Hachiban Izakaya, more than just a typical Japanese pub

Hachiban Izakaya © Adrian Cheah

Located at Jalan Kelawai, Hachiban Izakaya serves more than just sake and pub grub. "Hachiban" means "No. 8" and "Izakaya" stands for a casual venue to chill out after work for drinks, similar to that of an Irish pub or a Spanish tapas bar.

Hachiban Izakaya © Adrian Cheah

The beautiful deco is well lit with a huge centrepiece of a red giant octopus enjoying a bowl of ramen. Unlike Hokusai's tentacle erotica, this illustration unfolds a more playful drama.

Hachiban Izakaya © Adrian Cheah

Hachiban Izakaya © Adrian Cheah

Surprisingly, there is almost everything on the menu – sashimi (some items are even air-flown from Japan), sushi, yakimono (grilled/pan-fried dishes), kushiyaki (poultry and non-poultry items, skewered and grilled), tempura, ramen, soba, desserts and sake – all that you would ever want in a typical Japanese restaurant. Value-for-money set lunches are available as well.

Hachiban Izakaya © Adrian Cheah

To whet the appetite, order a petite serving of seasoned jellyfish and baby octopus, topped with toasted sesame seeds.

Hachiban Izakaya © Adrian Cheah

Continue with slices of lightly seared scallops, topped generously with a truffle dressing. The decadent dressing draws out the sweetness of the scallops, making it an enjoyable entrée.

Hachiban Izakaya © Adrian Cheah

If the taste of raw scallop is not to your liking, opt for fresh salmon. Also lightly seared, the salmon slices are topped with the same truffle dressing – an equally scrumptious offering!

Hachiban Izakaya © Adrian Cheah

To further enhance the Japanese dining experience, order the national beverage of Japan – sake. Sake is a refined beverage with a rich history, complementing Japanese cuisine perfectly. Most premium sake is delicate, fragrant and elegant. It is best to avoid heating it up as it would alter the delicate flavours and fragrances the brewer worked very hard to achieve. Enjoy every sip with pure indulgence!

Hachiban Izakaya © Adrian Cheah

If you are a sushi fan, order a serving of the alligator roll. The sushi encases fresh salmon and cucumber strips, topped with thin slices of avocado and crispy garlic chips. This reminds me of the dragon roll with deep-fried jumbo prawns available at Miraku in G Hotel. I much prefer the latter as the texture and flavour of the prawns add more depth to the sushi, contrasting it well against the creamy, smooth texture of the avocado.

Hachiban Izakaya © Adrian Cheah

I love oysters and the golden deep-fried, breaded oysters are divine. They are crunchy on the outside, creamy and velvety smooth on the inside. Savour them with a dipping sauce served on the side. I highly recommend this delectable dish.

Hachiban Izakaya © Adrian Cheah

For the grilled skewed items, a good option is to go with kushiyaki omakase as it has a variety of items.

Also order a serving of the tender and deliciously grilled whole squid, smothered with a sauce that is unfortunately a tad too sweet for my palate. In future, I would ask the chef to serve the sauce on the side so that I can personally decide on the amount that goes onto the dish.

Hachiban Izakaya © Adrian Cheah

You might want to consider ordering the stir-fried bean sprouts with slices of smoked duck and eggs. This dish has an aromatic smoky flavour. In Chinese cooking, this is called "wok hei" or the "breath of the wok".

Another dish to add to your list of must-try items is the sizzling Spanish Iberico pork. Served on a hot plate, the pork slices are seasoned with a sweet Yakiniku sauce (Japanese barbecue sauce).

Hachiban Izakaya © Adrian Cheah

The short-neck clam stew, cooked with an assortment of mushrooms is served in a foil-shaped bowl placed over a hot plate. It would have taken a long time for the soup to heat up and cook the raw mushrooms. At home, I would avoid the use of aluminium foil in cooking and would encourage the chef to use a clay or earthen pot instead.

Hachiban Izakaya © Adrian Cheah

Hachiban Izakaya © Adrian Cheah

I have been back to Hachiban Izakaya with family and friends for meals many times over, sometimes for birthday celebrations and gatherings. Service is always good and I am looking forward to my next Japanese meal there.

"Kampai!"

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Hachiban Izakaya © Adrian Cheah

13 July 2020: Many thanks, Dato' Seri Kenny Ooi and Ms Cindy Lee, for the wonderful Japanese treat. We had such a scrumptious spread and I hope all of Dorothy's birthday wishes will come true. Happy birthday my dear Dorothy!

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Written and photographed by Adrian Cheah
© All rights reserved
28 February 2022

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Hachiban Izakaya 
Level 1, 32, Jalan Kelawei, 10250, George Town, Penang.
T: +6016 617 8228
Open: Mon – Thurs: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 6 pm –10:30 pm; Fri –Sun and public holidays: 11:30 am – 10:30 pm.