Between you and me, YuMe is yummy. Bad puns aside, this is one of my favorite sushi joints in Jozi, and it has won numerous “best of Johannesburg” awards, for good reason.

Modeled after a contemporary Tokyo sushi bar, the glaringly bright and colorful interior is matched by the vivid menu, which is filled with dozens of sashimi options, innovative sushi rolls, dim sum, noodles, and quirky items such as “fashion sandwiches” (a different take on traditional sushi rolls, which are square instead of circular). You can watch the sushi chefs if you sit at the bar, and some items are available to take directly off the funky conveyor belt. These tend to be the popular small bites such as salmon roses, tempura salmon skins, edamame and some dessert rolls. The friendly staff are glad to help out if you’re not entirely sure what you’re seeing whiz past on the conveyor.

But the real magic happens in the back of the house, with the items you can order a la carte off the menu. For example I picked the delicious Hong Kong “pears,” which are minaret-shaped dumplings stuffed with curry and potatoes. I am also a big fan of the salmon grenades, which are salmon roses (rolled salmon with a dab of mayo) topped with spicy salmon, teriyaki sauce, and tempura flakes. But there are also numerous non-sushi mains to choose from such as teriyaki chicken, tempura prawns, ahi tuna burgers, and the signature noodle bowls. You can either get the ramen or crispy beef noodles, or you can design your own noodle dish: pick a noodle type, some ingredients (meat, seafood vegetables) and the type of sauce you want.

Another great feature of this branch (there are two other in Joburg) is the casual informality: you can pop in just for a roll or an appetizer, and no dressing up is required. And the prices are very reasonable considering the quality.