Yuji Modern Japanese - Review - Inman Park - Atlanta - The Infatuation

"Yuji is a very “Beltline-y” spot. By that, we mean coming here is less about the food (which is fairly decent sushi) and more about bragging that you’re in step with the pulse of the city. On most nights, this place looks like it could be a giant networking mixer for young adults. And because it's on the other side of Krog Street Market, an assorted mix of Beltliners settles in at the outdoor bar. Inside, every inch of wall space is taken up by cherry blossom flowers and stunning sake bottles that practically beg you to toss back a few. So come for that drink, to people watch, or if you just need a photo-worthy backdrop to pretty-up your timeline. It's gorgeous. But unfortunately, all the great taste gets monopolized by the decor. The food has some missteps and is a surprising let-down compared to the team’s other sushi spots (Kinjo Room and MF Sushi), which landed on our best sushi list. The Yuji roll (tuna and salmon on top with a dab of sriracha) is a loosely rolled snooze-fest. The wagyu on the surf and turf is chewy. And you'll want to get here early since the best item here (the garlicky crab buns) frequently sells out. But just remember: you’re here for a “cocktail and chill” moment, so the overcooked rice in the crispy spicy salmon box is beside the point. Food Rundown Snow Crab & Calamari Karaage An appetizer worth ordering because the breading is light and the yum yum sauce gets a kick from some cayenne. photo credit: Juli Horsford Yuji Roll It’s standard and does the job with a nice helping of tuna, salmon, avocado, and dab of sriracha to give it a bit more flavor. But even our inept kitchen skills can manage to squeeze sriracha out of a bottle. You’ll likely forget about this ten minutes after leaving the restaurant. PlayMute video credit: Juli Horsford Surf & Turf Box The potential is there, but this dish needs work. The wagyu strips on top are chewy and taste like they were reheated in the microwave. Skip. photo credit: Juli Horsford Crispy Spicy Salmon Box Colorful chili strings garnish the top but don’t do much in the way of flavor. Overcooked crispy rice just derails what could have been a solid roll with healthy portions of mashed up spicy salmon. photo credit: Juli Horsford King Crab Bun Get this. It’s the one must-order on the entire menu, so it makes sense they regularly run out of this dish. It comes in three separate buns so you can theoretically share it, but that’ll be a struggle because it’s good enough to disrupt polite manners. The buns are stuffed with so much buttery, garlicky crab it falls out the sides. photo credit: Juli Horsford Chicken Donburi Bowls Available at lunch, this is a decent-sized bowl filled with rice, chicken with a little soy sauce on top, lettuce, and several slices of sweet omelet. The bowl is just fine, but at $27, you could get something just as comparable for half the price at Gusto." - Juli Horsford