Robataya Izakaya Japanese Restaurant • 1 Utama — Restaurant in Petaling Jaya

I love Japanese food and have it regularly. I was raised in Japan for 12 years, and know how much effort Japanese chef put into preparing their cuisine to PLEASE their customers.

Today, 10 July 2020 was the first time in 42 years that I had Japanese food that made me feel sick to my stomach, and felt a foreign run Japanese restaurant discredited a sacred Japanese tradition. I was ashamed!

My wife and I decided to eat out and thought it would be a good idea to try Robataya for the first time. Sadly, it is my last!

We ordered the 3 piece Okan Sashimi Moriawase, the Soft Shell Crab Karaage, Hotate Tempura, Unagi Sushi, Salmon Belly Sushi, Inari Sushi and Tamago Cheese Inari.

Verdict: NOTHING WAS FRESH! The Sashimi and the various seafood on the platter tasted fishy and salty, the prawns almost rotten and smelly. The soft shell crabs' innards were a dark grey and tasted bitter, the hotate (scallops) also tasted fishy, the unagi was disappointingly small, but that can be overlooked, however, like the salmon belly sushi and the other seafood, they tasted rancid and fishy.

Fresh raw fish has a light almost neutral taste and gentle rubbery texture, and depending on the cut of the fish vary in flavour. The ones served by Robataya had a soft texture, and awkwardly salty after taste that left a smell in your mouth. We tried drowning the taste with lots of soy sauce and wasabi, but that was ineffective. Out of fear of food poisoning and cholera (yes, sounds extreme, but better safe than sorry), my wife and I decided not to continue eating. The only things we could finish were the non-seafood Inari Sushis and our drinks. We paid the RM240+ bill, I expressed my disappointment at the lack of freshness with the cashier and we left.

Look Robataya, if you're going to run a Japanese restaurant, the prerequisite is to have fresh seafood, if you can't guarantee that, you might as well take them off the menu. This is one Japanese restaurant I will keep off my list of Japanese restaurants. Not...

#best Japanese restaurant #best Japanese food

Dining at Robataya was an unforgettable experience from start to finish! The moment I stepped inside, I was transported to a cozy, traditional Japanese setting with warm lighting, rustic wooden accents, and the inviting aroma of the robata grill. The staff greeted me with genuine warmth, setting the tone for an evening of exceptional service.

The menu is a masterpiece of authenticity and creativity. The salmon nigiri melted in my mouth like butter, and the robata-grilled skewers (especially the tender chicken thigh and smoky shiitake mushrooms) were bursting with flavor. Don’t miss the miso soup—it’s the perfect balance of savory and comforting. Pair your meal with a curated sake from their impressive selection; the staff’s recommendations were spot-on!

What truly stood out was the artistry in every dish. The presentation was Instagram-worthy, yet it never overshadowed the rich, authentic flavors. Watching the chefs skillfully prepare dishes at the open grill added a lively, immersive touch to the meal.

Whether you’re planning a romantic date night, a special celebration, or simply craving top-tier Japanese cuisine, Robataya delivers. The attention to detail, from the polished service to the pristine dining space, makes it a gem worth returning to.

Five stars isn’t enough for this culinary haven. Arigatou gozaimasu, Robataya—I’ll be...

The food here is delicious, but the male manager’s attitude is really terrible. As soon as he came over, he recommended the market-priced fish. Since it was just two adults and a child dining today, and it was lunchtime, we didn’t want to eat too much or have something too heavy. After declining his recommendation, he had a visibly displeased look on his face.

Because I’m on a ketogenic diet and can’t eat sweet food, when ordering the grilled dishes, I told the manager I didn’t want any sauce. He responded with a condescending look, “None of these have sauce.” He said “all” of them. The grill menu did not indicate whether or not there was sauce. So when he said none of them had sauce, did he mean none of them had any?

In the end, I ordered an omelette with pork. When it arrived, it was covered in sweet teriyaki sauce. I reminded the waiter that I had requested no sauce. The manager then told me that this dish came with sauce. I questioned him, “Didn’t you just tell me that none of them have sauce?” I had to repeat myself five times before he begrudgingly went to change my order.

For such a manager, it really affects one’s mood. This is the service industry, and he lacks even the basic spirit of...