First, let's get the pronunciation out of the way in case you need to give anyone directions.
Yaow-ah-cha, is the way it sounds when
Yauatcha staff answer the phone. The second thing to get clear is Yauatcha's nationality. In sushi-centric Soho, Yauatcha is Chinese, not Japanese. Though the portion sizes are often just as bitty.
Not because they're being cheap and cheeky, but because Yautacha serves dim sum, those tiny packages of Chinese cuisine – and they were one of the first 'good' London restaurants to do so.
That was in 2004, and they've been serving all day dim sum ever since, Chinese teahouse style, with plenty of Chinese and Indian teas to accompany it –
150 different tea options to be precise - or of course 'proper' drinks if it's more appropriate. They do some interesting cocktails that match the Cantonese flavours perfectly.
These
flavours, parcelled up in dumplings, shui mai, lotus leaves, wontons, buns, puffs or other wrapping, include high end ingredients like swimmer crabs, scallops and wagyu beef, as well as items so popular they'll never be able to take them off, like pork char sui buns and crispy duck pancakes. They also do chicken feet, mooli and strange, but tasty, things with beancurd. Not everything comes parcelled, there's also a section of salads, rices, noodles and stir frys.
They're also known for their desserts, especially their almost impossibly coloured macaroons.
There's a lot to choose from, and not all of it comes with an explanation – the staff are pretty good, but if they're busy they're not going to have time to take you though everything – so if you've not eaten a lot of dim sum before it might be a good idea to try the very reasonably priced taster menu for two. It's all their fave., and signature dishes for under £15 each. Served between 3pm and 6pm Monday to Friday. And they have a Michelin star. So if you can make it down in the afternoon they you'll get a feed that's flavoursome by international quality control standards as well as something very affordable. Just make sure you take a plus one who can deal with the uncomfortableness of the three dim sums – someone always has to trade for the worse.
It's the décor as well as the once unusual grazing dining style that put Yauatcha on the map, and it's the décor that keeps it there. Upstairs there's light coming in from the street to brighten up the grey surfaces and long, low, jade coloured couches, but downstairs the walls and surfaces are black, and the brighter lights mix with the blue chairs and bounce off the walls, making it feel like you're inside a fish tank. In a good way. Having quite a few aquariums around might be one of the main reasons you get this vibe.
The location is incongruous with such a sophisticated place, but that's Soho for you. And it's actually a really convenient location to stop by at if you can get in. Even though Yauatcha has been around for a while it still pays to book.
