Sushi all the way

If you’re looking for nigiri which tastes like sheer poetry then head to this Japanese restaurant

The theme of Lite Bite food’s latest eatery, YouMee is distinctly manga. As comic freaks, would tell you, Manga are comics created in Japan — its style developed in the late 19th century — or by creators in the Japanese language. Manga symbols are evident on the walls giving the restaurant a distinct Far eastern look and feel. I happily accepted the offer to review the month-old restaurant after seeing Unagi and sashimi on the menu.

The charming and efficient restaurant manager Lionel Lama helped me choose the dishes. I start with a not so impressive amuse bouche of some veggie sticks and peanuts tossed in black bean sauce. But soon that is forgotten with the arrival of the eastmancolor rainbow roll sushi (R464) with tuna, salmon, avocado, crab stick and microgreens rolled into one. I opt for the black rice version and it makes the sushi healthier without any compromise on taste.

The next sushi, unagi “eel” nigiri (R250) is sheer poetry with a soft, buttery eel sitting on top of a cylindrical rice ball. Assorted sashimi of Hamachi, Salmon and Tuna (R485) — basically sliced raw fish just makes my day with its exquisite fresh taste of the sea. From the dimsum menu, Lionel recommends zucchini wrapped chicken roulade (R295) with perfectly cooked, melt-in-mouth chicken, crisp chestnuts and lotus stem and it is simply delicious. The chef shows his understanding of seafood again with warm dynamite shrimps (R400) which is perhaps the best prawn pakoda dish that I have ever had, with succulent crisp prawns inside a perfectly fried tempura.

Next I am on to the mains and the first dish is Japan’s national dish — ramen bowl. I choose invincible tantan ramen (R600) in a mild broth, and garlic, chili bean sauce, sesame paste with ground pork, greens onion & cilantro. The bowl would have been perfect had the pork not been undercooked and chewy which took away from the enjoyment of the dish. From the Chinese menu I choose America’s darling dish, General Tso’s chicken (R485). It is a sweet, deep-fried chicken dish that is served in North American Chinese restaurants. The dish is named after Tso Tsung-t’ang, a Qing dynasty military leader, although there is no connection to him, nor is the dish known in Hunan, General Tso’s home province. It is served with a sweet & sour sauce, pickled ginger, onion & dry red chilli and tastes pretty pointless, like most of North American Chinese dishes. Among drinks, I choose a pretty forgettable mogo mogo (R245) with “notes of” banana, mango, melons and guava.

As dessert I choose matcha cheese cake (R365) made from Japanese green tea powder, with sugar, cream cheese, and cracker pie crust. It is competent and indulgent.

Not sure I can say this for many restaurant reviews but this one has been a treat for me. I am definitely coming back for my fix of eel nigiri, sashimi, chicken roulade and dynamite shrimps.