๐๐ธ๐ถ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ is one of those overlooked places which punch way above its weight. Its brightly-lit, high-ceilinged dining room on the second floor of the Sunrise @ Gurney apartment building overlooks the Gurney Drive beachfront.
What I really liked about this place is the way its dishes all seemed playful and fun. Plates of very fresh meats & seafood come festooned with tiny edible flower arrangements and riotously colorful. Taste-wise, this place was really big on flavors - but unfortunately, it did oftentimes overstepped the boundaries of what wouldโve seemed โenoughโ.
We started off with a couple of chilled sodas: a citrusy yuzu and a strawberry one. Both freshly-blitzed and utterly refreshing.
Instead of ordering from its lunch bento set menus, we opted for a la carte, and explored its Japanese tapas offerings instead.
Dashimaki Tamago (sweet egg omelette) - Iโd always loved this dish, but the versions one gets outside Japan often fluctuate between good to almost inedible, depending on the country one gets them in, and how โlocalizedโ itโs become.
The version here had perfectly-textured layered eggs, but an overly-salty creamy sauce which overwhelmed the overall flavors of the dish.
Shiromi Tapas (crispy fish-skin with lobster salad and tobiko (flying fish roe) - this canape-sized snacks were pretty to look at but, again, thrown off-kilter by the chefโs heavy hand with the salt pot.
Mini Cone Tapas (chopped salmon, onions, truffle, tobiko/flying fish roe & lumpfish caviar in pastry cones) - this was so good, we ordered seconds. The chopped salmon sashimi tasted decadent, although we felt the creamy dressing was a tad overly salty.
Our second order came in charcoal-colored cones
Sasami Moriawase (assorted grilled chicken breast skewers) - utterly delicious, albeit on the salty side. The chicken-meat were perfectly cooked and still moist.
Tsukune Moriawase (chicken meatball combination) - my fave item at lunch today: well-marinated chicken meatballs, paired with various toppings: cheese, fish roe, and miso.
Shake Harasu Sashimi (Salmon Belly) - very fresh, rich sashimi cuts. One of the best Iโd had for a long time. Iโll come back here just for this dish.
White Pearl Roll (Scallop & Crabmeat Roll, topped with Creamy Crabmeat Sauce) - this was richly-flavored, and much stronger than what a Japanese diner wouldโve been used to.
The Penang Hokkien-Chinese, this eateryโs target client base, demands strong flavors - subtlety is not in the Hokkien culinary vocabulary.
Avocado tempura - this dish was stupendous: one wonders why avocado tempura is not more widespread in its appeal or availability.
Gyuniku Kushiyaki (Grilled Beef, served with Grilled Onigiri/Rice Ball) - this dish was good, not spectacular. The grilled rice ball was delish.
This place is definitely a keeper, and is currently one of my top 3 spots for Japanese in Penang at the moment.
Address
Eki Sake Bar (็)
68-2-1 & 68-3-1, Sunrise @ Gurney, Gurney Drive, 10250 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Tel: +60 11-2668 6683
Opening hours: 11am to 12 midnight daily
