Becky-Wong

Located above Ante Kitchen & Bar at Publika, is Tsubohachi Izakaya-Hokkaido very first branch in Malaysia. Tsubohachi is a renowned Izakaya restaurant with more than 300 outlets in Japan, and the brand is well-known for more than 40 years since it first established in 1973 in Hokkaido.

During my countless times of visit to Publika, I've came across Tsubohachi and was quite attracted to the authentic Japanese interior of the shop - very Edo period. In order to bring the authentic Izakaya dining experience to their customers, Tsubohachi imported most of their ingredients from Japan and other countries, and also ensure their food materials are of the highest quality and freshness. Thanks to OpenRice, I had the opportunity to try out some of the mouth-watering food at Tsubohachi Izakaya!

Since it's a culture in Japan to have Izakaya or skewers over some booze, we started our night some alcohol drinks!

Get yourself some ice-cold Asahi Sub-Zero (RM 25.80/half pint) while waiting for your food. It kinda get us into the "Izakaya" mood too! =)

The Whisky Highball (RM 20) is a mixture of whisky and soda. I did not have the chance to try it out, but this drink is one of the popular choices among the customers and I could tell that it was very much well-received - judging the amount of people ordered and re-ordered that night!

This is a MUST order if you are a Yuzu lover! The Yuzushu Glass (RM 19.80) is a very refreshing Yuzu wine and would definitely keep you going for more food.

Tsubohachi offers several Sake and Sochu options too. 

Drink all you can at Tsubohachi Izakaya with their Banquet Dinner!

They serve non-alcoholic drinks too - Mocktails and soft Drinks.

The Ramen Sarada (RM 16.90) was served with noodle, lettuce, onion, egg, cucumber, bacon, leek, carrot, cherry tomato with sesame dressing. This crunchy and refreshing would be a good option as a starter.

Eihire (RM 12.90) was actually grilled ray fin, and it tasted very much like grilled squid. A very addicted appetizer and goes very well with some chilled beer.

The Nonkatsu Karaage (RM 18.90) is another must have for an Izakaya-style dinner! The chicken soft bones were fried to perfect and non-greasy and we were all busy "attacking" it over dinner.

Karaage

Not feeling too adventurous? The succulent Karaage would make an excellent choice too! Despite the "photo session", the skin still remained crispy and juicy! ^_^

Imo Mochi (RM 8.90)

The Imo Mochi (RM 8.90) is a Hokkaido-style deep fried potato. We were informed by one of their friendly staffs that this is made from potato starch and deep fried, that's why it has very similar texture to mochi. This was so good that we ordered a second plate!

Poteto Mentaiko Yaki (RM 13.90)

The Poteto Mentaiko Yaki (RM 13.90) is another favourite dish of mine! Potatoes served in sizzling hotplate and topped with seasoned cod roe, melted cheese and mayonnaise... ADDICTIVE!

Look at that cheese!!! If you love cheesy food AND potatoes at the same time, you definitely have to give this a try.

Ontama Tsukune Teppanyaki (RM 12.90)

Hokke Hiraki (RM 52.90)

Seseri (RM 7.80)

Torikawa (RM 7.80)

Negima (RM 7.80)

Bonjiri (RM 7.80)

Karei Karaage (RM 42.50)

Need another crunchy element to your meal? Try the Karei Karaage (RM 42.50). The flounder was deep fried till perfection and wasn't greasy. To make this dish slightly more refreshing, squeeze in some lemon juice then.

Sake no Chanchan Yaki (RM 21.50)

The Sake no Chanchan Yaki (RM 21.50) is another Hokkaido specialty. The grilled salmon was fresh and flaky and the sauce was very flavourful from the vegetables in it.

Ishikan Nabe (RM 19.90)

This pipping hot Ishikan Nabe (RM 19.90) is perfect to warm-up the stomach before hitting the alcohols. Though it's miso-based soup, the flavours were quite subtle and don't worry if the salmon taste would be too strong.

