The Wagyu Tavern (JB) - No Pork, No Lard — Restaurant in Iskandar Puteri

We booked a table here to celebrate our first year anniversary. I don’t think they do walk-ins, I wouldn’t recommended it especially on weekends given how small the place is - and I can totally see why they take deposits for reservations too.

However it is certainly worth it. The wagyu cuts are presented wonderfully with incredible presentation

We came to The Wagyu Tavern to celebrate our first year anniversary. From the moment we stepped into The Wagyu Tavern in Johor Bahru, we were in for a treat. The ambiance of the restaurant is cozy yet elegant, perfect our special date night.

If you have doubts about whether what you see in the marketing photos is what you get, rest assured, it is exactly what you get. The wagyu marbling was spot on what we expected it to be, and the cuts are clearly labelled. You’re expected to finish all that’s presented to you initially prior to ordering additional portions, which is made easy by using the labels given your initial portion. I don’t think I need to elaborate further on how much I enjoyed it, except to say that it was an unforgettable experience to eat so much wagyu in a sitting.

The unexpected co-stars to the show were actually the wasabi sauce, which was an incredible accompaniment to the wagyu. We also enjoyed the kimchi and dipping sauce, it helped cut the oiliness that came with the beef.

And the egg dip. It’s not just an egg yolk, it’s a mixture of sesame oil, egg yolk and shoyu. Did I mention that anything is refillable including the egg dip? No? Because we definitely asked for more.

What stood out amongst the hoard of beef was actually the lamb rack and mango shaved ice dessert. I wish I had more space to order more lamb rack, but I did have two portions of the dessert.

The wait staff, Kristine and Yin-Yin, were also lovely and checked in on us often. When we were near to finishing our current portions, they would actively seize the opportunity to stand by our tables, and prompt us for our next orders. Given the exceptional attention and quick service speed, the 120 minute dining limit isn’t really a limit on your ability to eat, but more of an operational need to schedule the next reservation.

Would I come back? I’m not sure, but not because it’s not amazing, but because I got knocked out after eating and I’m going to need maybe a year or two for recovery 😂

But did I get my money’s worth? Absolutely. You’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else in this world that would let you enjoy wagyu the way they do.

Highly recommended, not just as food, but also an experience. Perhaps I’ll find an excuse to be back again to do it all over again, and drag more friends...

I visited this restaurant last Friday and was absolutely impressed. Initially, I was skeptical about its five-star rating, but after dining here, I completely agree with it.

From the moment we arrived, we were warmly greeted by Ken, who then led us to our table. We were seated in a booth with high partitions, providing a good level of privacy. Since it was our first time there, Ken took the time to explain the menu, and once we placed our order, he promptly brought out the food.

The meats were outstanding. The wagyu was beautifully marbled, incredibly tender, and full of flavor. Ken even assisted us with grilling the Wagyu Gold Bar Stick to perfection—tender and juicy inside with a slight char on the outside. The sashimi was fresh, as were the oysters. The seafood hotpot had a rich, flavorful broth, and the vegetables added a nice balance to the otherwise meat-heavy meal. The salad was crisp, and the dressing complemented it well, though I would have preferred a bit more sauce.

For drinks, we had beer, sake, and passion fruit tea from the free flow menu. The sake was smooth and easy to drink, while the fruit tea came in a can, which is worth noting.

From the seafood selection, the prawns were fresh—I personally enjoyed the freshwater prawns, while my friend preferred the live tiger prawns. We also ordered an à la carte uni, which was fresh and delicious.

We ended the meal with berry ice cream, which was a bit on the creamier side—something to keep in mind for those who prefer lighter ice creams. Since we were celebrating a birthday, the restaurant surprised us with a black sesame shaved ice dessert. The fragrance of the black sesame was delightful, and the crushed peanuts added a nice crunch.

I’d also like to extend my appreciation to the service team, especially Ken, for their attentive and welcoming service, which truly enhanced our dining experience.

Even the restroom was well-maintained—very clean and equipped with a bidet.

Overall, it was a fantastic dinner and a memorable birthday celebration. I would definitely return.

If there’s one thing I’d suggest improving, it would be the seating. The cushions are quite worn, sinking in when you sit down, so it might be time to...

First visit (5 stars): The Wagyu Tavern sets the standard for food, service, and atmosphere. The wagyu was absolutely delicious, and the prawns and sashimi were so fresh, you could taste it (I'm not good at describing but you have to try it!). More important, we had excellent service from Cecilia, who makes good recommendations and whose cooking was on point! Overall, an awesome experience and I look forward to returning.

Review edited for second visit (1 star): We decided to return again and go for the 588RM buffet. The experience was significantly different from our first visit. We are unsure if it's because it is the weekend and they are busier or if it's because it is our second visit. We suspect the latter. Specifically, they tend to show excellent service and food for first-time visitors to get good google reviews. For our second visit, we experienced the following:

1. No one is available to help with recommendations or cook the steak.
2. The stove is also different from our first visit. It was smaller and requires constant refilling of water. We did not know that until that stove started making loud noises. During the refilling, the waiter poured the water in quickly and a few drops of hot water splashed on my toddler's eye lid, causing him to cry. The waiter simply started at us and did not apologize.
3. The prawns for hotpot/grilling were not as fresh as the first visit.
4. Food and even drinks (which requires minimal preparation) took a long time to come.
5. The additional food for the 588RM buffet is not worth it. The fried lobster was salty and the fried abalone was tough and tasted like squid.

Overall, I recommend going for the 388RM buffet and go there for only once for the...