Blond wood, frosted glass, slate and stone dominate the sleek, modern interior featuring a discreet fusion of traditional and contemporary decorative Japanese elements. One of the earliest restaurants to open in Nexus Bangsar South, Edo Ichi has since carved its own niche among the office and residential crowd in the vicinity. The overall set-up is ideal for casual dining be it with friends, family or colleagues. Private dining rooms onsite accord greater privacy, for personal or corporate entertaining purpose.

The expansive a la carte menu leaves Japanese food lovers who want it all spoiled for choice. Whether it’s seasonal specialities, quintessential favourites or wallet-friendly deals, Edo Ichi has something for everyone. On-going promotional dishes and set meals are aplenty too.

A treasure trove of esoteric gems such as kawahagi mirin boshi (sweetish grilled semi-dried filefish) and oroshi sanshu moriawase (chopped tuna, grated radish and spring onion with sea urchin) beckons in the guise of tapasu (Japanese-style tapas).

When it comes to sashimi and sushi, the restaurant packs in enough variety to suit different budgets. Delve into the huge menu and you’ll discover distinct house specialities such as kaki toban miso yaki (deliciously plump baked oysters with miso and shimeji mushroom), chanko konabe (hot pot of seafood, beancurd, greens and assorted mushroom in shoyu-based stock) and tipple-friendly skewers of grilled meat, meatballs, seafood and vegetable. 

Familiar crowd-pleasers range from fresh sashimi (raw fish slices) to sushi moriawase (hand-pressed vinegared rice balls with seasonal seafood). Popular favourites like chawan mushi and tempura moriawase leave no room for complaints.

Besides matcha ice-cream, try the Edo Ichi tempura mochi (chewy deep-fried cubes of mochi in tempura batter) for a delightful closure to your meal.

Edo Ichi’s concise beverage list slants heavily towards sake, shochu and spirits instead of wine, understandably catering to the Japanese-centric menu. Shochu mixers are served by the glass as are two types of house sake. Creative cocktails, juices, soft drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages are also available to keep the general populace happy. Drinks prices are comparable to most independent restaurants of its ilk although wine by the bottle veers towards the high side.

The standard ‘irashaimase!’ welcome greeting decreases noticeably in volume and is evoked with less gusto when the wait staff have their hands full and seating nears full capacity. Senior team members can be relied on for menu suggestions and guidance on current promotions. The service team is generally helpful and efficient and they strive to ensure customers are attended to promptly. Be prepared for occasional delays during peak meal periods but the front-liners will appear contrite and profusely apologetic should anything untoward occurs.

Whether you’re dining alone or in a group, the ample menu choices are a boon, catering to different tastebuds and expectations. Set meals and promotional deals offer the budget-conscious great value for money while the seasonal and house specials may inflict slightly more financial damage.