Kampachi Plaza 33 — Restaurant in Petaling Jaya

This review is strictly intended for the outlet at Plaza 33. It's with a very heavy heart thay I have to give this review a 2 stars. Far from its glory days in Equatorial Hotel, where it's touted to be one of the best Japanese restaurants in Klang Valley. Had New Years Eve 2019 dinner with the family of which my parents are also long time patrons of this old restaurant establishment. Despite several warnings from family members and online reviews, we decided to give it another try. We ordered Toro, buri & salmon belly sashimi which turn out satisfactory. The Hamachi kama was nicely done too. Then we ordered a tofu yaka-something (can't exactly remember the name)... Batter on the tofu was Soo thick and sticky, we had to "peel" it off the tofu just to eat. It was bad. Very bad. Eel rice (Una don) for my dad was unappetizing and mediocre. A chicken teppankyaki set for our domestic help, a tai nyumen for myself and a shared chicken udon soup between my wife and my mum which was also terribly bland. The nyumen for myself is OK. Also, we ordered a kanpachi carpaccio which tasted fine. With my family complaining generally about the food, the ebi tempura arrives. Much to our dismay, the batter looks so dull yellow and heavy. After taking a bite, i decided to ask for the manager to lodge a complaint. You guys are Kampachi, not rakuzen( in fact I think comparing the dinner last nite, rakuzen does a much better job). We were more than willing to shell out a premium for the dinner., just because it's Kampachi. But to all standards, it wasn't worth it. Not at all. Paying about RM1500 for a dinner which is so bad, doesn't even do justice. With the EQ branch opened, I hope other branches are performing better. We did not order anything exotic, what we ordered were the basic staple menu of any respectable Japanese restaurant. I told the manager(Kevin is a nice guy btw), that if he, by his standard, can accept the tempura, I would pay for it. In the end we were not charged. We are not angry, we were just thoroughly disappointed that how can such a beloved establishment come to this or rather drop to these standards. Kevin even suggested to give them another chance and that before our next impending visit, to let him know so he can better prepare. With much respect to Kevin's goodwill, I feel, no matter who the patron is, all food standards and quality must be kept the same, at all time. Be consistent to all, not only to complaining guests. I would like to remind you, you guys are Kampachi, an establishment with a well loved heritage and history. When we pay "Kampachi" price, please give us "Kampachi" standard of food. Thank you for the complimentary mochi. I sincerely hope this review reaches the upper echelon management and that they will take this seriously. I do not usually write such a lengthy review, but only because Kampachi is a place of good memories and past experience....

Booking via their website was easy and simple. Shortly after booking the manager of the restaurant called and confirmed my booking as well as providing me additional information in regards to their offerings as I am celebrating my friend birthday on the day.

Parking was plentiful at the restaurant. Arriving at the restaurant, we were greeted warmly by the front desk. Not sure because it was a hot day or the insufficient air-conditioning, the restaurant was abit too warm for my comfort. Upon request they setup a fan to provide a cooling breeze.

We were there for the Japanese buffet spread. The varieties of foods was good. Sashimi and sushi sections are fresh and have decent choices. There is also a teppanyaki section with freshly grilled beef to order. The grill unagi and scallops was the highlight for me on the section. Grilled beef was ok but requires more condiments for robust flavor.

Due to lack of space some of the food station was located outside the restaurant. There a sukiyaki station where guest can get a pot of sukiyaki with beef slices. The soup was abit too salty for me to drink but the flavor is good and the beef was tender. Other station were deep fried and pan fried selections. Their tempura prawns were really good. Tender bouncy prawn with a crunchy tempura shell. There pan fried fish were also fresh and flake.

The dessert station however is a bit disappointing. There only a few selections of fresh fruits, red bean and black sesame stuffed mochi and peanut coated mochi. That being said, it seem like there are some hidden dessert options that you could order namely red bean or peanut butter dorayaki. Ask the waiting staff if it is available.

In terms of customer service, the floor manager and staffs were attentive and helpful. They were polite and courteous. Our table were cleared regularly when we were done with the plate. Also a big thank you to Chyler for the amazing birthday surprise for my friend. The dessert platter for the birthday boy was amazing and the small gift was memorable.

Overall the service is excellent, buffet offerings are good however would like to see more options for desserts. Environment was ok, hopefully next time we visit (which I will) it would not...

I visited Kampachi a few weeks ago with my family and we were truly pleasantly surprised by our visit! We were first greeted at the entrance of the restaurant by a hostess who had been awaiting us, in anticipation of our arrival. Upon verifying our reservation details, we were ushered to our table and immediately attended to by the wait-staff. The staff displayed excellent knowledge of the cuisine as they recommended dishes that were more suited to our liking, taking into consideration our dietary restrictions. They even tailored the proportions of certain dishes to accommodate to our preference for certain seafood. When queried regarding the preparation of certain meats, the wait-staff patiently explained the detailed culinary process, making sure to cater to our palate while maintaining the authenticity of food served.

The food was exceptional in every aspect! From the starters/appetizers right to our desserts, every dish tasted heavenly! This is a testament to the culinary expertise incorporated by the chef and the indisputable freshness of ingredients used!

The privacy from our secluded table accompanied by the tranquil ambience of the restaurant throughout our dinner truly enriched our dining experience. I am already looking forward to dining at...