Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Highly Recommended)
Address: 34, Jalan Pendekar 13, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah Skudai, 81300 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7DYSWdPdAnCqgMvG8
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
(Price includes RM100 Reservation Booking)
Service Charge 10% = RM49.80
SST Tax 6% = RM29.88
Final Grand Total = RM577.70 (Rounded Up from RM577.68)
Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.
This is my 1st time eating A5 Wagyu. I first got to know of this place from a Video by Zermatt Neo. Zermatt is a Singaporean Competitive Eater (大胃王) that really eats ALOT. 😳 In his Videos, you can see him regularly literally eating an Entire Hawker Centre worth of Food. Madness! 😅 In this Place, the Mad Lad ate over 7KG of Wagyu! He's the reason why I decided to come here because I reckon this place should be legit if he is willing to endorse it. Check out his Video about this Place!
Additional Credits:
Alot of Background Information are from 2 Youtube Sources: Mat Pat from The Food Theorists (Video Link) and Mark Wiens. (Video Link) 👍 What i've written here is just a very summarized version of what they have produced.What is Japanese Wagyu?
The word Wagyu (和牛) means "Japanese Cattle". 🇯🇵🐮 It is just a Name. Any Cattle regardless of Quality is called "Wagyu" as long as it either directly comes imported from Japan, or is cross-bred from a Japanese Breed of Cow. 🐮
What is A5 Wagyu?
The A in "A5" refers to the Yield of Meat from a Cow, that is how much Meat can be extracted from it. 🍖🤔 Therefore, the "A" here is not important for us Consumers, its more for Butchers and Suppliers. But as MatPat mentions, getting an "A" sure looks more Satki and Appealing for a Consumer too. 😅
The More Important information is the 5 in "A5". 🤔 To derive this score, the Meat is first rated on a Scale called "Beef Marbling Scale" (BMS) from 1-12, 12 being the Highest. 🤔 And the BMS Score is than further converted into a Final Meat Score from 1-5, 5 being the Highest and that is where the 5 in "A5" stands for. 👍 So in Summary, as long as a Meat is Graded 5, as a Consumer, it does not matter whether its A5, B5 or C5. Anything given a 5 is already considered Top of the Line Marbling. 🐮👍 "Marbling" refers to the White Lines of Fat that intersects in between the Meat. The Idea here is the Better the Marbling, the Fatter the Cow, the more Melt in the Mouth is the Meat Quality. 🐮😋
Common Misconceptions about Japanese Wagyu
Alot of people, myself included think that Wagyu are Cows that has been Massaged Daily, allowed to roam freely on an Open Pasture and drink Sake all day long. 🐮🍺😅 This is incorrect. These Cows (as shown in Mark Wein's Video) are kept in a Regular Cattle Farm although it is true that they are Massaged Daily. I'm sure they're probably also given better quality feed compared to Regular Cows. 🐮🌾
Differences between Pure-Bred Japan Wagyu and Regular Cows
If we don't consider the Cross-Bred Wagyu in the World, In Japan, there are only 2.5 Million Pure Bred Wagyus. 🇯🇵🐮 Also, in comparison, Japanese Wagyu are raised for around 3 years (or more) compared to 18 months for a Regular Cow. 1 Pure-Bred Wagyu costs up to USD$30,000 or more, 💵 while a Regular Cow costs about USD$2,500. 💵
Differences between Kobe Wagyu and Miyazaki Wagyu
However, in Japan (according to Mark Weins), they have a Wagyu Competition held every 5 years, where they choose the BEST of the BEST Wagyus and it is Miyazaki Wagyu that has won against Kobe Wagyu for a record 3 times in 15 years. 🐮🏆 So the VERY TOP CHAMPION Best of the Best Wagyu is actually Miyazaki Wagyu. 🏆🤔 This is quite literally the BEST QUALITY BEEF in the World. 🌏😳
I'm not a A5 Wagyu Expert but I have heard that in order for a Restaurant to serve Legit A5 Wagyu, they actually need to show a Certificate to the Customer as Proof. 📜🤔 No need to worry about it. In every Cubicle of this Restaurant, they proudly displayed the Certificates of Authenticity for your reference. 😳
Overall Review of Location and Customer Service
This place requires Reservation Booking and it costs RM100. 🤔 They were not kidding when they say Seats are Limited. 😳 As you can see in my Video, it is not a very big place. There are only 6 Cubicles, 2 Private Rooms and 1 Restroom.
