The new chef at the Marriot's Asuka restaurant, Masami Okamoto, says most Japanese food in Jakarta tastes a tad heavier in seasonings than traditional Japanese food.

The former Japanese Embassy chef wants to return the authentic taste of Japan to Jakarta.

"Indonesians like their Japanese food a little bit sweeter and saltier," said the 37-year-old Hokkaido native during The Jakarta Post's recent visit to the Asuka.

"The sauce here is a little bit less sweet now. And the food has become healthier," said an Asuka employee. Besides its regular dining, Asuka has added a spark to the city's usual continental and Western brunch scene.

The Japanese brunch, available every Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., consists of several distinct Japanese dishes spread over three "live station" rooms: the sushi bar, robatayaki (grill) bar and teppanyaki and sukiyaki room.

If you like an alcoholic beverage with your food, Asuka offers the Beni di Batasiolo Pinot Chardonnay, which elevates the elegant flavor of most Japanese cuisine. Both red and white wines are also available.

People usually kick-start their journey with a visit to the sushi bar. Asuka makes one of the best, if not the best, spicy tuna rolls in town. The bar also offers sushi rolls, California maki and tempura rolls in addition to the standard sashimi and sushi such as tuna, salmon, squid, prawn and mackerel.

If you are not up for raw fish, there are assorted appetizers and salads, such as cawan mushi (egg custard), edamame and idako (marinated baby octopus). The best is the seaweed salad, which comes in a small shot glass, and the fresh oysters.

The robatayaki room has a great selection of ingredients of fish, meat, chicken and assorted vegetables for grilling. Try the saba (mackerel) with the special sauce, gyukushi (tenderloin beef) and the sublime yakitori (chicken skewer).

My only grudge with the robatayaki bar are the absence of beef tongue and the quality of the chicken wings, which could be improved.

The teppaniyaki room, which is basically a live cooking station of raw items over a frying pan, surprised me with its fine selection of lamb and rib eye beef and mixed mushrooms.

Apart from the live stations, guests may also order items such as broiled dish, deep-fried dish, udon and soba noodles. A special item is the tori karaage (deep-fried chicken in ginger), cooked close to perfection.

Leave room for dessert, as you can choose between various flavors of Haagen-Dazs ice cream, chocolate praline, pastry cakes and seasonal fresh fruits.

The price for the Japanese Brunch is Rp 285,000++ per person or Rp 385,000++ including alcoholic drinks.

Asuka Japanese Dining at the JW Marriott Jakarta

Phone 5798-8888

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