Kitano Japanese Restaurant @ Jazz Hotel, Tanjung Tokong Penang

Kitano Japanese Restaurant is a new restaurant that offers a range of authentic Japanese cuisine nested within Jazz Hotel in Tanjung Tokong. Armed with a chef that has vast experience in creating Japanese cuisine, the restaurant offers an ideal Japanese style dining environment with an array of dishes that include Ramen, Bento, Sashimi and etc in acceptable price range. One of the popular item here is their Volcano Ramen (Torikotsu Kazan Ramen) which uses hot stone pot to serve the ramen and you get to witness the sizzling effect of hot Ramen soup pour into the hot stone in front of you.

The unique way of serving Torikotsu Kazan Ramen (RM 32) in a hot stone pot helps to retain the optimum temperature and make it desirable to enjoy. Usage of creamy spicy broth enhanced the dining experience, as it offers both hotness and heat components that stimulate the taste buds. Take your time and do not rush when enjoying the ramen.

Opt for Shoyu Ramen (RM 22) if you prefer a less spicy version of Ramen but you will miss out the opportunity to witness the "volcano eruption" when Torikotsu Kazan Ramen is served.

On top of that, we also tried their Tori Katsu Don (RM 23). It is served with generous quantity of breaded deep fried chicken (about 8-9 large pieces), along with onion and egg in a rice bowl. Seasoning was done alright and an additional spoonful of shoyu or teriyaki sauce would have make this bowl of don enjoyable.

There are plenty of small bites offered in Kitano and we tried their Yaki Gyoza (RM 16). The gyoza filling was generous with plenty of nicely minced meat but the skin was a tad soft. If it was fried to crispiness, it would have been a real bite to enjoy.

Regardless you are a person with a sweet tooth or not, you should not miss out their Kurogama Ice Cream (Black Sesame Ice Cream, RM 13/scoop). The taste was amazingly rich and scent of black sesame immediately occupies your oral environment right up to nostril even with the first tiny spoonful of the ice cream.

On the other hand, Matcha Ice Cream (RM 13) has a milder taste that suitable for those prefer a less sweet variant ice cream.

Kitano Japanese Restaurant also has 2 private rooms that allows you to dine with a sense of privacy.