When Myoung Kim, fondly known as Yumi, opened Yumi’s Sushi Bar in Excelsior in 1999, it became a beloved spot for locals to enjoy the freshest and highest-quality sushi in a warm and welcoming environment. When Yumi was ready to retire in 2018, Innerbloom Hospitality took over the beloved restaurant, expanding not only the menu, but also the number of locations.
Today, in addition to Excelsior, Yumi Japanese Restaurant + Bar can be found in St. Paul’s historic Cathedral Hill neighborhood and the Southdale area of Edina.
“Aaron Switz, our CEO, and I had both been to the original Yumi as customers and we loved it,” says Anne DeBeau-Melting, COO of Innerbloom Hospitality. “The sushi rolls were delicious, unique and oversized, and that was part of the Yumi tradition that we kept. They are double if not triple the size you would usually see at other sushi restaurants or in the grocery store. We also made sure to keep the signature Yumi Rolls given the importance to the Yumi brand.”
However, since not everyone loves sushi or is always in the mood for it, the expansive four-page menu offers so much more. “We feature a wide range of appetizers such as chicken wings, rock shrimp tempura, edamame and miso soup,” says Anne. “We also serve noodle dishes, other entrée options and more. We don't want to be a restaurant that somebody can't enjoy based on a dietary practice, allergen concern, or eating preference, so we offer a gluten-free sushi menu and items that can accommodate most guests and their needs.”
There are plenty of shared appetizer plates, salads, and all kinds of specialty sashimi platters too. They are always looking to refresh the menu by keeping the favorites and adding some new items for guests to try.
When it comes to cocktails and liquor, Yumi does not disappoint in that area either. “We knew that it would be great to offer guests a Japanese whisky or spirit to pair with their sushi, teriyaki, or nigiri.”
She adds, “We very much enjoyed putting together the Japanese whisky collection for Yumi and appreciate that we have a cocktail menu that uses several Japanese spirits. We were excited to have Ume Plum Whisky in our Yumi Manhattan, which is based on the Umeboshi plum from Japan.”
Every restaurant under Innerbloom’s umbrella offers the best in hospitality, food, cocktails and venue, and Yumi is no exception. When you walk into the Southdale location, the first thing you notice is the large wooden bar with beautifully crafted wooden stools. There’s also an impressive cathedral wood ceiling over the sushi bar, and the high ceilings combined with the huge windows make it a light and airy space. Across the board, Yumi is a calm, relaxing space that’s great for an everyday casual meal or large holiday celebration. It’s also kid-friendly, offering fun bento boxes full of everything little palates love.
The restaurant is in an area of Edina with a lot of offices and businesses, so it’s convenient to go in and have dinner with coworkers and friends. It’s also nice, after a long day of holiday traditions, to order online, pick up some food, and eat it at home in your cozy pajamas. “Sushi travels well,” says Anne.
While the other two locations are in neighborhoods, this one is situated right outside the Southdale Center Mall, which gets a tremendous amount of foot traffic.“We knew that we would be successful, and with the mall going under a massive renovation over the next two years, we’re excited to be here,” she says.
Yumi written in Japanese characters translates to dedication, freedom, excellence and beauty, and Yumi Japanese Restaurant + Bar embodies all of these wonderful traits. Carrying on the original owner’s legacy is important to Innerbloom. “We continue to work daily to ensure the integrity of the Yumi brand,” says Anne.
To see the full menu, make a reservation and/or order take out from any of the three locations, go to YumiSushiBar.com.
200 Southdale Cir. #2C | 952-405-9830