It opens at 6.00pm. Even at 6.30pm when there were Walk-In Customers, they were rejected. 🙅♂️ By 7.00pm, the Whole Place was already Full House. 😳 You can try to Walk-In without Reservations, but personally I think its better to just Reserve to avoid Disappointments. 🤔 From where I sat, I've seen many Walk-In Attempts rejected even at 8.00pm+. 🤔
Customer Service really is Top-Notch and starts from the Whatsapp Booking. 👍 (I attached Screenshots of my Conversation) Even though their Whatsapp was supposedly closed at 5.00pm, they still entertained my Whatsapp Chat at 9.00pm. 👍 As you can see, the flow of the Conversation was very Smooth, and their Explaination to my Enquiries were Clear. Do note though, they will not do any Reminders of your Booking even on the Actual Booked Day. 🤔
The Exterior of the Place looks very Non-Descript and doesn't even show its Signboard when its Main Roller Shutters are down before their Official Opening Time at 6.00pm as you can see in my Photo. 🤔
By 5.50pm though, the roller shutters were up and I made sure I was the 1st Customer. 🤔 When I walked in at 5.58pm, 2 mins before my Booked Time of 6.00pm, they were ready to welcome me, verified my Booking and directed me to my Seat. ♥️ No Confusion, No Blur Blur from the Staffs. 🤵♂️🤵 They were prepared for me the moment I stepped into the place. 一句话: Professional. 👍
When I stepped in, I felt as if I was instantly transported into another Dimension. ♥️ The Whole Place was Immaculate, very Atas Furnishings and Beautifully Renovated, Air-Con Cold and Comfortable. ❄️😌 It was a Completely Different Visual and Sensory Feel from the Outside World. The Staffs were really very Friendly and responded to my every enquiry with a Genuine Smile. 😄 They were even very obliging and helpful when I requested to take a Short Video Walkthrough of the Place. 🎥
I was assigned Table 1, the Table nearest to the Entrance (which I liked) because this place is near to the Serving and Prepping Station and the Entrance which was why I could see Walk-In Customers got Rejected. 🤔 There were a total of 3 Main Female Serving Staffs (2 Chinese and 1 Pinoy).
The Male Staffs were delegated to Kitchen Duties. All of them were not Young People (About Late 20s to 30s I reckon?) 🤔 Everyone of them were Professional, Polite and Courteous. These People know they are serving the Best Beef in the World and their Customer Service absolutely reflects this. 🐮♥️
My Assigned Server was a Pinoy Lady named Christine. 🤵 She spoke Perfect English, Extremely Professional and Friendly and was very Knowledgeable in explaining stuffs. 👍 Everything she did, she faced me with a Smile. It was a Pleasure having her as my Server. 😄 Perhaps because I sat close to the Serving Station, she was always there for me, ready to serve up whatever meats I requested promptly. 👍
Special Things to take note as a Solo Diner
There are actually some noticeable differences for a Solo Diner compared to Dining in a Group. 🤔
I was disappointed that the "Golden Cow Serving Tray" is only used for 2 Pax and Above. 🤔 For a Solo Diner, my Serving Tray was a Box as you can see in my Below Photo. 🍱 Didn't really mind as serving in a Box got a more Japanese Look tbh. 🇯🇵😅
This Box consists of 8 Sections and the first time they served this up, they will put some Dry Ice in the Middle for a Dramatic Visual Effect Presentation as you can see in my Video. 👍
After serving up the Box a few times, I told them to do away with the Box as it felt abit Leh Ceh 😅 and instead directly serve me all 8 sections of Cuts of Meats at 1 go. 🍖👍 This will be served in a Stone Slab. In my Review, I will showcase how much Meat is 8 sections on 1 Stone Slab.
There are a few items that are not available for Solo Diners, they are only available for 2 Pax and Above.
