Restaurant: Tsuruya Japanese Restaurant

30

Written on 10:15 PM by Penang Tua Pui

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas
Konichiwa!!! This month is Japanese’s month hehehe …. at least for us. All of a sudden, our body and brains were all searching for Japanese food.

We had gone to the Sungai Nibong Yaki Teppan, Sakae Sushi and now this restaurant became our target for the week. Hahaha imagine what if Penang Tua Pui become Super Tua Pui like sumo wrestlers? Haik!!!!

This restaurant is located at i-Avenue, Bayan Lepas and just few shop lots away from the JPJ office.

The exterior of Tsuruya does not look anything like Japanese but the image projected was this has got to be a posh Japanese restaurant but do not let the appearance fool you. Once you look at the menu, they are in fact quite affordable.

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

The internal meanwhile is completely different story. The atmosphere and ambience very much Japanese like as almost every dining area is tatami style and some tables available as well.

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

There is no wall separating one tatami dining area from one but merely some loosely hanged blinds. We like the environment as a whole but only one thing that made us a little bit baffled; there was a “bunga manggar” like decoration in the Japanese restaurant. Hmmm, spirit of muhibbah? 

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Chawanmushi was the first dish to arrive and we were kind of surprised the RM5.00 chawanmushi just barely filled up half the cup. The chawanmushi did taste good but only if the portion was more. Luckily, for the rest of our set meals, it was good to give us a fairly thumb’s up perception.

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Sashimi set was the first to arrive and the presentation as a whole was quite appetizing. It came in 4 different types of raw fish: salmon, maguro, amaebi and tako. Each slice was quite thick despite only 2-3 slices each and the sashimi was quite fresh as well.

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Next came the Buta Kimuchi Sutamina Yaki set which is basically pork and kimuchi fried with special sauce. The special sauce was a bit like sweet and sour which more towards being sweet. The pork was lightly fried and it was really full of flavour. It was also quite tender and easy to chew.

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Unagi set came in 3rd. Nothing different on this unagi compared to other restaurant we went to. Basically, the unagi was cooked in almost similar manner everywhere. The sauce was somewhat sweeter than we expected but still tasted good in general.

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

The next dish was quite a crowd puller among us. The BBQ Jumbo Squid (Nama Ika Teriyaki Set) really looked delicious and tempting. Huat Koay was so scared that we might “tax” the squid that he warned us repeatedly “Don’t touch!!

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Eventually, he let us tax it a slice or two after Fei Fei and Tam Ciak kept staring innocently at the squid. :p The jumbo squid was elastic but easy to bite, we did not felt as if we were chewing rubber at all. The BBQ was also nicely done with the juiciness of the squid still wrapped inside.

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Chiki Chiki Ban Ban Set was deep fried chicken in Japanese sauce and tartar sauce. The name of this dish somehow reminded us of Ian Fleming’s “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”…. Sounds alike, right?

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

An interesting thing about this dish is that it is covered with egg white which had earlier been put across a strainer, briefly fried and sprinkled on top of the chicken. The eggs melts easily the moment we put it into our mouth can cause light tingling sensation. The deep fried chicken was crunchy and tender which we have no complain at all.

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Fei Fei was anxiously waiting for this dish that he started to tax the food around him. That basically means all the 5 sets mentioned just now. Then when the Ginmutsu Teppanyaki Set or Cod fish with special sauce in hot plate arrived, it was our turn to tax him instead.

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

He was stunned seeing us taking bits and pieces of the cod fish the moment it was put in front of him. The cod fish was lightly buttered and fried prior to serving on the hot plate.

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Each of the sets above came with rice, miso soup, salad and fruits. The price of the set lunch we ordered ranged between RM16++ for the deep fried to RM30++ for the sashimi and the cod fish, which we think are quite reasonable.

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

In addition, the green tea is always refillable and if you were employees of certain  MNC in Bayan Baru area, you will be entitled for 5% discount. That is a nice little gesture they have

Ja ne~!

Tsuruya Japanese Restaurant
1-1-38/39, MDN, Kampung Relau 1,
i-Avenue, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang
Tel: 04-641 0828

Opening Hours:
11.30am till 2.30pm
6.00pm till 10.00pm

Map (click to get the dynamic map)


More Food photos
Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Random

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Sushi Bar
Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

Penang Restaurant, Japanese Food, I-avenue, Bayan Lepas

If you enjoyed this post Subscribe to our feed

30 Comments

  1. Anonymous |

    For some strange reasons, this Jap restaurant is *super* popular amongst the Filipinos working in the MNCs (including the one I work at). They go there almost every week. One of their may fav dishes is the BBW Giant Squid.

    I've been there once and let's just say I walked out with a satisfied grin on my face and a vow to work harder at the gym the next day. ;)

    I have a question for you.

    How do you manage to keep folks from reaching for the food before you have a chance to take those gorgeous pix you take of the food you order? I almost always have to shout at my frenz "DON'T EAT YET! I WANNA TAKE PICTURE!!!".

    Of coz my picture standard is *nothing* close to yours but at least one can't say I didn't try. :)

     
  2. Little Inbox |

    Huat Koay's squid really look tempting. No wonder he refused to share share la. But u all still lucky to taste at least 1 pc. LOL.

     
  3. Anonymous |

    Ane ngam eh?? i went to this shop last friday to treat my best fren a b'day lunch... we ordered 1 Buta Kimuchi Sutamina Yaki set and 1 Teriyaki Salmon set... both set taste GOOD and i spent only RM40.70!!! we got free flow of hot green tea as well.... i will definitely pay another visit to the restaurant again.. :)
    btw, Tam Jiak, the 5% discount is only applicable to bill RM100 and above lo...

