The opening of a
decent independent restaurant in Cardiff Bay is always a cause for celebration.
Every unique,
family-run, passion-driven place which opens means a redressing of the
balance against the identikit Gourmet Waganandos Expresses.
It’s not that I’m
anti-chain, it’s just the number of ‘em down the Bay makes it feel a bit like any high street in any city and not the distinctive destination which is home to Welsh
government and Cardiff's most interesting architecture.
Yakitori#1 is the Bay’s newest Japanese restaurant.
The décor is light,
clean, modern and utilitarian – exactly what you’d expect.
Their menu is
pleasingly familiar territory too – there are hot appetisers (yakitori,
tempura, miso soup, etc.), a huge selection of sushi, a few salads and good
range of noodle & rice dishes (katsu curry, ramen, etc.)
Whilst Yakitori#1’s
prices are steeper than other Japanese restaurants in the city, their fish
(supplied by the royal-warranted Channel Fisheries) is the best I’ve eaten in
Cardiff.
We started with a few beers whilst we selected more food than 3 people should be able to eat.
First up were chicken
gyoza (£5.60). Crisp, thin, bubbly cases cocooned a juicy chicken and chive
filling.
A selection of
textbook hand rolls followed (they’ll be making an appearance on the menu in
the next couple of weeks around the £3.50 mark).
Crisp nori, room
temperature rice, cucumber, a couple of leaves and a generous quantity of
protein were all as should be.
The silky salmon and
avocado...
...and crisp chicken katsu with marie rose sauce were inhaled with equal
ferocity.
A 12-piece sushi
platter (£17.95) was first-rate - 3 pieces each of meaty tuna, tender salmon, whopping prawns and yielding avocado with saline seaweed.
Next were maki
rolls - the generosity of filling elevating them above others I’ve eaten.
Sweet-glazed, tender
teriyaki chicken and cucumber rolls (£7.50) were topped with creamy
marie rose and salty seaweed.
Salmon and avocado
rolls (£9.50) were filled with avocado, sweet crabstick and topped with seaweed, salty roe and a liberal amount of fish.
We finished the meal
with an excellent plate of yaki soba (£12.95). 3 huge prawns crowned a bowl of
lightly soy-glazed noodles flecked with chicken, peppers, shallots, pak choi
and carrot.
Yakitori#1’s supremely
good sushi is a welcome addition to Cardiff Bay.
Next time you’re visiting, ditch the chains and check out
this excellent independent.
Disclosure - I was invited as a guest of Yakitori#1. All food and drink was complimentary.
The details:
Address - Unit 10, Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff CF10 5BZ
Telephone - 02920 495050
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