HAKU Japanese restaurant, which may lack the grandeur of its upscale counterparts, provides a homey atmosphere and an extraordinary dining experience that combines artistry, premium quality, and warm hospitality.
It may not be the most opulent restaurant in town, but it stands out for its unique charm and culinary excellence from the passionate chefs.
It was a Tuesday, and I wanted to grab a belated celebratory lunch with a dear friend in the Tanjung Tokong area.
The usual suspects for Japanese cuisines were not pork-free, so I narrowed the choice to an older outlet at Island Plaza, which indicated that some items on the menu contained mirin.
The other shot in the dark was HAKU, located in Jazz Hotel, Tanjung Tokong.
In its former life, HAKU was the defunct Kitano Japanese Restaurant, where I enjoyed many meals before the MCO.
I booked for two people and inquired if they are a pork-free restaurant and if they still have their set lunch promo Omakase, RM88.88.
I read the 4.9-star 40 Google reviews for HAKU – Extraordinary Japanese Cuisine (Authentic Japanese restaurant).
The ambiance at Haku was a blast from the past.
I walked into the familiar warm ambiance and cozy, with nice design, including a Sushi Sashimi Bar, public area, and VIP Room.
HAKU Omakase
Omakase, or ‘I’ll leave it to you,’ is a Japanese culinary technique that has gained popularity in Penang.
Forget à la carte; instead, put your faith in the chef’s inventiveness to carefully curate a culinary journey that includes everything from light bites to hearty seasonal dishes.
Non-Japanese eateries are catching on to the Omakase trend in our vibrant Penang food scene.
When it comes to Penang Japanese restaurants, you can let the chef take the reins at HAKU.
With its superb food quality and affordable prices, HAKU is the leader in providing unique omakase experiences.
Starter (Caviar and Condiments)
For me, an Omakase meal takes the stress out of ordering.
Too often, I would make a big show of reading the menu and ordering beef sukiyaki – a fact my friends can attest to.
“Try something else, Dory,” they say.
“Okay, Katsu Ramen.”
“Something else?”
“Potato Salad.”
That’s the private dining experience you get when you eat out with me personally.
Maguro Carpaccio with cream
It has become the place for those looking for a consistently exceptional dining experience.
Trust me, you don’t want to miss dining here!
Today, we had a surprisingly good lunch, enjoying a variety of fish and eggs, and nobody placed an order!
My friend, who had encouraged me to eat fish for years, was happy that I wasn’t eating chicken.
I said, “Seems like you’ve been saying that for a long time.” From 2019 – Whoah.
Our HAKU Omakase
- Starter (Caviar and Condiments)
- Wakame-Su (Seaweed cucumber)
- Maguro Carpaccio with cream
- Japanese egg custard
- Main course: Maguro Katsu and Vegetables, Hata Kamameshi (Garupa and Vegetables)
- Hata Shiru (Garupa soup)
- Ice cream with mochi ball filled with red bean paste.
All seafood and meats are imported and air-flown from Japan.
Maguro Katsu and Vegetable
While the service is fast and friendly, it would be good if the staff could provide some information about the Omakase items.
The names of the dishes and ingredients are printed on the receipt; otherwise, I wouldn’t know what I ate.
We had a great fine dining experience with excellent food and service at a Pork-Free restaurant.
The signature dishes were all delicious.
Hata Kamameshi (Garupa and Vegetables)
The presentation featured fresh and visually pleasing plating, delightful to the eyes and the taste buds.
There was a large menu (which I hadn’t read since we came for Omakase), complete with sushi, sashimi, warm dishes, noodles, and a set lunch/dinner option at RM88.88.
As always, there are plenty of drink choices, from beer and liquor to Sake. Service time is quick and spot-on.
We were served with elegant china, glassware, and an interesting burner pot set.
HAKU Menu
HAKU Japanese Fine Dining is a feast for the senses, providing excellent value for the discriminating diner.
Japanese egg custard
Due to its flexibility, the restaurant is a great option for family get-togethers, romantic nights, and informal get-togethers.
Vegetarian options are available, with a variety of salads on offer.
The restaurant is also kid-friendly, providing high chairs for the little ones.
HAKU Parking
Customers can park around the hotel or inside the building; however, Jazz Hotel should have a clear valet parking sign rather than prohibiting parking near the HAKU restaurant.
Even when we said we were there for a one-hour lunch, the valet parking operator still wanted to charge an exorbitant RM25 to park.
HAKU – Extraordinary Japanese Cuisine
Address: 1, Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang 1, Tanjung Tokong, 10470 Tanjung Tokong, Penang
Business Hours: 11:30 am–2 pm, 6–10 pm (Daily)
Google: https://g.co/kgs/nxmWohD
Blog Disclosure: This is a NOT sponsored blog post. All opinions are mine. The writer and friends paid for their meal.
