Restaurant | Azuma Japanese Restaurant, Queensbay Mall
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Summary:
Nice environment with ample natural lighting, seatings by the window can be quite hot at noon. Has the unique cube type seating arrangement. Food tends to be stronger in salty taste, recommended to go with rice, otherwise request for less salt to be used.
Let us see, how many Japanese Restaurants do we have at Queesnbay Mall? Sushi King, Sakae Sushi, Nippon Yataimura, Japin, Shimaya Teppanyaki. Now another has popped up inside Queensbay Mall and just located above the Borders Bookstore, Azuma Japanese Restaurant is the name. The latest addition of Japanese Restaurant is probably an indication that Penang has lots of Japanese food lovers residing here.
Azuma Japanese Restaurant recently opened its door to Penang customers as its 5th outlet. Azuma at presence has 3 outlets in Sabah and one in Kuala Lumpur. The outlet in Penang also has resident chef who quit the previous job at a 6 star hotel to join Azuma. Given such credibility itself, we automatically have higher expectations towards the dishes served here.
The outlet size looks rather small and a little cramped as we enter the premise yet the bright interior greets us rather graciously and makes the layout looks larger. The use of natural lighting during day time has also helped too. It feels rather warm and comfortable as we enter inside Azuma. However, do take note that seats beside the window especially during the afternoon can be quite warm unless you do not mind sunbathing… hehe
Besides, the seating arrangment inside Azuma is well organized and the space is also well utilized despite the limited space. Also, the use of brightly coloured chairs with dark tables give quite a distinct contrast that is pleasant to the eyes.
You can choose to seat outside or dine in at the private rooms or semi private rooms. The semi private room like above is the one where it can fit few tables inside. Of course, this can also be a good place if you have a private function with bigger group.
For those who prefer to dine along the conveyor belt, there are few seats along the sushi bar too. As we mention earlier, Azuma tries to fully utilize the seating arrangment as well as to cater the different preferences that customers have.
The conveyor looks rather long but actual seatings along the conveyor is pretty limited as well.
For those who prefer to see the sushi chefs in action, the sushi bar is definitely a place for you.
Just next to the entrance, on the right side is another type of seating that is quite unique, as we have not seen it in any other Japanese Restaurant in Penang yet. This could be something normal in Japan as space needs to be fully utilized, as such the “L” shaped seating can fit three adults but a little cramped for TuaPui though.
The pride of any Japanese Restaurant is typically its wine and alcohol. There is no exception here as well as we can see lots of Japanese alcohol being displayed as decorative items. Of course, you can order them as long as they do not run out of stock.
This is another shot of the wine available at Azuma.
And another one….
We quite like the table wares used at Azuma especially the dark porcelain plates and sauce plates which give more Japanese feeling, unlike the usual white plates.
Soft Shell Crabs (Watari Gani Karaage - RM18.00) is our first dish of the day to arrive. Tam Ciak said the look of the soft shell crabs resembles a bit like Vegetarian duck. This deep fried marinated soft shell crabs look slightly different from the menu.
Only upon closer look that we can start seeing the shape of the crabs which has been deep fried. Based on the supervisor’s explanation, the crabs have been marinated with special sauce before frying.
The soft shell crabs have bitter taste which is rather surprising to us although it taste quite normal initially. We ask the supervisor if the soft shell crabs have been over fried but the supervisor assures us it is the actual taste. Depending on the season, sometimes the crabs served can be quite salty.
The soft shell crabs must be eaten while it is still hot as the crabs can turn soggy fast after a while.
Salmon Roll (Shake Tataki Maki - RM28.00) comes next in 8 pieces on a single plate. The salmon toppings on the sushi roll is the specialty here. The salmon has been marinated with special sweet sauce and then briefly grilled which the outer part is cooked but not the middle part.
The explanation from the supervisor that the brief grill on the salmon makes the salmon easier to consume as if the texture can melt easily when put into the mouth. Well, it taste quite soft to us but not to the extent of it can melt. The salmon smell is not that strong either which makes it suitable for those who used to shun salmon because of its smell. Also, you can request for the salmon to be completely grilled to make sure its properly cooked.
