For Japanese-style char-grilled wagyu...

 

“Toramaru Wagyu Yakiniku restaurant, where premium quality, rigorously selected meat is meticulously hand-cut-in-store, adjusted to optimal thickness for each part and then char-grilled Japanese style.”

 

The centerpiece of a bar-counter inside
Toramaru Wagyu Yakiniku restaurant

This was what I learnt as I received the invitation for a dining experience at Toramaru so it will be ridiculous if I did not accept the invite to find out if all that was said is for real.

 

With a restaurant name that includes words like, ‘Wagyu’ and ‘Yakiniku’, it is clear that they serve premium Wagyu beef prepared in Japanese charcoal grilled-style.

 

Beef connoisseurs can attest to how Wagyu beef will literally melt-in-your-mouth due to its delicate marbling (Read: Intramuscular Fat) which has a lower melting point than the warmth in our mouths.

 

Facade of Toramaru Wagyu
Yakiniku restaurant in Johor Bahru

The restaurant is located in a familiar area and with its impressive façade that features the Toramaru logo, it was easy to spot. When we stepped indoors from the tropical sunshine, the cool and contemporary interior design that featured lots of wood in a cosy layout, bade my foodie friends and I, a very warm welcome.

 

While the others looked at the menu and admired the colour photographs of the servings, I looked around to discover a row of comfortable alcoves with relative privacy and the centerpiece of long bar-counter where diners may prepare their wagyu on electric grills.

 

I observed the staff serving charcoal grills to the tables and helping to set up under a sophisticated and strong ventilation system. With meat grilling going on over charcoal, the exhaust system will ensure that diners will have a comfortable dining experience without any discomfort and will leave not reeking of residual aromas.

 

A row of private alcoves for dining

My review of any restaurant always included a peep at the restrooms and I was suitably impressed to see that the toilet bowls here are equally sophisticated, reminiscent of the deluxe toilet bowls I experienced in Japan.

 

[No, I did not have to “go” so I cannot say if this plush toilet came with a trickling water tune to add to the toilet ambience to help diffuse any embarrassing noises.]

 

Back at the table, I was pleased that my friends had accepted the restaurant manager’s recommendation for our lunch and waited in eager anticipation of a delightful meal.

 

A swerving of Toramaru Special Platter

When the charcoal grill was set up at our table, a piece of beef lard served on a small plate was provided to melt over the heated grill to prevent grilling meat from sticking onto the hot grill.

 

The brand, Toramau was founded in Suzhou, China, with some 17 outlets opened in Shanghai. My friends who are familiar with Chinese television dramas, told me that this brand even made an appearance in a Chinese drama and that this outlet is its first flagship restaurant in Johor Bahru.

 

Wagyu slices and beef tongue being
grilled on the charcoal grill

By this time, I was more than curious to learn more about the restauranteur behind Toramaru here. Then I was introduced to a local partner who was pleased to share with me that three other partners were Johoreans while one was a Japanese based in Shanghai.

 

He said the Johoreans were schoolmates in Johor Bahru and when two were based in Suzhou for work, they met with the Japanese who also enjoyed food and was keen on a partnership in the Food & Beverage industry. As they all enjoyed dining at Toramaru in China, they decided to bring this brand to Johor.

 

Beef Sauce [Left] and a platter of
Special Marinated Raw Beef

This business partnership, in fact, started ahead of 2020 when a local chef was sent to Shanghai for on-the-job training. But due to the global pandemic and subsequent periods of lockdown, the restaurant opening in Johor Bahru was delayed.

 

After its soft-opening, since March 2025, Toramaru have been welcoming diners who enjoy good beef. To meet the tastes of discerning diners, the menu not only features grilled A5 Wagyu and seafood but also popular Korean specialties like Bibimbap and Seafood pancake.

 

A bowl of fresh lettuce with the
Toramaru Special Sauce Set
 

As the charcoal embers glowed brightly, we followed the instruction to rub that piece of lard across the heated grill to get it ready for grilling the meats.

 

Then wagyu slices in the Toramaru Special Platter, 220gm (RM158) were carefully arranged on the hot grill to be seared under watchful eyes.

 

While wagyu meat may be savoured to the diner’s choice of doneness, we left the slices of tongue from the platter of Signature Thinly-sliced Beef Tongue (RM68) to grill for a little longer.

 

When the Toramaru Special Sauce Set (One complimentary per person) was served, we could tell that this set comprised a Sesame Sauce (topped with a sprinkle of sesame seeds), Roasted Garlic Sauce (filled with chopped roasted garlic), Moon Sauce (topped with a fresh egg yolk) and a Spicy Sauce. Any additional order of sauce is priced at RM6 each.

 

This is the way to wrap the Special Marinated
Raw Beef with slivers of apple in seaweed sheet

A bowl of Fresh Lettuce (RM6) with carrot and cucumber sticks was also served for diners to use as a wrap for freshly grilled meats.

 

Then all eyes were riveted to the bowl of Beef Sauce (RM6) when it was served because this concoction continued to boil and bubble in its stone bowl.

 

Aptly called Beef Sauce, this is freshly created from a recipe of secret ingredients that included minced beef for diners to enjoy as a dip sauce for grilled meat or mixed with steamed white rice.

 

A serving of Karubi Soup

As the meats were being grilled, we turned our attention to their Special Marinated Raw Beef (RM42) served topped with a raw egg yolk along with a side of small sheets of seaweed and slivers of raw apple.

 

For a start, the raw egg yolk should be mixed into the marinated raw beef. A portion of this and slivers of raw apple should be wrapped in the seaweed sheet and then popped into the mouth to savour an interesting mix of tastes and textures.

 

Karubi or boneless short-rib, is one of the most popular cuts of beef that is tender and very juicy due to its marbling. So I was pleased to enjoy a serving of Karubi Soup (RM29) that tasted warm and comforting.

 

A serving of seafood pancake

To strike a balance with the meat in this meal, there was a crunchy and refreshing Mixed Vegetable Salad (RM16) and a Seafood Pancake (RM25) to share.

 

I was pleased to see that Toramaru also has a Lunch menu for diners who may opt for a quick meal of rice and noodles. We all agreed that this menu gave us another reason to return for yet another dining experience.

 

Toramaru Wagyu Yakiniku is located at No. 195, Jalan Sri Pelangi, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru. No Pork or Lard is used in this restaurant.

 

Open daily from 12pm to 2.30pm, 6pm to 11pm and closed on Tuesday. For reservations, Tel: +6010 6685 855.