The Japanese establishment comprises of a yakitori kitchen downstairs and a bar and private rooms upstairs.

Executive Chef Norio Koike is the face of the establishment. Customers, especially the Japanese, come to the shop and expect to see him prepare their food. Occasionally, when Chef Norio has some time, he changes from his chef outfit into his bartender’s suit. That’s when the craft of Japanese bartending is fully revealed at the bar upstairs.

Ever since he moved from Japan over 10 years ago, Chef Norio had put aside his bartending role and focused his work in Japanese cuisine. He has helped established Ri-Yakitori at The Gardens Hotel & Residences, Izakaya Shuraku at Solaris Mont Kiara, Maruhi Sakaba at Taman Desa and Fukuda Yakitori at Desa Sri Hartamas.

After opening Koike Shoten, the chef now gets to spend some time at the bar during the quieter times to get back into practice. He uses the techniques he had learned from his sensei in Abrakadabra Bar in Tokyo, which no longer exists since the sensei’s passed on. The sensei was trained by Kazuo Ueda, one of the most famous bartenders in Tokyo, whom Chef Norio got to learn from as well during his time in the old bar.

The cocktails made by Chef Norio comprise of no more than 3 ingredients. Though simple, each drink is prepared with precision and order. It is pleasing to watch him prepare each drink as his technique and movement give a sense of accomplishment. These are also the most reasonably priced cocktails you can find in town at RM25 per glass.

My Tokyo – Whisky, Cointreau, lime juice
(From Chef Norio’s sensei’s old recipe)

The cocktail menu comprises mostly of the classics like Milk (Ramos) Gin Fizz, Side Car, Martini
Grasshopper and Cosmopolitan. There are also the signatures which you can only find in this bar such as Yuki Guni Snow Country and Cadabra Fizz.

Yuki Guni Snow Country

Cadabra Fizz

Here are a few food items you can expect from the food menu:

Wagyu beef carpaccio, Uni-don (Sea-urchin Rice), Yaki Soba (Japanese-Style Fried Noodles), Negitoro Maki (Minced Tuna & Japanese Leek roll), Chicken Sashimi and their famous mentaiko okonomiyaki that comes with version of stuffed with squid, shrimp, oysters and cheese. For yakitori, you can find Enoki mushroom or quill egg wrapped with thin slice pork belly