Gallery • 8 Photos

Natalie Sanford

Those looking for a unique and extraordinary restaurant experience in St. Louis Park would be disappointed by Yami Yami: Chinese and Japanese Cuisine. Those looking for a variety of tasty food options without many frills, however, may just love it.

The latest restaurant to open in the city, Yami Yami may seem odd at first glance— it’s not often that Chinese and Japanese cuisine are side-by-side in the same place. This leads into the first problem the eatery faces— its menu.

The menu feels disjointed. On one hand, you have a variety of sushi and sashimi selections, from California Rolls to Caterpillar Rolls. On the other side, you have what looks to be a traditional Chinese menu, complete with beef and broccoli, lo mein, and hot and sour soup.

While the menu could be reworked to feel more cohesive, the food as a whole is very appetizing. Both the hot and sour soup and wonton soup were flavorful and tasted homemade. The spicy tuna sushi was fantastic, and the chicken lo mein satisfied completely.

The best part of Yami Yami is that they present a wide variety of delectable choices at very low prices. Most of the sushi when purchased alone is around $5. A generous portion of lo mein only costs $6. So, while the menu and identity of the restaurant are scrambled– it’s caught between two distinct world cuisines. None of that really matters once the food has been served.

The atmosphere is another below average area for Yami Yami. It simply serves its need as a restaurant space and does little else.

Somehow what on face value appeared to be a frankly bad idea ended up being a pleasant surprise.

As a whole Yami Yami is not built up on modern decor or a clean, inviting menu. Instead it’s the quality food at affordable prices that make this restaurant worth visiting.

Yami Yami is open Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sun. 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant is located at 4712 Excelsior Blvd in St. Louis Park.