Hamasho at Desa Sri Hartamas: Restaurant Review

Tantalising new Japanese restaurants have surfaced this month all across Desa Sri Hartamas; here’s our definitive deep-dive introduction for grilled seafood specialist Hamasho. Take a deliciously deep breath.

Charcoal Stoves

Charcoal stoves seize the spotlight at Hamasho, as compellingly Japanese as a restaurant gets in KL, complete with menus pasted on the walls that few Malaysians can decipher. Thankfully, Hamasho’s owners & team nurture a patient & helpful nature.

Barbecued Squid

Squid receives star treatment, brushed with a mix of sake & shoyu, terrific in taste & texture, as if newly netted from the sea. It might well have been; Hamasho secures fresh seafood shipments five days a week. RM25++.

Prefer squid tentacles (RM15++)? That’s possible at Hamasho, the first Malaysian outpost of a Japanese-based F&B business.

Barbecued Greenling Fish

‘Hokke’ Arabesque greenling fish (RM25++), a true treat at Hamasho. Fresh & fleshy, smoky & savoury.

Barbecued Mushrooms

What lies within the foil? A mix of mushrooms; tastes better than expected, possibly one of the best of its kind in KL.

Crab Head Flesh

Crab ‘head’ flesh, scooped up from the shell & mixed up altogether for an interesting preparation (RM18++).

Gindara Teriyaki

Gindara teriyaki might sound cliched, but the cod fish at Hamasho is a should-order, beautifully buttery, flaky & flavoursome.

Bonito Sashimi

Bonito sashimi (RM30++).

Snacks

Not into seafood? Deep-fried chicken gizzard (RM15++) is fun to snack on here …

… as well as made-for-beer-pairing burdock chips (RM15++), salty with a curried tinge …

… & sliced yam laced with sake & squid guts, an acquired taste.

Expensive Sake

Sake is pricey at Hamasho though; a 360-ml serving that only two can share costs RM90++.

Final Thoughts

With so much seafood, Hamasho makes a nice companion restaurant to sashimi-serving Uokatsu nearby (though the two are not affiliated to each other), with their fabulous food reminding us why Japanese cuisine is one of the mainstays of this website, with more than 200 Japanese restaurants reviewed since 2008.

Overall though, we think Hamasho, which has a fun & welcoming vibe, possesses the makings of a smash hit; expect to hear more about this place in the months ahead.