1) Wagyu Beef not served in Golden Cow as mentioned
2) No Prawns 🚫🦐
3) No Hotpot Soup, only BBQ Grill is available. 🚫🍲
4) No Unlimited Caviar even if you are willing to pay RM100 for it
Especially Strange is the Restriction on Unlimited Caviar. 🤔 This is not available for Solo Diners even if I want to pay RM100 for it as mentioned in their Menu. 📜🤔
But I was delighted when they offered me 1 Free Can of Caviar! 😄 Maybe this is their compensation for Solo Diners? Caviar itself is not cheap so hey, this isn't that bad tbh. 👍
Review of the Actual A5 Wagyu
Finally we come to the Section that Everyone is Waiting for! 😄🐮
For this A5 Japanese Miyazaki Wagyu, they have them in 6 Different Cuts:
Kata Kurisankaku
Uchihira
Misuji Briand
Togarashi
Karubi
Sirloin
As i'm not fluent in Japanese, other than Sirloin, I have no idea what each of them mean. 🐮🤔 But they do show the Part of the Cow on the Little Labels they have. 🐮🏷️ This Label was useful as when I wanted to order more of the Cuts I want, I just put it on the Stone Slab for them. 👍
For the 1st Box, I ate them Raw to get a taste of how they tasted, 🐮😋 2nd box I started grilling them. So in my Review, I will post their Raw Taste, 😋 and how they taste when Properly Grilled. 🔥
Important Disclaimer: These Beef are NOT Sashimi Grade, you are supposed to Grill them. 🔥 DO NOT EAT THEM RAW like what I did. 🐮🙅♂️ I will not be responsible for any Medical Issues you may have if you eat them Raw like this.
I figured since it is quite Rare to taste Authentic A5 Wagyu, I want to know how they tasted when eaten Raw. 🐮🤔 My Server Christine wasn't even fazed or wierded out when I ate them raw like this in front of her. 😅 Hahaha so apparently she has already had 1 customer in the past who ate Raw like this too. 🐮🤔
My Recommendation for Grilling Time:
For Thin Cuts, Grill them Max 10secs per side will do. 🥩🔥
For Thicker Cuts, Grill them 20-30secs per side will do. 🥩🔥
Note: When grilling, you actually need to be very careful. 🔥🤔 Because these A5 Wagyu are so loaded with Fat, every drop of Beef Oil from them into the Grill will cause Flames to Flare Up like how you see in my attached Video. 🔥😳 On the other hand, its really exciting to see the Flames dance while the Meat sizzles beautifully on the Grill. 🔥😄
Kata Kurisankaku
Raw: I am very surprised that this actually has a distinct taste of Butter. 🧈🤔 I've heard of people describing A5 Wagyu as tasting like Butter, but when eaten Raw, the Beef Fat REALLY taste like Butter! 🧈😳 Absolutely not Stinky at all and is Very Smooth and Easy to Swallow.
Grilled: When Grilled, this has a Very Intense Beefy Taste. 🐮😋 The Beef Oil swims in your Mouth. Its not really Melt in the Mouth as how people describe it, the Beef does have abit of Bite Texture. The Beef Oil Taste is INTENSE. 🍯😳
Uchihira
Raw: This taste Alot Meatier and Fatty. 🥩 I felt this has alot more 牛跟 (Meat Vein). The Cow Fat is Chewier. Again not Stinky. 👍 Not that easy to swallow as the Fatty Cow Fat does tend to cling to your Throat more.
Grilled: Skin is Beautifully Smokey. 🥩🔥 Super Tender and Fatty and Beef Oil really is even more Intense than Kata Kurisankaku. Eating this one is like Eating a Super Fatty Piece of Beef Fat. 🥩😋 There is still abit of Bite Texture.
Raw: This tastes like a Less Meaty Version of Uchihira with less 牛跟 (Meat Vein). 🥩 Not Stinky and Easy to Swallow
Grilled: When Grilled, I describe this tasting like "Beef Bacon" if it makes any sense. 🥩🥓 If you have eaten Pan-Fried Pork Bacon, it tastes exactly like that, only replace the Pork Flavour with Beef Flavour. 🥓😋 Beef Oil is not as Intense as Uchihira, and is slightly more intense than Kata Kurisankaku. There is a slight Bite Texture.
