Asian Adventure

IT'S not only an “all-you-can-eat” place.

Several dishes, inspired by Korean, Chinese and Japanese cuisine, surround the diner in this particular restaurant. The scene would have looked like your usual buffet line in a hotel except that here, a person has the choice to enjoy a really hot meal courtesy of a smokeless grill on the table.

Perhaps it’s safe to say, when one wants a fill of his favorite Asian treats, this place would save him the perils and hassles of restaurant hopping.

Yugo Yakiniku Smokeless Grill is located at the ground floor of the Crown 7 Bldg. along Juan Luna Ave., Mabolo, Cebu City. Staying true to its brand name, Yugo actually is a Japanese word referring to “fusion.” With that said, variety, besides those great-looking non-stick grills, is something this restaurant proudly brings to the table.

For the record, a person won’t be cooking everything himself; that would be borderline sadistic for a hungry and starving customer who pays for a buffet. The Cantonese-style Chinese food (with over 20 dishes daily), is made up of the common favorites Filipinos have loved over the years. The kids would probably love this part of the restaurant where simple dining pleasures like fried chicken and sweet and sour pork, come up on the menu from time to time.

The Japanese line is just as tasty—fresh slices of sashimi and beautiful rolls of sushi ready for the picking. The line never runs out of these Japanese treats as chefs are always ready to make many more of these bite-sized rewards.

Then finally, the Korean bit of the restaurant. Where one heads to the counter filled with several servings of pork, beef, chicken, fish, seafood, shells and vegetables, done in different and special marinades. The customer basically takes what teases his tongue and returns to his table with a plateful of his picks.

This is now when dining in the restaurant turns into an adventure of sorts. The customer places his ready-to-grill food and cooks them as he pleases ala yakiniku style.

For dessert there are cakes, a salad bar and an ice cream station which kids (and the kids at heart) would probably flock to and enjoy.

Aside from the food, one fine detail about the place is the relaxing ambiance. This makes it pretty distinct and is what sets the place apart from other “buffet” restaurants in town. The tables, seats and counters are very well-spaced as well, allowing people to dine in comfort. There is parking available for customers with vehicles, which leads them directly to the rear entrance of the place. Plus, should one drop by during Wednesdays, the restaurant treats its customers with a special discounted rate per head.

Yugo Yakiniku Smokeless Grill is open from 11:30-2:30 p.m. for lunch and 5:30-10:30 p.m. for dinner.