Walking down Cyber Hub at Cyber City, Gurgaon, one’s eyes are irresistibly drawn to Yum Yum Cha. The pastel shades of the origami pots placed outside makes one want to peek in and find out what the festivity is all about. Feast is what Yum Yum Cha has to offer in its modestly sized but seemingly expansive restaurant with natural light streaming in and the soothing white and pastel colours of origami figures dotting the walls, hanging on the ceiling, table service, simply everywhere.
The menu card invites you to join in on a Pan-Asian flavoured jamboree with dishes represented in cartoons and served in two sizes- “little bundles of joy” and “huge bowls of happiness.”The menu lists in addition to the usual suspects, Japanese Takoyaki fried dumplings made in pans very similar to our South India panniyaram ones; paper hotpots and the delightful eye candies- Mochi ice creams. For the purists, there are the pure sushi rolls, nigiri, sashimi etc. but the locals are enticed with variations –spicy, creamy and simply, tasty.
Chicken dimsum flavoured with Chilli oil and fried browned garlic give a peppy zing to the meal. Crystal Duck, on the other hand is subtle, the slivers of Peking duck wrapped in soothing flavours of hoisin and cherries. Hot and Spicy Jade tests our chopstick wielding skills, the translucent rice shell breaking down and spilling the contents at a mere touch. Work needs to be done on making the shells stay intact.
Hotate Mentayaki is spot on, the scallop pairing well with a pleasing mayo sprinkled with cod roe.
Snow pea salad is simplicity personified, the tender beans shredded and seasoned with nutty sesame seeds and chestnuts. Japanese pizzas are novel, one half topped with shavings of excellent red tuna dressed with truffle oil and citrusy ponzu sauce, and the other half, a demure but delicious peking duck.
Yum Yum Cha attempts to lure local palates used to exuberant flavours into trying the minimalist, subtle flavours of Japanese sushi. The results are a riot of fusion flavours- the Alaska roll crab, tenkasu sprinkled delight, spiced with ponzu and mayo; the Vegetarian version has creamy cheese on crispy chive, cucumber and carrot; the New Delhi paying obeisance to the local populace with spicy tuna, coriander and Tabasco; Hanna with a soft salmon wrapped around vinegaredrice enveloping spicy tuna, cucumber and avocado.
Pork belly remains true to Japanese flavours, sweet and mildly spicy. Paper hot pot brings piping hot Vietnamese Pho, a comforting food in the coming cooler days. Japanese curry with basil rice and Three pepper noodles served in stone pots are finished at the table, the dishes a melange of colours and flavours. Lamb yellow bean in a rich turmeric hue, surprises you with its dense but not too spicy sauce and the crunchy beans adding to its texture.
The summer coolers are served bottled in appetizing colours of red (watermelon-mint), pink (pomegranate-ginger), orange (orange- kaffir lime), Black magic (cola). The drinks feel fresh and are refreshingly addictive.
Mochi Ice creams make a child out of adults and Yum Yum Cha has plentiful options to tease and please.The colourful balls of home made ice creams coated with rice dough shells are extremely inviting. Coconut and Jaggery, chocolaty Rocky Road, Mango and very localized Paan flavour(a local natural mouth freshener cum digestive) and the newly introduced Black berry. Banoffee Sushi is another great hit- fudgy, chocolaty, and creamy with a very ripe banana at the centre.
Yum Yum Cha attempts to showcase the lively street food of the Far East that goes beyond the chinjabi sweet and sour chicken and Gobi Manchurian in our neighbourhood, and does it with élan.
Ratings (Out of 5)
Category: Pan Asian
Food: 4.0 | Service: 4.0 | Ambience: 5.0 I Overall: 4.0
YUM YUM CHA, Cyber Hub, DLF Cyber City, Gurgaon | Tel: +91 124 4078133/9810002993
Timings: 12.00 noon – 11.00 pm
Meal for two without alcohol:~ Rs. 2000/++ | Alcohol: Wine and beer license awaited | Disabled friendly: yes
(Disclosure: This review was done on the invitation of the restaurant)