Togarashi
Raw: Tastes very Lean, completely not Fatty at all, actually taste very close to Normal Beef. 🐮😋 Not Stinky at all and goes down clean and smooth.
Grilled: This tastes closest to the Normal Beef that we are accustomed to albeit a Fattier Version although but not as Insane Fatty as the Others. 🥩😋 This one really is more Meaty than Fatty. The others are like Beef Fat Punches to the Face, this one feels more Normal. Bite Texture almost same like Normal Beef. Hahaha I liked this one so much, I ordered 2 portions of this. 🥩😋
Karubi
Raw: This taste very close to Uchihira, Meaty and Fatty, with no 牛跟 (Meat Vein) but also not quite Misuji Briand or Togarashi. 🥩🤔 Not Stinky and Easy to Swallow.
Grilled: Definitely Fatty, not as Fatty or Intense as Uchihira but also not as Meaty as Togarashi. 🥩🤔 Very close to Misuji Briand and Kata Kurisankaku but not quite. There is a slight Bite Texture for this.
Sirloin
Raw: Almost taste like Raw Karubi, not as Fatty as Uchihira. 🥩 Not Stinky and goes down smooth.
Grilled: THIS here is the one that is TRULY MELT IN THE MOUTH like how people usually describe A5 Wagyu! 😳 Even though it didn't taste very Fatty when eaten Raw, but when Grilled, there is ZERO RESISTANCE between your Teeth and the Meat. 😳 This REALLY tastes like Biting into Melted Butter. 🥩🧈
This is like the MOST OILY, SOFTEST SIRLOIN I have ever eaten in my life. 🥩😳 You can use your tongue to push against the meat in your mouth and it just Simply Disintegrates... wah .. this one made my Brain stop working for a moment when I first tasted it! 🥩🤯
There is also a Thin Version of Sirloin that they pre-coat with their Yakiniku Sauce. 🥩🍯
This too is Melt in your Mouth and because they coat it with the Sauce, it also has a Subtle Sweet and Salty Savoury Taste. So Good! ❤️
Review of Other Food Items / Condiments
Caviar (1 Free Can)
This is also my first time eating Caviar and this was a Free Can that was offered. 😋 Looks like a House Brand, as it even had their own Restaurant Name on the Lid. Its very Beautifully Presented in a Box of Ice with a Spoon thats made from Faux Ivory. Caviar tastes EXACTLY like Katsuobushi Bonito Flakes in a Mini Ball Form. 🤔 You know those packets of Dried Bonito Flakes you usually see in a Supermarket to make Dashi Stock? It tastes exactly like that except its more subtle, not as strong or intense. 🤔 When you bite into it, it disintegrates like Jelly. 😋
Alot of people who have eaten Caviar say its SUPER SALTY, 🧂 but to me it is Salty, but not as Super Salty as they claim. 🤔 If this was Unlimited Serving, I feel I could easily slam 20-30 Cans of this in 1 go and I'm not even kidding. 😅 Putting Caviar on a A5 Wagyu and eating them together felt like the Most Atas thing ever! 🥩😅
Wasabi (Freeflow)
This is REAL Wasabi, the Actual Wasabi Plant Root, not the typical Mushy Paste thats squeezed from a Bottle. 🌱 This is also my 1st Time tasting Real Wasabi and unlike Fake Wasabi, you can actually eat a small spoonful of it and not die from "Wasabi Suffocation" Hahaha! 🌱😅 Real Wasabi does not have what I'd describe as a "Artifical Chemical Taste" you get when you taste Fake Wasabi. 🌱🤔 Real Wasabi really taste like how a Vegetable Plant would taste and the Effects are so much more Milder. 😋
NOW I understand why some people completely reject Fake Wasabi. 🌱🤔 The Difference is really Night and Day. I appreciate the presence of Real Wasabi here because if the Restaurant already serves Real Wasabi, it is very much more likely that the A5 Wagyu here are really Legit. 🥩👍
3 Japanese Oysters (Non-Refillable)
You are supposed to Grill these on the Grill, so of course I took 1 Raw to Schluck it Down my Throat. 🦪😋 Hahaha! The one I had didn't taste Fishy or Stinky. Its covered with alot of Minced Garlic 🧄 which I thought helped in further reducing the Raw Oyster Taste. 🦪😋
To be honest, I've never really grilled Oysters before and its nice to see them Bubbling in their Juices 🦪🔥 and it was real nice to Schluck them down while they were abit Hot and not yet fully Cooked. 😋 I think this taste slightly better than downing them Raw tbh.
