You might have come across the term ‘ala carte buffet’ at some Japanese restaurants in Malaysia.

Sounds contradictory? Well, yes and no. It’s ala-carte because the dishes are prepared to order and served to your table, and buffet because that’s what many Malaysians associate with an all-you-can-eat restaurant, regardless of whether or not the food is displayed and meant for self-service.

Mitasu is one of these places that offer the ‘ala carte buffet’ menu. The brand has two outlets, one at Central Plaza in KL and another along Old Klang Road. H and I went to the latter recently to celebrate her birthday and catch up on goss after months of not seeing each other. It was a good thing we booked way in advance, as the place was absolutely packed, even on a Friday afternoon.

Their outlet along Old Klang Road is a whole building on its own spanning three floors. Come early if you want to secure a spot, as parking slots are limited. Alternatively, you can opt for paid parking at the commercial area next to the restaurant and walk over.

The interior has an upscale vibe with typical Japanese touches. Floor to ceiling windows are decorated with struts made to look like bamboo, while tabletops and privacy screens feature wooden material in light hues. There is also a sushi counter and bar overlooking the dining space. The air-conditioning seemed like it wasn’t working when we entered as it was very warm – so we were ushered to the first floor instead.

Exiting from the lift, we came to a little ‘street’ complete with lanterns, faux shop fronts, and neon signs ala Tokyo.

The main dining area on the first floor has a slightly different vibe from downstairs. The colour scheme here is cooler, giving the space a laidback, calming atmosphere. There were still empty tables in this shot as we were here as soon as they opened- but it was packed and filled with the hum of conversation and clanking of plates within 20 minutes.

Mitasu’s menu is pretty extensive, with a good selection of sashimi and sushi, zensai (appetisers), yakimono (grilled items), tempura and agemono (deep fried dishes), as well as donburis and noodles for those who must have their fill of carbs. A friendly wait staff took our orders, and it didn’t take long for the food to be served. Drinks are self-service: they offer sodas and iced lemon tea, coffee, Milo, as well as hot and iced green tea.

Some appetisers to kick things off. The chuka idako (baby octopus) is marinated in mix of sugar, salt, teriyaki sauce and soy sauce, among other ingredients, which gives it a sweetish taste. The chuka karage (jellyfish) has more of a savoury taste as it is marinated in sesame oil, and boasts a crunchier texture. Both were excellent: well-seasoned and served in generous portions.

Next came some of the fried and grilled items. We had crunchy and sizeable tempura prawns, deep-fried to golden perfection, crispy pieces of breaded scallop, and my personal favourite: hotate mentaiyaki (grilled half shell scallop with cod roe). Picture juicy pieces of scallop, blanketed in a creamy layer of salty cod roe and cheese, slightly charred on the top from the flame grill. It was so addictive, we ordered several plates.

We also got scallops grilled with teriyaki sauce. These were exceptional: plump and sweet, the natural seafood flavours enhanced by the sweet and savoury sauce.

H’s grilled salmon. Not a big fan of cooked salmon as it tends to have an overwhelming fishy taste if not done correctly, but H enjoyed it.

Salmon sashimi, though, I like. Did not have a lot, as raw food doesn’t sit well on my stomach these days (thanks, aging!), but the slices I tried were thick cut, fresh, and tasty. The butterfish had a melt-in-the-mouth texture, similar to fatty tuna or beef.

More yakimono items: grilled butter ika (squid). The squid was fresh and springy with a slight char.

The only item that was not as impressive as the others was the beef batayaki. The flavour was nice and buttery, but the texture was a tad tough. It was still good, just not stellar.

Of course we had to have chicken karaage. These were pretty decent, with crispy well-flavoured skin and moist insides.

We were so engrossed in conversation that I forgot to take pictures of some of the other items we ordered. There was a smooth and bouncy chawan mushi, which slipped down the throat effortlessly, a nice California temaki, and some edamame to cleanse the palate after all the heavy dishes. We ended the meal on a sweet note with fresh fruits, konnyaku jelly, and creamy ice cream.

Service here is attentive and friendly. Kudos to the floor manager, who noticed that H had accidentally knocked over some water and immediately had a replacement chair brought + the area mopped.

Our bill came up to about RM180+, inclusive of service taxes. Judging from the amount of scallops we downed, I think this is a fair price and good value for money. Looking forward to dining here again for special occasions!

Mitasu’s ala-carte buffet is available for lunch and dinner. They also offer value set lunches, and an actual ala carte menu if you don’t want to opt for the all-you-can-eat. You can book via their facebook page or calling them at 03-7971 8878.

MITASU (OLD KLANG ROAD)

Lot 306, Old Klang Rd, Batu 3, 58000 Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours: 12PM – 3PM, 6PM – 9.30PM (daily)

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