Nagashi Somen Setto (RM 27.90)

The Nagashi Somen Setto (RM 27.90) was very fun to have during our dinner. In Japan, this flowing somen noodles would be served using bamboo. The dish was served with ice water, and we had the chance to put in the noodles, tomatoes and cucumber when the water started to swirl. Because of the ice water, the noodles were very cooling and nice to have - especially after so many plates of hot food.

A piece of advice, be fast when "catching" the noodles; and if you are bad in using a chopsticks like me, please seek for "professional help" from your friends....LOL!

You may choose your noodles and add on more noodles (RM 8.90) or tempura (RM 12.90). The flowing somen noodles are fun for kids too!

Tarabagani Kamameshi (RM 36.90)

The Tarabagani Kamameshi (RM 36.90) is a King Crab pot rice and it needs to be cooked for 20 minutes at table side. I truly wasn't aware there were rice hiding underneath the broth and seafood...

Patiently waiting 20 minutes for the rice to cook....*waiting~~waiting~~~waiting~~~*

Tadaaaaa~~~~ Our rice was ready to be eaten!! The whiff of aromatic seafood awakens my hunger once more. The rice was packed with the umami flavours of the seafood! If you are a big eater, you might be able to finish the entire pot of rice. However, it's always nice to share...and leaves your tummy for more delicious food!

Tonpeiyaki (RM 12.90)

At first glance, I thought it was Omu Rice, but it turned out to be omelette with sliced pork and crunchy shredded cabbage - Tonpeiyaki (RM 12.90). The omelette was thin and light and drizzled with mayo and takoyaki sauce.

Buta Hakusai Nabe (RM 29.90)

I love this A LOT!!! The Buta Hakusai Nabe (RM 29.90) is a nicely plated pork belly and Chinese cabbage Mille-Feuille claypot. Same as the rice pot, this was cooked table side too.

The dish was a little bland if consume without any dipping sauces, but the lightly citrusy soy sauce goes very well with the pork belly and cabbage. The dish just gets sweeter as the ingredients continue to simmer in the claypot, and the portion would be perfect to be shared among 2-3 pax.

Yaki Gyoza (RM 12.90)

The Yaki Gyoza (RM 12.90) tasted very much like any decent Japanese-style dumplings - non-greasy thin dumpling's skin and juicy minced meat.

If you think we are done for the night after so much food, you thought wrong! We can NEVER NEVER end a meal without desserts!

Matcha de Roru (RM 14.90)

First up, the Matcha de Roru (RM 14.90) - Paper-thin green tea crepe wrapped with Vanilla ice cream, rice cake and red beans. The ice cream and red beans were a perfect match, and the rice cake added a pleasant chewy texture to the dessert.

Shiratama Matcha Kurimu Zenzai (RM 12.90)

Green tea lovers, be prepared to enjoy the Shiratama Matcha Kurimu Zenzai (RM 12.90). A dessert that came with green tea ice cream, red beans and chewy rice flour dumplings.

Kakurenbo Aisu (RM 14.90)

Personally, I thought the Kakurenbo Aisu (RM 14.90) is a very cute dessert. I got curious of the name and asked the staff what's the meaning, and we were told it was as if the ice cream were playing hide and seek. I seriously like the combination of chewy rice cakes and ice cream.

Yuzu Shabetto (RM 9.90)

Not a fan of green tea? The Yuzu Shabetto (RM 9.90) would be a perfect choice! The yuzu wasn't too sweet and I like the slight bitterness that came from the citrus zest in the sherbet. The tangy and refreshing sherbet was a perfect way to cleanse the taste buds, while ending the night with something light.

Tsubohachi is really a very nice place to chill out with friends, be it over a proper meal or you are there for the drinks. A highly recommended place to any of you who are seeking for a pleasant and authentic Izakaya experience!

Address: A2-UG1-9 Publika Solaris Dutamas, 50480 Hartamas Heights, Kuala Lumpur
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday Lunch (11.30am to 3pm)
                                Monday to Sunday Dinner (5.30pm to 1am)
Contact: +603 6206 5526 

For more information:

Website: http://www.tsubohachi.com.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tsubohachimalaysia/?fref=ts
                                

Sushi lovers! It's time to try some innovative sushi roll other than the ones you find on the conveyor belt.

