Yu-U

Intrigued by the hidden nature of this restaurant (& with a hankering for Japanese that I didn’t have to walk far to get), I went for a stroll tonight on the off chance I could get a seat. Was just me at 6.05pm and I was seated immediately on the proviso I was done by 7.30pm (not a problem as I left by 7!). There was one other couple, and another arrived just before 7. The menu had a note about the $ 30 minimum pp, but pre theatre dining exiting by 7.30pm was excluded from this.
I had the kingfish sashimi — 6 decent sized pieces for $ 15 — was the freshest /​tastiest I have had in a long long time. My mouth is watering thinking about it! I went to the bathroom just after ordering and this had been served by the time I got back.
Ebi Shu Mai (made with noodles all fancy like, bigger than a golf ball size & also very very tasty!)
The way the restaurant is set up, diners are seated around an open grill area, where my chicken giblet & chicken teriyaki skewers were cooked to absolute perfection!
The service was friendly & polite in a typical non overbearing, Japanese way, and all for only $ 32
I can’t wait to go back & try more of this perfect little fancy Izakaya!
Fun Fact — Check out Miriam’s photo of the door — possibly the most helpful thing I’ve ever seen on Unilocal (the door is one metre from Flinders Lane on Oliver Lane)

If you want an early and peaceful lunch, then come here and enjoy their lunch sets. The vibe is traditional yet minimalistic Japanese and the service is what you would expect if you were dining in Japan.

Fantastic tucked away Japanese place. Terrific for lunch. Great food, inexpensive and efficient and attentive service. Love it and I’m definitely returning.

I felt a sense of accomplishment walking down the stairs of Yu U after being turned away twice for not having any booking for dinner.
What were you thinking, I hear you say.
Well the first time around I didn’t even think I was gonna find the place.
The second time around I walked there midweek. Early. Still I had no luck until lunch time today.
I loved the long elevated bar communal seating. I loved the cozy corners and wooden seats, I loved the long wooden bench lining the wall.
The lunch box was $ 20 and we chose salmon teriyaki and seafood tempura.
The verdict?
Good Japanese food but not amazing.
The coleslaw salad came with thick potato dressing, I found it too thick to dress the salad completely and didn’t enjoy it.
The miso soup came clear and light unlike the miso you usually see.
The pickles were lightly seasoned and the main dish serving was small,
The seafood tempura for example came with 3pieces on the plate.
Yes the place is special but lunch is average.
Maybe better luck for dinner.

Outstanding food… but a bad experience service wise. The wagyu and cheese broth is a must try. However there is a $ 30 minimum even if you are the only people in the restaurant and you are not told about it in advance.

Concealed behind the pink dingy door on Oliver Lane is this intimate Japanese restaurant that will leave you feeling a little bit special knowing what you’ve just discovered.
The underground dining experience is staged around a huge, solid wood U-​shape share table, complete with yakitori chef in the centre, which gives the restaurant a charming vibe.
The food itself was kept simple, yet enticing and served tapas style.
Each dish was made from high quality produce, elegantly presented and the tempura was delicate and crisp; considerably the best i’ve had.
The service was attentive and endearing, making the dining experience all the more pleasurable.
They also do $ 15 set lunches!
If you’ve got a craving for yakitori and handmade buckwheat noodles, don’t go to Chinatown where the food is generic and the atmosphere chaotic, rather go in search for the pink graffitied door and eat until your heart’s content.
Tip: If you like the film ‘Kill Bill’ — go here!

Incroyable. Autant pour le cadre, simple, sobre et chaleureux que pour l’accueil incroyablement agréable. Les plats sont divins. Toute la carte donne envie et même si parfois nous né sommes pas trop surs de ce que nous dégustons, on n’a jamais de mauvaise surprise. C’est savoureux, délicat et tout simplement bon. Une partie de la cuisine est ouverte et certains plats sont fait devant vous si vous avez la chance d’être installés au bar… Je le recommande très vivement si un jour vous passez par là bien sur.

I like how it’s hidden away with nothing more than a barely visible sign by a dinge door giving away its location. And how you walk down dim lit stairs to reveal a rather nice looking place.
A group of us were there for lunch so we managed to grab the back room. We removed our shoes and were seated on cushions on the floor. The service was top-​notch — fast, efficient and friendly. Their lunch menu consists of about 6 lunchbox sets, each coming with the main of your choice, miso soup, rice, pickles, a small salad and fruit. This will set you back about $ 18. The main components are things like Tonkotsu, sashimi, a beef burger (I think that’s what they called it) and others, which I don’t remember. Though the food was nice, fresh and all that, I honestly must admit I really wanted more options. I like to be overwhelmed with choices rather than have only a few things to choose from, especially when I can get the same lunchbox set elsewhere, that tastes just as good but also have the option of ordering a donburi instead. That’s just me, of course. And to be fair, Yu-​U does everything that it sets out to do, and does it very well. So in a city where bad Japanese food is way too easy to find, this really is a good choice.