When it comes to beef, I like mine lightly seasoned then grilled, as I think it’s the best way to enjoy the meat’s full flavours and textures. So when the Hubs and I came across Yaku at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, its advertised “Ishiyaki” (stone) grill method of cooking piqued our curiousity. We decided to give it a try, as the price looked fairly reasonable too.
The shop is quite small, but they’ve arranged it in a way that the seats don’t feel cramped. Each table comes equipped with an exhaust to reduce the smoke when you’re grilling. I like that they’ve painted the exhaust tubes a shiny copper/bronze colour, which pairs well with the rest of the space’s wood elements and lends to the restaurant’s warm and cozy ambience.
The highlight of the menu is the combo meal, where you can choose a main dish of beef (but they also have two chicken options), paired with three sauces, a side dish, rice, and miso soup. And if one dish of protein isn’t enough, you can always add on a second piece at a discounted price.
The Hubs ordered the Premium Beef Steak, comprising a home made 120gm patty of Wagyu Beef (RM48.90), while I opted for the Ribeye Steak (RM45.90). Fun fact: In the States, ribeye is often referred to as ‘cowboy’s steak’ !
Our orders arrived quickly, with the Hubs’ patty already sizzling on the Ishiyaki. The stone was heated to a high temperature, and remained hot for 15 to 20 minutes. The patty was very thick, but cooked easily once we tore it apart to reveal a finely shredded and minced texture within.
Verdict? Awesome! Although I mentioned earlier that I like my beef simple so I can taste the meat’s natural flavour, this was great too – well seasoned, juicy, and complex, blended with spices that elevated the taste of beef rather than overpowering it. The sauces (Hubs had BBQ, Tartar, and Korean Chilli) were also well balanced.
We both got unlimited refills for our sides (additional RM3.90), and the Hubs initially picked Chuka Hotate (scallop mantle) but after trying my Chuka Idako (baby octopus), switched to that instead.
My ribeye steak set also exceeded my expectations. The meat was lightly seasoned, seared and cut into cubes before serving, and since the inside was still uncooked, I was able to adjust the level of doneness I preferred. The beef was also tender and juicy. Perfection. Much better and more satisfying than some steak houses that charge you an arm and a leg!
My sauces were yakiniku, teriyaki, and katsu, each with its unique profile that paired well with the beef. The teriyaki was light, sweet, and very balanced – some places tend to make their teriyaki sauces sweet to the point of being cloying, but not at Yaku. The katsu sauce was creamy with a hint of spice, while the yakiniku sauce was also light, almost like a mild beef broth with a refreshing sweetness.
The mains were very satisfying, but I want to also highlight how value for money the RM3.90 unlimited sides refill is. Granted, you have to be a bit thick-skinned when asking for refills, because they give you a small portion (two, three pieces) and if you’re getting a lot, the waiters will have to go back and forth to the kitchen dozens of times lol.
I unabashedly asked the staff if he could just give us a larger portion, but he politely said it was ‘company policy’ 😛 The Hubs and I ate almost 10 small plates each. Considering marinated baby octopus costs about RM10 per portion at your casual sushi joint, I think we definitely got our money’s worth for this alone. The octopus is sizable too.
All in all, VERY satisfied with the food quality, the experience, the service, and the price at Yaku. Will be making a return visit when the craving for grilled beef hits again!
YAKU
Lot 1.44.00, Level 1 (Pink Zone), Pavilion Bukit Jalil, 2, Persiaran Jalil 8, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur.
Open: 10AM – 10PM (daily)
Phone: 016-981 0671
*Pork and alcohol free.
PS: I finally caved and made a TikTok account. No, I’m not doing any dance or lip sync challenges anytime soon. It’s just that being part of the content creation / marketing landscape, I feel that I need to learn how to post stuff on it if I’m to keep up with the times (for work or otherwise).
Watch the video I made of my visit to Yaku!
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