This ivory-white space beside PJ's Awesome Canteen may look forlorn & forsaken for now, but before the end of this week, expect to see some customers strolling in & out for bowls of ramen & rice - this Prologue is future to Awesome Canteen's past.
We're previewing Prologue by introducing Jack Weldie, one of the nicest chefs we've met this year - Jack's the main man in the kitchen of Prologue, a Japanese-focused spin-off of Awesome Canteen. Originally from Tuaran in Sabah, the 28-year-old moved to peninsular Malaysia more than a decade ago & worked hard to hone his craft in various Japanese restaurants, from Shun & Tomoe in Subang to the now-closed Ninja Jones in Mid Valley.
Jack & his younger brother Renny, a chef too, haven't finalised Prologue's menu (Jack says they're short-handed & hope to secure more crew members) but look out for potentially up to seven types of (strictly non-halal) ramen recipes in everything from tonkotsu to fish broth, plus familiar fare like donburi, tori karaage & agedashi tofu - with little twists to keep the restaurant distinctive - served in a setting that's likely to be as leafy as Awesome Canteen's. Brace to hear more about Prologue in the weeks to come; Awesome Canteen was a fab place even on its first evening, so we have our fingers crossed for Prologue.
While waiting for Prologue to open, there's time to check out another new Japanese joint: Desa Sri Hartamas' Kisyu Ramen.
Kisyu specialises in ramen, with varieties like curry ramen, garlic ramen & butter-&-corn ramen (mostly RM22+ to RM24+). There is also Maze-Soba, a ramen preparation that's served hot & dry with bean sprouts, pork belly slices & minced meat, meant to be mixed together before being eaten. Slick & savoury, absolutely addictive; RM19.80+.
Looking like a bowl of bee hoon, these 'yam noodles' supply a crisp counterpoint to the creamy raw egg they're immersed in. RM8+; Kisyu seems to have a solid claim to authenticity, judging from its exclusively Japanese clientele on a recent evening.
Protein-powered pleasure: Roast pork, thin but tender, partnered with an onsen egg. RM12+; tasty enough for us to contemplate returning to check out the remainder of the menu - lots of kushikatsu & yakitori, rice bowls, & no lack of fried fare.
For dessert, skip the regular green tea ice cream & snack on the fried sweet potatoes with a honey-butter dip. RM11.80+.
Dry, crisp sake starts from RM35+ for this serving that should suffice - barely - for two people for, say, twenty minutes.
Prologue by Awesome Canteen
17, Jalan 20/13, Taman Paramount, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Kisyu Ramen
32, Jalan 30/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-6201-8866
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