Review: Yoon Sushi

Sushi is so popular in the west now that the new game in town is to find something on the menu that differentiates one sushi bar from the one just like it around the corner. Now, I play a little game called “find something new”. I am either drawn by the clever, eye-catching names like, Yami Yami Maki, the Chicago Maki, the French Maki or the Sake Skin Maki or by a new menu category I’ve not seen in these parts before.

We all know maki, the sushi roll with vinegared rice, and that the variations on the theme can be fun and exciting, but I am pleased that I found many exciting, out of the ordinary dishes at  on Prominence Point Parkway.

Japanese Comfort Food—Kitchen Don Buri

Don Buri is a rice bowl dish that is served with fish, meat or vegetables and egg. Think of it as a savory stew with the meat and/or vegetables in a simmering dashi sauce as one that is traditionally made in Japanese homes and restaurants. It is typically served in a big bowl also called a don buri.

At Yoon, there are three rice bowls to choose from: Beef Don Buri, Chicken Don Buri and Chicken Cutlet Don Buri. These “feed-a-whole-army” bowls are priced at $10.97. Once discovered, I placed my order for the Chicken Don Buri for this must-take-home-so-I won’t-have-to-cook-for-the-rest-of-the-week to go while I enjoyed my other fabulous finds in-house. The portion provided several, deliciously fragrant and flavorful hot bowls as the evenings turned cooler. The chicken was tender and nicely seasoned as well as the mushrooms, scallions and greens.

Inside Delights

Straying from my normal routine, I chose the Hamachi (yellow tail at $2.97/piece), and a Unagi (grilled Sea Water eel at $2.49/piece) from the Nigiri selections and the French Maki (Ebi with asparagus and Japanese Mayo at $4.49/roll) from the Makimono Sushi selections. The yellow tail was very fresh and delicate. The rice was as perfect as one would expect. The grilled eel was warm, soft, tender, providing the umami component to the tongue while the bite of the ebi (shrimp) was delicately balanced with the crunch of the asparagus. The portions were a bit small, but satisfying.

On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, the house sake is half off the regular price.  There are lunch specials that are served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, including Bento boxes and a kid’s menu. The entire menu is geared to offer as many varieties to please a wide range of tastes. A fun thing to do with a few friends could be a tasting of all the appetizers; there are 24 very appealing choices.

I would also like to point out that Yoon Sushi offers the prized delicacy, Otoro (fatty tuna) and Chutoro (medium fatty tuna), both sections of the blue fin tuna that is prized for its high fat content. These pieces of Nigiri, priced at $7.30 and $5.97 respectively are star-studded, melt-in-your-mouth morsels. If the budget permits, treat yourself or someone special.

The rest of the menu is quite generous. If you love sushi, you won’t walk away unsatisfied. The service is friendly, helpful and prompt. The is sleek and elegant. I liked the fact that the sushi bar takes up much of the space; it offers a rapport with the chef that is befitting the culture.