My Very First Jogoya Experience

Posted by : foongpc | Monday, November 17, 2008 | Published in

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In my last post, I intended to blog about my dining experience at Jogoya but ended up blogging about art sculptures and Vietnamese oil paintings, of all things! I am not even good at art to begin with, but then to appreciate art, you don't have to be good at it, do you?

Anyway, let's get back to what I really wanted to blog about, and that's Jogoya buffet at Starhill. I know, countless bloggers have already blogged about this wonderful dining place. But that's them. Now it's my turn. Anyway, it's my first time in Jogoya so I really have to blog about it.

If you read my previous post, you would know that I and my friend went for some window shopping at Pavilion before we went to Jogoya. It's the natural thing to do as we had 2 hours of time to kill. Well, were we glad we did that because we were really hungry after all that walking in Pavilion! So when we reached Jogoya front entrance at about 5.30pm, we were all ready to eat! But you can't go in unless you pay first. That's right! You have to pay before eating. That's how it is with Jogoya.

Looking around, I was amazed at the amount of food and the varieties available. Although Jogoya is primarily known as a Japanese buffet restaurant, it actually offered much, much more. There were in fact so many choices of food, I was totally at a loss at what to eat!

Luckily my friend had eaten here before and she guided me around.

I started with the lobster salad, escargot, lobster and slices of abalones.



The lobster salad was delicious! I took a few more rounds of that later, but had to be careful not to over do it, because there were many more food waiting for me!

There's one drink that no one will miss in Jogoya and that is the coconut drink. It was so popular I could see that every table had at least one coconut on it.



As for me, I found that I could not stop drinking it! It was just so sweet, cooling and refreshing! My friend promised me that by the time the buffet ended, I would have drunk from at least 3 coconuts. And you know what, she was right. As it turned out, I took a total of 4 coconuts! I wish I could ta pau (take away) them and stock them in my fridge at home!

Next, I went for my favourite Japanese edamame beans, genki handroll, sushi and some Japanese vegetable mix.



Notice I took another round of the lobster salad (in between the edamame beans and genki handroll) in the photo above!

Oh, before I forget, there's this very tasty Chinese herbal soup I must tell you! I forgot to take a photo of it, but it was absolutely delicious! You know those nice soups with chicken, red dates, kei chee (gojiberries), yuk chuk and pak khei. Except for this one, I tasted a hint of ginseng in it as well! It was like those home made Chinese herbal soup that you would love to drink during those cold, wet rainy days.

Next, I went for the lamb, garlic oyster and the crab otak-otak. I didn't quite like the otak-otak, though.



Then I had some satay, crab, prawn and unagi. Oh I love the unagi! I took lots and lots of unagi because I knew how expensive this meat was when I ordered ala carte at Japanese restaurants!



I did not forget about the sashimi of course. How could one forget about sashimi in a Japanese buffet? I love the raw fishes and the scallops!



If you notice, that's my second round of edamame beans ( I just love them!) and my third round of the lobster salad! And then there's the pei dan or century egg with slices of pickled ginger.

Sorry some of the photos did not turn out well here. I guess the environment was a little dim and it was a bit tricky to take photos using my Sony Ericsson C902 handphone as it does not work very well in dim lightings.

Oh, if you love wine, then I have got good news for you! Here in Jogoya, you can have unlimited, free flow of red wine and other types of alcoholic drinks! Some may say these are cheap wines, but I don't really bother too much as I'm not an expert at drinking wines!

Although I am not that much of a drinker, I still helped myself to a glass of red wine and a glass of mai tai. I also drank this drink called African Coffee - I really do not know if it's just coffee or it was another alcoholic drink as I tasted a hint of alcohol in it.



That's the mai tai beside the red wine. It tasted a little bitter at first, but I gradually found it to be very smooth and nice! Expert wine drinkers may scoff at my praises, but you would have to excuse me as I am very much an amateur when it comes to wine.

As I am not a drinker, I can get drunk easily. Normally before I get drunk, I would feel hot inside my body. Surprisingly, after drinking 3 different types of alcoholic drinks, I did not even feel hot! Could it be that I am getting better at drinking?

Perhaps it was the coconuts that helped cool me down?

Or perhaps it was these guilingao or tortoise jelly that I took?