Raw Japanese Kenkori Egg for Dipping (Freeflow)
Served in a Soy Sauce Shoyu, I thought the Yolk looks more Orangey than Usual compared to Normal Eggs and have a Very Thick Gooey Texture when I dipped my Wagyu in it. 🥚😋 Doesn't have any Raw Egg Taste and tasted really Smooth.
House Blend Yakiniku Sauce (Freeflow)
This tasted Elegantly Savoury, Sweet and Salty. 🍯😋 If you want, you can slather abit of them on the Wagyu while you grill them and it gives it a slightly Sweeter Savoury Taste. 🥩🍯 This is not bad.
Lettuce Leaf and Kimchi (Freeflow)
They also provide this so if you want, you can place the Grilled Wagyu within and eat it Korean Style. 🇰🇷🥬 Gives a Nice Leafy Crunch and the Tangy Kimchi pairs nicely with the Beautifully Grilled Wagyu Beef. 🥬🥩
Kale Salad (Freeflow)
The first thing that hit me was that it had a Strong Taste of Kewpie Roasted Sesame Dressing. 🥗🍯 This was nice to eat as a Palette Cleanser after every Bite of Wagyu. 😋
Drinks (Freeflow)
For Drinks you have unlimited servings of the below choices:
🍵 Green Tea (Hot)
🥤 Coke
🍑 Sour Plum
🥤 Herbal Tea
I only chose Hot Green Tea throughout my meal and instead of 1 Cup, they gave me a Whole Jug which was very nice and convenient. 🍵 The Green Tea taste alright, doesn't taste watered down but I also don't think this is the Powdered type. 🍵🤔 It taste more like Green Tea Teabags although slightly stronger in flavour.
Dessert (Freeflow)
The Only Dessert they have is a Korean Bingsu with Passion Fruit and this tastes really Sweet and Refreshing as a Palette Cleanser. 🍧😋 The Perfect End to a Meal.
I'll be honest, I was absolutely stuffed with the Amount of Wagyu I eaten so I requested only a Small Cup of this. 🍧 But if you want, this is Freeflow and you can request for a Bigger Bowl than the Small Cup that I have in my Photo.
Nitpicking Things I observed that could be Improved
As good as everything was, there were a few items I felt could be improved:
1) I didn't like that Solo Diners did not enjoy some of the Perks that Group Diners enjoy 🤔 (Eg: No Gold Cow, No Hotpot Option, Not being able to order Unlimited Caviar even when we're willing to pay for it) If they at least have a Menu that is dedicated to Solo Diners that would be nice. 📜 It didn't feel nice to look at the Menu meant for Group Diners only to know some things are not offered. 🤔
2) I felt the Seat at the Cubicle was slightly Low. 🪑🤔 The Actual Grill felt abit higher so it was abit of a stretch to be able to reach out to the Grill. Usually, the Grill is positioned abit lower in other Restaurants. 🔥🤔 Not a Major Issue, but just something that I felt. To resolve this, I feel they can provide some sort of Seat Padding for the Patron to be able to be positioned abit higher?
