Who can resist desserts? Can you? Definitely not me as I have sweet tooth! I must eat desserts at buffets. In fact, without eating desserts, it's like not having been to the buffet!
And Tenji had a wide array of desserts for you to choose from!
There were the cakes and chocolate balls.
Mochis, jellies and puddings.
And cookies!
And of course there was the famous Haagen Dazs ice cream! I think just eating 4 bowls of Haagen Dazs ice cream would make this buffet worth all the money you paid!
But, alas, they did not have green tea ice cream! How was that possible? A Japanese buffet restaurant with no Japanese green tea ice cream? That's a sin, if you ask me!
Anyway, we tried the other flavours but one of my friends had a funny feeling that it was not Haagen Dazs ice cream! I tasted it and guess what - I think she was correct! How could Tenji place the label "Haagen Dazs" there when they were not serving Haagen Dazs ice cream?
I remember eating the ice cream on my first visit to Tenji with blogger Jam. It was definitely not like this!
I asked a lady who was busy scooping the ice cream whether it was really Haagen Dazs, and she said, "Of course! If not, I will sue Tenji!"
Maybe she should start talking to her lawyer. I really hoped Tenji did not con us, but I really did not think it was Haagen Dazs. Either that, or Haagen Dazs' standard had dropped!
Anyway, I did not take any photos of the ice cream. It was melting fast and after a while, it was like eating milk shakes. Haha!
Oh, by the way, do you know that you are not supposed to eat ice cream right after eating sashimi? Tenji even put up a notice warning of the danger of food poisoning if we were to mix sashimi with milk. Since ice cream is made from milk, you may get food poisoning if you eat ice cream right before or after eating sashimi! So do take note!
These were some of the cakes we ate.
I can't remember which cake is which! All I know is that I loved their tiramisu cake. It was really delicious! But still could not match the best tiramisu cake I have ever tasted, which was at Alexis Bistro in The Gardens some time back.
I tried to take another slice of the tiramisu cake but alas, there was no more left! What a pity! I would have eaten a few more slices of the cake!
My friend later introduced to me this tiramisu pudding which was very nice.
It may not seem very appetizing here due to my poor photography skills, but I assure you it was very nice!
So next time go to Tenji, just remember the word "tiramisu" - applies to both the cake as well as the pudding.
Another friend mentioned that the jelly puddings were nice, so I took these.
On the left is the honey dew jelly and on the right is mixed fruit jelly. Both were nice!
So how did Tenji's desserts fare against Jogoya? Well, I would say Tenji's cakes were better but Jogoya had the chinese herbal gui ling gao which I liked very much! However, the last time I visited Jogoya, this gui ling gao was missing, so I guess I would have to conclude that Tenji's desserts are better!
Actually, there were quite a lot of food I did not try. I did not eat the crabs, as I was already full then. Furthermore I felt lazy to eat those crabs - too much hassle to break open the shells and all! I also did not eat the Western dishes like spaghetti, which my friend commented was very nice. I also did not try their ice kacang. What a pity, but what to do? My stomach was not big enough!
I saw these food on display. I did not know what they were, but I was too full to take them.
And these fried stuffs? They made me want to puke already cos I was really full!
We ate and chit chat until 4pm! We really were the among the firsts to arrive and the lasts to leave. Haha!
Before we left, I saw that the cooks and chefs were all still busy preparing food. Probably for the dinner at 6pm?
Outside, it had just rained and the weather was pleasant.
I enjoyed myself but would I return? Yes, but only if I'm paying the promotional price of RM39.90++. I don't think it's worth going there if I have to pay the normal price of RM77.00++.
So let's sum up my comparison between Tenji and Jogoya. But before that, I would have to say that it may not be very fair for me to compare in this way because I ate buffet lunch at Tenji but I had buffet dinner at Jogoya. As we all know, dinners are usually better with more variety of food and perhaps better quality.
Also, this comparison is just a guidance based on my personal taste. Everyone's taste is different so please do not take this like a Bible for Japanese buffet restaurants!
