We dove straight into Manga-themed paradise at YOÜMEE, Gurgaon where a lineup of sushis, dim sums and ramen kept us company. By Bayar Jain
Confession: I’m a hopeless Ramen-tic with a special corner for dim sums, sushi, and baos. Naturally, then, I had to dive headfirst to sample the multi-page offerings at the YOÜMEE outlet in Ambience Mall, Gurgaon—the brand’s second outpost in Delhi-NCR.
Ambience
I step away from the bustling crowds at the Ambience Mall in Gurgaon and walk into a Manga-themed paradise called YOÜMEE. Black and white pop-art vie for attention across the walls of the restaurant and the furnishings—a colour palette broken only by red upholstery, bright pink neon signs, and ochre cane partitions. At the entrance, a chef at the live sushi counter skilfully rolls seaweed wraps; at the back, a glass-panelled kitchen entices. I, however, am eyeing the pink neon lettering—”hopelessly ramen-tic.” I may not have bit into the delicacies yet, but I’m already convinced I’ve found my paradisiacal culinary space!
Food
A quick scan of the QR-code menu via my mobile phone unravels the many dishes on offer here. The menu at YOÜMEE has all the classic Japanese dishes. Think wok-tossed appetisers, sushis, dim sums, baos, sashimi, ramen, teppanyaki, stone bowls, poke bowls and—of course—noodles and rice. My head is boggled, my mouth is salivating. As a vegetarian, it’s rare to find such a bouquet of choices at Japanese restaurants in India. Another brownie point for YOÜMEE!
I begin my meal with Vegetable California, Sriracha Blush and YOU MEE Garden Dragon. The three sushi dishes are rolled to perfection with the seaweed offering the right amount of crunch. The vegetables in the Vegetable California have a nice bite, while the fried tempura asparagus in the Garden Dragon is a happy surprise. Although the Sriracha Blush promises to be on the tangier, spicier side—courtesy of jalapeño and sriracha sauce—for me, it edges on the sweeter side. Luckily, the pungent soy sauce and wasabi paste make up for this miss.
Next up is a Spicy Vegetable & Chive dim sum. The small dumplings pack a punch with its fiery hot vegetables and fresh red chilies, just the way I like it. The infusion of chives into the lotus stem and water chestnuts fillings create a beautiful balance of flavour, compelling me to polish off the plate clean within seconds.
The next dish takes a U-turn. The crisp sweet chilli jam wonton is deep-fried goodness loaded with sticky, sweet chilli jam. With sticky hands and a mouth drooling with taste buds grateful for the wave of sweetness as respite, the shiitake-filled wontons leave me smiling. The hit of chilli, although subtle, is enough to make its presence felt.
Before visiting, I was told that devouring the ramen bowls at YOÜMEE is a must. Giving in to this praise, I place an order for a Vegan Coconut Curry Ramen. A few minutes later, a black bowl is perched on my table, with strong whiffs of coconut lingering alongside. The light orange herbaceous soup is hearty while the fresh broccoli, carrots, corn, cauliflower, mushrooms and spring onions add to the flavour. My heart—and stomach—are content. “The desserts will have to wait for another time,” I think, making a mental note to revisit.
Address: Shop 318, 3rd Floor, Ambience Mall, DLF Phase 3, Gurgaon
Timings: Monday to Sunday, 12 noon to 11:00 pm
Price for two: INR 1,500 for two people (approx.)
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Bayar Jain
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