Kaito, Japanese at Glo Damansara

Kaito – Glo Damansara

Word: Han Sen Hau
Photos: Rich Callahan

Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: Kaito pays a lot of attention to how their dishes look. As you’ll see in the photos below, the number of violet pansies tossed into their plates is probably enough to drain the global supply of edible flowers. 

Yet, we love them all the more for such playfulness. 

Located by the row of restaurants flanking Glo Damansara’s main entrance, Kaito prides itself on serving Japanese halal cuisine, as advertised on its glass façade. However, a quick glance at its menu would reveal that the restaurant goes beyond the usual Nippon fare, blending influences from Malaysian and Italian shores. The name “Kaito” refers to Chef Nizam’s nickname in Japan, a manifestation of the chef’s love for the sea, which is no surprise considering the fresh seafood we had the privilege to enjoy at the restaurant.

Kaito Halal Japanese Menu

Salmon Aburi Salad 

Our visit kicked off with the beautiful and prismatic mess that is the Salmon Aburi Salad (RM38). While avocado seems to be de rigueur with salmon salads these days, the crisp okra, sweet mango, and tart strawberries thrown into the mix with the addictively piquant Kaito vinaigrette made this salad a winning combination and a strong start to our day.

Kaito TAKE Sushi Platter

The follow-up to the aburi salad was an equally pretty TAKE Sushi Platter (RM98) that features ten different types of nigiri sushi and a standard three-piece sushi roll. The team at Kaito spared no expense to showcase their fresh and diverse supply of fish, most of which had been air-flown from Japan to ensure product quality. Of the ten, the chūtoro, akami tuna, and kampachi deserve special mention. Uni lovers can also enjoy a taste of the sea from this platter (look out for the sushi with a sprinkle of gold leaf on top of it).

Sirloin Steak

We took a short detour to the West with the next main, two rosy cuts of Sirloin Steak (RM68). A simple standard that didn’t disappoint; we rather enjoyed it on its own without the accompanying sauce, though the crunchy asparagus spears were a nice complement to the meat.

King Prawn Risotto

The final main of the day was an off-the-menu chef’s special, King Prawn Risotto (RM178). From afar, it looked like steak tartare with big chunks of king prawn wrapped around an eggy crown. The base, of course, was, in fact, the intensely mushroomy risotto that has been uniquely prepared with bonito broth. The amount of umami just sings right off the plate, though, as per the previous dish, the asparagus spears and coriander sprigs do much to add that much-needed verdant balance to the palate.

Chicken Loin 

Moving past the risotto, Chef Nizam was kind enough to include an additional item from the menu to satiate our appetite for land meat. The Chicken Loin (RM48) glazed with teriyaki sauce was served atop a striking wild mushroom and truffle vinaigrette and was gone within minutes.

Sweet Endings

Our time at Kaito ended with the viridescent Matcha Bar (RM38), a homemade green tea cheesecake that comforts both the tongue and eyes with such a pleasant hue it could rival the periwinkle blue for Pantone’s Colour of the Year. A sweet finish to wrap up a fulfilling day.

If the cheesecake wasn’t sweet enough, the drinks certainly were, and we had four different types to enjoy throughout our time at Kaito: the Yuzu Lime Mojito (RM20), Blue Lagoon (RM18), Tropical Storm (RM20), and the Matcha Lychee (RM25). Of the four, the Yuzu Lime Mojito hit the spot for me.

Kaito – Final Thoughts

So, the next time you find yourself venturing into Glo Damansara with a hankering for Japanese, look out for the sleek restaurant in black on the left as you exit the mall’s main entrance. Make sure you have your camera ready, too, for the colours erupting off each plate at Kaito are worth the storage space. 

Reasons to visit Kaito: Beautifully plated Japanese dishes; they have two private rooms that seat six (each); being halal opens the number of friends you can bring.   

Kaito
LG.09, Level LG, Glo Damansara,
699, Jalan Damansara,
60000 Kuala Lumpur
+603-2385 7275
Instagram: @kaitorestaurant.my

Katio Opening Hours
Daily: 11:30am – 3:00 pm & 5:30 pm – 11:00 pm

Find more Japanese restaurants in KL here, and stay up-to-date with the latest gourmet and travel recommendations for Malaysia here and here.