Yumi Japanese Restaurant & Bar - Excelsior — Restaurant in Excelsior

Yumi Sushi Bar in Excelsior, MN – A Delightful Family Experience

We recently dined at Yumi, a sushi restaurant in Excelsior, Minnesota, owned by Innerbloom Hospitality, run by my friend Aaron Switz. I had the pleasure of celebrating my wife’s birthday there, along with our 3-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Benedetta. What stood out the most was not only the exceptional quality of the sushi but also the outstanding hospitality from Keo, a staff member who truly enhances the dining experience.

From the moment we walked in, Keo greeted us warmly, remembered our names, and was incredibly kind to Benedetta, who refers to sushi as “shushi.” The personal touch Keo added, such as providing Benedetta with chopstick cheaters to help her enjoy the meal, made the evening special. The sushi itself was top-notch, as always. We enjoyed the Regular Sashimi Platter, which featured five types of fresh fish, including maguro, sake, hamachi, escolar, and a chef’s choice, served with miso soup and rice. Alongside the sushi, we ordered the Calamari (tempura squid served with a special sauce) and the Beef Kushiyaki Skewers (grilled ribeye with teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds). Every dish was fresh and flavorful.

I’ve eaten sushi in many places, from downtown Minneapolis at Billy Sushi and Kado no Mise, to locations out of state, and Yumi’s sushi consistently impresses. If you’re ever in Excelsior, a charming and quaint town, I highly recommend stopping by Yumi for an authentic and warm sushi experience. The restaurant has become one of our go-to places for a reason—it’s not just about the food, it’s about the people, especially Keo, who makes it feel like home.

A very happy raw fish devourer, Geoffrey Serdar

Yumi Sushi Bar 217 Water St,...

Is to Japanese cuisine what Famous Dave’s is to barbecue. Passable perhaps to westerners whose palletes are deadened by Oscar Meyer hot dogs and Mountain Dew, but steer clear if you are a lover of quality food and authenticity.

The food consistently disappointed, even the water was metallic and unappealing. Lukewarm miso soup was the high-point of a meal that otherwise consisted of deep-fried gyoza that tasted like frozen, inauthentic yakisoba complete with western broccoli, and gas station tuna tataki that I’m still praying won’t have me counting the tiles of my bathroom floor later.

The service lacked grace and professionalism, and was acceptable for a roadside diner, but not necessarily a place where you can expect to pay $60 for two people. The hefty price tag begs the question: where does the money go? My best guess would be the bathrooms which, to the restaurants credit, were posh, clean and comfortable; truly the highlight of our dining experience at Yumi’s.

Would not recommend. If you are looking for sushi in the western metro I’d go for Sakana, and if you’re open to driving a bit further, Masu, Sakura, or Kaiseki Furukawa if you’re willing to spend the big bucks. Honestly, I don’t think you could do worse. I’ve been to twenty or more sushi places in Minnesota alone and I’m sad to say this was the weakest. I wanted to...

Zero customer service. I booked a table for my birthday 3 days ago for Friday night at 5.30pm, all times were available on Resy. We were running 8 min behind so I was calling in advance to let them know we are going to be a little late, line was busy at all times. It was packed when we arrived. I was told there is no reservation under my name in their system. They offered to put us on a waitlist for 25 minutes, somehow they had my phone and email in their system but no reservation (it was my first time ever visiting the restaurant and booking with my new number). We waited for 40 minutes by the host stand when they told us that one of their tables is leaving and it will be ours. Then they sat someone else at this table! And I get it you are busy but don’t just ignore your customers for so long! Don’t just wait them to leave! I worked in hospitality industry for a long time and there was no hospitality at Yumi. Nobody apologized for waiting or for misunderstanding once. We ended up booking another restaurant and leaving. It’s been almost 24 hours since we left and I’m still waiting for a text that says that my...