NEW AGE JAPANESE

Unforgettable...sea urchin paste with beancurd from MIKAN

I cant recall when was the last time a dish managed to sear its deliciousness into my memory but theUni Tofu from Mikan Japanese restaurant has the distinction of achieving such a feat 
recently.

The epitome of unadulterated simplicity, the wobbly slab of silky soft beancurd came smothered in a lightly torched, creamy sea urchin paste. Granted the dish proffered no visual stimulation but the minute we sampled the first mouthful, all conversation ground to a halt at our table. Yes, the dish was so good that all of us were rendered speechless by the beancurd's ethereally light texture and the distinct sea urchin paste's delicate richness with a lingering briny-sweetness that hinted of the sea.

Ebi Pan - pix courtesy of PureGlutton.com

Earlier, our dining companions had their tastebuds tickled by two inventive Appetizers: Ebi Pan ~ deep fried baguette infused with tiger shrimp (RM 6) and Mentai Tamagoyaki ~ Japanese omelette topped with salted cod roe, mayo & butter oat (RM 8) which we missed out because we arrived late. Drats!

Mentai Tamagoyaki pix courtesy of PureGlutton.com

We were dining at Mikan, a newish Japanese restaurant in Damansara Perdana. It's a casual dining outlet with toasty and choco slate tiled walls, mellow lighting and comfy dining chairs that put you immediately at ease.



Unsurprisingly, sashimi and sushi are something that Mikan takes huge pride in. The restaurant uses only Norwegian salmon trout (RM 20) for its sashimi; the fish's plump succulence is a joy to behold on the tongue and one can seriously overindulge on this brilliant offering without much prompting. 

We were also smitten with the Hazuki Sushi (RM 4/pc), every mouthful of the slightly chewy, superbly fresh slices of jade perch buttery tender to the bite. According to Mikan's director Casey Liew, the fish comes directly from his aquaculture farm so its freshness is uncompromised. He tells us that the fish's omega 3 content is even higher than that of salmon.



Signature sushi rolls here that come highly recommended are the Volcano Roll ~ a flavourful vinegared rice roll that's filled with Leek, Bonito Flakes & Mikans No.1 sauce (RM 18) and the sublime Dragon Roll with scrumptious fillings of tiger prawn, avocado and shrimp roe (RM 16).

After cleansing our palate with Sencha (RM3) infused with GeMaicha (roasted rice), we devoured a plate of Ebi Niniku Mayo Yaki ~ Tiger Shrimp skewered and topped with garlic mayo sauce. An indulgent treat that smothered in an unctuous garlicky sauce that we all fell for hook, line and sinker.

The Buta Kakuni ~ Japanese-style Simmered Pork (RM 22) is a timeless classic that begs to be eaten with bowls of plain rice, especially the hearty, mildly briny and sweet sauce.

Porcine fans would be in seventh heaven the minute they sample Mikan's delectable Pork Lard Fried Rice (RM 6); fluffy rice brimming with smoky 'wok hei' and liberally studded with crispy dices of pork lardons.

Wrapping up our meal with a glass of organic Green Papaya Juice (RM 8), we learned that the supply of organic Exotica III Papaya comes from the Liew family's farm in Melaka. "The juice is enzyme rich, a natural antioxidant drink that cleanses the body's internal system," says Casey.

Much to our surprise the green papaya juice turned out pleasantly agreeable; its mild sweetness is refreshing without any sappy overtone as one would expect from raw, unripe fruit.

Mikan is quite a discovery for us and hopefully more foodies will feel the same way too. The menu has much promises and we intend to explore it fully on another occasion. 

For reservations, call MIKAN JAPANESE CUISINE, tel: 03-7713 5288. Address: Lot LG03 Plaza Emerald North, PJU 8/3A, Damansara Perdana, Selangor. Website: www.mikan.com.my

Mikan Japanese Cuisine
LG-03 Plaza Emerald North
Jalan PJU 8/3A
Damansara Perdana
47820 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-7713-5288 - See more at: http://pureglutton.com/mikan-damansara-perdana#sthash.mCsCiK0Q.dpuf

Mikan Japanese Cuisine
LG-03 Plaza Emerald North
Jalan PJU 8/3A
Damansara Perdana
47820 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-7713-5288 - See more at: http://pureglutton.com/mikan-damansara-perdana#sthash.mCsCiK0Q.dpufG 03, Plaza Emerald North, PJU 8/3A, Damansara Perdana · Petaling Jaya