Japanese Peruvian Cuisine

Nobu Kuala Lumpur, Now Open Sunday Evening & Meeting the Legend

I’ve never been one to go gaga over celebrities. Famous actors, renowned musicians and acclaimed public figures: while I may appreciate what they do and respect their talent, I wouldn’t really call myself a fanatic of any. Put me in front of a celebrity chef however – a culinary noble who is able to feed the masses, spread their influence into the kitchens and mouths of their followers – and well, that’s a different story.

Nobu Kuala Lumpur
Monica Tindall & Nobu Matsuhisu – I even convinced my designer friend Adam Liew to dress me!

Such was the case recently when Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa paid a visit to Nobu KL. Having lasted over 20 years as an internationally recognised figure, with restaurants on five continents, and business partners such as Robert de Niro, this is a man to pay attention to. Chef Nobu’s Japanese-Peruvian origins have led to much experimentation in the kitchen and the use of diverse ingredients, which are the source of much delight here in Nobu Kuala Lumpur.

Nobu Kuala Lumpur
First Meet – Probably rambling something unintelligible in Spanish! (At least I’m wearing something suitable thanks to Adam Liew.)

Celebrating its grand opening in May of 2015, Nobu KL is just under a year old. Even with its newness, it has swiftly become one of the most publicised restaurants in the country, not only for its celebrity origins and Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, but too for its spectacular location on the 56th floor of the third Petronas tower.

Nobu Kuala Lumpur
KL Tower View at Sunset
Nobu Kuala Lumpur
Nobu Bar

With 20 restaurants all over the globe, you might be wondering what brings a man with limited time to KL? Following Nobu Kuala Lumpur’s encouraging success and positive response from patrons, the restaurant has recently announced the extension of their dining hours from six to seven days a week, and along with it a seasonal five course Omakase menu (RM280) that will be available exclusively on Sundays and Mondays. Chef’s visit coincided with the recent developments and Sunday diners were treated to a joint celebration with the man himself.

The menu will be curated weekly by Chef Philip Leong, so I forego going into grand detail of every dish we tried as they may very well be completely different by the next visit. Building a foundation around “freshness, quality and simplicity” though, you can expect to find premium ingredients, prepared with Japanese technique and infused with Peruvian flare. Here’s the line-up we sampled.

Nobu Kuala Lumpur
Amuse Bouche of padron peppers with shimeji mushrooms, lubricated in a sweet and salty yuzu and miso sauce.
Nobu Kuala Lumpur
Salmon Tartar with Wasabi Soy and Caviar – First scoop out the fish and finish with the apricot to cleanse the palate.
Nobu Kuala Lumpur
Tuna Sashimi Salad with Mixed Greens & Matsuhisa Dressing – Soft and fresh.
Nobu Kuala Lumpur
Tenderloin Beef Kushiyaki with Anticucho – Although the Latin American sauce, mildly spicy with a punchy finish, is a great accompaniment, this beef really does not need any further seasoning. Caramelised around the edges and tenderly pink in the middle, it’s obviously a quality cut.
Nobu Kuala Lumpur
Black Cod Miso Marinated and Broiled with Den Miso – The fish was cooked flawlessly so flaked with a mere nudge of the fork. The sauce that tipped the see-saw towards the sweeter side, is best balanced with a good squeeze of lemon. As was seen in the first entrant, again a built in palate cleanser is part of the dish – this round a single torch of the ginger flower.
Nobu Kuala Lumpur
Nobu Cheesecake with Yuzu Strawberry Sorbet – Aerated, light, creamy and well complemented by the mild acidity of the fruit.

The five-course Omakase menu is priced at RM280 and is available Sunday and Monday evenings between 6pm – 8pm.

Reasons to visit: Nobu is now open Sundays; special Omakase menu; fabulous views.

Nobu Kuala Lumpur
Level 56 Menara 3 Petronas
Persiaran KLCC
50088 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+60 3 2164 5084
www.noburestaurants.com/

Monday – Friday: Lunch    12 pm – 2 pm
Monday – Sunday: Dinner    6 pm – 10.30 pm
Friday – Saturday:   Club Lounge Happy Hour from 6 pm – 12 am

15 Comments

  1. Their reputation precedes them, the best of the best.

    • With one right here in KL we’re fortunate to not have to travel the world to get a taste.

