Kurata Japanese Dining at Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur: Restaurant Review

Kurata opened recently at Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur, though it’s independently owned & operated separately from the hotel; the restaurant features a friendly team that takes pride in both traditional & contemporary Japanese fare.

Seductively Elegant Sashimi Platter

Kurata’s sashimi platter surfaces in a seductively elegant fashion that’s unlike run-of-the-mill sashimi-boat presentations. Each slice of fresh, delicate seafood on this is irreproachable in every regard.

What makes us pause is the price: At RM210, it’s not quite everything it could be, & we have to stop short of fully endorsing it.

King Fish Carpaccio

Less wallet-draining options include this respectable king fish carpaccio, crowned with jalapeno peppers for a gently spicy bite & cloaked in calamansi sauce for a subtly tangy kick. RM50++.

Vegetable-Heavy Seafood Starters

Kurata’s big on vegetable-heavy seafood starters like striped jack fish & scallops with grapefruit (RM64), snow crab salads (RM54) & more, though again, these might prove less financially punishing for the outlet’s clientele of Japanese businessmen.

Sauteed Foie Gras

Skip the sauteed foie gras? The serving was skimpy & the kitchen overcooked it (though it was still salvageable).

Sweet-Savoury Sable Fish

Sweet-savoury sable fish saturated with rice wine. RM40++; ultimately, Kurata falls in line with hotel fare at hotel rates.

Breaking open the sake cask for Kurata’s launch ceremony. House-pouring wine is available at prices that might initially seem disproportionate – RM25 per glass, RM200 for a bottle of the same wine – until each glass of wine actually arrives at the table.