I Heart ‘Hajime’ @ Jalan Damai, Off Jalan Ampang, KL
The first time I dined at Hajime was almost a year ago with Samantha. I have loved that place ever since, but never got around to visiting it for a second time.
Recently, I decided to give M an early birthday treat and immediately thought of Hajime.
Hajime's Puffer Fish logo
I was excited as we drove into the big bungalow that houses the restaurant. I just love the interior of the place. Warm and inviting. We were shown to our seats at the tatami style dining area. M had left the ordering to me and I had a field day browsing their menu. It had changed quite a bit since I was there last.
First to arrive was the spicy sauce salmon tataki (RM32). The salmon was lightly seared to give it just a hint of smokey flavour. The black pepper sprinkled on top gave it a nice crunchy taste. A real explosion of flavours and textures!
Spicy Sauce Salmon Tataki
Next we had the grilled scallops with cheese – Hotatei Ninniku (RM16). This was amazing!! My favourite dish of the night! The scallops were grilled just right to maintain the juiciness of the scallops and the cheese topping was just icing on the cake! Perfect!
Hotatei Ninniku
M likes his cold soba, so we had the green tea chasoba (RM18). I loved the presentation! We guessed that they made the noodles fresh upon our order. With a nice bite to it, it got M’s stamp of approval.
Green Tea Chasoba
We ordered 2 different varieties of sushi – the California Cheese Unagi Maki (RM26) and the Black Spider Roll (RM20). The California Cheese Unagi Maki looked impressive indeed! The sushi was very well made indeed and tasted really good.
California Cheese Unagi Maki
But I did prefer the Black Spider Roll (crispy soft shell crab sushi). Notice the caviar? Hajime definitely gets top marks for presentation! And the best thing about it is that it tastes as good as it looks!
Black Spider Roll
Next up was the Beef with light wasabi sauce (RM24). This was a really interesting mix of flavours. The beef was coated and lightly fried and had hints of wasabi which was just right, not too overpowering.
Wasabi Beef
Finally to end the meal, we decided to have the Kurogoma (Black Sesame) Ice cream (RM12) which was much raved about on the blogs. I did have high hopes for this. It was fragrant. Very sesame-y indeed! A bit too overpowering for both M and me though. I had wanted to order the matcha ice cream too! Oh well… next time then 
Kurogoma Ice Cream
By the end of it, M and I were stuffed with really good, really rich Japanese food!
Hajime may be on the pricey side but definitely worth it as a treat once in a while. It really does have it all – wonderful romantic ambience, divine food and great service!
Hajime is located at 64 Jalan Damai, Off Jalan Ampang, 55000 KL. Its located opposite Raffles School of Design. For reservations, call 03-2143 0073.
Other reviews:
Tags: Black Pepper, Black sesame ice cream, California Cheese, Caviar, Chasoba, Green Tea, Grilled Scallops, Hajime, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Hutton, Puffer Fish, Raffles School of Design, Salmon, Spicy Sauce, Sushi, Tataki, Tatami, Unagi, Wasabi
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help/….. someone help me… help me from suffering…
this is a BAD website that not suitable for all man kind who is hungry at the middle of the night….
GERAM……. I will make u fat…… hee hee
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not bad. not the priciest in KL, yet not as cheap as everyday’s dinner.
I envy KL’s abundance of japanese restaurants.
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I luv spider roll cos I like soft shell crab.
The grilled scallop looks soo tasty. But the price is quite damaging huh.
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Salmon tataki! I could live on this alone! Or maybe just with the goma icecream as well… Japanese purrfection!
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penangtuapui – hahaha your site also veli bad la. already make me veli fat liao~!!
J2Kfm – oh i do envy KL’s food scene… but penang seems to be catching up. just spotted a new irish pub being renovated now.
allie – yeah price quite damaging. but once in a while..ok la
550ml jar of faith – yes i could live on the salmon tataki too! lol
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Why did you always visit Jap restaurants uh?! so sui leh, too tempting lah
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cariso – cos i love japanese food also mah! hehe
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oh u were in KL?
Japanese restaurants a lot in Pg now right? I stil luv Isaribi Tei but along Pulau Tikus, it’s crazee ..so many within such close vicinity!
yup Pg is catching up..U guys got a Bulgarian restaurant for food’s sake! (*envy*)
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I’m so with you on this! The restaurant’s just behind my condo — a mere five minutes’ walk away! So I go here very often and take my guests there too… very consistent quality.
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thenomadgourmand – hi there! yes i was in Kl recently. i do go quite often
and yes its crazy that pulau tikus alone has got about 7 japanese restaurants in the area! lol
life for beginners – ooooo lucky you!!!!!!!!! ~jealous jealous~
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hmmm, when can we see something like this in Penang, huh???
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nice place worth visiting on KL trip…might take the courage to try out the puffer fish.
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Yum! What a feast!
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oh… i just love japanese food. there areso many japanese restaurant out there for me to go try out. i’m not that familiar with KL. i think i can try all the restaurant in penang first before i go for KL. hehehe.
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Do they serve fugu as well? I’m curious to know because I haven’t tasted yet…
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I mean, certified fugu master in the restaurant?
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hi pixen! I just called the restaurant about the fugu, since i dont remember seeing it on the menu that night. Currently they have stopped serving it, but I’m told they will be serving it again in December. Best to call to check in December though if you plan to go just for the fugu!
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walio so awesome, yummy! I wonder who is M? lol!
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i’m dying to go for another round!
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WOw..is so near to my office ^^.
Must go there and try.
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Can someone tell me where is this restaurant? Any landmark?
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Lingzie Reply:
August 20th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
hi evon, to get to Hajime, go along Jalan Ampang. If you are coming from KLCC, Nikko Hotel on your right, Ampang Park on your left, you will come to a major cross road/traffic light. go straight across. you will see a police station on your right and just after that is a small turn off into Jalan Sejahtera. Turn into that road and then turn left onto Jalan Damai. Or you can have a look at the map HERE (its the Map to Raffles School of Design, Hajime is just next to it)
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