YO! CELEBRATES 20^TH ANNIVERSARY WITH DEBUT OF ITS SIGNATURE KAITEN BELT RESTAURANT IN NEW YORK CITY

International Restaurant Brand Invites Diners on an exclusive Japanese Street Food and Sushi adventure.

Today, renowned Japanese restaurant brand, YO!, announces the launch of its first-ever New York City location, which opens its doors on Thursday, March 16. Bringing a menu of over 80 traditional and contemporary Japanese street food and sushi dishes including fresh sushi, sashimi, salads, tempura and other hot classics to the city, YO! will debut at 23 West 23^rd Street in Manhattan’s bustling Flatiron District. To commemorate YO!’s 20^th anniversary, a landmark celebration slated to run throughout 2017, the new location will feature a specially curated menu of dishes available exclusively at YO! in New York City. Guests will be invited to embark on a full sensory journey as expertly crafted dishes are made in the restaurant’s central, open kitchen and served on YO!’s signature “kaiten,” a rotating conveyor belt. For busy New Yorkers who can’t dine in, the Manhattan location will also feature “YO! To-Go,” the brand’s popular takeout option with sushi boxes, salads and hot pots available. Online orders, catering and delivery will also be available shortly following the opening.

“As we celebrate YO!’s 20^th anniversary, we are thrilled to commemorate this milestone in an unparalleled and iconic food city like New York City,” said Robin Rowland, Chief Executive Officer of YO!. “New Yorkers are accustomed to extraordinary dining experiences so we’re excited to introduce them to new, innovative dishes exclusive to this location; our signature conveyor belt; and the unique culinary experience that is YO!.”

Executive Chef Mike Lewis, the mastermind behind YO!’s full menu, traveled to Japan to discover new recipes exclusively for New York City. Inspired by his visits to various street stalls and family homes across Nagoya, Tokyo, and Osaka, Lewis ventured beyond the backstreets to uncover new recipes full of rich, clean, and vibrant flavors. The new dishes, which feature a diverse selection of flavors found only in the heart of Japanese cuisine, were carefully curated by Lewis to ensure the new location offers an authentic Japanese food adventure in the heart of Manhattan.

Similar to YO! locations worldwide, the New York City restaurant will boast talented and passionate chefs serving handcrafted dishes from the restaurant’s open kitchen for all guests to see. Using the freshest ingredients that meet the brand’s impeccable sustainability credentials, the dishes developed by Lewis specifically for New York City include:

Aburi Sushi – A selection of premium flame seared sushi (salmon, shrimp, tuna, scallop and more) created using a blowtorch to bring out the best textures and toasted flavors
Katsu Sando – A breaded chicken thigh in a crispy panko coating, covered in a fruity sauce and a hint of mustard and served on crustless white bread
Kakigori – An iconic shaved ice dessert, topped with fresh fruit, syrups and Japanese toppings
Yuzu Tsukune Ramen – Chicken tsukune meatballs, soft boiled egg, wakame, shisito peppers, in a delicious citrus yuzu broth
Wings – Deep-fried chicken wings available Asian, Japanese and Korean style
Nori Taco – Tempura Nori Taco with either spicy tuna, yuzu salmon or avocado

YO! in New York City will boast the brand’s distinct color-coded pricing system. Each menu item is served on a colorful plate that correlates to a specific price. At the end of the meal, the service team calculates the final bill based on the plates and drinks consumed.

The new restaurant will also introduce beverage partnerships with popular New York-based juice brand, Pure Green, and revolutionary tea brand, T2, and will feature a wide variety of beer, wine and sake. Unveiling an original selection of Japanese-inspired cocktails featuring traditional ingredients such as matcha, yuzu, lychee, and more, YO! in New York City will offer custom cocktail creations including a Yuzu Margarita, Lychee and Ginger Martini, Matcha Gimlet, and more.

For additional information on the upcoming NYC opening, and to keep up with the latest from YO!, visit www.yosushiusa.com/nyc, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

About YO!
Celebrating its 20th anniversary throughout 2017, YO! was the first restaurant brand to bring the concept of a Japanese ‘kaiten’ sushi bar that delivered food via a conveyor belt to the United Kingdom. Following successful openings in Europe and the Middle East, YO! launched its first U.S. restaurants in the spring of 2015 in New Jersey and Florida and has continued its expansion across the country, opening its first stand-alone location in Boston’s Seaport District in October 2016 and in Manhattan’s Flatiron District in March 2017 . YO!’s dishes worldwide are made fresh daily by its passionate chefs and always meet the brand’s impeccable sustainability credentials. Although sushi remains at the heart of the YO! concept, there’s a choice of over 80 Tokyo inspired items, including delicious soups, rice or noodle-based dishes, salads, tempura and hot classics. YO! invites diners on a Japanese food adventure where they can “Live Fast. Eat Well.”