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[...] Nowal wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt[ad#ads2] Let us see, how many Japanese Restaurants do we have at Queesnbay Mall? Sushi King, Sakae Sushi, Nippon Yataimura, Japin, Shimaya Teppanyaki. Now. [...]
Wow…so many more dishes to try out. It’s time for a revisit to Azuma.
ck lams last blog post..Penang Food - Pork Innards Porridge
ck lam,
yes, most of the foods we tried were recommendation from the supervisor and the manager…
I heard about this pizza from my friend and wanted to try it out. But RM28 for such a small pizza is kinda expensive huh? Too bad that it tasted oily huh…
allies last blog post..Penang Food | Ah Keat Bah Kut Teh
i sat at the L-shaped seats cos at first i thought it was cute. but after a while feel a bit ‘kok’ and claustrophobic! lol. the bf and me too ‘tai chek’ already! haha
i love the lamb amiyaki! very tasty!
lingzies last blog post..OXO Cafelab @ Queensbay, Penang
wow….the photos looked tempting again//.
what type of camera u used this time? =)
allie,
28 for a pizza is rather expensive but perhaps it’s their specialty. Of course, it would be nice if the pizza cost cheaper… *hint* hehehe
I tasted its MARCH special “set of the month” , really worthy and nice! Gonna post up soon.
carisos last blog post..Coffee Island ei khi meh?!
lingzie,
The L-shaped definitely not for us too.. hahahaha
Yea, the lamb is excellent and so is the beef too
Intel,
it’s SLR camera
cariso,
Great! can’t wait to see that
Penangtuapui,
Great piece of information which I truly enjoy.
Keep up the great work.
Personal experience, I had a great time at Azuma though the price is a bit too expensive for me.
FrostyCoke,
Thanks and we hope you will continue to enjoy our site contents…
Agree the price at Azuma is steeper towards higher end compared to other Japanese restaurants at QBM but the higher price comes with quality and freshness as claimed by Azuma themselves
your photo shooting skill is supreme… great food review though..
we will go and have another round of makan-makan there soon…. Thanks…
any special offer for your reader a?
classy-like the phrase by the window “sunbathing”
foodbins last blog post..DAMANSARA VILLAGE STEAMBOAT RESTAURANT
HT,
yes, we’ll have an offer soon… stay tuned~!
foodbin,
when you sit there, you’ll experience it too
I had been to the restaurant and i like their fried dumnpling.. just nice. Love it.
Ann Soo,
oh really.. too bad we didn’t have the dumpling then….
Yeap, Queensbay is already bursting with Japanese restaurants! maybe it should be a Japanese mall soon:p
seriously, the soft shell crabs really looks very very ‘kemek’ …LOL!
But the dining environment is nice:)
Christys last blog post..Fuzing Fusion Food @ Louis Cafe
This place looks really posh and expensive! Of course the food is really expensive! For the portion served, I mean. But I guess quality comes with a price
iamthewitchs last blog post..Traditional toasted bread at Toh Soon Cafe
[...] thanks to PenangTuaPui.com for allowing me to tag along to the recently operated dining place in Queensbay Mall, Penang. Azuma [...]
Christy,
yes, we know.. the soft shell crabs need some touching up to make it really look like soft shell crabs…. hehehe
welcome to the “Japanese Queensbay Mall”
iamthewitch,
Japanese pride on the freshness and quality of the food and the restaurants that charge premium price, we expect the money to be worth paying.. so far we’re satisfied
Albert,
thanks for the wonderful photos too!
I do like restaurants with ample of natural lighting too. Some how its just more relaxing…
teckiees last blog post..Jackson Burger
The Smoked Salmon Roll looks nice leh. Btw, there are too many japanese restaurants in Qbay dee. I really haven’t tried out this one. Btw, you got the kang tao to review this restaurant woo? We go there to walap the whole restaurant. hahaha….