The black coloured balls are the guilingao and the brownish ball next to them is actually green tea jelly. For the uninitiated, the guilingao is slightly bitter in taste and is dipped in honey to make it more palatable.

At Jogoya, you can eat unlimited amount of these guilingao, which I did! Some say the authentic ones are made from tortoise shell, hence the name tortoise jelly but I really don't know if that's true. Anyway, it helps to detoxify and is especially good for the skin. Perhaps because of its detoxyfing attributes, I managed to drink those alcoholic drinks without getting drunk.

Or was it the combination of coconut and tortoise jelly that did it? In any case, that's a weird combination! But who knows, this might just be the solution to cure those hangovers after a night of drinking!

By the way, I found that the red wine paired very nicely with fruits!



There were lots of nice desserts to choose from and I was spoilt for choice. First, I had these cakes which I shared with my friend.



Then, we had the tiramisu and the pumpkin panna cotta. No, this has nothing to do with terra cotta from China. The panna cotta is actually an Italian dessert made by simmering together milk, cream and sugar and mixing this with gelatin, then letting it cool until set.



The one on the left is the tiramisu and on the right is the pumpkin panna cotta. Both tasted delicious, but the pumpkin was my absolute favourite! I went for a few more rounds of it!

And what is a buffet without ice cream, right? But in Jogoya it's not just any ice creams. No, it's Haagen-Dazs ice creams! The famous expensive brand of ice cream is yours for the taking, in unlimited amounts!



I mixed some grapes with the ice cream. It was really nice! Look, there were just two of us, and I took three bowls! Well, I could have taken more if not for the long queue at the ice cream counter.

That taught me one thing, so here's a piece of advice. The next time you go Jogoya, take the Haagen-Dazs ice cream earlier. Most people would eat ice cream last as desserts at the end of their meals, so there would be a lot of people queuing for it. Eat it earlier and you can avoid the queue!

There were some dishes that needed to be cooked. Jogoya has a very effective system for this. They provide 3 metal clips on every table and all you need to do is to drop the metal clips with your table number on the plate of the dish you wanted to the chefs. They will then deliver to your table once the food is ready. Isn't that brilliant!



I ordered the stingray and salmon to be cooked using these metal clips. But I forgot to take pictures of them! Anyway, they were really good!

I don't think I have tried everything there is to eat in Jogoya. There were simply too many choices, too many varieties!

The dinner was supposed to end at 9.30pm and we diners were supposed to leave to make way for those coming in for the supper buffet scheduled to start at 9.40pm and end at midnight. But guess what? I and my friend did not leave. We sat there chit chatting and as midnight drew closer, we even took a few more rounds of food! No one asked us to leave, so why bother!

Time really flies when you are enjoying yourself, doesn't it? When my friend looked at her watch and saw that it's almost 11.30pm, we thought we had better make our move. My goodness, only after we left did we realise we were in Jogoya for 6 hours! Did we make the money we paid worth its full value or what!

The bill might be a tad expensive at RM101.20 per person, but if I were to eat all those food I ate ala carte, I believe it would cost me much more than that! So in a way, it was not really that expensive after all! Imagine the free flow of wine, unlimited bowls of Haagen-Dazs ice creams, those lobsters, abalones, and I have not even mentioned oysters, although I have to say that the best, juiciest and biggest oysters I have eaten so far were at Lemon Garden Cafe in Shangri-La Hotel in KL.

Currently, there's a promotion of 50% discount for ladies only till 19th December 2008. This offer applies to all day long buffet from Mondays to Thursdays, and lunch and late lunch on Fridays. Now this is what I call sex discrimination! How come men don't get to enjoy the 50% discount?

If the management thinks that men eat more than women, they are wrong! Some women eat a lot, more than men! Not only that, they choose the most expensive foods and eat lots of them!

Now, since they don't check your IC, if I can do a Mrs Doubtfire, I may just take advantage of this promotion! Now anyone wants to help me transform?

(36) Comments

  1. Anonymous

    Wow...you sure ate alot my fren! Hahha...now for some exercise?? Jogoya seemed like a Japanese fusion restaurant isn't? I see they have thrown in Msian and Chinese style dishes as well.

    November 17, 2008 at 9:00 AM
  2. Nick Phillips (15/03/1967 - 04/11/2022) said...

    Wow, RM!100 plus per person? Too expensive for my wallet. I'm more the chicken rice kinda guy ... hehehe ...

