F&B (FOOD & BEVERAGES)

Tatsu: A Taste of the Land of the Rising Sun

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If you’ve lived in Greater KL for a while, you probably know that one of the best hotels for quality dining experiences is InterContinental Kuala Lumpur. The trio of their terrific Serena Brasserie, Bentley’s Pub, and One Six Five lounge would on their own make this property a worthwhile F&B destination, but it’s their two signature restaurants – Tao Chinese Cuisine and Tatsu Japanese Cuisine – that really put the hotel over the top.

Appetizers on the sushi bar at the Japan Feast Buffet

As for the latter, Tatsu offers a sophisticated dining journey, bringing the authentic flavours of Japan to Kuala Lumpur. Helmed by Executive Chef Tommy Kuan, the restaurant has for years earned acclaim for its refined sushi, teppanyaki, and a diverse array of à la carte options. Chef Tommy’s expertise shows in his signature dishes, including Boston and Australian lobster, Miyazaki Wagyu A5 teppanyaki, and sashimi selections such as otoro and uni. Every ingredient is carefully sourced, with fresh produce flown in directly from Tokyo’s renowned Toyosu Market.

Fresh sashimi

The ambiance at Tatsu is serene and minimalist, allowing the artistry of the cuisine to be the focal point. Natural materials (most on the dark side of the colour palette) and clean lines reflect traditional Japanese aesthetics, while the restaurant’s five private dining rooms, named after autumnal Japanese flowers, offer an intimate, tranquil atmosphere. For a more casual experience, there is an inviting lounge area, complete with a curated collection of sake and Japanese whiskies.

Tatsu Japanese Cuisine – dining room

We recently visited to try the weekly Japan Feast Buffet, our first visit to Tatsu in a few years. This fine offering is only available on Saturday evenings and delivers a hybrid buffet experience; that is to say, some selections are presented on the sushi counter for self-service, while others are ordered from a menu and prepared à la minute. It’s all you can eat, but menu ordering is limited to five dishes at a time – both to ensure quality and to minimize food wastage.

Seaweed salad

The sushi counter offers appetizers, salads, sashimi, and much more. We loved the seaweed salad, which we topped with crispy tanuki and toasted almonds. Fresh sashimi and sushi were must-tries, and the chuka wakame (jellyfish) – along with two other jellyfish appetizers – was outstanding. The miso soup and chawan mushi were also very much on-point.

Miso soup

From the menu, we enjoyed a wide variety, including salmon teriyaki, Angus beef teppanyaki, ebi (prawn) tempura, Takoyaki (octopus), fried scallops, salmon shioyaki, and more. And then we went back for more sashimi and salad!

Ebi tempura

Grilled unagi

Takoyaki

The service was terrific. Ordered dishes arrived quickly, servers were knowledgeable and friendly with recommendations, our glasses of green tea (ocha) stayed filled, and empty dishes were whisked away promptly. Very full from our wonderful meal, we somehow managed to try some of the dessert choices, which included mixed fruits, mini pastries, shiratama dango (mochi-like dumplings), and a few varieties of homemade ice cream.

The Japan Feast at Tatsu is a fine way to spend a Saturday evening. Priced at a reasonable RM238 nett for adults (RM119 nett for children), it also offers good value for such fine Japanese dining in one of the city’s best food-centric hotels!

Fried scallops