Asado — Restaurant in Perak

Update 20/8/2025: re-visited the squid ink pasta with whole squid (still utterly delicious), tried the wagyu marrow bone and finished off the meal with a white Russian. The marrow was sheer decadence, creamy, rich and umami, like having supercharged butter with a truffle scent. Presentation was also on point, order so that other diners would envy you.

Look, everybody needs to pamper themselves.

I'm not talking about 6-figure luxury watches or 8-figure Bugattis, thankfully it's relatively easy to attain high-end in the realm of food. You just need a few hundred quid to sample wagyu steak, foie gras, lobster, caviar, truffle mushrooms... the works, and that's already the upper echelon of luxury.

Asado fills this niche perfectly. A properly posh, extravagant restaurant to splurge at for anniversaries, celebrations, and special occasions like kena lottery. Occupying a bungalow house previously home to Grove Diner, the spacious interior invites you to be seated comfortably while awaiting your culinary delights. The ambience is modern and opulent, with hues of soft lights illuminating the white, grey and black marbled decor.

Service staff are polite, attentive and prompt. My party of 10 felt adequately pampered in the private room provided (minimum expenditure involved). Food didn't take long to arrive although the restaurant was half-full. And although I could not cover everything we ordered in detail, here's what we really enjoyed.

-Grilled white corn -Truffle mushroom soup -Oxtail soup -Monster kaki fresh oysters -Gambas al Ajillo (Spanish garlic prawns) -Pulpo a la gallega (grilled octopus) -Whole squid pasta -New Zealand lamb rack -Iberico spare ribs -Sher Wagyu ribeye -Tiramisu

Their food items were mostly hits. Seafood was superbly fresh, prawns separated from the shell cleanly while squids have a springy mouth-feel. Oysters slid nicely into the mouth without the overly briny taste. The meats were well-seasoned and cooked to perfection, with just a hint of smoky char. The lamb rack and wagyu steak... Utterly delectable. The surprise of the day was the grilled white corn. Smoky and sweet with grated parmesan added for an extra dimension of flavour. The only mild disappointments were the pork skewers and seafood soup in tomato broth, which tasted rather ordinary.

The fresh truffle mushroom was overkill by the way, you don't need to order it to get the best out of your entrees. Just 30g will set you back about RM300, yikes.

Needless to say, the entire family was thoroughly satisfied with the meal and await our next celebration. Ipoh, long known for hawker food, needs high-end restaurants to improve the culinary scene here. We have Opeam, Morel, and Jeff's Cellar doing rounds for that, and I'm glad to say Asado belongs in the same company. Highly...

Average Dining Experience with Room for Improvement, but Great Live Music

We tried the M6/M7 beef, requesting it to be cooked medium rare. Unfortunately, it was slightly overcooked. That said, the meat was still quite juicy and tender, which we appreciated. The Asado chicken was also enjoyable—flavorful, juicy, and well-prepared—though the portion felt small considering the higher price point.

The overall dining experience was average. We found the staff lacked in-depth knowledge about the beef cuts; they weren’t able to explain the parts, flavor profiles, or textures beyond the type and weight of the meat. Additionally, one of the waiters accidentally knocked a plate while refilling water, which slightly disrupted the experience.

On a more positive note, the live band was a highlight of the evening. They performed beautifully and were kind enough to play a song I requested for my mum. It made her really happy, and we truly appreciated that personal touch.

The crew seemed young and enthusiastic, and with more training and experience, there’s definitely potential for improvement in both service and...

Visited at 5 PM, just before the dinner rush. The converted bungalow offers convenient on-site parking. The ambiance is trendy, featuring upbeat music and stylish decor, highlighted by a striking marble sign.

Service: Prompt and attentive. Waiter offered helpful recommendations.

Food: Mushroom soup: Somewhat disappointing, lacking in mushroom flavor. Lamb chop: Mixed experience. Good portion size, tender and juicy when fresh off the grill. However, some pieces had an unpleasant lamb odor, suggesting inconsistent meat quality. The accompanying pickles were enjoyable.

I did not sample appetizers or desserts.

Pricing: Above average

Overall Asado offers a visually appealing dining experience with prompt service. While the lamb chop shows potential, there's room for improvement in consistency and flavor across the menu. Given the above average price point, it's worth a try for those looking for a trendy dining spot in Ipoh, but expectations should be tempered.

I definitely will visit again for other dishes/meal/sweet to give a more...