CoCo Ichibanya Curry House at 1 Utama: Restaurant Review

Japan’s biggest curry rice restaurant chain has finally embarked on its first Malaysian foray, bolstering a cross-border network that spans more than 1,300 outposts in the U.S., China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand & Singapore.

Coco Ichibanya at 1 Utama sticks to the chain’s tried-&-tested formula – customers can customise their curries by selecting toppings, rice quantities, sauce quantities & spice levels (1 is ‘medium hot,’ 5 is ‘crazy hot’), enabling endless permutations.

Pork Cutlet

Pork cutlet’s the top recommendation, chunky & tender (RM21); we topped it with grilled pork, kimchi & cheese (RM9 surplus) & chose a sweat-spilling ‘Level 5’ of spiciness. The curry’s creamy & fairly flavoursome, while the rice proves a satisfactory foil.

Clam and Tomato Curry

Clam & tomato curry (RM22) with an extra egg (RM3); seafood options abound, with shrimp, squid & salmon all also available.

Spinach and Eggplant Platter

Vegetarians can eat their fill too, thanks to the spinach & eggplant platter (RM23), best enjoyed in the mildest, most mellow curry sauce, with a sweet savouriness that caresses the palate without too much tongue-tingling. Pretty basic comfort food.

Curry omurice comes with omelette-wrapped rice surrounded by hashed beef in a tangy gravy, not quite our favourite (RM25).

Green Tea Lovers

Green tea lovers can revel in matcha milkshakes (RM11) or made-in-Thailand matcha lattes (RM8). Service is pleasant & efficient at CoCo Ichibanya Malaysia, which expects to launch its next outlet later this year at Penang’s Queensbay Mall.