Besides, what I mentioned here can and do change. For example, if I said the codfish at Tenji was very nice, it is very possible that you go to Tenji tomorrow and find to your horror that the codfish tastes terrible! Quality of food does drop and I have personally experienced that at Jogoya.
With that, let us sum up the comparison between Tenji and Jogoya with a point system, shall we?
1. Food Variety
Admittedly, Tenji loses to Jogoya on this one. Jogoya has such a huge variety of fish and seafood it wins hands down! For example, I can find stingrays, lobsters, mantis prawns, unagis and a wide variety of crabs in Jogoya and they can all be custom cooked for you.
Tenji has very limited fishes and definitely no lobsters and unagi that can be custom cooked. And I think I only saw one type of crab there. However, what Tenji lacks in variety, it makes up for quality. Tenji's codfish can easily beat all the different types of fishes you can eat at Jogoya!
Besides, you can't really eat those expensive lobsters at Jogoya unless you are a VIP member! That's right! Some food are reserved for VIP members only. I find this a total put off, but what irritates me to no end is that, as a VIP member, you can only choose ONE food ONCE only from the VIP section. That means I cannot eat two lobsters even if I wanted to!
The excellent herbal ginseng chicken soup which was previously available to everyone is now limited to VIP members only. The problem is, since I can only choose ONE food from the VIP section, I am forced to make a choice between the soup and the lobster! That sucks! Of course I chose the lobster in the end! Haha!
I hope Tenji would not follow Jogoya's style by introducing the VIP member card. If they do, maybe you would need to be a VIP member to eat those delicious codfish in future! Well, who knows since their codfish is so popular?
Score: Jogoya 1 Tenji 0
2. Food Quality
I can tell you Jogoya's food quality had dropped drastically since the first time I ate there! I just do not know what happened! It was such a disappointment as I had thought they were the best buffet in town! The last time I ate there, I found most of the food simply average and some even below average! Certainly not worth paying 88.00++ for dinner!
Tenji's food were also mostly average, some below average too, but a few really stood out like the codfish, raw oysters, and the tiramisu desserts. Besides, I think their oysters were fresher!
Score: Jogoya 1 Tenji 1
3. Price
I would have to say that if I were to pay the normal price, I would not go to both Tenji and Jogoya. It would be better to order ala-carte at authentic Japanese restaurants instead. But if you can get 50% discount or at least close to 50%, then it's worth going!
Honestly speaking, Jogoya offers much more variety of food at almost the same price, so it would seem that Jogoya is a better bet for your money. But if quality is what you want and not quantity, then Tenji is the place to go! Still, I won't want to pay that much (normal price) for limited amount of food!
Score: Jogoya 2 Tenji 1
4. Ambience
Tenji definitely win for ambience! Their outdoor garden easily trashed Jogoya! However, the interior is pretty much the same for both although Tenji looks more "class" perhaps with their classy wooden floor against Jogoya's cold hard cement floor.
Score: Jogoya 2 Tenji 2
5. Food Presentation
Tenji also beat Jogoya on this one! But if all you care about is the food quality and not how they are presented, this will make no difference to you!
Score: Jogoya 2 Tenji 3
6. Facilities
Both are even on this one. Both have basins with soap and water to wash your hands and washrooms that are nearby. But admittedly, Jogoya is a much bigger restaurant compared to Tenji. Jogoya even have private VIP rooms to cater for private functions.
Score: Jogoya 3 Tenji 3
7. Service
I would say both do not really have good service. One thing I don't like about Tenji is they ask you for payment in the middle of your meals. That's just so rude! Whereas in Jogoya's case, you have to pay first before entering the restaurant. Well, either you pay before you eat or after - both is OK with me, but not during eating!
As for booking for a place, I find calling both Tenji and Jogoya a hassle although the staffs manning the phone lines do reply in a polite and courteous manner. Jogoya does offer online booking but I find Tenji is better as it offers a simple sms reservation system that is a breeze to use.
Both get 1 point each! so total score : Jogoya 4 Tenji 4
Conclusion: Both are even!
My advice? Go to the one that gives good discounts! At the moment, Tenji is offering weekday lunch and daily supper buffets at RM39.90++ (normal price RM77.00++ for lunch and RM88.00++ for supper) until 31st July 2009.
