Yamitsuki is Japanese for ‘addictive’ and we soon learned that this sushi, noodle, teppenyaki and dim sum bar is appropriately named.
No, seriously. We came here one Sunday afternoon on whim, and found it such a phenomenal experience!
First off, there isn’t any of the usual red, black and white decor (aside from the red in the branding) with the janky-looking conveyor belt. Yamitsuki exhibits beautiful, chic decor and a fresh menu that, albeit a bit all over the place, caters for practically everyone. Floating above you are beautifully handmade origami swans (orizuru) alongside ample greenery. There are two indoor seating areas, one with the sushi conveyor and one for the teppenyaki.
The sushi conveyor room has to be one of my favourite indoor seating areas I’ve ever seen. The swans this time, however, are hanging from giant wooden Flowers of Life symbols, and an entire wall spilling over with greenery. It was beautiful.
The teppenyaki room was deceptively simple, with plain walls and one or two Edison light bulbs here and there. It left all attention to the middle of the room, where the action really does happen. If you don’t know what teppenyaki is (because we didn’t), it is a style of Japanese cooking that is done in front of the patron and traditionally on a griddle.
It was fairly chilly, so Connor and I managed to snag a table outside, right by the heater. We were also happy to see that they provided blankets for outside patrons. Yamitsuki’s menu has something for everyone, from sushi (and over 50 types, mind you) to burgers, to dim sum, to curries to a grilled selection. The selection, while large, wasn’t overwhelming.
Before even having ordered something to drink, our lovely waitress brought what looked like two espresso cups filled with chicken and sweet corn soup, a complementary warm up. This soup was super delicious, and started us off on an even more positive note.
Our drink orders aren’t usually worth noting, but I just felt I should show off the spectacle that is a pot of tea. I love these cast iron teapots, but the tiny cup was slightly ridiculous.
To start, Connor and I ordered a dim sum platter that had three kinds of fillings – spinach and cream cheese, chicken coriander and cashew and prawn and cream cheese. Unintentionally, we ate from best to, not worst, but not as good as the others. The prawn and cream cheese was divine, smooth in texture and subtle in flavour. The spinach and cream cheese was next, soft and seasoned well. The chicken, coriander and cashew had nice flavour, but was dryer than the previous two and the actual dim sum dough was slightly rubbery. Was still delicious, though!
Next up, Connor tried out the prawn tempura California roll (a solid basic of which we can test the standard) and I had the Asian cheese puffs. The prawn tempura roll had good shape, tasted great and we soon understood why Yamitsuki had been rated some of the best sushi in Jozi.
The cheese puffs were simultaneously one of the most delicious and strangest things I’ve eaten. Bursting with flavour from 7 different spices, these little croquettes packed a delicious punch. We even managed to grab a picture of a cheese pull. Just look at that cheesy goodness. Those of you who are lactose intolerant, we’re so sorry.
Next up on our feast, Connor grabbed the sweet and sour chicken egg noodles and I had the Thai chicken kebabs. The egg noodle dish gave us the opportunity for another top down food shot (we sort of love those), but the best part is, it tasted even better than it looked.
I know that’s pretty hard to believe, but it did. Flavourful sauce, tender chicken and crunchy (but not too crunchy) vegetables. The chicken kebabs were also packed full of spice and flavour, the kind that left your lips tingling afterwards.
We can’t have come all this way and not have dessert. It would’ve been simply unnatural, if you ask me. We had the popping lemon cheesecake. Now Connor has never been a fan of unbaked cheesecakes, but by George, they converted him! To be fair, this cheesecake was super smooth and fresh. The addition of the lemon jelly and popping candy on top added the extra smooth and crunchy textures, and just wrapped this cheesecake up in deliciousness.
We completed our whole trip with some chocolate dipped fortune cookies.
With our bill we received in a bamboo steamer with an origami lily handmade by our waitress, which was a stunning personal touch. So, we ate ourselves stukkend, so our bill was rather expensive, sitting at R630.00. However, when you take into consideration we had almost 6 different dishes with drinks and a decent tip, it was reasonable.
We had a pretty fantastic time at Yamitsuki, and found it difficult to find fault anywhere. Chic decor, great service and staff and delicious food. If you find yourself in Bedfordview or looking for a new place to try, we definitely recommend Yamitsuki. But beware; they live up to their namesake...
Stay hungry for adventure, friends.
Steph and Connor
5/5 Swans