🚩Yumai Japanese Cuisine, a popular local restaurant in Xindian

Yumai has been operating near the Qizhang Station in Xindian since mid-2014 and has become a favored spot in the area. There are usually people queuing even before it opens for lunch every day, reflecting its good business. It’s best to make a reservation ahead of time on weekends.

The interior decor features a wooden theme, with dark-colored ceilings, floors, and furniture. The lighting is somewhat dim, creating an izakaya-style ambiance, with about 40 seats available.

Once seated, a menu is provided, and orders are taken on paper forms. There are also some dishes listed on a blackboard. The restaurant offers a selection of rich alcohol options. After placing your order on the form, you hand it to the counter and pay after the meal. Both cash and mobile payment are accepted, and an invoice is available. There is no service charge.
An online system is also available for pre-ordering (both for takeout and dine-in), which can help reduce wait times.

Today, we had dinner as a pair (1.5 people) and ordered less than usual. Here are some thoughts on the dishes we tried⬇️
Shrimp Roe Tamago Yaki: The egg roll was topped with quite a bit of shrimp roe and bonito flakes and was served hot (the bonito flakes were dancing). The flavor of the egg roll was delicate and gently seasoned.
Shrimp Roe Dry Udon: A less common dish, dry udon noodles topped with two shrimp, crab meat shreds, small cucumber strips, bonito flakes, seaweed, and shrimp roe. The udon had a good chewy texture and paired well with the rich shrimp roe flavor. The shrimp were fresh, with the veins removed. Though the price is slightly high, the attention to detail is commendable.
Bacon and Egg Skewers: Thick slices of bacon wrapped around quail eggs and grilled to perfection, not burnt at all, and very delicious.

I personally recommend the following items:
Freshly opened oysters, sesame dragon beard vegetable, cod liver salad, yuzu pickled radish, caramel salmon sushi, caramel shrimp sushi, flounder rice bowl, sesame yam eggplant shrimp, cheese pork/beef donburi, grilled salmon head and chin, various skewers (bacon and egg, pork tomato, chicken thigh with cheese, abalone mushroom with mentaiko, zucchini skewers), grilled baby corn, fried chicken cartilage, soft squid tempura… and don’t miss the special weekday lunch set (grilled mackerel, chicken karaage, fried shrimp tempura).

Eight years ago, when I first moved to Xindian, I quickly became a loyal customer of Yumai (just look at how long my list of recommendations is…). I used to come here 2-3 times a month and often invited friends and family for gatherings. The food is truly delicious, and there’s a wide variety of options. Initially, the menu prices were relatively modest, but after several adjustments, over the last two years, the prices have risen to the point where it’s almost unaffordable… (The tamago yaki has gone from $69 to $100, and the pork tomato skewers have gone from $49 to $85... nearly every item has seen price increases of $20 or more) 😵. As a result, my visits have gradually decreased. But perhaps the inability to afford it is my problem; this place is still a fantastic restaurant, and I recommend it whole-heartedly (No more talk, I’ll continue to work hard to earn money now 🙃).