Food Review - Genji (Hilton PJ)

Name

Genji, PJ Hilton

Food

Japanese (Halal)

Location/Address

2, Jalan Barat, PJ (one of the major T-junctions along the Federal Highway)

Getting There

The hotel is located prominently at one of the major T-Junctions along the Federal Highway, and is one of the major landmarks locals use to giver directions. You can't really miss it.

Parking

There are many parking choices for you either at the hotel itself or in the vicinity.

Service

As it is buffet, a different yardstick has to be used. The service would mainly be from the food counter staff and they are indeed friendly. Some of them are a big enough sport to even pose for your photos!

Ambience

The rustic decor, made from natural materials like wood and stone, conveys an air of repute & experience to the place. It brings a sense of history and diners will feel that this place has made a name for itself and you know it will be a good dining experience, but so well kept that it could contend with the latest Japanese fine-dining outlets.

Variety

You get practically the everything you would expect from a fine Japanese restaurant here. The variety includes:

- Sushi & Handrolls

- Sashimi

- Teppanyaki

- Tempura (Deep fried goodies =) )

- Soba, Udon & other noodles

- Green Tea Ice Cream, among other flavours

- Agedashi, Chawan-Mushi

- Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pancake/Pizza)

- Unagi (Eel)

- Grilled Salmon Head (Sake Kabuto Shioyaki)

- Grilled Pregnant Fish (Shishamo)

Taste

The sashimi and oysters are of course flown-in fresh. However, I do find myself preferring the pickled ginger from Sakae Sushi better than the ones I found here.

I especially liked the Chawan Mushi and Age Dashi there. Presented in dainty little porcelain bowls kept warm in the chaffing dishes.

Variety

I was pleasantly surprised that the Sashimi also included Sea-Bass, not commonly found in buffets, among the other usual line-up of Cod, Tuna & Salmon.

The only complaint was that during the day of my visit, they didn't have any soft-shell crabs =(.

VFM

Most of the Japanese restaurants of this or similar class/grade would have their buffets priced at about this range. In fact, some places, including Genji, have timed buffets. In Genji, the timed-buffet applies to their dinner buffet. Diners, pay a price and are given a fixed time to enjoy the food.

Overall

At RM89++, it is a little pricey. However, most Japanese buffets today are priced at this level. Besides, they offer the highest quality food there and diners know what to expect when they dine here.

Food Review - Toh Yuen @ Hilton PJ

Name

Toh Yuen @ Hilton PJ

FoodChinese Cuisine (Halal) Buffet
Location
PJ

Getting there
The Hilton PJ is a prominent landmark along the Federal Highway.

You won’t miss it while you travel along the Federal Highway in either direction. Toh Yuen is located on the 1st floor at the back of the hotel.

Parking
Lots of parking in and around the hotel. So, don’t fret.

Service

Service from the Hilton is top-notch, as is to be expected from a world-class hotel.

Ambience

The decor and lighting are very well done for a place that is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. The place is old, but even so, it has its loyal fan base of diners.

Take some time to savor the décor at the entrance of the restaurant. It featured some quaint and dainty little Chinese tea-pots and a bonsai. There is also a large (6 footer I believe) & brightly lit marine fish tank behind the Dim Sum & Noodle Counter. This will be a great attention grabber for the kids and ornamental fish enthusiasts.

TasteThe food served tastes great, as one can expect from the Hilton. The prawns used for the Dim Sum and Butter Fried Prawns were fresh and had that unmistakable “bounce & crunch” in the bite.

I usually have some degree of reservation when it comes to Halal Dim Sum but I must say, the food done here had removed my reservations.

PresentationThe place is quite compact as the space is limited.

Variety

The variety is quite good for the price paid but when you are looking at it from the Dim Sum Buffet angle, then it is a little disappointing because there are less than 8 types of steamed Dim Sum:

- Yue Gow (Fish Paste)
- Pau (Dumpling)
- Har Gow (Shrimp Dumpling)
- Siew Mai (Meat Dumpling)
- Jue Cheong Fun (Steamed Rice Noodles)
- Hor Yip Fan (Glutinous rice in lotus leaf)

They make up for it with the deep fried variety & non-Dim Sum items which include:
- Fu Jok Kuen (Deep Fried Bean-Curd Roll)
- Wu Kok (Yam Pastry)
- Nai Yow Har (Butter Fried Prawns)

They also serve Honey Sea Coconut & White Fungus and Longan & Almond Jelly drinks, Peking Roast Duck (A staple item, and the chef prepares them in front of the diners at the counter) plus some other non-Chinese items like vegetarian items, jellyfish, baby octupi, cakes and ice cream for dessert.

Value for MoneyAs far as Dim Sum Buffets go, this is not the cheapest, as there are many that offer Dim Sum Buffets for under RM30 per person. However, you do get good quality service, ambience and food.

Overall

Good food with good service at affordable prices. I will definitely be making a return visit.