei....*

Anyway, here are the rest of the dishes, which are also nicely prepared :) You still have ONE more month to try it out!

Gindara Misoyaki (RM28.00++/serving)

Marinated cod fish with miso paste

 I'm a big fan of cod fish. I've learned from a chef friend that there are many variants of the cod fish & some may not even be actual "cod"! I've no idea if this was an 'actual cod', but it still tastes good to me. This fish was marinated & grilled with the miso paste using an infra-light grill. This ensures that the fish is nicely grilled on the outside, yet still moist on the inside. Pan-grilled fish could cause the fish to dry up faster if you want the fish to cook thoroughly. Hmm..learned something new from Chef Chew :)

Namagaki Moriawase (RM22.00++/serving)

Baked oysters with Monoshi/Motoyaki sauce

Oyster fans would love this. Freshly baked oysters with fish roe & ebi sauce (top: Matoyaki sauce, Ebi sauce, & Monoshi sauce). Flavorful sauce for a simple, slurp-into-your-mouth oysters...oolala...

Kijidon Donburi (RM26.00++/serving)

Chicken teriyaki with rice & pickles

This was certainly not love at first sight, but the taste is commendable, no doubt. You'll probably not find such a version of teriyaki chicken anywhere else but here. The whole boneless chicken thigh is firstly pan-grilled before cutting into pieces & stir-fried with Utara Cofee House's version of the teriyaki sauce. The best part of this dish: the chicken pieces seem to be crispy & the sauce isn't as sweet as the usual teriyaki sauce (it's more savory)! Loved it!

Maguro Tempura (RM25.00++/serving)

Deep-fried tuna with basil & layered with teriyaki sauce

My favorite for the night (tuna mooncake? Ahahaha). Check out the color & the texture. When you sink your teeth into the piece of meat, you'll not realize that it's FISH! It's not flaky like those canned tuna, but very firm & moist. Totally irresistable! Oh, don't be fooled by the "raw-looking color". It doesn't taste "raw & bloody" :D The basil & teriyaki sauce compliments the fish very well.

Seafood Maki Roll (RM24.00++/serving)

Sushi roll with seafood & unagi sauce

I've no complaints for this dish. It's a fried sushi roll with seafood & unagi sauce. What more can you ask for, eh? *continues to enjoy eating*

Seirogohan Zen (RM26.00++/serving)

Salmon served with flavored rice

I felt that they could do better with the salmon. Perhaps the slices of salmon was too thin for my liking. Hahaha. Pan-fried salmon with flavored egg rice. Simple, but I feel that it's nothing very "wow".

Shogayaki (RM26.00++/serving)

Stir-fried beef with ginger sauce & steamed rice

The taste & texture of the New Zealand beef was pleasant, but I didn't find this dish special as well. To the very least, it's a good cut that the slices were tender & flavorful.

From my review above, you could say that I'm all out for the Maguro Tempura. I'll go back there just for this dish & probably the Kijidon Donburi. Those are the 2 dishes that I felt most enjoyable :)

What are you waiting for? You have ONE more month to try the dishes out! :D


Utara Coffee House Armada Hotel
Lot 6, Lorong Utara C, Section 52
46200 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Darul Ehsan
For reservations, please call (+603) 7954 6888 ext. 4557
URL: www.armada.com.my
FB: Hotel Armada
Twitter: Hotel Armada


Ratings:
Presentation: * * *1/2
Price: * * *1/2
Environment: * * * 1/2
Taste: * * * 1/2
Service: * * * 1/2


Overall:






Maguro Tempura!!