Years ago when I used to get invitations to review Oriental or Pan Asian restaurants, the first images that would flash in my mind were dark interiors done in red or golden with dragon pictures and slow and leisurely staff rhyming while taking orders. But it’s quite different now. Recently I went to Yum Yum Cha at Select Citywalk Mall, Saket and what a vibrant bistro feel it had. Lovely set up with young and enthusiastic staff who feels so proud oftheir cuisine. The excitement they showed while handing the menu to me was worth noticing.
The well-designed menu with apt details and drawings is another highlight of the place, To start with, I had a bowl of tom yum, which was served in a closed pot maintaining the temperature to perfection. The soup was as spicy as it should be and had a nice clear texture. Nothing beats a good Asian soup in this weather. Yum Yum Cha is not a place to expect deep fried or greasy stuff but it is a place to cherish a range of sushis and dim sums. I first tried my hand at sushis. This is one preparation which I have fallen in love with. A nicely rolled sushi with perfect touch of wasabi and ginger resting on top with a sprinkle of soy tastes just divine. I tried dynamite, spicy salmon and volcano variants and loved all of them to the core. The wasabi for me was slightly mild and lacked that kick which it should have.
Moving on to dim sums, I tried four-five variants and each one was better than the other. Hargao was really good but the one which I must say is a welcome addition to Delhi is their takoyaki, a popular Japanese street food delicacy. I loved the octopus variant but I would strongly recommend their paper wrapped chicken and sizzling sticky rice pot. The paper wrapping helped in keeping the juices intact and the flavours to seep into the chicken. Sticky rice served in stone pot was the dish for which I will visit Yum Yum Cha again and again. Meal for two – Rs.1500 plus taxes