     
  4. CK Lam |

    Wow...nice food, looks like Huat Koay finally manage to get his Japanese food. Will add this place to my food list.

     
  5. minchow |

    Mmmm the BBQ squid looks like a must-tax! :-P

     
  6. Anonymous |

    I always like Japanese food. But I never tried this restaurant before. I will go one day.

    Your descriptions of the food are very detail and good. No need to mention about the photos since they are nicely taken. I need to learn from you guys. :)

     
  7. Penang Tua Pui |

    Eleen Por,

    Hmmm maybe not just Filipinos, even Penang Tua Pui do occasionally eat there. The discount is one of the reasons lor, coupled with nice environment and reasonably priced set lunch. Good you felt the need to exercise, you must have eaten quite a lot and seemed to enjoy your meal there too...

    As for your question.. simple only. We got special skill one.. basically, we hypnotized our friends and tied them up so that they can't move. Then we take our own sweet time to snap those pictures and simultaneously let tax collectors do their job (that means three of us).. Once we kao tim.. only then we bring back to reality and untied them... That's our secret.... Want to try them? :P:P

    OKOK, if the above doesn't work, there's always an alternative to that... talk nicely lor... Penang Tua Pui soooo cute, we request nicely, they sure give in one... :D

     
  8. Penang Tua Pui |

    Little Inbox,

    Yalor... the BBQ squid looked really nice and mouth watering. Huat Koay was sitting inside and when the Giant Squid was passed to him you could see us literally swallowing our saliva...

    Smells Great!!

     
  9. Penang Tua Pui |

    Leng Lui,

    Really ah?? So sorry... We thought the 5% discount was applicable regardless of amount spent. Didn't know that you need to spend above RM100.

    Aiyah, nvm.. next time ask one gang to go.. then sure got discount one.. ;)

     
  10. Penang Tua Pui |

    CK Lam,

    Yes, this is a place worth going if you like Japanese food...Huat Koay did get his food, after the TAX ... :D:D

     
  11. J2Kfm |

    yup, indeed quite reasonable.
    the Chiki Chiki Ban Ban thing resembles Nai Yau Kai lah ...butter milky chicken.

    the squid and the unagi look lovely

     
  12. Anonymous |

    I had the Chiki Chiki Ban Ban Set the last time I was there. But too bad I didn't have my camera with me. :(
    Yup the exterior looks like a classy restaurant but the price is quite reasonable. And I really love the interior deco. Will sure pay them a visit again!!

     
  13. New Kid on the Blog |

    sigh.... am longing for good food!!!

     
  14. Penang Tua Pui |

    J2Kfm,

    Now you mentioned about it.. It does look a bit the same.... :)

    The squid was the center stage ... Yummy...
    Hahaha.. got to say thanks to Huat Koay.. :D:D

     
  15. Penang Tua Pui |

    buzzingbee,

    No camera? No Problem..
    Go again for the second time and snap to your heart's content~! :D

    Yea, the classy restaurant is sure intimidating but never judge a restaurant by its exterior... hehehe lol

     
  16. Penang Tua Pui |

    New Kid on the Blog,

    Now you see one!!! :p

     
  17. Moo Mummy |

    COMMEND: next timeput in the price rate,can ah? low,medium or high?

     
  18. Penang Tua Pui |

    Moo mommy,

    Paiseh, we only put the price range of the lunch sets we ate.. from RM16++ for the deep fried to RM30++ for the sashimi and the cod fish..

    Low, medium or high.. that's very subjective, some can say it's cheap while the others will think it's medium priced. But to us the price is reasonable...

    Don't worry though, if the price is expensive or overpriced, we will definitely let you know~! :D

     
  19. Anonymous |

    550ml jar of faith,

    The BBQ squid really got to tax one... Soooo delicious leh...

     
  20. Anonymous |

    Yummy Station,

    Time to give it a try. Taste it yourself whether this restaurant can also satisfy your taste buds ;)

    We do bring along a notepad to jot down the taste and experiences we feel, so that we don't have to crack our small brains later when it comes to writing the post :)

     
  21. Anonymous |

    the squid look so delicious.. who can hold from taxing on them...

     
  22. Andrew |

    wow.looks like you,fei fei and huat koay had a feast. Feeling really hungry now.

     
  23. Anonymous |

    this was the only japanese restaurant i visited during my 2 week work stint in penang earlier this year. :)

     
  24. Anonymous |

    Aiyo .... why the tuna meat no fatty one .... tuapuis must eat the tuna with plenty of white lines ..... nyum ....

     
  25. Penang Tua Pui |

    Fortesfidelis,

    Yea, we had not just one but a few feast.. and it's Japanese too~!! hehhehe

     
  26. Penang Tua Pui |

    epicuriousgirl,

    the only jap restaurant... guess your counterpart must have liked this place much..bring you to the one and only Jap restaurant during your time here.... lol

     
  27. Penang Tua Pui |

    email2me,

    okok... understand lioa.. next time look for tuna with plenty of white lines... must be yummy.. :)

     
  28. Anonymous |

    walao eh.... ane tua ciak eh sotong a?...

    beh ho seh la.... lin pek tiok tiok beh ki ciak liao...

    sotong.. mai chao.. wa lai liao..

    tuapui.. talk later.. now boe neg... ai ki ciak sotong....

     
  29. Penang Tua Pui |

    PenangGinNA,

    Jumbo Squid mah... tia tiok tua ciak lor...
    kin kin kee... kee ciak sotong...
    bo tan ceh sotong cau kee lioa..

    enjoy your sotong ya!!

     
  30. Anonymous |

    Have been to every japanese restaurant you guys have introduced so far, must say that my favorite is still not coming up on the posts yet :P

     

Post a Comment

Your value comments are always welcome.

Read this is you have no idea how to key in comment.