Genji Japanese Restaurant – Hilton Petaling Jaya
Words: Stephen Reid
Photos: Peter Tan
Strategically situated in Petaling Jaya’s business district, a 30-minute drive from Kuala Lumpur, the Hilton Petaling Jaya first opened in 1984 as the second Hilton hotel in the city and has since become a prominent landmark and popular destination for celebrations, conferences and corporate events. The hotel is nearing completion of a major renovation and redesign of its public areas and food and beverage spaces, bringing everything up to date and looking sleek and stylish. As part of this, The Yum List was invited to experience its newly revitalised Genji Japanese Restaurant, which has remarkably been operating within the hotel for over forty years.
Relocated within the hotel during the current renovations, Genji now boasts a stunning ‘Japandi’ interior, a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design characterised by simplicity, clean lines, and a nature-inspired aesthetic. Access to the restaurant is via a spiral staircase offering glimpses of an elegant Japanese garden soon to be complete with a water feature.
Stepping into Genji Japanese Restaurant at the Hilton Petaling Jaya, we were enveloped in an atmosphere of serene sophistication, artfully blending traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary design. The entrance welcomes with subtly illuminated “Genji” signage against a textured wall featuring a classic Japanese Shoji screen pattern. A striking circular art piece depicting a bonsai tree against a soft, misty backdrop takes centre stage at the handsome stone and latticed wood reception desk.
The expansive 50-seat restaurant features several tables overlooking this charming garden, and the sushi and sashimi preparation is ideal if, like us, you enjoy watching the chefs at work. Counter seating is also available for a closer view, along with several elegant private dining rooms, each comfortably accommodating eight diners or combinable for larger groups. At the rear, a popular teppanyaki area allows diners to watch renowned Head Chef Kunihiko Hamada expertly prepare dishes. Chef Hamada, who took over the kitchen upon the newly renovated restaurant’s reopening last December, brings extensive international experience and a commitment to authentic Japanese flavours, evident in the new Spring à la carte menu.
Genji’s dining area presents a thoughtfully arranged setting where dark wooden ceiling beams offer rustic contrast to the light and airy ambience of large, shoji-style windows diffusing natural light onto pale wood tables and muted grey modern chairs. The décor emphasises clean lines and natural materials, featuring simply set light wood tables, whitewashed walls with curated Japanese pottery on built-in shelves, and delicate abstract patterned wallpaper behind banquette seating. A blend of contemporary pendant lights and traditional lantern-style lamps illuminates the space. In contrast, light tiles with darker borders define zones within the open plan, culminating in a calm and inviting space.
Genji Japanese Restaurant Menu
Drinks Menu
Genji’s menu features a comprehensive beverage selection. Non-alcoholic choices include mineral waters, soft drinks, fresh and chilled juices, various coffees, and a selection of teas, including free-flow green tea (RM 11). For alcoholic options, there’s Sapporo draught, bottled beers, a wide variety of spirits, and numerous cocktails and mocktails. The menu is further distinguished by its extensive range of Japanese beverages, including diverse sakes, Shochu (barley and potato), plum wine (umeshu), Japanese citrus liqueur, and Japanese-style cocktails. In addition to our free-flow green tea, we also had the pleasure of trying Genji’s own branded Sake (RM 528 per bottle). This “rice wine,” crafted by fermenting polished rice with koji, yeast, and water, offered a notably smooth and mild flavour. A friendly reminder that it can have a higher alcohol content than standard wine, so please take care if you’re planning to drive.
Genji Food Menu
Genji’s menu is diverse, with sizzling teppanyaki dishes available as sets or à la carte. The menu includes comforting hot pot (nabe) selections, hot and cold udon and soba noodle dishes, and flavourful donburi rice bowls. Appetisers, salads, deep-fried items (agemono and tempura), and an extensive list of grilled dishes (yakimono) are also available. A children’s menu and a wide array of beverages, including traditional Japanese sake and shochu, complete the offerings with a selection of bento and sashimi.
We began with the Mixed Sashimi Platter (RM 303), which highlighted the superb quality of Genji’s oceanic offerings: yellowtail, flown in from Australia; richly coloured salmon, sourced from the Norwegian fjords; lustrous tuna; delicate sea bass; and firm swordfish. The evident freshness of each cut, a fact reinforced by watching its careful assembly at the nearby counter, translated directly to their pure and vivid flavours. The fish was artfully arranged and accented with freshly prepared ginger, bright wasabi, and delicate sprigs of aromatic shiso flowers, their small purple blossoms adding a striking beauty and a hint of herbal fragrance. Every piece offered a genuine taste of the sea, the inherent quality of the fish taking centre stage.
The Sushi Bento (RM 88) featured two pieces of nigiri, one topped with glistening salmon and the other with vibrant tuna, alongside two pieces of a sushi roll filled with cucumber and crab. A fresh vegetable salad with a creamy sesame dressing and a selection of crispy assorted tempura added further variety. A tender piece of braised salmon glazed with a blended soy sauce provided a savoury counterpoint, while steamed rice, miso soup, pickles, and a colourful fruit dessert completed this satisfying meal.
For those who enjoy the crunch of a deep-fry, the Tempura Bento (RM 88) offered a compelling alternative, starring a bowl of assorted tempura. Instead of sushi, this bento included marinated grilled eel with sweet umami, a subtly seasoned cucumber and wakame roll, and comforting braised salmon in savoury soy glaze. Steamed rice, miso soup, pickles, and a colourful fruit finale completed this richer experience.
From the Yakimono (grilled items), we chose the Shake (RM 90), a generous and exceptionally fresh Norwegian salmon fillet. Prepared with our selected teriyaki sauce (it can also be simply grilled with salt), this portion is ample for sharing as part of a larger meal and highly recommended for salmon enthusiasts.
Genji Review
Genji celebrates its enduring tradition while embracing a revitalised design and fresh culinary leadership. Although this was my first experience, it’s easy to see why its loyal customers have returned to this restaurant within the landmark Hilton Petaling Jaya for many years. We thoroughly enjoyed our chance to experience this blend of rich heritage with a striking new ‘Japandi’ design and the fresh direction of Head Chef Hamada. From the exceptional quality of the sashimi to the thoughtfully prepared bento boxes, this established dining destination, now with a stunning new look and expertly crafted menu, remains a noteworthy presence in Petaling Jaya, promising both familiar excellence and exciting new flavours.
Reasons to visit Genji: a serene and stylish dining environment; fresh sashimi; filling bento boxes; convenient and flavourful express lunch options.
Genji Japanese Restaurant
Hilton Petaling Jaya
H2, Jalan Barat, Pjs 52, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Link to Genji on Google Maps
+6 03-7955 9122
eatdrinkhilton.com
Genji Opening Hours
Daily: 12 pm – 2.30 pm & 6.30 – 10.30 pm
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