Yatai was the highlight of our dining in Aberdeen - a delicious walk down memory lane with interesting, tasty and great-value Japanese food. Yatai is an izakaya-style restaurant - casual, with food being cooked on an open grill in view of the diners. There's definitely a smoky atmosphere which adds to the charm! I'd looked over the menu and honestly, was happy to eat anything. The waitress showed us the specials of the day on an iPad - what a way to sell the dishes as the photos are amazing and might make you drool at the table. We ended up opting for the omakese menu (chef's choice). Essentially you decide how much you want to spend (we went for £30 pp) and let them know your likes/dislikes, and they will deliver dishes accordingly. We were presented with the following dishes at a good pace: seabream sashimi with crispy salmon skin and pickled vegetables with wasabi. I love the sashimi (I would like on it if I could) and even enjoyed the pickled vegetables when I normally hate wasabi. Next up was rib eye & forrest mushroom shu mai which was one of the only dishes I didn't love, as I found the flavour lacking for such delicious ingredients. Mackerel sushi was next - buttery soft and tender, I could have wolfed down the whole 6 pieces on my own. Squid tempura was light, crispy and had a lovely crunch. I also loved the rib eye skewer which was served together with vegetable skewers (sweet potato, mushroom and aubergine - all my fav veggies!). Pork ribs to finish and these were a little fatty for me but the flavour was lovely. Service throughout was great - friendly and helpful. We had a few drinks with our meal so the bill came to more than we probably expected to spend (close to £100) as the wines were a little pricey. Overall thought, it was such a lovely way to start our trip in Aberdeen and we couldn't stop raving about it the rest of the weekend. I'd definitely head back for a second visit when we're back. read more

See all

Aberdeen is very much a city that rewards exploring: all of the best places are a wee bit off the beaten track, and a bit of research can yield fantastic results. Yatai is very much one of those places - it's a few streets off the main drags, but is definitely worth the extra effort to get there. Sitting in a fairly anonymous building in what's pretty much a lane way, the interior of the restaurant very much has a traditional Japanese feel. We were sitting in the downstairs area and it was a great space: dominated by an open kitchen area, you get to see everything being cooked, and it really adds to the atmosphere. The staff were all really nice, and did a great job in keeping us fed and watered - having pictures of all the specials on an iPad was a fun twist. As well as choosing from the extensive menu you can put your trust in the staff and let them choose for you we did this and it was great - set your budget and what you're tastes are and they'll keep the food coming until you reach your limit. Put selection was great, and came mostly from the specials list. Sea Bream sashimi with salmon skin & pickle veg came first and it was fantastic, and it was followed by a good mix of fish (mackerel sushi, tempura squid), meat (ribs, steak and parcels) and veg (veggie skewers). I really couldn't fault any of them, for someone who doesn't normally love sushi I thoroughly enjoyed the raw fish, and all of the stuff cooked on the grill tasted amazing; tasting of the grill but not losing the flavour of the ingredients. I really loved this place, and it had us reminiscing of our time in Japan (and planning a return trip!). This is well worth the detour from the chains of Union Street. Highly recommended. read more

I stumbled across this wee place when returning briefly to Aberdeen for a training course. Tucked away behind the hustle and bustle of Union Street and surrounded by the signs of industry, Yatai had a dash of modern trend that really made it stand out on the street. The restaurant is a bit cosy in terms of size, but there's also additional seating upstairs. I was seated right in front of the kitchen and could see the magic that was happening on the open grills. The staff were extremely helpful throughout and their passion for the food really shined through. They went into fantastic detail about the specials on offer and anything on the menu that I wasn't sure of. As with a fair few Japanese joints, the dishes aren't the cheapest, and servings are not always plentiful. Yet, despite having a few dishes and some Miso soup, I left the place feeling rather well fed regardless! The sake selection is plentiful, and is apparently the only Sake off-license in Scotland, allowing folks to take away their favourite bottles back home. If you're curious about Japanese food, or if you're a sushi veteran, then there's plenty to enjoy and love at Yatai. Would definitely go back there again! read more

An anticipated visit to one of the 'finest' Japanese restaurants in Aberdeen has left me with a less than satisfactory evening. Upon entry into the restaurant, I was greeted by a relatively authentic feel - sake and soju bottles lining the walls and Asian lanterns strewn across the ceiling. We had ordered two mini ramen bowls to start (one with sticky pork belly + a miso soup base and the other with spicy pulled pork + a black pepper base) both garnished with a pretty presentation of grilled leeks, kimchi, and a tea egg. The taste of the pork belly would rival that of any Japanese ramen bowl I've had in the UK, but the tough bite of the spicy pulled pork and overly salty miso soup base left much to be desired. Afterwards came the sushi selection - of which we ordered the makizushi sushi set (a combination of tuna and salmon maki with a larger prawn tempura roll), salmon and citrus maki, and yellowtail tuna maki. The quality of the sushi varied among the dishes - the salmon and tuna were fresh and well-portioned, but many of the rolls had an excessive amount of rice as well as unexplainable dashes of chilli powder on every single roll served - significantly masking the flavours of fish. As far as service for a restaurant of this calibre, I was disappointed in the lack of attentive customer care, with two cases of bumping into a member of our party, an abrupt unexpected reminder of the time our table was due before we had finished our dishes, and an incorrect bill given to our table. Overall, if you are looking for a sushi restaurant with fresh fish + an eclectic mix of rotating specials, and a semi-authentic atmosphere, Yatai will be a fulfilling experience. For a more encompassing and warm environment, I recommend Yorokobi by CJ. read more

Went here with a friend. Went for the option of letting the chef decide what to cook for us. Food was amazing. Can't say too much more other than nice buzz to the place. Go there you won't be disappointed. And they serve decent ginger beer! read more