[CLOSED] Bocosan Izakaya

Yamakake is usually made with Tororo (grated yam) and Maguro(tuna). Over here, they serve the bluefin tuna and high mountain yam with some dashi, seaweed flakes, an egg yolk and some soyu. I am usually skeptical to slimy food but this Yamakake was bare-able and all ingredients was fresh although I prefer to pair it with a glass of Chardonnay. RM38 per serving.

This Chawanmushi(egg custard) has everything one would love. A huge prawn, scallop, Shiitake, crab meat, few slices of truffle shavings, wafu sauce and drizzles of truffle oil. Bocosan definitely take their Chawanmushi to a whole new level and I actually found zest of yuzu that makes it even refreshing. RM29 per serving.

Brought to you by the team behind Botanica+Co, Bocosan Izakaya is a new modern Japanese Izakaya that serves contemporary Japanese food. Their menu are pretty extensive from Nigiri Sushi, Sashimi and Maki to cooked food like Yakitori, Agemono, Yakimono as well as Hotpot, carbs like Chashu or Short Ribs Ramen to Wagyu Don etc. The price here might be a bit higher than the usual Izakaya in town but you definitely pay for the quality.

The Enoki Yaki Roll was surprisingly good. Four stack of enoki mushrooms rolled in grain fed Australian beef slices, grilled over the heat with sake + sea salt and served with some wasabi soy based sauce. 😋 RM25 per serving.

If you missed out on a seat at their pre-opening pop-up, now's the time to visit Bocosan Izakaya, which has officially opened in The Vertical. The location is sublime, decked out in sweeping greenery and fine furniture, which makes it excellent for business lunches. Bocosan's menu is focused on sets for now, with elegant choices that fit smart casual occasions. Priced from RM35, expect each to come with a tofu appetiser, salad and fruit for dessert. Though on the pricier side, the Bocosan Wagyu Don (RM85) is an enticing option that sees grilled Austalian wagyu with onsen egg, salted seaweed and truffle shoyu with rice. On noodles, the Bone-In Short Rib Ramen (RM75) is an equally opulent choice with tender short ribs and ramen in a concentrated chicken and beef broth. The portion for this particular dish feels extra large, and will fare well for sharing. For an extra treat, try the Bocosan Maki (RM38) with deep-fried yabby lobster — the one that's smaller but yields sweeter flesh!
Avg price per person: RM60

If you like a good view for lunch, this new Japanese place is perfect. Sets are available from RM35 onwards — some tastier than others — but certainly worth paying for the lofty ambience.

Tried the ramen, which looked absolutely divine on their Facebook page, and wasn’t disappointed by the chicken and beef broth fuelled by umami. The short ribs, however, felt like an overkill (not that it’s a bad thing). Huge in size and tasty, but it just needed a little more time to the perfect tenderness.