Don't Trust Google! This 4.8-Star Batam Japanese Spot? I Took the Hit for You 💣
qponx
2026-03-06
Thinking of trying that 4.8-star Japanese spot in Batam? You might want to read this first! This review exposes how the restaurant games its high Google rating by offering free desserts for five-star reviews. Discover the reality behind the score: from questionable hygiene and porridge-like sushi to a shockingly high bill. Learn why the fried salmon skin is the only saving grace and why you should steer clear of this overhyped eatery before you go.
Friends, who gets it! Hopped over from Singapore to Batam for the weekend to chill a bit. I was originally planning to have a nice meal and searched on Google for a Japanese restaurant with a high rating of 4.8. I thought, this is definitely going to be mantap!
But the result... anjay, this meal gave me such mixed feelings. I feel like both my wallet and my stomach took a huge blow. Today, I have to spill the tea with everyone and tell you just how deep this rabbit hole goes!
Don't be fooled by the atmosphere, the main point is coming up
Honestly, the moment I walked in, it felt okay. The decor is your typical Japanese style, the lighting is dim, and it's not crowded. The atmosphere is actually quite quiet and comfortable, perfect for coming with friends to nongkrong and chat[1]. Just looking at the environment, you would never guess it's an "assassin."
But the soul of a restaurant is its food! As soon as I sat down, I felt something was off. The plastic covers over the sushi on the conveyor belt were all foggy. You could tell at a glance they'd been reused countless times, and the hygiene situation made me sweat[2].
I bit the bullet and ordered some of their signature dishes, but the sushi rice that was served left me speechless... It was wet and sticky, not sushi rice at all, more like a lump of porridge[3]! The sashimi and chicken skewers were also completely not up to par, and their freshness was worrisome. The only edible thing in the whole place was probably the fried salmon skin[4]. It was fried to a decent crisp, had a bit of fish meat on it, and the texture was okay. My friend's matcha milkshake[5] was supposedly alright too, but that's really about it.
The Shocking Secret Behind the 4.8 Rating
Halfway through the meal, I had an epiphany about why the food was so terrible, yet the rating was so high. When we were paying the bill, the waiter whispered that if we gave a five-star review, we'd get a free dessert. Wow! I was just, wow! So that's how they got the high rating[6]. What a slick move, right?
Seriously, for the three of us to just eat a little, it cost over 700,000 Indonesian Rupiah[7]. For this quality, the value for money is rock bottom.
✍️ Editor's Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls (Save this now!)
All in all, friends, there's so much good food in Batam, you really don't need to come to this one. I've taken the hit for you, so run
- Core Reminder: Don't trust the Google rating! This place's good reviews are farmed by offering free desserts[8]. If you want authentic Japanese food, just steer clear.
- Hygiene Warning: Be cautious with items from the conveyor belt! For friends with sensitive stomachs, please be extra careful. Getting an upset stomach isn't worth it.
- Hit-or-Miss Service: The service quality is very inconsistent; the waiter we had was completely distracted. They charge a service fee, but the experience is basically zero[9].
- The Only Silver Lining: If you're unfortunately tricked into going by a friend, just order the fried salmon skin[10]. It might be the only consolation in the whole place.
- Parking Tip: The only advantage might be the convenient parking. You can park in front of the Grand Niaga store next door[11].
- Don't let the quiet atmosphere[1] fool you. The food is a shocking letdown, a real "assassin" for your expectations.
- The secret to their 4.8 high score? Free dessert for a 5-star review[2]. That explains the "sweet" ratings.
- If you're already here, the fried salmon skin[3] is your only saving grace. Its crispy texture is the one good thing in this minefield.
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