    But the food look pretty yummy :D

    November 17, 2008 at 9:03 AM
  3. Anonymous

    I haven't got a chance to have Jogoya yet.

    November 17, 2008 at 12:11 PM
  4. Lisa said...

    I went there too, didnt eat much as i was not very hungry but just need to bring a fren who came down from aus to visit jogoya..

    food is good price is bad lolx!

    November 17, 2008 at 12:26 PM
  5. day-dreamer said...

    Hahaha~ so you finally went. Seems like they served more food the time you went than when I went. But it's really worth it right?

    Sighz the 50% discount is soooooooooooooooooooooooo tempting! >.<

    p/s. The word verification reads 'peter'. LOL!

    November 17, 2008 at 12:44 PM
  6. Monica said...

    The food looks so tempting..I can't wait to go and try! :-D

    November 17, 2008 at 1:13 PM
  7. lina said...

    50% eh? Might just be tempted to go there since I'm on leave on Dec 2. Hehehe

    Wah! Eat for 6 hours meh... If it's me, sure cannot walk already. :D

    November 17, 2008 at 1:39 PM
  8. Anonymous

    No offense, the photos are really bad. lol... Anyway, Jogoya is considered the best buffet restaurant in Malaysia. I definitely going to eat there soon!

    November 17, 2008 at 2:30 PM
  9. foongpc said...

    my bug life, yes, I ate a lot! At that kind of price, must eat more lah! : ) Yes, Jogoya not purely Japanese, also have Chinese food.

    nick phillips, yes it's quite expensive but you must try it at least once! It's only worth it if you are a big eater like me. LOL!

    keeyit, go and try it now especially during the 50% promotion for ladies!

    November 17, 2008 at 2:48 PM
  10. foongpc said...

    lisa, agree food is good, price is bad. But such a waste to go there when you are not hungry! : )

    day-dreamer, oh really? They have more food now? From what I heard, they actually have less food compared to last time, so I don't know which is right. Yeah, better go now with the 50% discount! : )

    monica, go and try! Don't miss this 50% discount only for a limited time! : )

    November 17, 2008 at 2:52 PM
  11. foongpc said...

    lina, actually I could not walk that's why refused to leave and sat there till almost midnight! LOL

    horizon, have to admit the photos are bad. Well, what to do when I only use a handphone camera, not an actual camera? I agree Jogoya is the best buffet restaurant I've ever been to! That's the reason for its expensive price tag, I guess : )

    November 17, 2008 at 2:56 PM
  12. Angie Tan said...

    If I could go to Jogoya, I will stuff myself with just sashimi... salmon, tuna, salmon belly, tuna belly... MUAHAAHAA...

    I think sashimi alone can cover about 40% of the cost. Kekekee...

    I used to be a big fan of the Shogun Japanese buffet but after a couple of times, I got sick of it.

    November 17, 2008 at 5:53 PM
  13. Anonymous

    Foong, you are the man when it comes to buffets since you make it all worth it. LOL It seems there are a lot of good buffets in your city. I love Haagen Dazs, you should try the flavor Dulce de Leche. It is heaven!

    November 17, 2008 at 6:26 PM
  14. Bengbeng said...

    101 is not expensive for food like that. makes my mouth water jus to see the pics. got lobsters some more

    November 17, 2008 at 7:14 PM
  15. foongpc said...

    angie tan, then you must go to Jogoya cos you can eat unlimited sashimi. And if you can eat a lot, the price is worth it! Btw, I think Shogun is one of the worst Japanese buffet in town. Jogoya is 100 X better, I guarantee! : )

    November 17, 2008 at 9:49 PM
  16. foongpc said...

    babette, oh yes there's lots of good buffets here, and you can be sure that Jogoya is not my last! Haha! I've never tried Dulce de Leche flavour before. Must try it! Thanks! : )

    November 17, 2008 at 9:52 PM
  17. foongpc said...

    bengbeng, yes actually the price is not expensive if you eat the expensive stuffs. If you ever come to KL, remember to try Jogoya. But then it may spoil your slimming down plan! : )

    November 17, 2008 at 9:52 PM
  18. joshua said...

    Jogoya's good but me likey Kampachi Sunday buffets more (wonder if they still do it?)

    Grr, your post is making me crave for more! Haha

    November 17, 2008 at 11:29 PM
  19. Faisal Admar said...

    is that really a lobster?
    they are mouth watering and i haven't eaten. starving!

