Over at the gleaming Menara Hap Seng Tower 3 in the heart of Kuala Lumpur is a premium Yakiniku offering, Niku29, which is part of The Curate Group, a company behind nine other Japanese cuisine establishments including Sushi Ryu and Tenmasa. The finest imported Halal-certified beef from the Miyazaki and Tokushima prefectures in Japan and Australia is served amidst a modern chic interior of oak timber, Japanese-inspired wallpaper, and glistening terrazzo top counters.
Here, plates of beautifully marbled cuts are expertly grilled by the staff on smokeless table-top barbecue grills, while diners can also have the delightful experience of grilling their meal if they prefer. Solo or communal diners can select from omakase courses, sharing platters, as well as à la carte and set menus to indulge in specific beef cuts according to their preference with different textures, fat content and umami. This exquisite meat can be enjoyed alongside pours of sake, Uemeshu, wine and beer, served by the restaurant’s warm and convivial staff.
The menu features a wide selection of cuts in their full marbled glory, along with a guide to grilling the meat. This required my hands to be lighting quick as I counted down the seconds and the colour of the meat went from deep pink to oh-so-slightly charred golden brown. A particularly enjoyable selection was the Katasankaku cut, prized for its evenly distributed meat and fat, and boasting a balanced, medium-firm texture. This was accompanied by the Misuji, one of the most popular rare cuts due to its small portion produced per cattle, which had lustrous fat and tenderness that imbued the meat along with sweet, smooth flavour. These two cuts were so succulent that I could cut them clean with my chopsticks.
Besides its barbecue, Niku29 also flexed its culinary abilities with specialities such as the Beef Yukke. This is an elevated take on the Korean beef tartare dish that used to be served at royal banquets during the Joseon Dynasty. Served with diced raw wagyu rib eye and mixed with glistening runny egg yolk, its umami and the earthly aromatic notes of truffle caviar entertain your tastebuds with each mouthful.
One of the most exemplary dishes on the menu was Sirloin Sukiyaki, a one-bite dish of thinly sliced succulent Japanese wagyu that was served with a miniature bowl of rice, a pasteurised egg yolk sweet, and savoury sukiyaki sauce. The gastronomic experience came to an end with an impossibly smooth cream custard pudding, where the Yakiniku specialist also managed to impress.
Although the restaurant truly shines through its beef, there are also seafood, chicken, vegetable, rice, as well as noodle dishes for all to enjoy.
The wide range of textures and flavours Niku29 has to offer truly allows discerning diners to delight in some true meat masterpieces where a Yakiniku feast awaits.
