How Malaysia's wealth of produce inspires Japanese chef at K kaiseki in Kuala Lumpur
Almost five years after the 2020 closure of two-Michelin-star Tenku RyuGin in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, former chef de cuisine Hidemichi Seki has embarked on his next culinary adventure.
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He was on hiatus in his homeland, Japan, when the team from Malaysian hospitality group Ilham Dining Concepts (IDC) came knocking in 2022, inviting him to start his own restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.
Seki launched his first restaurant, K, in February 2025. On the 37th floor of the Foster and Partners-designed Ilham Tower, the kaiseki restaurant offers a generous 15-course tasting menu.
Despite receiving offers from restaurants in Japan, Seki chose to move to Malaysia's capital, wanting to see more of the world while still living close to nature.
K kaiseki restaurant opened on the 37th floor of the Ilham Tower in Kuala Lumpur in March 2025. Photo: K Kuala Lumpur
'I've always wanted to gain more diverse experiences overseas and immerse myself in different cultures,' he says.
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