Authentic Japanese cuisine amid the discreet ambience of Fincch Sushi Room. (Photo: Fincch Sushi Room)
The latest addition to the many dining options at the Medan Damansara neighbourhood is a Japanese restaurant called Fincch Sushi Room. Named after a songbird by the owner’s teenage son, it is also inspired by the youngster’s passion for the culinary arts. Despite the large number of Japanese restaurants in Kuala Lumpur, those serving authentic and satisfying dishes are few and far between, and Fincch occupies the sweet spot where originality and gourmet dining meet.
Its exterior is minimalistic — a black signboard on a white wall indicates its presence, while a sliding door opens to reveal an equally spartan interior. Inside, every table has a view of the chef at work but if you prefer sitting closer to him, the marble countertop is an option too. The space is predominantly black and red and void of decoration, save for a few framed koi paintings. For those who seek a more intimate setting, a private room is available as well. As at the time of our visit, we were told that a minimum spending requirement had yet to be enforced.
A pair of decorative colourful birds perch behind chef Machi Lai, who looks up from his delicate slicing and dicing to welcome us. Now, some may remember Lai from his decades of experience at restaurants such as Fukuharu at Ampang’s Terrace Hock Choon and Yuzen at Emerald Plaza in Damansara Perdana. Staying true to the culinary style he has become known for, Lai continues to serve authentic Japanese cuisine with no elements of fusion — something purists are bound to appreciate.
We start our meal with Fincch Sushi Mori (RM158) comprising 10 pieces of premium raw fish sushi — chutoro, otoro, akami, hotate, aji, ika, salmon, kampachi and hirame — selected by the chef. He recommends that the platter be consumed within 20 minutes of being served to ensure optimum freshness of the fish, which we learn arrive at Fincch twice a week — on Tuesdays and Fridays. Seeing that it is sourced directly from Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market — through one of its stakeholders Andy Tan, the man behind Sui-San Fish Market and Sendo Ichi — diners can expect seafood of superior quality here.
You will soon discover that there are more ways than one to sample the fresh offerings at Fincch Sushi Room. Besides the variety of sushi, you can choose from 15 sashimi platters on the menu. Rather delighted by the uncompromising quality of the raw ingredients, we also sampled the Sashimi Don (RM68) and Shake (RM28), both of which did not disappoint. The Sashimi Don comes with slices of tomago and is topped with a helping of savoury, pop-in-your-mouth ikura. Other donburi options include Bara Chirashi Don (RM48), Shake Ikura Don (RM48), Unagi Don (RM45) and Ten Don (RM25).
The Uni (RM90 for 30g) is a decadent choice that can also be served on a bed of warm rice if requested. We recommend scooping up a sizeable amount of sea urchin along with bits of seaweed and sesame seeds for that bit of bite in every rich spoonful. The unique umami taste of the uni, coupled with flavours of the sea, leaves a hint of sweet creaminess that is bound to leave you craving for more. But alas, the menu is wide-ranging and there are many more dishes waiting to be explored.
We move on to the sushi roll section of the menu, opting for the Fincch Maki (RM30) — made using crab stick, cucumber, fried prawn, flying fish roe and avocado — which is a crowd pleaser. Next, we had the ebi tempura (RM35), a plate of juicy tiger prawns fried to perfection — light and crispy on the outside and succulent tenderness on the inside. A splurge-worthy dish would be the salt-grilled Wagyu Shioyaki (RM150), cooked to melt-in-your-mouth perfection with clear marbling on display.
The dessert menu, while limited — matcha, goma or yuzu flavours of ice cream (RM10 per scoop) or seasonal fruits — present safe options to end the meal on a sweet note. I find green tea to be a great way to wash down a big meal but there is also a selection of sake, wines and Japanese whiskies that you may choose from to accompany your meal. If you prefer to sample small portions of the offerings at Fincch, tapas servings (accompanied by three sake varieties) are available every Thursday. Alternatively, if you find yourself in the lounge of neighbouring restaurant Mezze and craving some Japanese delights, ask the friendly staff about the small plates that can be brought upstairs to you.
The fresh seafood, attentive service and display of Lai’s expertise gained over two decades present compelling reasons for me to visit again. The dining experience saw us leaving the restaurant with a song in our heart — the result of a good meal perhaps akin to the soulful songbird it is named after.
Fincch Sushi Room, 134 Jalan Kasah, Medan Damansara, KL. 03 2011 6611. Mon-Sat, 11.30am-2.30pm; 5.30-11pm. All Options food reviews are done incognito. This article appeared on May 7, 2018 in The Edge Malaysia.
