Review: Robata Monkey at Jaya One

Firing up our F&B scene, this white-hot new restaurant transports the unique art of rustic Japanese slow-grilling into Jaya One, serving a smorgasbord of succulent seafood with smoky, savoury subtleties.

Fish Retains its Moisture and Purity of Flavour After Cooking

Robata Monkey focuses on ‘robatayaki,’ cooking with ‘bincho-tan’ traditional oak charcoal that burns cleanly to ensure the restaurant’s assortment of fish, flown in from the Land of Rising Sun, retains as much moisture & purity of flavour as possible.

Pacific Saury

Robata Monkey is starting this week with a selection of fish; we heartily recommend the Pacific saury (sanma), beautifully juicy & persuasively tasty. It’s a terrific representative of the best of robatayaki, a centuries-old heritage of Japanese fishermen. RM15.

Bigger, Meatier Fish

Bigger, meatier fish is available too; choose from Robata Monkey’s Instagram-worthy counter where rows of fish dangle above, wet-market-style. The mackerel (saba, RM45), which features a ravishingly caramelised exterior, is sufficient for two to share.

Hokke Mackerel

Hokke mackerel, marinated & air-dried right here, another treat for fans of fish prepared in an authentically Japanese fashion. Robata Monkey expects to expand its seafood selection in the weeks ahead; expect prawns & even octopus to surface soon.

More than just Barbecued Seafood

Robata Monkey offers more than barbecued seafood. We absolutely adore the oysters; the Irish Nugget & Canadian oysters (RM25 & RM18 for three respectively) are both brilliant. Pleasurably creamy & perfectly briny.

Miso-Braised Saba

Also delicious: Miso-braised saba (RM25), umami-rich comfort food that might prove perfect for rainy evenings.

Pork Free Menu

Robata Monkey is part of the family of restaurants that includes Bangoya, Kissaten & Lammeeya, but this is the first member that serves no pork. But like Bangoya, it serves ‘kushiyaki’ skewer-grilled fare too, including monkey-approved bananas wrapped in smoked duck (RM10).

A Sushi Bar

There’s a sushi bar as well, so customers can indulge in bowls of rice crowned with the likes of salmon sashimi & roe …

… or with tuna, or the classic ‘chirashi’ mixed fish variety. Cha-soba is offered too for carb-craving customers.

Worth Ordering the Sashimi

Sashimi? Worth ordering; the raw fish tastes fresh & is elegantly presented, meeting the benchmark for Japanese eateries.

The Japanese Whiting

Or have it fried: the Japanese whiting (kisu) tempura, delicate & flaky, does justice to this fish.

Vege-Lovers

Vegetable-lovers can have their fill of nourishment here, with everything from bonito-&-seaweed-topped bitter gourd salad (RM8)

… to tempura eggplant & ‘kakiage’ mixed fare. Robata Monkey might specialise in robata, but it’s actually a fully well-rounded Japanese restaurant.

Fried Gingko Nuts

Snacking is encouraged at Robata Monkey: try the fried gingko nuts, ideal for rousing the appetite.

Green Tea Ice Cream, Mochi, Azuki Beans and Gula Melaka

Dessert is also satisfying, a refreshing ensemble of green tea ice cream, mochi, azuki beans & gula melaka.

Noteworthy Beverages

The food alone makes Robata Monkey worth recommending, but the beverages are also noteworthy. The restaurant offers ‘Curious Monkey’ tasting flights for liquor, including ranges of wine, sake & beer. For the latter, the ‘Paulaner brothers’ selection (Robata Monkey specialises in Paulaner varieties) showcases a trilogy of three delectably distinctive types.

A Perfect Pair Flight Featuring Sayuri and Junmai Ginjo Sake

A Perfect Pair flight, featuring Sayuri & Junmai Ginjo sake, both very different from run-of-the-mill sake, with intriguing notes that persist on the palate. RM16 for two cups.

Half Moon Yuzu, Ginger & Ume-Shu Shochu

Half Moon Yuzu, Ginger & Ume-Shu Shochu, also excellent for a night out drinking with friends.

Hopf Ice-Conditioned Wheat Beer

We like the Hopf ice-conditioned wheat beer too, crisp & complex, easy to consume. RM18.

Canned Cocktails Are Also Available

Canned ‘cocktails’ (Sawa-Sawa & Highball), for comforting convenience.

Calpis Soda to Wrap Up the Evening

Calpis soda to wrap up a very enjoyable evening here; four hours can fly by swiftly & smoothly at Robata Monkey.

A Spacious and Colourful Restaurant with Lots of Personal Touches

Robata Monkey is a spacious, colourful restaurant with a lot of personal touches, including a wall full of its co-owner’s photographs, taken at the Tsukiji fish market.