... My favourite – mainly because of their many locations, simple layout and quick access to food - is Yo! Sushi. I have tried their branches at Victoria and Paddington Stations, County Hall, and St Paul’s Churchyard and found them to be fairly consistent in quality, service and layout, as such, ... Read review
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Advantages: Quick and healthy food. Great for a flying lunch or dinner. Disadvantages: Can be a little expensive.
...access to food - is Yo! Sushi. I have tried their branches at Victoria and Paddington Stations, County Hall, and St Paul’s Churchyard and found them to be fairly consistent in quality, service and layout, as such, this review relates to the chain in general, rather than a specific branch.
===BACKGROUND===
Before “conveyor belt” sushi became popular in the UK, aficionados of this Japanese staple had to make ... ...Moshi Sushi and, more pertinently, Yo! - founded by British entrepreneur Simon Woodroffe (one of the original Dragon’s on BBC2’s Dragon’s Den) in 1998. It was by no means the first or the best – but it is now certainly the biggest and most recognised chain of kaiten (conveyor belt) sushi bars, centred mainly in and around London. For a full run down of their many branches, check out their detailed web site (www.yosushi.com).
Going for Sushi is a real treat for me, mainly because my wife abhors the stuff, so the likelihood of going for a Japanese on one of our rare nights out is pretty slim. I have all the gubbins needed to make it at home, but whenever I get the chance, I always try and grab lunch at one of London’s many sushi bars. My favourite – mainly because of their many locations, simple layout and quick access to food - is Yo! Sushi. I have tried their branches at Victoria and Paddington Stations, County Hall, and St Paul’s Churchyard and found them to be fairly consistent in quality, service and layout, as such, this review relates to the chain in general, rather than a specific branch.
BACKGROUND
Before “conveyor belt” sushi became popular in the UK, aficionados of this Japanese staple had to make do with frightfully priced, formal sit-down restaurants which were not really conducive to a quick lunch. You could get decent sushi from small sushi bars which specialised in doing bento boxes and sushi selections for the lunchtime City crowd, but if you wanted something quick, informal but not take-away, you were not exactly spoilt for choice. The gap in the market was filled by the likes of Itsu, Moshi Moshi Sushi and, more pertinently, Yo! - founded by British entrepreneur Simon Woodroffe (one of the original Dragon’s on BBC2’s Dragon’s Den) in 1998. It was by no means the first or the best – but it is now certainly the biggest and most recognised chain of kaiten (conveyor belt) sushi bars, centred mainly in and around London. For a full run down of their many branches, check out their detailed web site (www.yosushi.com).
THE CONCEPT
The main feature of these restaurants is, unsurprisingly, the conveyor belt that snakes its way around a central preparation area. Stools and booths are situated along the belt and you simply watch the food go by and take what you fancy. Plates are colour-coded, with a corresponding price chart indicating the cost of each dish. These range from cheap end lime green plates (£1.70 – typically basic rice and seaweed (maki) rolls filled with vegetables like cucumber and red pepper) to the mid-range purple (£2.70 - /£3.20) and the most expensive silver plate (£5.00 – such as assorted sashimi – slices of fresh raw fish). A menu is provided which describes what you can find “on the belt” and what you can ask to be specially prepared and freshly cooked to order. Water fountains (with “charged for” sparkling or still mineral water) are placed at intervals along the counter, as well as pots of wasabi (hot green Japanese horseradish), a bottle of Kikkoman dark soy sauce, gari (pinkish ginger pickle), napkins, chopsticks and small dishes to pour the soy and accompaniments into.
SERVICE
The atmosphere is very informal. You can wait to be seated, but if staff look busy, feel free to find room and sit down where you fancy. At busy times, it can get a bit hectic and you may have to wait for space to be cleared for you, but staff are generally quite efficient at doing this, so waiting times (in all but exceptionally busy periods) tend to be minimal. You will be asked if you are a Yo! novice, and if so, the system is explained to you. Once you get comfortable, you can get stuck in straight away. I tend to order green tea with my meal which is “bottomless” and is great value at around £1.25. The other two unlimited items are the fountain water (£1) and the excellent miso soup (£1.75).
You order the special dishes by pressing a red button in front of you, which – much like a call button on an aircraft – summons the waiting staff. Service tends to be quick, efficient and attentive – you don’t have a dedicated staff member serving you – whoever is in the neighbourhood when you “call” will see to your needs. If an item described as “on the belt” is absent from the conveyor, you can also ask for it to be made for you. I love salmon and tuna sashimi but I like it to be fresh sliced, so will often order it as I sit down even if there is some on the belt. One small criticism is that staff have the habit of walking round the conveyor and picking one up off the belt, so you need to be very specific if you want it super-fresh. Each of the dishes has a “use-by” time on them in any case, to ensure they don’t stay on the conveyor too long.
THE FOOD
Yo! provide a very wide range of dishes that cover a broad spectrum of Japanese cooking. On the “raw” side, these include sushi (rice topped with slices of fish such as tuna, salmon, mackerel and squid), nori rolls (rice and a fish or vegetable filling placed in a thin sheet of dried seaweed, rolled and then cut into pieces), California rolls (“inside out” nori rolls with the rice on the outside, if that makes sense) and fresh made hand rolls, where the ingredients are loosely placed inside a seaweed cone. Cooked foods include teriyaki chicken and beef, breaded and deep fried prawns, various rice and noodle dishes, teppanyaki and tempura (vegetables deep fried in a light batter). Desserts are a little on the thin side, with fresh fruit and sweet rice cakes the main options on the conveyor.