  2. Ooooh – la la – Mon-i-ca, almost musical isn’t it?
    Very Parisian – how does “El Googling Eyes Caning Cordobes” restrain himself???
    Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, now that is a combo and what is shown is positively
    mouth watering – I think my salivaring rose way above my “Heaventh Degree”.
    Would this combo of Japanese and Peruvian delights have anything to do, due to the large Japanese population that is now domicile in Peru???
    Presently my sister with her eldest son and his wife are clambering high up in the Andes of Peru where those Indian temples etc are. Having quite an education in altitude survival – ha ha.
    I took note of your Palm Oil advice but I only buy Australian Palm Oil, so I guess I should be safe????
    I see what you mean with the “HAZE’ courtesy of those wretched, unprincipled
    forest burn offs. In years to come these people will pay for this utter stupidity.
    No haze here – but we are having good rain – state wide as are other states in readiness for winter, so the rural mob will be doing cart wheels of worship to “God
    Huey”.
    Cheers – look out Dior here comes Mon-i-ca with El Googling Eyes Caning tow!
    El Colin Cordobes
    Ps: Did the e-mail response return as you asked??? Seems from my end it went??

    • I can almost hear you singing it! And now that it’s in my head… I imagine I’ll be humming it all day. 🙂 EGECC (El Googling… ) very graciously took a very snaps before I left and promptly shot off for a game of table tennis (we only had one spot for this event).
      Peruvian and Japanese fuses wonderfully. Peru must be one of the few countries left in the world that still has enormous diversity in ingredients. Partly I think because the land is so mountainous it may have been difficult for huge industrialised farms to come in and destroy the natural systems (thank goodness!).
      We’ve done the Inca trail so know exactly what your sister and son are up against. Took us a good few days to acclimatise before we could even walk a block without puffing.
      I’m not sure about Australian palm oil. Many of the responsible in Indonesia are not even local, but rather international corporations.
      Saludos and cheers to God Huey. 🙂

    • PS… I just posted a video https://www.theyumlist.net/in-press in our “About – In the press” section. You might recognise some of the photos of where I grew up. 😉

    • Well well well !!! Mon-i-ca and “ECECC” which is not quite musical, more into
      water skiing across the Straits of Malacca, doing the Inca Trail or madly riding his Andalusian Steed across the Pampas of Argentina – I won’t go so far YET as Wimbledon or Augusta National, Ga.
      That was a most entertaining video, but I can’t work out your Aussie younger
      days location – certainly in the outback.
      What a fantastic team you have gathered around you. I carefully read all the CV’s most impressive and international.
      Of course Green overcame me when I read about all the FREE meals for your reviewing. Paddy’s day came a little late as I was the perfect little “LEPRECHAUN” as I read.
      I hope other viewers look at your video, it is most educational.
      No overnight news from sister, Cheryl, and son, JK and his wife from the Andes.
      I hope they were not sacrificial live persons to keep the Inca Gods happy,
      as after this they are off to Argentina and I want a report on that city, the Pampas and the River Platte plus the majestic falls – forgotten the name.

      Re: The Indonesian fires – it is really about time that Joko Widodo stopped this
      international outrage, after all it is HIS country.
      Cheers and thanks – now I have plenty of reading and viewing to do on your
      blog reports and subtitles.
      El Colin Cordobes.

    • More clues to come as to location 😉
      Working full time, I couldn’t do it without the team.
      Ooh, yes… Argentina and Iguazu Falls not to be missed – nor some fine Malbec for that matter.

  3. Nice sunset from the tower, way up high.
    Enjoyed the video – thank you 🙂
    Your dress/frock is lovely, like that…food, all is well with it.

  4. Love your dress! I’m not a fashionista, but I love clothes and like discovering
    new things. Would you tell us a bit more about your designer  friend  Adam Liew???? Pleine 😉
    You look amazing, Monica – simply a beautiful intelligent woman.

    Otherwise, I adore Chef Nobuyuki
    Matsuhisa.  I’ve been many times to Petronas before but not to Nobu but know that the food is incredible and those views is something else! Splendid ; -)

    I’m like you – I’ve never been a  celebrities fan but I love talented people –  And I am seriously in love with Writers.

    Happy Easter to you all! 🙂

    • I thought you might like this one. More to come on the talented Adam Liew in future posts.

  5. Hello, love the photo of you and the pretty dress. The food looks delicious and it was wonderful you were able to meet Chef Nobuyuki. Happy Sunday, enjoy your day!

    • It was a real treat to be around such talent.
      Lucky to have friends with good taste 😉

  6. lovely restaurant which is well known to many! hope to be there.

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