Food Explorer & Home Chef
New York based restaurant Benihana hit the ground running, opening on the 4th floor in KLCC recently and already attracting crowds for its exciting teppanyaki shows! The Japanese-influenced Benihara has been dazzling guests around the world for decades, transforming a simple meal into an exciting …
Father’s Day is that one time you can have beef with dad! Available exclusively on June 14 and 15, Maria’s SteakCafe’s Father’s Day Set Menu showcases premium steaks, comforting classics, and decadent desserts in a specially curated four-course meal. The set menu features premium steaks …
Japan’s largest Shabu Shabu restaurant chain brand, Shabu-Yo, launched its 7th Malaysian outlet at 1 Utama shopping mall, Petaling Jaya. Shabu-Yo is turning up the heat on hotpot dining with its simmering brothers and fresh ingredients, taking Japanese hotpot to new heights across the Klang Valley.
“Shabu-Yo has officially made its mark on the directory board of 1 Utama Shopping Centre. As one of the most prominent lifestyle destinations in the Klang Valley, 1 Utama is the ideal location for our latest branch, with its fantastic location and anyone can easily spend an entire day. In addition, the community has a deep appreciation and love for Japanese culture and food,” said Managing Director of Skylark Malaysia Nishioka Hidekazu who officiated the opening.
Media members had fun creating our own sauces to go with the meat. The pork, lamb and wagyu beef tasted fresh and of premium quality, cooked in seconds and went beautifully with the other ingredients such as Japanese vegetables and mushrooms.
We chose mala and yuzu soups, and while they tasted a little bland initially, the soups became rich and flavourful after having all the ingredients dunked in. We also enjoyed the soft serve and ice dessert. Too full for the waffle, saving it for the next round!
Shabu-Yo brings the essence of Japan’s culinary tradition to life with its authentic hot pot experience. The restaurant prides itself on serving high-quality ingredients, including premium Australian Wagyu beef, pork, and chicken. Diners can also enjoy a variety of fresh, crunchy vegetables, all cooked the in-house tasty broth. The highlight has to be the sauce bar, offering around 30 different options, allowing customers to customise their own sauces.
The menu centres around their most popular promotion, the ‘All-You-Can-Eat’ pork course, starting from RM39.90++ per adult or child. The course features unlimited refills of pork, a variety of fresh vegetables, an array of beverage options, and side dishes such as takoyaki and crispy fried karaage. Dining durations for lunch and dinner are set at 90 minutes and 120 minutes.
The restaurant offers a diverse selection of five courses, each with varying prices for weekdays and weekends. The available courses include:
1. Pork and chicken
2. Beef, pork, and chicken
3. Australian wagyu, pork, and chicken
Add: LG105 – LG106, SHABU-YO, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, 1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya
Fresh from his Melbourne stint at Attica, touted to be one of the best restaurants Down Under, chef Daniel Kong from Kuching, together with 2 other partners – his brother and fellow chef Woon Ming – set up Vagabond KL in Desa Sri Hartamas, KL. …
Explored SS15 which I normally never go to with a foodie friend – Boon @tummy_full – and discovered a slew of inviting eateries, among them, newbie Amichi Ristorante. Helmed by Bari-born chef Angelo, a big shout out for their great service! I was having early …
Shinano Kitchen is literally a hole-in-the-wall pork-free diner serving Japanese and Korean rice and udon sets. Nestled on the ground floor of Uptown 5 Tower B in Damansara Utama, PJ, it has seating capacity for only 10 (very cramp seats) inside, but you can opt to sit outside on the sidewalk where it’s more comfortable, without air-cond. Capturing the essence of a real Japanese diner, Shinano fills a niche as prices are reasonable (RM10 to RM28) and the basic bento and rice sets are great for the office crowd who have no time to waste, and just wanna eat and go.
Essentially, there are only 3 main options – rice, fried rice or without carbs – paired with your choice of meat, tamago (eggroll), a side of kimchi and miso soup. Much like chap fan (Chinese mixed rice), but make it Japanese. Considering its tiny kitchen, the menu is surprisingly extensive as it plays with numerous combinations, including Japanese curry, udon and kimchi jiggae. Unlike Korean banchan, the sides are not refillable, but if you ask nicely, they might.
We had the beef patty with the garlic rice set, and unagi rice. Probably one of the cheapest unagi don around, the size of the eel was generous while the hambagu patty was a decent chunk of meat that went well with the garlic rice. I’ve had more exciting garlic rice, but the price would also be higher. Nothing fancy, but we enjoyed the meal – wholesome, prepared on-site and tasty – satisfying enough.
The sets come with refillable green tea as well so it’s a complete ensemble. Shinano offers a quick, satisfying meal and they have catering services as well.
