*photo-heavy post ahead!

Zipangu in Shangri-La KL is reputed to be one of the best Japanese restaurants in town. rif decided to treat me to a nice lunch since he got his paycheque. Yay!! They serve ala carte items during the weekdays and lunch buffets on weekends. The Weekend Lunch Buffet is available from 11.30am – 2.30pm for RM96 per person. The floor manager lead us past an impressive display of wines on the way to the dining area.I requested for a table by the glass panels with a lovely view of a mini Japanese garden. From the dining area, one can see the chefs and kitchen staff hard at work – making delicate sushis, deep-frying tempuras and skillfully slicing the sashimis. One thing I like about Zipangu is the prompt and courteous service. The staff were quick to clear away the empty plates and refill your green tea.I love the fresh and succulent cuts of sashimis on display. The sake (salmon) was thickly cut and had a buttery texture that melts in the mouth. The hamachi (yellowtail) and maguro (tuna) were also very good. Fatty, tender, and every bit delicious. I found the chawanmushi mediocre. I like it to be piping hot; this was lukewarm. The prawn tempura was decent. Freshly fried, the batter was slightly thicker than I like it to be but the prawns were very fresh and crunchy. The chicken karaage was quite tasty. Crispy on the outside, moist and tender on the inside. The casino soft shell crab maki was not bad, but I refrained from taking more because I wanted to make space for other types of food.

According to French poet Léon-Paul Fargue, eating an oysters is
“like kissing the sea on the lips.”

I”m not a fan of oysters, but I found these a delight. One of the fresher oysters I”ve tasted, it was firm and slippery at the same time. At first, it tasted “oyster-y.” Followed by a gush of salty, sweet and sea flavours. The addition of tabasco sauce and a light squeeze of lime complemented this supposed aphrodisiac. Size-wise, these oysters were smaller than the ones found in Tenji or Lemon Garden. I found the hand roll very dry, so rif got me another one with more mayonnaise. With extra mayonnaise and a slice of raw salmon, I found it average. The beef teppanyaki (not in picture), albeit slightly tough was well-flavoured. However, it was nicer and more tender when I went for a second helping. They probably cooked a new batch.While the unagi was quite good, rif and I found Oh Sushi’s version better and fatter. This unagi was not properly deboned, so it was quite annoying biting into bits of tiny bones.The beef sukiyaki contained thinly-sliced beef, straw mushrooms, tofu, glass noodles and an assortment of vegetables. Tastewise, I found the chicken sukiyaki better. Although similar in taste, it had a more intense flavour compared to the former.The desserts were quite good. I reckon this is one of the better desserts I”ve had in buffets. The delicate cakes were moist and tastefully prepared. They even have an assortment of malay kuihs, with my favourite being the kuih keria. There was also a selection of fresh fruits including big, luscious strawberries best eaten with fresh cream. I also tried 2 pieces of mochi – sticky, chewy and not overly sweet. Nice!Zipangu offers a choice of green tea, vanilla, strawberry and chocolate ice cream. It is not available at the buffet counter; you have to order it from the wait staff. Smooth, creamy and dense, I liked the vanilla best.With the Shang card, the lunch buffet cost RM 110.40 inclusive of tax and service charge for the two of us. At RM 55 per pax, I thought it was a very good deal! While the selection isn”t extensive, they make up for it with good quality and service. Thanks for lunch rif, I enjoyed myself very much! =D

Ambiance: 8/10
Price: 7/10 (with Shang card), 4/10 (without)
Food: 7.5/10 (pork-free)
Verdict: Relaxing lunch buffet and quality food minus the crowd.

Zipangu
Shangri-La Hotel
Kuala Lumpur
1800 88 7881 (toll free)
03 2716 3112