NIKUNO YOICHI @Penang — Restaurant in George Town

My wife and I visited this restaurant at around 8-plus in the evening the day before. Judging from the reviews, we were expected a 4-star at least. However, the overall experience fell short of what was expected.

We had ordered Gokujyo Platter and topped up with the Iron Pot Rice (supposedly can serve 2-3 pax). While waiting for the rice to be cooked, we were served the platter as well. Rice was on a timer, and we preferred to have the rice to be ready before we commence in cooking some of the platter. We don't mind the wait, and so we waited patiently.

But as the timer rang, no one came over to us to serve the rice (it was mentioned to us that the rice would be served to us). I had to signal a waiter over before he got someone else to come and fulfill the service. However, the waiter that was serving us realized that the rice was not thoroughly cooked at the bottom, then another waitress came over and informed us that they will replace this Iron Pot Rice with normal Japanese rice instead.

We were offered x1 small bowl and x1 medium bowl rice to replace the Iron Pot Rice. But, seeing how famished we were already, we both decided for x2 medium instead. Even after a few minutes later, the rice was not served to us yet, and I had to call out to the waitress to ask for our bowls of rice. When the rice bowls came, still x1 small & x1 medium instead of what we had requested for, which was x2 medium bowls. We also wanted to commence by cooking the platter, yet no saucers and plates were given to us at all (not even given to us right from the start when they served the platter). Again, I had to ask for them, and the saucers were dripping with water, and I can safely assume those came right from the dishwasher, as they were of some warmth. Who in their right mind would serve customers clean dishes that were dripping wet? We had to use our own tissue papers to dry them!

Meat was not of any excellent taste, just looked premium but the taste does not do justice to the price that we paid for it. Also, during payment, the replacement bowls of rice were chargeable; disappointed to see that as we thought it would be a gesture of service since the rice we wanted was not available due to it being 'uncooked'. FYI, the rice described for Iron Pot was different from the normal Japanese rice.

Anyway, to summarize:

1. Lack of adequate items for customers to commence with the meal - (did not serve saucers and plates along with food)

2. Plates and saucers given were dripping wet with water.

3. Platter was not up to mark in terms of taste. Some of the meat were marinated, so when those were being placed on the grill, the grill went charred very fast. Subsequent non-marinated meat bore the brunt of the charred grill. No sequence of what to eat/where to start was told or advised to us. No practice of changing out the grill for customers was observed as well.

4. Rice in the Iron Pot was not cooked, and was replaced with normal Japanese rice instead. Yet, we had to pay for the replacement, which is ridiculous.

5. Consistency was not there for Iron Pot Rice; another table ordered it, and theirs was okay, but not for ours.

6. Not sure if it was to rush us off, but they started to clear the table before we even got up to pay the bill. We took it as them wanting to close early, hence we left promptly. Thought that the practice was to wait for customers to leave before clearing? Waitress even sought my assistance to pass her items that were unreachable for her at the other end of the table. I might as well stand up and help her to clear the table.

Will not visit again, and our disappointment was amplified as we thought that having a Japanese boss would mean top-notch standard...

When it comes to Korean BBQ, finding a spot that truly excels in both quality meat and ambiance can be a challenge, but I recently had the pleasure of dining at NIKUNO YOICHI , and it surpassed my expectations. This place is a hidden gem for Korean BBQ enthusiasts, especially for those who appreciate premium cuts like Wagyu A5 beef.

Meat Quality: The highlight here is undoubtedly the Wagyu A5. It was melt-in-your-mouth perfection, with an incredible marbling that gave each bite a buttery, rich flavor. Cooked on the grill right at your table, it retained its juiciness and had a tenderness that’s hard to beat. The quality of the meat clearly shows that they don’t cut corners.

Menu Variety: While the Wagyu A5 was the star of the show, the menu offers an array of other premium options like short ribs, pork belly, and even seafood. The side dishes (banchan) were plentiful and freshly made, complementing the meat perfectly with a range of flavors from spicy kimchi to refreshing pickled radish.

Service: The service was top-notch, with staff who were attentive and knowledgeable about the cuts of meat. They made great recommendations and were proactive in ensuring the grill was at the perfect temperature for each type of meat.

Atmosphere: The ambiance was cozy yet modern, with a lively atmosphere. The smoke ventilation system worked effectively, so there was no heavy BBQ smell clinging to clothes afterward, which is always a plus.

Pricing: For the quality of meat, especially the Wagyu A5, the prices were justified. While it’s on the higher end, the experience and quality make it well worth the splurge.

Overall: NIKUNO YOICHI has set a new standard for Korean BBQ in my book. If you’re a fan of premium meat cuts and want to experience Wagyu A5 beef grilled to perfection right at your table, this is the place to go. Highly recommended for a special night out or if you're just craving some...

How do I describe my experience? FLAWLESS & ADDICTIVE!!

This is our 2nd visit within 2 weeks. Since the first visit, kept thinking and craving for it.

Love every single dish which we had ordered in the last round and this time especially the Red Gatsun Noodles, Stewed Beef Tendon, Taisho Beef Tongue and Iron Pot Rice!! As said, is just so good just by having it without any condiments. Ps* try the Iron Pot rice by itself too, enjoy the fragrant of the rice and its texture.

Be cautions, do not get addicted over the Gutsun Noodle, every single elements in that pot is just prefect, we “sapu” the last drop of the soup too!!

The grilled Beef & tongue platters, must try!! Once u had their beef dish, guess is hard to find another beef dish that can satisfy your expectation in beef!!

Third Visit – A Bit Disappointing This Time

After two flawless and satisfying visits, we were really looking forward to our third meal—especially the Gutson noodles, which we absolutely loved previously. Unfortunately, this time was quite a letdown.

The soup lacked the rich, flavourful taste we remembered. Even after adding salt and pepper ourselves, it still didn’t quite bring out the depth of flavour we expected that made us fall in love with the dish in the first place.

On top of that, the noodles were overcooked and had lost the original texture.

It’s a bit disappointing considering how great our past experiences were. We really hope this was just a one-off slip and that the consistency we previously enjoyed returns on...