The first time I dined at Iketeru at Hilton Kuala Lumpur was two decades ago, at the start of my working life. It was a treat by my Japanese colleague, who had tried Iketeru and gave her stamp of approval. I must say, I totally agreed with her after that meal.
Decades later, I’m happy to say that the quality of the food, and the attention to detail under Executive Japanese Chef Kunihiko Hamada has not dropped a single bit. Along with the refurbished interior with a beautifully transformed Sushi Bar, and marble finishes for its Teppanyaki Bar, a new dining experience awaits regulars as well as new diners.
Hospitality with a capital H
From the moment we stepped in, we were warmly greeted by the wait staff and shown to our seats, where welcome mocktails made with a choice of either yuzu or matcha were promptly served. Our server for the night asked our names and used them throughout the night, which made us feel like we were old friends, and is always nice.
As I was there with the teen, he was asked if he would like to remove anything on the tasting menu for the night. I simply love that they understand that with teens (and children), their tastebuds are not as refined or as open to certain ingredients. Or that it could be that they’re just picky eaters – mine was for a long time. Iketeru went beyond removing the two appetisers as rejected requested by him and replaced them with more palatable items to a teen’s taste buds.
Excellent seasonal menu
Our first course kicked off with a trio of appetisers consisting of a Mashed Tofu Salad with Tofu Skin, Baked Oyster Simmered in Sweet Happou Dashi Sauce with Dark Soy Bean Paste and Baked Sautéed Sea Pineapple.
Both the Baked Oyster (served with Fried Eggplant simmered in Sweet Happou Dashi) and Baked Sautéed Sea Pineapple (enhanced with Sea Urchin Paste) were rich and full of flavour. The Mashed Tofu Salad (served with blanched Green Asparagus and a toasted White Sesame Dressing enhanced with Soy Bean Paste and a hint of Honey) served to balance out the umami of the other two appetisers. As a whole, the trio worked well. Although, I must put it out there that my favourite was the Baked Sautéed Sea Pineapple. It was crispy and oh, so, moreish!
Next up was a selection of Fresh Sashimi and Sushi. Iketeru did not disappoint (not that I expected them to). The sashimi and sushi were top notch as Iketeru flies in their supplies based on what’s in season from Japan on a regular basis.
Our main course was Teppanyaki Mix Grill with a sampling of Striploin Beef Steak, Lamb Fillet and Chicken Breast atop Mixed Vegetables. My favourite of these three was the beef, which was on point: pink in the middle and tender. I didn’t take to the chicken as personally I’m not a fan of chicken breast. For this course, the teen polished off his plate in minutes (and some of mine too, I might add).
We ended our meal with Green Tea Ice Cream, which had the right amount of sweetness and just a tad of bitterness. The teen, who doesn’t usually eat this flavour of ice cream because of the taste, polished this off too.
Sake? Yes, please!
I’ve never been a sake drinker as I’ve always found it to be too strong for my liking (or perhaps it’s that I’ve not tasted the right one yet). I gave Kankaobai Shuzou, Iketeru’s exclusive Sake – XL Label, available only at Hilton Kuala Lumpur, a go, and to my surprise found that I took to it.
As I found out later, Kankaobai Shuzou XL Edition Sake (720ml) is a premium sake with Yamada Nishiki Rice, 55% polishing and underground water from Mount Suzuka, meticulously crafted by one of Japan’s finest breweries.
This sake was smooth, fruity and went down really well – especially when pairing with the fresh sashimi and sushi. So yums! I might be a sake drinker after all – who knew!
Good to know
At Iketeru, you have the option of dining in the Main Dining Hall, Private Dining Rooms, Sushi Bar or the Teppanyaki Bar. I highly recommend the Teppanyaki Bar if you would like to see the chefs in action, which is always good for kids (and even teens) – a show and a meal!
Guests are invited to indulge in two exclusive seasonal set menus: the 8-Course Sushi Set Menu (RM580 nett per person) and the 7-Course Teppanyaki Set Menu (RM480 nett per person), each thoughtfully curated to celebrate the rich, seasonal flavors.
As a special offer, Hilton Honors members can enjoy 25% off both menus, valid until 31 October 2024.
For reservations or inquiries, please contact +60 3 2264 2264 or visit EatDrinkHilton.
If you’re in the mood for Italian, Graze is a fantastic option!
We were invited by Hilton Kuala Lumpur. As always, our opinions are honest and our own.
