Redefining Japanese Cuisine at Yumi Japanese Restaurant

"Yumi," the Japanese word for beauty, is given new meaning at Yumi Japanese Restaurant, as it reinterprets classic Japanese dishes with a modern, and yes, beautiful, new and tasty twist. 

With Chef Roby Goco at the helm, the same culinary genius behind Cyma Greek Taverna and Green Pastures, you can be sure that your experience at Yumi will be different and unique. Be prepared for some truly creative and inventive cuisine as Yumi Japanese Restaurant introduces its newest dishes...

Located at the brand new Promenade 2 in Greenhills, simply press the button marked "Yumi" in the elevator, and you'll be transported to a whole new level of creative Japanese cuisine. Inside, one is greeted by the the warm glow of Yumi's low-key lighting, and your experience with creative Japanese cuisine begins...

We begin with Yumi's complimentary starters, small but flavorful bite-sized portions of fresh kani with a sweet Japanese mayo dressing, mangoes and spring onions. Fresh, clean flavors, and this is just the beginning. It's subtle little touches like this that make dining at Yumi special.

Yumi Japanese Restaurant's signature Unagi Foie Gras Sushi, just one of Yumi's creative and inventive dishes, sets the tone for our experience at Yumi. The classic and familiar flavor of sweet, smoky, and tender unagi is given a fresh and new dimension paired with the rich and indulgent, melt-in-your-mouth foie gras. One bite gives you a fairly good idea on Yumi's creative approach to Japanese cuisine, taking the familiar and adding some playful and even surprising elements for a totally new and different dish. And it just gets better...

The first of Yumi's newest dishes is then served, Maguro Sashimi in Chilled Light Shoyu Sauce, topped with scallions and sesame seeds. The light shoyu sauce adds a whole new flavor to the familiar tuna sashimi, without overpowering the delicate flavors of the tuna. The usual soy dipping sauce with wasabi is one that everyone is accustomed to, but Yumi shows another way of enjoying fresh and premium sashimi, allowing you to taste and savor more of the tuna's subtle notes. And true to its name, Yumi adds yet another flavorful, and beautiful, twist to a classic.

Next up, a pair of new Chirashi dishes. Chirashi Moriawase, with fresh maguro, unagi, saba, uni, ebi, tako, tamago and sake on vinegar rice. All your favorite sashimi on a bowl of sushi rice, just can't get better than that. Fresh and premium ingredients makes this dish a meal in itself.

Chirashi Ikura Tokuji, with fresh salmon roe, uni, ebiko, kani, tamago, and ika on vinegar rice. The addition of fish roe and uni combine for rich flavors, another impressive dish from Yumi's kitchen. Simple, pure, fresh and clean flavors with the very best ingredients.

Mixed Vegetables with Yumi Sauce, a medley of fresh vegetables including carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, and tomatoes served with Yumi sauce. Inspired by one of countless trips to Japan, the group behind Yumi replicates one of their culinary discoveries with a rich and creamy sauce that works well with just about everything. The richness of the sauce is tempered by a subtle layer of saltiness, and dipping the different fresh vegetables in the special Yumi sauce makes these same vegetables, well, enjoyable. And I go for more vegetables...

Then, Yumi's Yakimono dishes were served, including Kawa, or grilled chicken skin...

...Sunagimo, or grilled chicken gizzard...

...Torimotsu Teriyaki or grilled chicken liver...

...Grilled Eggplant with a sweet teriyaki glaze...

...and Hatsu, or grilled chicken heart, each with its own unique yet familiar flavors and textures. Then everything changes once you dip each tasty morsel in the Yumi sauce. Yup, the same sauce I enjoyed with the vegetables. The flavor of the Yumi sauce is so versatile, it's also paired with the restaurant's signature steaks.

Yumi's unique Tempura Salt is yet another new and flavorful variation in enjoying one of Japanese cuisine's most popular and iconic dishes. A perfectly crisp ebi tempura with a light soy dip and finely shredded radish is the usual way of enjoying tempura, and I like it that way. But Yumi redefines the familiar flavor profile with its Tempura Salt and Green Tea Salt for a whole new way of enjoying tempura. Simply squeeze some lemon on the rock salt with sesame seeds and the green tea with rock salt, and dip the tempura. The salt cuts through the richness of the light batter, allowing you to taste more of the plump prawn instead of the usual soy dipping sauce. And just like that, the familiar tempura suddenly becomes an entirely new dish that's fresh and different. Try it with the other tempura variations, like vegetables, kani, and sweet potato, and it works just as well.

Enjoy the unique Tempura Salt and Green tea Salt with Yumi's signature Tempura selections, like the Tempura Moriawase Gold (L), with ebi tempura, kani tempura, sweet potato, and eggplant; and Tempura Moriawase Silver (R), with kisu tempura, asparagus with pork belly, Japanese sweet corn, and shitake. 

Yumi's Teppan dishes were also served, including the Genghis Khan, or teppan US sirloin in steak sauce...

...and Sake Teppan, or teppan grilled superior grade Norwegian salmon. Tender, flavorful beef and juicy salmon, can't go wrong with either dish. Both dishes are served with teppan vegetables.

And for dessert, Yumi pulls out all the stops with its elegant and indulgent desserts. First up, the Muscovado Vanilla Creme Brulee, topped with orange slices. The torched caramelized muscovado sugar adds a thin, crisp and sweet layer contrasting with the smooth vanilla cream.

Next, Yumi's Crispy Banana with Jackfruit and Ice Cream, crisp spring rolls served with ice cream. Combining both the crisp spring roll and ice cream in one bite just works. Seriously good.

And finally, Green Tea Tempura Ice Cream, a sweet medley of contrasting textures, another twist to tempura, and a perfect ending to a unique and different Japanese feast.

Foie gras with unagi, premium maguro tuna sashimi in shoyu, and tempura with green tea rock salt. Turning Japanese with a cool twist. Excellent food and great value for money, Yumi Japanese Restaurtant is another winner from Chef Roby Goco, adding his own beautiful twist to Japanese cuisine.

Yumi Japanese Restaurant is located at the Promenade, Greenhills Shopping Center, or call 785-6932 for inquiries and reservations. 

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