Kikyo

Kikyo, a cozy family-style Japanese restaurant in Puchong, embraced 20 OpenRicers in an intimate conversation to share their love and knowledge of Japanese food.

Albeit their first time there, Kikyo’s welcoming and relaxed atmosphere instantly broke the ice that at first stood among the OpenRicers, into fun and chatters that lasted through the evening.

Eager to share their passion, and to get the ball rolling, Kikyo Restaurant Manager Jimmy Yap, a sushi maestro himself, put together a demonstration for making temaki (hand-rolled nori cones stuffed with sushi rice and various ingredients). Only four lucky OpenRicers were chosen to be his “apprentices.”

The next sushi maestros in the making.

Their efforts were rewarded with tokens of appreciation from OpenRice.

Of course, nothing beat relishing their fruits of labor came dinnertime. And the dinner was a sumptuous sushi buffet but done à la carte style. Every dish was made to order for freshness in every bite.

While the rest were trying to decide what to eat, Jimmy was busy taking orders.

Everyone was treated to an array of sushi-restaurant classics, and some of which emerged as the crowd’s favorites.

Gyoza: juicy, savory ground-meat filling wrapped in a tender dumpling pastry that has been pan-fried till crispy.

Koebi karaage: sweet baby shrimp deep-fried to crispy perfection, with a gentle sprinkling of salt for sharp, briny tickles in each bite.

Shoyu ramen: springy ramen drowned in a big bowl of rich Japanese-soy-sauce-based broth.

Yakiniku: succulent beef slices lightly grilled and charred in a dark, unctuous, sweet-savory, mildly smoky, pungent marinade.

It was a thrill to see OpenRicers, how they not knew each other previously, could get along so well while enjoying good food together.

They found that they liked Kikyo for its good food that comes at affordable prices. And its service is not shabby, too. All of which make it worth recommending to anyone who is passionate about Japanese food.

At the end of the day, not only did the OpenRicers bag home a smiling face and a happy, filled tummy, but also Kikyo dining vouchers and lovely OpenRice door gifts — as well as a thirst for more MakanVentures!

"Say ‘cheese!’ "

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