Fukuniku: Japanese hamburger served on warm Japanese rice with delicious side dishes
If you’re as fond of Japanese cuisine as I am and have a deep appreciation for the exquisite flavours of Japan, then I’ve got a delightful recommendation for you! Look no further than Fukuniku located in Bangsar South.
Open from 10am to 10pm daily, Fukuniku is tucked away in South Link. The restaurant is the only eatery on that floor, aside from a pharmacy and a number of shop lots under renovation. Despite that, when I visited, the small restaurant was packed with office workers grabbing their lunch.
The clamour emanating from the open kitchen, where hamburger patties were being expertly shaped and drinks meticulously prepared, along with the distinctive conversations among patrons, filled the otherwise serene building. Although it was only 12pm, a line of hungry office workers quickly formed in front of the small restaurant. We waited about 20 minutes to get a table.
What I tried at Fukuniku
The waiter quickly explained the menu to us, but sadly, the Ochazuke (Japanese green tea over rice) was already sold out. I was eyeing that! Moving on, I decided to give the Signature Beef Donburi Lunch Set (RM28.90) a go. It included a beef Donburi (Japanese hamburger patty served on warm Japanese rice) with an onsen egg, miso soup, and a side dish of chuka wakame, which is a seasoned seaweed salad.
Upon first glance, the dish looked absolutely delicious, setting my culinary expectations quite high. Having said that, it turned out to be a letdown. The beef patty turned out to be slightly dry upon my first bite. Mixing the grated radish and onsen egg with the rice and patty slightly improved the texture, but the beef still lacked the rich umami flavour I was hoping for. It was decent but not as flavourful as the hambagu I’ve had in Tokyo.
The miso soup was good, with the classic umami taste, but it could have been served hotter. It had a decent amount of seaweed and tofu in the small bowl. On the other hand, the chuka wakame was a standout in the meal, offering a delightful mix of crunchy and chewy textures with a great balance of sweet and salty flavours.
My colleague, Alice, ordered the Pork Citrus Donburi (RM16.90) and opted for the yuzu kosho. Yuzu kosho is a Japanese condiment or sauce created by fermenting fresh chillies (usually green or red Thai or bird’s eye chillies) with salt, along with zest and juice from yuzu, a tangy and aromatic citrus fruit found in East Asia. She mentioned that the pork was slightly overcooked, resulting in a tender yet somewhat mushy texture. Despite this, she still devoured the dish.
Thankfully, the yuzu kosho added a delightful citrusy twist, complementing Fukuniku’s savoury homemade sauce exceptionally well. Alice also shared that she found the sweet turnip pieces within the pork patty to be a pleasant surprise, introducing an enjoyable twist to the dish.
Final thoughts
In summary, dining at Fukuniku was a delightful experience. I would return for the opportunity to try their Ochazuke or explore another Donburi option from their menu. Although their hamburger patties are slightly overcooked, the dish in its entirety is worth trying.
I would say the dishes at Fukuniku are slightly on the pricey side (it’s located in Bangsar, so it’s not very surprising). But it’s accessible by LRT and the building has decent parking, so 2 thumbs up for the location.
It’s also worth noting that the restaurant’s seating capacity is relatively limited, so I’d advise planning your visit during off-peak hours to ensure a more leisurely and relaxed dining experience, steering clear of the bustling lunchtime rush.
Expected damage: RM5 – RM30 per pax
The post Fukuniku: Japanese hamburger served on warm Japanese rice with delicious side dishes appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