For more promotions, visit Tenji blog and Jogoya blog.
FIRST COMMENTER
Ok thanks for the cheat foong! haha!
I'm here already even before you posted since we were exchanging comments =)
Anyway, your tummy isn't big enough to accommodate more food? I wonder how much you'll eat if you can contain so much...looks like you'll be eating for 4 foong! lol
There's always a catch in buffets, but this one you featured has a lot to offer. I think both places are good for a visit if you're up for a good meal.
Now that I've seen so much foods here, I'm getting hungry for an early lunch =) \
Goodnight there foong!
I enjoyed your "buffet feast"
ayie, yes I know you will be FC so actually no need to give you any hints! I hope you don't mind me using those beautiful photos from your flip n fold blog, though when readers click onto it, they will go to your photo journal blog : )
ayie, haha! Eat for 4 Foongs? LOL! Well, go eat your lunch while I go to sleep! Thanks for dropping by : )
Choose whatever you like foong since you have your own fave with my blogs. I'm totally ok with it =)
Goodnight Foong!
Mmmm...yummy.. The desserts on the display look so irresistably tempting.. :)
Btw, thank you Foong for dropping by my blog and for your concern.. Really appreciate it.. :)
Wow! Another long post. Gotta go now. Will be back to comment later. :D I'LL BE BACK!
oh my....they all look so yummy!!!!!
I repeat..how can a Japanese restaurant not serve green tea ice cream?!! And Haagen Daz does look out of place in a Japanese restaurant.
About the food poisoning thing is that true? What about people wanting to eat green tea ice cream after a sashimi meal? They have to forgo?
War...so meaning if I don't eat dessert I shouldn't go for buffet lar? Ha :D War...plenty of cakes to get our teeth rotten!
OMG! What The F*$#! You ate Haagen Dazs? I have never tried it before ler. =( I'm so poor. Haha :D Or maybe Tenji did con you guys?
The jelly pudding is really unique. Ball shaped huh! :D
hahaha :D you are too full to stuff any more food into your stomach huh! So there's a lesson. Next time before you hit a buffet, remember to perch yourself like....a few days. Haha :D
Both are even? Yerr....pick a winner mah.
Ayie!!! No fair!! :D
Such an in-depth review. :D
Maybe you should let both Jogoya & Tenji management be aware of your posts here in the hope that they'll take notice. Who knows, they invite you for a free makan afterwards? Hehehe...
If for RM77 and RM88, I would not consider both buffets, but if got discount, then maybe OK lah to go... Not as loaded as you lah Foong, always eat at nice place. :D
Even? sure ke?
In conclusion just go to the one that are having promotions!
Aisay, here I thought there would be a winner. I was rooting for Tenji. :P Anyway, it's been a couple of years since I went to Jogoya. I guess the quality has dropped, but I didn't think it was that good in the first place. *LOL*
Nice detailed review of both places
Nice review on both of the restaurant. Girls are always crazy about desserts. They will prefer desserts than foods.
foongfoong!!! after 3 posts and it's an even fight?!?! not fair~~~~~ dun k, now u have to treat me both then :D
hagen daaz ice cream is good to eat on the human body haha!
... and the jelly is damn cute!
Well, I certainly think that the grade of Haagen Daz at the buffet is not the same at the Haagen Daz outlets. Don't you think so?
yummy!!!! I love the desserts!! How do you stay skinny with such a delicious variety of food! mmmmmm.
Uggghhhh...not a right time to be reading bout food now...but at other times, I love desserts. Not now though...
~The Foong who has no appetitie nowadays~
The jelly puddings look adorable in their pretty plates. They do look familiar though. Oh yes, they remind me of colourful powder puffs or perhaps bust-boosters?! Oh dear, Foong, what are you doing to my imagination! LOL!
I think tiramisu is over-rated. I'm not a fan. To each his own, I guess.
Frankly, buffets these days are over-priced, everywhere! Perhaps, inflation is to be blamed. Btw, I read about some nice (and reasonable) food in Radius Intl Hotel. You may want to check it out.
