Review: Kingyu Japanese Restaurant

Located without any fanfare on the first floor of a shoplot in Desa Sri Hartamas, Kingyu is a Tokyo-inspired culinary retreat that has been delighting wagyu enthusiasts since 2019. Identified only by a discreet golden bull’s head on the façade, this restaurant captures the allure of Japan’s hidden ‘dining speakeasies,’ providing an enjoyable dining experience with a hint of seclusion and exclusivity.

Kingyu, meaning ‘golden cow,’ features 22 private dining rooms, each designed with Japanese seasonal motifs and modern touches. The setting creates an inviting atmosphere that’s perfect for intimate dinners, business gatherings, or special celebrations. Guests can also choose to dine at a six-seater counter overlooking the open kitchen for a more interactive experience, which was our preference.

EXCEPTIONAL WAGYU CREATIONS

Though it’s not all beef-focused, it’s undeniable that Kingyu’s menu is primarily a love letter to Japanese wagyu. Signature dishes include the Wagyu Carpaccio (RM50), where delicate slices of raw beef are elevated with soy-flavoured olive oil, yuzu, and konbu for a rich, melt-in-your-mouth experience. We really enjoyed this one. Another highlight is the Watercress and Arugula Salad (RM38), a fresh and lively mound of greens, mixed with boiled wagyu meat and lashed with delicious sesame dressing.

For steak enthusiasts, Kingyu offers fresh blocks of wagyu (a selection of amazing cuts is available) presented tableside, so we could appreciate the marbling before our choices were partially grilled and returned to the table, allowing us to finish the tender beef ourselves on sizzling-hot Mount Fuji lava stones. An array of over a dozen salts and sauces, including truffle salt and yuzu butter, adds a personalized touch to every bite. The beef is impeccable, which is no surprise if you’ve been to Kingyu’s sister yakinuku outlets Asumo and Kyomo. As with those restaurants, all wagyu at Kingyu is halal-certified, as well, and imported from Japan’s Miyazaki and Tokushima prefectures.

There are loads of options when it comes to the wagyu. You can try an omakase approach with multiple cuts and dishes (starting at RM180), order the cut of your choice by weight (RM1.90 per gram), or in special selected collections (RM88-RM140). There’s also a premium beef tongue if you’re so inclined in thick-cut or thin-cut options (RM50 per 50g). We generally preferred the thin-cut selection, especially with a squeeze of fresh lemon and the scallions served on the side.

You can also select from a range of Wagyu Sushi (RM15-RM22, except for the premium wagyu and sea urchin roll, RM35). Varying options of raw or roasted wagyu, each with a different presentation, vie for attention. We chose the Assorted Wagyu Sushi Plate (RM110), with eight different kinds, along with two pieces of tamago (Japanese roasted egg). This is a fine way to determine your favourites, then in the future, you can order those individually!

BEYOND THE BEEF

The restaurant’s dedication to quality and presentation was evident in every dish we ordered, combining tradition with innovation to create a menu that caters to both adventurous and classic palates. If you’re not a big meat eater, there are still several options available on the menu for both vegetarians and flexitarians. One meat-free dish we couldn’t help but order (and devour) was the Shredded French Fry (RM22), a towering mound of finely shredded potato, fried and served with a bit of dried green seaweed and salt. It would be worth stopping in and sitting at the bar just for this addictive dish and a couple of their excellent whisky highballs (RM18 to RM25 for a regular-size glass; choose from Jim Beam bourbon, Suntory Whisky, or The Chita single grain whisky).

Like its sister restaurants, Kingyu lets customers play a simple dice game to possibly win a discount on their whisky highballs. If you’re already going to order one, it’s an easy choice to roll the dice and see if you get lucky and get a deal. If your roll produces two dice with each having the same number, you’ll get your regular highball free of charge. If the two numbers add up to an even number, you’ll get a 50% discount on your regular highball. If your dice add up to an odd number, though, you’ll need to be thirsty, as you’ll get their mega highball – 700 ml – at the regular price (RM35/RM43 depending on the whisky). This little game of chance, called chinchirorin, is popular in some bars in Japan, elevating the routine, casual experience of ordering a highball into a fun and memorable experience. We say, drink up, and… may the odds be ever in your favour!

Apart from the highballs, Kingyu offers shochu, sake, and wines, along with a selection of juices, tea, and sodas. We recommend the sake selections here, in particular, with the menu having a super-helpful ‘flavour map’ showing every available sake (total of 10) with respect to its taste – from sweet to dry and from mild to rich. There’s also a nomikirabe ‘sake flight’ with either six (RM70) or eight (RM90) different sakes. Most of the individual choices are available by the bottle (720ml) or carafe (180ml), with some sakes also offered in a large 1.8L bottle, as well.

There are also a few desserts, though it’s probably safe to say most diners don’t come to a Japanese wagyu restaurant for sweet treats. As you might expect, the small selection of desserts leans heavily on red bean, rice, and matcha. We chose the Japanese Parfait (RM26) with matcha ice cream, mochi, and fruits.

As we flipped through the menu, one thing we really liked is that Kingyu is a place that can cater nicely to a wide range of appetites and budgets. While you could go nuts with the wagyu options and easily spend RM300 per person here (or more), it’s by no means necessary, and it’s just as easy to enjoy a lovely meal here for a fraction of that price, too. Try the Wagyu and Seafood Rice Bowl for just RM35, for example, or the Clam and Shirasu Whitebait with Fried Soba Noodles for RM30. These were both super-tempting, but we ran out of stomach space to eat anything more!

Located in the bustling Desa Sri Hartamas neighbourhood, Kingyu helps their customers manage the area’s parking challenges with a complimentary valet service. We got lucky on our visit and actually found a convenient parking spot, but we think the thoughtful gesture of offering valet service enhances the dining experience and reflects a commitment to good hospitality.

For those seeking a refined Japanese wagyu experience in Kuala Lumpur, Kingyu promises elegance, flavour, and the charm of a speakeasy-style dining destination. If you’re more into grilling your own premium Japanese wagyu on a tabletop grill, Kingyu’s sister yakinuku restaurant, Kyomo, is just across the road!

Location & Details

Kingyu Japanese Restaurant
First Floor, 8, Jalan 24/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur
(look for the staircase next to Guardian pharmacy)

Weekdays 5pm to 11pm (last order 10pm)
Weekends 12 noon to 3pm (last order 2:30pm), and 5pm to 11pm (last order 10pm)
Tel: 03.6206-3515
http://www.kingyumy.com/