Growing up wasn’t always a happy memory for me. It’s filled with resentment of not being able to fit in, sibling rivalry alongside with loads of peer pressure. I wasn’t a good student too and I had to study real hard to make the grade and so school wasn’t always fun or a bed of roses. I always like my adult life better than my childhood where I am more in control of my life and the decision-making, but I won’t completely deny that my growing up years was quite interesting.
I brought quite a few things from my childhood into my adulthood; for example, my love and passion for Japanese manga and anime. I used to read manga and watch anime and still do to this very day. Among the famous manga/anime that I’m still watching today as an adult is Sailormoon Crystal, Dragonball Super, Fushigi Yuugi, Cardcaptor Sakura and Gundam SEED.
I have always been fascinated with the Japanese culture and sceneries that has been subtly portrayed in those anime and there are times I wish that I could visit Japan. But despite the fact that I am now an adult and I could visit Japan anytime I like, I still haven’t managed to visit Japan due to time restriction and work commitment. But call it sheer luck or a blessing if you will, I was given an opportunity to have a taste of what it is like to be in Japan without visiting Japan in person. Well, sort of.
Aragan Yokocho, Quill City Mall
Aragan Yokocho derives it’s name from the Japanese word ‘Yokocho’ which means ‘small streets’ or ‘alley’. So Aragan Yokocho literally means the Aragan alley.
Boasting 18,848 sq. ft on the lower ground floor of Quill City Mall, Aragan Yokocho is the largest Japanese restaurant in Asia and replicates the dining experience in the mysterious alleys in Tokyo where all sort of delicious food are found.
The restaurant has 10 stations where each of these station serves a specific cuisine from Japan and is headed by a professional chef. The concept in Aragan Yokocho is somewhat similar to a foodcourt, except that all the stations belongs to one restaurant.
The seating areas in Aragan Yokocho is divided into four sections according to the four seasons in Japan; Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Each of these sections are decorated in their respective season’s theme and diners can request to sit in any section that they feel most comfortable in.
Spring, indicated by the row of bamboo deco
Summer, spacious and airy space.
Autumn, a uniquely warm looking and picteresque section.
Winter one can definitelt get cozy in here.
Private booths for those who wants a more intimate dining session. Great for both business or pleasure.
The Tatami Room, very homey and great for small families. Each table can accommodate 4 pax.
Environment and ambiance aside, ordering is fuss free in Aragan Yokocho. Every table in the restaurant is equipped with an iPad for ordering purpose and in true modern Japanese fashion where technology plays an important role in their daily lives, this provides an interactive ordering experience. All you need to to is just press and swipe away and you’re done. We were told that there are more than 200 types of Japanese food offered here in Aragan Yokocho. All seafood are air flown from Japan to Malaysia every week. So depending on what’s in season in Japan today, you’ll get the same here in Malaysia too, so do expect some changes in their menu from time to time.
There are plenty of things to choose from the menu, but patronizing it during dinner time, we had some appetizers and the dinner set instead.
Edamame. A preparation of immature soybeans in the pod The pods are grilled and served with salt.
Hokke (RM19). This is actually grilled mackerel fish. Not a fan of this fish and all it’s tiny bones, but I did have a bit of this and it is really sweet and fresh. Highly recommended to fish lovers.
Okonomiyaki (RM24.00 – RM26.00). Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning “how you like” or “what you like”, and yaki meaning “grill”. I particularly love this dish from Aragan Yokocho. One plate is not enough.
Oyakodon(Chicken Donburi)(RM21). Oyakodon, literally “parent-and-child donburi”, is a donburi, or Japanese rice bowl dish, in which chicken, egg, sliced scallion, and other ingredients are all simmered together in a sauce and then served on top of a large bowl of rice. This one is delicious and makes quite a good comforting meal for a hungry tummy.
Haru Set (RM 36 opening promo price) – consists of salmon rice bowl with fried chicken
Natsu Set (RM 36 opening promo price). Assorted vegetables and surimi tempura served with a side of octopus sashimi and a bowl of gohan.
Fuyu Set (RM 36 opening promo price) – consists of Tori Sukiyaki served with a bowl of raw egg.
Assorted matcha and black sesame ice cream with mochi as dessert to ends our meal with (RM12 each)
Aragan Yokocho is unique in the sense that it not only aimed to please their patrons with Japanese culinary delights but offers a unique Japanese cultural experience as well. Everything about it screams Japanese and Yukata (Japanese robe worn in the summer) are also provided for customers to wear and take photos with and here’s sharing with you memorable photos taken over there while wearing the Yukata provided by Aragan Yokocho.
A staff helping a guest to put on a Yukata robe.
Me in Yukata. Picture taken at the Spring seating section.
Posing at the Autumn seating section.
My Sailormoon pose. Wanted to do a Dragonball Kamehameha pose but it doesn’t exactly look feminine.
My son and I
Husband and I
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A picture of our family
And a group pic with our host, the restaurant’s owner, Mr. Yasukazu Yoshikawa.
Whether you’d like a quiet date with your partner or spouse, out for a good time catching up over a cuppa, dinner with with friends or gathering with colleague, I believe Aragan Yokocho is just the right place for you to be, considering the not only the food, service and ambiance is exceptionally splendid, but the price tag that’s attached to all of these are decently reasonable too.
For more information on the restaurant, refer to the information below:
Aragan Yokocho
Address: Lot LG20, Lower Ground Floor, Quill City Mall, No.1018, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2856 0259 / 016-201 9168
Restaurant is Pork Free
Operation hour (daily)
11:00AM – 3:00PM
5:00PM – 10:00PM