Thanks for the insightful review, Foong. I guess YOU are the final winner for having eaten at both places. So, will FRIM see more of you jogging there? hahaha....
Cheers!
Hi there foong! Oh yes the dessert counter... the absolutely heaven area where it was crowded when I was there and everything was gone ahaha. Hmm looks like you got a better choice again on your visit. I wonder if it is the whole time different thing because I went for the supper instead of the lunch. And I would presume that during the night, the workers are more tired and cook less tedious food.
They should have mochi ice cream like the one I had in Sushi Zanmai haha. That would be a grab like the coconuts!
So seems like you are saying Jogoya is better. But because the food quality dropped, it is quite bad now. I would say, Tenji would one day drop in quality too. Everything does anyway. :P
i've tried jogoya but yet to go tenji
taste is ok ok only
i tell you what.. the desserts section is always my favourite, and i always look forward to having all kinds of desserts to perfectly wrap up my buffet.. hahaha!!
Most probably the drop in quality is because of staff turnover. It happens a lot in many restaurants. It's expensive to hire professional chefs (unless the boss himself is one) and so the best they can do is on-the-job training. Not everybody cooks the same so that's why quality can fluctuate.
Hey, We just had lots of japanese food including Sashimi last Sunday. And we had plenty of ice cream too. Are we just lucky not having been poisoned?
YERRRR... i want to eat Japanese Buffet!!!!
till 31st july? my my hopefully i'm back home by then
hahaha Lina, just this time =) lucky time i guess
The way they display those dessert and cookies are so attractive. I like Asian style desserts, they are lighter than the "ang moh" mud-cake.
O ya, I still remember they asked for payment during eating! And after paid, the change never arrived. How annoying, isn't it? I do regret no spending much time in Tenji last time. I should have spent the whole afternoon there like you and your friends.
sashimi with milk? i had never knew until you mentioned, thanks for the information! :D
have you tried?
Very interesting comparison. I think Sloppy Chic needs to learn from you on this one :P
cashmere, no problem : )
tekkaus, "I'll be back!" Hmm, reminds me of The Terminator : )
monica, some of them looks yummy, but do not really taste yummy. While the reverse is true for others. Haha! : )
mei teng, I did not know why they did not have green tea ice cream that day. I had green tea ice cream when I went there with Jam.
I guess this is not a proper Japanese restaurant as they also serve non Japanese food. It's a buffet to cater for everyone with different preferences. So both Jogoya and Tenji provide Haagen Dasz ice cream. Last time, Jogoya provided Movenpick ice creams as well.
I really don't know if it's true that drinking milk after eating sashimi will result in food poisoning, but Tenji puts up this warning notice at the sashimi station. I don't dare to try it, maybe you try it and let me know? : )
For me I ate sashimi at the start and then ate other things before going for the ice cream about half an hour later. Usually people go for the ice cream last as a dessert, but I eat it earlier to avoid queuing at the ice cream counter! LOL!
tekkaus, if you don't eat dessert, you will miss one big part of the buffet! But of course can still go for the buffet - there are so many other things to eat there besides dessert. But personally for me, dessert is a MUST!
You don't want to spend lots of $$$ eating Haagen Dasz? Then go eat Haagen Dasz at either Tenji or Jogoya. You can eat unlimited ice creams there. Definitely worth the money you paid for the buffet! LOL!
Yes, the jelly is cute and nice : )
Perch myself? You mean "purge" is it? Haha! I thought how to perch myself on the tree top or something! : )
No need to do that lah. Just don't eat breakfast can already : )
I know, I didn't expect that the conclusion will be both even! I thought Tenji is the winner, but I guess it all depends. Cos if you don't care about presentation or ambience, you can delete those points. Or you might think food quality is most important above everything else, so you will choose the one with the better food quality : )
lina, haha! You also want hints? But problem is you are already asleep at that time so no point I give you hints! : )
Free makan at Jogoya or Tenji? That would be good!! But I didn't really put in all the good stuffs about them, so...
Me loaded? Haha! You must be kidding! If loaded, no need to wait for promotion and discounts to eat there lah!
