Disclaimer: This is an honest review and all opinions are my own.
Nested in the new and uprising lifestyle hub filled with eateries, watering holes, and more eateries, Kuro Japanese Steamboat stands out with its brightly lit brushstroke-like signboard in Plaza Arkadia, Desa Parkcity.
I've been hearing peers discuss and compare Kuro with other Japanese steamboat restaurants for a while now, but I was instantly drawn to visit this establishment when I heard of free flow Häagen-Dazs ice cream and the use of Kurobuta pork (Japanese black pork) at this buffet.
In case you needed a little more kicker to succumb, Kurobuta pork is also known as the highest grade of pork in the world. At Kuro Japanese Steamboat, patrons get 120-minutes of unlimited meat refills. That's two whole hours of Kurobuta pork! Say no more.
Stepping into a clean, organised-looking restaurant with ample walking space and having all tables with easy access to the side dishes, ice cream, and green tea also meant less time refilling and more time dining.
If you're wondering how I got photos of the empty restaurant, I caught the service team off guard just moments before they opened doors.
I was pleasantly surprised by the swift and friendly service I got despite the restaurant catering to a full-house crowd at dinner time on a Monday. For diners who prefer different meats, the restaurant also offers a wide array of choices, from chicken, beef, lamb, to seafood.
One of the attractions Kuro had me sold was their broth. You get to pick two of five broth choices offered, namely Kuro Broth, Japanese Curry, Shabu-Shabu, Sukiyaki, and their latest addition, the Spicy Kuro Broth. Named after their restaurant, the Kuro Broth is boiled over a long period using pork bones to achieve a sweet and rich taste.
I would have loved to try the Spicy Kuro Broth, but instead went for a safer choice of the Kuro Broth and Shabu-Shabu base this time as I was travelling the following day. However, this only means more of a reason for me to return soon to taste their spicy in-house broth.
While the Shabu-Shabu base was average, it got noticeably (and pleasantly) sweeter over time as I loaded it with greens and meats. The Kuro Broth on the other hand was by far one of the tastiest steamboat soup base I've ever had, to the extent I enjoyed drinking it on its own and even asked for several refills. The broth which boasts an "umami" or savory taste did not disappoint.
I learned that beyond the Kurobuta pork cuts offered here, Kuro also uses premium grade beef and lamb imported from Australia, and that their meats are sliced-to-order to ensure the highest level of freshness. Additionally, the seafood set I had was clean and well prepared (unlike many steamboat places), and sure enough tasted fresh.
It goes without saying that side dishes and greens are necessary to complete a steamboat experience. Kuro's wide spread of side dishes left me spoilt for choices as they had the usual steamboat items, but also had unique items placed on their "Kuro Bar", like the Kuro Ika Ball (squid ink ball), spicy fish paste (otak-otak) ball, curry fish ball, Japanese sweet potato, and more.
Kuro's mouth-watering in-house chilli sauces are also a must try, with a balanced tangy taste that doesn't overpower your palate.
Thanks to the good folks of Kuro, I was also treated to some fine cuts of Australian and Japanese wagyu beef, which Kuro has promotions going on for these quality meats at a reasonable price. They even have a buffet solely for all the premium Australian and Japanese wagyu beef you can eat within 120-minutes at only RM98.90++ and RM338 respectively!
Like their regular buffet meats, these fine wagyu beef are also sliced and prepared only when ordered. Honestly, I think another key element that distinguishes Kuro from other Japanese steamboat joints is their emphasis for fresh, quality cuts.
Like any other buffet joints, food wastage is frowned upon and I think it's only right to penalise patrons who decide to waste precious food - a penalty is imposed by Kuro based on the amount of food wastage.
After a hearty meal, I finally got to the moment I was most excited for - Häagen-Dazs ice cream! The manager kindly offered to scoop me ice cream, probably because he saw me mid-food coma. There were four flavours of the day so I got one of each - Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate, Salted Caramel, and Mango Sorbet. I was amazed that Kuro actually maintains their Häagen-Dazs choices and rotates flavours as each drum finishes.
Despite a debateable "drawback" about Kuro Japanese Steamboat being priced slightly steeper than competitors, I found the price difference to be miniscule and it certainly was justified by the quality service, food, and overall experience. I was also told that patrons who wish to dine here on weekends are advised to make a booking to avoid dissapointment.
My verdict: Definitely worth the price paid, especially knowing that the meat cuts are fresh and of premium grade. This could be a occasional treat to myself, especially knowing I could cleanse my palate with unlimited amounts of Häagen-Dazs after!
To make a booking or for more information, you may contact Kuro at 03-2778 4370, or visit their Facebook page here.
Kuro Japanese Steamboat is located at:
F-G-03, Plaza Arkadia, No.3, Jalan Intisari Perdana, Desa Parkcity, 52200 Kuala Lumpur
Kuro Japanese Steamboat's operating hours:
11.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.
