Review of 'Yoobi'

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���@V1�h�N�	T���6���.���&���$�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������FAFA����������������������������������������������������������������F����a����������������z��R	���������������������������������������������������������������������������)��ZI������������������������������������������������������������������������������������@������4�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������PCL1643175... I have to admit we visited Yoobi because the queue for Bao (Taiwanese) just up the street was absolutely enormous and we were off to a show. So despite the lack of other diners, having looked at the menu we decided to give it a go…an excellent choice, as it turns out. Yoobi bills itself as a “Temakeria”, that is, specializing in Japanese “Temaki”, or, sushi “hand rolls” to you and me.

The quiet interior is quite modern and basic in design with a series of small tables around a large central area where the dishes are prepared. When we visited there was a gentleman working on his laptop at one table and a group of young friends chatting at another. So, quite quiet then though it did get busier nearer to when we left at about 7:00 pm.

The menu is quite straight forward with four main sections “Classics” (£5.50 to £9.00), “Deluxe” (£4.00 and £5.50), “Special” (£3.60 and £5.10) and “Simple” (£3.20 and £4.70) containing different types of sushi. The option is that you can have a hand roll (the less expensive) or 8 maki (sushi wrapped in seaweed) pieces. Interestingly they offer the choice of white rice or “seasonal greens” in the hand rolls. Of course, they also have the standard Japanese starters including miso soup (£2), and edamame (beans) (£2 also) as well as other sushi options including nigiri, tataki (flame seared fresh fish) and sashimi.

I had the “Wasabi Tuna” maki (£4.70) and the “King Crab California” temaki (£5.50). Both were very tasty though I did find the “Wasabi Tuna” quite heavy, in places, with wasabi making it a bit of an exciting (read: hot) eat. The hand roll was lovely and fresh with perfectly balanced ingredients including the all-important mayonnaise. My companion tried the “Spicy Tuna” maki (£5.10) which turned out to be the best dish we had: Wonderfully fresh tuna with croutons (!) making it slightly crunchy. Delicious. I was feeling a bit hungrier so I continued with an order of the “Crunchy Tiger Prawns” temaki (£5.50) which was also very good indeed but gone all too quickly. According to the server the prawns and California rolls we had are the most popular items on the menu.

The fast service was simple but cheerful and very helpful (if a bit too quick explaining the items on the menu - though they seem to make out it is a bit unusual but I found it quite straightforward).

I can't say it is somewhere where you might go for a large meal but for some really fresh and tasty sushi, it is definitely worth a visit. The prices are nothing like some of the fancier Japanese places and on par with what you might pay at Yo Sushi - Except at Yoobi it is made when you order it with the freshest ingredients rather than picking it off of the conveyor and hoping it was made recently. I can't really fault it other than to say it can still get a bit pricey…and, perhaps, they can slow down when explaining things.

Rating: “Nearly perfect, but not quite”

Review Date: 2015-11-02


Cuisine: Japanese

Address: 38 Lexington Street Soho, London W1F 0LL

Public Transport: TUBE Oxford Circus TUBE Leicester Square TUBE Piccadilly Circus

Location: London (England) - Soho

Map:

 

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Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7287 9442

URL: http://www.loveyoobi.com/