You lagi loaded - eat a-la-carte at Japanese restaurants all the time! LOL! : )
che-cheh, well that's how the points turned out! I didn't expect that either, cos I was thinking Tenji would be the winner. But seriously, yes, go to the one that offers discounts. Not worth going if no discounts : )
iamthewitch, haha! I didn't expect that both will be even too. Really? You didn't think Jogoya was that good in the first place?
When I first ate at Jogoya, I thought it was the best buffet in town! Not anymore.
Well, I guess the quality changes all the time. Maybe that time I went there, the quality was really good, but not the time you went. That's why I always read a lot of mixed reviews on Jogoya. And Tenji too : )
borneo falcon, thanks! Do come to KL and try Tenji : )
superman, not only girls lah! I am crazy about desserts too! Must eat desserts at buffets or I will regret it! Maybe I have sweet tooth, that's why! : )
nic, haha! : p
faisal admar, eat Haagen Dasz on the human body? Wow! You try before?!
eiling, now I know. I really think the Haagen Dasz at Tenji is of lower quality. How come Haagen Dasz allow that? It would spoil their brandname!
heidi, that's why I'm no longer skinny! Haha! I guess I do this once in a while only and I exercise more before and after that buffet! LOL!
foong speaks her mind, that's too bad! haha! But you got to eat more right, for that "parasite" in your body? : )
happysurfer, the jelly reminds you of powder puffs and bust boosters? Haha!! You have good imagination!
Don't like tiramisu? Well, yes to each his own. I don't like coffee but loads of people like it, and some cannot live without it! So yes, to each his own : )
Will check out the Radius Intl Hotel link you provided. Thanks!
Yes, definitely FRIM will see me more often there. Also Kiara Park and Fitness First gyms. Haha! : )
ladyviral, I think the supper food are mostly left-overs from the dinner? So they will not replace the food that is finished unless it's during the early part of the supper.
Mochi ice cream? Sounds nice, but you know what, I think I just prefer plain ice cream. And btw, I eat my ice cream not in the ice cream bowls they provided, but in the larger bowls meant for soups! Haha! I'm so greedy! : )
I didn't say Jogoya is better. They are both even according to my score points. Although Jogoya has better variety, but if all the food also poor quality, I rather go to one that has less variety but better quality food right?
But then again, even if a restaurant has good quality food but have to pay high price and not having enough variety also not worth it. So my advice is go only when they offer 50% or close to 50% discount : )
lisalicious, yeah, I find the food in Jogoya pretty average. Tenji is just slightly better with a few foods that really stood out, but no guarantees they will maintain that kind of quality in future!
SK, gimme a five! Yes, I love desserts and nowadays when I go buffet, I actually check out their desserts counter first. Haha!
In fact, sometimes I start eating the desserts as appetizers. Haha!
JL, oh I think what you say is very true! Yeah, high staff turnover - that's the problem!
You have worked in Japanese restaurants before, so you must know these things yes? : )
tita beng, oh you went for Japanese food too? I really am not very sure about that food poisoning thing, but Tenji puts up a warning sign at the sashimi counter. But if you have tried it and didn't experience any food poisoning, I guess it's not true after all.
But then again, maybe it depends. Different people may experience different things. I would rather not mix the two together just as a precaution : )
jonzz, no need lah, you just stick to your durian buffets! haha!
Hmm, if only Tenji have durians so that we can eat all the durians we want! That would be really great!
In fact, they have this fried durians (not sure what it's called) - it was OK only probably because the durian itself was not sweet enough for my liking.
I guess they can't have durians because some people can't stand the smell and the durians smell will spread all over the whole restaurant! Haha!
johnny ong, try to make it back by then and go Tenji yes? : )
ayie, you are indeed lucky : )
ai shiang, yes their display makes me drool. Haha! Mud cake? I love mud cake! : )
jam, the second time I went there, they also asked for payment in the middle of my meal! But luckily the change came fast : )
Well, you should not regret cos you need to spend time with your family at Sunway Lagoon right?