3) Not having a Whatsapp Reminder after I made my Booking felt abit Uneasy (especially for 1st time Customers). 🤔 Would have been nice if they sent a Reminder maybe a few Days in advance, so at least Customers know that they aren't forgotten? 🤔
4) From a Culinary Viewpoint, I feel it is a waste to cook such an Elegant Beef on a Yakiniku Grill. 🥩🔥 The Main Reason why A5 Wagyu exists, is really its Beautiful Beef Fat and to see some of them drip off into the Grill felt Wasteful. 😅 (Although I admit it is Visually Spectacular to see them drip and make Dancing Flames on the Grill.) 🔥😅
What I would recommend is to have a Hotplate Option instead of only Grill for Customers to choose, so that the Beef Fat can be collected on it after Cooking. 🍯🤔 They can then maybe offer French Loaf Slices 🥖🍞 for Customers to soak up all that Beautiful Beef Fat or somehow collect the Fat to boil them into a Hot Broth. 🍲
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
Spending RM577.70 (S$166.00) on a Single Meal like this is Certainly Not Cheap. 💵🤔 Just the Combined Total of the Service Charge + SST Tax is already RM79.78 which is already the Average Price of a Regular Buffet you can find in JB! 💵😳 That said, I also understand that they gave me a Free Membership (No Physical Member Card though) and I can now enjoy a 15% discount, so hopefully that will help offset the Taxes for my future meals. 👍
Before this Meal, the Highest Amount I've ever spent was S$120++ a couple of years ago for an International Buffet in some Hotel in Singapore 💵🤔 although that did not have any A5 Wagyu. I think the Expensive Stuff there was Lobsters. 🦞🤔
Then again, S$166 isn't also that Out-Of-Reach Expensive for an Occasional Splurge to Pamper Yourself or to celebrate a Special Day. ❤️ Personally I felt that my Money was Well Spent because not only are you literally eating Unlimited Amounts of the BEST BEEF in the World, 🐮😋 the Customer Service here is also Top Notch. 😄
Throughout my Entire Dining Experience, I felt Well Taken Care of. ❤️ Being a Solo Diner taking up 1 Cubicle meant for 4-5 Customers meant I was wasting valuable space that they could have used to earn more, 🤔 but despite that, Service Wise, I never felt discriminated and they never lowered their Customer Service towards me even as a Solo Diner. 👍 Thank you Christine for your Exceptional Service! 😄 Don't take my word for it, as of this Post, the Google Maps Review for this place is at 669 Reviews with FULL 5 Stars. 🌟
Many people who have eaten A5 Wagyu claim that it is Super Oily until you will not be able to tahan the Jelak after a few bites. 🤔 This was not the case for me. Yes of course it is Oily, but its not as Jelak as how people described it. In fact I thought for me, A5 Wagyu actually felt Less Jelak compared to Regular Normal Beef. 🐮😋 If you are the type that don't like your Meats to be too Fatty and prefer Leaner Cuts, you will probably not enjoy A5 Wagyu as much. 🤔
As for how much Food did I consume, I'm really not sure. Other than the Sides available, I didn't order any Rice. 🚫🍚 Assuming 1 Box of A5 Wagyu I had was about 100g, I slammed 10 Boxes of it. (About 1kg) 🍱 which felt about right because 1KG of Beef is the amount that I know is my Absolute Final Comfortable Limit. 👍
I could slam another 5 boxes but that would reach my Uncomfortable Puke Limit 🤢🤮 which I did not want because this is Very High Quality Food and I don't want eat until I puke type. 😅 Stopping at 10 Boxes was the Right Call because this was a really Comfortable experience and even 12 Hours after the Buffet, I still felt Full and even my Burps were still Beefy. 🐮😅 Obviously your Personal Mileage may vary and be completely different from me.
The time limit of 120mins (2 Hours) is Very Generous 🕑 and for the 1st Hour, I was slowly documenting and savouring Every Single Bite. It was only at the 2nd Hour that I kickstart my engine and started slamming. 😋 But I still took the time to savour while I slammed. Zermatt is right. Go Slow and Easy. Don't just come here and start slamming fast, you will confirm "Pongchae" in the end. 😅 Slow and Steady wins the Race. 👍
Zermatt's Video was the Push that really gave me the Confidence to visit this place. 👍 I loved the fact they used REAL Wasabi 🌱 and the truly Unique Tastes of the Beef at least lets me have the Confidence that this Restaurant really does serve Legit A5 Wagyu. 🐮😋 Will I try this again? Absolutely Yes! ❤️ But of course only on Special Occasions lah as this is not Cheap. 💵😅 If you have never tried A5 Wagyu before, I can definitely recommend this place. ❤️
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