Miyama Japanese Restaurant

Walking into Miyama today, suddenly brings back a flood of memories from my elementary school years. I remember caroling during Christmas time around the grounds of Hotel Borobudur with the school choir. We would visit the various F&B outlets and sing jolly festive songs to the guests. Back then, I could only watch wistfully while the guests ate their sumptuous meals before us...hell I would be happy as a clam if we even get a box of KFC for dinner! I never thought there would come a day when I finally get to dine at very same place, many years later...

Today, more than a decade since then (I'm still in my twenties, thank you!), either by luck or by chance, or simply God's will, I finally get to actually eat at the restaurants I used to carol at (we were kids, I didn't even like burger back then), Miyama Japanese Restaurant at Hotel Borobudur. This time, I'm back with Loki in arms, ready to capture every delectable moment I was about to have for dinner.

After walking past the maitre'd desk, you'll enter a large teppanyaki bar, which also, as I recalled, was sizzling and hissing heartily to our caroling songs as we sung to a group of patrons who were dining there. As we walk further in, there are more private tables and private tatami rooms, large enough to accommodate larger groups. Interior wise, while I can't really recall how it looked like back then, I could tell that Miyama still retains its classy charm.

The main dining area immediate to the main entrance of the restaurant is this large teppanyaki bar.

Guests could also choose to sit at the sushi bar and watch the chefs prepare the sushis live

We came to Miyama on a weekday evening for dinner and inside, the restaurant didn't see much activities going on. Later on (after the dinner) I'd found out that a large group was actually having some private event in one of the tatami rooms.

Some parts of the restaurant overlooks the manicured Japanese-themed lawn outside. 

Miyama has an extensive menu from the classics to seasonal ones with modern twists, I almost couldn't decide what to order! At the time of my visit, it so happens that there was Udon promotion ongoing, so I decided to give it a try with the Carbonara Udon, interesting hey?

The carbonara sauce didn't turn out quite as I expected with conventional pasta. It was rather lumpy and only very lightly seasoned and I didn't quite dig the combination with salmon. Would it have tasted better with bacon instead? Maybe yes, maybe not, either way, I'd pass the udon for the other dishes such as the Niku Soba Ramen instead. 

Carbonara Udon - Udon with Seafood in Carbonara Sauce IDR 238,000++

Left: Carbonara Udon
Right: Niku Soba Ramen - Vermicelli ramen noodles with rib-eye beef, onion, spring onion, beansprouts & light soba soup IDR 138,000++

On with some sushi and sashimi selection. Some of these are not found on the menu, but if you ask the staff / chef for something special or not on the menu, they could surely whip up something interesting like these sushis...

Unagi Crunch Maki IDR 88,000++

Left: Unagi Crunch Maki IDR 88,000++
Right: Onigiri

Dragon Roll IDR 108,000++

Sake Sashimi IDR 88,000++ | Tako Sashimi IDR 108,000++

Miyama's Hot Stone dishes immediately caught my attention because I have not seen it at other Japanese restaurants in Jakarta (yet). So, the meat and the accompanying vegetables would be laid neatly on top of the hot stones in a hot plate. The stones are black and smooth, so nothing to worry about catching loose stone grains among your food.

Jyu Jyu Rib Eye (150gr, thinly sliced) IDR 258,000++

Also under Chef Recommendation list, is the Yanagawa, which is a nabemono (claypot) dish cooked in a pot together with burdock root and egg. The set comes with a bowl of plain rice and miso soup.

Yanagawa Lobster IDR 218,000++ Lobster, burdock root & egg stewed in clay pot

Another recommended dish at Miyama is the grilled kama hamachi (a yellow tail fish' collar), the sweetest, juiciest and tender-est part of the yellow tail. With quality of fish this good, the teriyaki sauce becomes a personal choice.

Kama hamachi (grilled) Teriyaki IDR 348,000++

If you think after all the feast above, we would be full to the brim, well, for girls, there's always room for dessert. So each of us had a serving of ice cream and a Hiyashi Shiratama for sharing.

Left: Kiku Lychee Sochu, monin blue curacao syrup, lychee syrup & lemon IDR 108,000++
Right: Hiyashi Shiratama IDR 78,000++

Ice Cream (Macha / Black Sesame / Red Bean) IDR 48,000++

As you could see, Miyama is not quite like your average Japanese restaurants found in shopping malls. Price wise, it is on the higher end indeed, but there's no doubt the ingredients used to craft the dishes are only premium ones too. I guess if I come back again this month (December), I might even find some choir children singing around the hotel! Well, Merry Christmas to you all! =)

Open Hours:

Lunch: 11.30 - 14.30

Dinner: 18.30 - 22.30

Dress Code:

Formal / Smart elegant

*) Prices are subject to Service Charge & Tax 21%

Miyama Japanese Restaurant

Hotel Borobudur Jakarta, 3rd Floor

Jl. Lapangan Banteng Selatan

Central Jakarta 10710, Indonesia

Ph: +6221 3804444 / 3835555 (ext 73100)

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