StevenaGoh.coms last blog post..Splendid Penang Indian Food @ Karaikudi Restaurant, Market Street
Oooohhhh…that Salmon Roll is making me drool… =)
teckiee,
yes, the natural lighting is an attraction indeed, but don’t seat too near the window especially during high noon
Steven,
Like we said earlier… “japanese queensbay mall” …hehehehe
[...] The latest goodie we have is from Azuma Japanese Restaurant. Yes, it one of the recent reviews that we have done with the write up can be found here. [...]
[...] The latest goodie we have is from Azuma Japanese Restaurant. Yes, it one of the recent reviews that we have done with the write up can be found here. [...]
hi! Nice food photographs there! Query, is there such a thing as “6 star hotel”? & from what i heard AZUMA’s Kuala Lumpur outlet has been closed down or is there a new AZUMA outlet in KL?
[...] is a multi page post: Page 1 Page 2 Summary: Nice environment with ample natural lighting, seatings by the window can be quite [...]
everything here looks so good!!! lovely shots too…
[...] our fellow readers such as discounts from Bravo Italiana, Penang’s Coconut Jelly as well as Azuma Japanese Restaurant. (Pssst… More goodies on the way). As for ourselves … well, given the hard work and [...]
[...] of that, we have another promotion which launch about a week ago for RM18 for Japanese Pizza at Azuma Restaurant. We bet you must have over look it or forget about it, here you are the coupon to refresh you [...]
i never go to azuma before….surfing penangtuapui saw a coupon and print it bring to azuma ,order 1 azuma pizza tasted its fantastic .good food its good so at last i decide tapau 1 go home to gave my mum eat hehe.rm28 its high rm18 at negiotiable price go try ..no regret
goggo for that no regret coz i go try before eat and tapau
The food taste terrible and it’s quite exp… Not worth it.
Why nowadays AZUMA bcum malay restaurant?and the service is very bad and rude,i feel dissapointed of it
AT LAST SUNDAY I HAVE GO AZUMA EATING, THE FOOD STILL VERY DELICIOUS AND NICE BUT THE SERVICE WAS VERY BAD.. ALL THE MALAY STAFF NO USE, SO LAZY.I ASK THEM TO HELP ME REFIL TEA , THEN JUST MAKE FACE TO ME.. I DON THINK I WILL BACK AZUMA EAT AGAIN…
i go to this restaurant near merdeka, forget which day ler…! me and my girlfren was queue up for nearly 15 minute and finally we get into a L shape small table! when walk to my place, i can see many dirty table was not clear. we have been waiting for another 5 minute to get the menu. we direct order with the staff, is a malay girl, the girl was cool, no smiling at all, we ask her to recommend, she just simply show me 2-3 things.fine, we order a teriyaki chicken set, and a spicy ramen and the famous pizza here. The only good things i can say is the food serve very fast. within 10 minute, all my food was served. and my 2 green tea nt yet serve!! i was very unhappy and ask to supervisor to come, is a malay oso, he was giving me an excuse that not enough staff. soon, we get our tea, the tea was no taste at all, like drinking hot water!! finally we finisehd our dinner, we are waiting for the ice cream that show on the flyer that free ice cream when you dine in, after waiting for 5 minute, they not yet serve the ice cream, i ask the supervisor to come again, and the supervisor say we need to ask then just will give. overall we spent on this place nearly 1 1/2 hrs on the waiting….i was very disapointed and i promise that wont come to this malay restaurant again.
ya, i also agree with u louis n japan kia, on merdeka day i go eat dinner with my husb, i can see overall the restaurant was very dirty, exp the make drink bar. i go in wash my hand, i can see so dirty and so smelly of the basin, before i go in bar wash my hand also but it was look very clean.but that bar is chinese.now sure very dirty because of malay.but at list the food still nice and maintain.huh… really so disapointed.food nice but the service was drop…
Oh dear! I was planning a corporate event there. But hearing all the recent negative reviews…..
