Sakana Japanese Dining Introduces New Flavourful Menu Perfect For Quick Bites
The new menu features a diverse range of offerings that balance bold ingredients, refined pairings, and creative touches. Offerings include an assortment of hand rolls and onigiri, comfort bowls, desserts, mocktails and cocktails. We recently had the opportunity to try a selection from the new menu, so here are our thoughts on each of the items we tried:
Mocktails & Cocktails
We started our meal by trying out Sakana's new beverage lineup. From the exciting mix of refreshing mocktails, we tried the Yuzu Lemongrass, which perked us up almost immediately with its sweet and tart flavour.
Also available on the mocktail menu are Mango, Cucumber Virgin Mojito, Tropical Passionfruit Plum and Coconut Pandan. Sakana also refreshed their new cocktail menu with a selection of Japanese-inspired cocktails, including Hojicha Whisky Highball, Green Tea Gin Tonic, Sake Mojito, Yuzushu Lemongrass and Umeshu Negroni.
Hand Rolls & Onigiri
Freshly rolled to order, these one-handed delights and classic triangular rice parcels are a nod to Japan's beloved comfort food. We tried the Spicy Fatty Tuna hand roll, the Unagi hand roll, the Salmon Ikura Avocado hand roll and the Vegetable hand roll. Our personal favourites from the four were the Spicy Fatty Tuna, which had a satisfying crunch, thanks to chilli crisp topping.
The Unagi and Salmon Ikura Avocado hand rolls are also must-tries, and the Vegetable is perfect for those looking for a vegetarian-friendly option. Additionally, Executive Owner-Chef of Sakana Japanese Dining, Chef Makoto Saito Sam, revealed that the cut of salmon chosen for the hand roll is less oily to ensure a more refreshing bite.
Also available on the hand rolls menu are Fatty Tuna, Engawa with Mentaiko Mayo and Shrimp Tempura. For the Onigiri menu, customers can choose from Plain, Yaki (grilled), Kampachi, Tuna Mayo, Mentaiko, Karaage, Grilled Salmon, and Ebi Tempura.
Comfort Bowls
The ever-popular Omurice with Ebi Fry makes its debut at Sakana Japanese Dining. The classic dish of fluffy omelette over tomato rice is served with crispy prawns and house-made demi-glace sauce. While we didn't manage to try the Omurice, we did have the Spicy Duck Ramen, which is just as satisfying.
Each bowl of ramen offers a rich, soul-warming broth packed with flavour. Meanwhile, the tender roasted duck and the soft-boiled egg provided a nice bite to the dish. Despite the name, the spice level is tolerable, so no worries if you're concerned about the potential heat.
However, if you're not one for any level of spice, the regular Duck Ramen option is also available. If it's anything like its spicy counterpart, you'll still get an umami-packed dining experience.
Desserts
Ending our meal on a sweet note, we tried both of the new Japanese parfaits on the Sakana menu. First up was the Strawberry Vanilla Parfait, made with fresh CHITOSE strawberries. The combination of custard, fresh cream and vanilla ice cream sweetened things up, but the cornflakes balanced it out and added a nice crunch.
On the other hand, Matcha Red Bean Parfait was more earthy and a must-try for the matcha fans out there. The parfait includes Kyoto matcha, original matcha ice cream, mochi, red bean and crispy cereal. While it's the less-sweet option, it's still a satisfying and aromatic dessert.
Overall, the new menu had a good range of offerings that provided both new and familiar flavours. While the price may be a little steep, considering the options for premium Japanese food in the Klang Valley, the new menu is worth it for the quality of the ingredients and the attention to detail in flavour. So, whether you're dropping in for a quick lunch, settling in for dinner, or enjoying a late-night bite with a cocktail in hand, the new menu at Sakana Japanese Dining will satisfy your tastebuds.
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