From Matcha to Mushroom Karaage: A Rakuki Food Review

Ummo
2 days ago
3 min read

It’s 2026, and by now, everyone should have been to Rakuki. Semenyih’s only study café gets the full review from our Food and Travel writer, Ummo.

Whenever I crave matcha, my brain immediately goes, “Let’s go to Rakuki.”

I can’t remember the first time I visited Rakuki, but I’ve just collected so many memories across so many visits that the beginning has kind of blurred into everything that came after.

Living in Semenyih, where we only have a handful of things to do, we cycle through cafés the moment they become hype (cough cough, Glaze Eatery).

Rakuki is a Japanese-inspired study café, designed intentionally to keep you focused while still keeping you comfortable. As someone who struggles to concentrate – bright lights distract me and too much chatter overwhelms me – I was genuinely impressed by the ambience. The lighting is warm but not dim, the space is lively but never chaotic and somehow, the soft hum of the room actually makes me productive. The cherry on top is the incredibly friendly staff. It’s rare to find a café that gets that balance right.

I’ve gone there the day before flying home to have a farewell with my friends. I’ve gone during exams when campus felt too heavy. And I’ve gone simply to try more items off their menu, (or their seasonal menus!)

Here, I tried their 1 year anniversary specials: Carbonara Udon, which I then tried (and failed) to recreate at home, and the aptly named ‘Taste of the Year’ coffee. Yes, it did taste like a whole year. It was sweet, and spicy and bitter and you missed out on all of it…

This is a review written by someone who has truly tried and tasted… well, almost everything. Rakuki’s menu is concise. You can tell they use fresh ingredients and build their dishes around a consistent, thoughtful flavour palette.

My Top Recommendations

Karaage, in any form
Tofu karaage, mushroom karaage: whatever version you get, is mind-blowing. Crispy, comforting, and so flavourful. It makes me momentarily consider becoming vegetarian. It comes with either their Japanese Curry Udon or Curry Rice.

Cold Noodles
Light, refreshing, and surprisingly good, despite how simple of a dish it is.

Hamburger Sando
A burger and a sandwich got married in Japan, and gave birth to this…. and then hopped over to Korea for their honeymoon, because to my surprise, this also had the sharp and familiar tang of kimchi.

And for the drinks side of the menu…

Cococha (If you have to try just one thing)
I never knew Coconut Water would be such a good base for Matcha…

Matcha Latte (Only RM12!)
Shockingly good for the price… not watery, not bitter, not overly creamy. A right balance and yet, bold. I usually take my matcha with oat milk, but here, I didn’t even notice a difference!

Busy Mango (If you want coffee)
Espresso, mango, orange purée, and soda. It tastes like waking up on vacation and heading straight to the breakfast buffet – almost the perfect compromise when you can’t pick between coffee or juice…

Not A Pie (If you like tea)
My friends love this one. Fuji apple, jasmine tea, cinnamon. I’m not a tea person, yet I still liked it… It’s sweet and floral, and did surprisingly really taste like pie!

One more thing worth noting: Rakuki is Muslim-friendly!

If you want a pick-me up during assignment season, Rakuki is the place to be.

It doesn’t try too hard to be special.

It simply gets the little things right.

And sometimes, that’s what makes a place truly unforgettable!