Our go-to spot for thick, slick slices of sashimi in Langkawi, Unkaizan offers an authentic Japanese escapade, close to what one might experience in The Land of The Rising Sun: picture sitting cross-legged on a tatami mat while enjoying fresh seafood with no-fuss plating. Offering a good balance of Japanese cooking styles, from teppanyaki to torinabe (Japanese-style hot pot), the island restaurant also employs reliable service staff who inform you of the waiting times for à la minute orders. On this note, please be patient while waiting for your rice; the staple choice of carb in Japanese cuisine is not ready-made and scooped from a rice cooker but prepared from scratch. The alcoholic drinks list here might be eclipsed by the food menu, but doesn’t disappoint—a dry sake beautifully brings out the umami quality of Unkaizan’s crunchy seaweed salad.

IN THE KNOW

If raw fish doesn’t rub you the right way, have it deep-fried or grilled at Unkaizan—options are aplenty.