PAYMENT
When you are finished, you press the call button and a staff member will come around and tot up your bill based on the coloured plates of the food you have consumed. You then take the bit of paper to the cashier where you pay for the meal – all major credit cards (including AMEX) are accepted. No service charge is added and tipping is optional, with a “tip jar” available by the till. My meals usually average between £12 and £18 depending on how greedy I am feeling, but that’s mainly because I enjoy the more high end stuff. It’s easy enough to get by and have a decent meal for under a tenner, but being frank, if you are looking for cheap eats, this is probably the wrong place.
VERDICT
Yo! Sushi is consistently good at what it does and is worth trying for the experience of kaiten sushi if nothing else. It’s quick and convenient with a wide variety of fresh and cooked food to suit all palates, and in the main, a very healthy way to eat. It’s a perfect introduction to Japanese food, especially for the wary or less than adventurous, as you can start with some familiar dishes like Teriyaki chicken or noodle dishes, and work up the courage to try some sushi. Go on, give it a go, Yo know you want to!
Advantages: Healthy, tasty, filling Japanese food in an imaginative format Disadvantages: Can be a little expensive for what you get
...a successful chain* Yo! Sushi (Y!S) is (for the UK) relatively original in that diners are served a wide range of tasty Japanese dishes from a conveyor belt. The company currently claims to offer '91 dishes, including sashimi, makis and nori wrapped hand rolls through to hot staples such as chicken katsu curry.' For obvious reasons of freshness and health and safety, the bulk of the hot dishes are made to order by their efficient and busy chefs. ... ...opt for a trip to Yo! Sushi at London's County Hall: The restaurant is tucked behind County Hall in the street that runs parallel to the Thames (it's across the road). Belvedere Road County Hall London SE1 7GP Nearest tube station: Waterloo/Westminster (just cross Westminster Bridge - landmarks such as the London Eye and the South bank make it easy to aim for) If you get lost, you can call them on 020 7928 8871 More information, menus and offers ...
edinburgher 10.09.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Yo! Sushi
...you want any drinks - Yo! Sushi offer a respectable range of drinks, from Japanese beers, to wines, teas, and standard soft drinks . They also offer unlimited Miso soup for £1.75, or unlimited still or sparkling water (dispensed from taps at the table) for £1. Each table comes with a healthy supply of chopsticks (including some wide ones for beginners) napkins, pickled ginger, and soy sauce . You'll also be given a menu, which lists all the dished ... .... The toilets in Yo! Sushi are always spotlessly clean, and there is a disabled toilet also . The staff keep the restaurant very clean, and are constantly on the go cleaning . I also find them all very friendly, both the waiting staff and the chefs - and having now been to Yo! Sushi many times , they always recognise my mum and me, and say hello, which I like - it's always nice to feel like a special customer! I loved being able to see the dishes ...
Thehonesttruth 18.09.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Yo! Sushi
...off!
The premise behind Yo! Sushi is very simple. The food is made freshly and in front of you and is then put in a bowl and then onto a conveyor belt. As the food goes round you then just pick up whatever dishes take your fancy. Each bowl has a different colour code which relates to the price and these are as follows:
Green - £1.70
Blue - £2.20
Purple - £2.70
Orange - £3.20
Pink - £3.70
Grey - £5.00
I found that the majority of dishes tended ... ...I went to the Yo! Sushi in House of Fraser in Croydon and, to be honest, was slightly disappointed. There wasn't a great deal of food on the conveyor belt and it tended to be the same things over and over which meant that when there was something that looked good, it was quickly snapped up. I think this had something to do with the fact that we got there an hour before closing but even so, I would expect there to have been more food.
One word of ...
mynameisrui 05.12.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Yo! Sushi
Advantages: A whole new way of eating Disadvantages: none at all
...days ago, I visited a YO! sushi bar in London Victoria train station. We(myself and my brother) had seen it before, and been intreagued, but not had chance to go in, as we had been with our dad, who is never willing to try anything that has even the most remotely foriegn origin. Anyway, we have been to London for a theatre break with our mum, who loves the idea of foriegn food, and decided to pop in for a bite to eat before going to see Wicked(a ... ...very best thing about the YO! sushi bar was the experience itself, of eating japanese food, prepared, served, and eaten raditionally as it would be in a true japanese sushi bar. The experience was really good, and a bit of an eye opener, and I can safely say that I feel whether you are into japanese or not you could go in, find something to eat, even if not much, and enjoy yourself, or at least be amazed by the conveyor belt with all the fod on it. ...
DC-DanielColeflax 31.12.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Yo! Sushi
Advantages: Great fun, novel and healthy too. Disadvantages: The bill can quickly build up!
...kitch and cool restaurant chain Yo! Sushi opened near(ish) to me I was enticed by the bright colours, the totally original way of eating - and the talking drinks trolley. Yes, okay, this was what really got me. The idea of being served by a small robot-trolley by sticking my leg out to stop it on its circuit of the restaurant, and removing my beverage of choice while hearing it say to me 'I am pleased to service you' (as if I was a car in for an ... ...I would highly recommend Yo! Sushi restaurants to anyone, whatever their tastes in food, because it's a great experience and a way to expose yourself to a whole new culture of eating. Sadly my most local branch has closed (in exchange for a totally ordinary run-of-the-mill Italian place) and I have a feeling this might be due to the fact that people are a little wary of something so different and new. As for me, I'm always willing to go the extra ...
belaqua 24.06.2002 (25.06.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Yo! Sushi
Value for Money
Standard of Menu
Atmosphere
Standard of Service
Cleanliness
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