6.00 p.m. to 11.00p.m.
Nested in the new and uprising lifestyle hub filled with eateries, watering holes, and more eateries, Kuro Japanese Steamboat stands out with its brightly lit brushstroke-like signboard in Plaza Arkadia, Desa Parkcity.
I've been hearing peers discuss and compare Kuro with other Japanese steamboat restaurants for a while now, but I was instantly drawn to visit this establishment when I heard of free flow Häagen-Dazs ice cream and the use of Kurobuta pork (Japanese black pork) at this buffet.
In case you needed a little more kicker to succumb, Kurobuta pork is also known as the highest grade of pork in the world. At Kuro Japanese Steamboat, patrons get 120-minutes of unlimited meat refills. That's two whole hours of Kurobuta pork! Say no more.
Stepping into a clean, organised-looking restaurant with ample walking space and having all tables with easy access to the side dishes, ice cream, and green tea also meant less time refilling and more time dining.
If you're wondering how I got photos of the empty restaurant, I caught the service team off guard just moments before they opened doors.
I was pleasantly surprised by the swift and friendly service I got despite the restaurant catering to a full-house crowd at dinner time on a Monday. For diners who prefer different meats, the restaurant also offers a wide array of choices, from chicken, beef, lamb, to seafood.
One of the attractions Kuro had me sold was their broth. You get to pick two of five broth choices offered, namely Kuro Broth, Japanese Curry, Shabu-Shabu, Sukiyaki, and their latest addition, the Spicy Kuro Broth. Named after their restaurant, the Kuro Broth is boiled over a long period using pork bones to achieve a sweet and rich taste.
I would have loved to try the Spicy Kuro Broth, but instead went for a safer choice of the Kuro Broth and Shabu-Shabu base this time as I was travelling the following day. However, this only means more of a reason for me to return soon to taste their spicy in-house broth.
While the Shabu-Shabu base was average, it got noticeably (and pleasantly) sweeter over time as I loaded it with greens and meats. The Kuro Broth on the other hand was by far one of the tastiest steamboat soup base I've ever had, to the extent I enjoyed drinking it on its own and even asked for several refills. The broth which boasts an "umami" or savory taste did not disappoint.
I learned that beyond the Kurobuta pork cuts offered here, Kuro also uses premium grade beef and lamb imported from Australia, and that their meats are sliced-to-order to ensure the highest level of freshness. Additionally, the seafood set I had was clean and well prepared (unlike many steamboat places), and sure enough tasted fresh.
It goes without saying that side dishes and greens are necessary to complete a steamboat experience. Kuro's wide spread of side dishes left me spoilt for choices as they had the usual steamboat items, but also had unique items placed on their "Kuro Bar", like the Kuro Ika Ball (squid ink ball), spicy fish paste (otak-otak) ball, curry fish ball, Japanese sweet potato, and more.
Kuro's mouth-watering in-house chilli sauces are also a must try, with a balanced tangy taste that doesn't overpower your palate.
Thanks to the good folks of Kuro, I was also treated to some fine cuts of Australian and Japanese wagyu beef, which Kuro has promotions going on for these quality meats at a reasonable price. They even have a buffet solely for all the premium Australian and Japanese wagyu beef you can eat within 120-minutes at only RM98.90++ and RM338 respectively!
Like their regular buffet meats, these fine wagyu beef are also sliced and prepared only when ordered. Honestly, I think another key element that distinguishes Kuro from other Japanese steamboat joints is their emphasis for fresh, quality cuts.
Like any other buffet joints, food wastage is frowned upon and I think it's only right to penalise patrons who decide to waste precious food - a penalty is imposed by Kuro based on the amount of food wastage.
After a hearty meal, I finally got to the moment I was most excited for - Häagen-Dazs ice cream! The manager kindly offered to scoop me ice cream, probably because he saw me mid-food coma. There were four flavours of the day so I got one of each - Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate, Salted Caramel, and Mango Sorbet. I was amazed that Kuro actually maintains their Häagen-Dazs choices and rotates flavours as each drum finishes.
Despite a debateable "drawback" about Kuro Japanese Steamboat being priced slightly steeper than competitors, I found the price difference to be miniscule and it certainly was justified by the quality service, food, and overall experience. I was also told that patrons who wish to dine here on weekends are advised to make a booking to avoid dissapointment.
My verdict: Definitely worth the price paid, especially knowing that the meat cuts are fresh and of premium grade. This could be a occasional treat to myself, especially knowing I could cleanse my palate with unlimited amounts of Häagen-Dazs after!
To make a booking or for more information, you may contact Kuro at 03-2778 4370, or visit their Facebook page here.
Kuro Japanese Steamboat is located at:
F-G-03, Plaza Arkadia, No.3, Jalan Intisari Perdana, Desa Parkcity, 52200 Kuala Lumpur
Kuro Japanese Steamboat's operating hours:
11.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.
6.00 p.m. to 11.00p.m.
