Ishin Japanese Dining | KL — Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur

Service and table arrangements: Personal rating: 0/5 When we arrived, we were led to our table. They seated us in a room with 5 other tables (it was a rather small room and to be honest, 6 tables in that room did seem rather cramped to me). As a result of the compactness of the room, it was rather noisy. Wasn't a really enjoyable atmosphere, though I suppose it does depend on personal preference. The tables downstairs were partitioned though, so I guess we got a little unlucky with the table arrangements.

The service on the other hand, was absolutely horrible, especially for an "award-winning" restaurant which charges 6% service tax. Although we had booked in advance, the table allocated for us was set for 2 instead of 4. Although we had ordered in advance, they stood there waiting for us to order and we had to explain that we had already ordered in advance.

For food we ordered the Christmas set, which was a set consisting of appetizers, main courses, and dessert. It was horrifying to see all of them on one tray as if it was a bento. Sets with more than one main course are usually for a 'fine-dining experience' which they do claim to provide and never have I experienced fine-dining served in that manner (yes, even Japanese fine-dining, I have eaten Japanese fine-dining in other Japanese fine-dining restaurants (Nobu)).

Putting aside the presentation, the waitresses seemed to be majorly struggling as the bread that was supposed to be kept separate from its dip fell into the dip when served because the waitresses failed to balance it (This happened for ALL 4 sets, makes me wonder why it was served that way, should have kept it separate, because the bread proceeded to become soggy). When putting down the tray, I got rebuked by the waitress (I'm using a really mild word here in comparison of what happened) to take away my chopsticks in Cantonese, and no, she had not informed me to take it away beforehand, that was the first time she communicated such a need; there were also other waitresses there who could have helped her. When putting down two of the trays, they proceeded to place the tray right on top of the napkins. In addition to that, we had to actually inform them 5-6 times where to place each set. We were also not informed on the sequence of which the food should be eaten in. Some cutleries were also missing from the set. For drinks, we ordered sake and Japanese green tea. The serving for the green tea was terrible to say the least. The waitress insisted on serving our green tea to the brim, which, is clearly not proper etiquette as serving tea to the brim gives an implication that you want a person to leave as soon as possible (she did so from the moment the tea was served) Part of the set was the dessert which was mochi ice cream and as my sister and I could not eat cold food, we asked whether it could be substituted for anything else. The waitress merely scoffed at us and said I don't think you can and proceeded to hurry us to make a decision whether we wanted the dessert immediately. She did not even consider going out to ask whether it was possible. On her part, I think this was extremely irresponsible. Food: 0/5 Appetizer: bread was soggy as I said, fish roe was overcooked. Main courses: The oyster was extremely slimy and was not fresh, sashimi too thickly sliced, not fresh; sushi was too big, could not fit in a mouthful; lobster was an absolute horror, I think I may see it in my nightmares... it was not fresh, part of the lobster meat had not been removed (it was the type where they took out the lobster meat and then cooked it before placing it back into its shell). Drink: 1/5 The green tea was certainly not the type I'd expect in this restaurant, it tasted like those in perhaps, Sushi Zanmai? Really below expectations. The 1 point goes to the sake for tasting like a proper sake. Parking service: 0/5 The valets messed up the keys and proceeded on a hunt for...

Ishin Japanese Restaurant stands out as a gem in the culinary landscape, offering a dining experience that is both satisfying and memorable. The portions here are notably generous, ensuring that every guest leaves not just content but pleasantly surprised by the amount of food they receive for their money. This is a testament to the restaurant's commitment to providing value beyond just the taste.

Speaking of taste, the food at Ishin is a solid 4 out of 5. The flavors are well-balanced, with dishes that range from classic Japanese fare to more innovative creations that still honor the essence of Japanese cuisine. Whether you're a fan of sushi, sashimi, or heartier options like ramen and donburi, there's something here that's sure to delight your palate. The ingredients are fresh, and it's clear that the kitchen takes pride in sourcing quality products to ensure that each dish is as flavorful as possible.

The presentation of the food is also worth mentioning. Dishes are not only delicious but also visually appealing, making for an Instagram-worthy dining experience. The attention to detail in both the taste and appearance of the food reflects the restaurant's dedication to providing an all-around enjoyable meal.

Service at Ishin is commendable. The staff is attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, offering recommendations when asked and ensuring that the dining experience is smooth from start to finish. The ambience of the restaurant complements the food and service, providing a comfortable and inviting space that's perfect for a casual meal or a special occasion.

In summary, Ishin Japanese Restaurant is a must-visit for anyone looking for a satisfying Japanese meal. With its generous portions, delicious food, and excellent service, it's a place where both Japanese cuisine enthusiasts and newcomers can enjoy a memorable...

Experience: Made a reservation for valentines here to bring my gf to try uni because she's never tried. Confirmed with them when i made reservation that uni was available. On the day itself we were told uni was out of stock(??). Disappointed I wanted to order Sukiyaki but that also was out of stock? So I had to order some mushroom nabe instead.

After pouring and drinking a bowl of nabe we realised to our horror that there was a piece of plastic that was still stuck on the enoki mushroom in the nabe. Called the waiter and they offered to replace it or cancel it. We decided to replace it.

Needless to say the already bad experience was made horrible and the rest of the dinner was ruined because of that experience. We did not expect this from this award winning restaurant but clearly they are lacking in their quality control.

At that point we thought about leaving already but decided to stay on because other venues would have been fully booked for valentines.

Food: Despite those the food was pretty good. The unagi + duck liver would have been better warmer but it didnt matter considering the horrible experience.

I would like to note that a male waiter was kind enough to offer us ice cream for the trouble we went through but we rejected as we were already so disappointed we just wanted to leave.

Edit 9/3/2021: ishin told us to update them on fb, I have done so but to date they have not provided a reply. Not sure if they are going to rectify...