Any other dining places in Queensbay Mall that is worth going?
[...] http://camostudio.com/blogs/2009/03/23/azuma_ptp/ http://www.penangtuapui.com/?p=6509 http://www.foodlah.com/2009/04/16/azuma-japanese-restaurant/ [...]
not all malay people like that…come back,i promise the service become k oledi…
hi all,
during the last visit of this place which is couple of days ago, the supervisor who suppose to recognize us had given us a bad impression where the usual smile on the face no longer there.
I am quite disappointed and I hope they can remain as friendly as possible, I didn’t expect perfect all the time, but when you stand on the service line, you have to act pro. That’s my take.
Huat Koay
OH NOOOOO!!!so many negative news bout azuma!!i tot tat period is merdeka day so they are in bz onli…. if i not mistaken wad penang tua pui said the supervisor is name ‘ ALEX ‘.i still remember i went ther for 2 times and oso serve by him,he will suggest us wad is 2day fresh and feel serve. the last time i went was served by malay, OHHHHH SHIT…….reli dunno how to describe
Huh??? Azuma bad service!!! I was there 3 times in sept 1 time in oct 09…service is good very attendtive.
food is delicious but sometime got wait bit longer cause its good business. To me its worth waiting for loh..
Are you sure you went to the right Azuma??? I was there diner time on 13th Oct.. the table beside me..i heard him say food is very nice also the service is good. if i not wrong he left a good tip too.
Are you sure you got the right Azuma???
Hmm… food king and Kenji,
I would believe the experience I had might be one single incident. She is the supervisor who serve us previous visit is good. Wonder what had happen that day… The face as black as charcoal.
Hope she is better now.
Huat Koay
I ve been to worst places at queensbaymall..just dun wanna mention which rest..even chinese waiter/tress also sometime no good ma.. i think you guys are being racist.
Actually, Azuma should be a good Japanese Restaurant (Pls allow me to explain).
As I know, Azuma is having a nice sea view (especially night), some good taste foods and the previous stuff is still okay.
However..What causes most of the stuff running away?
I guess it’s related to the management.
I’m very up sad with Azuma,
hopefully the lazy staffs willing to change their attitude!
I feel sorry for what had happen to Azuma! I really hope they are able to change the bad impression.
Azuma, please DON’T disappointing the Japanese Food’s Lovers anymore!
I feel sorry for what had happen to Azuma!
I really hope they are able to change the bad impression.
Azuma, please DON’T disappointing the Japanese Food’s Lovers anymore!
Im from KL, we have hundred over jap rest in KL alone..my friend from penang bring me to Azuma for dinner.
First impressionn of the whole rest in evening is so warm and nice view. we were recommended by the manager to have shake belly sashimi and other assorted sashimi and gyuza to start, it was so delicious never had tat before.. follow by ebi tempura, beef teppanyaki, gindara teriyaki, nameko chahan which is mushroom fried rice, cwan mushi and dobi mushi - little pot soup..nice. im dun normally go to any web on food but got some time and just wanna check out where to eat, came across azuma web..im really suprised to read this. to set thing right for azuma penang i will say thank you for serving good food and service. Next time i visit penang again will makan there. do keep us updated if azuma is opening in KL
I went to Azuma again this month, wah sake sashimi on promotion only RM10 so many will say cheap sure no good. its is very fresh and worth it 2 people can order 1 portion. Azuma pizza my favourite. Same people loh good food and good service. I think the new one better than old one …maybe sasa you should contact azuma manager and tell her your problem.
Most of our restaurants was changed to Bangladesh restaurant already nowadays.. Did u guys notice it ??
Japaneses foods, Chinese foods, Indian foods……etc. all made in Bangladesh…. Hahaha….. unbelievable !!
i like to eat japanese food…but,i dont know azuma japanese restorant halal or not!!!!please anybody explain for me…
Hi rafidah yes azuma is halal food served certificate by agama islam
Rafidah,
Azuma is pork free, no halal sign as they sell sake.