There's always a next time, Jam. Next time you come to KL, we go again? : )
levian, I also didn't know about it until I read the warning notice at the sashimi counter at Tenji! : )
faisal admar, have I tried what??
khengsiong, thanks! But I think Sloppy Chic is not doing any comparison, is she?
foong,
you know, my experience is usually when I sent a well worded note of criticism, sometimes the management were kind enough to offer me a meal/stay at their establishment to placate me. :D
Good reviews will just get a thank you note. LOL
lina, oh! Must learn from you on this! Haha!
haha no comment foong :)
let me know if you already tried!
lol. great comparison. hey i didnt know cant eat ice cream after sashimi :) thank u. all i knew was not to eat fruits after eating crab
those desserts are so impossible to resist but then, they can be very fattening.
you're eating a lot Foong. i eat like a bird nowadays. That's almost triple for what you're eating now. :D
Wao, so much of food. That walnut cake is really tempting!
Serious, seriously going to take Tenji to court? Did you take some sample of ice-cream as proof. LOL
now were moving forward to deserts
oh i agree with those points you shared ambiance and food presentation is a great factor to attract customers
by the way buddy, sorry for being so late here
i just got busy these past few days
but im happy im back
I think Lina's right. Foong your blog posts all have so many comments it's impossible people in Klang Valley won't notice. So I'm sure your reviews will definitely get to those people in Tenji, Jogoya or whatever restaurant you've blogged about. Who knows one day you may become a foodie blogger and get paid to "put in a good word" for them, hahahahah!!!!! XD
Eh I saw google ads already. Does that mean your account has no more problems with adsense? :O
Hey, u took the trouble to meet Jam. Next time u must meet me :)
Oh my gosh...this is food porn!!!
Love it...hubby is in Japan right now sampling all the japanese yummies!!!
That was me by up there (Anonymous ) by the way...dunno why it appeared that way :p
omg. the dessert bar is just crazy!! so many choices!! i think i can just my whole lunch eating them.
lol got part 3 somemore.. you surely have a very elaborate review!
and its even... i agree with your conclusion! go to the one with promotion and discount! =D
Since both are even, the my advice is fast in the morning, then go to Tenji for lunch buffet, and then go to Jogoya for dinner buffet!
faisal admar, I still don't know what you mean, but if what I guess is correct, then no, I have not tried it! You have?
xin, oh! I didn't know you can't eat fruits after eating crabs! Why's that?
As for drinking milk after eating sashimi, I really don't know if there's any truth to it, but that's the warning notice put up by Tenji at the sashimi area.
life ramblings, yes the desserts are irresistable and definitely fattening!
But once in a while is OK lah, just don't do it everyday. Haha!
I don't eat so much everyday, just during buffet only, want to make my money worth : )
molly, haha! No lah, not going to sue Tenji, cos no proof it is not Haagen Dasz, though I felt it wasn't. Maybe it's the lower quality version of Haagen Dasz, I don't know!
bluedreamer27, oh no worries about being late. We're all so busy it's just not possible to visit all the blogs and read every single post! : )
JL, haha! I have many comments mainly from my regular readers only. That does not mean my blog attract high traffic. I don't think those people in Tenji and Jogoya read my blog, but if they do, I hope they take note what I've posted.
Yeah, managed to solve the problem so now my blog is Adsense enabled : )
bengbeng, sure. If you come to KL, let me know : )
filipina blogger, food porn? haha! What a description! Your hubby in Japan? How come you didn't follow? Btw, thanks for dropping by! : )
renaye, you love desserts too? Yes, many choices there and all unlimited helpings! : )
kenwooi, well if I can elaborate further, there will be at least 5 parts. Haha! But I don't want to bore my readers with so many parts!
Yes, since they are both even, just go to the one with discounts : )
neo, wow! You are worse than me! I can't eat two buffets in one day. Unless both are free. Haha!!
The huge discount makes it worthwhile. But for me, I would have to take a flight or train up to KL to enjoy the food. :(
I love cakes and desserts. I would probably just be eating these when I go. haha.....
Haagen Daz ice-cream is good but I prefer Ben & jerry's now. But with this promotional buffet price, this meal is worth it!
thanks for this Tenji vs Jogaya post.
i hope they come up with some promotional pricing soon.
Aaron
Thanks so much for the article, quite useful material.
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