Torii at Batai Village, Damansara Heights: Restaurant Review

Acclaimed yakitori-&-whisky specialist Torii spreads its wings from Taman Tun Dr Ismail to Damansara Heights this week, launching a second outpost to sizzle up the new Batai Village development.

Laid-Back, Welcoming Vibe

If you like Torii in TTDI, you’ll probably love this new branch – the laid-back, welcoming vibe remains entirely intact, representative of a friendly neighbourhood hangout. The look here showcases an increasingly mature & confident restaurant, with Torii’s unmistakable markers transposed into a warmer, more intimate setting with beautiful flourishes.

Private Rooms Available

This branch also features a calm & cosy bar upstairs, ideal for snacking & sipping. Spacious private rooms are available too.

Lust-At-First-Bite

The food is still distinctively Torii, with a lust-at-first-bite skewer selection that’s enormously extensive, spanning sticks of crispy chicken thigh meat with sansho pepper, duck breast with sea salt, ox tripe with salsa, baby cuttlefish with BBQ sauce & more.

Constantly Evolving Repertoire

Torii’s repertoire is constantly evolving, so there’s always something new to sample. We’re instant fans of the escargot, which offers a juicy chew, well-flavoured with garlic miso & scallions (RM10++). Rock lobster with garlic chilli sauce (RM10++) is a sterling bet with a fleshy heft, while the Wagyu Seven (RM20++), seasoned simply with sea salt & black pepper, showcases the kitchen’s expertise with choice cuts of meat.

Inventive Spectrum of Starters and Salads

Torii fans know that some of the restaurant’s tastiest temptations extend beyond skewers, across an inventive spectrum of starters & salads. Chef Nizam & his team do full justice to fish, with highlights like salmon crudo with scallions, garlic chips, pesto & ponzu (RM25) & tuna with mango, cilantro, saffron & balsamic dressing (RM22), shining with complex, lively flavours.

Gyoza With A Twist

Gyoza is given a fresh twist, filled with beef & foie gras & pan-fried with ponzu & herbs (RM22) for a treat that remains respectful to Japanese flavours while infusing well-thought-out new nuances to surprise the taste buds.

Off-Menu Specials

It’s also worth asking for Torii’s off-menu specials: Steak devotees might worship the miso short rib & wagyu sirloin, partnered in a platter that’s a show-stopping sacrament of succulence. RM120++.

Top-Flight Range of Whisky

Torii takes plenty of pride in its whisky, with a top-flight range that goes beyond the call of duty for both quantity & quality. Sullivan’s Cove, named the world’s best single-malt at the 2014 World Whiskies Award, makes for an enjoyable enticement with its smooth, simple elegance.

Unique Cocktails

It’s a testament to a triumphantly rounded restaurant that every section of its menu is well worth sampling. Cocktails are not to be skipped either, with unique specialities like the Lemongrass Potion (RM36++; a ravishingly balanced blend of whisky, soda, lemongrass & lemon zest) complementing the food. Many thanks to Torii’s team for hosting this visit.