Add: 101B, Tower B, Ground Floor, Uptown 5, Jalan SS21/39, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya. hp: 014-328 9941.
Get ready to vibe with Heineken’s REFRESHING SESSIONS with unexpected takeovers in the city! From supermarket aisles to bookstore shelves, Heineken® is serving up unforgettable DJ sets in the most unpredictable spots—bringing people together through music, good vibes, and a cool, refreshing Heineken. 1) QRA …
Torito, a new Peruvian-Japanese restaurant, sits on level 53 of Banyan Tree KL, its interior reflecting the captivating colours of the Peruvian natural landscape – vibrant green and azure blue – and the herringbone floor in terracotta tiles mirroring the desert sand. Torito (means bull …
Iconic Irish Whiskey Jameson presents the next chapter of its city-spanning Jameson Distilled Sounds events, this time taking over The Zhongshan Building. This edition will celebrate the release of Jameson’s latest limited-edition bottle, designed in collaboration with global Music Distiller and multi-Grammy-winning artist Anderson .Paak, while giving Southeast Asian talents a platform to share their sound.
With 18 artists, one stacked lineup, and endless vibes—the Jameson Distilled Sounds takeover hits May 17 from 6pm till late.
Jameson Distilled Sounds is both a global music programme and a local event series, sharing one name and one purpose: to connect a global music family across genres, borders, and subcultures—from Kuala Lumpur to Cork. Launched in 2024 with Anderson .Paak, the programme supports emerging talent worldwide by creating space for artists to collaborate, grow, and be heard.
Malaysian singer-songwriter Claudia Tan is the first local artist selected to be mentored by .Paak as part of this ongoing commitment. Just as Jameson is triple distilled for smoothness, the Zhongshan Building edition brings together communities and styles with the same craft and character that define Jameson.
Spanning indie, electronic, funk, soul, and deep house, the lineup offers a raw take on Southeast Asia’s sound—distilled, defiant, and deeply collective. Performances will take place at The Courtyard—a space more often known for sourdough than subwoofers, doubling by day as a bakery.
From Thailand, NOTEP blends ambient electronica with organic textures for a soulful, genre-fluid journey that’s both meditative and modern. Malaysia’s Talitha Tan brings smooth indie R&B pop and heartfelt lyrics. Saint Kylo, a powerhouse of R&B and funk, turns up the energy with infectious grooves and magnetic stage presence. Also taking the stage: the introspective stylings of Su San, Daaliah’s groove-forward DJ set, X.U’s electronic edge, and Kent Lee.
Catch the skyline and the sound as No One, Sheryn, Raven, Diorck, and B from Manipulated Mood Group take over the Kantata rooftop. Expect high-octane DJ sets that move from hypnotic builds to full-blown bangers—a golden hour session that sets the tone for the night ahead.
Indie tastemakers Chaseylain and Ribut 1059 of Twilight Actiongirl (TAG) return with eclectic DJ sets that nod to their roots in KL’s alternative scene, closing the night in Kantata with a special B2B that blends nostalgia with fresh sonic twists. Plus, swing by Poppy Records in the Zhongshan Annexe for a one-day-only promo—buy 1 Limited Edition Jameson x Anderson .Paak bottle and get a vinyl record of your choice—on us.
Over at Triptyk, the energy shifts into cocktail-hour mode as music and mixology collide. Expert mixologists Angel Ji and Steve Foo serve up curated Jameson signatures with a musical twist to her already famous cocktails, soundtracked by Viene’s deep club cuts and Vanns Ngo’s driving house. Just when you think it’s winding down, think again — a surprise Hijack Session by a tech house DJ is set to dial things up one last time.
Triptyk curates a lineup of flavour-forward bites, perfectly paired with the smooth taste of Jameson Irish Whiskey. Savour Pixies & Vespers’ yakitori skewers, crafted to complement the signature zest of a Jameson, Ginger Ale & Lime. Calle Taco’s handheld bites are expected to bring the heat, while Kantata keeps the energy flowing with late-night comfort food that’s as bold as the beats.
Register Now
This is an open-invite night. Register online now for free entry. Arrive before 8pm. First 200 guests through the door get a complimentary Jameson Ginger Ale & Lime.
Event Registration Link:
https://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/en/jameson-distilled-sound-my-2025-party-registration-form/
Guerlain, the renowned French luxury beauty house, presents the first-ever Bee Garden 2025 Pop-Up in South-East Asia, at The Exchange TRX, Kuala Lumpur, from April 28 to May 11. This experiential retail concept seamlessly blends beauty, fragrance, and sustainability, offering visitors an unparalleled journey into …