3 days ago
Chennai's You Mee takes one on a flavourful journey through Japan and beyond
Sichuan Crispy Chicken, hibachi fried rice and dorayaki pancakes are a welcome addition to the options available at Express Avenue mall. You Mee, which opened recently, is already popular with diners. The welcoming manga-inspired decor at this pan-Asian restaurant, in white, black and red, is at once dramatic and cheerful, setting the tone for an immersive and inviting experience.
Pan Indian food is having its moment, as Indian diners get more adventurous experimenting beyond fried rice and Sichuan noodles. You Mee offers a glimpse into trending cuisines and dishes from Japanese ramen bowls to dimsum and ramen. The model has proved so successful that they have opened across the country, including in Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mohali and Pune.
I begin with a Prawn tempura sushi roll, which is light and crisp with perfectly-cooked prawns. The roll is accompanied by crumbled fish roe, cucumber, and a touch of mayonnaise
The menu offers a well-balanced mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes and vegan options. In a bid to cater to a larger audience, the food is designed for Indian diners, so there is an interesting variety of vegetarian dishes, from eight different types of vegetarian sushi to an addictively simple Japanese salad made with spinach and seasoned with a creamy sesame dressing.
Among the appetisers, while the crisp lotus stem is fairly standard fare, the chilli coriander chicken dumpling and crisp chicken Sichuan stand out for their punchy flavours. The coriander chicken dumpling, filled with minced chicken, red chilli, and shiitake mushrooms, has the right balance of spices, and goes well with its tangy coriander sauce topping.
We also try their New York Chilli Cheese oil dimsum, a signature dish at You Mee. This is a cheese lover's dream, with a generous stuffing, made of cream cheese, mushroom, water chestnuts, then drizzled with chilli oil. Tempted by the description of their Sichuan Crispy chicken, we order that as well, and it turns out to be a bold spicy dish of stir-fried chicken with a Himalayan chilli, black beans and Sichuan pepper.
The Japanese style Miso soup that we ordered arrives hot, with a pleasing umami from the dashi stock and miso paste. The soup comes with an option of tofu or prawn.
For our main dish, we decide on spicy chicken ramen. The menu also offers five vegetarian ramen options, which include a vegan coconut curry, braised tofu and kimchi. Our ramen arrives piping hot, filled with stir fried chicken chunks, bell peppers, and vegetables in a spicy miso broth. The dish is not overly fiery but has a pleasant, gentle heat.
Our meal ends with the coconut palm jaggery pudding, described as a Japanese souffle. WIth all the familiar flavours of a traditional jaggery dessert, this rich, caramelised pudding is made with coconut milk, palm jaggery and egg yolk, and flavoured with cinnamon and lemongrass. A drizzle of caramel sauce completes the dish.
With generous portions and a thoughtfully curated menu, You Mee offers well-executed Japanese elements alongside pan-Asian influences, as well as a tasty break from shopping.
You Mee, Express Avenue Mall. 11am to 11pm. Cost for two: ₹1,500. For reservations, call 8329002213.
