Clearwater Group opens KINTSUGI Kuala Lumpur with Michelin-starred Chef Jeff Okada Ramsey



Clearwater Group announced the opening of KINTSUGI Kuala Lumpur with Tokyo Michelin-starred Chef Jeff Okada Ramsey, at Isetan The Gardens Mall, Kuala Lumpur on 31 January 2023.
KINSUGI is a contemporary Kaiseki and Sushi Kaiseki restaurant that showcases Chef Ramsey’s style of kaiseki gastronomy. It was inspired by the centuries-old Japanese art of “golden joinery,” which involves restoring broken ceramics with gold lacquer.

“The Kintsugi (repaired) pottery is considered beautiful as the breakage and repair were highlighted as part of the history of the pottery. In keeping with the Japanese Kaiseki’s ethos of treating the best seasonal ingredients with love and respect, I hope our guests will also learn to appreciate the cherished Japanese value in finding beauty in imperfection.” 
Chef Jeff Ramsey

As the first Michelin-starred chef to establish his restaurant in Malaysia in 2016, Chef Ramsey is no stranger to the culinary scene in Kuala Lumpur, having previously founded Babe by Jeff Ramsey and Japas, both of which were part of the Clearwater Group.
Ramsey learned his trade from Chef Masayoshi Kazato, Japan’s official Sushi Ambassador, and Chef Jose Andres, a protégé of the famed Catalonian Chef Ferran Adria of El Bulli in Spain.
He was then recruited by Japanese super chef Hide Yamamoto to be the Executive Chef of the Tapas Molecular Bar at the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, where he gained and kept a Michelin star. His most recent accomplishments include winning the Iron Chef Thailand 2022 Winning Challenger Chef title.

“I am absolutely thrilled to open KINTSUGI Kuala Lumpur with Jeff. Kintsugi reflects his culinary journey as a traditionally trained chef who draws inspiration from the food, people and cultures he has crossed paths with, and shares this personal experience with our guests through his progressive take on Kaiseki cuisine, all while remaining true to its ancient roots.”
Datuk Jared Lim, Founder of Clearwater Group
KINTSUGI is the perfect example of Chef Ramsey’s skill in elevating the traditional Japanese fine dining experience, which is frequently stiff and inflexible, with modernist components and methods, combined with the flavours and subtleties he has gained on his culinary journey as an American-Japanese who has spent the last eight years living in Southeast Asia.
While pushing limits, the intricately crafted menu stays Japanese in terms of flavour and presentation while paying homage to the Kintsugi philosophy and Kaiseki traditions.
The restaurant marries high-quality local produce with numerous ingredients that are sourced from Western Japan, where Chef Ramsey’s maternal family and his Japanese wife are from.
KINTSUGI Kuala Lumpur is divided into two sections and includes a 12-seat Kaiseki Counter, an 18-seat dining hall, and three private rooms. Sim Boon Yang, a well-known architect and the founding partner of eco.id architects, developed a place that is warm and welcoming. He used gingko leaves as allusions to historic and famous events around the area, reflecting endurance and history because the four trees that survived the Hiroshima atomic bomb blast are still flourishing today. Chef Ramsey’s mother is a resident of the city and was born in the same year.

“We wanted to create an ambience that is sophisticated yet inviting. With an inward focus, Kintsugi is designed to accentuate nature in its purest form. This is evident in our kaiseki counter, which is delicately crafted from Borneo Oak that is native to the islands of Malaysia. Our choice of locally sourced materials aims to highlight the rawness of their forms and evoke a sense of authenticity that leaves behind a thoughtful tribute to the natural elegance of wabi-sabi – a centuries-old Japanese philosophy that motions you to embrace the beauty of imperfection.”
Datin Dian Lee, Co-Founder of Clearwater Group
The Clearwater Group has amassed remarkable credentials in the Malaysian lifestyle domain over the years, captivating Malaysians with its restaurants and wellness services such as Japas, Ploy, WAY Modern Chinois, Tonkatsu by Ma Maison, Ma Maison EBISU, Healthy Ever After, One Sip Artisanal Roastery and Eternal Wellness.
Located on the third floor of Isetan The Gardens Mall, KINTSUGI Kuala Lumpur is now open daily for lunch and dinner.
For reservations, head over to www.kintsugirestaurant.com or call +6010 381 1330

Photos courtesy of KINTSUGI Kuala Lumpur