Piripara Izakaya Puchong Dinner

There is something reassuring about returning to a familiar Japanese spot after a name change and finding that the kitchen still knows exactly what it is doing. Piripara Izakaya in Bandar Puchong Jaya, formerly known as Tokuya, may have taken on a new name, but the same operators are still here, and the food remains as dependable as before.

The meal started with the Toku Sashimi Moriawase, a five-kind sashimi platter served in three pieces each. It came out looking fresh and generous, with salmon, tuna, scallop and other cuts arranged neatly over ice. The slices had good colour and enough thickness to make the platter feel satisfying rather than tokenistic. At RM100, it was not a cheap starter, but for three pax, it worked well as a shared opening dish. The vegetable skewers also helped balance the meal. The shiitake had good smokiness, the okura was clean and lightly charred, while the mini tomatoes added a juicy pop between the richer items. These are the small side orders that make an izakaya meal feel more rounded.

The Hamachi Belly Sushi was another pleasant part of the meal. The rice held together nicely and the fish had that fattier, fuller bite that makes hamachi belly enjoyable. It was simple, clean and easy to appreciate.

The skewers were where Piripara Izakaya really reminded me why this place is still worth visiting.

The Premium Ox Tongue was excellent, with a satisfying chew and savoury grilled aroma.

The A5 Wagyu skewer was even better, rich without being too heavy, with enough char and fat to make each piece feel properly indulgent. At RM25 for the A5 Wagyu and RM15 for the ox tongue, both felt very acceptable for what was served.

The garlic fried rice with prawn was still as excellent as I remembered it. It had that comforting Japanese fried rice quality, with glossy grains, egg, bits of vegetable and prawn folded through the bowl. The garlic was present without overwhelming the dish, giving it enough fragrance to make it one of the most satisfying plates of the night.

We also had the abura soba, which added a heavier noodle option to the table, and the spicy fried renkon was a good snack to keep picking at. The lotus root slices were crisp, lightly seasoned and enjoyable in that very addictive way.

Fried Renkon

Waffle Ice Cream

Overall, Piripara Izakaya feels like the same trusted Japanese eatery under a new name. The food remains good, the grilling is still strong, and the pricing is reasonable enough for the quality of the beef skewers and the comfort of the rice dishes.