Good food is worth traveling any distance for! A visit to Malaysia will land you at world-famous Sushi Oribe. Click here to see why it's so deliciously popular
There’s nothing that signals elegance like ordering omakase at a Japanese restaurant.
Here’s the deal: you’re going to lay down your pride to the chef who knows better than you. Because let’s face it, your knowledge of sushi extends to spicy tuna and uni at most.
At Sushi Oribe, you order omakase. Basically, you tell the chef: “Give me what you want–I know it’ll be good.” And let me tell you, doing omakase at Sushi Oribe is a guaranteed pleasurable experience.
Sushi Oribe is the only premium omakase restaurant in all of Malaysia and it competes with sushi restaurants in the homeland of Japan. The chefs are masters of their craft with decades of experience, with three from Japan and one from Malaysia.
Funnily enough, they can hardly tell the difference between sushi restaurants in Japan and those in Malaysia. That’s how you know that Sushi Oribe is as authentic as you can get.
Here’s a glimpse of their omakase.
They Have a Seasonal Menu
It’s just common sense. I know, it may seem like a surprise that fish are seasonal because you’re used to the frozen stuff.
Trust me, Sushi Oribe is dedicated to serving you the freshest fish. Serving the same fish and produce year-round is a bit concerning, isn’t it?
This is based on a Japanese concept called shun. In other words: season affects flavor. You may want every single thing on the go, year-round, but it sure won’t taste good.
Sushi Oribe’s chefs understand the science of fish. They care that a fish is fattest during a certain season, and locally plentiful in another. These factors matter to them. You can check their Instagram for proof.
These are the date ranges of their menus:
- Spring menu is March to May
- Summer menu is June to August
- Autumn menu is September to November
- Winter menu is December to February
Ingredients of the Highest Quality
On top of their fresh fish and produce, Sushi Oribe uses the best ingredients that are staples to every sushi night.
The chefs pride themselves in their basics:
Rice
What’s so special about their sushi rice? No additive sugar. They use the best short-grain glutinous rice and vinegar to make flavorful sushi rice aka. Shari.
Ginger
Have you ever been to a sushi restaurant that sliced your pickled ginger in front of you? Me neither. Sushi Oribe doesn’t serve you the nasty presliced ginger you get at other sushi places. To prevent their ginger or gari from drying, they slice it right as you get seated.
Soya Sauce
They have several kinds of dipping sauces that can make you forget store-bought soy sauce in an instant. The chefs at Sushi Oribe make special soya sauce for sashimi, nigiri, and more. Talk about luxury!
A Quick Rundown of Their Omakase
Yes, omakase is a little terrifying. Being thrown into the dark about what you’ll put into your mouth sounds like a Fear Factor episode.
But there’s nothing to worry about. Sushi Oribe tells you what the seasonal omakase consists of.
Appetizer
Easy enough, right? They say that these are small plates adorned with fine details of Japan. There’s no denying how gorgeous these little dishes are. They look like the epitome of modern art, with a natural flair to them. Right now, it looks like they serve a delicacy with Japanese cherry tomato with grated radish vinegar resting on top of a pen shell.
Sashimi
You won’t have fish like this anywhere else. Their spring seasonal fish are halfbeak, bluefin tuna, white trevally, sea bream, and firefly squid. These all sound so mystical, and they taste just as magical.
Side Dishes
This is a quintessential part of Japanese cuisine. In the past, they served a deep-fried eel roll. Right now, it seems that they have a colorful Sakhalin surf clam and udo (plant) mix nestled in a bamboo shoot.
Steamed Egg Custard
Holy heaven, is this a treat! Take a little break from the fancy seafood and indulge in a silky smooth egg custard. It’s like flan topped with fresh spring vegetables.
Today's Dish
This could be anything, obviously. One dish they served this season was seared rockfish (Mebaru) with a clam (Hamaguri), on top of a pureed cauliflower sauce. They have mastered the art of balancing textures.
Specialty Sushi
Take in a few carbs with their perfect set of nigiri sushi. Spring’s specialty sushi includes marbling tuna, sea bream, spot prawn, Japanese Spanish mackerel.
Miso Soup
You need this with sushi, duh!
Dessert
Last but certainly not least, their homemade dessert. Sushi Oribe knows how to make special flavor combinations, as shown in their Warabi mochi and their Sakura Maccha tiramisu. On par with their handcrafted nigiri, the desserts are perfectly symmetrical and delicious.
An Interior Like a Zen Garden
Sushi Oribe is located in the busy downtown area of Kuala Lumpur. Yet, its calm and minimalist interior turns it into a safe haven from the noise of the city.
The seating arrangement and color scheme of the restaurant make up an exceptional atmosphere.
There are 12 counter seats where you sit directly in front of the sushi chefs as they prepare your dishes for you. If you’re uncomfortable with facing the chefs, there are a few tables that fit 2-4 people each, and 2 private tables that fit 8 people each.
The tables are a dark amber that contrasts the pure white walls.
Sushi Oribe made sure to highlight its colorful food over the decor.
Planning Your Visit
For any fine dining experience, you need to make an advanced reservation.
To make a reservation at Sushi Oribe, you should call at least one week in advance if you could even manage to find a seat.
They take reservations online on their website and their Facebook, where you can tell them your party size and the occasion you’re celebrating. That way, they know how to best serve you.
Sushi Oribe also offers free parking for 8 customers, which is on a first come first serve basis. You should come earlier to snag a spot, or you could pay for parking at the Vipod residence (if you really have that much money to blow)!
Sushi Oribe Is a Divine Dining Experience
Don’t stall any longer.
Now that you know how scrumptious the omakase menu is, you should make a quick trip to Kuala Lumpur for a foodie adventure.
Sushi Oribe is unlike any other sushi bar in the world. You won’t get the authenticity of Japanese omakase anywhere outside of Japan, or the luxury of this space in Malaysia.
Make your reservation today!
Sushi Oribe: Getting There
Vipod Residences, Ground Floor Block C-1, No 6, Jalan Kia Peng, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
12pm ~3pm : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
6pm ~10pm : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
6pm ~8pm & 8:30pm ~11pm: Friday, Saturday
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