Genbu Premium Katsu & Bar Senopati
If you’re looking for a variety of delicious katsu menu and great Japanese Highball on tap, Genbu Premium Katsu & Bar Senopati is the place to be. Genbu announced their presence in South Jakarta by opening their third location in Senopati last December.
Still true to their original concept, Genbu Senopati carries all the elements that their flagship PIK location has—beautiful interior, delicious food and great service (you can read my full review on Genbu PIK here). What makes this location different though, is the presence of a highball machine at their bar that dispenses perfectly portioned, carbonated, and chilled highball from the tap. Imagine having a refreshing highball with their delicious katsu. That’s probably a good way to end the day after a busy work day or simply to chill with a friend or two.
Genbu Senopati has one small private room that could accommodate 6 people for special occasions or if you simply want a more private setting.
The Drinks
Horange-Cha (39k) | 8/10
Instead of ordering my usual Kitkat Mintini, which is usually my go-to for my every visit, since Genbu has added a bunch of new items to their menu, I tried their Horange-cha which is basically a mix of hojicha and orange juice. Pretty refreshing and I like it.
The Food
Salmon Aburi Canapé (59k) | 8.5/10
Chopped Aburi Salmon, Nori, Crispy Wonton.
Started my meal with the Salmon Aburi Canapé. The chopped aburi salmon was seasoned well and it was flavorful. But, unexpectedly, the highlight of the dish for me was the tartar sauce. The tartar sauce was the bomb and it really goes well with the salmon. I’m telling you, you got to dip it to the tartar sauce to get that wholesome flavor (seriously, you won’t regret it). I didn’t really care for the fried wonton because the size is a little bit too big for my bite and the texture was a bit soggy (maybe because I didn’t eat it right away). Maybe if they’re a little smaller and crispier, I’d give this dish a 9. But overall, it was still a great appetizer.
Salmon Rare Katsu (139k) | 8/10
Fresh Salmon, Crunchy Katsu.
Salmon Rare Katsu is another new addition to the their menu. The concept itself is pretty unique. They nailed the raw and fried texture giving it an interesting contrast when you bite into it. The deep-fried crispy breading sticks to the sashimi which is pretty impressive. The sashimi was fresh and tender and the size and thickness of the cut were also just right for a bite size. I do wish that the dipping sauce is a little saltier because it was a bit under seasoned for my personal taste.
A5 Wagyu Katsu Set (990k) | 9/10
A5 Kagoshima Wagyu Cutlet, Moritama Egg Yolk, Cabbage Salad, Rice, Kinpira, Japanese Pickles, Akamiso Soup.
If you read my other review on Genbu, you probably remember how I said that the breading of their gyukatsu was a little bit of a disappointment for me. I’ve given it a second chance after the chef revise the recipe but it still wasn’t as satisfying as I’d like it to be.
One and a half year later after my very first Genbu gyukatsu, I can finally say that their current version of gyukatsu is worth trying for. The chef has been going over revisions after revisions on their gyukatsu recipe to make sure that the breading sticks to the meat and doesn’t fall apart. And he finally did it. The breading does stick to the meat and doesn’t fall apart. It really has came a long way from the first version.
The meat is super tender and (I think is) best grilled to a medium for the doneness level. I still love the salt the most from the three dippings provided. The wasabi is actually also pretty good. It wasn’t too spicy for me and it gave that extra flavor and fragrance to the meat. Really enjoyed this dish.
Liquor on tap
After I had my meal, I ended up at the bar trying the different selections of liquor they have on tap while the chef explained each of the drinks to me.
Kakubin Highball (角ハイ) (120K) | 9/10
First, I tried the Kakubin Highball which is Suntory’s most iconic whisky mixed with soda. Served in a Suntory Kaku Whisky Highball chilled mug glass, the gold colored liquid is very light, smooth and refreshing. I imagine this would make a perfect pairing with Genbu’s dishes because it could help cut down the greasiness of the deep fried katsu.
Matsui Umeshu Brandy Soda (120K) | 9/10
Matsui Umeshu Brandy Soda is a mix between Japanese plum liqueur and brandy with soda. This one is sweeter and even lighter than the Kakubin Highball with a hint of aromatic ginger that came through in the aftertaste. I enjoyed this one as well.
Amaro Spritz (120K) | 8.5/10
Amaro Spritz is made out of Italian Vermouth from Cocchi with soda and orange peel. Very fragrant and the orange peel immediately hit my taste bud after my first sip. Would probably order this if I feel like I need a drink.
Daiyame Shochu Highball (120K) | 7/10
Mixed with an award-winning shochu made from 100% special ripen sweet potato in Kagoshima-Japan, Daiyame Shochu Highball has a unique lychee-like aroma with burnt-lemon after taste. Although it’s still on the lighter side, this one is the most bitter for me out of the four I tried.
Overall Experience
Genbu is probably the only restaurant in Jakarta (that I know) that has a very extensive selection of katsu with premium ingredients as well as menu that’s frequently updated with new interesting dishes. And that’s what makes going back to Genbu fun for me because I get to try different menu on my visits. I enjoyed the food that I had and trying their selections of liquor on tap was a fun experience. I’m not one to drink a lot of alcohol other than the occasional sip when I feel like it, but I have to say their on tap selections might make me inclined to order a drink in the future because they are all so light and smooth.
For those who knows me in real life, they know Genbu is one of the restaurants that I go back to pretty often. I’ve taken a bunch of my friends to try their katsu and every single one of them enjoyed their food. This visit was no different than my previous ones. I had a great meal and service was good as well. Will I go back to eat at Genbu again in the future? You bet I will.
Genbu Premium Katsu & Bar Senopati
Address: Jl. Suryo No.25, Rw. Bar., Kec. Kby. Baru, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12180, Indonesia
Telephone: +62813 8153 0133
Hours: 11am -12am
Instagram: @genbu.jkt
