Whenever we visit Japan, we never fail to eat and drink at izakayas there, simply because we are quite big fans of the casual food served there. Grilled skewers of chicken and other meats, done the Japanese way have a way of growing your appetite. I mean, we can sit forever in these izakayas and order countless sticks of those goodies and won’t even notice the time passing by! The relaxed (and sometimes boisterous) vibes in an izakaya – chatter, laughter mixed with clinking of drinking glasses in a smokey cheerful bar are all part of the experience.
At Fukuda Yakitori in Desa Sri Hartamas, we kinda get that atmosphere as there is a good turnout of Japanese clientele in the premise. And that’s a pretty positive sign that food must be authentic, which is proved so when we’re told that the culinary crew had been well-trained by a skilled Japanese yakitori chef. The crew is kept very busy tackling the skewers just behind the bar and food is served immediately from the charcoal grill to the tables.
We enjoy every stick of those skewers, from chicken to every part of the fowl, succulent pork belly and even sticks of cream cheese! As sinful as it seems, the crunchy fragrant Kawa (Chicken Skin) and Bonjiri (Chicken Tail aka Bishop’s Nose) turn out to be our favourites. Trust me, they are damn addictive!
Yakitori (prices indicated are for per stick):
Negima (Chicken Thigh with Leek) RM6.80
Bonjiri (Chicken Tail) RM6.80
Tebasaki (Chicken Wings) RM9.80
Tsukune (Chicken Hamburg) RM9.80
Chicken Liver (RM5.80)
Chicken Hearts (RM5.80)
Kawa (Chicken Skin) (RM6.20)
Iberico Pork Belly (RM12.80)
Cream Cheese (RM9.80)
Continuing with the grilling theme, besides the skewers, the Chargrilled Lamb Chops and Japanese Saikoro Beef Cube Steak are great choices. The lamb and beef are skilfully grilled over charcoal heat, rendering them perfectly tender and juicy to the bite.
Chargrilled Lamb Chops (RM39.80)
Japanese Saikoro Beef Cube Steak (RM48.80)
To balance out the grilled food, salads, sashimi and oysters are also on the menu. Crisp fresh greens mixed with sashimi and a tangy dressing makes up the Kaizen Sashimi Salad and we can’t resist some freshly-shucked plump oysters as well. Unable to resist more oysters, the Fried Oysters with Tartar Sauce are good too.
Kaizen Sashimi Salad (RM32.80)
4 Assorted Sashimi Platter (RM48.80)
Fresh Shelled Oysters 3 pcs (RM59.80)
Fried Oysters with Tartar Sauce (RM18.80)
Seeing rice and even a hotpot on the menu, and as DL’s feeling still peckish, we have a bowl of Bara Chirashi and the Sumo Hotpot. I feel the Bara Chirashi can do with a bit more flavour though to better bind the cubes of salmon, yellowtail, scallop, prawn and fish roe in the rice. I love hotpots and as it’s a rather wet and chilly evening, the simmering soup is indeed a welcome addition. The pot is filled with a comforting broth made even more tasty with generous portions of Iberico pork, chicken fillet, chicken meatballs, mushrooms, enoki and vegetables added in.
Bara Chirashi (RM49.80)
Sumo Hotpot (RM88.80)
Too full to eat anymore but there’s always a teeny bit of tummy space for desserts so Macha Ice Cream is the perfect way to end the meal.
Macha Ice Cream (RM7.80)
Yakitori Fukuda is a great cosy spot to wind down after a day’s work or just to chill out with friends. We’ll be back for those addictive skewers and if it’s a rainy chilly evening, the hotpot as well!
YAKITORI DINING FUKUDA
No. 39-G JALAN 23/70A
Desa Sri Hartamas
50480 Desa Sri Hartamas
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-6206 3526
Opens 5.00pm
Those chicken skin and pork belly with beer.. yums