Another month, another new food business on Cotham Hill. The latest to open on what is fast becoming a Bristol food mecca is Japanese restaurant Yume (pronounced “you may”). Located in what for many years was the Friary cafe, Yume will soon be opening at 9am for breakfasts, but until then they are offering a lunch and dinner menu to both eat in and take away.
What may prove popular are their bento boxes, where rather like the tiffins one can take to the Thali Cafes across Bristol, you can buy a box for £25 to keep and then fill it up with your choice of food.
Yume’s two bento options are miso salmon (£9) and meatball (£8), the first two items on a refreshingly simple menu that encompasses teishyoku (trays with miso soup and rice), teriyaki (beef, chicken and salmon grilled in sweet soy sauce), noodles and sushi.
My own choice was the pork ramen (£6) from the noodle option. Currently all the rage in that there London where restaurants are named after the dish, ramen is Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat- or fish-based broth.
Half an egg was floating in my broth, with several sliced chunks of pork. I don’t know Japanese dining etiquette, but I switched between the ramen, some sushi and edamame beans from the sides choice with reckless abandon.
As yet there is no alcohol license, but tea fans are well served by Japanese options from Bristol’s own Lahloo, including matcha latte which is currently on special offer at £2.
Upstairs here has the feeling of a canteen to it, with a humming fridge, stools in the window and a banquette along one wall. Head downstairs and it becomes more like a restaurant, with a painted paper screen the likes of which Bruce Lee used to jump through when dealing with dozens of Samurai sword-wielding baddies.
Staff are dressed in traditional Japanese red and black dress and can helpfully decipher the menu and even more usefully, explain just what are the strange sweets and other assorted treats at the counter.
Yume, 9 Cotham Hill, Bristol, BS6 6LD. 0117 2002 888.
Bruce Lee is Chinese and I think you mean Tiffin boxes?
Changed to tiffin – thanks.
They make an amazing seafood udon
Does anyone know how authentic the food is? Is the chef Japanese/have they spent time in Japan? There are far too many “Japanese” restaurants that don’t quite cut it (Masa for example). Would be nice to have something that really tastes Japanese.
Just went today for lunch, but have to say the food is very average although prices are reasonable. Not entirely authentic. Obento do a much better chicken katsu curry!
I had a Tofu Katsu on Friday and it was amazing. I have never had anything like it before. It was cooked fresh and tasted like nothing else I have ever had as a vegetarian before. These guys have just opened, so still finding their feet. I am really looking forward to going back and seeing how they change their menus.
Had Pork Ramen the other day at Yume. Found it to be fantastic value for money at just £7 for a massive bowl of truly delicious soup noodles. Highly recommended. The staff could not be friendlier and judging by how full the place was the word about Yume is spreading amongst Bristol’s ‘foodie’ community. I think trying to pigeonhole the place as Japanese is a little shortsighted as there are Korean and Chinese influences as well. A bargain!