Pasta de Gohan

Everyone enjoys replica art – the intricate imitations of food made of plastic. There is something oddly attractive about the colour and detail. Invented by the Japanese to display the dishes and food that they serve in the restaurant, it serves as a magnet for potential customers walking past.

Pasta de Gohan has an entire wall of beautifully handcrafted replica food to enjoy, forming a wall of synthetic art. Just beware of the crowd of photo-seekers that sometimes form outside as you make your way in.

Already successful in Singapore, Pasta de Gohan is a first venture into Malaysia by the Waraku group. They serve typical Japanese café food, with many Japanized versions of well-known western dishes. Pizzas, pastas and gratins may have come originally from Europe, but the Japanese have embraced it, with adjustment, to suit their own palate.

Rather than being poor copies of the original, they have managed to create very appealing versions of their own. Therefore, the burger patty in the hamburg steak set (RM33.90), comes without a bun but with wafu sauce, a kind of Japanese-style dressing made with soya sauce and dashi; Japanese stock. The texture of the burger was slightly grainy, but the sauce was very appealing. The corn soup starter that came with the set was creamy and full of flavour.

The gratin set (RM33.80) offered an opportunity to try the seafood doria, which is essentially, baked rice, and the spaghetti alla Neapolitan. The doria was wonderfully creamy and came with a cheesy top adorned with succulent prawns while the tomato-based sauce with the spaghetti was rich and savoury. Though it was a little sweeter than a genuine Italian version, that’s how the Japanese prefer it.

The chicken teriyaki pizza (RM20.80) was even more unusual, with a base that was closer to thin and crispy pita bread. For those who love generous topping and not too much crust, this is ideal. The thin base merely served as a wrap for the chunky pieces of chicken, melting cheese and slivers of nori seaweed.

Leave room for dessert for maccha monaka (RM5.80) is worth a try. The generous scoop of green tea ice cream is lodged between two wafers much like a giant green pearl in a clam made of wafer. This is excellent fun for the kids as you are supposed to squash the ice cream and eat it like a burger.

Take nothing away from the ice cream; it was creamy and delicious as was the tiramisu parfait (RM10.80). Wash it all down with a glass of Calpis (RM3.80), which is a vanilla-flavoured yoghurt soda drink.

At Pasta de Gohan, the Japanese twist on the food does seem to work. They have managed to create a casual dining experience that can still surprise and provide for an interesting adventure. With such a wide menu and a willingness to tailor each dish to individual requests, it is definitely worth a return visit, at the very least for the food replica.

Text & Photo Chan Wai Lee