Sometimes I wonder why in our hot weather here, we eat equally hot and heat inducing foods like steamboats and barbeques. Often, its a bunch of people sitting or standing around a hot soup pot, or around a grill, wiping away sweat and popping morsels of scalding hot food into our mouths. Yet we do, because its delicious and its fun.
Recently, I’d come across a little nondescript Japanese BBQ yakiniku stall in Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur. Its located in a little courtyard in an alleyway between some old shops and is very rustic. If you are the sort to prefer somewhere cool, clean and air-conditioned, this is not the place for you. Here, be prepared to sit in the open air or in what might be called a shack on rickety chairs around a flimsy table, let your hair down (or better yet, tie it up), relax, ignore the rather glum surroundings for a moment and grill your own food on the charcoal brazier located just a few feet from your face. Yes ladies, we get a lovely facial at the same time :P
Whilst I personally find portions small and the whole experience can turn out rather pricey if you have a large appetite, its an interesting place, and concept simply because I haven’t come across another quite like it in KL!
The stall is called simply “Japanese BBQ” and that’s all you get here – meats that you grill yourself.
It was my first time there a couple of weeks ago, to see what the fuss was about. I must say I did rather enjoy the experience because it had rained earlier in the evening so it was cool when I got there.
After you place your order, a charcoal brazier is brought to your table with a grill laid over the top. When the meats arrive, its time to eat! Or rather, its time to do some cooking.
The meats cook fairly quickly over the hot coals and you can eat them on their own or dipped into the dipping sauce provided. We had pork and beef which were fresh and delicious. But portions were small so your wallet will definitely feel the pain if you are a big eater or happen to be very hungry.
I saw a few tables of Japanese businessmen relaxing after work as they enjoyed their meats with bottles of beer. I wonder if they did not feel a little nostalgic for home, sans the heat maybe?
A relatively light dinner for 2 came up to roughly RM30 each. We had 3 platters of meat, 1 garlic fried rice, 1 platter of vegetables and 1 foil wrapped squid. Next time, I’d skip everything and just have meat which would then ultimately be more filling and may work out a little cheaper. I do note that I’m not a very big eater especially at dinner so what was sufficient for me may not be sufficient for someone else.
Again, its not a place if you are so hungry you can eat a horse, nor is it a place to go if you want to stuff yourself with meats. Well, not unless you have deep pockets. But for a light-ish dinner or supper, and a rather surreal experience of having a barbeque right at your table in a quiet courtyard in an alleyway in a rather rustic sort of environment, I think its worth the experience.
See what I mean by rustic? :) Its nice to have a nice little barbeque meal without all the fuss of food preparation and then clearing up. So whilst I’d say its a little pricey, I’d go back now and again for a treat because ultimately, the convenience (and fun) outweighs the inconveniences of price :)
If you live in KL, have you been here? Do you like having hot foods like steamboat and barbeque grills in our generally warm weather?
I may be a masochist but I do :) I usually pick a cool rainy evening to go for a steamboat (hot pot) meal but I’ve been known to have it even if its hot anyway :) Some places are air-conditioned, but I’ve found that I prefer these things rustic. Its just more fun that way ;)
Paris B
Gerai Makan Japanese BBQ, Center Court, Plaza Faber, Jalan Desa Jaya, Taman Desa, 58100 Kuala Lumpur. Open Tue-Sun from 6pm till late.
Scrumptious Saturday: One day of the week where I indulge in my other love – Food! It will feature my cooking experiments or eating and travel adventures. Yes, I will travel for good food.
I love places like this where you cook your own food. There’s a place in Banff where you cook meats over a hot stone and it’s pricey but so much fun. They have exotic meats too like snake, ostrich, elk to name a few. Haven’t been there in years but this reminds me of it!
Eeee exotic meats! We get some pretty exotic meats here too but they mostly cook them in herbal soups and I stay far away LOL The closest I got to trying something more exotic was in Australia with my family. We wandered into a little restaurant and had an exotic meat platter of kangaroo, crocodile, ostrich and emu. Sent chills up my spine!
I’ve this picture when a foodie friend posted it on Instagram. Haha my conclusion was, if he posted it, it must be worthwhile checking it out. And now you posted it as well, so it’s confirmed :) I guess for a short and simple outing with friends who don’t mind hanging in shorts and slippers, this place will be it? :) Hehe, maybe I will drag my friends there next time since we’re in the neighbourhood borders anyways!
LOL! I saw it making its rounds online too. A bit of hype about it recently. I think its a nice place to hang out (not when hungry) because they won’t chase you off, and you can take your time to hang about in a relaxed mode. A bit pricey but still more convenient than setting up a bbq at home and then getting all stressed about clearing up etc :D
Hey I’ve been here before! Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did
The food is fantastic! You should try the “spare parts”, they are awesomely flavorful!
I’ll be sure to try that next time Evan! I rather enjoyed it, and I read that the lamb stew thing is pretty good too!
Your pictures are truly luring appetites. hahaha. I will consult your foodie posts next time I’m back. :)
Now I think we Malaysians love our BBQ no matter what weather condition. Why’s that? I remember we would have BBQ party for teenager birthday, just get together party, anything. When I tried to organise a BBQ party here, however, everyone was not very keen on the concept that (1) you have to DIY and (2) it’s hot and messy. I have come to conclusion that grilled food is easily available here. The place they do enjoy BBQ is in an air conditioned room in a department store… Kills all the fun of getting sweaty and messy, doesn’t it? :)
Haha what can I say, Ting. I love my food! :D I think we Malaysians are mad LOL! The last barbeque party I had, I had to play cook and no one would help. You can say I’ve not had one since :D I find a bbq in an air conditioned environment oppressive. This is true even for Korean bbq places. In an air conditioned environment, I just prefer they cook it in the kitchen and serve it instead of cooking it at the table. After all, if I go to a restaurant, I shouldn’t be expected to cook my own food should I?! LOL! :D
For me, BBQ in an airconditioned room = stinky clothes. Don’t like the remains of grilled pork/seafood on my clothes. Yuck!
But you are right. If you are expected to DIY, better do it at home! Hahahahaha cheaper and healthier too. :)
And I do enjoy marinating and grilling food. I like to get messy and am not shy to use my fingers to tackle them crabs or prawns or chicken wings. :) after all, that’s the joy of eating right? :)
Oh yes! Stinky clothes urgh! I hate it sometimes when I go for a Korean meal and walk out smelling like the restaurant went home with me. So whenever I do go for such means, I make sure I go straight home so I can shower and wash off the smells. A bbq was not made to be done indoors >.<
Yeah ! Reading the comment and your reply PB on the smell gives me cold shivers…. I hate smell of food in my hair and on my clothes !! Sometimes i see kids or adults came in Korean bbq restaurant ( air-cond ) in pyjamas with damp hair – after they’d shower… It makes me wonder, don’t they mind the bbq smell on their body ??? Do they shower again after that meal or they juz sleep with smelly hair ??? yicksss…
Eww! I can’t imagine not showering before bed, after going anywhere to eat. Honestly, the stale smell of food in hair and clothes really bug me!
I like (someone else) to BBQ when it’s hot outside. Not sure if I’d do it myself unless it was cool!
And here I thought Australians love their barbies! :D I much prefer someone else to cook too. The last one I had, I had to play cook. You can say it was the last one LOL!
ah! Totally reminds me of my love for Asian food ;-)
And perfect for your weather now, Tammy! :D