Perhaps you heard about Okonomi before this, but let me give you a brief introduction just in case you are not too sure who are they. Okonomi has been in the market for about 6 months now and they have received a lot of positive reviews on social media. They served mainly Japanese fusion highlighting in customized Maki rolls. This means you can customized your very own sushi roll. Hence, the slogan - What's Your Roll? You can choose from 40 different fillings, 20 different sauce and dressings, and 16 different toppings to create your preferred Maki roll.

The moment you step in to the restaurant, you'll walk pass the "kitchen" area which has an open-concept, and you can see the ingredients displays by the window. It's always good to know how fresh your ingredients, isn't it so?

Thanks to Foodink, we were invited to a food review at Okonomi over the weekend to try out some of their new dishes.

Caesar Salad Roll (RM 19.90)

Never thought a salad could be presented in sushi roll form, until I had the Caesar Salad Roll (RM 19.90) from Okonomi. It's a uramaki of white rice wrapped soy wrap, chicken karaage, crispy coral lettuce, boiled egg with croutons and grated parmesan on top and cheddar mayo at the side. With the chicken karaage and croutons, this is one sushi roll that's full with crunchy texture!

Crunchy Crab (RM 26.90)

The Crunchy Crab (RM 26.90) is another uramaki of Hokkaido crab meat, soft shell crab, carrot, tempura crunch wrapped in white rice and seaweed with togarashi and cheddar salad dressing. The sushi roll has a slight heat due to the togarashi, which is red chili peppers. The soft shell crab was also nicely fried and not oily at all.

Mango Prawn Salad (RM 20.90)

The Mango Prawn Salad (RM 20.90) is a bowl of succulent prawns, mangoes and Japanese cucumber topped with tobiko and mango salad dressing served over mixed greens and cherry tomatoes. The mildly sweet salad is very refreshing and perfect as an appetizer.

Ebi Fry (RM 15.90)

Fan of fried food? Try the deep fried succulent breaded prawns of Ebi Fry (RM 15.90). Worry the dish might be too heavy? Few drops of the tangy lemon juice would do the trick!

I'm sure after a long break, many of you have been trying to pick up where you left of before the Chinese New Year break. The weekend is just around the corner, so why not take a break and go have some "me" time?


About a week ago, I went for the Lymphatic Drainage Massage at Face Factor Clinic in Publika. Face Factor is a premier aesthetic and wellness clinic located at Solaris Dutamas, and they offer a wide range of services ranging from advanced aesthetics and anti-aging solutions, unique body treatments and hand and nail therapies.

Waiting area

The clinic gave a very bright and friendly vibe, and the masseuses were very professional. You could sit at the waiting area and read some magazines while waiting for them to get ready the room.


The room was dim and cosy, and I love the lamp a lot. I was given a disposal bra and panty to change into. Remember to remove any accessories or jewelleries, as they'll be doing a full body massage from head to toe. It wasn't my first time doing a body massage, but it was definitely one of the best and relaxed experiences I've had.

They started me off the 90 minutes massage with a full body scrub to remove the layer of dead skin, and followed by rubbing massage oils all over my body before they start targeting on my lymph nodes. The scent of the oil was mild and very much like lemongrass oil. The masseuses were gentle but there were still some pain going on, especially when they were massaging my thigh area. However, you can always let them know and they'll reduce the pressure for you. On top of this, they will give you a stomach massage to clear up any "wind" in the stomach.

After the massage, it's time for 30 minutes of hotbed. Frankly, I hate hotbed a lot as they always gave my breathing problem. So, I was kind of worry when I heard of this. To my surprise, I enjoyed a lot. In fact, it was the first time that I actually fell asleep during a hotbed session!

If you looking to go for a full body massage, I would highly recommend Face Factor Clinic especially their Lymphatic Drainage Massage. I felt so relaxed and light after the session. Also, I noticed some of my body parts are firmer too. It really made me want to go for more sessions with them!