Toki Japanese Dining — Restaurant in Perak

Look, the term "hidden gem" is overused, but I really think it applies here.

An offshoot of Tare Omakase, in the middle of Greentown Business Centre, is Toki Japanese Dining. The entrance is prominent, with a Torii gate and stone walkway leading you towards the restaurant. Inside, the ambience is elegant, with zen-like decor that evokes peacefulness and warmth. An open kitchen commands most of the attention, with seats circling it like an omakase restaurant, while tables are also available for families and couples.

They pride themselves in serving the freshest ingredients possible, and preparing them with emphasis on natural flavours and presentation. I wholeheartedly agree. Their menu encompasses everything from working class to high end, but Toki is one of the few places where I don't keep my wallet in check because of my confidence in them.

I have tried their premium sushi, foie gras unagi rice bowl, foie gras toast and premium chirashi don (among others), and have come out smiling every time because the quality was outstanding. By all means, if they have rare or higher end seafood like tai, uni or botan ebi, have faith and try them! They will do right by you. How many times do you want to have salmon sashimi?

While you're feeling adventurous, do try their sushi hotdogs too, they're the open-faced sandwiches of the sushi world. You'll get a clearer taste of each ingredient. Pretty ingenious if you ask me. I recommend the foie gras mango, or the uni if you're feeling extra special.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the excellent service. They've been stellar the 4-5 times I've been here, with prompt service and tea refills. I've no idea why some early reviews mentioned no refills. Sake isit? 🤪

So that covers it. Food, service, ambience, prices. Clearly, I love this place and it's one of my top destinations if I want great Japanese food in Ipoh. Do...

Based on my recent visit, I'm leaving a 2-star review primarily due to issues with food preparation and service attentiveness.

Service: Friendly but Inattentive While the staff were cheerful and friendly,the service lacked alertness. The restaurant was not busy, yet we consistently had to ask for tea refills and for empty plates to be cleared. The team would benefit from more training in proactive customer care.

Sashimi Platter: Poor Handling The premium sashimi platter was the main letdown.

· Scallop: The texture was unpleasantly soft and lacked flavor. As someone who regularly buys Hokkaido frozen scallops from wholesalers like MXXXXX, I know that when served correctly immediately after defrosting, they are succulent and tasty. These, however, seemed like they had been defrosted and refrozen, ruining their quality. · Uni (Sea Urchin): The uni appeared melted and had lost its freshness, likely from being left out of the chiller for too long. · Ikura (Salmon Roe): The ikura was served mixed with the uni, and its strong saltiness completely overwhelmed the uni's delicate, unique taste. A simple improvement would be to serve these delicate items on a bed of ice to maintain their quality and integrity.

Pork Katsu: Lost Its Essence The most disappointing dish was the pork katsu.I understand the constraints of price, but the cutlet was so heavily seasoned and tenderized that it lost all its natural texture and pork taste. Furthermore, it was riddled with tough, chewy tendons, making it difficult to eat. For a benchmark of a well-executed pork katsu, one needs only to try the version at Maisen in KL.

The potential is there, but significant improvements in ingredient handling and...

The restaurant had a cozy atmosphere, with attentive waitresses and an open kitchen concept that added to the overall appeal.

While the food quality was decent, I must admit that I found the portion sizes to be disappointingly small, especially considering the higher price range. The flavors were enjoyable, but it would have been more satisfying to have larger portions that matched the prices.

It's worth noting that the oysters, in particular, stood out as a highlight in terms of taste. However, even those were served in smaller quantities. Despite their quality, it was difficult to overlook the disparity between portion size and price.

Due to limited seating, I recommend making reservations in advance, especially since there is only one VIP room available. Planning ahead will ensure that you secure a table and avoid any inconvenience.

In conclusion, the Japanese restaurant offers a cozy ambiance and attentive service. While the food quality is acceptable, the small portion sizes in relation to the higher prices left me somewhat unsatisfied. If you decide to dine here, consider your expectations regarding portion sizes and make a reservation to...