Among the colour and noise of Chinatown exits a single Japanese restaurant, Yuzu. It’s a tiny, tranquil place with simple, minimalist clean lines and shared bench seating.
It was once one of Manchester’s best ‘hidden gems’, before a glowing review from food critic Jay Rayner let the cat out of the bag. Now reservations are harder to come by, particularly at peak times, but they’re worth the wait.
You’ll be rewarded with simple yet authentic Japanese dishes executed perfectly. From their signature gyoza – silky soft steamed dumplings filled with plump, succulent king prawn – to the most wonderfully crisp fried chicken kara-age, it all pretty much hits the spot. Regular specials include a grilled whole sea bream, served simply with soy sauce and fresh ginger on the side.
There is no sushi on the menu, because, as their own website states: 'We do not sell sushi, as sushi has to be made by a properly trained sushi master, which we are not.' There’s something really quite refreshing about a restaurant refraining from selling something that it does’t feel qualified to produce. There is stunning sashimi though, made using fresh market fish, served over sushi rice in a large donburi bowl.
To drink, there’s authentic Japanese beers, plum wine and a range of sake to suit all tastes. A superb blend of junmai sake and fresh yuzu juice can often be found on the specials board and is highly recommended.