The little sushi cafe

I really miss the little sushi cafes in Melbourne. They usually have a bar where serving different kinds of nigiri sushi, rolls and sashimi. We'd pick what we want, pay for them, take chopsticks and soy sauce in little fish containers from the cashier counter and have a seat to enjoy the them. Shops there close early, so about 5PM all the sushi served at the bar are sold for less than half off their price. Back then, many times I'd go the shops alone, in between classes or over the weekends, sitting at a corner and enjoying a book.

I need a substitute here. My criteria would be:

• A small shop
• A pay-before-you-eat system
• A sushi bar
• Comfortable seats
• It's sort of hidden

Have you been to the new Isetan Food Market at KLCC? I'm in love. It's like the kind you see in Tokyo and Melbourne - bright, welcoming, happening and last weekend it was like a food festival! The range of bento, sushi and raw fish sold has expanded, there's an area for pastries, okonomiyaki, even a Korean deli - I can't remember all, there was so much.

There were a couple of specialty shops inside the market, including the existing bakery (I wish Sun Moulin sells creampuffs!), a place to grab coffee and... a small and almost hidden sushi cafe with a sushi bar, Sen-Ya!

Right in front of the market entrance.

They had a couple of maki sushi, nigiri sushi and bento on the bar and accept orders for hot meals and sashimi. The seats? Comfortable and cushioned, somewhat hidden behind sort of blinds, a slightly dim area compared to the rest of the food market.

What I grabbed:

Big and fat salmon and avocado rolls.

Big and fat soft shell crab rolls.

Big and fat prawn and cucumber rolls.

The cooks were Japanese men with sexy voice, while the sushi were so fresh and juicy. I wanted to have more, but they didn't come cheap - the rolls start from RM8. I came at a quarter to 8PM, had a couple of rolls when I realized a lot of people shopping at the market heading toward the sushi bar. Since I was done with the rolls, I went to the bar to see what else they've got. That explains the sudden crowd - all things served were at 50% off (night discounts, just like in Melbourne and I LOVE sushi discounts!) - I immediately grabbed another set!

When I came in, it was almost full house, but by 8PM there were less customers inside the shop, making reading a bit easier. I wish they would provide real wasabi instead of those artificial-tasting ones in small sachets. Note to self: Buy some of those pre-packed wasabi from the market before dining there.

One day this week, I'm going to have dinner there and grab a couple sets of sushi and hot meals... after 8PM.