Asumo in SS15, Subang Jaya
Walking into Asumo in SS15 for the first time, and being handed a 10-page menu that sprawls over 15 categories, reminded us of our childhood visits to 7-Eleven. Everything looked tempting. But we had one goal here – trying dishes that not only delivered in flavour, but also captured the heart of this Japanese wagyu yakiniku spot.
Thankfully, Asumo saw the struggle coming. They’ve rolled out first-timer trial courses featuring Japanese wagyu, Australian beef, and five must-try sides, so patrons like us can skip the decision fatigue and dive straight into savouring a meal.
Read on to find out more about the trial course.
Food at Asumo
Let’s address the elephant in the room – you’ll be grilling the meat yourself over a Japanese charcoal grill using beef fat.
Asumo offers two choices: Australian Beef (from RM28/100g) marinated in their homemade sauce and halal Premium Japanese Wagyu (from RM95/100g). There’s everything from flap meat and rump to ribeye, tenderloin, and even beef tongue – various cuts to match your desired fat-to-lean ratio of meat.
These go well with sides such as assorted kimchi and veggies (RM20), salads (from RM12), seafood skewers (from RM12), ramen (RM27), and rice bowls (from RM21).
Asumo Trial Course
Available on weekdays for a minimum of two diners, the Asumo Trial Course comes in three options:
- RM100 per person for 100g of Australian beef
- RM130 per person for a mix of 50g each of Australian beef and Japanese wagyu
- RM180 per person for 100g of pure Japanese wagyu
Each set includes five sides that get switched up every month.
Don’t let the word “trial” mislead you. While the course was designed to help newcomers kickstart their yakiniku experience, you can still enjoy it as a returning customer.
The grills
The beef was good, with each piece buttery and juicy yet not overly fatty. The Japanese wagyu brought a more melt-on-the-tongue experience than the Australian beef, which was leaner.
Nevertheless, they both had enough heft to deliver a satisfying bite that reminded us of why we visited Asumo.
We also sampled the meat with a curated lineup of condiments: seasoned wasabi, green onion soy sauce, spicy leek sauce, plain salt, and Asumo’s signature sauce.
The marinated Australian beef, in particular, had a BBQ-like sweetness that matched well with the sharp punch of seasoned wasabi.
The sides
Wagyu Tendon Stew was like the best comfort food ever – the kind you want to have while you’re in your sweater and thick socks.
The tendons were braised till soft, that they required no more than a gentle bite to be torn apart. The broth spilled down the corner of our mouths, but we were too into the deep flavours to care. Our dirty chins could wait.
Garlic Rice arrived in a stone pot, not sizzling but very hot. It should promise a caramel-hue layer of scorched rice at the bottom. Sure enough, it delivered.
The scorched bits were crunchy and charred without stubbornly clinging to the pot like old wallpaper. With a quick mix, they joined the fluffy rice, fried garlic, and spring onions.
This dish leaned into aroma over bold flavour, all the better to complement the meat.
Kale Salad looked no different from a Christmas tree – a mound of kale drizzled in a creamy, mayo-like dressing and dotted with cherry tomatoes.
This would be our main – if not only – source of fibre in the meat-laden meal here. Ergo, we held onto it dearly. The taste was decent overall and would truly shine for mayonnaise enthusiasts.
Shrimp Tempura Hand-Rolled Sushi was the light bite we didn’t know we needed but was so glad we had. The shrimp tempura was well seasoned, and having it with the nori and rice created multiple textures in every bite.
Dessert was a well-made Matcha Parfait. We also enjoyed the various textures it offered, from the smooth matcha cream and chewy mochi to firm red beans and crunchy cornflakes.
The a la cartes
Wagyu Hamburg (RM15/pc) was unapologetically soft.
Biting into it felt like hugging a bolster – pure comfort. It was only lightly seasoned, letting the beefy taste speak for itself.
The Lemon Cold Noodle (RM18) is submerged in a cold dashi broth that borrows zestiness from the lemon slices on top. This was undoubtedly refreshing to slurp on, amidst all the hot dishes.
Matcha Tiramisu (RM16) is made for sharing, but worth a spoon fight. Unlike most versions out there that don’t incorporate red bean paste, Asumo’s rendition does, and we adored every bite.
The spongy ladyfingers also carried a nuanced vanilla note. Differing from the matcha parfait, this dessert left a bitter tea aftertaste in our mouth.
Ambience at Asumo
The open areas and private dining rooms at Asumo are each equipped with charcoal grills and smoke extractors.
The high cushioned dividers make the dining area feel private and cosy even with its open seating. They completely blocked our view of nearby diners, giving us a sense of personal space.
Enjoy quality meats and sides at Asumo in SS15
Some restaurants are worth a visit, but you often hesitate to go back, especially for premium spots like Asumo, thinking there could be another equally good option elsewhere.
But as we finished our meal, we asked ourselves: would we come back for this Yakiniku trial course? The answer was a resounding yes. The course includes everything from appetizers to desserts, all set in a comfortable environment. Most importantly, the food is reliably tasty. For us, it’s a solid value for the experience.
Address: No. 49 & 51, Jalan SS15/5A, SS15, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor
Opening hours: 11.30am-3pm & 5pm-11pm, Daily
Contact: 03-5611 5733 | Asumo Instagram
Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal Malaysia
Photography by Hans Leong.