    November 18, 2008 at 12:27 AM
  20. foongpc said...

    joshua, I haven't been to Kampachi though I've heard of it many times before! Is it better than Jogoya?

    faisal admar, yes it's really a lobster though don't expect a huge lobster : )

    November 18, 2008 at 12:41 AM
  21. Anonymous

    Ooo...how you torture me! Now to make amends, you MUST take me there if ever I go to KL!! Ok or not? LOL!!!

    November 18, 2008 at 8:25 AM
  22. eiling lim said...

    Hhaha...what a detailed experience at Jogoya! Good work. You certainly ate more than what you paid for.

    November 18, 2008 at 9:37 AM
  23. Victor Kiu said...

    RM100 per person? *woot*
    Can i "dapou"?? Haha.. I don't think i can eat until RM100..

    November 18, 2008 at 10:28 AM
  24. HEALTH NUT WANNABEE MOM said...

    I learned a lot about foods here! I want to come visit just to go to the buffet and have the coconut drink!

    November 18, 2008 at 11:22 AM
  25. Anonymous

    wah so much u ate? :P

    i had it there once too, i think i drank 3 coconuts! and i love the baked oysters there and prawn tempura

    November 18, 2008 at 11:25 AM
  26. HappySurfer said...

    I haven't been to this restaurant but looks like there's lots to eat and you did a great job on your post, Foong. Thanks for sharing.

    November 18, 2008 at 1:50 PM
  27. foongpc said...

    suituapui, sure no problem. Let me know when you come to KL : )

    eiling, thanks! Gotta make my money well spent! : )

    victor kiu, you so small eater, meh? Yes, you can eat till RM100 - just eat all the expensive stuffs and you will definitely hit RM100 : )

    November 18, 2008 at 3:41 PM
  28. foongpc said...

    health nut wannabee mom, oh I'm sure you'll love the food here! Come to Malaysia for your next holiday! We have beaches as good as Costa Rica : )

    xin, oh yes, the baked oysters were great! I didn't really try the prawn tempura, though. Too much variety - could not try all!! : )

    happysurfer, if you haven't try, don't wait! Take advantage of the 50% discount now! I really think Jogoya is one of the best, if not the best buffet I've ever eaten. You won't regret it! : )

    November 18, 2008 at 3:46 PM
  29. Anonymous

    wow! u sure have your money worth it! i always felt very full after buffet and uneasy for a couple of hours! thats y i avoid buffet now :D

    November 18, 2008 at 8:12 PM
  30. Pete said...

    Wah, u sure can eat a lot lorr. The crab otak-otak sounds interesting. Maybe I will try out the recipe!

    November 19, 2008 at 12:26 AM
  31. foongpc said...

    carrot, I guess as we get older, our metabolism and digestion slows down, so we won't be able to eat as much as when we were younger. That's why I take every opportunity to eat all the buffets I can eat, cos the time will come when I won't be able to eat that much anymore! : )

    pete, wah! You are such a good cook, always coming up with your own recipe! : )

    November 19, 2008 at 1:39 AM
  32. levian said...

    i want the unagi! 6 hours, you've got quite an amazing tank there. *drools big time* :p

    November 19, 2008 at 8:24 AM
  33. TZ said...

    I didn't see any raw fishes and sushi in the picture ??? so you don't like the raw stuff???

    Anyway, i'm TZ and dropped by via Life Happening's.

    November 19, 2008 at 10:55 AM
  34. foongpc said...

    levian, go Jogoya and take advantage of the 50% discount and you can have unlimited unagi : )

    tz, thanks for dropping by! Yes, I like the raw stuffs. If you look carefully, I have one photo with the raw fishes and sashimi : )

    November 20, 2008 at 2:17 AM
  35. Tekkaus said...

    Rm100 for all you ate. It was more than worth it huh! Perhaps I should go fasting for 1 a few days before really stuffing all those yummy foods. The coconut drink u mentioned sounds delicious!

    November 24, 2008 at 9:21 AM
  36. foongpc said...

    tekkaus, yes the coconut drink is really delicious and even addictive. I could not stop drinking it! Next time if you ever come to KL, don't miss Jogoya. I personally think it's the best buffet in town! : )

    November 24, 2008 at 1:02 PM