KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 27 -- A little under three years ago, Sushinosuke, a Japanese casual omakase restaurant originating from Shinbashi - Tokyo's salaryman capital, teeming with izakaya and bars galore - debuted a Malaysian outpost at Pinnacle Petaling Jaya.

Armed with slick social media and none of the traditionally stiff omakase formality, its 20-course omakase menu won many over, with its RM388++ price tag proving compelling in a market where most omakase menus hover between RM500 and RM800. It was a hit.

In early 2025, they branched out with Kappa Kaisen Izakaya in Bukit Damansara, expanding beyond sushi to include classic grilled and fried izakaya fare.

Now, they've opened Penko Sushi & Grill Izakaya in the heart of Kuala Lumpur cit...