Warakuya Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur

My family and I were very impressed by the consistent great food and service at Warakuya branches in Pelangi and Sutera at Johor previously. We were glad to heard that they had open a branch in Sri Petaling and decided to give it a try.

Summary, Plus points:- Good tibits, drinks and massage chair while waiting, Delicious food with big portions, good value for money, Great ambiance, Free Jockey service, Polite staff, Free deserts, Food comes out relatively fast.

Areas which could improve, Portion of salmon in teriyaki set smaller than those served in Johor Presentation of Don set not as impressive as in those Johor Too few waiters so have to wait longer to get served.

In full, As previous reviews had suggested, it's a must to book well in advance as the restaurant is very busy and often fully booked. If you happen to arrive early, you can try their assortment of tibits, fruits, cold drinks and coffee for free while watching just for gags or sitting on the massage chair which is a plus point. There is also a free jockey service which is very helpful as it's very hard to get car park near the restaurant.

The restaurant has a grand yet homely ambiance similar to the branches in Johor but is very noisy during peak hours. They have a few Hello kitty status outside which is cute to take pictures with. The atmosphere could have been better if they would play some smoothing Japanese and Chinese music in the background (done at the branches in Johor) but that's just my personal preference. You could also book a private room upstairs (fits up to 12 if not mistaken) but it will require you to spend rm 500 and above in a single bill

There are 3 menu namely the sushi menu, the sashimi menu and "main"menu (has bento sets, tempura sets and ramen selection but I can't remember the name) with a wide selection to choose from. My personal recommendation is the soft shell crab Don or if you want something very filling, get the chicken namban set. As for sushi, the special maki set is my favourite. The drink menu is quite limited but my advice is to order the green tea which is refillable. They do serve sake here as well. In a nutshell, the food here is delicious, fresh and quite filling; a great value for money.

The staff are hardworking and friendly. There is an electronic button to call a waiter whenever you need service. We saw a few birthday celebrations here where the staff would gather and sing for you which was very sweet of them.

There were some areas which could be improved when compared to the Johor branches such as the presentation for the Don would have been better if served in the original round bowls rather than square bento boxes. We also noticed that the size of the salmon served here tend to be quite small in portion compared to those served in the Johor branches. It also takes much longer for the staff to serve you here (sometimes they do not respond to the electronic call button due to all of them being very busy) compared to Johor which could be due to them having less staff to table ratio here.

Overall impression, it's a awesome family friendly japanese restaurant with good...

Late-Night Authenticity and Theatrics.

At 9:30 pm, my friend and I were in pursuit of a late-night Japanese fix, fearing most places might be closing. Thankfully, a Google search revealed Warakuya, a hidden Sri Petaling gem that caters to night owls.

Expecting a run-of-the-mill Japanese dinner, we were pleasantly shocked by Warakuya's commitment to unique and authentic presentation. As we entered, waitresses donning charming maid costumes, though unconventional, added an intriguing touch. Their offering of oshiburi, hot towels for hand cleansing, exuded an elevated level of Japanese hospitality.

My friend went for the stir-fried beef set, served sizzling on a hot metal dish, creating an enticing spectacle. The beef was tender and perfectly seasoned, striking a delightful balance between saltiness and sweetness. It was accompanied by a side soup, kimchi, and tofu, all complementing the steaming bowl of rice.

I chose the sashimi salmon, presented on a bed of ice with dramatic smoke effects, likely due to dry ice. This captivating display elevated a seemingly simple dish. The salmon slices were thick, fatty, and incredibly juicy, especially when dipped in soy sauce, where visible salmon fat floated—a sign of exceptional quality.

For the grand finale, I ordered Zaru Soba with tempura. To our amazement, the soba noodles arrived in an ice bowl, a luxurious touch ensuring they stayed refreshingly cold. The dipping sauce was authentically flavorful, and the generous, expertly fried tempura was lightly battered, crispy on the outside, and tender within.

Surprisingly, these theatrically presented meals came at a reasonable price. The attentive and efficient service added to our overall enjoyment, leaving us eagerly anticipating our next visit to Warakuya...

I wish I had 6 stars to give this restaurant. I am blown away by the sheer awesomeness of our experience. They have given a lot of thought into the customer experience, which is rare in Malaysia, but cleverly portrays the Japanese culture. Here, you'll find free flow snacks and drinks while you wait (there's usually a queue). Or, if you fancy something more relaxing, have a go at one of the THREE massage chairs. When you're finally seated, be ready to be greeted by warm hand towels (no need to run to the bathroom to clean your hands!). Order your meals, have fun, and if you're celebrating your birthday, you get a team of singers and LED lights to cheer you on. Once you've had your meal, they don't just let you go off. They serve you a free jelly dessert! Such little details go a long long way to retain customers. It's no wonder they have a queue on most days. Oh, and did I mention, if you want to come, but afraid of the parking madness in Sri Petaling.. They've even got that covered. Just stop by the side of the road and there's FREE Valet parking. Yeap, free! So, you can go enjoy your meal in peace. Now, for the actual food review, we tried the various ramen, salmon bento, chicken nanban bento (this is huge portion!) and many others. The one that really blew me away was the smoke salmon sushi (I think this is the name). It has a amazing texture, soft on the outside, crispy in the inside and firm in the centre! The centre is the bombs! Deffonitely a revisit and a place I'd comfortably recommend. Price wise is also excellent value for money - 200+ for 8 pax. We were filled...